Power Maxed Racing is proud to announce that the build programme for the Junior Championship cars is now officially underway, marking a major milestone ahead of the series’ debut on the 2027 BTCC package. 

Named the PM1, the junior race car is being built from the ground up and engineered specifically for 14–17-year-old drivers while bringing together some of the most respected names in motorsport to deliver this bespoke, purpose-built race car. The involvement of brands considered ‘household names’ in terms of Motorsport, ensures the PM1 will deliver the performance, reliability, and data expected for a top-level Junior Championship.

The championship is designed with cost control, transparency, and sustainability at its core. The price for each ‘ready-to-race’ car is competitively positioned at £74,995 +VAT. However, the first ten cars sold will be available for £69,995 thanks to a £5,000 sponsorship contribution from car care brand Power Maxed in return for brand presence on those cars.   

The running costs for an entire season will be approximately £85,000 per annum, to include 30 races across ten race weekends and ten test days, alongside the BTCC at all rounds.

So, the PM1 build – shown above with the AI improved image based on the actual bodywork as per the additional image below – is now underway and PMR is open for discussions with any race team and drivers wishing to be part of this exciting next generation Junior Championship.

Introducing the PM1 — A New Standard in Junior Motorsport

Designed from the ground up as a professional grade junior race car, the PM1 offers young drivers a professional level development platform. Key features include:

Electronics Partner

A full data and ECU package that mirrors high level senior car systems, giving drivers and teams access to elite-level analysis tools and the ability to take car and race data directly into simulator platforms for learning, training, and race preparation. An announcement regarding the secured Electronics partner and the electronics suite is to follow.

Engine Partner

World renowned for its motorsport engineering and engine supply, our partner will supply a championship-spec power unit providing the PM1 with the same technical excellence trusted at the highest levels of competition and parity across competing cars. An announcement regarding this world-class engine partner is to follow.

Drivetrain Package

Each car will be equipped with a proven, high‑spec sequential gearbox and differential; engineered for durability, precision and consistent performance.

Designed and Built by Power Maxed Racing

The car has been developed by the same engineering team behind multiple BTCC race-winning cars, ensuring the PM1 is robust, serviceable and capable of delivering close, competitive racing.

Driver Centric Safety

Class-leading FIA compliant safety systems, plus an adjustable seating and pedal positions are within a cockpit layout designed to prepare drivers for the next step in their careers.

Cost Controlled, High Value Platform

A tightly managed technical spec and scrutineering ensures parity, affordability and a level playing field for all competitors.

PMR’s Proven Pedigree

With more than a decade of experience building and running competitive cars in the British Touring Car Championship, Power Maxed Racing (PMR) brings respected engineering ability to the PM1 project.

From chassis development to electronics integration, PMR’s technical team has delivered performance at the highest level of UK motorsport — and that same capability is now being channelled into a junior platform designed to accelerate driver development.

Excitement Builds as the First PM1 Chassis Nears Completion.

With the first PM1 chassis almost finished, momentum is rapidly growing across the paddock. Teams and drivers have already begun registering interest as the championship moves from concept to reality.

A full test schedule is currently being planned, offering prospective drivers and teams the opportunity to experience the PM1 ahead of the 2027 season. In addition, a major launch event is in planning, where the completed PM1 will be unveiled for the first time.

Over the coming weeks and months, PMR will release:

• Key Partner information 
• Regular build updates from the workshop
• Technical deep dives into the PM1’s engineering
• Team and driver information packs covering purchase options, detailed running costs and championship structure
• Launch event details
• Test schedule announcements

Register Your Interest

Teams and drivers who want to be first to receive updates, technical specifications, test dates, and launch event invitations can now register their interest at PowerMaxedRacing.com by completing the online form. Early registrants will receive priority access to:

• PM1 technical specifications
• Test schedule release
• Driver and team package details
• Launch event invitations
• Championship sponsorship opportunities
• Allocation of the available PM1 cars
• Early-bird car purchase discount (Power Maxed sponsor contribution)

This is an exciting new era for Junior Motorsport on the BTCC Stage – which is, by far, the highest profile platform in British Motorsport. The Junior Championship represents a major step forward in creating a credible, aspirational, and commercially attractive pathway for young drivers. With key partners onboard, and PMR leading the build, the 2027 grid will highlight the next generation of talent on the biggest stage.

Experienced Championship Co-Ordinator Announced 

Power Maxed Racing is also delighted to welcome Laura Payne as Championship Co-Ordinator for the Junior Championship. Laura brings extensive experience in motorsport operations, driver liaison, and championship management, ensuring the series is delivered with professionalism and structure.

Built for the next generation – Their future starts with PM1.

