2024 BTCC drivers and teams

Dan Zelos steps up to the BTCC with Excelr8

Updated: Thursday 22^nd August. Dan Zelos will make his BTCC debut this weekend at Donington Park, having replaced the outgoing Ronan Pearson at Excelr8's Team Bristol Street Motors.

The promotion will see the 26-year-old step up to the BTCC after being in and around the support paddock for a decade, having originally raced in the Ginetta Junior Championship in 2014. The mid-season move will also have no impact on his current season, having already wrapped up the Mini Challenge crown – his third – at Knockhill two weeks ago.

A clearly excited Zelos said: “I was all set for a weekend coaching EXCELR8’s drivers in the Mini Challenge Trophy and now all of a sudden, I’m going to be getting coached by the other drivers on how to get the best out of the Hyundai instead! Competing in the BTCC is what me and my family have been working towards throughout my career and even if this weekend turns out to be a one-off, I’ll be able to say we got there.

“Taking my place on the grid is going to be a huge honour, particularly with a team that I have shared so much success with through the years. As a driver, you always go out to try and win but I’m going into the weekend being realistic as I’m up against a strong field that has been racing all season.”

After spending two seasons in Ginetta Juniors, Zelos moved up to the popular Renault Clio Cup, where he competed until 2019, moving across to Mini Challenge with Excelr8. The switch to Minis was a huge success, winning the overall championship three times between 2021 and 2024, having won the Rookie Cup and Graduate Cup in 2019 and 2020 respectively

Zelos steps into the Hyundai i30 following the shock departure of Ronan Pearson, who had scored his maiden BTCC victory earlier in the season.

“Obviously it’s a shame that Ronan won’t be in the car for the rest of the season as he is someone who I have raced with as a team-mate and who I value as a friend,” added Zelos, who will run as the number 45 for the remainder of the season. “On a personal level, I’m thrilled to have the unexpected opportunity to join the BTCC grid at Donington Park.

“I hope to put on a competitive showing and fight in the pack, but at the same time I want to keep my nose clean and not get mixed up in any trouble. Most importantly, I want to keep a smile on my face, but I can’t see that being a problem!”

Ronan Pearson and Excelr8 part company

Updated: Wednesday 21^st August. Ronan Pearson and Excerl8 has released a joint statement announcing that the driver will no longer compete for the team this season, with immediate effect.

The Scottish driver leaves the team with just nine races left in the 2024 season, with the statement explaining the decision was made after the two parties “reached a crossroad in their relationship,” both deciding that parting company was the best solution for all parties.

Pearson was competing in his second season in the BTCC, having made his debut with the Hyundai squad in 2023. A regular points finisher, Pearson took his first win in the championship this season with a triumph in the third race at Brands Hatch. He leaves the team having scored 77 points in 2024, currently sitting 15^th in the Drivers’ standings.

“I will always be thankful to the EXCELR8 team for giving me the chance to achieve a life-long dream of competing in the BTCC, and picking up a Jack Sears Trophy win in front of my home fans at Knockhill and scoring an overall win at Brands Hatch are memories that will live with me forever,” said Pearson.

“This hasn’t been an easy decision to take, but at this stage, I feel it is the best one for both myself, the team, and my commercial partners and sponsors. I wish the team all the best for the remaining three rounds.”

The team, which races under the Team Bristol Street Motors banner, has confirmed that a replacement driver will be announced ahead of this weekend’s racing around the Donington Park Grand Prix circuit.

“We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Ronan over the last two and a half years, and have seen him develop hugely as a driver over that time,” offered team owner Justina Williams.

“His win at Brands Hatch earlier this season was the obvious highlight and showed what he is capable of at the highest level, and we would welcome him back with open arms in the future if the opportunity to work together again comes around further down the line. On behalf of the whole team, we wish him all the best for the future.”

2024 BTCC drivers and teams

Rob Huff completes Toyota line-up

Updated: Thursday 28^th March. Former World Touring Car Champion Rob Huff has been confirmed as the final driver in the Toyota Gazoo Racing UK squad for 2024.

