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

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Flash is driver 2. I thought they were going to support an upcoming driver like they did originally with Hill, but I guess the Speedworks deal changed the plans. Basically just a rebrand of the TGR squad (rumour says TGR may be scaling back or ending their investment)

btcc.net

Three-time BTCC Champion Gordon Shedden Joins Laser Tools Racing With MB Motorsport For 2026 • BTCC

Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport is delighted to announce the signing of three-time BTCC champion, Gordon Shedden, to complete the team’s two-car driver
btcc.net btcc.net
 
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TBL allocation for 2026.
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I'd be amazed if One makes the grid for the first race.
WSR down to 3 cars, likely due to budgets.
PMR with 3 is a nice surprise.
 
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I know a lot of teams/drivers wait until the new year before they announce their plans for that season, but i'm amazed only 3 drivers have confirmed their participation for 2026 so far.
 
Pleasant surprise to see PMR upgrade to 3 TBL's. Would be a mega story if PMR can go all in with a car in the S3 and 3 cars 🔥.
 
Hmm
tcraustralia.com

New Category Manager, New Race Formats and Two-Driver Option Signal Bold Changes for TCR Australia - TCR Australia

The Bend Motorsport Park today announced significant changes to TCR Australia, headlined by the appointment of Charlotte White as Category Manager and the introduction of new race formats designed to reinvigorate the national touring car series from 2026. White joins […]
tcraustralia.com tcraustralia.com
The category will also undergo a series of sporting changes aimed at increasing flexibility, accessibility and on-track action. Separate championship honours will be awarded for Generation 1 and Generation 2 TCR cars with each race weekend now featuring one rapid-fire qualifying session and two short sprint races per-day

A brand-new Pro-Am Cup will form part of the 2026 TCR Australia Series, allowing competitors the option to car share a single TCR car between two-drivers, with each driver contesting one heat race each per day and overall round results shared between the two drivers. The Pro-Am Cup is designed to lower barriers to entry, attracting a broader range of drivers while maintaining the competitive integrity of the TCR platform.
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2026 TCR Australia Series Schedule

Round 1 – March 20-22 (Shell V-Power Motorsport Park – International Circuit)

Round 2 – April 17-19 (Mallala Motorsport Park – Day/Night)

Round 3 – June 26-27 (Shell V-Power Motorsport Park – West Circuit)

Round 4 – July 17-19 (Shell V-Power Motorsport Park – West & GT Circuit)

Round 5 – August 21-23 (Shell V-Power Motorsport Park – International Circuit)
 
This popped up in the FB Heritage Touring Cars New Zealand posts.

Look who is back from Brands Hatch in the UK, all freshened up and ready for the Taupo Historic GP. Paul McCarthy and his stunning 1993 Mazda Xedos 6 BTCC car. Both Paul and the Mazda are fast and will be very competitive at Taupo.
History: built by Roger Dowson Engineering for the Mazda Race Team, for Patrick Watts. Results included pole at Snetterton, fastest lap at Silverstone and 4th at several rounds.
This is interesting....it was run by Slim Borgudd (ABBA drummer) in the 1993 and 1994 FIA World Touring Car Challenge. In 1994 he ran it in the Nordic Touring Car Championship, winning 3 races and the championship. For more history, check out the history board in the photos.
In 2016 it was purchased by Paul and restored and campaigned in Historic Touring car events.
Specifications
  • Motor: Mazda KL V6, developed by Judd for Zytek Engineering. Aprox 285hp
  • Gearbox: Xtrac 206 6 speed sequential, magnesium casings, d=flat shift, 5.5" carbon clutch
  • Suspension - Magnesium struts front and rear
  • Brakes: Front 355mm with Alcon 4 pots, rear 265mm with AP 2 pots
  • Wheels: 8.2 x 18" Magnesium OZ racing centrelock
  • Weight: 950kg

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btcc.net

Plato Racing Confirms Mercedes-Benz Entry • BTCC

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
btcc.net btcc.net

In other news Dan Lloyd won’t be on the BTCC grid in 2026. No announcement from Restart as to who will be taking the seat.
 
This might be relevant in here. I'm betting most of you have no idea who Eric Kutil is, but he runs a Super Touring inspired Civic sedan in the Gridlife GLTC series. He just announced that he's building a late 90's Accord, also Super Touring inspired, to run in the new GLGT series. He'll document the full build on his YouTube channel. Thought I would share if anyone is interested:

 
OK so maybe this is a stupid, stupid idea, but it's been swimming round my head the last few days.

