BTCC Qualifying & Grid – How It Works

The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) keeps fans on their toes with a unique qualifying format and dynamic race grids across each weekend. Here's a straightforward breakdown of how it all works.
 

Qualifying – Setting the Grid for Race 1

Each BTCC race weekend begins with a qualifying session to set the starting grid for Race 1.

• 20-Minute Qualifying Session
• The grid for Race 1 of each weekend is set by a single 20-minute qualifying session (in normal conditions).
• Fastest Lap = Pole
• Drivers push to set their fastest lap during this time. The quickest driver gets pole position, and the rest of the grid lines up based on lap times.

Race 2 – Grid Based on Race 1 Results

The finishing order of Race 1 directly sets the grid for Race 2. If you finish 8th in Race 1, you’ll start 8th in Race 2. It’s a straightforward, performance-based approach.
Success ballast may apply, meaning top finishers carry extra weight into the next race, adding a strategic element to car setup and race pace.
 

Race 3 – The Reverse Grid

Race 3 introduces a unique twist to the BTCC format: the reverse grid.

• After Race 2, a random draw decides how many of the top finishers will be reversed on the Race 3 starting grid. The number drawn can range between 6 and 12.
• If, for example, number 10 is drawn, the driver who finished 10th in Race 2 will start Race 3 from pole position. The 9th-place finisher starts 2nd, and so on, with the Race 2 winner starting 10th.

This format is designed to level the playing field, promote overtaking, and ensure close competition all weekend.
 

BTCC Qualifying & Grid Summary

• Race 1 grid: based on qualifying session
• Race 2 grid: based on Race 1 results
• Race 3 grid: based on a partially reversed Race 2 result (number drawn at random)

This approach makes BTCC one of the most competitive and unpredictable championships in motorsport—something fans and drivers alike have come to expect.