WSR begin BTCC title defence with new line-up at Donington

West Surrey Racing begin a new Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season at Donington Park this weekend with another spot in the history of the UK’s most prestigious racing series the target.
 
With a lighter, faster BMW 330i M Sport race car, an expanded four-driver line-up and Jake Hill aiming to win back-to-back Drivers’ crowns, the 2025 season is set to be an all-action affair for the 18-time series champions, who currently share the all-time record of 132 race wins for a team and are aiming to take the accolade for themselves.
 
The 2024 season finale was a dramatic encounter that climaxed with Hill winning his first BTCC title on home soil at Brands Hatch.
 
The Kent racer, who needs just a 14th-place finish to break the 2000 career-points barrier on Sunday, once again drives the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW in what will be his fourth season with WSR.
 
The 1.9-mile Donington Park National layout has happy memories for the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport driver as he scored pole position and a race win on his WSR debut in 2022 and began his title-winning campaign there with a double-podium last year.
 
Joining Hill are three new arrivals; race-winner Aiden Moffat and rookie Charles Rainford in LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR BMWs, and BTCC sophomore Daryl DeLeon.
 
Moffat, who won at last year’s Donington opener, is one of a small number of current competitors to have won BTCC races in both front-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive cars.
 
The Edinburgh driver has more than 300 starts to his name in the BTCC and has been on the podium five times at the Donington National circuit, making it his most successful track in the series.
 
Rainford, meanwhile, is preparing to make his BTCC debut at Donington. The Sussex racer steps up from the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, in which he claimed the runner-up spot in last year’s championship.
 
Like Rainford, DeLeon will not only compete for overall honours, but also for the Jack Sears Trophy – named in honour of the BTCC’s inaugural title-winner in 1958 and awarded to the best-performing driver without a podium finish or a top-10 championship finish at the start of the upcoming season.
 
The Cambridgeshire racer, 19, joins WSR after working his way up the grid in 2024 and claiming a career-best seventh place finish at the final round of the season. He was one of last year’s Donington stars as he qualified inside the top 10 for the first time.
 
Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, said: “It’s time to defend the title we worked so hard to win last year, but honestly, a week out from Donington, it feels no different having the #1 on the BMW as all the work is about the ‘now’. Lots has changed with the BMW with the BTCC’s move away from hybrid power and there’s a bit still to unpick in terms of ultimate pace, but we’ve been in this situation before and always been at or near the front come race day. We’ll take it one step at a time and we’ll be fine.”
 
Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR, said: “Donington gave me a winning start last year, and things look close this time around, even if it looks like we still have a little bit of pace still to unlock from the BMW, based on the final test. It’s been very easy to get comfortable within the team so I already have a good feeling. If we can just find a little bit more speed, I’m sure we can be challengers this weekend.”
 
Charles Rainford, LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR, said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed driving the BMW in testing and now I’m ready to make my BTCC race debut. There are still a few things we have to finalise with the set-up going towards Donington, but we’ll take everything as it comes. I’m feeling confident in my ability to fight and this first qualifying session this weekend will tell us exactly where we are. I can’t wait.”
 
Daryl DeLeon, WSR, said: “I’m so excited to start the season. I’ve had five days of testing in the BMW over the past month so I’m feeling comfortable and ready for the lights to go out on Sunday. As with anything, you can look at testing, but you never really know where you are until that first qualifying session is underway. I feel ready though; WSR are a great team and will put a good car under me, so I’m aiming for success.”
 
Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, said: “The new season is here and, as always, we’re aiming high and want to see if we can win more BTCC titles. It’s been a very busy winter at WSR with three new drivers to introduce to the team alongside our reigning champion Jake and with the technical rule changes requiring a total re-engineering job on the rear-wheel-drive BMWs. We’ve learnt plenty in testing, but to be honest, we won’t know where we really are until we arrive at Donington and see everyone’s true performance levels in both qualifying and the races.”

Racing returns for the entire BTCC grid with the season kicking off at Donington Park on the 26/27 April.

RACER Network to broadcast BTCC LIVE in 2025

BTCC to air live in North America for the first time ever

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will be aired LIVE in North America (US and Canada) for the first time ever thanks to a new multi-year agreement with the RACER Network.

