The penultimate driver announcement ahead of the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship saw Dan Rowbottom back on the BTCC grid with Team Dynamics.

Rowbottom's return, which also sees Cataclean join the Droitwich-based squad in a multi-year partnership, marks his second campaign in the championship, following a 12-month sabbatical during the 2020 season.

The Official BTCC website caught up with the 32-year-old to talk about the forthcoming campaign, his time away from the series and more, with the full interview available below...

Fans of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship have a new platform to access all official BTCC interviews and podcasts, as the series’ popular audio features are now available on Amazon Music and Podcasting Directory.

Adding to the already extensive range of podcast platforms it is available via, the ‘Official British Touring Car Championship Interviews’ – comprising exclusive clips alongside other features such as the hugely popular Autoglym Tin Top Tuesday – will now be available on Amazon Music and Podcasting Directory.

As one of the largest growing on-demand music streaming services, with 55 million customers and counting, joining Amazon will not only increase the accessibility of BTCC audio features but results in the interviews and podcasts being available on Alexa-enabled devices.

Toyota Gazoo Racing UK began its 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship preparations in earnest last week, with three days of testing that left drivers Rory Butcher and Sam Smelt waxing lyrical about the potential of the team’s Toyota Corollas.
 
No sooner had the wraps come off the two British-built, Speedworks Motorsport-prepared Corollas at Oulton Park than they took to the track at Donington Park and Snetterton. For Butcher, it marked his first run in the car, after the 2019 BTCC Independents’ Champion and six-time race-winner joined the Cheshire-based outfit earlier this year. Impressing the team with his attitude and approach, the 34-year-old Scot swiftly got down to business and it was not long before he was posting extremely competitive lap times.
 
Smelt – who spent 2020 contesting the British GT Championship behind the wheel of Speedworks’ Toyota GR Supra GT4 – had already sampled the Corolla at Snetterton last November, and the BTCC returnee was similarly quick to settle into the groove. The 24-year-old Northampton native previously competed in the UK’s premier motor racing series in 2018, and is excited to be re-joining the fray this season.
 
The forthcoming campaign, in which Toyota Gazoo Racing UK will for the first time do battle for all three major titles – Drivers’, Manufacturers’ and Teams’ – after expanding to two cars, will rev into life on 8/9 May at super-fast Thruxton, scene of a superb double victory for the Corolla last September. Every race will be televised live and in high-definition on ITV4.
 
Rory Butcher, Driver, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, said:
 
“It felt great to return to a circuit for the first time in a while and to get my ‘race head’ back on. I always do a lot of preparation and training at home, but there’s nothing like actually arriving at the track and knuckling down to work, and to benefit from a proper block of test days to really get a feel for the Corolla was ideal.
 
“Donington was effectively a shakedown that quite quickly developed into a more serious test session. We were able to make finer adjustments to the set-up in the afternoon and learn how the car reacts to them, and I got to understand a bit more about how the team operates and start building a real rapport with my engineer and the whole Speedworks crew.
 
“I’m quite fortunate in that this is the fifth car I have driven in the BTCC in less than four years, and I think that prior experience unquestionably helps. I know what a good car feels like and I know what a bad car feels like and I’ve got to say, the Corolla is very confidence-inspiring, which encouraged me to push the limits and take risks earlier than I had been anticipating, without fearing that it would punish me when I asked for a little bit more. That’s exactly what I want out of a car.
 
“The Corolla gave me all the right feedback and definitely lived up to my expectations, and after just my first few laps at Snetterton, I came back in and said, ‘there’s really not a lot I would change’ – it honestly felt that good. I came away feeling pretty buoyant, and I genuinely think we’re in a very strong place at the moment.”
 
Sam Smelt, Driver, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, said:
 
“The first few laps after the winter off-season always feel slightly strange, and it inevitably took a little bit of time to re-adapt after a year in the Supra. One thing that was immediately evident, though, was how easily the Corolla instils confidence, which is encouraging, and I paid a lot of attention to what Rory was doing. Given that he has driven some extremely rapid BTCC cars in recent years, the fact that he was happy is a really promising sign.
 
“We encountered a few teething troubles with my car to begin with, but it was good to get them out of the way earlier rather than later and once they were resolved, the Corolla ran faultlessly. It was a shame that straight after I began my first representative run on new tyres at Snetterton, it began to rain, but it’s important to get wet-weather experience too and I was able to put a fair few laps on the board, which helped me to become more comfortable in the car and establish a good feel for it.
 
“I obviously know most of the Speedworks guys from last year and I’ve been able to bring my data engineer, Sergio, with me too. Being such an important relationship, that continuity certainly helps, as we don’t need to learn how each other works and can instead just crack on.
 
“Overall, these first few days felt like a little taster for me, but one that hinted at a lot of potential. I’m very optimistic that we will have a strong all-round package this year, which means it will come down to how quickly I can get up-to-speed between now and the start of the season. I’ll tell you one thing – I already can’t wait to get back out on-track!”
 
