Tag: BTCC

Four-time British Touring Car Championship title winner Ash Sutton enjoyed a near-perfect weekend at Donington Park as the UK’s premier motorsport series lifted the curtain on the 2026 season in spectacular style.

In front of a huge trackside crowd, the NAPA Racing UK driver scored two wins and a second place on Sunday, less than 24 hours after being pulled out of the gravel trap during Saturday’s inaugural Qualifying Race.

Elsewhere, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing enjoyed a dream first outing with their brand-new Audi S3 Saloon as Mikey Doble claimed a popular victory in a frenetic opening encounter.

With the introduction of a new Saturday format, edge-of-the-seat entertainment was guaranteed for the first-ever Qualifying Race and that was exactly what was delivered as Cataclean Plato Racing’s Dan Rowbottom wrote his name into the history books.

Run over 13 laps, the contest had it all as Sutton and reigning champion Tom Ingram clashed, resulting in the Ford driver being beached in the gravel. Not long after that Ingram was handed a five-second time penalty for exceeding track limits.

Needing to build up a margin over his nearest challenger, Ingram pulled the pin and stretched his legs out front however he fell 0.024s short of his target time, meaning the win went to Rowbottom on his first outing for the new Mercedes team.

Race day saw Ingram look to make amends in the opening encounter as he cruised to victory however there was to be more trouble ahead as he was subsequently disqualified from the result for a significant overboost infringement.

Ingram’s demise opened to door for Doble to take the spoils while Sutton produced a sublime drive to go from the very back of the grid up to second. Completing the podium was the West Surrey Racing BMW of Charles Rainford.

Races two and three under the flight path of East Midlands airport belonged to Sutton as he claimed back-to-back wins, the second of which came in his 300th BTCC start.

Jumping Doble off the line in race two, the Ford ace streaked clear of the chasing pack to lead home a NAPA 1-2 as Dan Cammish finished in second; and on the podium with them was three-time champion Gordon Shedden.

Starting from eighth on the grid for race three, Sutton produced another scintillating performance as he carved his way to the front of the field on the soft tyre to lead home Tom Ingram (who had started at the back) and his Hyundai team-mate Ricky Collard.

Leaving Donington Park, Sutton has a commanding 18-point lead ahead of Rainford in the Drivers’ Championship while NAPA Racing UK lad the early going in the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ categories.

Aiden Moffat and LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing were the cream of the crop in the Independents’, with Dexter Patterson heading the Jack Sears Trophy table.

Th 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season continues in less than three weeks’ time at Brands Hatch on May 9-10.

The British Touring Car Championship has announced its calendar of events for the 2027 season.

Announcing the next year’s schedule prior to this past weekend’s season-opener at Donington Park, this is the earliest that TOCA has ever published its dates for the following year.

The 2027 BTCC season will commence at the Donington Park National circuit, before visiting the Brands Hatch Indy layout and then Snetterton in May.

Oulton Park will remain as the fourth event of the season – and as per 2026 – precedes the annual summer break. Action resumes at Thruxton during the school holidays in July, starting a run of three events in four weekends.

Knockhill and Croft run back-to-back in August, before the trip to Donington Park GP later in the same month.

Silverstone hosts the penultimate event and the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit stages what promises to be an unmissable finale in October.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “We are pleased to announce the 2027 calendar in record time, even before the 2026 season has begun.

“Agreeing our dates so early with our partners at ITV ensures we have locked in the primary slots for our continued all-day-live and free television coverage on ITV4. It also benefits the wider British motorsport community, as other organisers can continue scheduling their own events.

“Furthermore, locking-in our plans so soon for 2027 enables us to look even further ahead to 2028 for what I am sure will provide several unforgettable celebrations for the BTCC’s 70th anniversary.

“I’m told we are probably the first major championship in the world to have already announced next year’s schedule and, if true, then I’m delighted to do so!”

