2026 Touring Car Thread - BTCC, TCR, and more.Touring Cars 

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Fezzik
The stupid change to the track limit penalties ruined the racing for me, especially focusing on that rather than the decline in driving standards. I love a bit of old fashioned argy-bargy but it's getting a bit too silly at the moment.
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Yeh, I think the argy-bargy of it is a really good thing - the drivers race as clean and as fairly as they can, but they also give as good as they get, and although it sometimes ends in tears, it's certainly fun to watch! They do sometimes get away with murder, so it does seem a little bit daft when track limits make such a big difference to the outcome of the results.
 
Race 1 was fantastic, race 3 was a classic carnage-fest. Track limits were daft and kinda ruined some of the spectacle but hey-ho.
 
Ricky Collard has confirmed his (currently 4th in the championship) season is over, no more funding.
 
Fezzik
Ricky Collard has confirmed his (currently 4th in the championship) season is over, no more funding.
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Hopefully he'll be able to put something together for 2027
 
 
Some BTCC 2027 Rumours:

NAPA & Excelr8 are in discussions with Manufacturers about next season. No names mentioned or possibly if they are talking to the same manufacturers!?!

NAPA aren’t expecting to keep Sutton long term as he’s looking towards GT’s now he’s nearing taking his 5th title. Though a new project may keep him interested.

If Excelr8 do get a manufacturer deal, they’ll be able to choose teammates for Ingram rather than seeing who can fund it! Quite obviously really :lol:

JP’s not done with BTCC………..so watch this space.
 
Har1MAS1415
Some BTCC 2027 Rumours:

NAPA & Excelr8 are in discussions with Manufacturers about next season. No names mentioned or possibly if they are talking to the same manufacturers!?!

NAPA aren’t expecting to keep Sutton long term as he’s looking towards GT’s now he’s nearing taking his 5th title. Though a new project may keep him interested.

If Excelr8 do get a manufacturer deal, they’ll be able to choose teammates for Ingram rather than seeing who can fund it! Quite obviously really :lol:

JP’s not done with BTCC………..so watch this space.
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Also, it's been mentioned that WSR may switch to Volvo.
 
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Har1MAS1415
Also, it's been mentioned that WSR may switch to Volvo.
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Touring Car GIF by kneapolitan


bring it back !!

If true and they move on from BMW that would be the end of the RWD representation in the championship.
 
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Fezzik
Touring Car GIF by kneapolitan


bring it back !!

If true and they move on from BMW that would be the end of the RWD representation in the championship.
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Well as much as it would be great to have Volvo back, it’s a rumour that's been bandied about for years, along with Kia.
 
I wonder how far back you have to go before there was no BMW representation in the BTCC?

That's assuming one of the other teams doesn't buy and run this seasons WSR cars next year.

* edit * seems like it was 2005
 
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Maybe the same years Jaguar started? I guess that wasn't BTCC, but early saloon racing.
 
TheCracker
I wonder how far back you have to go before there was no BMW representation in the BTCC?

That's assuming one of the other teams doesn't buy and run this seasons WSR cars next year.

* edit * seems like it was 2005
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Correct, it was 2005!

Before that, 1998-2001
 
I could see Sutton leaving in a couple years time, given he has more or less achieved everything he wanted in the BTCC, given he's on the cusp of his 5th title (something he could mathematically do as early as Race 1 at Silverstone).

Especially as he already has had a taste of GT racing, so I could see him doing the same as Jake Hill.

I've heard many different manufacturer rumours thrown about with WSR, Volvo and KIA being just two. It would be weird to see them running anything other than a BMW if anything does happen. But that 3 series is getting on a bit.

EXCELR8, logically one would assume a new Hyundai chassis like an Elantra, but there could be something interesting there if not
 
Michelin Man
I could see Sutton leaving in a couple years time, given he has more or less achieved everything he wanted in the BTCC, given he's on the cusp of his 5th title (something he could mathematically do as early as Race 1 at Silverstone).

Especially as he already has had a taste of GT racing, so I could see him doing the same as Jake Hill.

I've heard many different manufacturer rumours thrown about with WSR, Volvo and KIA being just two. It would be weird to see them running anything other than a BMW if anything does happen. But that 3 series is getting on a bit.

EXCELR8, logically one would assume a new Hyundai chassis like an Elantra, but there could be something interesting there if not
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The NGTC 3 Series is in its 8th season now.

Don't think I've seen a car compete that long since the MG ZS or the Astra Coupe.
 
Interesting fact about Osamu Kawashima

He is set to be the series' oldest newcomer since Mark Blundell in 2019.
 
Har1MAS1415
The NGTC 3 Series is in its 8th season now.

Don't think I've seen a car compete that long since the MG ZS or the Astra Coupe.
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Good point, by far the oldest chassis on the grid, perhaps reflected by WSR losing some key sponsorship over recent years and losing BMW backing, has led to a more extended use of the the 3-Series.
 
Michelin Man
Good point, by far the oldest chassis on the grid, perhaps reflected by WSR losing some key sponsorship over recent years and losing BMW backing, has led to a more extended use of the the 3-Series.
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That could well be the case
 

Shami is already involved in motorsport sponsorship & they enquired about buying the Plato team when it went into administration. Probably just a bit of teasing aling with JP but you never know.
 
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WSR are running a new livery on Rainfords BMW this weekend at Silverstone

www.facebook.com

BTCC

🚨 BREAKING: The #99 WSR of Charles Rainford has a new livery revealed ahead of this weekend's Silverstone event! #BTCC
www.facebook.com www.facebook.com

FB_IMG_1790272098993.webp
FB_IMG_1790272102557.webp
FB_IMG_1790272114499.webp
 
IMG_6022.webp
 
Well done to Sutton winning title #5 and for figuring out the best way to handle the boost restrictions for the championship leader - punt race 1 pretty much each weekend and then blast through the race 2 field with reset full allocation. He really is a class apart.
 
Records aren't made to be broken but they are there to be beaten. From time to time, with my interest in the BTCC waxing and waning, I had wondered if Andy Rouse's record would ever be beaten. Congratulations to Ash Sutton for doing so. 41 years is a long time; I wonder how long his own record will now last?
 
Liquid
Records aren't made to be broken but they are there to be beaten. From time to time, with my interest in the BTCC waxing and waning, I had wondered if Andy Rouse's record would ever be beaten. Congratulations to Ash Sutton for doing so. 41 years is a long time; I wonder how long his own record will now last?
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If Ash leaves for GT3 as is heavily rumoured, Ingram could probably walk to the next 3 titles and match the record. Maybe Turkington gets some sponsorship and returns for his own shot at #5.
 
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Congratulations to Sutton on making history, and truly cementing his status in BTCC history, as arguably one the greatest both statistically and in terms of ability.

And no better way to seal that 5th title than a classic Sutton charge in race 2. He's been superlative this year, so very well deserved.

I can see an announcement coming regarding his future, with the hint in that last interview yesterday with Harvey that it's a case of "if he returns".
 
Its a shame there's no longer a well-supported WTCC. Being a multiple BTCC champion is a bit of a career dead end. GT3 is no doubt a stage higher in competitiveness, but it's TV/streaming viewing figures aren't as high* and you're sharing your drive and results with two or three other drivers.


*as far as i can find reliable viewing figures for.
 
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There's still one BTCC record that Ash was in his targets

from Autosport article
The end of the contract is this year, so if we are [carrying on] we’ll sit down and work out what we want to go and achieve. For sure the big 97 wins of Jason [Plato] will be the target, but you need a fair few years in this championship to do that.”
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It's doable but would take probably 4-5 more good years.
 
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