Tag: BTCC

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship has lifted the curtain on the forthcoming 2025 season by confirming a stellar entry list that is made up of former champions, proven race winners and young chargers.

Starting at Donington Park today for its annual Season Launch, the UK’s premier motor racing series will once again travel the length and breadth of the country – staging 30 races across ten full-throttle weekends.

Headlining this year’s 24-car grid is reigning champion Jake Hill, who is now the team leader at West Surrey Racing. Remaining with Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport and his trusty BMW, Hill has the number one adorning his car this year and he’ll be eager to not let it go.

Joining Hill at the multiple champions is exciting young racer Daryl Deleon, as well as the duo of Aiden Moffat and debutant Charles Rainford, both of whom will run under the LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR banner.

Looking to take the fight to the BMW quartet is Team VERTU, which is spearheaded by 2022 title winner Tom Ingram. Having finished as runner-up in each of the past two seasons, the Hyundai driver will be all guns blazing to clinch a second crown this time around.

Ingram is joined at EXCELR8 Motorsport by the experienced Tom Chilton once again, while Adam Morgan makes a return to front-wheel-drive after a number of years competing in the aforementioned BMW. Completing the line-up is returning fan favourite Michael Crees, although it will only be for half a season as Senna Proctor will take on driving duties from Croft onwards.

Both Hill and Ingram won’t be the only drivers battling for the coveted crown though with NAPA Racing UK fielding an unchanged line-up that is led by Ash Sutton – who is looking to make history by becoming the very first five-time champion of the BTCC.

The Ford Focus ST squad boasts strength in depth with Dan Cammish and Dan Rowbottom no doubt keen to make their mark also. Sam Osborne is the fourth and final driver that will represent the striking yellow and blue outfit in 2025.

Over at Speedworks Motorsport it is all change for a second successive season. Three-time champion Gordon Shedden returns after two years away and he’s joined by last year’s Independent Drivers’ champion Aron Taylor-Smith, Ronan Pearson and rookie James Dorlin.

One Motorsport took a sabbatical in 2024 but they’re back with their Honda Civic Type Rs and the ultra-competitive pairing of Josh Cook and Stephen Jelley. Elsewhere, Mikey Doble has remained with Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing for a third successive campaign.

Rounding out the grid is Chris Smiley and Daniel Lloyd in Restart Racing’s two new Hyundais while Un-Limited Motorsport have gone from one to three cars, with Dexter Patterson, Nicolas Hamilton and Max Hall locked in to drive Cupras.

With the removal of hybrid and the introduction of sustainable fuel, along with a host of other elements remaining the same, this year’s fight to be crowned British Touring Car Champion could well be one of the closest in years.

2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Entry List

No. 1 // Jake Hill // Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport // BMW 330i M Sport
No. 2 // Daryl Deleon // West Surrey Racing // BMW 330i M Sport
No. 3 // Tom Chilton // Team VERTU // Hyundai i30 N Fastback
No. 12 // Stephen Jelley // One Motorsport // Honda Civic Type R
No. 14 // Ronan Pearson // TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK // Toyota Corolla GR Sport
No. 16 // Aiden Moffat // LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR // BMW 330i M Sport
No. 17 // Dexter Patterson // Un-Limited Motorsport // Cupra Leon
No. 22 // Chris Smiley // Restart Racing // Cupra Leon
No. 27 // Dan Cammish // NAPA Racing UK // Ford Focus ST
No. 28 // Nicolas Hamilton // Un-Limited Motorsport // Cupra Leon
No. 32 // Dan Rowbottom // NAPA Racing UK // Ford Focus ST
No. 33 // Adam Morgan // Team VERTU // Hyundai i30 N Fastback
No. 40 // Aron Taylor-Smith // TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK // Toyota Corolla GR Sport
No. 52 // Gordon Shedden // TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK // Toyota Corolla GR Sport
No. 66 // Josh Cook // One Motorsport // Honda Civic Type R
No. 77 // Sam Osborne // NAPA Racing UK // Ford Focus ST
No. 80 // Tom Ingram // Team VERTU // Hyundai i30 N Fastback
No. 88 // Mikey Doble // Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing // Vauxhall Astra
No. 93 // Maximus Hall // Un-Limited Motorsport // Cupra Leon
No. 99 // Charles Rainford // LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR // BMW 330i M Sport
No. 116 // Ash Sutton // NAPA Racing UK // Ford Focus ST
No. 123 // Daniel Lloyd // Restart Racing // Cupra Leon
No. 132 // James Dorlin // TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK // Toyota Corolla GR Sport
No. 777 // Michael Crees // Team VERTU // Hyundai i30 N Fastback

Donington Park provides the setting for the opening three rounds of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season on April 26-27.