Christian Dick, Team Principal, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, added:
 
“It was a very constructive week overall. We put a lot of miles on the two cars and whilst Donington was initially pencilled in as a shakedown, we managed to complete that element pretty rapidly. That allowed Rory and Sam to push a bit harder and meant we could focus more on the detail, playing around with various set-up permutations to better explore and understand what both guys need from the car.
 
“I have to say, they have slotted in very easily, and it was good for them to get some laps under their belt in a mixture of conditions. Rory felt very comfortable in the Corolla from the outset. You’re always a little bit apprehensive when you change driver after so many years together, but Rory brings with him a first-rate work ethic, a very positive vibe and an open mind, and it didn’t take long at all for him to get right onto the pace.
 
“Although he has only been in the championship since 2017, he has been able to provide some very interesting feedback from what he has experienced with different teams and different cars, which gives us plenty of food for thought on areas for improvement.
 
“Sam is re-acclimatising to the BTCC really well. He’s quick with a lot of natural ability, and is massively enthusiastic about the challenge ahead and very excited to be involved in the programme.
 
“He’s obviously been with us for 12 months already on the British GT side, so there’s not so much adjustment required in that respect, and whilst there are clearly significant differences between the rear wheel-drive Supra and the front wheel-drive Corolla, the more seat time he gets, the more his confidence will grow and the more his confidence grows, the faster he will be. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Sam will spring some surprises this year.”

Kent-based Team HARD. Racing completed the first shakedown of its CUPRA Leons at Brands Hatch earlier this week, with all four drivers enjoying a maiden run in the newly built machines. 

It was a hugely proud moment for Tony Gilham’s squad, having only announced the build programme in September last year, and recently unveiling the cars exclusively via Kwik Fit’s Facebook page. 

Hear what all four of our CUPRA drivers had to say about their first day of testing in the team’s new cars: 

Nicolas Hamilton: “Today was a very big day for the team and a huge day for me getting in my new car for the first time. I would say it was a little bit frustrating today like it has been with every new car that I’ve jumped into. I always have to fiddle with different modifications and the seat. When you do a seat fit and you’re sitting in a car that’s not moving, you feel good and comfortable. Then, when you get out on track and you’re going through all the motions and G-forces, you may notice some changes in comfort and my legs were affected quite a lot. Due to that, we had to make a number of changes to the car such as moving the seat and the peddles further back which was a bit of a pain.  

“I would say from the 15 to 20 laps that I did in the middle of the day that the car was amazing. It felt so different to the VW, it's just a bit of a shame that it always takes time for my legs to feel comfortable. 

“It’s back to the drawing board I would say for a few modifications and my seat fitting, but next time we’re out I should be comfortable and ready to go. From the team’s point of view, they’ve done a fantastic job. The car ran faultlessly with only a minor power steering issue which is going to happen on a shakedown. The car felt great and hopefully we will get to the bottom of this seat issue, which is mainly down to my condition, and we’ll go from there. All in all, I’m very happy with the team and the car!” 

Jack Goff: “It’s the end of my first ever day in the brand new CUPRA Leon and it was really positive. Obviously, it was meant to be a bit of an extended shakedown, but it turned out to be a full testing programme in the afternoon. Testament to the boys and girls at Team HARD., they’ve built a car that was reliable straight out of the back of the truck. It is a huge positive to tick off that reliability factor straight away.  

"There are a few bits I need to change to suit me inside the car, but it ran faultlessly all day so that’s a massive tick. We worked through a few set-up changes in the afternoon and ended the day somewhere near so that’s another positive. It’s looking really good and hopefully we can keep progressing. This team has come a long way since I returned in 2019 and I can’t wait to see what the 2021 season brings.”  

Glynn Geddie: “Today was a good day. We really wanted to just use it to get the cars running and to get used to them and we ended up getting a little bit of testing in there as well which was beneficial. Credit to the guys at Team HARD., the car ran seamlessly. 

“I think the real test will be when there are all four cars on the track, and we can collect the data from everybody and try a lot of different things to maximise performance. The car was responsive to the changes we made which is positive and I’m looking forward to getting out again next time."

Aron Taylor-Smith: “Today was really exciting. Day 1 of testing is always more of a shakedown where we see if the cars run properly. Even to finish with areas to work on around set-up is a very good place to be. To me, we are not a million miles away already. The chassis feels good and there are only one or two easy improvements to make. I know it will be a very quick piece of kit. 

“It feels weird being back in the BTCC but I’ve settled in really quickly. I did think it would take me a few more days and to already be on the pace is good. Just getting back into a touring car is really nice, I love driving them because they’re on the edge everywhere and it just feels good.” 

With initial mileage on the clock, the team will now continue with its test programme ahead of the opening rounds of the 2021 BTCC season at Thruxton on 8/9 May – LIVE on ITV4. 

Ahead of the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, the official website is launching a new and regular 'Ask Alan' feature, whereby fans get to quiz BTCC Chief Executive Alan Gow.  
 
What used to be a popular format on the old BTCC Fan Forum pages will now be moving to the official website and social media channels, as the previous forum platform comes to its conclusion in April. 
 
