DeLeon Sets New Croft Lap Record in BTCC Pre-Season Test
The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) kicked off its pre-season preparations with an official two-day test at Croft Circuit, where Daryl DeLeon delivered a blistering performance, setting the fastest lap time ever recorded by a BTCC car at the venue. Piloting the West Surrey Racing (WSR) BMW 330i M Sport, DeLeon not only topped the timesheets but also showcased the competitive spirit of the upcoming season.
Beyond DeLeon’s record-breaking feat, the test marked significant milestones for several teams, including the public debut of Plato Racing’s Mercedes A35 Saloons, Alliance Racing’s Ford Focus Titanium saloons, and Power Maxed Racing’s (PMR) Audi A3s. These new entries signal an exciting and diverse field for the 2026 season.
DeLeon’s Ascendancy and WSR’s Ambitions
While DeLeon’s participation with the WSR BMW 330i M Sport squad for the full 2026 season is yet to be officially confirmed, the Sunbury-based team is keen to secure his services. DeLeon’s impressive 2025 campaign concluded with pole position at the final two rounds, a momentum he has clearly carried into the new year. His record-setting lap came during the final run of the Wednesday afternoon session, narrowly edging out James Dorlin.
Dorlin, driving a Restart Racing Hyundai i30 N Fastback, came incredibly close to topping the times, falling just 0.027 seconds short. Dorlin is gearing up for what he hopes will be his first full BTCC season, having been forced to withdraw from the Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Corolla team after seven rounds last season due to commercial reasons.
Early Pace and Shifting Strategies
Dorlin had been the first to break the Tuesday benchmark set by reigning champion Tom Ingram in his Excelr8 Motorsport Hyundai. Ingram and his teammate Tom Chilton initially dominated the morning session on Tuesday, securing a 1-2 finish. However, it appeared both drivers shifted their focus away from outright qualifying simulations as the sessions progressed.
Similar to DeLeon, Charles Rainford, in the other WSR BMW, made a late surge up the leaderboard in the dying minutes of the test. He ultimately secured fourth overall, positioning himself between Ingram and Chilton.
Alliance Racing’s Strong Showing and New Talent
Alliance Racing fielded a strong contingent of its NAPA Ford Focus saloons, with four cars and five drivers participating. Four-time champion Ash Sutton led the times during the relatively slower Wednesday morning session. While he improved his pace in the afternoon, he was ultimately outpaced by his teammate Dan Cammish, with the pair finishing the test in sixth and seventh positions respectively.
Mini Challenge graduate Lewis Selby showed promising integration into the team, while newly recruited reserve driver Senna Proctor gained valuable track time, taking the wheel of Sam Osborne’s car for laps across three sessions.
New Cars and Emerging Drivers
Chris Smiley secured an eighth-place finish in the second Restart Racing Hyundai, ahead of Dan Rowbottom in his Plato Racing Mercedes. Despite the Mercedes only undergoing its shakedown the previous week, Rowbottom completed an impressive 94 laps over the two days. His teammate, Adam Morgan, whose car is newer, managed to complete 70 laps.
Rounding out the top ten was Josh Cook in the leading Speedworks-run Toyota. Interestingly, his teammate Gordon Shedden topped the times during the wet conditions of Tuesday afternoon, highlighting the adaptable nature of the drivers and their machinery.
The PMR Audis made their first on-track appearances during Tuesday afternoon’s wet running. However, serious track time for the new A3 models did not commence until the final session. Aiden Moffat, Mikey Doble, and Dexter Patterson collectively accumulated 78 laps, gaining crucial data and experience with their new machinery. The integration of these new models and the continued development of existing ones promise a thrilling and unpredictable season ahead.