All 30 races will be brought to an American audience in 2025 after RACER secured exclusive broadcast rights, with the network streaming live and on demand as part of a long-term agreement with the championship.

BTCC 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.

The addition of BTCC strengthens RACER Network’s commitment to delivering top-tier international motorsports content to fans across North America as it continues to expand its global motorsports coverage.

Live coverage kicks off with the BTCC season opener at Donington Park on 27 April, with full pre- and post-race coverage, commentary, and expert analysis.

The news follows the BTCC’s recent announcement confirming that it will stream each race day of the 2025 BTCC season – including all support series’ races – LIVE around the globe on the BTCC YouTube channel, apart from within the UK and North America which both have specific broadcast arrangements.

The UK is obviously covered by the expansive television contract with the ITV network, which sees around eight hours of broadcast – live and free in the UK – from each event across ITV4 and ITVX, as well as the continued highlights and catch-up offerings across the network.

Now, this ground-breaking deal between Series Organiser TOCA and the RACER Network confirms that one of the most famous and oldest touring car championships in the world will be broadcast LIVE in North America for the first time in its illustrious history.

CJ Olivares, RACER Network President, said: “Bringing the BTCC to North American screens live for the first time is a milestone for our newly launched network and for motorsports fans across North America.”

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to strike this new partnership with the RACER Network, ensuring that the BTCC will be screened live across North America for the first time ever. It’s another significant step in the ongoing growth of the championship and our continued broadcasting expansion strategy.”

Cook claims top spot in final pre-season test

BTCC launches 2025 campaign at Donington Park

Josh Cook made it a happy return to Honda machinery as the One Motorsport driver topped the final pre-season BTCC test at Donington Park today (15 April).

The 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship kicks off competitively here at the same venue on 26/27 April, and it’s Cook who will arrive with the bragging rights having set a new fastest lap at the venue.

With steady runs taking place throughout the day, it was Hyundai holding an incredible one-two-three-four-five on the timesheets well into the final hour, before a late flurry of qualifying simulations set about a change to the order.

When the dust settled it was Cook in his M-Sport built TOCA engined Honda leading from the NAPA Racing UK duo of Ash Sutton and Dan Cammish, the former missing out on P1 by just 0.003s.

Cook’s benchmark – albeit not an official lap record – was the fastest BTCC lap ever around the Donington Park National Circuit, dipping just under Sutton’s 2023 qualifying effort.

Restart Racing’s Chris Smiley was an impressive fourth in his new Hyundai i30 N, whilst Team Vertu’s Tom Ingram completed the top five.

Ingram was the fastest driver in the morning session, and held top spot for much of the afternoon, before dropping slightly down the order in the closing moments.

Sam Osborne again performed well to fire his NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus into the top six, as he nipped by Team Vertu’s Tom Chilton and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA’s Gordon Shedden.

Adam Morgan (Team Vertu) and Mikey Doble (Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing) rounded out the top ten.

Click here for the final classification.

Josh Cook, One Motorsport, said: “The car feels good. We made a lot of changes during the course of the day and made some good progress. We just need to assess what worked and what didn’t work and make sure we come back next week somewhere in the right ballpark. We know it’s going to be extremely close, it always is, and hopefully we’re going to be in the mix at the front.”

Champion Hill heads top class 2025 BTCC line-up

The 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship was officially launched at Donington Park earlier today (15 April), with a total of 24 cars confirmed on the entry list for the new season as the all-new fully sustainable fuel era gets ready for take-off.

A front row of four former champions headlined this morning’s photo shoot, as they were joined by the full quota of cars and stars from Britain’s most competitive motorsport championship.

In fact, no fewer than 16 drivers from the ultra-competitive line-up have already stood on the top step of the podium in the BTCC, suggesting we are set for a fierce battle for the most coveted prize in national motor racing.

The ‘Class of 2025’ has a difficult act to follow of course considering that last year’s title race came down to a thrilling season finale with Jake Hill and Tom Ingram incredibly tied on points going into the unforgettable showdown at Brands Hatch.

Hill eventually prevailed as he claimed his maiden BTCC title, and now it’s almost time to do it all again with the competitive action kicking off at Donington Park on 26/27April, before the BTCC embarks on its annual nationwide tour, comprising 30 races across ten events.

