Get ready for the ‘Race to Pole’

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The 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will kick off at Donington Park this Saturday (18 April), and history will be made as the all-new Qualifying Race is run for the very first time.

The ‘Race to Pole’ was introduced during the off-season following a meeting between Series Organiser – TOCA – and its competing teams, when it was decided that a short, sharp Qualifying Race would take place every Saturday at every race weekend. Not only will this race set the grid for Sunday’s opener, but it was also agreed that a further 100 points would be made available during the season, providing an historic and significant dynamic shift in the overall race for the championship.

After the one 40-minute Free Practice takes place, the finishing order will be split into two groups, odd-finishing-numbers (Group 1) and even-finishing-numbers (Group 2). Each group will get a 15-minute qualifying session to set their fastest times. The group with the fastest qualifying time will occupy the odd-numbered grid positions for the Qualifying Race, ordered by their respective qualifying times. The other group will occupy the even-numbered grid positions, also ordered by qualifying times.

15 minutes after the qualifying session for Group 2 has concluded, the standard grid procedure for a race start begins, and the pit lane opens. The finishing order of the shorter, roughly 15-minute ‘Race to Pole’ will determine the grid for the first of Sunday’s traditional trio of races.

Half-points are awarded for the Qualifying Race. There are no bonus points for leading a lap, the fastest lap, or for pole position for the Qualifying Race, whereas the bonus points for leading a lap and the fastest lap are still available on Sunday. Making 76 the highest score across a race weekend, more than the 67 of recent years.

Qualifying and the Qualifying Race can be found LIVE on the ITV Sport YouTube Channel worldwide for the very first time this Saturday from 13:50. You won't want to miss it!

WSR begin a new Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season this weekend at the very same venue – Donington Park in the East Midlands – where the team made their series debut 30 years ago.
 
Incredible success has been achieved in the intervening period including a record 137 race wins, five Drivers’ Championships and 18 overall titles, plus nine Independent Drivers’ and Teams’ crowns.
 
For 2026 the team from Sunbury-on-Thames is targeting more success with a pair of BMW 330i M Sport race cars driven by two of the series’ most promising up-and-comers, Daryl De Leon and Charles Rainford. 
 
Pre-season running has been successful for the team with Daryl topping the timesheets in the recent official BTCC test at Croft and Charles doing likewise at Brands Hatch last week.
 
While the 1.9-mile Donington National track is less suited to the BMW’s rear-wheel-drive layout than either Croft or Brands Hatch, it has provided nine wins for WSR, who enter the season as an Independent team for the first time since winning the categories for non-Manufacturer Drivers and Teams in 2014.
 
Cambridgeshire racer Daryl, 20, made his first appearance for WSR at Donington last year, beginning a successful season in which he scored his first overall victory and won the Jack Sears Trophy.
 
Charles, from Horsham, East Sussex, made his BTCC debut at Donington Park in 2025 after stepping up from the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, but took just one further weekend to become a race winner. He finished in eighth place as leading rookie in the points.

Daryl De Leon, #2 WSR, said: “Last year, my first with WSR, was huge. First win, first pole positions and the Jack Sears Trophy… It went so quickly and now we’re back, almost at the first race of 2026 and ready to go again. I’m back in the same BMW with the same engineer and that consistency of the environment will be important as we aim to go even better and turn more of our good qualifying results into podiums and, ultimately, wins. We have a strong package and while Donington – a front-wheel-drive track – might not be the best place to show everybody what we can do, I think we can finish well.”

Charles Rainford, #99 WSR, said: “It’s hard to believe a year has passed since my BTCC debut, and so much has happened in that time. I knew the racing element would be hard, but it’s absolutely brutal compared to what I’ve experienced before and that definitely took some adjusting to. I feel like a BTCC driver now coming into season two and I’m excited about what we can do this year. Testing has gone well and the updates to the BMW seem to be working, so for the season as a whole, I’m certainly targeting wins and podiums, so let’s see if we can have a run at a title.”

