Moving On Up: Chilton on Knockhill’s Fightback

In Scotland, resilience is the difference between gravel andglory. At Knockhill Racing Circuit, a1.27-mile rollercoaster of kerbs, cambers and changeable weather, fortunes canswing in a heartbeat. For Tom Chilton, it was the stage for one of his mostdetermined drives of the British Touring CarChampionship season.

By day, Chilton is Commercial Director at Birch Gatwick, wheremeticulous preparation ensures the world’s finest cars are stored in peakcondition. By weekend, he competes with Team Vertu in the Hyundai i30NFastback, bringing the same attention to detail from boardroom toracetrack.

The opening race at Knockhill brought frustration, with Chilton struggling for grip and balance. But between races, he and race engineer Barry Plowman made wholesale changes to the car’s setup, switching to the new Goodyear soft tyres. The transformation was immediate.

In race two, Chilton charged from 22nd on the grid to finisheighth, scything through the pack with uncompromising determination. It felt like a victory in itself, a reward for persistence and precision. That result also opened the door to the reverse-grid draw, keeping hopes of silverware alive.

Team Vertu as a whole had cause for celebration in Scotland,with strong performances across its Hyundai line-up reinforcing the team’s position as one of the BTCC’s front-running squads. Chilton’s fightback was part of a collective effort that highlighted both driver skill and engineering excellence.

It was, in every sense, a moment of moving on up – to borrow from M People’s chart-topping anthem. And although Chilton was only eight years old when that classic first hit the airwaves, he certainly took heed of the sentiment: determination, resilience and the drive to climb higher.

For Birch, the parallels are clear. Just as Chilton’s Hyundai required recalibration to perform at its peak, cars entrusted to Birch’s storage demand meticulous preparation to be ready for their next outing. Monitored climate, battery care and detailed checks ensure that vehicles return to their owners in flawless condition. The philosophy is the same – preparation today ensures performance tomorrow.

Knockhill’s quirks only underline that lesson. Itsunforgiving sausage kerbs, deceptive cambers and bursts of unpredictableweather make it a circuit where precision matters above all. Chilton’s abilityto reset and turn frustration into a highlight drive captured that resilienceperfectly – the same resilience Birch applies to safeguarding and preparinghigh-value cars.

Located just minutes from Gatwick Airport, Birch offersconvenience as well as expertise. For collectors, enthusiasts and frequenttravellers, the facility combines security with accessibility – a place wherecars are kept in race-ready condition, whether they’re destined for theconcours lawn or a spirited drive.

Knockhill showed that persistence pays off. From setbacks to breakthroughs, racing mirrors the Birch ethos: setbacks are temporary, but the right preparation turns potential into performance. Chilton embodies both sides– Commercial Director during the week, BTCC racer at weekends – and at Knockhill, the two worlds once again came together.

Discover how Birch Gatwick prepares cars for their finest moments.‍