As the countdown to the 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship continues, we're offering the chance to win money-can’t-buy access to this year's Season Launch on 12 April!

In association with Brands Hatch, two lucky winners will have early access for themself plus a guest to see the official 2023 grid revealed before the general public. They will receive free breakfast and lunch at the iconic Kentagon restaurant, a guided garage tour and get the chance to meet their favourite driver, while also enjoying the full six hours of testing throughout the day.

This really is the most exciting prize for any serious BTCC fan, and you can increase your odds by entering via all three competition posts across Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, too.

Check out the competition posts to find out how to enter on each platform now, and good luck!

This competition closes at 1600 on Tuesday 4 April.

Ts&Cs:

One entry per person per platform (1x Like + comment = 1 entry, 1x Retweet + reply = 1 entry). Two winners will be selected at random from all entries and contacted via their chosen entry platform. If the winner does not respond within 2 working days, then a new winner will be chosen. Winners will be allowed to bring 1 guest and will be informed of exact details of the event closer to the time. No transport is supplied for the event, and the prize may not be transferred or exchanged.

The AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing team can today announce the launch of a special competition to win a road-going version of the MG6 GT being raced in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship this season.
 
Born from an idea put forwards by joint title sponsors AutoAid and RCIB Insurance – which is providing the major prize – the competition will run throughout the 2018 season with the winner being chosen in a unique shoot-out to be held at Brands Hatch during the final meeting of the year in late September.
 
Prior to the season finale, a number of competitions will take place through AutoAid and RCIB Insurance’s social media channels with a total of eight winners picking up a pair of VIP tickets to join the team at Brands Hatch.
 
Each individual winner will also receive a signed Scalextric model of an RCIB-backed race car.
 
During the Brands Hatch race weekend, those eight competition winners will not only get the chance to watch the action on track, but will also do battle themselves in a series of knock-out races using a Scalextric set to decide the overall victor.
 
That person will win a road-going MG6 GT featuring the same Joyce Designs livery that is displayed on the race cars of Rory Butcher and Tom Boardman this season.
 
The car will also benefit from a range of upgrades including a one-off rear wing, an AmD engine remap, a new Cobra exhaust system, Eibach springs and Pipercross filters.
 
An Autoglym car care set will be thrown into the mix, whilst AmD will also carry out a full carbon clean of the engine using the industry leading technology of team sponsors Carbon Clean. The new car will also be handed over running with fresh Liqui Moly oil as provided by the team's latest racing partner.

To be in with a chance of winning the MG6 GT, potential entrants will need to follow both AutoAid and RCIB Insurance Racing on Facebook and Twitter, where the various qualifying competitions will take place.

AutoAid:
www.facebook.com/autoaidbreakdown
www.twitter.com/autoaidbreakd
 
RCIB:
www.facebook.com/RCIBInsuranceRacing
www.twitter.com/RCIBRacing

Shaun Hollamby, AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing Team Principal, said: “This competition is a fantastic opportunity for a BTCC fan to win a unique prize unlike anything that has gone before.
 
“When the idea was put forwards by AutoAid and RCIB Insurance, we had no hesitation in helping to bring it together and it is a fantastic way for them as a sponsor to give something back to the fans who come along every weekend to cheer on the team.
 
“The car will undergo the full AmD treatment before being handed over to the new owner when we get to Brands Hatch and the battle to win it is sure to be as frantic as the racing will be on track.”
 
Mike Joseph, AutoAid & RCIB Insurance Managing Director, said: “We are truly very excited about this extremely unique competition, not only because there is such a great prize but also because of the exciting final shoot-out.

"As major sponsors of BTCC teams for the past seven years, it’s great to give something very special back to one lucky fan and we hope that many touring car fans will take the chance to enter this competition.
 
“We would also like to thank both AmD and Scalextric for supporting this idea as we couldn’t have done it without them. The global appeal of the BTCC continues to grow and we are sure the winner will get lots of media coverage. We’d like to wish all of those who enter the best of luck.”

CarStore Power Maxed Racing has today (9 November) confirmed an extension of its deal with Aron Taylor-Smith to compete in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

The agreement ensures the Irishman will line-up once more on the grid in the UK’s premier touring car category in 2024 and beyond.

It also provides crucial continuity between team, driver and car as the Bidford-on-Avon outfit continue to push for a title challenge in the future, having widely impressed in their first campaign together in 2023.

Taylor-Smith achieved a first outright BTCC podium in seven years at Donington Park GP last season, then repeated the feat by coming within a whisker of victory at Silverstone a fortnight later.

In a silverware-laden season for the Dubliner, he also added four Independent class victories to a trophy cabinet that already includes four outright race wins and, now, 20 podium finishes since making his debut back in 2011.

