Charles Rainford reflects on a rookie Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship campaign that delivered an early breakthrough victory, standout qualifying pace and valuable lessons as he looks to build on his debut season in the UK’s premier motorsport series.

The WSR driver wasted little time in making his mark on the BTCC, claiming a memorable maiden victory at Brands Hatch in just his sixth championship race, alongside a front-row qualifying result during only his second weekend in the series. It was a moment that, even now, still carries significant weight for the 27-year-old.

“I don’t think it really hit me until much later in the year just how big an achievement that was,” Rainford admitted. “Qualifying that weekend was amazing. The car felt really, really good from the start, and we were right at the sharp end in practice.

“I was quickest in the first two qualifying sessions, which was great, and then Jake [Hill] just pipped me in the final part. It was the first time I really knew I could be right up there, and maybe I got a little bit into my own head.”

Race day brought further highlights. After a measured opening contest to take home the #99’s first podium in the BTCC and a tougher second race on the hard tyre, Rainford charged through the field to take his first BTCC win in race three, a result made even more special by the wider significance for WSR.

“It wasn’t a reverse-grid pole, it was a reverse-grid race but not from the front, so it wasn’t straightforward,” he said. “The plan in race one was always to sit behind Jake and bring home a one-two for WSR, which also made us the most successful team in [British] touring car history.

“To come through and win my first race after that was amazing. It wasn’t easy at all, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Reflecting on the season as a whole, Rainford describes a campaign of steady progress despite the challenges faced by the BMW package early on.

“It’s no secret that we struggled with the car at the start of the year,” he explained. “The weight changes definitely affected us more than some others, but we found ways to improve it as the season went on.

“The biggest highlight was the turnaround from where we started to where we finished. Halfway through the year, the one-two-three in qualifying at Knockhill really showed how far we’d come, and from there the results were strong for the rest of the season.”

While he fell just short of his pre-season points target, Rainford remains satisfied with his debut year. “I think I did a solid job,” he said. “It wasn’t everything I might have hoped for on paper, but given how challenging the car could be at times, especially early on, I think it was a good foundation to build from.”

Qualifying pace emerged as a consistent strength throughout the year, something Rainford feels could be further rewarded with the introduction of the new Saturday Qualifying Race.

“I’m actually really excited about the new rules,” he said. “I’m one of those drivers who does a lot of preparation before the weekend, so my FP1 and FP2 are usually very strong.

“Now, without one of those practice sessions, it means you’ve got to hit the ground running straight away. Hopefully, my qualifying will be like my FP1 always was, really strong, and then you go straight into a race without time to change things.”

“It puts more importance on preparation, but that suits me well,” he added. “It’s another race, another opportunity, and more action on a Saturday is good for everyone.”

Beyond performance, Rainford admits that simply lining up on the grid has brought moments that have stopped the race winner in his tracks.

“I used to watch BTCC all the time with my dad when I was younger,” he said. “Lining up for the first race at Donington felt surreal. All the cars I’d grown up watching on TV were suddenly around me on the grid.

“I also wasn’t expecting the level of fan engagement I got personally. It was amazing, but it did take some getting used to at first.”

Looking ahead, Rainford is keeping his objectives simple as discussions continue over his plans for the upcoming season.

“The main thing is to keep learning and improving,” he said. “There are definitely areas I can work on from last year, no matter what I’m doing next.

“In the second half of the season, I made a conscious effort to take it all in a bit more and enjoy the process, not just think about the next race.”

The off-season, meanwhile, is being used to reset and prepare both physically and mentally.

“It’s a lot of training, a lot of work behind the scenes and a lot of discussions,” Rainford explained. “Winter is a good time to really structure your training properly.

“I had moments last year where things like power steering issues became a challenge, so it’s about being physically ready for anything like that if it happens again. Just getting fitter and stronger really.”

As for when fans can expect confirmation of his 2026 plans, Rainford offered cautious optimism.

“We’re still talking about when to announce things,” he said. “Hopefully within the next month or so, fans will hear what we’re up to.”

With a breakthrough victory already to his name and a season of experience behind him, Rainford now looks to turn early promise into sustained success as he prepares for the next chapter.

Árón Taylor-Smith believes continuity will be the key ingredient as he prepares for a second season behind the wheel of a Toyota, as part of the new Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport and Speedworks Motorsport collaboration, convinced that the foundations laid can now be turned into sustained front-running success in the BTCC.

