Daryl De Leon showcased impressive skill during the free practice session of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Brands Hatch. The Anglo-Filipino driver clocked the fastest lap time, completing the circuit in just 47.360 seconds. Last year, he celebrated his only BTCC victory at this very venue, driving for the West Surrey Racing BMW 330i M Sport team.
Tom Ingram’s Performance
Reigning champion Tom Ingram, driving for Excelr8 Motorsport in a Hyundai i30 N Fastback, finished the session in seventh place with a time of 47.583 seconds. Ingram, however, only completed one flying lap on the soft Goodyear tires, which are mandatory for competitive races, except for one event. His performance with those tires was only slightly faster than his lap of 47.688 seconds on the medium compound.
Top Performers and Competitive Edge
- Daryl De Leon: 47.360 seconds
- Dexter Patterson: Second place
- Mikey Doble: Third place
- Dan Cammish: Fourth place in NAPA Ford Focus Titanium
- Ash Sutton: Fifth place, experiencing a TTB deficit due to his championship status
- Dan Rowbottom: Sixth with Plato Racing’s Mercedes A35 Saloon
The session highlighted the competitiveness of the drivers. Sutton, the current championship leader, faces a significant challenge with a 19-second-per-lap TTB deficit, which may impact his performance against drivers like Ingram and De Leon. This predicament raises anticipation for how he will adapt throughout the weekend.
Session Insights
Overall, the 40-minute practice session remained incident-free. However, mechanical issues forced Tom Chilton’s Excelr8 Hyundai to exit the track with ten minutes left. As the BTCC at Brands Hatch unfolds, fans eagerly await how these performances translate into race day results.
