Chris Smiley will return to the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship in 2024 after two years away, with a new team to the championship, Restart Racing, making its BTCC debut. 

Restart Racing has acquired two TBLs and two CUPRA Leons to make the jump back into the top-flight touring car series, in which Smiley has 162 race starts to his name, with five podiums including a victory at Rockingham in 2018 while racing with the forerunner to his current team, run by experienced team owner Bert Taylor. 

While out of the BTCC, Smiley has kept busy, winning the TCR UK Touring Car Championship in 2022, as well as representing the United Kingdom and Motorsport UK at the second running of the FIA Motorsport Games at Le Castellet in November last year. 

Restart Racing will effectively be new to the BTCC, but only in name. Team Principal Ben Taylor has worked with Chris during his previous tenure in the BTCC, and returns as his engineer for the new campaign with the competitive CUPRA Leon, with podiums as the target for the new season. 

2024 will be Chris’ first time competing with the championship’s new Hybrid Energy Management system from Cosworth, which will feature an increased power output for 2024, adding a strategic dynamic to the typical hard racing which the BTCC is famous for. 

The team will confirm the driver of its second CUPRA Leon within the next few weeks. 

Chris Smiley said: “I’m really excited about returning to the BTCC, with Restart Racing and a new CUPRA. It was the right time to take a break, as it also now the right time to come back in. To be back and to bring Restart Racing with me and to launch this new project is a real thrill. We know the championship is the right place to be. It’s also an exceptionally tough series, so we’re under no illusions. This is a long-term project to build up this race team and push our way towards the front. 

“The BTCC is where my heart is and where I want to race, and with the CUPRA we’ve acquired and which we’ve already started working on, we’ll have a great base from which to compete with, and hopefully score some surprises against the manufacturer teams. I can’t wait to get started.” 

Ben Taylor, Team Principal, said: “It’s great to be back in the BTCC next year as we look to expand Restart Racing and become an established team competing in all types of touring car racing around the world. 

“The BTCC is world-famous as one of the most competitive, toughest, and exciting racing series’ in the world, so there’s no question that’s where a team like Restart Racing should be. We’ve cut our teeth winning the TCR UK championship right out of the gate, and now it’s on to seeing what we can do in the BTCC, with some new rules since Chris and I were last there, and a new car, but a lot of it is the same, and we know what we need to do to get some good results. We’re relishing the challenge, and we’re really looking forward to the start of the season ahead.” 

TOCA – organisers of the British Touring Car Championship – has today (15 December) released the list of TBLs (TOCA BTCC Licences) secured by BTCC teams for the 2024 season.
 
The list has been released two weeks later than usual, owing to particular circumstances relating to one team, which resulted in several late movements of some TBLs. 
 
Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “Given the background of potentially having up to six entries affected within just the last three weeks, the quantity and quality of our 2024 entry further underlines the phenomenal strength and resilience of the BTCC.”
 
All teams will be planning announcements regarding their drivers and partners over the coming weeks, prior to the publication of the official entry list in late March.
 
The 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship starts at Donington Park on 27/28 April – commencing an unprecedented 21^st year with the ITV network and which again features the superb all-season, all-day live raceday coverage on ITV4 and ITV4HD, with highlights on ITV1 as well as live streaming on ITVX.
 
The following is a complete list of the 27 TBLs secured by the teams for the 2024 BTCC season:

Name	TBLs
Alliance Racing	4
Excelr8 Motorsport	4
West Surrey Racing	4
Speedworks Motorsport	4
One Motorsport	3
Power Maxed Racing	3
Restart Racing	2
Aiden Moffat Racing	2
CBM Racing	1
Total	27

At only 18 years of age, Filipino-British racing driver Daryl DeLeon landed himself a spot in the UK’s premier motorsport series with Team HARD during the 2023 season of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship. Let’s take a look at his path to becoming one of the newer faces on the grid.

DeLeon made his car racing debut in the Radical SR1 Cup in the penultimate round of the 2021, and won two of the three races in the final round of the season. He then competed in the 2021 Radical Intercontinental Cup at the Algarve International Circuit in Portugal.