Having completed tests for the Speedworks outfit late last year, the move has now been made official as the 2012 world champion lines up alongside 2023 Jack Sears Trophy winner Andrew Watson for the upcoming season. Questions had been looming over the second works-backed Corolla, with Rory Butcher stepping aside from his BTCC duties ahead of the 2024 campaign.

Huff has found success all across the globe in touring car circles, beating the likes of Alain Menu, Yvan Muller and Gabriele Tarquini to the world title for the works Chevrolet team in 2012, before going on to win the TCR Scandinavian Touring Car Championship in 2020. His most recent exploits saw him finish third overall in last year’s TCR World Tour.

While known to many in BTCC circles, amazingly the 2024 campaign will be only the second full season that Huff competes in Britain’s premier tin-top series. Having won the 2003 Seat Cupra Challenge, the Cambridgeshire driver was promoted to the works Seat Sport UK team for the 2004 BTCC season, taking two victories that year on his way to seventh overall.

He subsequently made two one-off appearances in 2017 and 2023, taking a second placed result at Silverstone with Power Maxed Racing in the former, while it was a more subdued affair at Knockhill last year, only able to score two points finishes in the Team HARD Cupra Leon.

“It feels like I’ve come full circle, 20 years on! I’ve always been a huge supporter of the BTCC – I began my racing career in Britain and I’ve been looking to come back for a little while,” explained Huff. “Last year, I really ramped up those efforts to return; I was given the opportunity to compete at Knockhill, which whetted my appetite for more while allowing me to get my name back in the frame and talk to people face-to-face.

“The main priority for me was to ensure I ended up in a potential championship-winning car with people who share my passion and enthusiasm for the sport – and at Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, that’s what I believe I’ve found. I spoke to pretty much every team in the championship, and I got the best feeling from Christian and Amy [Dick]. I like what they’re doing and how they’re doing it, and when I tested the Corolla at Croft, everything felt very natural and aligned fairly seamlessly.

“We all share the same values, and we’re all pushing for the same goal, which is to drive the whole team forward and to arrive at Brands Hatch at the end of the season in with a shout of winning the title. The competition at the top in the BTCC is always fierce, which means consistency is key. Points win prizes – and ultimately, championships.”

Toyota Gazoo Racing UK Team Principal, Christian Dick, added: “It goes without saying that we are thrilled to bring a driver of Rob’s calibre and success on-board for the forthcoming campaign. His record in the sport speaks for itself – he has raced against, and regularly beaten, the very best in the world, and he is just as razor-sharp now as he was when he started out more than two decades ago.

“When he tested the Corolla last year, he instantly felt at home and his wealth of experience of driving different cars will be hugely beneficial as we continue to strive to extract every last ounce of performance out of the Toyota – while offering an invaluable bank of knowledge for Andrew [Watson] to draw upon in his second season in the championship. We’re tremendously excited about the potential in the team this year and can’t wait to get going!”

BTCC to stream every race on TikTok in 2024

Updated: Thursday 28^th March. BTCC organisers TOCA announced a world-first deal with ITV Sport and social media platform TikTok to live stream all 30 races globally across the platform.

“This is a truly ground-breaking move for the BTCC,” said BTCC Chief Executive, Alan Gow. “I’m incredibly proud that we will be the first major motorsport championship in the world to have its entire race season streamed live on TikTok. Most importantly, this agreement will introduce the BTCC to a massive new and completely different demographic – a younger and more diverse audience – which is exactly what we, and in fact all of motorsport, are looking to achieve.”

Daryl DeLeon returns with Team HARD

Updated: Wednesday March 13^th 2024. The youngest ever driver to compete in the British Touring Car Championship, Daryl DeLeon, returns to the grid for 2024, embarking on his first full season in the championship.

The 18-year-old from Drogheda, Ireland joined the 2023 BTCC grid at the halfway stage, having also been a part of the official Goodyear test earlier that year. The tail end of last season saw DeLeon dovetail his BTCC commitments with the Radical Cup and the British Endurance Championship, the latter of which he won behind the wheel of a Team HARD Porsche 911 Cup.

DeLeon was the winner of the 2023 Team HARD scholarship programme, and managed to secure points finishes at both Silverstone and Brands Hatch for the final two meetings of the BTCC year. Looking ahead to 2024, the youngster is aiming for top ten results and ending the year as the winner of the Jack Sears Trophy, which is only open to drivers yet to score an overall BTCC podium prior to this season.

