One Motorsport can today (21 February) announce that it will take a planned pause from competing in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship for the 2024 season, with the aim of returning to the grid to fight for outright honours in 2025.

Having spent a number of years operating as a successful and totally independent front-running team in the UK’s premier motorsport series, Team Owner Steve Dudman has made the difficult decision to press pause on the outfits immediate involvement in the championship this year.

While the team may not be lining up on the grid this year, the team aims to undertake an extensive development programme and testing on its fleet of Honda Civic Type Rs, before a planned return to the entry list in 2025.

Since debuting in the BTCC, the Brackley-based outfit - formerly known as BTC Racing - has enjoyed tremendous success, with back-to-back Independent Drivers’ and Teams’ with a total of 19 wins and 52 podiums.

The highlight of earning the aforementioned Independents crowns in 2022 and 2023 showed the strength, dedication, and professionalism of every member of the race team, in particular the contribution and leadership of Paul Hartley.

“This has been an extremely difficult decision to make however it has been made for the betterment of the team and guaranteeing our future success in the sport,” said One Motorsport Team Owner, Steve Dudman.

“It goes without saying that everyone shall be facing their own challenges this year, from drivers to sponsors alike, and we are no different to that. There has been a lot of back and forth in regard to what our 2024 plans would be, but when I finally made this decision after discussion with TOCA, I knew deep down it was the right one at this time.

“We won’t be downing tools as we have clear programme of work that we want to carry out on both our chassis’, aero and cooling systems together with our engine programmes this year with our highly respected partners NBE. With what we hope will be a year on the sidelines, we can come back next season in a strong position and hit the ground running and with a fresh look in everything we do. We’ll be sure to keep everyone posted as things progress.

“I have to say a massive thank you to every team member, each supplier and race partner supplying us with such strong support in the championship that has been with us on this journey so far, as without them all, we wouldn’t have achieved anywhere near the amount of the success we have done in the series.

“A heartfelt thank you also goes to our three drivers from last year - Josh Cook, Aiden Moffat and Jade Edwards - for their unrelenting hard work and commitment. I’m sure they will enjoy plenty of success in their endeavours this year. A special mention to Bob & Donna Moffat, Phil & Sue Hartley, Debbie & Chris Palmer and the rest of the whole hospitality team, as well as our media team for their support in 2023. Also, a massive thank you to all of our friends, fans and supporters, you are all very special people to us.

“Finally, I’d like to thank Alan Gow and TOCA for their understanding and guidance on this matter. It goes without saying that we’ll be keeping a keen eye on the Championship this year and we wish the other teams and drivers the very best of luck for the forthcoming season."

Prior to the NAPA Racing UK announcement we caught up with Dan Cammish to talk about his BTCC journey and his hopes for 2024 and beyond.

From his six full seasons in the BTCC and his seven plus years in the TOCA paddock, Cammish gives un an insight into life as a driver a part of a champion team.

The 12-time winner also talks about his future, what to expect during the 2024 season and what could come after.

To watch the full video head over to the BTCC YouTube channel or Facebook page.

Following a stunning 2023 season that saw it win the Drivers’, Manufacturers’ and Teams’ Championships, NAPA Racing UK will once again compete in the biggest series in the UK with a four-car assault on the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, alongside partners Alliance Racing.

An unchanged driver line-up will be led by defending champion Ash Sutton, who goes into 2024 looking to become the first driver in history to win five Drivers’ championship titles.

Ash equalled the record held by Andy Rouse and Colin Turkington last year after a dominant campaign that included no fewer than twelve wins, with the 30-year-old emerging as the class of the field in a season that will live long in the memory.

“After an incredible two years with the team already and the latter being a record-breaking year claiming my fourth title, this now means I am fully focused to go after more. Let’s get 2024 underway, the car finished in a good place but that doesn’t mean it’s been left there. More development has been going on back at HQ and I can’t wait to get back in the hot seat,” said Sutton.

