The first announcement of the new year to impact the grid came in early January, with confirmation that Dexter Patterson would be returning to the field with Un-Limited Motorsport after a year away from the BTCC.

Patterson previously ran an Infiniti Q50 for one season followed by two subsequent years in the Cupra León, with the young Scot now jumping back into the latter for this latest BTCC campaign.

Soon after the announcement that Patterson would partner 17-year-old team-mate Max Hall, a number of drivers made their first public appearance of the year at Autosport International. Joining the youngest duo on the grid were already announced Tom Ingram, Chris Smiley and Daryl DeLeon with the likes of Dan Rowbottom, Josh Cook, Mikey Doble and Bobby Thompson also attending the show.

Rowbottom had yet to finalise his new two-year deal with NAPA Racing UK – as confirmed last week – whilst the 2025 whereabouts of Cook, Doble and Thompson have still yet to be announced.

One driver donning his new team colours for the first time was 19-year-old DeLeon as the Anglo-Filipino enthused about his move to the West Surrey Racing BMW 330i M Sport.

“To be now with BMW and WSR, to be back to rear-wheel drive, I've got quite a bit of RWD experience as well with the Radicals and the Porsche. I honestly can't wait to get back into that sort of car environment and I just can't wait for the season!”

So, the grid was really starting to take shape at this stage… new year, new line-ups but the same great racing expected in the BTCC…