Dick Bennetts, WSR Team Principal: “Thirty years and just over a week ago we made our BTCC debut at Donington Park and here we are, 18 championship titles and 137 race wins later, back at the same track to start a new season with two updated BMWs and the two most exciting young drivers on the grid. It’s been very good to top the times at both official pre-season tests, but we should remember that Brands Hatch and Croft have traditionally been circuits that have suited the BMW whereas Donington’s shorter layout has always favoured front-wheel-drive cars. It’s also difficult to know who has shown their full hand, but we know our BMWs have been improved over the winter in a number of areas. The new Qualifying Race format is great for fans, but an added challenge for teams, which is something our years of experience should help us navigate.”

Tom Ingram says the pressure is off as he approaches the forthcoming Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship campaign, when the defending title-holder will seek to add a third career crown to his increasingly impressive résumé in the UK’s premier motor racing series.
 
Ingram was the indisputable cream of the BTCC crop last year, sealing the deal with a round to spare at Brands Hatch back in October, as a record-breaking points haul saw him add the 2025 trophy to the one he had already clinched in 2022.
 
Along the way, the Team VERTU star notched up no fewer than seven race wins – taking his overall victory count to 40, a tally bettered only by six other drivers in the championship’s near seven-decade history – and 11 further podium finishes. Underscoring his outstanding consistency, on just four occasions in 30 starts did he take the chequered flag outside of the top five in the high-calibre, 25-strong field.
 
It was by any measure a true masterclass, and Ingram has entered 2026 in much the same vein. Starting as he means to go on, he confidently topped the timesheets on the opening day of the first official pre-season test at Croft behind the wheel of his EXCELR8 Motorsport-prepared Hyundai i30N, dipping underneath his own qualifying lap record around the challenging North Yorkshire circuit that he established last summer.
 
After setting the pace in the dry, the talented Bucks-born ace also posted the theoretical fastest lap time in the wet later the same day, based upon every driver linking together their three quickest sectors.
 
In a series famed for its unpredictability, however, 2026 looks harder to call than ever before, with three new models of car on the starting grid and a raft of regulation changes, including a small but significant adjustment to the way TOCA Turbo Boost (TTB) works and – most notably – the introduction of the new Qualifying Race on Saturday afternoons.
 
Approximately 15 minutes in duration, the final classification of this will determine the grid positions for the first of three full-length contests the following day, with championship points on offer to the top ten finishers – injecting yet another element into the equation and promising to keep competitors constantly on their toes.
 
It is a challenge Ingram is relishing, and as he sets his sights on the successful acquisition of the most coveted prize in British motorsport once again, he has vowed to leave no stone unturned.
 
Battle will get underway this weekend (18/19 April) around Donington Park’s National Circuit – where the 32-year-old Coventry-based racer sped to a trio of runner-up results 12 months ago – followed by outings at Brands Hatch Indy (9/10 May), Snetterton (23/24 May), Oulton Park (6/7 June), Thruxton (25/26 July), Knockhill (8/9 August), Donington Park GP (22/23 August), Croft (5/6 September) and Silverstone (26/27 September), before concluding with the traditional season finale at Brands Hatch GP (10/11 October).
 
Saturday afternoon’s Qualifying session (14:00) and ‘Race to Pole’ (15:05) at Donington will both be streamed live worldwide on ITV Sport’s YouTube channel, with every moment of Sunday’s doorhandle-to-doorhandle action to be shown live and in high-definition on ITV4 and ITVX, beginning at 10:45. The full race day schedule will additionally be aired live around the globe on the BTCC YouTube channel, with the exception of the UK and North America, where there are existing broadcast agreements in-place.
 
Tom Ingram, Driver, Team VERTU, said: “I think we’re in good shape. Pre-season preparations have gone well. We were quick at Croft, and then in the second group test at Brands Hatch last week, we focussed on following our own programme – I don’t think I pressed the ‘boost’ button all day and we certainly didn’t chase any lap times.
 