Official media duties commenced at the former Grand Prix venue yesterday, prior to further photography this morning, before the cars took to the track in front of thousands of fans for the final pre-season test session.

Champions, challengers and future contenders

Jake Hill (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport) became the latest name etched onto one of the world’s oldest motorsport trophies when he realised his life-long dream at Brands Hatch last October, and now it’s the new champion with the target on his back as he looks to defend his crown in the #1 BMW.

The two most recent previous title winners – Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK) and Tom Ingram (Team Vertu) – will likely provide the biggest threat to Hill’s title defence, but you can add returning three-time champion – Gordon Shedden (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA) – to a stellar list of challengers.

The chasing pack – and those looking to grab their own maiden BTCC title – will arguably be led by Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK) and Josh Cook (One Motorsport), both of whom have produced their own championship challenges in recent seasons.

Hill will have three all-new team-mates at West Surrey Racing this year with Aiden Moffat (LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR) and Daryl DeLeon (WSR) switching to BMW machinery, whilst rookie Charles Rainford (LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR) also joins the fray.

NAPA Racing UK is defending a hat-trick of Teams’ titles, and it will do so with an unchanged line-up of Sutton, Cammish, Dan Rowbottom and Sam Osborne. Rowbottom is looking to mount a first championship challenge of his own, whilst Osborne has his eyes set on winning the Jack Sears Trophy – open to all drivers with no more than one overall podium in the BTCC.

Team Vertu’s four-car roster includes three multiple race winners, led of course by former champ Ingram, but Tom Chilton and Adam Morgan may also fancy their chances of fighting for the crown. There are actually a total of 25 talented racers entered across the 24 cars with the fourth Vertu entry being shared by two series returnees. Michael Crees contests the first half of the campaign, before race winner Senna Proctor takes the reins following the summer break.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA boasts a fascinating line-up with the battle for supremacy in the Speedworks camp looking to be a wide-open contest. Shedden’s return is undoubtedly a huge head turner, but he is joined by the pace and quality of Aron Taylor-Smith, Ronan Pearson and talented debutant James Dorlin.

Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing comes off the back of an incredible 2024 season, winning the Independent Drivers’ and Teams’ trophies, along with Mikey Doble scooping the Jack Sears Trophy. Doble remains with the squad so the consistency of both team and driver could prove a potent force again this year.

Un-Limited Motorsport and Restart Racing will embark on a sophomore season in the BTCC, with both outfits having enhanced their respective operations during the off-season.

Expanding from a single-car squad in 2024 to a three-car line-up this year, Un-Limited Motorsport enters with Nic Hamilton (Powder Monkey Brewing Co with Esidock), 18-year-old Max Hall (ROKiT Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport) and series returnee Dexter Patterson (ROKiT Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport).

For Hamilton – brother of seven-time former Formula 1 World Champion Lewis – the return marks another opportunity to inspire. As one of motorsport’s most prominent advocates for disability inclusion, Nic remains determined to use his platform to challenge perceptions, encourage others to break boundaries, and push the limits of what’s possible.

Meanwhile, Restart Racing has switched to the race-winning Hyundais after reaching a supply agreement with EXCELR8 Motorsport, and the team includes race-winning drivers in its arsenal too, as both Chris Smiley and Daniel Lloyd look to push the squad forward in 2025.

Last and by no means least is the return of One Motorsport and also the return to the grid for the popular Hondas. The returning theme continues as Josh Cook heads home to the squad that he drove for between 2019-2023, whilst Stephen Jelley is back in the BTCC after a one-year sabbatical.

Fully sustainable fuel era is here

Series Organiser of the British Touring Car Championship – TOCA – announced its latest rules and regulations during the winter with the introduction of 100% fully sustainable fuel headlining developments, taking over from the use of hybrid power.

The BTCC is the first major championship in the UK to adopt fully sustainable fossil-free fuel for all its cars, once again underlining its position at the forefront of national motorsport innovation and industry-leading standards.

All cars will still have the same power-boost output as in 2024 – and the same boost deployment format as previously used – with the additional power surge coming solely via turbo boost. The cars will also be some 55 kilogrammes lighter and nimbler as a result. 

A further tweak will see all notifications of the turbo boost deployment being removed from the timing screens, as it was felt this gave teams/drivers immediate information to try to counteract its use by their fellow competitors.