2027 BTCC Calendar

Rounds 1-3 / Donington Park National / April 10-11
Rounds 4-6 / Brands Hatch Indy / May 8-9
Rounds 7-9 / Snetterton 300 / May 29-30
Rounds 10-12 / Oulton Park / June 12-12
Rounds 13-15 / Thruxton / July 24-25
Rounds 16-18 / Knockhill / August 7-8
Rounds 19-21 / Croft / August 14-15
Rounds 22-24 / Donington Park GP / September 11-12
Rounds 25-27 / Silverstone / September 25-26
Rounds 28-30 / Brands Hatch GP / October 9-10

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship has confirmed a 21-car entry list made up of champions, challengers and contenders for the 2026 season.

Taking centre stage at Brands Hatch for its annual Season Launch, the UK’s premier motorsport series announced its grid ahead of its traditional tour across the length and breadth of the country – staging 30 races across ten race meetings.

Headlining the entry list is reigning champion Tom Ingram, who remains with Team Vertu and the Hyundai i30 Fastback N after producing a dominant title-winning campaign last year.

Looking to go back-to-back this term, Ingram enters the year as the driver to beat and he is joined at the current Manufacturers’/Constructors’ title holders by Tom Chilton, Nicolas Hamilton and the returning Ricky Collard.

NAPA Racing UK were the closest challengers to the Hyundai squad last season and they hope to topple them in 2026 as they roll out the saloon model of the Ford Focus, which replaces the hatchback version that has served them so well for several years.

Four-time champion Ash Sutton will spearhead the NAPA charge as he continues his pursuit of a record-breaking fifth crown. Alongside him is perennial contender Dan Cammish, race winner Sam Osborne and debutant Lewis Selby.

One of the biggest talking points over the off-season has been the birth of new team Plato Racing, which is figure-headed by former double champion Jason Plato. Their debut season consists of Dan Rowbottom and Adam Morgan driving Mercedes-AMG A35 Saloons.

Over at West Surrey Racing, the series’ most successful ever team will field a trio of BMW 330i M Sport machines for race winners Charles Rainford and Daryl De Leon.

Speedworks Motorsport remain the only team to field an unchanged line-up this year with their quartet of Toyota Corolla GR Sport cars being driven by Árón Taylor-Smith, Gordon Shedden, Josh Cook and Max Buxton.

Amongst the Independents’ teams, Power Maxed Racing have expanded to three cars, all of which are brand-new Audi S3 Saloons. Leading light Mikey Doble remains for a fourth consecutive season alongside Aiden Moffat and Dexter Patterson.

Reigning Independent Teams’ champions Restart Racing complete the grid they defend their crown with Chris Smiley and James Dorlin.

2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Entry List

2 – Daryl De Leon – WSR – BMW 330i M Sport
3 – Tom Chilton – Team Vertu – Hyundai i30 Fastback N
11 – Ricky Collard – Team Vertu – Hyundai i30 Fastback N
19 – Max Buxton – Speedworks Corolla Racing – Toyota Corolla GR Sport
15 – Lewis Selby – NAPA Racing UK – Ford Focus Titanium
16 – Aiden Moffat – LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing – Audi S3 Saloon
17 – Dexter Patterson – Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing – Audi S3 Saloon
22 – Chris Smiley – Restart Racing – Hyundai i30 Fastback N
27 – Dan Cammish – NAPA Racing UK – Ford Focus Titanium
28 – Nicolas Hamilton – Team Vertu – Hyundai i30 Fastback N
32 – Daniel Rowbottom – Cataclean Plato Racing – Mercedes-AMG A35 Saloon
33 – Adam Morgan – Cataclean Plato Racing – Mercedes-AMG A35 Saloon
50 – Árón Taylor-Smith – Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport – Toyota Corolla GR Sport
52 – Gordon Shedden – Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport- Toyota Corolla GR Sport
66 – Josh Cook – Speedworks Corolla Racing – Toyota Corolla GR Sport
77 – Sam Osborne – NAPA Racing UK – Ford Focus Titanium
80 – Tom Ingram – Team Vertu – Hyundai i30 Fastback N
88 – Mikey Doble – LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing – Audi S3 Saloon
99 – Charles Rainford – WSR – BMW 330i M Sport
116 – Ash Sutton – NAPA Racing UK – Ford Focus Titanium
132 – James Dorlin – Restart Racing – Hyundai i30 Fastback N