Speedworks Corolla Racing heads to Brands Hatch Indy this weekend (9/10 May) full of confidence and determination, as the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship campaign gathers momentum following an encouraging opening round at Donington Park. Having demonstrated competitive, front-running pace throughout the season opener, the team arrives at the Kent venue eager to convert performance into silverware.

The tight and technical 1.21-mile Brands Hatch Indy circuit presents a task of stark contrast to Donington, placing a premium on qualifying performance, precision, and race craft. With limited overtaking opportunities and no margin for error, execution will be key.

Encouragingly, the Toyota Corolla GR Sport has already shown it has the speed to compete at the sharp end, with Josh Cook consistently battling amongst the frontrunners last time out. While misfortune denied a stronger points haul, the underlying pace has positioned the team as a contender heading into the second event.

Cook will be aiming to capitalise on that speed and fight for podium honours at a circuit where confidence and commitment are essential. His ability to recover strongly through the field at Donington highlighted both the potential of the package and the determination within the team.

On the other side of the garage, Max Buxton continues to build experience in his rookie BTCC campaign. After gaining valuable mileage during a challenging but productive opening weekend, the focus now shifts to extracting more performance and continuing his progression in one of the most competitive grids in world motorsport.

With strong foundations already in place, Speedworks Corolla Racing arrives at Brands Hatch with a clear objective: to turn promise into results and establish itself firmly at the front of the field.

Christian Dick, Team Principal, Speedworks Corolla Racing, said: “Donington Park gave us a really solid platform to build from. The pace we showed throughout the weekend was extremely encouraging, even if the final results didn’t fully reflect that. As a team, we’ve taken a lot of confidence from the performance and also learned where we need to improve.

“Brands Hatch Indy is a very different challenge – it’s short, intense and leaves no room for mistakes – but that’s exactly the kind of circuit where strong fundamentals and a well-balanced car can make the difference. We’ve worked hard between rounds to refine our package, and we head into the weekend feeling confident, focused and ready to fight at the front.”

Josh Cook, Driver, Speedworks Corolla Racing, said: “We showed at Donington that we have speed in the car, which is really encouraging going into Brands Hatch. It was frustrating not to come away with a bigger result, but it gives us confidence knowing what we’re capable of when everything comes together.

“Brands will be a different challenge, and we’ve got to be on it, right from the first lap of practice. Track position is always crucial here, so qualifying will be important and then see if we can make the most of it in the races.

“I’m feeling confident in the car and the direction we’re heading as a team. If we can put a clean weekend together, there’s no reason why we can’t be right in the mix.”

Max Buxton, Driver, Speedworks Corolla Racing, said: “Donington was a really valuable first weekend for me in terms of learning and getting up to speed in the championship. There were definitely positives to take away, and now it’s about building on that heading into Brands Hatch.

“The Indy circuit is a big challenge because it’s so tight and competitive, but that’s also what makes it exciting. The goal for me is to keep progressing, improve each session and hopefully be in a position to fight for stronger results.

“I’m continuing to learn a huge amount every time I’m in the car, and I’m looking forward to getting back out there and seeing what we can do this weekend.”

For the first time in BTCC history, strategic thinking starts earlier than ever as championship order impacts Saturday running.

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Rounds 4, 5 and 6 of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship take place at Brands Hatch this weekend (9/10 May) with the all-new format taking full effect for the first time for all cars, stars and thousands of fans in attendance to experience.

In 2026, we have seen the introduction of the ‘Qualifying Race – Race to Pole’, and for the first time this season, all drivers and teams will face the challenge with TOCA Turbo Boost (TTB) implications at Brands Hatch.

It will be four-time champion Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK) who will feel the effects of his slim TTB allocation, leaving the Donington Park curtain raiser at the head of the championship, after bouncing back from a challenging start to proceedings.

Daniel Rowbottom (Cataclean Plato Racing) made history by winning the first-ever ‘Race to Pole’. A sensational opening lap saw Tom Ingram (Team VERTU), Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK), Rowbottom and Sutton battle fiercely, before the latter ran onto the grass early on lap two while challenging Ingram. Sliding across the track, Sutton was collected by team-mate Cammish, leaving him out of the Qualifying Race and last on the grid for race day.

Despite the perfect opening to the team’s BTCC account, Rowbottom would have a poor start in the season opener, leaving Ingram to head the field. Ingram, however, would cross the line first on track but would later be disqualified for a significant overboost infringement. Mikey Doble (LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing) inherited victory in Round 1 of the 2026 season.

Sutton then romped to victory in race two, having started the prior bout from last on the grid. The Ford Focus Titanium driver started the race from second, before taking the lead by the exit of Redgate on the opening tour and never looked back to claim his 48th career BTCC triumph.