Taylor-Smith’s move to the Corolla marked the beginning of a longer-term project rather than an instant reset, something the Irishman feels is essential in such a competitive era of the championship.

“Continuity breeds success in this championship,” Taylor-Smith explained. “All you have to do is look at anyone who’s had sustained success; it’s always a long-term project.

“I never expected everything to click in year one, no different to how it was at PMR [Power Maxed Racing]. From year one to year two, there, we saw a massive jump, and I see this following a similar path.”

With the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport partnership now in place, Taylor-Smith feels he is ideally suited to the structure around him.

“I look at it as a three-year journey,” he said. “Year one, you learn what works and what doesn’t, year two you start winning races, and year three you have a real crack at a championship. It’s about finding a home that can accommodate that, and I genuinely believe this is the best fit for my future.

Going into 2026, Taylor-Smith heads into the new year with his future already secured and announced, a situation he believes offers a significant competitive advantage.

“It makes a huge difference,” he admitted. “This championship is incredibly hard… regardless of whether you’re with a front-running team or a newer outfit.

“To have everything signed off this early is a credit to my partner network. Their support has given me the best opportunity I’ve ever had in the BTCC.”

That early confirmation has allowed Taylor-Smith and the team to shift focus immediately towards development.

“We’ve already been working flat-out,” he said. “I’ve been in contact with Craig Porley almost daily since everything was agreed. This is the time of year when races are won and lost.

“By the time you arrive at Donington in April, it’s too late. This championship is about finding an edge, and getting signed early has allowed us to do exactly that going into 2026."

Asked to reflect on the highlights of his 2025, Taylor-Smith points not only to on-track performances but also to the progress made off-track.

“We had some really strong runs at Donington GP and Silverstone,” he said. “Those weekends showed me the path to success.

“But what I’m most proud of is the work we did behind the scenes. Not every weekend went our way, and we had issues that were out of our control, but we showed real resilience.”

“That’s something you absolutely need in this championship,” he added. “With 40 races now, nobody is going to have a perfect season. It’s about bouncing back, and I think we showed that really well, particularly later in the year.”

Taylor-Smith also welcomes the introduction of the Qualifying Race format, believing it adds excitement while placing greater emphasis on preparation.

“If you told me we were racing more, I’d always say yes,” he smiled. “All I want to do is drive these cars.

“It does put more pressure on preparation, though. If you turn up and something isn’t right in free practice, your whole weekend can be compromised. You need to know exactly what you’re doing with the setup, and the mechanics need to be spot on.”

“I think it spices things up,” he added. “Change is good. Fans want action, and the sprint format is really exciting. It’s reignited the championship, and I honestly think we’re heading into one of the most exciting seasons yet.”

Looking ahead, Taylor-Smith is clear in both ambition and mindset. “I want to do everyone proud who I represent,” he said. “That’s the most important thing.

“But I believe we can win races. I know I can win races. I’m going into this season feeling like I’ve got everything I need to do the best job I’ve ever done in this championship.”

Confidence is matched by commitment, with Taylor-Smith already deep into his off-season preparations.

“There’s no off day now,” he admitted. “I’ve been on the simulator every single day since the last race, even on Christmas Day!

“This is my life. There are no lifeboats. People see us on ten Sundays a year, but they don’t see the early starts, the stress. That’s a massive undertaking in itself.”

Now entering his 11th season in the championship, the significance of the moment is not lost on him.

“It still feels surreal,” he said. “This is everything I ever dreamt of growing up, and I’m incredibly proud to be doing it.

“These months are about simulator work, communication with engineers and maximising partnerships. Getting everything signed early has given us a huge head start, and now it’s about using that advantage properly.”

New Sporting Director commences BTCC role

Stuart Murray begins his new role as BTCC Sporting Director today (19 January), having taken over from long-serving Championship Co-ordinator Dan Mayo.

“I can’t wait to get started,” said the hugely experienced Murray. “It’s a major change and the next step of my career. I’ve been working away at international level for a number of years, but this is the pinnacle of motorsport in the UK, and the role has far greater scope.

“It’s certainly a step up in prestige in terms of the championship and role. It’s cliché but like so many others I grew up playing the TOCA game and went to watch a BTCC race weekend at Donington Park in 1994. Growing up in Northern Ireland though it was mainly motorcycle road racing, karting or watching F1 on TV with my Dad.”