Information on the boost deployment will still be available to fans via the LED lights on the side windows of each car, as well as on ITV’s live television graphics (albeit with the usual few seconds delay of a live television transmission), but the instantaneous information via the timing screens will no longer be available to the teams.

Due to having the same turbo deployment and a significantly lighter car, the 2025 machines look set to be the fastest BTCC cars in history with the pace shown in pre-season already dipping well below some existing qualifying lap records.

Worldwide broadcast strategy continues

Another significant step forward during the off-season was the deal to ensure that each race day of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 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 live broadcast arrangements.

This further enhancement of the BTCC’s global coverage is of course in addition to the expansive and existing UK television contract with the ITV network, which sees around eight hours of broadcast – live and free in the UK – from each event across ITV4 and ITVX, as well as the continued highlights and catch-up offerings across the network.

Qualifying will also continue to be broadcast LIVE in the UK on ITVX, and indeed LIVE across the UK and throughout the world via YouTube.

With the BTCC’s ever-growing appeal and global fanbase, this latest development ensures that every competitive session of the BTCC, as well as the entire race day, can be watched LIVE from anywhere in the world and continues with the championship’s ground-breaking and ongoing broadcasting strategy.

You can subscribe to the official BTCC YouTube channel here.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to present our exciting and talented line-up for the 2025 BTCC season, boasting four former champions and an incredible 16 race winners.

“The work never stops in the BTCC and as you can see, we have made several enhancements both on and off-track ahead of the new season. Moving to 100% fully sustainable fuel was arguably the most significant development, ensuring the BTCC maintains the same high levels of competitiveness, performance and excitement, but in a more sustainable way and with the added advantage of our cars being lighter and more dynamic.

“Being able to announce that every moment of a BTCC race day will be streamed LIVE throughout the world on YouTube is also another huge milestone for the championship, representing fantastic news for all of our stakeholders and the BTCC’s loyal support series’.

“The action on-track remains the most important element of course and last year’s title race proved to be one of the closest and dramatic in the championship’s illustrious history. With such a strong line-up confirmed, we are confident we will enjoy more of the same during the 2025 campaign.

“We thank everyone that plays a role in making the BTCC such a wonderful success story, including our incredible loyal fanbase – we’re really looking forward to the season ahead and we’re sure you are too.”

Click here for the full 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship entry list.

Corolla shows off new colours as Speedworks inks IAA partnership with Shedden

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship front-runner Speedworks Motorsport will boast a fresh look as it heads into battle in 2025, with a striking black livery adorning its quartet of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK contenders and an exciting new partnership deal with automotive auctioneering expert IAA.

Preparing to enter its seventh season in the country’s premier motorsport series, the British-built Corolla has already notched up no fewer than 47 podium finishes including 17 victories – five of which were achieved last year.

Buoyed by a comprehensive winter development programme, hopes are high for an even more fruitful campaign ahead, particularly following the recruitment of a potent driver line-up in its four Japanese ‘hot hatches’. Returning three-time champion Gordon Shedden – who sits fifth on the all-time BTCC race-winners list, and first amongst active competitors – will be flanked by reigning Independents’ Trophy title-holder Árón Taylor-Smith as well as rising stars Ronan Pearson and James Dorlin.

The Northwich, Cheshire-based outfit’s relationship with IAA began through one of its subsidiaries last year – a bond that has now been bolstered following the recent launch of the UK arm of IAA Holdings, LLC – a prominent global digital marketplace connecting vehicle buyers and sellers. Leveraging cutting-edge technology and focussing on innovation, its unique platform facilitates the marketing and sale of total-loss, damaged and low-value vehicles.

Owned by industry-leading auctioneer, RB Global, IAA annually processes tens of thousands of vehicles nationwide, serving a global buyer base in more than 170 countries including registered customers, insurers, dealerships, fleet lease and rental car companies as well as charitable organisations. Daily online auctions showcase salvage and non-salvage inventory, offering buyers a wide range of vehicles to choose from.

All four TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK cars – whose iconic new colour scheme brings them in-line with the manufacturer’s ultra-successful FIA World Endurance Championship and FIA World Rally Championship programmes on the global stage – will carry IAA branding in 2025, with the company’s logos most prominent on Shedden’s Corolla in deference to the Scot’s status as an ambassador for the organisation.