Donington Park provides the setting for the opening three rounds of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season on April 18-19.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship took centre stage at Croft Circuit this week (March 24-25) as thousands of fans flocked to the North Yorkshire venue for the first official pre-season test of 2026.

On what proved to be a busy couple of days on-track, where a total of 2,268 laps were amassed, West Surrey Racing’s Daryl De Leon walked away with the bragging rights as he set the ultimate pace.

The BMW 330i M Sport driver left it until Wednesday afternoon to show his hand, with his time of 1:20.417s dipping under Tom Ingram’s pole position benchmark from last season. When all was said and done, De Leon’s lap was the fastest to ever be recorded in a touring car around Croft.

Restart Racing’s James Dorlin had looked on course to claim top spot before De Leon pipped him to the post late on. The Hyundai i30N driver instead settled for second place, 0.027s shy of De Leon.

Reigning champion Ingram ended the test third on combined times having been the driver to beat on day one, while Charles Rainford and Tom Chilton completed a top five that was covered by two tenths of a second.

NAPA Racing UK’s Dan Cammish and Ash Sutton were next up in their new Ford Focus Titaniums while the second Restart Racing Hyundai of Chris Smiley also starred.

Rounding out the top ten was the lead Plato Racing Mercedes-AMG A35 Saloon of Dan Rowbottom and the first of the Toyota Corolla GR Sport’s of Josh Cook.

It must be noted of course that testing times are often treated with caution as teams and drivers carried out varying fuel load and tyre combinations throughout the two days of running.

Power Maxed Racing also wowed the crowds at Croft as Mikey Doble, Aiden Moffat and Dexter Patterson carried out extensive shakedowns on their all-new Audi S3 Saloons.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship now moves to Brands Hatch on April for the 2026 Season Launch, which will include the final pre-season test.

Click here for the final and full classification from testing.

Kwik Fit will continue as the title partner of the British Touring Car Championship for an eighth successive season thanks to its ongoing collaboration between TOCA and Goodyear.

Renowned for being the UK’s leading automotive retailer, Kwik Fit has held the role since 2019 and has been a huge supporter of the UK’s most popular motorsport championship ever since.

Contributing to the continued success of the BTCC through its activations and promotional efforts, the brand has also worked closely with the championship and Goodyear – ensuring that they together deliver value to all stakeholders and fans.

“We welcome the continuation of this flourishing partnership and look forward to strengthening the collaboration between TOCA, Goodyear and Kwik Fit even further,” said Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive.

“The team at Kwik Fit have fully embraced this partnership since joining our distinguished list of loyal partners back in 2019 and they’ve never looked back.

“The activations trackside, online, on television and in its centres – in collaboration with our own dedicated media team – has shown the ways in which such a partnership should be delivered.”

Andy Lane, Kwik Fit Marketing Director, continued: “This will be our eighth year partnering the BTCC and we’re still as excited about the upcoming season as we were for our very first.

“Our aim from day one has been to add to fans’ enjoyment of the races, whether they’re at the circuits, watching on TV or following the championship online.

“This year we are looking forward to bringing an even bigger interactive area to the race weekends. A huge part of the excitement of the BTCC is the atmosphere created by the fans, and we thoroughly enjoy playing our part in that.”
 

Stuart Murray has begun his new role of British Touring Car Championship Sporting Director, having taken over from long-serving Championship Co-ordinator Dan Mayo.