The four-time champion then made it two wins from two to complete the opening weekend of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, marking his 300th race in style.

Now, the BTCC heads to the shortest track on the calendar – the action-packed Brands Hatch Indy circuit. The much-loved Kent venue is a mainstay on the BTCC schedule, having held more races than any other circuit and at least one event every season since the championship’s inception back in 1958.

Read on for more details on the local lights, TV times, circuit timetable and the all-important ticket information…

Brands Balance

Recently the Brands Hatch Indy circuit has arguably favoured rear-wheel-drive machinery, but the championship-order boost levels and newly introduced Qualifying Race are set to provide an updated variable in comparison to previous years.

Both WSR drivers, Daryl De Leon and Charles Rainford, won their first BTCC race at Brands Hatch Indy one year ago in rear-wheel-drive BMW 330i M Sports. The former doing so in the second race of the day, his 50th BTCC start, and the latter in only his sixth BTCC start.

Along with stablemate and 2024 Champion Jake Hill taking pole position and victory in the weekend’s opening contest, the team took a trio of victories on one weekend, something that hadn’t been seen in nine years.

Rainford enters his home race weekend with limited boost available to him on Saturday, arriving second in the drivers’ standings, whereas teammate DeLeon has the full allowance available to him.

Despite the recent rear-wheel-drive success at the circuit, it is reigning champion Ingram who arrives with the most triumphs at the Kent venue with four wins, all in front-wheel-drive machinery. The #80 will be looking to regather some points after a challenging opening race weekend.

TV, Timetables and Tickets

Complimenting the tin top racing will be a sensational line-up of support series, as the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain, The MINI CHALLENGE, the Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA and the Caterham 310R Championship complete the schedule of exciting races.

BTCC will be wowing the crowds both trackside and at home, with Saturday’s ‘Race to Pole’ and earlier qualifying session being streamed live via ITV Sport’s YouTube channel from 1355, before ITV4’s seven-and-a-half-hour race day broadcast gets underway at 1045 on Sunday.

Remember, the BTCC is being broadcast globally with every race being streamed live in 2026 via the BTCC YouTube Channel, whilst fans in North America can watch the action on the Racer Network. Look out for the races on Sunday starting at 1130, 1445 and 1730 (BST).

There’s no place like being there of course, and fans can purchase tickets in advance or at the gate throughout the weekend – visit here for more details.

Cataclean Plato Racing will look to convert the front-running promise that was shown at last month’s season-opener into a strong haul of results this weekend (9/10 May) as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship sets course for Brands Hatch. 

The team made an immediate impact on their debut at Donington Park as Dan Rowbottom claimed a historic victory in the series’ first-ever Qualifying Race before Adam Morgan went on to tally a hat-trick of top-ten finishes.

Putting the rest of the grid on notice that they will be a force to be reckoned with as the campaign wears on, the Mercedes-AMG A35 Saloon squad are now looking to make their mark as the BTCC speeds into Kent.

Brands Hatch has been a staple of the championship since its inception in 1958, and down the years it was a firm favourite for Team Owner and Manager Jason Plato, who took 26 of his 97 career wins around the circuit.

Having had a couple of weeks to unpack the data gathered at Donington Park and the opportunity to unlock further performance from the two cars, both Rowbottom and Morgan head to the 1.21-mile circuit optimistic of challenging for front-running honours. 

The multiple race winners will each hit the track for one solitary practice session on Saturday morning before heading into qualifying later that afternoon. They will then both contest the new Qualifying Race, the ‘Race for Pole’, to decide the grid for race one the following day. 

Cataclean Plato Racing will take centre stage on Sunday at Brands Hatch with Race 1 scheduled to take place at 11:30, Race 2 at 14:45 and Race 3 at 17:30. All three contests will be broadcast live on ITV4 and ITVX in the UK, the Racer Network in North America, and the BTCC YouTube Channel in all other locations. 

Dan Rowbottom, #32 Cataclean Plato Racing: “Although some things went against us, I felt like we gave a good account of ourselves at Donington Park and since then the focus has been on raising our game even further to ensure we can come away with some big results.

“We’ve got the benefit of having tested there just a few weeks ago so that should enable us to hit the ground running on Saturday morning. We’ve left no stone unturned since the first round so I’m confident we can be in the mix across the Race To Pole and Sunday’s three races.”

Adam Morgan, #33 Cataclean Plato Racing: “Brands Hatch is a great circuit and one that I always enjoy going to. Although its a short lap, its packed with undulation and challenging corners which is great for both us drivers and those watching on the spectator banks. 