“It hasn’t been easy to put the pieces together and I want to express my appreciation to everyone who has made this opportunity possible,” explained DeLeon. “I know Team HARD faced many challenges last year, but as a driver I am confident that the two-car operation will provide a competitive package and we will show the potential and focus throughout the season that the six-car operation struggled with.”

The announcement leaves only six seats left to fill for the 2024 BTCC season, with one remaining in the second Team HARD Cupra, and others in the third Power Maxed Racing Astra, the second Toyota Gazoo Racing UK Corolla and all three Team BMW 330e M Sports. DeLeon also becomes the fifth driver lined up for the Jack Sears Trophy, alongside Ronan Pearson, Nick Halstead, Scott Sumpton and Mikey Doble.

Team HARD Returns for 2024

Updated: Monday 4^th March. Despite looking like it would be sitting out the 2024 British Touring Car campaign, Team HARD has confirmed it will indeed be lining up on the grid at Donington Park, albeit in a smaller capacity than previous years.

Thanks to an ongoing partnership with Aiden Moffat Racing, Team HARD will utilise the two TOCA BTCC Licences held by the Scottish team to allow the Cupra squad to be on the grid for 2024. The Kent-based Team HARD has endured a tough off-season, being forced to downscale its operation following a top-to-bottom reset and restructure.

“I have made many mistakes over the years, some poor business decisions and ultimately over ambition has had a huge negative impact on us as a team,” said team boss Tony Gilham. “TOCA and Alan Gow have been very supportive, and I want to thank each and every person that has been there for me during these tough times. We have lots to repair, the rebuild has begun and I will continue to fight to get us back to where we should and need to be.

“We are excited about what lies ahead and everything possible will be done to ensure the business looks forward to a brighter future.”

The team already has its first driver signed up for the upcoming season, which is due to be announced in the coming days, while discussions are ongoing for the second Cupra seat.

Nick Halstead completes Excelr8 line-up

Updated: Thursday 22^nd February. Nick Halstead has announced that he will return to the Bristol Street Motors with Excelr8 squad for 2024, confirming an unchanged four-car assault from the Hyundai team in 2024.

It will be Halstead’s second season in the UK’s premier tin-top series, having earned a brace of points scoring finishes in the 2023 season. The highlight was seventh place at Donington Park’s second race, in the chaotic wet conditions that caught out many top drivers. He backed this up with 15^th in the opening encounter at Knockhill later in the year in equally challenging conditions.

The 51-year-old will still be eligible for Jack Sears Trophy honours in 2024, alongside team-mate Ronan Pearson, 29 years his junior. At present, there are five competitors eligible for the Jack Sears Trophy, including NAPA Racing UK’s Sam Osborne, Power Maxed Racing’s Mikey Doble and Restart Racing’s BTCC rookie, Scott Sumpton.

One Motorsport to take break from BTCC

Updated: Wednesday 21^st February. One Motorsport has announced that it will be taking a step back from the BTCC for 2024, but is eyeing a return to the grid in 2025.

The announcement comes after two of its drivers from 2023, Josh Cook and Aiden Moffat switched to Speedworks Motorsport’s new satellite operation for 2024. Although the team won’t be competing this season, the Brackley-based squad will undertake an extensive development programme for its Honda Civic Type Rs, with an eye to fight for overall title honours in 2025.

The team has been involved with the BTCC off and on since 2006, and has been present on the grid in its current guise since 2017, under its previous name of BTC Racing. The team, run by Steve Dudman, enjoyed back-to-back Independent Drivers’ and Teams’ crowns in 2023 and has racked up a total of 19 wins and 52 podiums.

“This has been an extremely difficult decision to make however it has been made for the betterment of the team and guaranteeing our future success in the sport,” said One Motorsport Team Owner, Steve Dudman in a statement where he also thanked everyone who has worked with the team. “There has been a lot of back and forth in regard to what our 2024 plans would be, but when I finally made this decision after discussion with TOCA, I knew deep down it was the right one at this time.

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

With the team anticipating a return in 2025, it remains unclear as to what will happen with the three TBLs it is in possession of for the 2024 campaign, or where that leaves former driver Jade Edwards, who is yet to confirm a drive for the upcoming season.