The 33-year-old’s efforts also went a long way towards the team securing second in the Independent Teams’ standings, and Taylor-Smith provided a vital reference point to his two Rookie team-mates, Andrew Watson and Mikey Doble, as they clashed for the coveted Jack Sears Trophy honours.

The past nine months have certainly marked something of a renaissance for Taylor-Smith’s touring car career, and the focus has already shifted towards making 2024 an even bigger step towards the ultimate goal of championship glory.

“I’m so excited to confirm an extension to my partnership with CarStore Power Maxed Racing,” said Taylor-Smith.

“It sounds terribly cliché, but I really do feel like I’ve found a home within the team. I’ve been in the paddock for ten years now, and I’ve spent much of that feeling like I was looking for a long-term home. I’ve found that now.

“Every successful driver-team combination on the BTCC grid has a high level of consistency to it; whether that’s drivers with engineers, staying in the same car, building a team around you. Overnight success doesn’t happen here, so if you want to be competitive, you need to find somewhere to create that environment around you.

“We’ve had such an amazing year at CarStore Power Maxed Racing and achieved almost every major objective we set ourselves. But – and this is the key bit – we did that with minimal testing, and if you look at our results, it’s quite clear it took me a few rounds to naturally ‘bed in’ and get to grips with the car, and where we needed to develop the package.

“So, I’m incredibly optimistic about what we can achieve with an extra four months versus last season to prepare. People talk about this being one of the oldest cars on the grid, but I’ve been around a bit and I can say confidently – it still has room to grow.

“I hope with the benefit of a proper winter programme and the longer-term vision that this deal gives us, we can begin to unlock that. I’m hugely grateful to Adam, Martin and everyone at the team for their backing, and to my fantastic partner network who continue to allow me to go racing.”

Team Principal Adam Weaver also underlined his delight at securing Taylor-Smith’s services for an additional two years.

“It’s fantastic to have a driver of Aron’s calibre commit his future to CarStore Power Maxed Racing,” says Weaver.

“It really demonstrates the ‘buy in’ at all levels of this project, be that drivers, team members, partners. Everybody is determined to return this team to the front of the grid, and announcements like this are important milestones on that journey.

“I can’t wait to see what Aron and the team can achieve with a proper winter to test and work through the car’s weaknesses. This season was fantastic, but it only scratched the surface of what is possible.”

The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association has been chosen as the charity partner for Brands Hatch's final event of the 2023 BTCC season, which takes place on 7/8 October.

This year’s champion will be crowned following three races around the Kent circuit’s famous full Grand Prix circuit on Sunday. In addition to the headline BTCC action, there will be a full national support programme with seasons coming to an end in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, F4 British Championship, MINI CHALLENGE and Porsche Sprint Challenge GB.

Ahead of the event, a silent auction to raise funds for the charity has been launched, with a range of special prizes available, including experiences kindly donated by the British motor racing industry. These range from ‘money can’t buy’ VIP hospitality places in MotorSport Vision (MSV) Chief Executive Jonathan Palmer’s personal suite for the BTCC finale, to places on PalmerSport – the world’s greatest motorsport driving event. You can also bid for laps in the safety car during the event – and even win the opportunity to wave the chequered flag!

Attendees at the event will be able to learn more about MND and donate through bucket collections across the weekend. The BTCC race cars will carry MND Association decals too. All of the money raised for the Association will further aid the organisation’s cause to research, improving access to care and campaigning for those living with or affected by MND in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Ian Gardner, Head of Development at the MND Association said: “The fight against MND will only be successful through partnership. We are therefore delighted that the British Touring Car Championship and Brands Hatch have agreed to support the MND Association at this weekend’s closing round of this year’s championship. This is a fantastic opportunity to raise both awareness and vital funds for the Association’s work and we are grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to make it possible.”

Jonathan Palmer, Chief Executive of Brands Hatch owner MSV, said: “MND is a horrible illness which is exceptionally challenging not just for those living with it, but also their loved ones. After diagnosis, progressive muscle weakness, from controlling nerve damage, inexorably extends to affect every part of the body, and ultimately leaves victims unable to move anything at all.”

“Our support for this charity serves as a tribute to those who’ve lost their lives from this cruel disease, including my friend Paul Cook, whose wife Julie is now heavily involved in championing the cause of the MND Association. David Ward, Chair of the East Kent MND Association, tragically lost his son Alex to MND in 2020 and as someone with a great motorsport background, particularly with the FIA, suggested the charity’s partnership with the final round of British Touring Cars at Brands Hatch, something I thought was an excellent idea, as did Alan Gow.

“Motor racing has in fact lost many prematurely from this awful disease, for which there is as yet no cure. I hope that between us all we can raise further awareness and more much-needed funds, for not only trying to find ways to extend victim’s lives, but also provide them with the increasing support they need as their condition deteriorates. Thank you for helping.”

