Tag: TCR UK

The TCR UK Touring Car Championship roars back into life this weekend as the 2026 season gets underway at the iconic Brands Hatch Indy circuit.

With a packed and ultra-competitive grid assembled, the opening rounds promise to set the tone for what is shaping up to be one of the most exciting campaigns in recent years.

Strength in depth across the grid

A diverse mix of race winners, experienced contenders and rising talent will line-up on the Kent grid, all aiming to make an early statement in the title fight.

Returning champions Lewis Kent and Carl Boardley will be looking to restamp their authority at Brands Hatch. Two-time champion Boardley will harness a new Honda FL5 TCR – one of five Japanese machines expected on the grid this year, while 2019 champion Kent is behind the wheel of the Chinese Lynk & Co 03.

Even more drivers are returning for more door-to-door battles. Ireland’s Barry-John McHenry, who pilots an Audi RS3 TCR Gen2 will be looking for early podiums, while fellow countryman Rod McGovern brings the ever-competitive CUPRA Leon VZ TCR to the grid as he targets the rostrum in 2026.

The Audi contingent is bolstered further by drivers such as Jac Constable and Russell Joyce, while the Hyundai camp features proven pace through Scotland’s Callum Newsham in the futuristic looking Elantra N TCR and tin-top favourite Rick Kerry in the proven i30.

Honda machinery is set to play a major role throughout the season, with multiple drivers – including Harry Bloor, Max Hart, Jenson O’Neill Going and Maximus Hall alongside Boardley in the latest Civic Type R FL5 TCR.

Elsewhere, the grid showcases the variety that has become synonymous with TCR competition. Brad Hutchison and Mark Smith unite to bring a pair of tried and trusted CUPRAs to the pack, while Jeff Alden hopes to giant kill in the Gen 1 Opel Astra. As will new recruit Luke Allen in his Gen 1 Volkswagen Golf.

This blend of youth and experience ensures that battles will take place throughout the field – not just at the sharp end – making every race a must-watch affair.

Proven format, close competition

Renowned for its close, wheel-to-wheel racing, TCR UK continues to provide one of the most competitive platforms in British motorsport.
With tightly controlled technical regulations and a balance of performance model that keeps cars closely matched, the championship consistently delivers unpredictable results and dramatic on-track action.

The short, flowing nature of the Brands Hatch Indy circuit only adds to the spectacle, placing a premium on precision, racecraft and consistency from lights out to chequered flag.

Title race begins

As ever, the opening weekend of the season offers the first real indication of form—but with such a competitive entry list, picking an early favourite is no easy task.

What is certain, however, is that the battle for supremacy in 2026 will be hard-fought from the very first lap.

With teams primed and anticipation building, the stage is set for the TCR UK Championship to once again deliver high-octane entertainment.
Brands Hatch provides the perfect backdrop—and by the end of the weekend, the first chapter of the 2026 title fight will begin. Hold onto your hats!.

The next round of the TCR UK series is upon us – we head to Snetterton, a place Ryan Bensley will be hoping brings some eastern promise. The driver from Kings Lynn revels on his home circuit whether it be the 200 or 300 layout used this weekend. He made his BTCC debut earlier this year as a last minute replacement for Michael Crees, while just a fortnight ago as part of the WRC Developments squad won the C1 24 Hour race at Snetterton. Racing against the clock – Bensley hopes to line-up in a TCR car this weekend. We check in with the Norfolk-based driver as we build-up to a massive BARC weekend at his home track.

TCR UK is where you now reside, but can we wind the clock back – you have a pretty cool childhood claim to fame, right?

“I started when I was eight years old in karting – I actually raced against Lewis Hamilton. All the meetings he talks about, I was at the same meetings. I am 40 now and have been racing for a long time. We have just taken different paths,” grins the tin-top racer. “I went through the karting ranks and in my early twenties did Stock Hatch and won that championship in 2008 which seems like like a long time ago.I had a few years out between 2011-2016 – I did a little bit of C1 racing with Josh Cook and came back into the Civic Cup which is a really, really tough series – that was really hard.The next natural progression seemed to be the TCR championship. I always wanted to race a touring car style car – never been interested in single-seaters and when a chance came I had to look at it seriously.”

It all happened only last year with the big Chinese Lynk & Co saloon becoming available. Not a car we see on the UK roads but a formidable race car used on the World stage (WTCR).

“The car became available, the previous team I was with bought one and said do you want to buy this car from Viktor Anderson who had it for sale. I bought it from Viktor – long story short brought it to Motion. We spent a lot of money on the car as it was an older car to bring it up to spec and they have brought it back to a brand new, fresh car almost.”

“We took it to Silverstone at the back end of last year and were fifth and had pace to be third, which surprised us. We have struggled a little bit this year because of the BOP, so we are playing to the strengths of our car which is on the brakes and traction. We are always going to struggle against the Gen 3 cars.”

Was there any reason for the Lynk & Co choice? We love unique cars and their stories…

“I chose it because it was available. I actually didn’t know much about the car and did some digging and saw Cyan Racing had done well with them on the world stage – so thought it is a good car, but it is currently under developed in the UK so its tricky to bring it up to speed – especially as it is the only one, there is no data to share. We have tested at Snetteron and feel happy with the car – it would be great at Thruxton with the aero but sadly we aren’t going there this year.”