Unchanged line-up for NAPA Racing UK

Updated: Monday 19^th February. NAPA Racing UK has confirmed an unchanged four-car assault on the BTCC for 2024 following a triple crown of titles last season.

While all four manufacturer entries to the 2024 BTCC season are made up for four cars each, NAPA Racing UK is the only team to have all four cars running under the same banner.

Run once again by Alliance Racing, formerly known as Motorbase Performance, the team will be led by reigning champion Ash Sutton, who has his eyes set firmly on becoming the first driver to become a five-time winner of the drivers’ championship. If the performances from 2023 are anything to go by, then it’ll be a brave person who bets against Sutton in 2024, having dominated the standings on his way to a fourth title, equalling the record held by Andy Rouse and Colin Turkington.

Dan Cammish returns for a third year in the NAPA blue, having won three races last season to add to his single win in 2022, and remains among the favourites for overall honours going into 2024.

Dan Rowbottom will be looking to build on his best season to date in 2023, which saw him finish seventh overall with no fewer than five trips to the podium, including a victory at Thruxton, and racking up the most points in a season of his career thus far.

Completing the four-car outfit is Sam Osborne, who, like Rowbottom, returns to the team after a personal best season in 2023. The only driver in the Alliance Racing garages eligible for the Jack Sears Trophy (for drivers yet to score an overall podium at the start of the season), Osborne achieved a career best result at Donington last season, as well as almost doubling his previous record of points finishes.

Ingram and Chilton return as Excelr8 partners with Dynamics

Updated: Wednesday 14^th February. The two Toms, Ingram and Chilton will return to lead the Bristol Street Motors with Excelr8 squad into 2024.

The upcoming season will be the fourth for Ingram, who won the overall championship title with the Hyundai outfit in 2022, and has racked up an impressive eleven wins and 38 podium finishes since switching from Speedworks Motorsport in 2021. Although only 30, Ingram is one of the most experienced drivers on the BTCC grid and will line up for his 300^th start this year.

“Last year, we were the only team to really take the fight to Ash for the title, and it was only one race at Knockhill that ultimately prevented us from taking that fight right to the very end,” said Ingram. “Over the winter, we have been working hard to make what is already a strong package, even stronger, so that when racing gets underway this season, we will have a car that is both consistent and quick every weekend.”

Chilton, meanwhile, returns for a third season with Excelr8 in a year that will see him rack up an even more impressive 500^th BTCC race start – having made his top-level tin-top debut at the age of 17. Now 38, Chilton has won at both British and World Championship level, with his most recent being a dramatic triumph in difficult weather conditions at Donington Park, ending a four-year drought for the Reigate man.

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

The two join Ronan Pearson behind the wheel of the team’s Hyundai i30 N Fastback, with a fourth driver and revised livery, which will celebrate 100 years of Bristol Street Motors, to be announced ahead of the season launch in April.

Aiden Moffat joins Josh Cook in Speedworks satellite team

Updated: Monday 12^th February. Aiden Moffat will switch to a Toyota Corolla for 2024, joining Josh Cook at the all-new Speedworks satellite team, setting his sights firmly on ‘fighting at the front’ once again.

The Scot has been present in the BTCC since his record-breaking debut in 2013, lining up at his home round of Knockhill at the age of just 16 years, ten months and 28 days. Moffat wasn’t just making up the numbers in his rookie season, however, scoring points in just his fourth start in a BTCC car. After ten full seasons, Moffat has racked up four race wins with a further ten podium results and has finished in the top six in the Independent title hunt for the past three seasons.

The move sees Moffat link up again with Josh Cook, with the two sharing a garage in 2023 behind the wheel of the One Motorsport Honda Civic Type Rs.

“I’m really excited to join Speedworks and LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ in the Toyota Corolla while continuing to race alongside Josh,” said Moffat. “The car looked very strong in so many areas last year, and seeing where the team is already working to improve – with a solid pre-season testing plan in-place – fills me with a lot of confidence that I can get back to fighting at the front.”

