BTCC: Sutton vs Ingram- Duel at Donighton Park

The 2025 BTCC season started with a bang as title rivals Ash Sutton and Tom Ingram went toe to toe across the three races during the weekend.

The first qualifying of the season saw neither Sutton nor Ingram take pole, instead Dan Cammish would take an outstanding pole in the only equal turbo boost qualifying of the season. Sutton and Ingram would line up behind him in 2^nd and 3^rd respectively. The three of them would be separated by just 3 hundredths of a second in what was looking to be a close fought battle between the three.

Sutton would get away well to be alongside Cammish before making the cut back into Redgate to take the lead. Ingram would have to defend from behind and was unable to capitalise on the pair battling. Sutton and Cammish would pull away from Ingram, slightly before Ingram would start forming an attack on the pole sitter on lap 8 as Cammish’s tyres begin to fall away. Cammish would end up with a puncture leaving the two to scrap throughout the rest of the race.

Ingram would push Sutton hard trying to find a way by and with the mediums getting progressively better as the race went on. He tried to make a move on lap 11 down the Craner Curves into the Old Hairpin but was unable to make any sort of impression on him before a Safety Car was deployed due to multiple incidents and punctures. Ingram would put pressure on Sutton as they got back under way while the pair pulled way from the rest of the field. Ingram would try on the final lap to make a move around the outside, but Sutton would cover him off. Ingram would remain on his tail, but it was not enough to stop Sutton who took the first race win of the season ahead of Ingram.

The second race of the weekend would see the rivals start on the front row this time with a clear road in front of them. Sutton would get the better of the starts while Ingram does enough to maintain second place. The Team Vertu Hyundai would try to make a move heading onto lap 4, but Sutton would cover him off temporarily before Jake Hill and Josh Cook would try and take advantage of the attacking Ingram whilst fighting each other. Ingram would just about defend from both while Cook would make it passed the reigning champion. Ingram would have another go later on in the lap into the chicane, but Sutton once more would defend this beautifully. Sutton would continue to defend excellently from Ingram as the pair show off their extraordinary skill. Sutton would come home to take the second race win of the season while Ingram would once more finish second to his rival.

The top 6 be reversed for race 3 after the lottery draw meaning Ingram would start 5^th and Sutton would start 6^th. Ingram would make his way by Cammish into Redgate while Sutton would follow the Hyundai through. Ingram and Sutton would immediately put pressure on Hill as the BMW tries to defend. On Lap 2, Ingram would attack into Redgate all while trying to avoid Sutton flying by. Ingram would just about pass Hill on entry into the old hairpin while Sutton would once more squeeze his way by following Ingram like he done with Cammish.

Sutton would keep pressure on Ingram across the next few laps but the Hyundai would quickly make more moves passing Dan Rowbottom to get up into second place, this time with Sutton being unable to capitalise. A few laps later, Sutton would pass his NAPA teammate for the final podium spot. Ingram would be caught by Sutton heading into the final 3 laps and would try and make the move on the penultimate lap as the pair would finish the day as they started but this time, Ingram managed to defend hard. Sutton would take another opportunity on the final lap but would not be able to make it stick on his rival leaving Ingram to come home second and make it a Team Vertu one-two with Tom Chilton taking victory.

At the end of the weekend, here’s how the championship stood:

1^st Sutton: 58

2^nd Ingram: 51 (-7)

3^rd Chilton: 42 (-16)

4^th Cammish: 37 (-21)

5^th Rowbottom: 36 (-22)