“The package feels really strong; given how fast the Hyundai was last year, we’ve deliberately not made any major changes or tried to reinvent the wheel. You can never sit still, of course, because by doing that you go backwards, but it’s also all-too-easy to go backwards by interfering too much so you need to be sure the changes you make will have a positive effect.
 
“With that in mind, our approach over the winter has been more evolution than revolution, just chipping away at both performance and reliability through a really structured testing and development programme, and I’m very pleased with the progress we’ve made.
 
“With the introduction of a Saturday race halving our free practice time, it’ll be so important to hit the ground running right from the start of every weekend to ensure we’re as fully-prepared for qualifying as we can possibly be.
 
“There’s also obviously been a change to the way boost is deployed, meaning the disparity between having it and not having it will be greater than before and will make it even harder for those without to make much headway, so that will inevitably have an impact.
 
“I think we will see a lot more tactics in play this season, and it might be that it’s better to not lead the championship until the final weekend, or to sacrifice individual results along the way in favour of the bigger picture. I predict plenty of gamesmanship in that respect and we will need to be smarter than ever in terms of strategy – it will be vital as a team to make sure we leave absolutely nothing to chance.
 
“The level of competition looks super-high – we know the Fords will be strong and the BMWs are always there-or-thereabouts, and then there is the unknown of the new Mercedes and Audis – but we’ll get our first indication of where everybody is in the pecking-order in just a few days’ time.
 
“None of us really know quite how the new regulations will play out, but our aim as ever will be to get through the first weekend relatively unscathed and score as many points as possible to set ourselves up for a successful season.
 
“It goes without saying that the ultimate goal is to take the title again. Having now proved that we can win it more than once, I don’t feel the same pressure or emotion as I did heading into my first championship defence in 2023, which means we can go out there and really enjoy it – and then we’ll see where we end up come Brands Hatch in October.”

The 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship bursts into life at Donington Park this weekend (18/19 April) for the opening event of the year. Here’s all the information you need to know to keep up with all of the action…

For the very first time, the BTCC field will have an all-new Saturday format to adapt to, as the debut showing of the Qualifying Race will culminate Saturday’s full-throttle theatre.

Free Practice kickstarts the weekend, cut down to only one 40-minute session. Instead of FP2, we go straight into qualifying. Two groups get their own 15-minute session, split from the finishing order of practice. The group with the fastest time will take the odd-numbered grid spots for the Qualifying Race. 15 minutes after qualifying, the pit lane opens ahead of the ‘Race for Pole’. A 13-lap race will then take place with half points awarded, as the result forms the grid for the first of the traditional trio of races on Sunday.

Less than one week ago, the 2026 grid headed to Brands Hatch for the final of the three official pre-season testing days. The 21-car grid hit the track and gathered as much data as possible in preparation for the looming first event of the campaign.

This weekend’s race day action will feature on the home of the BTCC, ITV4, from 1045 on Sunday (19 April), while the ITV YouTube page will host the Qualifying Race and Qualifying on Saturday (18 April) from 1350.

As in 2025, each race day of the season – including all support series’ races – will be streamed LIVE around the globe on the BTCC YouTube channel, with the exception of the UK and North America, which have existing broadcast arrangements.

The BTCC will be aired LIVE in North America (US and Canada), continuing the multi-year agreement with the RACER Network, streaming live and on demand as part of a long-term agreement with the championship.

All 30 races are scheduled to air on the main RACER channel, whilst support series’ and extended BTCC highlights will be available to watch via the RACER+ App, the network’s premium motorsports streaming platform. Race 1 will begin at 06:25 Eastern Time (ET) with Race 2 following at 09:35ET and Race 3 closing out the day’s racing at 12:25ET.

Click here for the full TV guide for Donington Park

Thousands of fans enjoy the final pre-season test at Brands Hatch

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The 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is ready for take off after more than 9,000 fans attended the final pre-season test at Brands Hatch today (8 April).

With media commitments kicking off proceeding early this morning, all 21 cars took to the track for six hours of running under quite glorious sunny conditions.

As so often is the case it was the closing moments of the afternoon that proved pivotal to the timesheets with WSR's Charles Rainford setting a blistering pace in his #99 BMW 330i M Sport.