“It’s easy to forget how new this whole project is but we’re all feeling confident heading into the weekend. We learnt a huge amount coming away from Donington Park and in addition to having tested at Brands Hatch recently, I’m confident we should have a strong front-running package.”

Jason Plato, Cataclean Plato Racing Team Owner: “I think its fair to say we’re all looking forward to the weekend. We’ve got that first event out of the way, so now it’s about knuckling down and making sure we start bringing home so really strong results on a consistent basis.

“We went well at Brands Hatch during pre-season testing and with Dan and Adam having a nice amount of TOCA Turbo Boost available to them, as well as the car having evolved, I’m confident that we can get in amongst it for wins and podiums.”

The 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship carries forward the season-opening momentum into Brands Hatch this weekend (9/10 May) for the second event of the year. Here’s all the information you need to know to keep up with all of the action…

For the very first time, the BTCC field will feel the effects of the TOCA Turbo Boost (TTB) in the all-new for 2026 Saturday format, after the sensational debut showing of the Qualifying Race last time out at Donington Park culminated Saturday’s full-throttle theatre.

The weekend gets underway with Free Practice, cut down to only one 40-minute session this year. Instead of FP2, we go straight into qualifying. Two groups of 15-minute sessions, split according to the finishing order from Free Practice between odd and even finishing positions. The group with the fastest time will take the odd-numbered grid spots for the Qualifying Race. 15 minutes after qualifying, the pit lane opens ahead of the ‘Race for Pole’. An 18-lap race will then take place with half points awarded, as the result forms the grid for the first of the traditional trio of races on Sunday.

Three weeks ago, the 2026 grid headed to Donington Park for the first race weekend of the championship. After a stellar opening lap in the ‘Race to Pole’ that saw Ash Sutton retire, and therefore start last come Sunday, the NAPA Racing UK driver then miraculously turned his weekend around on race day, now arriving at Brands Hatch with an 18-point advantage at the head of the standings.

This weekend’s race day action will feature on the home of the BTCC, ITV4, from 1045 on Sunday (10 May), while the ITV YouTube page will host the Qualifying Race and Qualifying on Saturday (9 May) from 1355.

As in 2025, each race day of the season – including all support series’ races – will be streamed LIVE around the globe on the BTCC YouTube channel, with the exception of the UK and North America, which have existing broadcast arrangements.

The BTCC will be aired LIVE in North America (US and Canada), continuing the multi-year agreement with the RACER Network, streaming live and on demand as part of a long-term agreement with the championship.

All 30 races are scheduled to air on the main RACER channel, whilst support series’ and extended BTCC highlights will be available to watch via the RACER+ App, the network’s premium motorsports streaming platform. Race 1 will begin at 06:30 Eastern Time (ET) with Race 2 following at 09:45ET and Race 3 closing out the day’s racing at 12:30ET.

Click here for the full TV guide for Brands Hatch

Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport makes the trip to the Brands Hatch Indy circuit this weekend (9/10 May), aiming to carry over momentum from a positive start to the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

Mark Blundell’s outfit returned to the fray at Donington Park (18/19 April) as a two-car operation for the first time, with two Corollas carrying the striking chrome blue livery of Laser Tools in their 50th Anniversary year. Behind the wheel is the second most-experienced driver pairing on the BTCC grid, in three-time champion Gordon Shedden, and Independents Trophy winner Árón Taylor-Smith.

That experience, tactical nous and race craft came to the fore across the weekend’s action, with the pair bouncing back from qualifying to race forwards in the Qualifying Race and the opening contest in front of a capacity trackside crowd on Sunday, to open the new season with a solid haul of points.

Shedden then gambled on the ‘Option’ soft tyre for Race 2, and used it to full effect, the Scot charging through to the final spot on the podium to mark his debut weekend with the team in fine style. It also meant an Independent victory for ‘Flash’, which, coupled with a clean sweep of double points finishes in Race 3, means the team arrives at the Kent venue well-placed in both the overall and Independent championship standings.

The 1.2-mile Indy circuit holds special memories for MB Motorsport, as the scene of the team’s championship-winning success back in 2024, along with a further three wins and eight podium finishes since the team joined the UK’s premier motorsport series back in 2020.

For Shedden, it's the site where he claimed each of his three titles in 2012, 2015 and 2016 at the venue, and Taylor-Smith, who scored his maiden victory in the championship in 2012’s rain-soaked finale, and wrapped up his Independents Trophy win in the same spot, just over a decade later.

Back to the present, and Saturday’s all-important Qualifying session and Qualifying Race can be viewed live on the ITV Sport YouTube Channel from 14:00, with Sunday’s triple-header - due to start at 11:30, 14:45 and 17:30 respectively - on ITV4/ITVX in the UK, the Racer Network in North America, and the BTCC YouTube Channel everywhere else.