The British Touring Car Championship has announced an enhancement of its global coverage, with each race day of the 2025 season – including all support series’ races – being streamed live around the world on the official BTCC YouTube channel.

Both the United Kingdom and North America are an exception to the new agreement due to them both having existing broadcast agreements in place.

Qualifying will also continue to be broadcast LIVE in the UK on ITVX, and indeed LIVE across the UK and throughout the world via YouTube.

The deal also represents fantastic news for the BTCC’s loyal support series’ – namely F4 British Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup GB, Porsche Sprint Challenge GB, The Vertu MINI CHALLENGE and The Vertu MINI CHALLENGE TROPHY – as each will enjoy LIVE global streaming coverage for the first time ever.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to further enhance our LIVE streaming coverage of the BTCC throughout the world via YouTube.

“This agreement represents fantastic news for our teams, partners and stakeholders, including our valued support series’, but most importantly for our legion of fans around the world, who will now be able to enjoy viewing the entire BTCC race day live for the first time.”

You can subscribe to the official BTCC YouTube channel here.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship undertook an extensive pre-season test at the British Automobile Racing Club owned Croft Circuit in Yorkshire earlier this week (1/2 April) with most of the 2025 challengers in attendance to gain vital mileage and data ahead of the eagerly anticipated season.

The first official pre-season test at Croft was to be an important two days to showcase the reliability of the 2025 machines, and give the fans a potential early form guide as to who to look out for this season. According to BTCC data, 2,800 laps and nearly 6,000 miles were covered across the two days, with glorious sunshine providing plenty of dry running for the teams in North Yorkshire.

BTCC Rookie Max Hall starred on the opening day, as the young driver produced a stunning lap in his Un-Limited Motorsport Cupra Leon. Hall, who graduated out of the BARC supported Verti MINI Challenge, set the benchmark in the second session. The time which was under the BTCC lap record remained unbeaten until the final hour of the last day when Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing’s Mikey Doble leapt to the top of the timesheets with a 1:20.391s which is well over half a second quicker than the existing qualifying lap record.

NAPA Racing UK’s Dan Cammish is a dark horse for a title tilt this season and was at the sharp end during both days – eventually ending up third overall, whilst reigning champion Jake Hill was fourth in his Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW.

Hill’s new West Surrey Racing team-mate – Daryl DeLeon – left it late, as the young charger claimed fifth in the final moments of the two-day test – just pipping a happy former champion Tom Ingram in sixth.

Four-time Champion Ash Sutton was the first driver to dip under the current qualifying lap record on Tuesday, before that time became dated quite quickly, thanks in part to the glorious early spring weather. Sutton, who is eyeing a record breaking fifth title, eventually had to settle for seventh overall.

Returning three-time champion Gordon Shedden was immediately on the pace as the flying Scotsman bagged eighth in his first outing in his new TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK Corolla, whilst LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR’s Charles Rainford and One Motorsport’s Josh Cook rounded out the top ten.

Speaking to BTCC – Mikey Doble, Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing, said: “We have had a fantastic first couple of days to kick off our pre-season testing programme. The car felt amazing, and the team’s hard work in development over the off-season is now shining through. I can’t wait to get back out in the car for Season Launch at Donington in a couple of weeks.”

The BTCC has one further official test day at Donington Park on the 15th April before returning to the Leicestershire venue on the weekend of the 26/27 April for the opening three rounds of the series.

Organisers of the British Touring Car Championship – TOCA – have today (December 2) released the list of TOCA BTCC Licences that have been allocated to teams for the 2025 season.

Following the entry approval date of December 2nd 2024 for all TOCA BTCC Licences (TBLs), the grid of the UK’s premier motorsport series will expand to 24 cars next year – having stood at a maximum of 21 during the recent 2024 campaign.

Alliance Racing, EXCELR8 Motorsport and Speedworks Motorsport continue to hold four licences and they have been joined by reigning Manufacturer-Constructor champions West Surrey Racing, who will look to expand back to four cars on a full-time basis.

Power Maxed Racing and Restart Racing will again look to field two entries while Un-Limited Motorsport has acquired an additional TBL to take its total to two.