Elsewhere, it has been confirmed that there will be three official pre-season tests, taking place across the first three weeks of April at Brands Hatch on the 3^rd, Croft on the 10^th and Donington Park on the 16^th. The latter will also form the official Season Launch event.

Andrew Watson moves to Toyota Gazoo Racing UK

Updated: Wednesday 7^th February. Andrew Watson has been rewarded with a seat in the works Toyota outfit following his stellar rookie season in the British Touring Car Championship.

The Belfast native was the standout rookie in 2023, including qualifying in the top ten on his debut at Donington Park, and secured the Jack Sears Trophy, taking JST wins in ten and scoring overall points in 15 of the 30 rounds.

The 29-year-old joins Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, replacing the outgoing Rory Butcher, who recently announced he would be taking a sabbatical from the BTCC. Watson’s rise in the BTCC is unsurprising, following a successful career in sportscar racing prior to his touring car debut, which saw him take a pair of podiums in the World Endurance Championship, as well as two top six finishes at Le Mans.

Watson is a part of Mark Blundell’s MBP talent management stable, alongside fellow BTCC rival Jake Hill, and becomes the second driver to be a Toyota works driver, alongside two-time World Endurance Champion Mike Conway.

“To be associated with one of the world’s leading manufacturers is an amazing opportunity for me, and I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone at Speedworks Motorsport, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK and MBP for all of their support,” said Watson. “Having met the team and explored the facilities, there’s no doubt that this is one of the most professional organisations I have worked with, and that fills me with great confidence that we can achieve something special together this year!

“They are proven winners in the BTCC with a fantastic track record – and I’m hoping to add to that tally! With a year under my belt, I can go into the season properly acclimatised to the championship and hit the ground running.”

Josh Cook moves to new Speedworks satellite team

Updated: Thursday 1^st February. Speedworks Motorsport will field two teams in the 2024 British Touring Car Championship, with double Independents’ champion Josh Cook the first driver confirmed for the new satellite operation, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Synetiq.

Two of the Toyota Corollas will be run under the banner of the new team, while Toyota Gazoo Racing UK will return to a two-car outfit after running three cars in 2023. The news of Cook’s switch to Toyota machinery for 2024 comes a day after Rory Butcher announced he would be taking a sabbatical from the BTCC after a six-year stint.

Speedworks Team Principal, Christian Dick, said: “Having expanded from two cars to three last year, to now take the next step up to run four Toyota Corollas in the series is tremendously motivating for the entire team and a hugely exciting prospect.” Dick also stated the team was “thrilled” to have been able to bring Cook on board, particularly his ability to “extract a result out of any given situation”.

The move means 2024 will be the first year that Cook will not be behind the wheel of a Honda Civic Type R in the BTCC since the 2017 season. A regular front runner, the Somerset native scored back-to-back Independents’ titles in 2022 and 2023 after finishing third overall in the 2021 campaign. Despite these successes, Cook’s move signifies a desire to challenge for overall honours, rather than a third Independents’ crown.

“After sharing the paddock with [Speedworks] in recent years, it has been clear to see how professional and dedicated Christian Dick and the entire team are. The Toyota Corolla will be a new challenge for me, and one I’m very much looking to getting to grips with during the forthcoming campaign.”

Rory Butcher to take a sabbatical in 2024

Updated: Tuesday 30^th January. Toyota Gazoo Racing UK driver Rory Butcher has announced that he will be stepping away from the British Touring Car Championship for the 2024 season. The Scot has stated he will “focus on other projects and commitments” during his time away, and has not given any indication as to when he aims to return to the paddock.

The 36-year-old has been a constant on the BTCC grid since the closing stages of the 2017 season, making his debut at his home circuit of Knockhill with the then-Shredded Wheat-backed Motorbase Performance squad. Two seasons with AmD Essex followed, including three wins on his way to fifth in the standings in 2019. A return to Motorbase came for the truncated 2020 season, securing another three victories and retaining fifth place in the end of year table.

Butcher then moved to Toyota Gazoo Racing UK in 2021, replacing the outgoing Speedworks stalwart of Tom Ingram. Three more wins came in his debut Toyota year, ending the season seventh in the points. Only a single victory would come in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons, although consistent results saw Butcher climb to fifth once again by the end of 2022 – however, there were no such positives in 2023 and the Scot narrowly held on to a top ten finish.