For more information about MND and the MND Association please visit www.mndassociation.org

You can buy tickets to the British Touring Car Championship at www.brandshatch.co.uk.

Visit the auction site by clicking here.

Cars and stars head for Scotland after annual mid-season break

The second half of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship gets underway next weekend (30/31 July) as the UK’s premier motorsport series heads to Knockhill in Scotland.

The tight and twisty 1.27-mile Fife circuit is one of the most popular on the calendar with action aplenty keeping drivers wide-eyed and fans on their feet with 29 cars set to go bumper-to-bumper during three thrilling BTCC encounters.

Tom Ingram leads the way at the midway mark of the season after the pendulum swung his way at Croft last time out. His progress up the order had already begun following a double victory at Oulton Park earlier in June, and the Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com star backed up his form with a trio of top-seven finishes in North Yorkshire.

Rich Energy BTC Racing’s Josh Cook relinquished the top spot as he struggled slightly at the same two venues, but he is only three points off the standings' summit after an extremely impressive start to his own campaign.

While Ingram and Cook are both chasing a first overall BTCC Drivers’ title, they have a pair of multiple champions immediately behind them, suggesting the race for this year’s honours will likely build towards an exciting crescendo.

Ash Sutton and Colin Turkington have an incredible seven Drivers’ titles between them, and both are keen to add to their respective trophy cabinets.

In truth, at this relatively early stage of the campaign, some dozen or so drivers still hold intentions of winning the most coveted crown in British motorsport so it’s likely to be an exciting fight for victory in Fife next weekend.

Sutton steps up the pace at Snetterton test

There was little rest for the BTCC paddock during the mid-season break, as the two-day Goodyear tyre test took place over 12/13 July.

In the scorching heat, it was NAPA Racing UK that came out on top, with Ash Sutton and team-mate Dan Cammish occupying the P1 and P2 on the combined times at the conclusion of testing.

Sutton’s NAPA Racing UK Ford would complete 155 laps of the Snetterton 300 configuration, more than any other driver over the two days, and clocked his best tour during Wednesday morning’s session, shaving more than six-tenths of a second off the current race lap record.

The current champion is again in the thick of the championship battle, but he’s still searching for his first win of the campaign, and with the Kent-based squad finally setting the pace it seems as though that maiden 2022 triumph isn’t far away.

“We feel like we’ve had a lot of potential and that potential seemed to be showing in Dan’s pace too, but I’m pleased with the two-day tyre test and am looking forward to going to Knockhill and trying out some of the things we’ve learnt,” said Sutton.

A total of 30 drivers headed out over 14 hours of testing, accruing almost 2,500 laps of the 2.97-mile circuit and notching more than 7,200 miles.

Four Scots fired up for home event

Gordon Shedden, Rory Butcher, Aiden Moffat and Dexter Patterson make up the Scottish quartet that will be gunning for glory in front of their home support next weekend, and there’s every chance that at least one of them could reach the top step of the rostrum.

Three-time champion Shedden has already tasted victory this season and the Halfords Racing with Cataclean man will be looking to re-ignite his title challenge at Knockhill, whilst his brother-in-law Butcher is targeting for a first win of the campaign in his Toyota GAZOO Racing UK Corolla.

Moffat and Patterson have shown much-improved pace in recent rounds and the Laser Tools Racing duo are also searching for silverware in Scotland, with the latter already a multiple race-winner in the UK’s toughest motorsport championship.

TV coverage

Knockhill's race-day coverage will see the BTCC return to ITV's main channel for the third time this year, with a three-hour programme scheduled before the action switches over to ITV4 for the final race of the day.

While itv.com/btcc will host Saturday's qualifying session, as always, from 1515, Sunday's broadcast kicks off on ITV between 1200-1500 before ITV4 takes over for the remainder of the day from 1455-1800.

Timetables and Tickets

The BTCC action will be complemented by an invariably spectacular line-up of support series at Knockhill, with the range of racing disciplines set to entertain and enthral the expected huge crowds.

The F4 British Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain, MINI CHALLENGE Ginetta Junior Championship and Ginetta GT4 SuperCup also join the fray as the second half of the season gets underway.

Advance tickets are available for as little as £13, with Adult Weekend Admission costing £50 while accompanied children aged 12 and under will be admitted free of charge.

For further information or to buy tickets, click here.

UK’s premier motorsport championship to star on ITV and ITV4 next weekend

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship blasts into Brands Hatch next weekend (14/15 May) for the second race weekend of its all-new Hybrid Era.