In what is a new all-encompassing position, Murray will oversee the sporting and administrative operation of the BTCC, issuing regulations, managing team/driver relations, and ensuring smooth event delivery among many other tasks.

The Northern Irishman’s first significant motorsport position came in Dubai with the ASN of the United Arab Emirates, where he oversaw a vast range of sporting, technical and safety responsibilities.

From there, Murray then joined the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) in 2018 – most-recently based in Geneva as Deputy Director of Circuit Sport.

During his storied career he has also held the position of Category Manager for Touring Cars and GTs, which included the overseeing of the FIA GT and Touring Car Commissions, as well as organising the FIA GT World Cup in Macau.

“I can’t wait to get started,” said the hugely experienced Murray. “It’s a major change and the next step of my career. I’ve been working away at international level for a number of years, but this is the pinnacle of motorsport in the UK, and the role has far greater scope.

“It’s certainly a step up in prestige in terms of the championship and role. It’s cliché but like so many others I grew up playing the TOCA game and went to watch a BTCC race weekend at Donington Park in 1994. Growing up in Northern Ireland though it was mainly motorcycle road racing, karting or watching F1 on TV with my Dad.

“This opportunity gives me the chance to get involved from the ground up and I can’t wait for that. Working as part of a compact, highly professional and experienced team is something I’m immensely looking forward to.”

Murray has had the benefit of an extensive handover from Mayo and now works closely alongside both the Communications and Technical Directors, as well as under the stewardship of Chief Executive Alan Gow.

Mayo also stays within the British Automobile Racing Club family having undertaken the role of Circuit Manager at Croft Circuit.

“I had the opportunity to work alongside and shadow Dan for the final three events of last year,” concluded Stuart. “He has been doing this job for 25 years and his phone would ring 20 times an hour about anything and everything.

“They are big shoes to step into, it will be a great challenge, but he has left this role in a fantastic position for me to continue with. He hasn’t disappeared of course and his new role at Croft means we’ll often be crossing paths. If I can do nearly as good a job as Dan has done over many years, then I’d be absolutely delighted.”

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship has announced that its 2026 Season Launch will take place at Brands Hatch, while Croft has also been chosen to host two official pre-season test days.

Croft will welcome the UK’s premier motorsport series on March 24-25 for two days of testing before the Season Launch, and the final official pre-season test day, will be staged at Brands Hatch on April 8.

As is now customary, drivers and teams will carry out official pre-season media-related activities and interviews on April 7 before television and photography will also make up the early morning activities the following day. The ‘Class of 2026’ will then embark on six hours of testing on the Indy layout of the Kent venue.

Both Croft and Brands Hatch will be offering free entry to spectators, with refreshments available, whilst fans will be able to get autographs and photos with drivers during a pit-lane walkabout at Brands Hatch.

The 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship campaign begins around Donington Park’s National layout on April 18-19.

Croft Circuit is set for another exciting year of motorsport in 2026 after confirming its event calendar for next season recently.

The popular North Yorkshire venue will host ten events which will see action on two and four wheels from April to November, including the annual visit of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship in September, with tickets now on sale.

The season kicks off over the weekend of April 11/12 where the 750 Motor Club host their first of two visits to Croft in 2026 followed by the popular TCR UK Touring Car Championship and Caterham meeting on 2/3 May as part of the BARC race weekend.

Just a week later, the now-established Croft Classic to Modern Car Show will take place on Saturday 9 May and will see a host of attractions for all the family with the month being rounded off with two-wheeled action in the shape of the No Limits Motorcycle race meeting on 30/31 May.

