NAPA Racing UK capped off their fourth year in the BTCC with a spirited showing at the 2025 TOCA Awards, at Silverstone (8 November), as the Alliance Racing-run squad collected the Teams' Championship as they have done in every year since entering.

2025 gave us four-in-a-row Teams' titles for the Ford Focus racers, doing so in nail-biting style, leaving it to a final round mathematical battle, ultimately claiming the title by just a slender two-point advantage over Team VERTU – the smallest winning margin of any of our championship titles in 2025.

The combined force of four race-winning drivers, and a well-oiled machine running the tried and trustedFord Focus, once again proved victorious in the teams' championship.

TOCA – organiser of the British Touring Car Championship – has today (24 November) ratified the full regulations surrounding the recently announced BTCC Qualifying Race, set to be introduced from the 2026 season.

The final classification of each Qualifying Race on Saturday will determine the grid positions for Sunday’s opening contest, whilst significant Drivers’ Championship points have also been made available as part of this innovative development.

A general overview of the Saturday format is provided below:

• One 40-minute Free Practice session to take place at approximately 10:30
• One Official Qualifying Session set to take place at approximately 14:00, split into Two Qualifying Groups of 15 minutes each 
• The group that includes the fastest set lap time overall will set the odd numbers of the grid for the Qualifying Race and the other group will take the even numbers
• There will be a ten minute gap between the end of the Official Qualifying Session and pit lane opening for the Qualifying Race
• Qualifying Race Distance to be approximately 15 minutes in duration (set in advance to the nearest lap count at each particular circuit)
• No Option Tyres permitted to be used in the Qualifying Race – only that event’s standard dry/slick tyre and/or wet tyre may be used
• Throughout the Official Qualifying Session and Race, each car will have the permitted TOCA Turbo Boost (TTB) available as per Championship order 
• Half points from a Championship Round to be awarded as per the finishing order of the Qualifying Race (rounded up to the nearest whole point where applicable):

Pos	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
Pts	10	9	8	7	6	5	5	4	4	3	3	2	2	1	1

• No Manufacturers’/Constructors’, Teams’, Independent Drivers’, Independent Teams’ or Jack Sears Trophy points will be scored in the Qualifying Race
• No extra point will be awarded for leading the Qualifying Race or Fastest Lap
• No extra point will be awarded for securing Pole Position for Race 1

The entirety of Qualifying, including the Qualifying Race, will be streamed LIVE in the UK and across the globe via the ITV YouTube channel.

Sunday will maintain the three full rounds of racing, all-day-live and free on ITV4 as has been the case for many years. Further minor regulations surrounding Qualifying – tyre availability, parc ferme rules etc – were also ratified and will be made available in the full 2026 Rules and Regulations document.

Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport has announced the team’s two-car assault for the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship. An exciting new collaboration with Speedworks Motorsport sees the team take to the grid in two British-built TOYOTA Corollas as they begin an exciting new chapter in the UK’s premier racing championship.

This means that the new campaign will mark a completely new driver lineup, new chassis and new programme for the fan favourites. Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, supported operationally by new partner Speedworks Motorsport, will once again be led by Founder and former Formula One driver Mark Blundell.

The news marks the extension of the successful relationship between Laser Tools Racing and MB Motorsport into its fourth consecutive year. Since forming their alliance in 2023, the partnership has racked up a total of 17 race wins, 25 podiums and one Drivers’ Championship - a total that the team are looking to add to substantially in 2026.

The team are also delighted to have retained the services of championship-winning race engineer, Craig Porley, whose engineering excellence has been a key part of the team’s continued success since 2020. Porley’s increased responsibilities will see him take a leading role in the team’s continued development and future aspirations.

Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport have been hard at work to secure the services of two talented drivers who will lead the team’s on-track assault in the new year, with their identities to be revealed very, very soon.

Mark Blundell, Founder and Sporting Director - Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport: “We are delighted to be unveiling the next chapter in the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport journey. It has been a long-held ambition to increase our programme to two cars - we are proud to be making that step in 2026 and are thankful to the continued support of our partners who have made this progression possible.

