Daniel Rowbottom (NAPA Racing UK) embarked on his racing journey in karting, securing victories in the 2001 Super 1 National Comer Cadet Championship that would earn him the title. Progressing through the ranks, Rowbottom would enter the 2005 Renault Elite League – securing the Super Libre title in the process. Despite early success, financial constraints interrupted his progress when he transitioned to cars in 2008, competing in the SEAT Cupra Championship.
After a hiatus, Rowbottom returned to the racing scene in 2015, participating in the Lotus Elise Trophy and later moving to the Renault UK Clio Cup in 2016. Notably, he clinched three wins in the single-make series in 2018, finishing fourth in the overall standings.
His British Touring Car Championship debut occurred in 2019, taking the helm of a Ciceley Motorsport-run Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Although slated to continue with the team in 2020, the season faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing Rowbottom from continuing his campaign.
As a switch-up from the BTCC, Rowbottom competed in the first round of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series in 2020, making the trip to the Vallelunga international circuit in Italy.
In 2021, Rowbottom re-entered the BTCC with Halfords Racing, driving a Cataclean-backed Honda Civic Type R alongside team-mate Gordon Shedden. He achieved his first pole position, podiums, and a maiden victory at Oulton Park. Additionally, he dominated the Jack Sears Trophy, securing victory in the category before the penultimate race weekend.
Remaining with Team Dynamics in 2022, Rowbottom secured a pole position and added another podium finish at Croft. Displaying consistent speed throughout various events, he concluded the season in 12th place overall in the championship standings.
This momentum would propel him to strong results in 2023 where Rowbottom opted for a change by joining NAPA Racing UK's four-car team. The switch would prove to be a good decision, as Rowbottom would score his second BTCC victory at Thruxton.
After the victory, Rowbottom said: “I made up places at the start and then it was a good battle with Aiden [Moffat]. Aiden put up a great challenge, but our car was fantastic and so once we got clear and into second I set about chasing Adam [Morgan] down. I didn’t plan to make the move into Church, but it was a great feeling to take the win.”
Over the course of the season, Rowbottom would add five more trophies to his BTCC podium cabinet, marking the campaign as his best yet in the UK’s premier motorsport championship.