Dan Cammish embarks on his third year in NAPA Racing UK colours, looking to join Ash in challenging for the championship having shown race-winning pace across the past two seasons.

The multiple Porsche Carrera Cup title winner was a three-time victor last season as he played his part in the team’s championship success and goes into 2024 amongst the fancied runners in the battle for top honours.

“I am very much looking forward to continuing with NAPA Racing UK for 2023. I am very proud to be part of such a fantastic team and have learnt a great deal over the past two seasons. I intend to use everything at my disposal to bring NAPA Racing more success in the coming season and look forward to getting back on track soon with my team-mates,” said Cammish.

Daniel Rowbottom returns for his second season as part of the NAPA Racing UK family on the back of his strongest BTCC campaign to date last year. A race winner at Thruxton, Daniel secured his best championship finish so far and set a new personal best for points scored. With these two records, he will now be looking to join Cammish and Sutton in the hunt for championship honours.

“To go into 2024 with NAPA Racing UK is an amazing feeling, with one year under our belt we have a great understanding of how we all work. To be a part of the success of 2023, and to be able to have contributed in a positive way is a great feeling, but it has left me hungrier and more ready than ever. I’ve been in the gym since the flag fell at Brands GP and I don’t think I’ve ever placed myself in a better position to start a season. It’s going to be a great one, let’s go racing!” said Rowbottom.

The four-car line-up is once again completed by Sam Osborne. A career-best finish at Donington Park, combined with a total of 14 points finishes (almost doubling his previous best), meant that like Rowbottom – Osborne enjoyed the best season of his BTCC career in 2023. Osborne will once again be challenging for the Jack Sears Trophy title.

NAPA Racing UK will also continue to have a presence elsewhere on the TOCA package, with a three-car entry into the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE.

Ahead of the first race of the season for NAPA Racing UK, the team will be revealing the new livery and driver’s racewear for the season ahead in the coming weeks.

The Application of Hybrid Technology to the British Touring Car Championship claimed first prize for Outstanding Achievement in the field of Motorsport Engineering at a Silverstone ceremony earlier today (16 February).

The IMechE’s Automobile Division held its annual presentation of the Adrian Reynard Motorsports Medal, an award that recognises an individual or a team of people, working in the field of motorsports engineering, who have demonstrated an outstanding technical achievement or have made a significant contribution to the advancement of engineering in motorsports.

The award, this year, was presented to both TOCA – operator of the BTCC – and Cosworth Electronics Ltd, for their joint efforts in applying hybrid technology to the British Touring Car Championship. 

TOCA introduced hybrid technology in 2021, before its competitive debut the following season, which now sees each car provided with a certain amount of additional ‘boosts’ to use during qualifying and the races.

The technical definition of the hybrid system was led by TOCA and the development and application of the system to the BTCC race cars was undertaken jointly by TOCA and Cosworth Electronics. The two companies worked closely together on this project, which is why they were both recognised.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “We are extremely proud that TOCA – alongside its trusted partner in Cosworth Electronics – has been recognised for an outstanding achievement in the field of motorsport engineering.

“It required a huge effort after announcing the project back in 2018 – becoming the first major touring car championship to do so – with everything that then happened in the world significantly adding to that challenge.

“The introduction of hybrid technology has been widely praised and a huge success and we are delighted that its engineering advances have also been rewarded today. Incorporating hybrid ensures the BTCC remains absolutely relevant to manufacturers, sponsors and the public, as well as further enhancing our great racing. 

“It’s important that I acknowledge and thank the outstanding work from Cosworth, the teams, our suppliers and my TOCA Technical Team for playing their part in winning this fantastic award.”

Richard Woodgate, Lead Applications Engineer at Cosworth Electronics, said: “The requirements given by TOCA to Cosworth, to supply the first ever cost-effective Hybrid system for touring car competition was a huge challenge. Using our expertise in the knowledge of drivetrain technology and electronics, we are thrilled to have achieved just that, a turn-key solution that could be used by any formula, with practicality, costs, ease of use and performance at the fore.

