Josh Cook Wins Thruxton Race to Pole as BTCC Returns From Summer Break

Overview

• The 2026 Kwik Fit BTCC resumed at Thruxton after a six-week summer break with Restart Racing topping Friday practice in a Chris Smiley–James Dorlin one-two.
• Josh Cook set Group 1 pole and led from the start to win the 14-lap Race to Pole on Saturday, holding off Tom Ingram and Ash Sutton after an early safety car and finishing about 1.07 seconds clear.
• Speedworks introduced Ryan Bensley as Josh Cook’s new team-mate following a sponsor-driven switch that moved Max Buxton to a reserve role, and Bensley made his debut but failed to finish the qualifying race.
• Senna Proctor stepped in for the unwell Sam Osborne at NAPA Racing UK and finished fifth in the Qualifying Race, while WSR newcomer Lewis Gilbert and Team VERTU’s Tom Chilton both failed to finish.
• TOCA confirmed a new multi-year free-to-air TV deal with ITV and enforced a revised weekend regime that allows medium tyres for timed qualifying while mandating the hard compound for Sunday’s three races, with Ash Sutton holding a 48-point championship lead into the resumed programme.