June 27/28 sees the Ginetta Festival take place followed two weeks later when the North East’s premier race circuit hosts the British Racing and Sports Car Club meeting on 11/12 July. Next up it’s the turn of the local Darlington & District Motor Club to host the traditional Battle of Britain race meeting on August 22/23 which will feature competitors contesting the various championships, including the well-supported Northern Sports and Saloon Car series.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship speeds into Croft on September 5/6 whereby
Britain’s premier four-wheeled motorsport series is undoubtedly set to be one of the headline events of the year in the region with three blockbuster encounters featuring a capacity grid as well as the usual thrills and spills from the TOCA support package.

The 750 Motor Club returns over the weekend of 19/20 September for another weekend of action before Northallerton Automobile Club organise the popular Winter Stages Rally on Sunday 29 November which will see an eclectic mix of cars and competitors on the stages into darkness.

Tickets for all meetings are available in advance and offer substantial savings over the gate price at all events. Croft Circuit also hosts various track days for bikes and cars during the season, is available for testing and corporate hire, including the new centrally located Hangar 50 Café and Hospitality Suite.

Tickets for the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Croft in September are now available in advance and make ideal Christmas gifts. If bought before January 5th, these offer huge savings and start at £18.75 (Saturday) and £29.25 (Sunday) for adults with a weekend pass in advance just £45.00.

Season Tickets are now available and if purchased pre-Christmas, are on offer at just £152.55 (full), £136.35 (car only) and £36.90 for bikes only which includes the Croft Classic to Modern Car Show and DDMC Battle of Britain meeting.

Croft Circuit 2026 Calendar

April 11/12 – 750 Motor Club Car Race Meeting
May 2/3 – BARC TCR & Caterham Car Race Meeting
May 9 – Croft Classic to Modern Car Show
May 30/31 – No Limits Motorcycle Race Meeting
June 27/28 – Ginetta Fest Weekend
July 11/12 – British Racing & Sports Car Club Race Meeting
August 22/23 – Darlington & District Motor Club Battle of Britain Race Meeting
September 5/6 – Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Meeting
September 19/20 – 750 Motor Club Car Race Meeting
November 29 – Winter Stages Rally

More details are available on the website www.croftcircuit.co.uk or by calling 01325 721815.

Organisers of the British Touring Car Championship – TOCA – have today (December 4) released the list of TOCA BTCC Licences that have been allocated to teams for the 2026 season.

Following the recent entry approval date for all TOCA BTCC Licences (TBLs), the grid of the UK’s premier motorsport series will boast nine different teams and a total of 26 cars next year.

One of the biggest additions to the grid is that of Plato Racing, the brand-new outfit that is being spearheaded by former double champion Jason Plato.

Despite yet announcing the identity of their cars and drivers, the team has already confirmed a tie-up with RML and has recruited key personnel including Paul Ridgeway and Malcolm Swetnam.

Of the existing teams on the grid, reigning champions EXCLER8 Motorsport will once again field four cars, as will Alliance Racing. Speedworks Motorsport – who have entered into a new partnership with MB Motorsport – also retain four entries.

Multiple title winners West Surrey Racing and Power Maxed Racing, who are building new cars, will both operate with three licences each.

The rest of the field – including Restart Racing, Un-Limited Motorsport and One Motorsport (who elected to sit out the second half of last season) – all hold two licences apiece.

Teams will announce full details regarding their respective entries (drivers, team names and sponsors) over the coming weeks and months, prior to the release of the finalised entry list for the forthcoming season in April.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “The continued strength of the entry is testament to the ongoing success of the BTCC.

“Much of our tried and tested format will remain of course, but with some new cars, teams and drivers, as well as the introduction of the Qualifying Race on Saturdays, there’s a lot to be excited about for the season ahead.”

2026 TOCA BTCC Licence Holders

Alliance Racing – 4
EXCELR8 Motorsport – 4
Speedworks Motorsport – 4
West Surrey Racing – 3
Plato Racing – 2
Power Maxed Racing – 3
Restart Racing – 2
One Motorsport – 2
Un-Limited Motorsport – 2

The 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season commences on April 18-19 around the Donington Park National circuit.

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.