“We are very proud of every team member who has contributed to this ground-breaking achievement within the motorsport sector, this award will go towards spurring on our next generation of engineers chasing the demanding challenges of an ever changing, cleaner and efficient motorsport arena.”

The 2024 BTCC Season Launch is only two months away and will take place at Donington Park on 16th April. FREE ENTRY will be available for all spectators wishing to attend, with the fantastic Garage 39 being open for refreshments.

With two prior test days at Brands Hatch (3rd April) and Croft (10th April), both offering FREE ENTRY to spectators with refreshments also available throughout the day, the BTCC teams descend onto Donington Park for the season launch of 2024.

Whilst official television and photography make up the early morning activities at Donington, it will then be full focus on the final official pre-season test with six hours of on-track action commencing from 10:00.

With each of the two three-hour sessions being split by a traditional lunch break, spectators will be able to get autographs and photos with their favourite driver during a pitlane walkabout – identical to those famously run during BTCC race weekends.

Gates will open to the public from 10:00, with Circuit Owner MSV opening its food and refreshment outlets, whilst spectators can get up close and personal with the latest line-up in the open paddock area throughout the day.

Keep an eye across the BTCC, MSV and BARC channels for further information on each event nearer the time.

Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 has today (14 February) confirmed that Tom Ingram and Tom Chilton will reunite to spearhead the team’s assault on the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

The pair will head into their fourth and third seasons respectively with their Hyundai cars, which will once again compete in Britain’s premier race series with title-backing from leading automotive retailer Bristol Street Motors.

Tom Ingram – who will make his 300^th start in the series this season - goes into 2024 looking to try and reclaim the championship title he secured for the first time in 2022, having finished as runner-up in the standings last year to Ash Sutton.

His three years with the team so far have seen the 30-year-old enjoy huge success on track beyond his championship win, with Ingram securing eleven wins and 38 podium finishes since his first race in EXCELR8 colours.

Ingram will continue to work alongside ace engineer Spencer Aldridge, who has led the winter development programme on the Hyundai, as the team bids to fight for championship honours.

Chilton meanwhile is one of the most experienced drivers in BTCC history and is scheduled to make his 500^th series start later this year.

The 38-year-old ended a four-year win drought in the series last season with a dramatic victory at Donington Park, and has his sights firmly fixed on more silverware during the upcoming campaign.

As a result of the team’s recent collaboration with Team Dynamics, Chilton will now be engineered by experienced figure Barry Plowman, who played a key role in championships wins with both Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden in the past.

The revised look of the Hyundai i30 N Fastback, celebrating 100 years of Bristol Street Motors, will be revealed next month, along with official confirmation of the team’s name for the 2024 campaign.

Ingram and Chilton join second-year racer Ronan Pearson in the EXCELR8 line-up, with the fourth driver in the team to be confirmed in due course ahead of the new season starting at Donington Park in late April.

Tom Ingram said:
“Last year, we were the only team to really take the fight to Ash for the title, and it was only one race at Knockhill that ultimately prevented us from taking that fight right to the very end.

“The fact that we were still in contention going into the final round, when Ash had so many wins, showed that we were very consistent, but we just didn’t have the outright pace on a few occasions. Over the winter, we have been working hard to make what is already a strong package, even stronger, so that when racing gets underway this season, we will have a car that is both consistent and quick every weekend.

“This is a championship where you can never stand still, and our focus has to be on making sure we leave no stone unturned to do the best job possible. We know that it’s going to be a hugely competitive season, as it always is, and we go into 2024 with one aim – reclaiming that championship title.”

Tom Chilton said:
“Getting back onto the top step of the podium was fantastic last season, although obviously there was some disappointment on my side that it was the only win we managed to take. With everything that has been going on behind the scenes over the winter, I feel we head into 2024 in a good position, and I feel extremely positive about what we can achieve.