Competing full-time in the 2022 season with Valour Racing, he won the championship. Later in the year, he contested the inaugural Radical Cup World Finals at the Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Nevada, United States, which he won overall.

He also raced for Valour Racing in the fourth round of the 2022 GB4 Championship, finishing third in his debut race.

In 2023, DeLeon moved up to the SR3 category of the Radical Cup UK, alongside his British Endurance Championship commitments.

DeLeon won the 2023 Team HARD Scholarship, enabling him to compete in the 2023 British Endurance Championship with Team HARD, driving an Audi S3 touring car alongside Maurice Henry. Prior to the second round, DeLeon switched to a Porsche 991 GT3 Cup.

As part of the Team HARD Scholarship, DeLeon became a development driver for their BTCC team for the 2023 season. On 4 July, he drove for the team in the official Goodyear Tyre Test. Following the departure of Jade Edwards from Team HARD after the fifth round of 2023, it was announced that DeLeon would take her place.

Despite only joining the Kwik Fit British Touring Car season halfway through, the Cupra Leon driver put in some impressive performances, most notably his 12^th place in the final round of the season finale at Brands Hatch. DeLeon finished 25^th in the Drivers' Championship with 6 points.

Following a similar path to most drivers, Tom Ingram (BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8) began his career karting, seeing successes in national and club championships before progressing to cars in 2009. In his debut year, Ingram bagged two pole positions and five top 5 finishes including a podium in only his second race.

The subsequent year saw him dominate with consistent victories and podiums and great battles with BTCC counterpart Jake Hill (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport), securing the Ginetta Junior crown with Hill just behind. 

In 2011, Ingram continued his success in the Ginetta G50 Cup, taking honours in his class. Progressing to the Ginetta GT Supercup in 2012, he immediately established himself as a front-runner, claiming six wins and launching a title challenge.

Ingram would ultimately have to settle for third at the season’s conclusion. This pursuit culminated in triumph in 2013, marked by an impressive streak of 22 podiums, including 11 victories. In 2014, he debuted in the BTCC with Speedworks Motorsport’s Toyota Avensis, finishing as the top rookie. 

Staying with Speedworks in 2015, Ingram secured his first emotional BTCC podium at Rockingham and added another second place at the Brands Hatch GP finale. Remaining with Speedworks for the third consecutive campaign in 2016, he clinched victory in the season opener and secured additional podiums, finishing tenth overall. 

The 2017 season showcased Ingram's prowess as he secured four victories, placing him third overall in the BTCC standings and leading in the Independents’ championship for both driver and team. In 2018, he narrowly missed the overall Drivers’ crown but secured the Independents’ trophy. 

With factory backing and a new Corolla in 2019, Speedworks became Team Toyota GB with Ginsters. Ingram triumphed four times, including a double victory at Silverstone. In 2020, under the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with Ginsters banner, he finished fourth in the standings. 

In 2021, Ingram embraced new challenges, joining Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com and piloting a Hyundai i30 N. However, it was in 2022 that he achieved the pinnacle of British motorsport, claiming six race victories and six podium finishes to secure the championship. 

Heading into 2023, Ingram is set to defend his title, driving the EXCELR8 Hyundai i30 N for a third consecutive year. A multiple race-winner, Ingram would push his championship rival Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK) to the final day at Brands Hatch but would hand the title back to Sutton. 

His amazingly consistent season meant he secured 17 podiums and a staggering 400 points in the Drivers Championship.

Andrew Watson (CarStore Power Maxed Racing) began his motor racing career at the age of 15, in the Ginetta Junior Ireland Championship, making regular podiums through to 2011. That year, Andrew joined Douglas Motorsport team to race in the final two rounds of the Ginetta Junior Championship at Silverstone.

2012 saw Watson participate in the entire Ginetta Junior championship season, again with Douglas Motorsport. The season saw him deliver fifth place in the Championship, achieving six podium places, including second places and his maiden victory, with only two non-finishes out of the twenty-round season.