Árón Taylor-Smith (#50) said: “The feeling going into this weekend is positive. We’re returning to a circuit in Brands Hatch that we’ve tested at during pre-season, and performed well at, so we’ve already a good baseline to work from.

“There were a few things to iron out after Donington, but the team at Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport have been flat out finding solutions. The fundamentals are good, we just need to drill down on those incremental performance gains that make all the difference.

“We’re also switching back to the softer compound tyre as the standard tyre this weekend, which should also play to our strengths. Where we’ll be is anybody’s guess in a championship this competitive, but we’re arriving in good shape and up for the fight.”

Gordon Shedden (#52) said: “Starting the season with some silverware was a great feeling, but the important thing for us as a team now is to keep pushing, and keep chasing those little one-percent improvements that all add up.

“Brands Hatch is a high-grip circuit, and we’re back on the soft tyre as the standard, so that’s definitely going to be a benefit for us, it should play into the natural strengths of the Corolla.

“It’s a circuit I’ve had plenty of good memories at, and have always gone well at, so hopefully we can extract the most from the car and pick up another good set of results.”

Mark Blundell, Sporting Director, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, said: “The aim for Brands Hatch this weekend is to demonstrate we’ve made steps in the right direction, and build on the foundations we put down with a podium and decent points at Donington a few weeks ago.

“It’s always a bit easier going to a circuit you’ve tested at, because that reference point exists in the data, and it means we can really refine and focus our practice programme on the areas we’ve identified need the most work - which is even more valuable, now we only have a single session to do it in.

“Hopefully that has a positive knock-on effect for qualifying, and then that sets us up for race day. We have two incredibly experienced drivers, and some of the best engineers and mechanics in the championship. They’ll get the job done if we can put them in the mix. I’m looking forward to getting back to it.”

Today (1 May) marks the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month, with the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship recognising the importance of wellbeing across the paddock and wider motorsport community.

Mental health continues to be an important conversation throughout sport, and the BTCC remains committed to helping create an environment where drivers, teams, staff, volunteers and fans feel able to speak openly, seek support and support one another.

With that in mind, the championship will be sharing content across BTCC social media channels and the official YouTube platform throughout May, helping to highlight personal stories, encourage open conversations and reinforce the importance of checking in with those around us.

Included within that content is the widely viewed interview conducted by Louise Goodman with Jason Plato at Silverstone Circuit last season, where the two discussed Plato’s struggles since stepping away from racing.

Exclusive interviews with the likes of Daniel Rowbottom, Jade Edwards and PMR boss Adam Weaver will also follow, so keep an eye on BTCC channels throughout the month as the championship heads into its May events at Brands Hatch (9/10 May) and Snetterton (23/24 May).

Tom Ingram experienced all the emotions as the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship campaign burst into life at Donington Park last weekend (18/19 April), twice finding himself stripped of victory prior to storming through the field from 21^st to second.

The reigning champion in the UK’s premier motor racing series, Ingram signalled his intent straightaway by topping the timesheets in free practice on Saturday morning as he confidently launched his bid to clinch a third career crown. He repeated the feat in qualifying, pipping fellow multiple title-winner Ash Sutton to pole position for the new ‘Race to Pole’ by a mere eight thousandths-of-a-second in a fiercely-disputed session.

After fending off a particularly feisty Sutton, Dan Cammish and Dan Rowbottom over the course of a breathless opening lap – repelling a succession of determined attacks – the Team VERTU star settled into the lead, but then news filtered through that he had been handed a five-second penalty for an out-of-position start.

Ingram would fall short of glory by a scant 0.024 seconds at the chequered flag. Second place nonetheless earned him a front row starting slot for the first of Sunday’s traditional trio of full-length contests. Despite being the lone driver inside the top five on the grid to elect to bolt on the medium-compound Goodyear rubber – preferring to keep the quicker soft option until later in the day – the talented Bucks-born ace was on course for his 41st BTCC triumph; however, the #80 Hyundai i30N was found to have registered a significant overboost infringement, seeing Ingram disqualified from the results.

An alternator failure forced him out of race two before it had even begun, translating into a second consecutive non-score, but the one saving grace was that he still had his soft tyres to run in the day’s finale. He made excellent use of them.

From 21^st and last on the grid in the high-calibre field, Ingram produced one of his trademark recovery charges in front of the live ITV4 television cameras and capacity trackside crowd. Artfully avoiding a spinning rival into Redgate Corner and a two-car collision directly ahead, the 32-year-old was up to ninth within just four laps, in the midst of a multi-car scrap for second.