Christian Dick, Team Principal, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK, said: “We’re delighted to reveal our new colours and to announce such an exciting partnership between Gordon and IAA. It is the evolution of a fantastic collaboration that we enjoyed with one of IAA’s business units last year, and this agreement really takes that blossoming relationship to the next level. We warmly welcome them on-board and look forward to a thrilling season ahead.

“Just like IAA, we work tirelessly to be the best in our field – a field that, in the BTCC, is as tough as it gets. We have great ambitions for the forthcoming campaign, and with Gordon, Árón, Ronan and James on the driving strength, I am very confident it can be our best season yet. Incorporating the eye-catching IAA design with the iconic black, white and red of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, the Corolla will truly stand out on-track in 2025, and we all know what they say about a car that looks quick...”

Jonathan Pervin, UK Managing Director for IAA, said: “We first got to know the BTCC through one of our UK-operating brands, and we have derived great value from our participation in the championship. We can think of no better way to celebrate our re-launch than by joining forces with Gordon and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK as they prepare to fight for the biggest prize in British motorsport.

“The BTCC has a large, devoted and passionate fanbase, and we look forward to promoting IAA’s expertise and services to an invested and knowledgeable demographic. It goes without saying that the best way to do that is by winning, and with a driver of Gordon’s calibre behind the wheel and Speedworks’ expertise on the pit wall, we are very hopeful that the famous slogan ‘The Car in Front is a Toyota’ will continue to ring true in 2025.”

The upcoming 30-race BTCC campaign will get underway at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK’s ‘home’ circuit of Donington Park in Leicestershire on 26/27 April. All of the action season-long will be broadcast live and in high-definition on ITV channels.

Restart Racing unveils striking new Hyundai i30 N livery for 2025

Restart Racing has today unveiled the bold new livery that will feature on its Hyundai i30 N Fastbacks for the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, officially revealing the fresh design ahead of the BTCC Season Launch. 

Following a successful debut campaign in 2024 with the Cupra Leon, Restart Racing has made the switch to the proven, race-winning Hyundai i30 N platform for the upcoming season, a move that represents a major step forward for the team as it builds on strong foundations heading into year two. 

The new livery retains the team’s signature style while complementing the aggressive lines of the Hyundai chassis, creating a dynamic look that reflects the team’s ambitions both on and off track. 

Dan Lloyd said: “It feels amazing to be back on the BTCC grid. I have to say a huge thank you to the partners who’ve made this possible. It means a lot to be racing again after a year away. The new Hyundai looks incredible and has already proven itself as a race-winning package. I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel and push for results with Restart Racing.” 

Chris Smiley added: “I’m buzzing to get going. The new livery looks stunning and the switch to the Hyundai i30 N gives us real confidence heading into 2025. Media Day is the first big milestone, it’s brilliant to be back in the paddock and getting stuck into what we hope will be a really competitive year.” 

Armed with a strong driver pairing, a proven car, and a bold new look, Restart Racing is ready to take the next step forward and fight at the sharp end of the grid in 2025. 

Adam Morgan to fly the flag for Draper Tools in 2025

Adam Morgan will fly the flag for Draper Tools in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this season after the livery for his 2025 Team VERTU challenger was officially revealed.

Morgan joins the EXCELR8-run team for what will be his 14th season in Britain’s premier racing series, with the switch to the Droitwich-based outfit marking his return to front-wheel drive after four years.

Eight of Morgan’s eleven wins since stepping up into the BTCC from the Ginetta GT Supercup as the 2011 championship winner have come in front-wheel drive alongside 31 of his career podiums, with the Lancastrian now hoping to replicate those kind of results as part of the four-strong Team VERTU line-up.

The reveal of Adam’s livery ahead of the annual BTCC season launch event at Donington Park marks the seventh successive campaign in which the famous Draper Tools logo will be a prominent part of the grid alongside EXCELR8, thanks to a hugely successful partnership that kicked off back in 2019.

That relationship will go on until at least the end of the 2027 season having been extended in a new multi-year agreement earlier this year.

Although Draper Tools logos have been a feature on EXCELR8 cars through the years, a number of drivers have run in a bespoke Draper livery since the team’s debut campaign, when the MG6 GT of Rob Smith appeared on track in full Draper Tools colours.

