The British Touring Automobile Championship stalwart will carry his storied profession to a detailed after the Manufacturers Hatch GP weekend.
Chilton has been one among trendy tin-top racing’s most well-recognised faces since his BTCC debut in 2002, on the time being the collection’ youngest ever driver.
Together with a blistering debut that noticed him take P3 at Manufacturers Hatch, Chilton boasts 560 begins, 19 wins, and 73 podiums throughout two stints: 2002-2011, 2017-2026. Most notably, he claimed the Independents’ Trophy in 2010.
He additionally raced within the World Touring Automobile Championship from 2012 to 2017, notching seven victories, 22 podiums, and one other Impartial Drivers’ crown in 2017. Upon his return to the BTCC in 2017, Chilton would proceed to rack up an eclectic checklist of groups and motors, finally steering the Excelr8-run Staff VERTU Hyundai i30N Fastback from 2022 to his exit in 2026.
2026 has been no slight yr for the veteran, with a commanding victory in Knockhill’s Race 3 the spotlight.
Three extra podiums added to his tally, dotted across the marketing campaign at Snetterton, Croft, and Silverstone.
Nevertheless, his staff have typically struggled by the hands of their Swindon Powertrains motor this yr. A lot so, in truth, that Chilton would change to the TOCA-supplied M-Sport engine for the ultimate two rounds of the season, wanting to finish on a excessive after a struggling weekend at Donington Park.
And, with yet one more weekend of racing forward of him, Chilton nonetheless might declare a fairytale closing victory earlier than Race 3’s chequered flag on Sunday attracts his profession to a detailed.
It’s no secret that I completely love Manufacturers Hatch as my house circuit, and the complete Grand Prix structure offers an actual problem as a driver as there isn’t a margin for error.
“Going into the weekend on the again of a optimistic efficiency at Silverstone, I’m feeling optimistic about my possibilities and really feel assured that we might be within the combine in the direction of the entrance,” Chilton mentioned.
“My BTCC profession began on the Manufacturers Hatch GP circuit again in 2002 with a podium end, so having made the choice to carry my time within the collection to an finish, it feels acceptable that my closing race will likely be on the identical circuit.
“There are such a lot of improbable recollections from my time within the collection, from that debut podium end within the Vauxhall by way of to my time with Area Motorsport within the Honda and Ford, after which the final decade since getting back from the World Touring Automobile Championship.”
“I’m hopeful that this weekend, I can carry the curtain down on my BTCC journey with one other podium end – hopefully with a visit to the highest step!”
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