Almost the entire field had been covered by just over a second until Rainford's late 47.102s flyer, which sent him more than three tenths clear of the chasing pack.

The group behind was led by NAPA Racing UK's Dan Cammish and Speedworks Corolla Racing's Josh Cook, who both also left it late to fire in their best effort.

It had looked like a PMR Audi one-two – as it had been during the morning session – but Dexter Patterson (Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing) and Mikey Doble (LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing) eventually had to settle for fourth and fifth. It was still a stellar day for PMR as the team showcased its all-new Audi A3 Saloons.

Two former champions were next in the order with Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK) pipping Gordon Shedden (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport) to a top six finish in the afternoon.

Árón Taylor-Smith (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport) and James Dorlin (Restart Racing) failed to improve upon their morning times, but still ended up seventh and ninth respectively, whilst Adam Morgan rounded out the top ten for the debutant Cataclean Plato Racing.

Testing – as always – remains extremely hard to read too much into with every team running its own programme with different tyre compounds, fuel levels and boost activations being used.

The day proved to be an incredible celebration ahead of the 2026 campaign with thousands of fans not only streaming into the spiritual home of the championship, but also meeting the stars and grabbing photos with the cars, as the BTCC again proved to be the biggest show in town.

Now it's time for the serious action to commence with the opening rounds of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship set to take place at Donington Park on 18/19 April.

Charles Rainford, WSR, said: "I'm very happy that I've managed to go quickest, which has been a very nice surprise, and I'd like to thank West Surrey Racing for providing me with such an amazing car. It's all eyes forward now to Donington. It's been very hot today, but I can't imagine we'll get that lucky for the first event. Either way, I'm excited for the season ahead and looking forward to seeing lots of fans at Donington Park."

2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Season Launch – Brands Hatch – Combined Times

1.⁠ ⁠Charles Rainford, WSR 47.102
2.⁠ ⁠Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +0.317s
3.⁠ ⁠Josh Cook, Speedworks Corolla Racing +0.335s
4.⁠ ⁠Dexter Patterson, Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing +0.372s
5.⁠ ⁠Mikey Doble, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing +0.421s
6.⁠ ⁠Ashley Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +0.514s
7.⁠ ⁠Árón Taylor-Smith, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +0.542s
8.⁠ ⁠Gordon Shedden, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +0.555s
9.⁠ ⁠James Dorlin, Restart Racing +0.620s
10.⁠ ⁠Adam Morgan, Cataclean Plato Racing +0.633s
11.⁠ ⁠Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing +0.637s
12.⁠ ⁠Chris Smiley, Restart Racing +0.645s
13.⁠ ⁠Sam Osborne, NAPA Racing UK +0.653s
14.⁠ ⁠Daniel Rowbottom, Cataclean Plato Racing +0.668s
15.⁠ ⁠Max Buxton, Speedworks Corolla Racing +0.708s
16.⁠ ⁠Lewis Selby, NAPA Racing UK +0.715s
17.⁠ ⁠Tom Ingram, Team VERTU +0.886s
18.⁠ ⁠Tom Chilton, Team VERTU +0.947s
19.⁠ ⁠Ricky Collard, Team VERTU +1.086s
20.⁠ ⁠Daryl De Leon, WSR +1.201s
21.⁠ ⁠Nicolas Hamilton, Team VERTU +1.223s

BTCC Chief Executive, Alan Gow, has spoken to the official championship website as he looks ahead to the 2026 campaign.

Gow talks about the strength in depth in the lineup and the return of saloon cars in the championship, among many other topics.

Listen below as Gow gives his thoughts during the Season Launch event at Brands Hatch...

Campaign kicks off in style with Season Launch at Brands Hatch

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The 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship was officially launched earlier today (8 April) with the full entry list confirmed at its annual Season Launch event at Brands Hatch.

A host of big stars and an influx of new cars have made the biggest headlines during the off-season with the BTCC boasting one of the most exciting lineups in its recent history.

