The British Touring Car Championship has today (November 24) ratified the full regulations surrounding the recently announced Qualifying Race, which is set to be introduced from the 2026 season.

Set to take place on the Saturday afternoon of each event, the final classification of the Qualifying Race will determine the grid positions for Sunday’s opening contest.

A general overview of the Saturday format is outlined as follows:

• One 40-minute Free Practice session to take place at approximately 10:30
• One Official Qualifying Session set to take place at approximately 14:00, split into
• Two Qualifying Groups of 15 minutes each
• The group that includes the fastest set lap time overall will set the odd numbers of the grid for the Qualifying Race and the other group will take the even numbers
• There will be a ten minute gap between the end of the Official Qualifying Session and pit lane opening for the Qualifying Race
• Qualifying Race Distance to be approximately 15 minutes in duration (set in advance to the nearest lap count at each particular circuit)
• No Option Tyres permitted to be used in the Qualifying Race – only that event’s standard dry/slick tyre and/or wet tyre may be used
• Throughout the Official Qualifying Session and Race, each car will have the permitted TOCA Turbo Boost (TTB) available as per Championship order
• Half points from a Championship Round to be awarded as per the finishing order of the Qualifying Race (rounded up to the nearest whole point where applicable): 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-4-3-3-2-2-1-1
• No Manufacturers’/Constructors’, Teams’, Independent Drivers’, Independent Teams’ or Jack Sears Trophy points will be scored in the Qualifying Race
• No extra point will be awarded for leading the Qualifying Race or Fastest Lap
• No extra point will be awarded for securing Pole Position for Race 1

The entirety of Qualifying, including the Qualifying Race, will be streamed LIVE in the UK and across the globe via the ITV YouTube channel.

Sunday will maintain the three full rounds of racing, all-day-live and free on ITV4 as has been the case for many years.

Further minor regulations surrounding Qualifying – tyre availability, parc ferme rules etc – were also ratified and will be made available in the full 2026 Rules and Regulations document.