Plato has a new team but is keeping quiet about the drivers. Jimmy Broadbent is going racing this year but he's keeping quiet about the team and series. And Misha recently had a fan track day in a BTCC car.

Plato is a sim racer, he wants to make a splash, right now getting to the top of BTCC isn't really possible unless you nab Sutton or Ingram (imo), so why not go down the "Wrexham" route? Make something very popular on YouTube, and poach one of the top boys once you are established?

Yeah ok, it looks a bit sillier written down, and Misha is comfirmed for Nurbs racing again I think, and Jimmy says he is testing (or racing?) something in PortimĂŁo, which seem unlikely for a BTCC shakedown.

But admit it, it would be great!
 
bliprunner
OK so maybe this is a stupid, stupid idea, but it's been swimming round my head the last few days.

Plato has a new team but is keeping quiet about the drivers. Jimmy Broadbent is going racing this year but he's keeping quiet about the team and series. And Misha recently had a fan track day in a BTCC car.

Plato is a sim racer, he wants to make a splash, right now getting to the top of BTCC isn't really possible unless you nab Sutton or Ingram (imo), so why not go down the "Wrexham" route? Make something very popular on YouTube, and poach one of the top boys once you are established?

Yeah ok, it looks a bit sillier written down, and Misha is comfirmed for Nurbs racing again I think, and Jimmy says he is testing (or racing?) something in PortimĂŁo, which seem unlikely for a BTCC shakedown.

But admit it, it would be great!
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I mean I could totally see it happening one day, absolutely wouldn't rule out anything happening and Broadbent could be a real possibility.

Also don't rule out BTCC teams testing abroad, better weather more representative of the summer racing season.
 
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05XR8
Oh, no more BMWs?
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They have 3 entries on the provisional list (down from 4) but no confirmed drivers yet and Laser Tools was one of their bigger sponsors. Things are uncertain, a seat there is apparently one of the more expensive drives in BTCC.
 
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Fezzik
They have 3 entries on the provisional list (down from 4) but no confirmed drivers yet and Laser Tools was one of their bigger sponsors. Things are uncertain, a seat there is apparently one of the more expensive drives in BTCC.
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Not having really paid attention to the grid in recent years, I can only remember maybe one or two BMWs always on the grid from the E90 days til a few years ago and current G20(?)-not counting the 1-Series.

Shame there's no other similar cars like the Infiniti or when the Lexus and MG were in the series. Those were more long front short deck sedans, like BMWs. I still haven't seen the official Plato AMG. Just renderings.
 
Looks very nice.

From the sounds of it the change of manufacturer they previously talked about won’t happen, and they’ll stick with Ford going forward. Happy that the other teams allowed them to use the 2027 rule change a year early.
 
MagpieRacer
NAPA Racing move to the Focus Saloon!

View attachment 1516244View attachment 1516245

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Lewis Selby graduates from the Minis to replace Rowbottom as NAPA's 4th Driver

btcc.net

NAPA Racing UK Lock In Driver Line-up For 2026 BTCC Season • BTCC

NAPA Racing UK are targeting honours in the Drivers’, Manufacturers’, Teams’ and Jack Sears Trophy Championships this year after confirming a four-car assault
btcc.net btcc.net

Other latest 2026 BTCC news/rumours suggest:

Morgan joining Rowbo at Plato's team.

Moffat linked to PMR with Doble expected to stay alongside Patterson

Rainford and DeLeon expected to stay at WSR with Adam Smalley linked to the 3rd car.

No news yet regarding the remaining Hyundais and Toyotas, or One or Unlimited.
 
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Rowbo answered quite a few comments on social media asking about the 2nd driver and said they don't know who it'll be yet.
Could of course be fibbing but you'd think there's no reason to keep it a secret if it is Morgan. Not a big deal PR/marketing wise. They are doing a good job hiding him in all the behind-the-scenes vids if he has already signed.

Official team launch on the 17th, a week before the Croft test.
 
Fezzik
Rowbo answered quite a few comments on social media asking about the 2nd driver and said they don't know who it'll be yet.
Could of course be fibbing but you'd think there's no reason to keep it a secret if it is Morgan. Not a big deal PR/marketing wise. They are doing a good job hiding him in all the behind-the-scenes vids if he has already signed.
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I suspect if he is lined up for the seat, maybe he hasn't quite secured the funding for it. They won't announce until the ink's dried.
 

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