While the build‑up to Britain’s biggest motorsport championship is often led by the drivers, a trio of new cars – Audi A3 Saloon, Mercedes A35 Saloon and Ford Focus Titanium – have arguably stolen the limelight ahead of this season’s BTCC campaign.

These new entries, three former champions on the grid, an eye-catching list of additional contenders, plus the return of a BTCC legend in an all-new role only tell half the story of one the BTCC’s busiest winters in memory.

If the spiced‑up entry list wasn’t enough, TOCA – organiser of the BTCC – has introduced the most significant change to qualifying in the Championship’s near 70‑year history, with a race now taking place on Saturday to set the grid for Sunday. And it’s not just about grid positions, with a further 100 championship points on offer during the season as drivers battle it out in a ‘Race to Pole’.

So, while the championship still features the unmissable 30 rounds across ten standout events around the country, fans will now also enjoy the added spectacle of ten Qualifying Races on Saturday afternoon… in total, making 40 races in the season.

This all follows an incredible 2025 where Tom Ingram became a two-time BTCC Champion during a season that saw cars run 100% fully sustainable fuel for the first time and the championship continued to grow its fanbase around the world with every race being broadcast LIVE globally for the first time via its YouTube channel.

To further highlight the anticipation ahead of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship literally thousands of spectators have descended on Brands Hatch for today’s annual Season Launch event, as the drivers and teams contest the final official pre-season test, as well as meeting and greeting the fans during a pitlane walkabout.

Read on for more information on the lineup, new cars and rule changes for what is sure to be a classic BTCC season…

New Champion or familiar face?

The two most recent title winners on the grid – Tom Ingram (Team VERTU) and Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK) – will more than likely boast the shortest odds at winning the most coveted prize in UK motorsport, but the BTCC remains an unpredictable sporting spectacle.

The fight may well come from within their own camps with Team VERTU retaining the experienced challenger and ever quicker Tom Chilton, series returnee Ricky Collard and the fiercely talented Nic Hamilton – brother of seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton.

The Hyundai i30N package is also proven of course with the team taking overall Drivers’ and Manufacturers’/Constructors’ honours last season.

NAPA Racing UK is blasting back with the introduction of the Ford Focus Titanium saloon, albeit with much of the learning from the hatchback version being carried over.

Sutton will be joined by Dan Cammish – potentially the standout challenger of those looking to win the title for the first time – plus race winner Sam Osborne and debutant Lewis Selby.

Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport are no strangers to winning the overall crown, having done so with Jake Hill in 2024, and the outfit has put together its biggest project yet in 2026.

The signing of three-time champion Gordon Shedden, the increase to two cars with Árón Taylor-Smith, and the switch to Toyota machinery suggests the squad means serious business.

There’s the factory-supported Speedworks Corolla Racing in the same stable too, as multiple race winner Josh Cook is joined by youngster Max Buxton, with a fully revamped Toyota Corolla GR Sport looking to propel them to glory.

The biggest story of pre-season was the birth of Cataclean Plato Racing – led by two-time champion and tin top legend Jason Plato.

If the news and excitement around Jason’s return in an all-new guise wasn’t enough then its introduction of the Mercedes A35 Saloon plus the potent driver lineup of Dan Rowbottom and Adam Morgan quickly made the fledgling outfit a fans’ favourite.

WSR has quite literally won it all, proving to be the BTCC’s most successful team in history, and now the Surrey-based squad is looking to continue building its next generation of success with its two young stars – Daryl De Leon and Charles Rainford.

The pair won a race apiece overall in 2025, as well as duelling it out for the Jack Sears Trophy, so their progress this season towards the leading contenders will certainly be one to watch.

The other new car on the grid really turned heads at the recent pre-season test at Croft, as Power Maxed Racing’s introduction of the Audi A3 Saloon wowed the crowds. Coming back from the adversity of its devastating fire last year, PMR embarked on building a trio of new cars, as well as bringing back another famous marque into the BTCC.

PMR didn’t stop there of course and by naming three seriously talented drivers – Mikey Doble and Aiden Moffat (LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing), plus Dexter Patterson (Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing) – the squad is looking to challenge on all fronts in 2026.