The likes of Chris Smiley, Senna Proctor and Daniel Lloyd are amongst those to have since gone on to showcase the Draper Tools brand, with the latter carrying his Draper-liveried car to three race wins during the 2022 campaign.

Whilst Morgan’s livery will be similar in design to cars of team-mates Tom Ingram and Tom Chilton, the #33 will be decked out in the familiar light blue for which Draper Tools is so well known - with elements of white and red that will help ensure the car stands out on track.

Adam will hope to take Draper Tools back to the top of the podium during the year ahead, with his first race in Draper colours coming back at Donington Park at the end of the month.

Sarah Hartland, Head of Marketing at Draper Tools, commented: “It’s fantastic to have Adam Morgan behind the wheel of the Draper-liveried car for what promises to be a very exciting season. Adam’s had some great results in his career and with the support of the EXCELR8 team, we’re sure he’ll be building on that. 

“The entire team at EXCELR8 are always working hard to reach new heights and push boundaries, that’s what makes working with them so special. Everyone at Draper Tools is excited to be part of all the action again this year, we can’t wait to be back trackside and to see what’s in store this season.”

Covers come off One Motorsport 2025 challengers

One Motorsport has today (April 12) taken the covers off its two Honda Civic Type R challengers to reveal a striking new look ahead of the upcoming 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship campaign.

Making a triumphant return to the UK’s premier motorsport series after a year away, the Brackley-based outfit will look to stand out from the crowd on-track this season with Josh Cook and Stephen Jelley tackling some of the country’s top tracks draped in the team’s core colours. 

Conceptualised and fitted by the UK’s leading branding specialists Joyce Design, this year’s livery has blended black and gold to create an eye-catching design, while elements of white have been included too. 

The final design has also allowed for the team’s wealth of returning and new technical partners to be showcased across both front-wheel-drive machines. 

Fans will be able to get their first glimpse of the newly-wrapped cars when they take centre stage at the BTCC Season Launch this coming Tuesday (April 15) at Donington Park.

Josh Cook: “Launching the livery is always an exciting moment in the run up to any season and given that the team weren’t on the grid last year, this is a special moment for everyone that is involved with this project.

“Being back behind the wheel of the Civic Type R in recent weeks has been great and we’ve enjoyed some productive running. Now that the livery is on and looking really smart, I can’t wait to get the season underway.”

Stephen Jelley: “I’m a really big fan of the livery! Bringing together the three core colours of the team has created something that certainly looks menacing. It looks good under the studio lights so I’ve no doubt it will look even better when it’s out on-track.

“Getting to grips with front-wheel-drive and the Civic Type R has been really enjoyable over the past few weeks; we’ve been making progress all the time. Heading into the season I feel like we as a team are in a good place so it’s now full focus on the next test and then onto round one.”

Steve Dudman, One Motorsport Team Owner: “We are delighted to reveal our livery ahead of the new BTCC season. Coming back after a year out, we wanted to make an impact on our return and thanks to the talented team at Joyce Design it’s fair to say we’re doing just that. 

“That blend of black, gold and white has created a striking design that I hope the BTCC fans will like. It’s the start of a new chapter for One Motorsport and everyone is incredibly excited to see what we can go and achieve over the course of this season.”

Russell Joyce, Joyce Design Managing Director: “We are no strangers to motorsport graphics and it’s a real team effort to deliver a motorsport livery that supports the partners, looks good in the paddock and even better at 150mph on-track.

“This livery is one of my personal favourites and I can’t wait to see it out on-track. We wish One Motorsport the very best of luck this year and hopefully will see them bring home its fair share of silverware over the course of 2025.”

The 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season kicks off on April 26-27 with Donington Park’s National circuit staging the opening three rounds.

Senna Proctor to make BTCC return with Team VERTU

Senna Proctor will make a return to the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship for the first time since the 2021 season later this year after agreeing a deal to rejoin the grid with Team VERTU.

Proctor, who previously raced for the EXCELR8-run team back in 2020, will take up the role of Reserve Driver during the opening five rounds of the season, before stepping into a race seat at his local circuit of Croft in August.

The 26-year-old will then go on to compete at Knockhill, Donington Park GP, Silverstone and Brands Hatch GP at the wheel of the car that will be raced in the first half of the season by Michael Crees.