After a year on the sidelines, One Motorsport look set to make a triumphant return to the BTCC too with two TBLs being allocated to the Brackley-based squad.

Teams will announce full details regarding their respective entries (drivers, team names and sponsors) over the coming weeks and months, prior to the release of the finalised entry list for the forthcoming season in April.

2025 TOCA BTCC Licence Allocation
EXCELR8 Motorsport – 4
West Surrey Racing – 4
Alliance Racing – 4
Speedworks Motorsport – 4
Power Maxed Racing – 2
Un-Limited Motorsport – 2
Restart Racing – 2
One Motorsport – 2

The 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season commences on April 26/27 around the Donington Park National circuit.

Series organisers of the British Touring Car Championship, TOCA, have confirmed further changes to its latest regulations ahead of the 2025 season. 

Following the ground-breaking announcement that the UK’s premier motorsport series will introduce 100% sustainable fuel next year, a number of other amendments have now been ratified between TOCA and all competing teams. 

As of April 1st 2025, a two-year engine freeze will come into effect, so that no further developments can be made to the homologated engines for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

This decision ensures that the highest-level of competitiveness of each engine will remain but will also significantly save costs to the teams over the next two years.

On the topic of tyres, it will now be mandatory for the three overall podium finishers in Race 1 to run the hardest Goodyear tyre compound available in Race 2 – as opposed to the previous top ten finishers.

A new safety car procedure will be also introduced to ensure a smoother, closer and safer restart to all sessions.

When the Safety Car lights are turned off – indicating it will accelerate away from the pack and return to the pit-lane – all cars must cease weaving, braking and/or accelerating and stay no more than two car lengths from the car ahead of them.

The race leader will be required to maintain approximately the same speed the safety car was using when it extinguished its lights, until the leader has passed the new ‘Restart Point’ – designated at each circuit by TOCA and to be positioned between the final corner and the start/finish control line – after which the leader can then accelerate up to racing speed.

In the battle for the coveted Jack Sears Trophy, drivers that have either previously won the competition or have scored more than one outright podium in the BTCC will not be eligible for the Jack Sears Trophy from next year.

Finally, the qualifying format has been looked at with the grid positions for cars that do not progress from both groups in the first Part of the Qualifying session undergoing a change for 2025.

Those from Group 1 who do not progress into Part 2 will line up on the even numbered side of the grid and those from Group 2 on the other side – thus preventing a change in track or weather conditions having an adverse effect on those groups and their subsequent grid positions.

“Of course, the introduction of 100% sustainable fuel has been the headlining change for the 2025 BTCC season, but we always look at every aspect of our championship each year to see what can be improved,” said BTCC Chief Executive, Alan Gow.

“I’m sure that these tweaks will all have a positive effect and will further add to the great racing that is the hallmark of the BTCC.”

Tickets for the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship’s 2025 visit to Croft Circuit are now on sale.

In what is the biggest event of the year at the British Automobile Racing Club operated venue, the UK’s premier motorsport series will descend on North Yorkshire to kick-start the second half of next season on August 2-3.

Three high-octane tin top races will top the bill while a bumper supporting cast which includes the all-new Mairon Freight UK TOCA Junior Championship will also take centre stage.

Tickets can be purchased at advance prices online today via: https://croftcircuit.co.uk/racing/btcc

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship has announced that 100% sustainable fuel will be introduced for 2025, whilst the use of hybrid power has been discontinued.

Maintaining its position at the forefront of national motorsport innovation and industry-leading standards, the BTCC will next year become the first championship in the UK to fully adopt sustainable fossil-free fuel for all of its cars.

The new fuel – designated Hiperflo ECO102 R100 – is specifically engineered to maximise performance, compatibility, and sustainability. The fuel is 100% fossil-free, meaning all components are derived from synthetic and biological (i.e. non-crude) sources. Hiperflo ECO102 R100 conforms to the highest FIA and ISCC compliances. 

Following a thorough test and development programme of the fuel, the decision to introduce it means that the hybrid programme – which was officially launched for the 2022 season – will now come to an end.

From next season, cars will have the same power-boost output as in 2024 – and the same boost deployment format as previously used – with the additional power surge coming solely via turbo boost. Cars will also be some 55 kgs lighter and nimbler as a result. 

A further tweak will see all notifications of the turbo boost deployment being removed from the timing screens, as it was felt this gave teams and drivers immediate information to try to counteract its use by other drivers.