For the 2013 and 2014 seasons, Watson switched to the Ginetta GT4 Supercup and ran with his long-term team Douglas Motorsport once again. He finished the 2013 season in seventh place overall in the standings with 372 points and battled familiar faces to the BTCC grid such as Tom Ingram. He improved the following season where he finished fourth with 640 points.

In 2015, Watson was promoted to the British GT Championship driving a McLaren 650S GT3 for Von Ryan Racing as part of the McLaren Young Driver Programme. He competed in the GT3 class, a step-up from the GT4 class he was previously in.

Watson scored his best result of the season when he and fellow McLaren GT 'Young Driver' Ross Wylie finished seventh in the Silverstone 500 in May, only 20 seconds behind the podium places. He also raced in four races of the International Open GT Championship, scoring one race win and one pole position. In addition, Watson competed in the Sepang 12 hours and secured a class victory.

2016 – 2019 Watson ran in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup with Garage 59. They ran a McLaren 650S GT3 until 2019 when they switched to an Aston Martin Vantage GTE.

His 2018 highlights included achieving pole position in the AM class at the Blancpain 24 Hours of Spa and pole position in the PRO Class at Paul Ricard. Watson also secured a podium position at the 1,000 kilometres of Paul Ricard as the #58 Garage 59 McLaren qualified on the front row and led for the majority of the race, before eventually coming home in third place – his first overall podium finish in the Blancpain GT Series.

Watson was selected to join the Gulf Racing team in the 2019/20 FIA World Endurance Championship. Racing a Porsche 911 RSR, Andrew collected his maiden World Championship podium in Bahrain as the team finished third in the GTE-Am Class. He also made his debut in the Aston Martin Vantage GTE, as he featured in the FIA World Endurance Championship Rookie Test with Aston Martin Racing.

He made his Daytona 24 Hours debut in January 2020 after securing a late drive with Aston Martin Racing. Replacing the injured Paul Dalla Lana, the Northern Irishman joined Pedro Lamy, Mathias Lauda and Ross Gunn in the #98 Aston Martin Vantage GT3. However, the team did not finish the race due to a crash after 189 completed laps.

On his fourth appearance at the Bathurst 12 Hours, Watson celebrated a podium finish. Watson, along with Garage 59 team-mates, finished third in the Silver class and 14th overall at Mount Panorama behind the wheel of an Aston Martin Vantage GT3.

In January 2023, it was announced that Watson would drive for CarStore Power Maxed Racing in the 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, driving a Vauxhall Astra. This would be his first time in touring car racing, and his first time racing a front-wheel drive car.

The Northern Irishman impressed on debut, qualifying ninth at the first round at Donington Park, ahead of team-mate Árón Taylor-Smith and fellow rookie team-mate Mikey Doble. In the first race of the weekend, he climbed five positions to finish fourth overall.

His momentum continued through the rest of the season as he secured two podiums at Knockhill and Silverstone. He finished 15th overall in the Driver's Championship however took the Jack Sears Trophy title after close battle with his teammate Doble for most of the season.

Rory Butcher, who is the brother-in-law of three-time BTCC champion Gordon Shedden, had a diverse career in motor racing prior to joining the UK’s premier championship. A relative latecomer to the racing scene, Butcher has competed in a great selection of series’ including British and Scottish Formula Ford Championships, Porsche Carrera Cup GB, British GT Championship, European Le Mans Series, Blancpain Endurance Series, VLN Endurance, and 24H Series.  

When competing in the 24H series, Butcher also raced in the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2015, finishing seventh in class. 

Joining Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo in 2017 midway through the season, Butcher drove the Motorbase-run Ford Focus ST and secured points in a respectful four out of 12 starts. In 2018, he returned for a full campaign with AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing MG6 GT, finishing 17th in the Drivers’ classification as a consistent points-finisher. 

Staying with AmD in 2019, Butcher drove a Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Honda Civic Type R (FK2), achieving three race wins, fifth place overall, the Independent Drivers’ crown, and the Jack Sears Trophy –marking his best BTCC season at the time. 

In 2020, Butcher returned to Ford machinery, joining Motorbase Performance. With three victories, he emerged as a championship contender, finishing the season fifth overall and second in the Independents’ battle. 

