Daniel Rowbottom topped the opening practice session of the weekend as Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship action got underway at Oulton Park this morning (Saturday).
Rowbottom, who has twice won in 2025 in his Ford Focus ST, spearheaded a NAPA Racing UK one-two-three during the 35-minute session, with a time of 1m24.485s. This was enough to edge out his championship leading teammate Ash Sutton by just 0.095s with Dan Cammish a little further back, just over three-tenths behind on the Island circuit.
Best of the rest around the picturesque Cheshire track was Tom Chilton, who topped a group of three Team VERTU Hyundais in fourth, fifth and sixth. 2022 title winner Tom Ingram was the second of these, with Adam Morgan just behind.
Josh Cook was seventh quickest in the first of One Motorsport’s Honda Civic Type Rs, ahead of another trio of teammates from TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK. Three-time champion Gordon Shedden was the best of these, just over seven tenths behind Rowbottom’s leading pace, with Aron Taylor-Smith and James Dorlin rounding out the top-10.
The BTCC cars are back out for more practice at 12.05pm ahead of qualifying at 3pm.
Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Free Practice 1, Oulton Park
- Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, 1m24.485s
- Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, +0.095s
- Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, +0.309s
- Tom Chilton, Team VERTU, Hyundai i30N, +0.447s
- Tom Ingram, Team VERTU, Hyundai i30N, +0.493s
- Adam Morgan, Team VERTU, Hyundai i30N, +0.559s
- Josh Cook, One Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R, +0.697s
- Gordon Shedden, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA, +0.738s
- Aron Taylor-Smith, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA, +0.750s
- James Dorlin, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA, +0.851s
Click here for full times and results from this event.