“Making the move to the Corollas alongside Speedworks Motorsport in 2026 has been the product of a huge amount of consideration and review. From our very first conversation, these discussions have been very productive, and it really feels like a powerful partnership where we can build and succeed together. Retaining the engineering expertise of Craig Porley is a major part of the MB Motorsport puzzle for 2026, and we look forward to him continuing to drive forward our on-track performance. We are very happy with the driver lineup that we have managed to secure, and we are looking forward to making these announcements soon.”

Keith Anderson, Motorsport Sponsorship Coordinator - Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport: “A lot of work has gone into bringing together the strongest possible programme for the 2026 season in recent months and we are delighted to have our plans confirmed so early in the post-season. We believe that Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport represents the perfect partnership for us in the BTCC and we are very excited to launch into the new season with a new look, new cars and a new driver lineup!”

Christian Dick, Owner - Speedworks Motorsport: “Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport have been one of the series’ front-runners and big players in recent years and we are proud that they have chosen Speedworks Motorsport to support them operationally in 2026. Mark and the team have a fantastic reputation for holding themselves to a high standard both on and off the track and together, I am sure, we will make a powerful combination.”

Daniel Lloyd reigned victorious as the winner of the 2025 Independent Drivers' Championship. He was awarded his second piece of silverware of this year's TOCA Awards, at Silverstone (8 November), to bookend what has been an impressive campaign from the Huddersfield racer.

Lloyd works hard for sponsors, for fans, and for himself as a driver. At one point this year, it looked like he might not complete the season, but he grafted, secured the funds, and secured a championship title as a fitting reward.

His mum might have something to say about that–surely it was down to his magic pebble bringing him luck! A late-season surge, which saw Daniel win five of the last eight independent contests, put him in charge of the title fight going into the last race weekend.

However, with only 12 points separating the top three, ahead of the Brands Hatch GP races, it was always going to be a tense finale. But Huddersfield’s finest showed true Yorkshire grit to fend off his challengers to take his first championship title in the BTCC.

Mikey Doble's 2025 campaign racing for Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing showcased one of the most impressive championship battles ever seen. After the devastation of the fire that burnt down that team's facilities, for Doble to only fall short of an Independent Drivers crown by four points is all the more impressive of a season.

The reigning Jack Sears Trophy Champion bolted away from the line in the Independents Championship at the start of the year, qualifying and scoring points superbly, including an overall race win at only the third race meeting of the year at Snetterton. This was exceptional, as pre-season sponsorship challenges genuinely looked likely to keep the team from competition altogether this year.

The Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing team and Mikey Doble really did look like they might dominate the championship points table, until true disaster struck: the well-documented and truly devastating workshop fire, destroying both cars and dreams.

But the spirit of both team, the driver and the spirit and kindness of many in the paddock combined to overcome, and not a round was missed. Maybe it was too high a mountain to climb to claim the title, this year against such odds, but Mikey and the team had an exceptionally good go.

Chris Smiley's 2025 campaign with Restart Racing showcased one of the most impressive winning records in the Independent field. His ability to convert opportunities into victories set the standard for what was ultimately a strong season despite the challenges that lay ahead.

Restart Racing had a great year with both of its drivers in the top three positions in the Independent Drivers Championship.

Standing on the Independent winners’ podium more than anyone else in 2025, Smiley claimed ten victories, including a superb three-out-of-three lockout-of-wins at Knockhill.

Six non-point finishes cost Chris dearly in his quest for the title, but the strike rate of being the most winning driver should be a huge reward for what was an excellent season, claiming third place in the Independent standings.

Restart Racing capped off their sophomore year with a spirited showing at the 2025 TOCA Awards, at Silverstone (8 November), as the Hyundai i30 N racers collected four different awards during the evening.

Only one title was secured before the final meeting of the year, and that was wrapped up by a team in only their second year in the championship.

Restart Racing can be very proud of their 2025 season. With a new car to learn, they quickly adapted to the Hyundai, and the results started coming in from the very first meeting, a trend that continued to the final round, with Daniel Lloyd and Chris Smiley taking an impressive 19 of the possible 30 Independent race wins.

By far the most dominant margin of any points advantage within the championship this year, Restart Racing claimed the title by a whopping 103 points.

Daryl DeLeon reigned victorious as the winner of the 2025 Jack Sears Trophy (JST) and was awarded his second piece of silverware of this year's TOCA Awards, at Silverstone (8 November), to bookend what has been an impressive campaign from the Filipino driver.