Proctor first joined the BTCC grid back in 2017 when he made the move up from the Renault Clio Cup at the age of just 18-years-old, having previously finished as runner-up in the Ginetta Junior Championship in 2015; a title he would have won without dropped scores being in play.

Becoming the youngest winner of the Jack Sears Trophy in his rookie campaign, Proctor scored his maiden win in the opening meeting of the following year at Brands Hatch, where he came from 27th on the grid to emerge on top after a stunning drive in mixed weather conditions.

Following a challenging 2019 campaign, Proctor joined forces with EXCELR8 for the first time ahead of the 2020 season, which marked the debut in the series for the Hyundai i30 that had been designed and developed by the team in house.

After a tough opening round, Proctor would go on to score points on a regular basis throughout the year and picked up a podium finish at Knockhill en-route to what was then the highest-scoring season for an EXCELR8 driver in Britain’s premier racing series.

Moving to BTC Racing in 2021, Proctor would go on to take two pole positions - including breaking the qualifying lap record at Brand Hatch GP - and would score a second race win amongst six podiums.
Unfortunately, circumstances beyond his control meant a race seat was not available the following season due to budget constraints, preventing him from building on what had been his strongest year in the series to date.

However, having long harboured hopes of a return to competition, Proctor has now agreed a deal that will see him rejoin the BTCC grid at his home circuit following the summer break.

Proctor will use his five rounds in the car to work towards a full-time return to the grid in 2026 and beyond, and will hope to make his mark on track and add to his record of ten BTCC career podiums.

Proctor will also celebrate his 150th start in the series as a result of the new deal, a landmark he will reach when the series heads to the Donington Park GP circuit - the only venue where he has yet to race during his BTCC career.

Senna Proctor said: "It is great to be returning to the BTCC with EXCELR8 and to be joining forces with Team VERTU, firstly as Reserve Driver for the first half of the season, before returning to competitive action on home soil at Croft. It’s been a long wait for me to get back into a BTCC car, and I’m excited that the opportunity has now come along to me to return to the grid.

“I have driven the Team VERTU car before when it was first introduced into the series, so I am looking forward to seeing how much it has changed since then. It’s clearly one of the top cars on the grid so even though I’ve been away from the series for a while, my aim it to be straight back up to speed from the outset and fight for strong results.

“This part season allows me to lay a solid foundation for a full time programme in 2026 and beyond. Everything is there to do the job as I have a great car, a great team behind me and three great team-mates in Tom Ingram, Tom Chilton and Adam Morgan. There can be no excuses, and it’s great to be back.”

Justina Williams, Team VERTU Team Owner, said:
“We’re delighted to welcome Senna back into the team this season, firstly in the role of Reserve Driver for the first half of the season before he steps into a race seat from his home round at Croft.

“When we first introduced the EXCELR8 car into the series, Senna played a key role in the early development of the car despite difficult circumstances caused by the pandemic and government lockdowns.

“I know Senna is very capable of doing a great job behind the wheel and we are confident that he will deliver some strong results and challenge for multiple podiums during his five rounds as part of the driver line-up.”

2025 BTCC Season Launch is nearly here!

TOCA to broadcast LIVE throughout Tuesday

The 2025 BTCC Season Launch is only a few days away, taking place at Donington Park on 15 April.

FREE ENTRY will be available for all spectators wishing to attend, with the fantastic Garage 39 being open for refreshments.

Alan Hyde and Chris Hartley will be on call to provide the sound of BTCC racing in 2025 - TOCA LIVE powered by Donington for Season Launch. Commentary, interviews, and fan interaction will begin from 10:00 until the engines go silent.  On air and online - btcc.net/live/live-audio.

Whilst official television and photography make up the early morning activities at Donington, it will then be full focus on the final official pre-season test with six hours of on-track action commencing from 10:00.

With each of the two three-hour sessions being split by a traditional lunch break, spectators will be able to get autographs and photos with their favourite driver during a pitlane walkabout – identical to those famously run during BTCC race weekends.

Gates will open to the public from 10:00, with Circuit Owner MSV opening its food and refreshment outlets, whilst spectators can get up close and personal with the latest line-up in the open paddock area throughout the day.

Keep an eye across the BTCC and MSV channels for further information on each event.