Senna Proctor's return to the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship in 2025 marked the end of a three-and-a-half-year absence from racing, but the experienced campaigner wasted little time in reminding the paddock of his abilities, delivering three podiums and a top-ten championship finish despite missing the opening three events.

For Proctor, that first session back at Thruxton was a mixture of anticipation and validation after years on the sidelines.

"It was great. I myself hadn't been out on a race circuit on a piece of tarmac in three and a half years, so it was nice," Proctor explained. "We performed quite well that weekend. We made it into the Quick Six and came away with three top-ten finishes, I believe.

"It was nice for me to get back out there and do the business. Sitting on the sideline, always believing you can do it, and then when you jump back in, you kind of have the proof there again and you can kick on with the season and keep getting the good results."

That opening weekend set the tone for what would prove to be an impressive campaign. Finishing tenth in the overall championship standings, having contested just seven of the ten race weekends was a significant achievement, made all the more remarkable by the lack of pre-season preparation.

"Coming away in the top ten of the championship after doing seven rounds was great. It was, I wouldn't say beyond my expectations, but it was certainly a great accolade to have," he said. "I think we just missed out on winning a race really, which probably could have come across earlier in the year. But we were still getting warmed up again at that point. We definitely can't be disappointed with how the season went overall."

The statistics paint an even more impressive picture. Had Proctor contested the full season and maintained his average finishing position, he would have split his EXCELR8 Motorsport teammates Adam Morgan and Tom Chilton in the final standings.

"That's exactly it. We were right on the money about where to go. We had zero test days before the start of the season and, you know, not driving a BTCC car in three and a half years and straight into FP1 at the fastest circuit in the country was certainly a bold move," Proctor admitted.

"But it was always justified in my head because if you believe you can do it, then you go there and do the business. For me, it was a joyful season in terms of having to watch from the sidelines to actually come back and produce the goods beyond my expectations, I suppose, so quickly."

The best weekend of Proctor's season came at his home event of Croft, where he claimed two podium finishes despite a difficult qualifying session.

"I would say that Croft was the highlight because, you know, for me the two podiums at a home round, lots of family, friends, sponsors there, was certainly a special one, especially when qualifying didn't quite go to plan on Saturday," he said. “You're kind of sat there with your head in your hands and not knowing what the next day will bring. So, to then finish on the podium twice was certainly one of the highlights."

The season finale at Brands Hatch provided another memorable moment, with Proctor charging up ten positions to take a podium in race two.

"The Brands Hatch podium was a great way to finish the season. Coming from 13th on the grid to third in race two was a real highlight of the year as well. But like I say, it's hard to overlook the Croft moments with some great memories of that circuit and some great local support."

Looking ahead to 2026, the introduction of the Saturday Qualifying Race is a change Proctor approves of, believing it would play to his strengths.

"I think another race for me is always good. I like the racing. I wouldn't say I'm bad at qualifying or bad at any aspect, but I suppose for me, I like racing," he explained. "So another race is always a positive for me. I always see myself or envisage myself going forward in a race.

"For me, logically, unless I'm on pole every single time, I think it would always improve my starting position for the Sunday morning. So yeah, I think it's a good addition."

The off-season sees Proctor determined to build on the momentum established during his comeback year.

"There's a couple of options on the table going into next year," he said. “Just try and return in a top team in a top car in one of the best motor racing championships in the world.

“To get back is to keep the dream alive and keep building momentum, because the goal is to win the championship one day and you can really do that racing season after season, building the momentum and building that continuity."

Now approaching the eighth year since his first BTCC victory at Brands Hatch in 2018, Proctor reflects on nearly a decade in and around the championship paddock with pride.

"After a few years I came back and, I wasn't one of the older ones, but I felt like more of a veteran coming back. I feel like I've been around it for years," he said. "Even not racing, I've been around the paddock and still in and around it. I started racing on the TOCA package in 2014, so I've been about for a long time.

"For me, the first couple of years with the new car, with the Astra, to get that first win at Brands Hatch was the start of what was the BTCC career."

With a successful return season now complete and ambitions firmly set on competing for the championship, Proctor continues his efforts to secure a seat for 2026, determined to maintain the momentum that saw him shine during his comeback year.