“The opportunity to work with Barry this season is something I’m really excited about too, as we had a great relationship when I drove for Team Dynamics in the past. This new partnership is bringing together two of the best engineering teams that have competed in the series, and is a further indication of how serious Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 is about fighting for this championship. It’s mega to be a part of it again.”

Justina Williams, Team Owner, said:
“Retaining Tom and Tom was a no-brainer for us as a team given the part they have both played in the success we have enjoyed in recent years.

"They both have the knowledge and experience of what it takes to be successful in this championship, and you can’t underestimate how important that is – particularly when you consider the strength in depth that we are set to face on 2024 grid.

“Our relationship with Tom, Tom and Bristol Street Motors is one that has been a massive success over the last few seasons and we are excited to see how it develops over the year ahead.”

Robert Forrester, Chief Executive of Bristol Street Motors, said:
“Bristol Street Motors is looking forward to another successful year alongside EXCELR8 both on and off track in the British Touring Car Championship, and both Tom Ingram and Tom Chilton have a big part to play in that.

“Not only are they two experienced drivers who will deliver the results on track, they are also two fantastic ambassadors for the Bristol Street Motors brand, which is key in enabling us to engage with BTCC fans throughout the season.”

The pair, the team and the paddock will be back on track at the first BTCC test at Brands Hatch on Wednesday 3rd April with FREE entry for all.

Over the last five weeks season four of the 'On The Limit' series has been aired covering the 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship. All episodes are now available for all to watch, anytime.

The series followed Dan Rowbottom (NAPA Racing UK), Adam Morgan (Team BMW) and Andrew Watson (CarStore Power Maxed Racing) throughout the year giving a behind the scenes view of their 2023 season.

The documentary dives in deeper to the championship and also highlights the battle between both Ash Sutton and Tom Ingram for the title along with the Jack Sears Trophy inter-team battle between Watson and Mikey Doble.

All episodes are now available to watch on YouTube along with a feature-length film including all episodes in one place.

Scot joins fellow multiple race-winner Josh Cook at Speedworks' satellite squad.

Aiden Moffat will partner Josh Cook at LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship in 2024, as the Scot targets a return to ‘fighting at the front’ behind the wheel of the Speedworks Motorsport-run Toyota Corolla GR Sport.
 
Moffat made history when he joined the BTCC grid on home soil at Knockhill back in 2013. Aged just 16 years, 10 months and 28 days, he became the youngest driver ever to contest the UK’s premier motor racing series – and in evidence of his raw talent, he was a points-scorer in only his fourth start.
 
Since then, the Dalkeith native has gone on to notch up four race wins, ten further podiums, a pole position and two fastest laps. A career-high eighth overall in 2021, Moffat has also been a consistent top six finisher in the Independents’ title battle for the past three seasons.
 
Not only that, but the 27-year-old already has a good relationship with Cook, with the pair similarly teaming up in 2023 elsewhere on the grid – and that consistency is sure to be another key attribute in one of the toughest championships around.
 
The forthcoming campaign will get underway at Leicestershire circuit Donington Park on 27/28 April – scene of Moffat’s maiden BTCC victory seven years ago and home soil for the British-built Corolla GR Sport, whose road-going cousins are produced at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) in nearby Burnaston. All of the action season-long will be broadcast live and in high-definition on ITV channels.
 
Christian Dick, Team Principal, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ, said:
 
“Aiden is an established race-winner in the BTCC and arrives with a rare blend of youth and experience – there are not many 27-year-olds with ten full seasons under their belt! He is a fast and uncompromising racer who I have no doubt will get the very best out of the Toyota Corolla. 
 
“His prior relationship with Josh is also clearly a benefit. We know how well they work together, and between them, they tick every box for what it takes to be successful in the series. It promises to be a fantastic season ahead for LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ. We can’t wait to go racing!”
 
