Key Rules And Regulations

A brief overview of some of the key rules and regulations, with full 2026 Sporting and Technical Regulations available as a download at the bottom of this page: 

Technical Overview 

All cars have been built to the same NGTC regulations. First introduced in 2011, these technical regulations are designed to dramatically reduce the design, build and running costs of the cars and engines.  

The NGTC regulations allows independent teams to compete on a level playing field against manufacturer-backed efforts by keeping costs down whilst at the same time rewarding precise engineering and all-important split-second strategy. 

The foundation for NGTC is an emphasis on some common components – turbo, wastegate, intercoolers, ECU (engine control unit), instrumentation and dash, power management system, six-speed sequential gearbox, fuel tanks, differential, subframe, steering, brakes, clutch, wheels, dampers and suspension – which dramatically drives down costs for teams looking to compete in one of the world’s most attractive motor sport arenas. 

Teams have the option of running either TOCA’s unbranded NGTC-spec engine or, whether privateer or full manufacturer-backed entries, developing their own powerplant to the regulations, as long as it is from the same ‘family’ as their chosen model of car – all are 350+bhp 2-litre turbo-charged engines. For the second year, since 2025, all cars will be running with 100% sustainable, fossil-free fuel.

TOCA BTCC Licence 

Entry to the BTCC requires a TOCA BTCC Licence (TBL). A limited number of TBLs are available to teams. Teams may sell, gift, lease, assign or loan their TBL to other existing teams or eligible new entries on a season-long basis only, subject to the approval of TOCA as to the integrity of both recipient and transaction.

Race Weekend Format 

There are 10 events in the current season, with each event run across a weekend (Saturday and Sunday). 

• On Saturday there is one Free Practice session of 40 minutes, followed by two 15-minute qualifying sessions before the all-new for 2026 Qualifying Race
• On Sunday there are three BTCC races of equal distance 

The points system for the Qualifying Race is 10-9-8-7-6-5-5-4-4-3-3-2-2-1-1 for the top 15 finishers.

The points system to be used in Sunday's races is 20-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 for the top 15 finishers. This method of scoring is also be applied to independent drivers’ and teams’ championship and the overall teams’ – see full regs for details. 

Single bonus points are awarded for the fastest lap in each Sunday race and for leading a lap during Sunday's races.

Goodyear Tyres 

The Goodyear ‘Option’ tyre remains in place at all events with the exception of Thruxton, where only the hard tyre will be used in all three races due to the high-speed and more abrasive nature of the track, although one set of medium tyres can be used during qualifying.
 
The majority of these events will utilise two of the three compounds – hard, medium or soft – where the ‘Option’ tyre must be used at least once during race one, race two or race three – ensuring a variety of strategies. All three tyre choices must be used across the three races at other noted events. The top finishers in Race 1 will have to use the hardest compound available to them in Race 2.
 
Teams will not have to specify before qualifying, the race in which they will use their ‘Option’ tyre, with all choices being declared upon cars leaving the pit lane. The 'Option' tyres are not permitted to be used in a Qualifying Race.

Race grids 

• The grid for the Saturday Qualifying Race is decided during Saturday's Qualifying sessions
• The grid for race one is decided by the finishing order of the Qualifying Race
• The grid for race two is based on the finishing order of race one
• The grid for race three is based on finishing positions, however there is also a reversed-grid element to the starting order. Numbers representing the cars that finished from sixth to 12th position in race two are put into a bowl, and one number is drawn at random. The corresponding car will start on pole, with the cars that finished ahead of it reversed i.e. if number six is chosen, the car that finished sixth in race two will start from pole ahead of the car that finished fifth, fourth, third etc. The remainder of the grid follows as per the finishing order of race two 

TTB (TOCA Turbo Boost)
 
The top seven cars in the championship and/or top seven cars on the grid will have reduced boost time during qualifying and the races on a sliding scale, whilst the minimum speed at which the system can be deployed for those top seven has been increased.  
 
Cars from eighth place onwards will be able to deploy boost power from a reduced minimum speed, ensuring these drivers can utilise the additional power quicker than the leading order.  
 
These cars – from eighth place onwards – will only have boost deployment available for 50% of the racing laps, ensuring a greater tactical element throughout the race with those drivers having to be more strategic in choosing which of those laps to use it.  
 
Boost can now also be deployed on the first lap after the safety car and the minimum time between deployments has been increased to five seconds, preventing drivers from staying on the power at the conclusion of one lap and into another. Dashboard display will show each driver the number of HEM seconds, or laps, they have remaining:

B Circuits are Brands Hatch (Indy), Knockhill & Silverstone, all other circuits are A.

Jack Sears Trophy 

Eligible drivers will be those that have never scored more than one outright podium position. Any driver subsequently scoring more than one outright podium, will be ineligible for the JST from the next season. Previous overall JST winners are ineligible.

Click here for the 2026 Sporting and Technical Regulations.

PLEASE NOTE: These regulations may be amended by TOCA during the course of the season with all teams and officials notified of any changes via official championship bulletins.