Whenever the BTCC arrives at Knockhill you know there is going to be action just about everywhere you look. And the 2026 edition was no different. Three incredibly chaotic races saw rounds 16, 17 and 18 completed with three different victors. So lets dive into the main talking points as the BTCC now just has four rounds remaining.
Plato Racing the team to beat at Knockhill
It was a dream weekend for the British Touring Car Championship’s newest team in Fife. Adam Morgan coverted pole position to race one victory in the treacherous wet conditions. If the result couldn’t be any better for the team, Dan Rowbottom battled his way past home favourite Gordon Shedden to secure a 1-2 finish for the team.
Rowbottom had the best of the momentum in race two, crossing the line to take another second place finish. Whilst Morgan slipped off the podium to fifth.
A 12 car reverse grid wouldn’t help the pair massively heading into race three, but Morgan and Rowbottom got their heads down and made up plenty of places. Rowbottom climbed from 11th up to 7th place after 24 laps of very hard racing. Morgan started in seventh and was one of the best placed soft tyre runners, so stood a real chance of a podium. And a podium he achieved, showing the brilliant pace of the Cataclean Plato Racing Mercedes which helped him achieve second position.
After their race to pole victory in Round one at Donington Park, it probably hasn’t been the season that fans thought it might have been for the Plato Racing team. But damper upgrades seemed to unlock some new pace in their Mercedes A35 Saloon’s. Morgan was extremely complimentary of the car in post race interviews after the reverse grid race. He said: “We seem to have the car in a window now where we can go to Donington in a couple of weeks time and probably not have to change much.” Encouraging signs for the Plato Racing Team!
Sutton continues to extend championship lead
The gap between Sutton and Ingram has now opened up to a huge 81 points with Sutton looking more and more likely to claim a fifth drivers title. But Sutton didn’t have one of his best weekends at Knockhill. A win in race two was by far the highlight of his Sunday. A fourth place in race one and a 12th in race three was still enough to pull away from Ingram who pulled up with an engine issue in race two. More missfortune for Ingram and more brilliance from Sutton means the gap stretches once more with four rounds to go.
One man that capitalised on Ingram’s misfortune was Dan Cammish. The NAPA Racing Ford driver closed the gap to Ingram in the battle for second place in the championship this weekend. A poor race one was put right with ninth and third place finishes come the end of the day.
Tight margins in the independent drivers and Jack Sears Trophy
Things are hotting up in the independent and JST standings. Mikey Doble remains in the lead of the independent drivers championship as the Power Maxed Racing Audi’s had a solid weekend while others struggled. Doble now sits 36 points clear of Daryl DeLeon in second. The West Surrey Racing driver sits just a singular point clear of his teammate Charles Rainford. Much like last year, the WSR boys can’t be seperated at all! A fairly strong showing for Gordon Shedden at his home race sees him rise to fourth place, just five points off DeLeon in second. But, Dexter Patterson arguably took home the best set of results out of the Scottish drivers this weekend. A 7th, 8th and 4th on home soil means Patterson breaks into the top five in the independents.
Patterson also reclaimed the lead of the Jack Sears Trophy, striking back at James Dorlin after his superb Thruxton weekend. Dorlin struggled around Knockhill while Patterson thrived. The pair came into the weekend seperated by two points but Patterson will leave 17 points to the good.
Back to Donington Park as the finale draws closer
It’s only two weeks until the BTCC returns to Donington Park for the second time this season. This time, the drivers will have to tackle the GP layout with extra challanges such as Goddards and the difficult downhill braking into the Melbourne Hairpin. Keep your eyes peeled for our preview closer to the event!