He proceeded to thrill fans by sweeping boldly around the outside of Adam Morgan going down the Craner Curves, before toughing it out with a combative Aiden Moffat, finding himself squeezed towards the grass on the main straight but keeping his foot firmly planted to steal fourth place. Ingram thereafter demoted Dan Cammish and new EXCELR8 Motorsport team-mate Ricky Collard to deservedly scoop the runner-up spoils, flashing across the finish line barely two seconds shy of victory.

Fastest lap earned him an extra point, and the Coventry-based racer will next travel to Brands Hatch’s short ‘Indy’ circuit (9/10 May), sitting eighth in the standings – with his sights solidly set on climbing the order and kick-starting his title defence.

Tom Ingram, Driver, Team VERTU, said: “The start of a new season is always really exciting, and I arrived at Donington feeling very relaxed. It was incredibly close in qualifying, with everybody on the same TOCA Turbo Boost (TTB) for the only time all year, and the refreshed Saturday format means you need to be mindful of looking after everything for the ‘Race to Pole’, which feels quite counter-intuitive in a qualifying session!

“There was obviously a little bit of a mess-up in terms of parking on the grid; I always give myself a margin for error in that respect, but clearly it wasn’t quite enough. I got the call over the radio fairly early on that I had a penalty incoming, so I just had to get my head down and try to build as much of a gap as I could and we so very nearly overturned it.

“To still finish second in the circumstances put us in a good place for Sunday’s first race, which went really well on-track, but it subsequently transpired that there had been a glitch with the new TTB system and for some reason, it hadn’t worked as it should have done in my car. There was no performance gain whatsoever, so that was really tough to take, but we fell outside of the regulations so that was that – and then the alternator decided to stop alternating before the start of race two!

“From there, we had to try to recover whatever we could from race three to make sure we got something out of the weekend. It was hard work, starting so far back and knowing I needed to take some risks but also knowing I couldn’t afford another non-score after losing so many points earlier in the day, meaning it was imperative to avoid doing anything reckless or getting caught up in any incidents.

“The car felt phenomenal and I was really pumped-up, and it was full-on the whole way through. I left absolutely nothing on the table – I don’t think I’ve ever given the tyres such a hard workout before and I probably came perilously close to picking up a track limits penalty, but I just had to keep cracking on. I used the boost where I needed to and picked my battles, and while I ultimately lost too much time fighting through the pack to be able to challenge for the win, I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

“It was a fairly tricky weekend overall – being so fast and winning two races on the road but not getting to keep either of them was a hard pill to swallow – but to end it back on the podium was positive. We’ll also be in a fairly decent position TTB-wise now going to Brands Hatch, where we’ll look to secure the kind of results we should have come away with from Donington Park.”

Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport began the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship in fine fashion, with a podium and an Independents victory at Donington Park last weekend (18/19 April).

Gearing up for another assault on the biggest prize in UK motorsport, Mark Blundell’s outfit - now expanded to two cars, and with three-time champion Gordon Shedden and multiple race-winner Árón Taylor-Smith behind the wheel - arrived at the 1.98-mile Leicestershire circuit keen to begin the 30-race calendar on the front foot.

Saturday’s format has been revised for the 2026 campaign and, after successfully navigating the new-for-2026 Qualifying Race, Shedden and Taylor-Smith secured fifth and sixth row starting slots respectively for Sunday’s action, in front of a capacity trackside crowd and millions more watching live at home around the world.

The pair made steady progress through the field in Race 1, with Shedden keeping his cool in the typical opening few laps, before scaling the order to finish fifth. Taylor-Smith emphasised the Corolla’s race pace, similarly moving through the field to claim eighth, and a double top-ten finish first time out for the new-look team.

Capitalising on his momentum, “Flash” opted to use the quicker, soft compound Goodyear tyre in Race 2, a decision that paid dividends as the Scot charged through to third, and the final spot on the podium, despite having to use all of the experience, race craft and tactical nous amassed over 400+ race starts to hold off the chasing pack in the closing stages.

It marked a first trip to the rostrum for Shedden in the iconic blue of title partner Laser Tools, many of whom joined the team trackside at the East Midlands venue as part of their 50th Anniversary celebrations this year. The result also secured the team’s first Independents race victory of the campaign. Taylor-Smith, still on the Medium tyres, banked yet more valuable points in 11th.

Both cars got their elbows out in a typically hard-fought, reverse-grid Race 3, but Taylor-Smith and Shedden brought the cars home in 12th and 14th respectively, to make it a 100% points-scoring run across the weekend’s action.