Murray’s first significant motorsport position was in Dubai with the ASN of the United Arab Emirates, where he oversaw a vast range of sporting, technical and safety responsibilities.

The Northern Irishman then joined the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) in 2018 – most-recently based in Geneva as Deputy Director of Circuit Sport. He also held the position of Category Manager for Touring Cars and GTs, which included the overseeing of the FIA GT and Touring Car Commissions, as well as organising the FIA GT World Cup in Macau.

In his new all-encompassing position, Murray will oversee the sporting and administrative operation of the British Touring Car Championship, issuing regulations, managing team/driver relations, and ensuring smooth event delivery among many other tasks.

“The most similar experience – a role that I enjoyed immensely – was as the ASN in the UAE,” continued Murray. “Events like the Desert Challenge, where the role would range from Event Manager and working in Race Control right through to ordering t-shirts or working with customs. It involved pretty much everything, which I am sure will stand me in good stead in the BTCC.

“The FIA role was often a bit different, as the promoter held the commercial rights while the FIA looked after the sporting, technical and safety.

“This opportunity gives me the chance to get involved from the ground up and I can’t wait for that. Working as part of a compact, highly professional and experienced team is something I’m immensely looking forward to.”

Following an extensive handover process between Mayo and Murray, much of the BTCC plans for 2026 have already finalised, as Murray now works closely alongside both the Communications and Technical Directors, as well as under the stewardship of Chief Executive Alan Gow.

Mayo also stays within the BARC family as the new Circuit Manager at Croft Circuit, with the BTCC set to have its first official pre-season test at the North Yorkshire venue in late March.

“I had the opportunity to work alongside and shadow Dan for the final three events of last year,” concluded Stuart. “He has been doing this job for 25 years and his phone would ring 20 times an hour about anything and everything. They are big shoes to step into, it will be a great challenge, but he has left this role in a fantastic position for me to continue with.

“He hasn’t disappeared of course and his new role at Croft means we’ll often be crossing paths. If I can do nearly as good a job as Dan has done over many years, then I’d be absolutely delighted.”

Chris Smiley looks back on a 2025 British Touring Car Championship season that delivered front-running pace and strong early results, ultimately just coming up short to teammate Daniel Lloyd for the Independent Drivers’ title.

For the first time since his return to the championship, the Northern-Irishman was reunited with the Hyundai i30N package, finding himself firmly in the mix for overall top-ten honours and Independents’ success.

“Yeah, it was a year of two halves,” Smiley reflected. “The second half of the year was still good, but we lost points early in six races where we didn’t score at all.

“With low ride height issues, being excluded at Thruxton, technical problems at Snetterton and Oulton Park. You add up the points we lost in those races and it would’ve put us somewhere in the top five overall. The Independents’ would’ve been pretty straightforward, really.

“We kind of gave it away with all the silly things that went on, and the other guys just mopped up when we made those mistakes.”

The frustration is sharpened by just how strong Smiley and the car had been across the year, with results and raw pace underlining how quickly he, the team and the new package had come together.

“If you look at the first half of the year, before Thruxton, I was sitting high up,” he said. “From there on, the luck just didn’t go our way, but the speed was always there.

“I broke the lap record three or four times in FP2 this year. All the right ingredients were there. It was just a case of things that were out of my control not falling our way.”

The #22 believes the foundations laid during the season can provide encouragement for him in the future, particularly given the lack of preparation of the year prior.

“I’ve been in the championship for at least ten seasons now, so it’s not a lack of experience,” he explained. “With the car being so last-minute last year, we did very little testing, so to come out of the blocks the way we did was impressive.

“We know the overall speed is there. Now it’s just about focusing on the fine details and ironing out the little annoyances.”

The introduction of the new Saturday Qualifying Race is another change Smiley believes could create fresh opportunities, particularly for drivers who can hit the ground running early in the weekend.

“I don’t think it changes everything, but it definitely creates more opportunity,” he said. “Last year, qualifying was brutal; you could be quick enough for pole, make a mistake in Q1, and suddenly you’re starting 17th.

“Now you’ve got to make sure the car is absolutely right for FP1 because you’re effectively qualifying from the very start of the weekend. You don’t have time to build into it anymore.”