The JST is an annual award which proudly carries the name of the first-ever BTCC champion. This year, it was exclusive to drivers who had not visited the overall podium more than once before.

The 2025 JST was another hotly contested title fight, with three drivers claiming 23 of the possible 30 victories. These drivers were Charles Rainford, Sam Osborne and DeLeon, who all took their maiden BTCC race victories across the season. Ultimately, it came down to a battle between two BMW teammates; a battle which went all the way to the final chequered flag of the season.

Even with the pair enjoying the overall top step of the podium for the first time in 2025, it was the driver who, for the final two meetings claimed a mighty pair of overall pole positions, proved victorious. Nine wins, nine second places and three third-place finishes, is an impressive tally for a JST champion.

The 2025 TOCA Awards took place at Silverstone (8 November) and celebrated the best moments from this past campaign. Amongst the prestigious accolades handed out, one moment stood above the rest as particularly poignant. Oulton Park this year proved to be a memorable and emotional weekend for the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship as legendary television presenter Steve Rider hosted his final live television sports broadcast, and fittingly and proudly, it was for the BTCC.

Steve has been a supporter and fan of this championship for its entire televised history. He not only played a pivotal role in getting the championship to air in the 1980s, but has also been integral to its growth and quality ever since, with ITV's superb coverage elevating the sport to new heights. Quite simply, he is part of the BTCC family.

To honour this extraordinary contribution and mark the occasion of his retirement, the championship has recognised Steve with one of its most prestigious accolades – the TOCA Trophy.

The TOCA Trophy is awarded only occasionally, and only when recognising a unique and superlative contribution to the championship. It stands as one of the most distinguished honours within British motorsport, reserved for those who have left an indelible mark on the sport's fabric.

Only two names have previously appeared on this esteemed trophy. The first was Dennis Carter, Chairman of TOCA, awarded upon his retirement from full-time commitments to racing. The second was Peter Riches, former TOCA Technical Director, also on his retirement.

Now, a third name has been engraved – Steve Rider – cementing his legacy as one of the most influential figures in BTCC history. His decades of dedication, passion, and professionalism have shaped how millions of fans experience the championship, and his final broadcast from Oulton Park served as a fitting farewell to a broadcasting icon who has given so much to motorsport.

The 2025 TOCA Night of Champions at Silverstone (8 November) celebrated the best moments from this campaign, and the Fans' Choice Award gave supporters the power to decide which of our four possible nominees deserved special recognition. This year's theme focused on 'New Winners' – and what a year it's been, with four drivers claiming their first-ever BTCC victories, the most since 2018.

The voting was compelling, with almost 10,000 fans weighing up both the performances themselves and the journeys that led to those unforgettable moments. After voting had closed, the accolade was awarded to LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR's Charles Rainford for his sensational breakthrough victory.

Rainford's maiden BTCC win came in just his sixth start at Brands Hatch, an extraordinary achievement that captured the imagination of the championship's passionate fanbase. The young BMW driver's ascent through the field, his tactical racecraft, and ultimately his composure at the front of the field demonstrated exactly why supporters voted him as the deserving recipient of this prestigious award.

The rookie's lights-to-flag performance saw him immediately pass stablemate Jake Hill on the opening lap before making a decisive move on pole-sitter Daniel Rowbottom through Paddock Hill Bend on lap two. What followed was a masterclass in race management, as Rainford fended off the reigning champion Hill throughout the contest, ultimately securing victory by holding his nerve through a thrilling final stint.

The #99's achievement was particularly poignant given the circumstances of the race itself – his victory marked BMW's and WSR’s clean sweep of the day at Brands Hatch, whilst also contributing to the team becoming the most successful team in BTCC history with 135 wins.

The Social Media Award was also announced at the TOCA Awards, chosen by the BTCC Media Team after trawling through literally hundreds of hours of social media posts. 2025 Independent Drivers’ Champion Daniel Lloyd was recognised for his impressive social media presence throughout this past season. Lloyd's Social Media Award was awarded for his exceptional ability to engage with fans across multiple platforms, bringing behind-the-scenes insights and entertaining content.