The new season began at Donington Park last month when three different race winners highlighted the ultra-competitiveness of the UK’s premier motorsport series, and now the BTCC heads to the shortest track on the calendar – the action-packed Brands Hatch Indy circuit.

Tom Ingram (Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com), Gordon Shedden (Halfords Racing with Cataclean) and Jake Hill (ROKiT MB Motorsport) shared the spoils in the season opener, whilst an incredible seven drivers filled the podium positions.

Brands Hatch is arguably the ‘spiritual home’ of the BTCC, having held more races than any other circuit and at least one event every season since the championship’s inception back in 1958.

The 1.21-mile Indy circuit often creates bumper-to-bumper racing with an astonishing 28 cars covered by less than a second during last year’s qualifying session.

TV coverage

The event marks the first of two on the BTCC calendar which will feature not only on the home of the BTCC, ITV4, but also on ITV for a three-hour programme covering the trio of races.

With itv.com/btcc set to host Saturday's qualifying session from 1545, Sunday's race-day action will kick off on ITV4 between 1100-1355, before ITV's main channel takes over to host those tin-top thrills from 1400-1700. Following this, from 1655-1835, ITV4 will resume its duties for the final portion of the day, rounding out the BTCC's first trip to the Kent circuit in 2022.

Goodyear Blimp

During the weekend, the Goodyear Blimp will once again soar overhead as it did at the Kent circuit in 2021.

The Goodyear Blimp will also be providing aerial views of the action, with footage from the ‘eye in the sky’ set to feature in Saturday's qualifying stream as well as ITV and ITV4’s race-day coverage.

Timetable and Tickets

The BTCC action will as always be complemented by a spectacular line-up of support series at Brands Hatch, with the range of racing disciplines set to entertain and enthral the expected huge crowds.

The F4 British Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain, MINI CHALLENGE Ginetta Junior Championship and Ginetta GT4 SuperCup also join the fray for the final meeting of the season.

Advance tickets are available from just £20, with Adult Weekend Admission costing £43. Grandstand tickets start from £5, while accompanied children aged 12 and under will be admitted free of charge.

For further information or to buy tickets, click here.

UK’s largest automotive servicing and repair company to showcase BTCC partnership 

Official BTCC Title Sponsor Kwik Fit has today announced that it will be exhibiting at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed (23-26 June 2022). 

After making its Goodwood debut at last year’s Festival of Speed, the UK’s leading automotive servicing and repair company will be back in 2022 with an even greater presence at the world’s biggest celebration of motorsport and car culture. 

Showcasing its activities in the BTCC, as well as its expertise in the likes of car repair and EV technology, Kwik Fit will bring a bespoke Kwik Fit Centre to the world-renowned event this summer. 

As Title Sponsor of the British Touring Car Championship, Kwik Fit will host a number of stars and cars – both past and present – from the UK’s premier motorsport series. Followers will also be given the chance to become a BTCC livery designer – look out for this money-can’t-buy competition on the BTCC and Kwik Fit social media channels over the coming days.

Aside from its motorsport activities, Kwik Fit will also host technical workshops across the four days with demonstrations being given on a vast number of subjects… paying particular attention to its electric vehicle capabilities, which boasts the largest EV qualified workforce in the automotive servicing sector. 

Exclusive interviews, competitions and giveaways are set to complete a full quota of activities with the final Kwik Fit four-day timetable due to be launched next month. 

Events and activities hosted by Kwik Fit will be available to view via the Goodwood Motorsport App during the Festival of Speed in order for visitors to add to their personalised timetables, while those unable to attend can keep up to speed with the latest action via Kwik Fit’s social media channels.

Andy Lane, Kwik Fit Marketing Director, said: “We are delighted to be showcasing Kwik Fit at the world’s biggest car celebration – the Goodwood Festival of Speed – and to be working with our fantastic partners at MPA and the BTCC. We thoroughly enjoyed our participation at last year’s event and immediately wanted to return with an increased presence in 2022.  We have lots of activations planned across the four days and we’re looking forward to the event in June.”

With just one month left to wait until the first race day of the 2022 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship gets underway at Donington Park (23/24 April), you can secure your tickets now to catch all the action trackside, with race day admission for adults from £33 and free entry for under 13s.

Last year's visit to the Leicester venue marked the penultimate event of the campaign and the weekend delivered some remarkable milestones in Britain's premier motorsport series, with Gordon Shedden and Colin Turkington securing their 50th and 60th BTCC victories respectively on the 1.98-mile circuit.

The 2022 season opener will no doubt serve up a similarly juicy bout of tin-top thrills, as the BTCC's much-anticipated Hybrid Era gets underway.

For more information and to buy your tickets, head to the Donington Park website now!

Relive all the action from the last time the BTCC visited the Leicester circuit in ITV's Story of the Day highlights clip below...