The BTCC is back!

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is back: Back with old stars, a new format, and an instantly popular new team, led by one of the sport’s greatest/most controversial characters. Here’s to 2026!

There was a dream start on Saturday for newcomers Plato Racing and star recruit Daniel Rowbottom. A seemingly rare moment of hasty misjudgement by Ash Sutton (whilst attempting to pass Tom Ingram during the qualifying race) sent the four-time champion spiralling out of contention, leaving Rowbottom (who had been running in P3) to use the advantage of his momentum to stay close to the leader. The next few laps were pivotal for the Plato Racing man, whose presence kept Ingram from making an early break, and with a five-second penalty looming for the reigning champion, Rowbottom simply needed to stay within touching distance to inherit the win, the points, and importantly, pole position for the first of Sunday’s three feature races.

The harsh reality of 21st-century touring car racing is that fairytales tend to be both short-lived and costly. Plato’s VIP guests loved every minute on the grid as Rowbottom guided his Mercedes into pole position for race 1, but just getting here has cost the team (of which Rowbottom is a partner) dearly. Plato announced his plans to compete as an entrant in September last year, and immediately set about securing the cars, equipment, personnel and partnerships needed to bring a new squad to the grid. He could have easily bought existing assets, but as anyone who has ever read his book will know, branding, marketing and selling (himself) have all been fundamental to Jason Plato’s longevity at motor racing’s peak. Second-hand and second-best don’t win races, nor do they attract blue chip, high-spending partners. Sadly, what also doesn’t win races are troublesome clutches and failed crank sensors; the former immediately sending Rowbottom down the order in Race 1, the latter removing him from Race 2 (and requiring a costly new engine installation).

Here are our top twenty images from Rounds 1, 2 and 3.

All images by Mike Hills

Jason Plato prepares to welcome his car to its very first pole position.

Sign of the times: There's a new team on the grid, and the ITV cameras were on hand to share the news with viewers around the world.

Ash Suttton found focus in his Ford to recover from his P21 (last) grid position for Race 1 to storm through the pack to finish P2... and then go on to win Races 2 & 3. We've said this before, and we'll say it again now; in years to come, Ash Sutton is not only likely to rank amongst the greatest touring car racers of all time, he may well head the list.

Key to Sutton's 2026 title challenge is his team's switch to the Focus Titanium saloon. Hatchbacks are fundamentally draggy, which has been a recurring limiting factor in NAPA Racing's straight line speed. This new car, designed to meet future BTCC regulations, is both sleeker and lighter. There's clearly going to be fine-tuning required as the season progresses, but all the evidence from testing and this first weekend of racing is that the new car will prove far more formidable against the BMWs and Hyundais, especially around longer, former airfield circuits.

Sutton leads the chase

Mikey Doble gave the new Audi S3 an unexpected but much-welcomed win for the LKQ Euro Car Parts squad, this year competing with Power Maxed Racing.

Reigning champion, Tom Ingram soon found himself in a commanding position in Race 1, only to fall foul of a repeated engine overboosting issue, leading to his post-race disqualification, despite repeated efforts by both driver and team to address the problem whilst the race was in progress. Ingram wasn't the only driver to be affected by this, and the penalty felt unduly harsh, especially as the team could prove that the champion was lifting-off on the straights in an attempt to compensate.

If Ingram's title defence started badly, it got considerably worse as the cars gathered for Race 2; a failing alternator forcing the Hyundai into the pits and retirement during the formation lap. Like Sutton, he did, however, get the chance to remind everyone of his pace and penchant for overtaking in Race 3, scything his way from P21 to P2.

Despite only returning a solitary podium during the weekend (P3 in Race 1), consistency was Charles Rainford's key to a points haul that saw the WSR man earn P2 in the standings.

These two (Ash Sutton #116 and Charles Rainford #99) left Donington with a clear advantage over title rival Tom Ingram. Expect the racing between them to get closer, then closer still.

Another driver who consistently delivered form and pace last weekend was Aiden Moffat; the man whose presence and persistance has resulted in LKQ Euro Car Parts becoming one of the key brands associated with this generation of the BTCC. Technical failures have plagued Moffat's career in recent years, but, the switch to the new PMR Audi has sent him straight to the top of the Independent Drivers' standings, and the LKQ Euro Car Parts squad to #1 in the Independent Teams' table.

Just as Moffat leads the Independent standings, fellow Scot Dexter Patterson has eased into an early Jack Sears Trophy lead, earning praise from many in the paddock for a mature and skilled series of drives.

The obvious statement to make about Dan Cammish is that he's quick, bright and sharp. A multiple champion on his journey towards the BTCC, and 16 wins from 210 starts since he's been here. But the harsh reality is that as long as Ash Sutton remains on the grid, the Yorkshireman appears doomed to race in his shadow. Of course, there's a key financial benefit to racing for Alliance, under the 'NAPA' banner, but in the long term, we'd still rather see him in GT World Challenge, then WEC. Just saying.

By most reckonings, Josh Cook should have started the year as a firm title favourite, but there's something about those Corollas that shouts against this. There's no shortage of one lap pace, and as Gordon Shedden proved in Race 3, podiums are certainly possible. But can Cook seriously take on the might of the Fords, Hyundais and BMWs? On last Sunday's showings, probably not.

One of these two lost a champion and his sponsor at the end of last year. The other gained a partnership, but little chance of much else. These are difficult days for team owners. The addition of a Saturday race allows for more opportunities to sell hospitality packages, but costs are spiralling and the CFOs of traditional backers and partners are keeping ever-tighter reins on marketing spending. Conversations like this are a part of every race weekend, but we think that as the year progresses, we're going to see fewer and fewer smiles.

Race 1 gets underway.

Drivers and teams might come and go, but BTCC fans remain loyal and true.

Alan Gow is known to be steadfastly loyal to the team that supports him, but as changes need to be made, he's always looking to better address his audience. Nikki Shields and Jade Edwards are perfect examples of how the BTCC remains relevant and engaging.

Fan favourites such as Paul O'Neill remain a firm fixture.

Written By

Steve Hindle

Steve has lived his life with motor sport; from childhood years as a fan, to racing around the greatest tracks in Europe, first as a driver and later as a team principal. Today he's a familiar sight trackside and in the pit lane, notebook in one hand, camera in another, capturing moments and contributing to some of the leading titles in motor sport and automotive media.

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The BTCC is back!

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Like this:

Written By

Steve Hindle

Try These Next

Formula Ford – Still the best route to success

Pia Steffe and Nina Spitaler’s ascent in Austrian rallying

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