“Being consistently in the top ten is where you need to be in this championship now,” he added. “That’s how you put a title challenge together; scoring points in every race, every weekend.”

As for targets, Smiley’s ambitions remain firmly focused on climbing the overall order. “My aim is to finish as high as possible in the main championship,” he said. “I’d love to be in the top five overall, and obviously the Independents’ as well.

“You can’t predict wins or poles at this point, the field’s too close for that, but the goal is to put a clean, consistent season together and make the most of every opportunity.”

With renewed motivation, lessons learned and excitement building as the new season approaches, the BTCC race winner is clear on one thing: the hunger to compete remains as strong as ever.

“You get to the end of the year and think it’s nice to have a break,” he said. “Then Christmas passes and suddenly you’re excited to get back in the car, to see everyone again.

“With all the changes in the championship, new teams, new cars and drivers moving around, there’s opportunity early in the season. The focus now is just being as fit and as ready as possible when it all starts again.”

Debutant team Plato Racing has today (7 January) publicly confirmed – in a feature with Motorsport News – that it will fulfil its 2026 BTCC entry with a pair of Mercedes-AMG A35 Saloons.

Jason Plato – two-time champion and a winner of 97 BTCC races – announced his intended return to the championship last September as boss of new team Plato Racing, which was revealed as part of the BTCC’s live ITV4 programme from Silverstone.

In December, it was confirmed that Plato Racing had secured two TBLs (TOCA BTCC Licence) in order to gain its official entry for the 2026 season.

Meanwhile, the team appointed world renowned engineering outfit RML to design and build its cars, and Plato has this week explained to Motorsport News the choice to enter with a Mercedes.

“I would say we looked at in excess of five different types of car, but the Mercedes AMG A35 -V177 Saloon was the one that stood out, not only does it sound like a rocket, we intend it to be so!” Plato told MN’s Matt James.

TOCA visited Plato Racing’s new facility towards the end of last year where all plans were assessed and approved, with the team choosing to make its public announcement this week.

Plato Racing will run a shakedown towards the end of February and will then take part in the official BTCC pre-season tests at Croft (24/25 March) and Brands Hatch (8 April).

A silver arrow last appeared in the BTCC back in 2020 when Ciceley Motorsport retired its successful Mercedes A-Class Hatchback, which had claimed several outright victories across seven seasons in the championship.

This latest Plato Racing announcement is front page headlines, and you can read the full article in this week’s Motorsport News.

Croft joins Kent circuit in pre-season testing schedule

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TOCA – series organiser of the British Touring Car Championship – has confirmed its 2026 Season Launch will be held at Brands Hatch, whilst Croft will host two days of official pre-season testing.

Popular for its varied layout, the first official testing action will take place at Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire on 24/25 March, prior to Season Launch at Brands Hatch on 8 April.

Official television coverage and photography will commence the early morning activities at the Season Launch, prior to a shift in focus for the final official pre-season test, featuring six hours of on-track action around the 1.27-mile Indy Circuit.

Both venues will be offering FREE ENTRY to spectators, with refreshments available to purchase, whilst fans will be able to get autographs and photos with their favourite driver during a pitlane walkabout at Brands Hatch.

The Season Launch event, to be held during the Easter school holidays, will be a great family day out and a perfect preview for a full BTCC race weekend.

Drivers and teams will participate in official pre-season media events and interviews with ITV Sport, BTCC Media Team, Kwik Fit and other partners on the 7 April, but this day will be closed to the public.

Please monitor the official BTCC, Croft and Brands Hatch social media channels for additional information as each event approaches.

BTCC 2025 Pre-Season Test Dates:

• 24/25 March – Croft 

• 8 April – Brands Hatch (Indy)

Everyone from the British Touring Car Championship would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We have experienced another remarkable season, made possible by the dedication of our competitors, staff, partners, marshals, volunteers, and, notably, our loyal and enthusiastic fans.

We also extend our thanks to the TOCA Team for playing their integral part in helping to deliver the greatest show in British motorsport.

Naturally, congratulations go to Tom Ingram for clinching his second BTCC Drivers’ title, whilst up and down the pitlane, many other teams and drivers celebrated their achievements by securing silverware and sipping champagne.

The hard work is already underway, and we're excited to unveil the cars and stars ahead of the 2026 season, which we believe is set to be another classic.

In the meantime, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.