Restart Racing may be dark horses for some serious silverware in 2026 with a second season running the all-conquering Hyundais and more experience under its belt. Chris Smiley is a proven race winner and young gun James Dorlin set a stellar pace during recent testing at Croft.

Having claimed the Independents Drivers’ crown last year, the team will be looking to both defend the title as well as keep pushing for overall victories and podiums this season.

Race to Pole

TOCA – organiser of the British Touring Car Championship – is always looking at improving and refining the greatest show in UK motorsport, and this winter proved no exception.

Following discussions at the annual end-of-season meeting between TOCA and its competing teams, it was announced that a Qualifying Race – the ‘Race to Pole’ – would take place for all cars on the Saturday afternoon at each race weekend.

Not only would the final classification of each Qualifying Race determine the grid positions for Sunday’s opening contest, but significant Drivers’ Championship points have also been made available as part of this innovative development with ten points being awarded to the winner down to one point for the tenth placed finisher.

As a result, fans will now enjoy BTCC racing action on Saturdays – a change that represents one of the biggest shake‑ups to the structure and excitement of a race weekend ever – while the introduction of an additional 100 points on offer could trigger the most significant dynamic shift yet in the overall BTCC title fight.

The entirety of Qualifying, including the Race to Pole, will be streamed LIVE in the UK and across the globe via the ITV YouTube channel, whilst Sunday will maintain the three full rounds of racing, all-day-live and free on ITV4 as has been the case for many years. 

So, does this press release provide the full story of a history‑making BTCC off‑season? Probably not, but the talking must end at some point, and we are now almost ready for the competitive action to begin.

The opening rounds of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship take place at Donington Park on 18/19 April.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “It has been quite the off‑season in the BTCC, one of the busiest and most exciting that I can remember.

“A monumental effort goes into making the BTCC the UK’s ultimate motorsport success story, with our dedicated teams, loyal partners, TOCA staff and all stakeholders playing their part in delivering this fantastic entry list and season schedule.

“Whichever way you look at it, the quality of the entire grid is absolutely phenomenal – particularly when also considering the very significant economic and geopolitical headwinds that everyone has faced.

“Last year we took the BTCC to a global LIVE TV audience and introduced 100% fully sustainable fuel for every car, and once again we’ve proven that we never rest on our laurels ahead of the 2026 campaign.

“New cars, former champions, rookies and emerging young talent, alongside established drivers and proven machinery, combine to form a formidable line‑up, with the introduction of a Qualifying Race adding a further twist to our brilliant sporting spectacle.

“The addition of the ‘Race to Pole’ on Saturday will certainly spice things up ahead of our hugely popular three‑race Sunday format, and it’s an enhancement I’m sure will be enjoyed by both drivers and spectators alike.”

Click here for the official entry list for the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

Ricky Collard will make a return to the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship for the 2026 season after being named as the final member of the Team VERTU line-up.

The 29-year-old joins the EXCELR8-run outfit for what will be his third full-season in the series, having previously spent two years with Toyota in 2022 and 2023.

Collard will partner defending champion Tom Ingram, Tom Chilton and Nicolas Hamilton in the four-strong Team Vertu line-up, with his first taste of the Hyundai i30 Fastback N he will race this year coming during the annual season launch at Brands Hatch.

A third generation racer, Collard started his career in karting before joining the Formula Ford grid for his first full season of car racing in 2014.

The following year, he finished second in the inaugural season of British F4 - beaten only by reigning Formula 1 champion Lando Norris - before going on to finish second in BRDC British F3, the series now known as GB3.

Switching to sportscars, Collard produced race-winning performances in the likes of the ADAC GT Masters and the Blancpain GT Championship prior to his two-year Toyota stint, and he has since won the British GT Championship title alongside his father and also competed in GT World Challenge Europe.

Now returning to touring car competition with the team that won the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ title last year, Collard heads into 2026 looking to add to the two BTCC podium finishes he has to his name thus far at the wheel of a car that scored nine wins in Team VERTU hands last season.