Leaving Donington Park, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport sit third in the Independent Teams’ Championship, and fourth overall. Shedden is third among the Independent Drivers, with Taylor-Smith seventh; the pair are fifth and 11th outright. 

The next three rounds take place on Brands Hatch’s Indy configuration, over the weekend of 9/10 May.

Árón Taylor-Smith (#50) said: “Coming away with three points finishes from my first weekend with Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport is certainly something I’m happy about.

“We made significant with the Corolla over the winter, but didn’t quite find the sweet spot on my side of the garage this weekend.

“As a team, though, I think we performed really well, and now we’re going to a track that we’ve tested at in pre-season testing, and plays to the car’s strengths a little bit more.

“We’ll do a little bit of homework between now and then, and come out swinging at Brands Hatch.”

Gordon Shedden (#52) said: “It’s always a great feeling to start the new season with some silverware; the first round of the year hasn’t always been the kindest to me in the past, so hopefully this is a sign of good things to come this year with Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport.”

“We definitely had to dig in deep at times over the weekend and hustle a bit, but to leave with a podium, an Independent win, three points finishes and no damage is a good day’s work, and it’s given us plenty of avenues to go down when it comes to preparing for next time out at Brands Hatch.”

Mark Blundell, Sporting Director, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport said: “Overall, it’s a good start to the season; both Gordon and Árón drove well, kept their noses clean and brought home some silverware, and a decent amount of points between them, which has set us up nicely as a starting point for the rest of the year.

“Getting that first podium under our belts is definitely the highlight. Gordon on the podium and the iconic blue of Laser Tools Racing are probably two of the images most synonymous with the BTCC over the last decade, so to see them together up there was a fantastic moment, especially with so many of our partners there to share in it.

“But we’re hungry for more as a team, so naturally the focus now is on taking the positives, but equally challenging those areas we feel we need to improve upon to make that a more regular ocurrence.”

Team VERTU secured a double podium finish in the opening rounds of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season at Donington Park.

The EXCELR8-run team headed into the weekend looking for a strong start to the defence of the titles it won last season, with defending champion Tom Ingram and long-time team-mate Tom Chilton joined in the driver line-up by newcomers Ricky Collard and Nicolas Hamilton.

Donington Park debuted a new format for Britain’s premier racing series, with just a single 40 minute practice session for the four drivers ahead of the first ever BTCC ‘Race for Pole’ on Saturday afternoon.

Practice saw Ingram lead the way in the #80 Hyundai as he laid down an early marker for the weekend, with Chilton taking fifth and both Collard and Hamilton using the session to get valuable track time after limited pre-season running.

Ingram then topped his pre-qualifying session for the Qualifying Race which ensured he would start on pole position, with Chilton and Collard finishing third and ninth in the same session - which would leave them in fifth and 17th on the grid. Hamilton ran in the second session and would post the tenth quickest time, which ensured he would line up on the tenth row of the grid for the qualifying race later in the day.

After an action-packed opening lap that saw him go wheel to wheel with long-time rival Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK), Ingram dominated the 13 lap encounter to cross the line in first place, although a five second penalty for being slightly out of position at the start demoted him back down to second, falling just 0.024s shy of overturning the penalty.

Chilton would end the race in sixth place, with Collard racing his way forwards to twelfth - the second largest gain of any driver on the grid. Hamilton also made up ground from where he had started to ensure he would start race one on Sunday from 19th on the grid.

Despite being the only one of the leading drivers not to run the soft tyre in race one, Ingram grabbed the lead when polesitter Dan Rowbottom (Cataclean Plato Racing) bogged down at the start and was able to control proceedings from the front, despite a safety car that backed up the field and negated his early lead.

A controlled drive saw Ingram take the flag first once again, but he was then excluded from the results due to a significant overboost issue.

If left Chilton to fly the flag for Team VERTU despite a challenging race in the midfield as he crossed the line in ninth spot, with Hamilton racing his way to 17th after a race-long dice with Max Buxton (Speedworks Corolla Racing).

Unfortunately for Collard, his first race back in the series for three years would end in retirement when he was forced to bring his car into the pits shortly after the safety car period having suffered a puncture.

Drama before the start of race two saw Ingram come in at the end of the green flag lap with an alternator problem that ruled him out of the action, with Hamilton also departing early when he was tipped into a spin at turn one and was left stricken in the gravel.

Chilton was also in the wars on the opening lap when he was forced off across the grass going down the Craner Curves and dropped to the back of the field, although he recovered to score points in 13th place, with Collard instead emerging as the leading Team VERTU driver from the race.

Despite starting at the back, Collard made the most of running the soft tyre to storm through the field to take eighth place, his only scare coming on the opening lap when he was forced to jump on the brakes to avoid Chilton as he rejoined the circuit.

