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

  • Thread starter Thread starter MagpieRacer
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They are a bit behind the original schedule of car shakedowns and testing in Feb, so I think expectations should be tempered for the first few rounds. They are bound to have some early issues. Should be fun once they are completely up to speed.
 
www.touringcartimes.com

Un-Limited Motorsport to miss 2026 BTCC season

Un-Limited Motorsport has confirmed that it will not take part in the 2026 British Touring Car Championship season. The team had secured two TOCA BTCC Licenc
www.touringcartimes.com www.touringcartimes.com

Unlimited to miss the 2026 BTCC season, due to sponsor/financial issues. One Motorsport probably will be joining them. A smaller grid this year, even with the new Plato outfit.

btcc.net

Cook And Buxton Confirmed As Speedworks Corolla Racing Line-up For 2026 BTCC Campaign • BTCC

Speedworks Corolla Racing has today confirmed an exciting driver line-up for the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, with Josh Cook joined by Max
btcc.net btcc.net

Looks like Toyota Gazoo Racing have dropped their title sponsorship. Happy anyway that Cook has a seat right from the start of the season.
 
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Fezzik
www.touringcartimes.com

Un-Limited Motorsport to miss 2026 BTCC season

Un-Limited Motorsport has confirmed that it will not take part in the 2026 British Touring Car Championship season. The team had secured two TOCA BTCC Licenc
www.touringcartimes.com www.touringcartimes.com

Unlimited to miss the 2026 BTCC season, due to sponsor/financial issues. One Motorsport probably will be joining them. A smaller grid this year, even with the new Plato outfit.

btcc.net

Cook And Buxton Confirmed As Speedworks Corolla Racing Line-up For 2026 BTCC Campaign • BTCC

Speedworks Corolla Racing has today confirmed an exciting driver line-up for the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, with Josh Cook joined by Max
btcc.net btcc.net

Looks like Toyota Gazoo Racing have dropped their title sponsorship. Happy anyway that Cook has a seat right from the start of the season.
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Yeah looks like a 24 car field I believe.
 
Sadly Senna Proctor couldn't raise funding for this year and won't be back in one of the BTCC Excelr8 Hyundais. He's going to be reserve and driver coach at Alliance.

A bit worried that the cost of racing the series is still too high, even with some of the cost-cutting measures. Too many good established drivers unable to race, those stepping up from the junior/lower ranks are those with family or business connections to the existing teams. It doesn't seem sustainable long-term, compared to a formula like TCR.
 
Fezzik
A bit worried that the cost of racing the series is still too high, even with some of the cost-cutting measures. Too many good established drivers unable to race, those stepping up from the junior/lower ranks are those with family or business connections to the existing teams. It doesn't seem sustainable long-term, compared to a formula like TCR.
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We've had the NGTC regs for 15 years now. Might be time for a rules change if it's getting too expensive and grid numbers are dropping.

But to be honest, i think some of it is down to a lack of manufacturer support. Can't blame the manufacturers too much though, with uncertaincy in road car regs whether there's still the same push for fully electric or if hybrids will rule, probably means manufacturers don't really know which direction to put their weight behind. Also, there are so few contemporary road car shapes/silhouettes that suit the current BTCC. No manufacturer is going to fully get behind pushing a car they no longer make or one that's shortly to stop being produced.
 
Even though I’m happy to see sedans on the BTCC grid, might be time for CUVs. From Puma to CX-3 to Yaris Cross to T-Cross. They’re all right there.
 
05XR8
Even though I’m happy to see sedans on the BTCC grid, might be time for CUVs. From Puma to CX-3 to Yaris Cross to T-Cross. They’re all right there.
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Only if they start racing in parking lots at shopping malls.
 
WSR were testing their cars yesterday.

wsr-at-snetterton-tests-v0-s2vlw74dc8og1.jpg


Rainford and Deleon confirmed again for 2 of the seats. Moffat seems to be on the move, possibly to PMR and their new Audis. The #7 car and driver is the mystery at the moment.
 
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Fezzik
WSR were testing their cars yesterday.

wsr-at-snetterton-tests-v0-s2vlw74dc8og1.jpg

Rainford and Deleon confirmed again for 2 of the seats. Moffat seems to be on the move, possibly to PMR and their new Audis. The #7 car and driver is the mystery at the moment.
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#7 Is apparently James Jakes. Former Indycar, WEC and GP2 driver and most recently GT World Challenge.
 
I wouldn’t mind if the championship started using SUVs/crossovers to be a bit more relevant to the actual road car sales, but they’d have to put it in the regs that everyone uses them. Any saloon-shape left would have too much of an aero advantage.

NAPA/Alliance vid showing how they converted their Focuses.



Now Ash can’t use that excuse for not beating the Hyundais.
 
www.restartracing.co.uk

Restart Racing Signs James Dorlin for 2026 BTCC Season - Restart Racing

Restart Racing has confirmed that James Dorlin will join the team for the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season, taking the wheel of the Hyundai i30 Fastback N previously driven by Independent Drivers’ Champion Dan Lloyd. The move brings one of the championship’s promising young...
www.restartracing.co.uk www.restartracing.co.uk

Grid almost filled up. Presumably Nic Hamilton is going to Excelr8/Hyundai. Stephen Jelley is supposedly in the 3rd WSR BMW. Aiden Moffat still rumoured to Power Maxed and the new Audis.

Plato Racing team launch is next Tuesday so hopefully a look at one of the Mercs, if the parts have finally arrived for them to finish it.
 
Seriously, I hope this rejuvenates the saloon market. Watched this a while ago and had not realised how badly performing these cars were overall. Pretty much equivalent to basic hatchbacks in the late-eighties and early nineties.
 

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