Collard’s first taste of the Hyundai will take place during the season launch event at Brands Hatch, with the opening event of 2026 coming at Donington Park later in the month.

Ricky Collard said: 
“I’m delighted to be returning to the BTCC this season as it’s a championship where I feel I’ve got unfinished business. Back in 2023, I picked up some strong results and showed I have the pace to run towards the front of the field, but I missed out on getting the win that I know I’m capable of.

“Winning the British GT title in what was a particularly competitive season allowed me to learn a huge amount, and I feel that I’m coming back into touring cars as a stronger driver and in better shape than ever.

“The opportunity to join forces with the defending champions is one that I had to take, and although this deal has all come together quite late and I won’t have much track time before round one, I’m feeling confident.

“The Hyundai is clearly a very strong package and with the support of Team VERTU behind me, I’m hoping to hit the ground running when we get to Donington Park."

Team Owner, Justina Williams said: 
“We’ve spoken to a number of drivers over the winter but when the chance arose to bring Ricky into the line-up, it was a deal we were really keen to do.

“He brings a huge amount of experience competing in a wide range of different championships and won the British GT title in impressive fashion a couple of years ago.

“Having shown he has the pace to fight for podium finishes in the past in the BTCC, we are confident he will be a strong addition to our line-up, and I see no reason why he can’t look to be right up there fighting towards the front during the season ahead.”

Plato Racing has today (7 April) taken the covers off its two Mercedes-AMG A35 Saloons to reveal the livery that will be carried by Daniel Rowbottom and Adam Morgan for the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season. 

In what is the latest in a long line of groundbreaking moments for the series’ newest team, the two front-wheel-drive machines are guaranteed to turn heads this year with its striking colour combination of purple, white and grey.

Running under the banner of Cataclean Plato Racing, the team - led by Jason Plato, two-time champion and winner of 97 BTCC races - head into the new term looking to make an instant impact too as they target overall honours.

While the 2026 season will be the first for the squad in the UK’s premier motorsport series, Cataclean is poised to embark on what promises to be a seventh successful campaign on the grid - and it does so as title sponsors. 

Renowned across the UK's automotive aftermarket sector for its fuel and exhaust system cleaner, Cataclean has utilised the BTCC platform to forge innovative partnerships with the likes of championship sponsors Kwik Fit down the years.

In addition to Cataclean, Plato Racing has also welcomed ASUS to the BTCC, a multinational technology leader renowned for its world-class hardware. 

ASUS drives innovation across its portfolio, from the world’s best motherboards and high-performance graphics cards to a comprehensive range of personal computing solutions, including the robust ExpertBook series, all leveraging cutting-edge advancements in AI-enhanced computing, alongside monitors, routers, and other pioneering technology.

Those brands, along with the likes of Snap-On and Ciceley Commercials, have become central in the design of the team’s inaugural race season livery.

Fans will be able to get a first glimpse of both cars sporting their new colours at Brands Hatch as Rowbottom and Morgan take part in the final official pre-season test before the opening round, which takes place at Donington Park (18/19 April).

Jason Plato, Plato Racing Team Owner: “It’s an incredibly proud moment to reveal the final livery that both Dan and Adam will compete with this year. What has been achieved over the past few months defies description, and the cars in their final form are nothing short of sensational. 

“Having brands such as Cataclean and ASUS on-board shows that we aren’t messing about too. They’re globally recognised and operate at the very highest level, something that we pride ourselves in doing. We all now can’t wait for the season to get underway.”

Daniel Rowbottom, Plato Racing: “The car looks absolutely phenomenal in its livery and it's a credit to everyone at Plato Racing for what we’ve been able to achieve in a relatively short time. We’re certainly not going to be hard to miss on-track.

“This Mercedes is unlike anything I’ve ever driven before and the details that have gone into the build are incredible. We’ve covered a lot of ground during pre-season testing so far and I feel like we’re in a good place ahead of the season-opener in just over a week's time.”