Aiden Moffat, Driver, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ, said:
 
“I’m really excited to join Speedworks and LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ in the Toyota Corolla while continuing to race alongside Josh. The car looked very strong in so many areas last year, and seeing where the team is already working to improve – with a solid pre-season testing plan in-place – fills me with a lot of confidence that I can get back to fighting at the front.
 
“A massive thank you to all my loyal sponsors and everybody involved in making this deal happen, and of course all of the Speedworks team for their belief in me. It’s great to have the buzz back heading into this season. Let’s get going!”
 
Colin Cottrell, Trade B2B and Marketing Director, LKQ Euro Car Parts, said: 
 
“We’ve supported Aiden over the past two seasons in the BTCC and it’s great to see him returning to the track for another year, this time with Speedworks as part of the LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ team. Aiden and Josh are a dynamic duo, and I look forward to seeing what the 2024 campaign has in-store for them in the Toyota Corolla. Best of luck, team!”
 
Helen Carling, Commercial Director, SYNETIQ, said: 
 
“We’re thrilled about the new LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ team. Many of our clients and colleagues are huge motorsport fans, so this is a particularly proud moment for us all.”

An exciting collaboration for the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season has today (9 February) been announced after EXCELR8 revealed that its title-winning BTCC team has relocated to the Team Dynamics facility in Droitwich.

The multi-year partnership will see EXCELR8’s BTCC outfit – as well as the new Porsche Carrera Cup operation launched last year – relocate to the state-of-the-art factory in the first phase of a new partnership between the two teams.

The Droitwich facility is the base from which Team Dynamics secured multiple championships whilst running the works Honda programme, with the team amongst the most successful in BTCC history.

Whilst the BTCC and Porsche teams will now run from a new home, EXCELR8’s successful MINI CHALLENGE operation will continue to be based in the existing factory in Brome, Suffolk.

The move is part of a wider collaboration which will now aim to harness the combined expertise of both organisations as EXCELR8 prepares for the 2024 BTCC and Porsche Carrera Cup GB seasons.

Justina Williams, EXCELR8 Team Owner, said: “This is a very exciting time in the development of the EXCELR8 team, which – of course – includes our Team Partners, Drivers and Team Members.

“We have been evaluating a change of location to improve our logistics and fit in with our team for a couple of years but had struggled to find a suitable location. When I started to speak to Matt Neal about the Team Dynamics facility in Droitwich, it became clear that the move could offer far more than just a base for our operation, and could instead be the start of a new partnership.

“EXCELR8 will continue to run Hyundais under the EXCELR8 name with our Swindon-developed Hyundai engines, as they have offered us great support on what is a fantastic platform in the i30N and has been very successful.

“The aim is to bring additional skills and experience from Team Dynamics into the EXCELR8 fold to strengthen our BTCC programme. We will therefore be welcoming Barry Plowman on board to work alongside Spencer Aldridge, our highly-respected championship-winning Lead Engineer, and the wider EXCELR8 team.

“It is also key to state that we will continue to focus on our MINI operation, which will stay based in Suffolk, with our Porsche programme also relocating to Droitwich.”

Matt Neal, Team Dynamics Motorsport Managing Director, said: “Our philosophy is ‘teamwork makes the dream work’ and what could be better than marrying together two BTCC winning teams! As with EXCELR8, we are all about teamwork and efficiency, so we’ll be

sharing resources and knowledge – as well as our fantastic purpose-built premises, equipment, and logistics – to help them win further Championships during the coming seasons.

“This is a multi-year deal which will see us collaborate on many different projects and opportunities. We will also continue to operate in other championships as Team Dynamics, and will be running cars in the classic race world, endurance championships and GTs.

“There are exciting times ahead as we bring together all our experience and commercial relationships under one roof.”

We caught up with Andrew Watson for his first and exclusive interview following his move to TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK.

In this feature-length interview with Andrew we discuss his move to the Speedworks-run outfit, his motorsport journey, his 2023 Jack Sears Trophy success and his targets for 2024.

See the full video below via our YouTube channel. Alternatively you can find the video on our Facebook page.