“Having been competing for the past 18 years and with a young family back home in Scotland as well as several other interesting projects that require a lot of my time and attention, I feel the time is right to take a break,” said Butcher. “Last season was a really challenging one for me. We went into it with such high hopes after finishing 2022 so strongly, and having to come to terms with the fact that we were not going to be fighting at the front hit pretty hard.”

“I don’t feel right now like I’m the driver I want to be or know I can be,” he continued, “and the BTCC is so intensely competitive that you can’t afford to be at anything less than 100 per cent. I’m definitely walking away with some unfinished business as I haven’t accomplished everything I want to in the BTCC. I believe I have the ability to fight for the title, but if I do at some stage come back, the timing needs to be right.”

Scott Sumpton graduates to BTCC with Restart Racing

Updated: Thursday 11^th January. Scott Sumpton will graduate to the British Touring Car Championship following two seasons racing in TCR UK, confirming Restart Racing’s outfit remains unchanged despite switching championships.

At just 19 years of age, Sumpton will be the youngest driver on the BTCC grid, but comes with experience in touring cars following two seasons in TCR UK. The Essex-based racer began behind the wheel of an Essex & Kent Motorsport Hyundai i30 N TCR in 2022, before moving to the second of the Restart Racing Honda Civic Type R TCRs in 2023.

His best results in tin tops came at the end of 2023 where, competing in the final two rounds of TCR Spain, he took podium finishes at both Jerez and Catalunya in an all-new Honda Civic.

Sumpton becomes the third driver eligible for Jack Sears Trophy honours confirmed for 2024, with Excelr8’s Ronan Pearson and Power Maxed Racing’s Mikey Doble already lined up.

“I’m looking forward to this season more than anything,” said Sumpton. “To race in the BTCC is almost every UK driver’s dream, and it’s a fantastic opportunity for me to develop as a driver and get to benchmark myself against some of the best drivers in motorsport.

“Of course, I’m under no illusions, the BTCC is an incredibly competitive championship. My goal for this year is to carry on learning, hopefully to fight for points in the races, and also contend for the Jack Sears Trophy and take some wins in that class.”

Jake Hill returns with MB Motorsport

Updated: Tuesday 2^nd January. Off the back of their best ever result, Jake Hill and MB Motorsport will once again line up with a West Surrey Racing-prepared BMW 3 Series for another shot at the overall BTCC crown.

Hill and Mark Blundell’s squad ran with Laser Tools backing for the first time in 2023, in what was the team’s second year with Dick Bennetts’ legendary WSR outfit. Despite scoring six wins throughout 2023, Hill could not improve on the third place he achieved in 2022, ending the season 73 points behind the dominant Ford Focus of Ash Sutton.

With the 2024 season marking the 10^th in the BTCC for Laser Tools, having previously backed Aiden Moffat Racing – including back-to-back titles with Ash Sutton in the Infiniti Q50 – MB Motorsport are hoping for a strong year in the blue and white BMW.

“It is amazing to have everything lined up for 2024 already, this is the earliest I have ever managed to pull everything together and my thanks go out to everyone at Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport for making another year together possible,” said Hill. “The combination of Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, WSR and the BMW 330e M Sport proved to be a winning one last time out and I am encouraged with all the work going on behind the scenes that we can go even better in 2024. Rest assured me and the whole team will be giving it our all to make it a year to remember for everyone.”

MB Motorsport Sporting Director, Mark Blundell added: “I think anyone who knows the BTCC knows just how important continuity and stability are to delivering a winning operation on and off the track. Jake had a great season in 2023 – his pace is clear for all to see and we know we have learnt some lessons which we can put to good effect next season to make us even stronger.

Excelr8 Motorsport confirmed that Ronan Pearson would carry on for a second season in one of the team’s Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performances and will once again be eligible for Jack Sears Trophy honours having failed to finish on the podium in his debut season. He almost finished in third in the final race of the day at his home round in Knockhill, but eventually moved aside to allow team-mate and title protagonist Tom Ingram through for additional points.