“The introduction of 100% fossil free sustainable fuel for 2025 shows that the BTCC remains committed to innovation in motorsport,” explained BTCC Chief Executive, Alan Gow.

“As the highest profile championship in the UK, this introduction is a significant and essential step in maintaining the competitiveness and excitement synonymous with the BTCC, but in a more sustainable and forward-thinking way.

“The hybrid era was a great one for the BTCC. Six years ago, when we first announced hybrid, it was a technology still in its relative infancy within motorsport. We’ve successfully completed that programme – and really have no more to prove in that respect – whilst others have yet to catch up. 

“But, as we’ve now ticked that box we can move further forward with the introduction of the fossil-free sustainable fuel, whilst very importantly delivering the same performance parameters that made this year’s BTCC such a memorable one.

“We don’t just sit still with the BTCC – we evolve, and we advance, as today’s announcement firmly underlines.”

Other rule tweaks have been ratified by Series Organisers TOCA ahead of the 2025 BTCC season, with information on these regulation changes to be released in the coming few days.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship has announced that its 2025 Season Launch will take place at Donington Park, while Croft has also been chosen to host two official pre-season test days.

Croft will welcome the UK’s premier motorsport series on April 1-2 for two days of testing before the Season Launch, and the final official pre-season test day, will be staged at Donington Park on April 15.

As is now customary, drivers and teams will carry out official pre-season media-related activities and interviews on April 14 before television and photography will also make up the early morning activities the following day. The ‘Class of 2025’ will then embark on six hours of testing at the Leicestershire venue.

Both Croft and Donington Park will be offering free entry to spectators, with refreshments available, whilst fans will be able to get autographs and photos with drivers during a pitlane walkabout at Donington Park.

The 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship campaign begins around Donington Park’s National layout on April 26/27.

Jake Hill has shared his delight after he was crowned British Touring Car Champion for the first time in his career at Brands Hatch last weekend (October 5/6).

On what proved to be a dramatic final day of the season on the Grand Prix layout of the Kent venue, the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport driver produced a champions drive in the finale to edge out Tom Ingram and lift the coveted prize.

Entering the weekend tied on points with Ingram in the standings, the BMW 330e M Sport racer charged to a hard-fought victory in race one before then shadowing Ingram in second place in the penultimate contest.

Those results set up a tantalising title showdown which saw Hill leading by a solitary point. In what was simply a winner-takes-all situation, Hill held his nerve in wet conditions to power past Ingram in the early stages and from there he didn’t look back as he cruised to the crown.

“It’s just a massive, overwhelming feeling of emotions,” said Hill. “This is the first championship I have ever won and we’ve gone and made sure it is the British Touring Car Championship – I can’t quite comprehend it all at the moment.

“That last race was all about just staying calm because Tom was initially very strong and had the initiative. After a few laps though I could see he didn’t have the pace and then it was about pick my moment. It swung massively in my favour suddenly and thankfully it went our way.

“This means so much though as I thought my career was done in 2018, when I pulled out halfway through, and then Shaun Hollamby saved the day. A mixture of Shaun and me being team-mates with Mark Blundell started this journey again.

“I owe the latter part of my career to Shaun for taking a risk on me and giving me a cheap enough drive that we could somehow get the money together to do it, which we did. My Dad also just never, ever gave up and now we’re BTCC champions!”

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship brought the curtain down on its 2024 season in action-packed style at Brands Hatch this past weekend (October 5/6) as Jake Hill was crowned champion for the first time.

On what was one of the most dramatic final days of the season in recent memory, the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport driver held his nerve in front of a capacity crowd on the world-famous Grand Prix circuit to cement his status as a tin top great.

Arriving at the Kent venue tied on points with Tom Ingram at the top of the standings, Hill charged to an impressive eighth win of the season in race one before adding a brace of podium finishes – the latter of which was enough to seal the coveted title.

Hill’s journey to clinching the biggest prize in UK motorsport has been nothing short of sensational this year with one pole position, eight wins and a further eight podium finishes being tallied over the course of the ten-event campaign.

Whilst unable to overhaul Hill from clinching the coveted crown, Ingram settled for runners-up laurels whilst outgoing Ash Sutton, Colin Turkington and Dan Cammish completed the top five in the standings.

Elsewhere, NAPA Racing UK claimed the Teams’ Championship for a third straight season but they were unable to stop BMW from sealing a record-breaking tenth Manufacturers-Constructors Championship.

Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing were the dominant force on their way to a maiden Independent Teams’ Championship while drivers Árón Taylor-Smith and Mikey Doble clinched the Independent Drivers’ and Jack Sears Trophy titles respectively.

Qualifying on Saturday afternoon set the scene for an action-packed Final’s Day as Turkington secured the Goodyear Wingfoot Award – which is awarded to the top qualifier – by snaring his fourth pole position of the campaign.

Race one would see drama ensue from the get-go as Ingram found himself caught up in an incident that ended the races of Sutton and Josh Cook within a couple of corners. Hill would escape unscathed from the incident and ultimately powered his way to a crucial win.

The tables would turn in race two as Ingram produced a stellar opening few laps to dispatch both Hill and Turkington before he cruised to victory. That result meant that just one point – in Hill’s favour – separated the pair heading into the final race of the year.

In what was an epic showdown, Sutton produced a clinical display in the wet conditions to sign off his tenure as champion with a victory however it was behind him where everyone’s attention was fixed.

Ingram initially got the better of Hill in the opening exchanges although it didn’t take long for the tide to turn and soon it was the BMW driver on the front foot. At mid-distance he found a way past Ingram and from there he didn’t look back as he went on to finish in second place.

With Ingram unable to strike back, Hill held his nerve and swept his way to an emotional first BTCC title.

To view the full classification of results from all BTCC sessions at Brands Hatch, as well as the final championship standings, CLICK HERE.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will return in 2025, with a brand-new season poised to start at Donington Park on April 26/27.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship has moved ever-closer to a sustainable fuel future after running an extensive trial in a fully competitive environment at the Home of British Motor Racing, Silverstone, last weekend (September 21/22).

Working closely with long-term partners Haltermann Carless on this ground-braking project, the UK’s premier motorsport series is aiming for all cars entered into the championship to run 100% sustainable fuel.

Silverstone marked the latest milestone in the development process as the Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport car of Daryl DeLeon ran the latest 100% sustainable fuel for the full duration of the race weekend with support from Haltermann Carless, M-Sport and Aero Tec Laboratories Ltd (ATL).

DeLeon contested every session with absolutely no fuel issues reported, and critically the pace and performance results were recorded to be equal of those cars running the regular controlled championship fuel.

The Hiperflo ECO102 R100 is a fully sustainable fuel, which meets FIA criteria as an advanced sustainable fuel. The fuel is a pure drop-in solution, it requires no hardware modifications to existing engines and crucially delivers no loss in performance compared to the current control fuel used in the championship. 

The fuel itself achieves a greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction of approximately 55% on a well-to-wheel (WtW) basis compared to the fossil fuel baseline. If the full BTCC grid adopted this fully sustainable fuel for the entire season, it would result in a CO2 reduction of approximately 50,000 kg, equivalent to the combined weight of around 37 BTCC cars.

Series Organiser – TOCA – will continue to work closely alongside Haltermann Carless over the coming weeks and months with the plan to move fully to a 100% sustainable fuel as the championship’s chosen controlled fuel. The DeLeon car is expected to continue running the fuel at the Brands Hatch season finale next weekend (5/6 October).

“We are delighted with the significant progress we have made with regard to 100% sustainable fuel – working closely alongside Haltermann Carless and our teams – with last weekend’s results representing a significant milestone in the project,” said BTCC Chief Executive Alan Gow.

“The development work doesn’t stop here, however, as we actively strive to even further improve the efficiency and performance of the sustainable fuel going forward.

“This is an important and essential step for the BTCC as we continue to look to maintain the competitiveness and excitement synonymous with our championship, but in a more sustainable way.”

Adrian Stuart, Haltermann Carless Head of Performance Fuels Sales UK, added: “In recent years, the focus in motorsport has shifted toward sustainable fuels, a challenge we have embraced with the same dedication that has fuelled our success with the BTCC over the past 30 years.

“At Silverstone we were able to showcase a fully sustainable fuel during a championship weekend and we would like to thank to Daryl DeLeon and Duckhams Racing for supporting this trial. This is just the beginning, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with the BTCC and engine partners to bring even more sustainable, high-performance fuels to the racetrack in the future.

“This is a significant development and enforces our commitment to driving low-carbon solutions through our motorsport brands, Carless Racing Fuels and ETS Racing Fuels. More breakthroughs are on the horizon as we continue to innovate and refine our fuel formulations.”