Collard was then drawn on pole for race three but faced the challenge of being on the medium tyre when a number of cars around him were on the soft. Despite that, the former British GT champion got his elbows out to deliver a battling drive at the front of the field, leading the early laps despite briefly being overhauled by the BMW of Charles Rainford (WSR).

A small error at turn one eventually saw Collard lose the lead but he then fought hard to keep Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK) at bay whilst at the same time, Ingram was rocketing up the order on the soft tyre to join the pair in fighting for the top three positions.

Collard’s defence against Cammish allowed Ingram to get ahead of the Ford into third spot and he then took second from his team-mate to cap a fine drive from the back of the field, gaining 19 spots in total to end the weekend with a runner-up finish.

Collard would cross the line in fourth having been overhauled by Cammish, but he was promoted back up into third when his rival was deemed to have exceeded track limits - earning him a podium finish on his series return.

A mechanical scare before the start meant Hamilton was forced to start from the pits before he recovered to 18th, although the weekend ended in disappointing fashion for Chilton when a clash ahead on track meant unavoidable contact with the BMW of Daryl Deleon, triggering his retirement with damage.

Next stop for the Kwik Fir British Touring Car Championship is the first of two visits in 2026 to Brands Hatch (9/10 May).

Tom Chilton, #3 Team VERTU Hyundai i30 Fastback N, said: “I’ve taken a win here for the last two years so this isn’t the weekend I was hoping for and it’s been a difficult start. We just didn’t have the pace in the first two races and getting involved in some contact didn’t help, plus we were having to defend a lot which was hampering our pace out of the corners and leaving us vulnerable to attack from behind.

“In the third race on the soft tyre, the car actually felt amazing and I genuinely think we could have been up there fighting for the podium with Tom and Ricky. Unfortunately there was a bit of a clash ahead involving one of the BMWs and he just got turned in front of me with nowhere to go.

“For sure it hasn’t gone our way this weekend, but we’ll work to improve at Brands Hatch and have a few ideas to look at.”

Ricky Collard, #11 Team VERTU Hyundai i30 Fastback N, said: “Given I had half a day in the car, I didn’t expect to be coming away from my first weekend back in the BTCC with a podium finish. The goal coming here was to get three points finishes and whilst I didn’t manage to do that, I’m not really going to complain when I’ve got some silverware!

“Obviously we had a really good result in the second race which earned us pole but I didn’t really know what to expect when we were on the medium tyre and there were so many people behind on the soft tyre. I just got my elbows out and gave it my best shot and whilst it was a bit frustrating to lose the lead in the way I did, I have to remember how little time I’ve had coming in here.

“Even though the deal all came together really late, I already feel comfortable in the team and I’ve got some awesome team-mates to work with. I really feel we can work together to do something special.”

Nicolas Hamilton, #28 Team VERTU Hyundai i30 Fastback N, said: “It’s been a hard weekend for me, and probably a bit tougher than I expected it to be. We were there or thereabouts to start with, but I struggled a little but with the braking which is all related to my disability and just something that we know we need to work on a bit more.

“Whilst I feel a bit dejected about the results, I’m still massively excited about this season and being part of this team - it’s a privilege to be here. The BTCC is one of those series where sometimes you win and sometimes you lose and this weekend, it just didn’t go my way. 

“However, I’m made of strong stuff and I’ll take everything I’ve been able to learn here and look to come back fighting when we get to Brands Hatch next month at a circuit where I’ve already had track time in the car, which can only help.”

Tom Ingram, #80 Team VERTU Hyundai i30 Fastback N, said: “It’s a weird feeling at the end of the weekend because I’ve won twice on the road and then bagged a second place finish, but I’m heading home with only 27 points to my name and eighth in the standings.

“Ultimately it’s been a tricky start but we’ve clearly had the pace as we showed when we topped practice, topped qualifying and then finished nearly five seconds clear of the rest on Saturday.

“It shows that our approach over winter, which was to make sure we were in the best possible to shape to hit the ground running when there there is only limited practice, was the correct one as that is going to be important going forwards and it’s just unfortunate that race three is all we have to show for our efforts on Sunday.

“The blessing in disguise from this weekend is that we’re now going to go to Brands Hatch next time out carrying more turbo boost into qualifying which I think will make a big difference. We’ve just got to take the points we’ve banked here and move on."

Justina Williams, Team VERTU Team Owner, said: “We have mixed emotions after the opening round as we know we could have had more points on the board, but we’ve also shown that we have a strong car and driver line-up with the result of the final race of the weekend.

“As a team, we need to take the positives from the opening rounds and come out fighting at Brands Hatch in a couple of weeks."