What is it like to drive – for those of us that haven’t driven a TCR car?

“They are quite forgiving to drive at 95% – even when they start to slide it’s nice and progressive – compared to a Civic Cup car which moves around a lot and is always on the edge. It’s getting that extra 5% where the car transforms and can either be on a knife edge or if in that operating window – it is so nice to drive. It is a big steep leaning curve as there is so much to adjust from a technical side. They are designed to do everything well and from a drivers perspective they are so nice to drive compared to anything else I have driven. Those last few tenths are always the hardest to find!”

And you have some good people in your camp. We saw Josh Cook and Jade Edwards with you at Silverstone. Is that a one off or a longer term thing?

“Jade does some coaching and Josh is here to pick up some tips, and I can’t shake him off,” laughs Ryan. “I have known Josh for a long time since the Stock Hatch days and when I came back to racing – his career progression was great to see and to have someone like that around is really helpful.”

We last saw you at Silverstone. What’s next for you?

“We are doing a few rounds this year. I missed Croft and Oulton Park, but hope to be on the grid for my home race at Snetterton – it’s my local as I am only 40 minutes away. I am hoping to do a full year in 2026, but it all comes down to budget and how we get on with the car.”

We have to ask you. Not only do you have a unique car, you have quite a unique race suit. For those who haven’t seen it – can you tell us about it?

“Well it’s a proper suit for a race suit. My day job is a mortgage broker – I have a brokerage firm – ironically I don’t wear a suit at work – just a shirt, but having seen some NASCAR drivers wear these kind of designs, I just thought I had to do one myself. I thought it would be something different and is a quirky thing. Some people love it, some people think I am mad, I forget I have it on sometimes as people give me funny looks and second takes. I just like something different I suppose.”

The TCR UK championship battles its way into Snetterton for the gigantic meeting of the summer – as the tin-top series joins up with the powerful Britcar Endurance teams and the monstrous British Truck Racing Championship. You don’t want to miss a thing!

The TCR UK series for 2025 is making its British Automobile Racing Club bow – with the tin-top series working alongside the BARC in a new era for the championship. One man also making his debut in 2025 is 17-year-old Finn Leslie – who is one of the youngest drivers on any of our grids – driving his Hyundai i30 in TCR UK.

Leslie – despite his tender age, has plenty of pedigree behind the wheel in his short career so far. We let Finn pick up the story from here…

“It started about eight or nine years ago – I used to go karting once a week at my local track and it evolved from there. I did the British Kart Championships and things like that. I won the Kartmasters Grand Prix that happens every year and when the time was right I wanted to switch to car racing which was the natural progression from karting, and that was at the end of 2023.”

When speaking to the Motorsport UK Academy member – it was clear to see his incredible focus and drive, and from a young age he knew where he wanted to take his racing ambition.

“We looked at all the junior series and chose the Fiesta Juniors which at the time was a support series to TCR UK. We did two rounds at the end of 2023 and that’s when I took my first win in car racing. I won the title last year and it’s now great to see someone else getting the joy out of the car now.

“It was always a dream of mine to race in touring cars from the very beginning and to have the opportunity to step into TCR UK and do it at such a young age was an opportunity I just couldn’t turn down. I used to watch touring cars on ITV every Sunday and it’s the racing I enjoy – the close wheel-to-wheel battles you get in tin-top racing is second to none.”

With the realisation that the Wakefield driver would be achieving a living room dream – getting to take a top-flight touring car around some of Britain’s best circuits was certainly the dawning of reality for the youngster.

“It’s not just the speed, it’s the fact the car is on big slick tyres, better brakes – the whole package was just different when I first drove it. It was a shock to the system, and I did one test day before the start of the season and was really thrown into the unknown.”

Leslie has had to acclimatise at the start of the year – and acclimatise he most certainly did, with the Hyundai star looking right at home against the series regulars. So far this season the Power Maxed Racing driver has notched up a podium at Donington and currently sits in sixth in the standings heading to Croft.

“Our target for this year was to get a podium and we did that in the first round so now we are pushing for even more. There was no real expectation when we arrived – it was all about taking it race by race. The new Cupras have an advantage in a straight line – no two ways about that. There isn’t much we can do about that so we have to get our heads down and make the most out of the package under us – which will be good at certain circuits this year once we get the package refined. I can’t wait for Croft.”

It’s not just a podium on his wishlist – Finn is focused on more this season. Can we begin to dream of the top step?

“I would love to win a race – that’s now the goal, it has to be for any driver. We are getting there now with the car to make me feel comfortable. I think we need things to go our way as well – but anything is possible in this championship.”

See how Finn gets on at Croft this weekend as three more TCR UK rounds await!
Tickets are from £17 with kids under 15 going free. Tickets can be purchased right here – https://croftcircuit.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/barc-tcr

The Croft BARC race weekend will also be broadcast live and for free on our YouTube channel – www.youtube.com/@britishautomobileracingclub