Transitioning to Toyota Gazoo Racing UK in 2021, Butcher secured three victories and multiple podium finishes, notably dominating Silverstone’s race weekend. He continued with the Northwich-based squad in 2022, achieving nine podium finishes and securing his first win at Silverstone with an impressive lights-to-flag victory. 

For the 2023 season, Butcher remained in the BTCC with Toyota Gazoo Racing UK. After a solid campaign, Butcher took a fantastic victory at Donington and would go onto finish tenth in the points standings.

Mikey Doble will remain with CarStore Power Maxed Racing for a second successive season in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship after extending his deal with the Independent team into 2024. 

The 25-year-old will return to the UK’s premier motorsport series looking to build on an impressive debut campaign, that saw him become a regular top ten finisher at the wheel of his Vauxhall Astra. 

Graduating to the BTCC off the back of multiple title wins in other categories, Doble produced a stellar 2023 performance which culminated in him narrowly missing out on lifting the coveted Jack Sears Trophy title.  

Along the way, the Surrey-based racer clinched a career-first pole position at Silverstone, a total of 16 points finishes, an outright Independents’ victory in just his second race and Jack Sears Trophy weekend honours on two occasions.  

Now armed with a year’s worth of experience, Doble is keen to further cement himself as a regular front-runner in the ultra-competitive series; and he’s setting his sights on clinching notable honours. 

“I’m excited to be returning for my second season in the BTCC with CarStore Power Maxed Racing,” said Doble. “After what was an amazing rookie season, we’ve not stopped working since the Brands Hatch finale to ensure I’m back in the seat for 2024. 

“The 2023 season was full of memorable moments, which included an Independents’ victory in just my second race and an overall pole position at Silverstone. Those achievements far exceeded my expectations and huge credit must go to the guys and girls at PMR for all of their hard work. 

“Whilst we’ll be announcing new partners for next season over the coming months, my immediate thanks must go to Adam [Weaver], Martin [Broadhurst] and the rest of the team for welcoming me back. I’ve also got to thank my management team at Fewkes Sport Management for their hard work, and also to my family and friends for their continued support. Roll on 2024!” 

Adam Weaver, CarStore Power Maxed Racing Team Principal, said: “Collectively, we’ve been pushing the Vauxhalls back towards the front and I’m confident that we can take the team to a whole new level next year. With Mikey playing a vital role in that, the aim is to be contending for race wins and more podiums – as well as retaining the Jack Sears Trophy in the team and challenging for both the overall Teams’ and Independent Drivers’ Championships.” 

The 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship begins at Donington Park on 27/28 April

Tom Chilton entered the BTCC with Barwell Motorsport in 2002, becoming the youngest driver ever to grace the grid at the age of just 17. His debut season was impressive from the then 17-year-old, securing 15th overall and fifth in the Independents’ Championship.

Moving on to Arena Motorsport from 2003 to 2005, Chilton claimed his first championship victory in 2004 at Silverstone, making him the series’ youngest-ever winner. Despite juggling BTCC commitments with the American Le Mans Series in 2005, he managed to finish a very strong fifth in the standings. 

Returning to Vauxhall in 2006 with VX Racing, Chilton earned several podiums in 2006 and 2007 before switching to Team Halfords with Honda machinery in 2008, clinching a dominant victory at Brands Hatch.

In 2009, he rejoined Arena Motorsport to drive a new Ford Focus ST, finishing 13th despite significant in-season development. Switching to LPG propulsion in 2010, Chilton would march forward in the championship standings, securing four pole positions and the Independents’ Championship.

Racing the third-generation Ford Focus in 2011, Chilton claimed two victories and seventh place in the Drivers’ Championship. 

After a five-year stint in the WTCC, Chilton returned to the BTCC in 2017 with Power Maxed Racing, immediately winning silverware at Brands Hatch.

In 2018, he joined Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher’s Focus RS, consistently performing well and finishing third in the Drivers’ Championship. Staying with the team in 2019, he secured a sole victory at Croft. 