Adam Morgan, Plato Racing: “I’m loving the look of the livery. Seeing it on paper was impressive but to see it now in the flesh is really special. It’s been a long road to get to this point and this reveal is somewhat of a celebration for the entire team.

“Everyone has put all they have into this project and from the testing we’ve done so far, it feels like we’ve got something special underneath us. Obviously we won’t know where we stack up until round one but I’m excited to see what we can go and achieve this season.”

Nicolas Hamilton will take on his most exciting programme in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship to date in 2026 after agreeing a deal to join forces with defending champions Team VERTU.

Hamilton, who is the only person with a disability to have raced in the series since it was formed back in 1958, is the third driver to be confirmed by the EXCELR8-run team for the season ahead, and will compete in a Hyundai i30 Fastback N supported by Draper Tools.

The relationship between Draper Tools and EXCELR8 is one of the most established on the British motorsport scene, having started back in 2019 when the team moved into the BTCC for the first time after years of success in the MINI CHALLENGE.

The partnership is set to run until at least the end of the 2027 season, with Hamilton becoming the latest driver to carry the famous Draper Tools logo on his car, which will also showcase the familiar light blue colours for which the company is so well known.

Having made his BTCC debut all the way in 2015, Hamilton has over 160 starts in the series to his name and will be embarking on his second full season of competition since returning to action after a short break.

Joining forces with Team VERTU is set provide Hamilton with the most competitive package of his racing career to date, with the Hyundai having proven to be the class of the field last season - scoring nine wins and 32 podiums.

That allowed Tom Ingram to secure the championship title for the second time, with Team VERTU also picking up the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ title.

Joining forces with Ingram and Tom Chilton will also provide Hamilton with the opportunity to work side-by-side with two of the most experienced drivers on the BTCC grid as the 33-year-old seeks to make his mark in Britain’s most competitive series.

Going into 2026, Hamilton - who has a career best finish of sixth - will be amongst those drivers eligible for the Jack Sears Trophy, which is open to any driver who has yet to score more than one podium finish in the series.

Having sampled the Hyundai in a recent test at Snetterton, Hamilton will appear on track in carrying his new Draper Tools livery for the first time during the BTCC season launch test at Brands Hatch, with the opening rounds of the season taking place at Donington Park in late April.

Nicolas Hamilton, #28 Team VERTU Hyundai i30 Fastback N, said:
"I am incredibly proud to be joining such a strong outfit in Team VERTU and EXCELR8 for this season as throughout my career, I have struggled for funding and budget, which meant I found myself in less competitive equipment.

"Thanks to my 2026 partners and the team's long standing partner Draper Tools, I can now step into a more competitive package, and that is a really special and exciting moment for me. I have worked harder than ever over the winter to build my strength and fitness to improve my disability and I will be giving absolutely everything I can to be as competitive as possible. 

"A big thank you to Antony, Justina, and everyone at EXCELR8 for this incredible opportunity.”

Sarah Hartland, Head of Marketing at Draper Tools, said: 
"We are thrilled to be back in the BTCC for the 2026 season and embarking on our eighth year backing the EXCELR8 team. 

“Supporting Nicolas Hamiliton to achieve his racing goals this season is an exciting step for us. The dedication of the entire EXCELR8 team, from the mechanics in the garage to Nic at the wheel, represents exactly the kind of commitment and passion we stand for. 

“We can’t wait to be back amongst it all, meeting fans, watching all the action on track and seeing our tools put to good use in the garages. Here's to a competitive season and pushing boundaries as a team."

Justina Williams, Team VERTU Team Owner, said:
“We are delighted to to welcome Nicolas into our team for the 2026 season, and to have him at the wheel of our Draper Tools car. 

“The way Nicolas has battled against the odds to achieve his dream of competing on track despite his disability is well documented, and he is an inspiration to many for the way he has never given up on that dream.

“We feel we can give Nicolas the tools to really show what he can do this season and are looking forward to working with him to reach his goals during the year ahead, one of which is to stand on the BTCC podium with the team. We’ll be working hard with him to make that happen!”