Had Pearson held on he would not have been eligible for the Jack Sears in 2024, and following a stronger ending to his 2023 campaign, he’ll certainly have his eyes set firmly on the largest trophy up for grabs at the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Aron Taylor-Smith will return to the Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra for a second consecutive year, having impressed throughout the 2023 season. Second place finishes at the Donington Park Grand Prix circuit and Silverstone were the highlights of his season, having steadily improved as he got to grips with the Astra across the year.

The podium results were Taylor-Smith’s first taste of silverware since winning at Rockingham in the Team BMR Volkswagen CC in 2016. The Irishman took a sabbatical from the championship following a disappointing campaign in the MG 6 GT in 2017 before returning with Team HARD in 2021. His year with Power Maxed Racing was a welcome return to form and he’ll undoubtedly be aiming for victories in his second year behind the wheel of the Astra.

Mikey Doble re-signs with Power Maxed Racing

Mikey Doble will return to the BTCC grid for a second season, having extended his deal with Power Maxed Racing team into 2024.

The 25-year-old made his debut in the series in 2023 off the back of winning both the Ginetta GT5 Challenge and the BMW Compact Cup in 2022. An impressive rookie season saw Doble take the Power Maxed Vauxhall Astra to top ten finishes on three occasions, including an Independents victory in the mad weather-affected second race of the year, racking up 63 points and finishing 20^th overall.

Doble narrowly missed out on Jack Sears Trophy honours in 2023, but as he is yet to finish on the podium outright, he will be eligible for the Jack Sears Trophy once again in 2024.

“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,” said Doble. “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. “

With Aron Taylor-Smith already confirmed, there remains just one seat left to fill at the Vauxhall squad, which was filled by eventual Jack Sears Trophy champion Andrew Watson in 2023.

Restart Racing joins BTCC grid with Chris Smiley

Former BTCC competitor Chris Smiley will rejoin the grid in 2024, leading series newcomers Restart Racing.

Restart Racing will enter two Cupra Leons in the 2024 British Touring Car Championship, having competed in TCR UK for the past two years, including a title-winning campaign in 2022.

The team joins the series taking two of the TBLs vacated by outgoing Team HARD, who also ran Cupra Leons during its time in the championship. Many of the Restart Racing team members have BTCC experience to call upon, having previously worked at BTC Racing before it morphed into One Motorsport ahead of the 2023 season.

“The BTCC is where my heart is and where I want to race,” explained Smiley, who won the 2022 TCR UK championship. “To be back, and to bring Restart Racing with me and 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 to the front. With the Cupras we’ve acquired and which we’ve already started working on, we’ll have a great base from which to compete with.”

Smiley’s former race engineer, Ben Taylor, will take on Team Principal duties and is relishing the opportunity to compete in the top tin-top series in the country.

“We’ve cut our teeth winning the TCR UK championship right out of the gate, and now it’s time to see what we can do in the BTCC,” said Taylor. “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.”

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.

BTCC TBL List Confirms Team HARD Departure

The confirmation of the 2024 British Touring Car Championship TBL list has confirmed that Team HARD will not have a presence on the grid.

TBLs, or TOCA BTCC Licences, are required in order to run a car in the British Touring Car Championship. A total of 27 licences have been handed out for the 2024 season, securing the strength of the BTCC field despite losing a team that ran six cars in 2023.

One TBL has gone to Speedworks Motorsport, the outfit behind Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, which expands to a fourth car, with speculation now as to whether they will follow the recent livery changes of both works teams in the World Endurance and World Rally Championships.

Speedworks’ expansion means that all four teams entered as Constructors in 2023 will now have four licences each, with Alliance Racing (formerly known as Motorbase Performance) running the Fords of NAPA Racing UK, West Surrey Racing as Team BMW and a quartet of Hyundai i30s for Excelr8.

Restart Racing, TCR UK title winners, will move across to join the BTCC field for 2023, having secured two of the vacant licences. The remaining three TBLs that Team HARD used in 2023 have been retained by their owners Aiden Moffat, who has two, and Carl Boardley.

One Motorsport and Power Maxed Racing retain their trio of licences each, the latter having already confirmed Aron Taylor-Smith and Mikey Doble for the 2024 season.

The announcement also ends rumours of a return to the series for seven-times Teams Champions Team Dynamics, who took a hiatus from the BTCC on the eve of the 2023 season.

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.