For the 2020 season, Chilton switched to BTC Racing and the Honda Civic Type R, achieving three podiums and a top-ten finish in the overall standings.

In 2021, he moved to Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport, concluding the season with three top-ten finishes. 

Entering the hybrid era, Chilton joined Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com, facing a challenging campaign with intermittent retirements but showcasing resilience with only six occasions outside of points-paying positions and eight top-ten finishes.

Sticking with the Suffolk-based outfit for the 2023 campaign, Chilton claimed another win following a dramatic race at Donington, eventually finishing 14th in the Drivers' standings. 

Huddersfield-born Daniel Lloyd (Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils) began his circuit racing career back in the Ginetta Junior Championship in 2008 after learning the ropes with five years of karting. From there, he progressed in 2011 to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB after winning a scholarship via the Scirocco R Cup. 

After three years in Porsches, Blancpain GT called and a drive with McLaren in the Sprint Series, as well as two rounds of Blancpain Endurance with Aston Martin. In 2015, Lloyd drove for Motorbase Performance in the British GT Championship

The Yorkshireman made his BTCC debut in 2010 – taking in the Croft weekend – and returned in 2016 for nine rounds, competing at Thruxton, Oulton Park and Croft that season with Eurotech Racing – impressing with his raw pace in the potent Honda Civic Type R.

Lloyd completed the first four events in 2017 with MG Racing RCIB Insurance alongside Aron Taylor-Smith.

After a hiatus, and a foray into TCR UK, he joined BTC Norlin Racing from the Oulton Park race weekend in 2018, contesting the remaining seven race weekends and securing his maiden BTCC win at Croft.

Lloyd returned to the BTCC in 2021 in the Power Maxed Car Care Racing Vauxhall Astra, having spent two years continuing to add to his racing CV. He concluded the campaign just outside the top ten in the overall championship standings.

In 2022, Lloyd made the move to Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com, behind the wheel of one of the team’s quartet of Hyundai i30Ns.

For the 2023 campaign, Lloyd piloted a Team HARD. Racing CUPRA Leon, as he aimed to build on the strengths of his previous year, which included an impressive double victory at Croft.

Lloyd showed his skill and determination all year with a season’s best finish of fifth at Knockhill. However, there should have been a maiden win of the season for the Huddersfield driver in the final race at Donington GP, but a last lap mechanical failure took first place from under him.

He finished 11^th in the Drivers' championship with 111 points for the season. This brings his all-time BTCC total to 629 points, four wins and eight podiums.

Sam Osborne (NAPA Racing UK) navigated his way to the British Touring Car Championship via single-make series', the MINI CHALLENGE and Renault UK Clio Cup, with a brief stint in Radical racing in-between.

A multiple race-winner in MINIs, Osborne finished fourth in the Cooper category in 2010 and replicated that result in the headlining JCW class in both 2011 and 2012.

He returned to the championship in 2015 and 2016 – placing just outside the top ten in the standings on both occasions – before switching to Clios as he continued to learn the ropes of tin-top racing, establishing himself as a regular top ten challenger in the TOCA support series.

Osborne made his BTCC debut in 2019 with series newcomer EXCELR8 Motorsport, completing the team’s two-car MG6 GT entry and scoring points on the team’s home turf at Snetterton.

In his sophomore BTCC campaign, Osborne tackled fresh challenges in his MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square Honda Civic Type R (FK2), securing two top ten finishes.

Having moved to Racing with Wera & Photon Group in 2021, Osborne continued in the Motorbase Performance-backed Ford Focus ST in 2022, under the Apec Racing with Beavis Morgan banner alongside Ollie Jackson.

He kicked off the year with his best qualifying performance and would conclude the campaign fourth in the highly competitive Jack Sears Trophy battle.

In 2023, we saw Osborne join NAPA Racing UK’s line-up, as part of the squad’s expanded four-car line-up.

Osborne secured 19^th in the Drivers' Championship and contributed 65 points towards NAPA Racing UK taking the Constructors'/Manufacturers' title also. His season highlight was claiming third place in Race 2 of the opening weekend at Donington Park.