“The forum has really played its part, particularly in the early days of the BTCC’s presence online, but we’re pleased to be moving this popular feature across,” said Simon Melluish, BTCC Media Manager. “Providing the opportunity for fans to ask questions and get answers from our Chief Executive is a level of access that we look forward to developing further via the BTCC website and social channels.” 
 
Using the form below, fans can send in their 'Ask Alan' questions on all things BTCC-related. Each month those questions and answers will then be published on the Official BTCC website. 

A sunny and mild day greeted MB Motorsport at Brands Hatch in Kent, where team-mates Jake Hill and Ollie Jackson completed over 70 trouble-free laps as part of their preparation for the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

Hill took the wheel of his newly-built Ford Focus ST for the first time on Tuesday, 23 March, undertaking a thorough programme of set-up changes and declaring himself 'hugely impressed' with the design and build of the car.

"After my run shaking the car down I felt really confident in the chassis,” said Hill. “I was down to a really good time within about five laps and have gained a really good understanding of the car and its characteristics so quickly.

"The team has done a fantastic job over the winter and there's a really positive feeling throughout the squad. I am delighted to be working with Ollie as a team-mate too – he's a great guy and we've really hit it off on the right foot."

Working through several set-up changes, the 27-year-old and his engineer, Craig Porley, made back-to-back comparisons with the 2020 Focus and Hill's 2020 Civic Type R, allowing them to draw several clear conclusions as they progressed through the day.

"We knew in theory what should work, and were really fortunate to have a mild, dry day and relatively little traffic on track, so we were able to get plenty of work done,” said Porley. “It means when we head to Croft in a couple of weeks, we can maximise the time there, at a very different type of circuit. Overall we are really satisfied with the day, and Jake was flying from the outset which of course was hugely pleasing.”

Joining Hill and Jackson was Hill's 2020 team-mate, Sam Osborne, who continued to impress with a number of very strong runs, meaning all three Ford Focus ST drivers concluded the day within a few hundredths of a second of each other.

"Massive thanks to all the guys at MB Motorsport and Motorbase for doing such an incredible job on the car,” concluded Hill. “My lead mechanic Ben [Tyler] has led the build of the car from the ground-up, and I’ve had no issues, which highlights how good the job is. I absolutely love the car and feel very confident already we will have a very potent machine.

"We're so looking forward to getting started, especially as we should have fans and guests at events from Snetterton in June, so it will be amazing to see – and hear – the incredible BTCC 'Tifosi' back with us again. And hopefully, more podiums for them to cheer about!”

Hill and the team will now be concentrating on more track-time at Croft in April, with further outings planned ahead of the 2021 BTCC Season Launch at Silverstone on 22 April and the opening race weekend at Thruxton, Hampshire, on 8/9 May.

Daniel Lloyd clocked up his first kilometres of 2021 on Leicestershire’s historic Donington Park circuit yesterday (23 March) as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship driver kicked off his pre-season test programme with Power Maxed Car Care Racing.

Taking to the tarmac in the Vauxhall Astra for the first time since announcing a campaign with the Warwickshire-based squad, the 29-year-old joined team-mate, Jason Plato, for a full day of running in preparation for the series’ opening round at Thruxton on 8/9 May.

“It was great to get back on track and to meet the team,” commented Lloyd. “Being an open test day, the circuit was incredibly busy and we had to work around quite a few reds flags, but we managed to get some decent mileage under our belts.

“This is the first time that I’ve managed to have a full pre-season testing programme in place ahead of starting a full season. It’s a real bonus to have the time and opportunity to get to grips with the car before we go racing.

“The day was really beneficial. It was busy as we had a lot of ground to cover, experimenting with different set-ups and components on the Astra. Although I’ve come from a front-wheel-drive car, the NGTC Astra is a very different animal compared to the TCR machines. It’s much more of a handful.”

Reflecting on the day, the Huddersfield-racer concluded, “overall, it was a very successful day. We found some promising pace. The team made me feel welcome. Jason was really positive and open with his feedback and I left the track feeling comfortable and dialled into the car.”

Lloyd and the Power Maxed Car Care Racing team head to North Yorkshire in April, with Croft circuit playing host to the outfit’s next pre-season test day. The 2021 season gets underway at Thruxton on 8-9 May, just over two weeks after Silverstone hosts the Season Launch official pre-season test.

With just over six weeks remaining before the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship roars into action at Hampshire’s Thruxton circuit, teams are well in the throes of testing, with myriad cars hitting the track over the next seven days.

Brands Hatch is playing host to a number of teams today and tomorrow (Tuesday/Wednesday), with the BMWs of Ciceley Motorsport and West Surrey Racing hitting the track alongside Motorbase Performance, MB Motorsport and Team HARD.

"I’m looking forward to getting back out on track. It’s always surprising how fast and challenging the car can feel on the first morning back, but you soon get back in the groove after some decent seat time!

"We have a detailed test schedule in place to hopefully find some gains with the car, so I’m looking forward to getting back in my happy place."

Colin Turkington, Team BMW

Speedworks Motorsport and Power Maxed Racing are also out today, as the Toyota Corollas and Vauxhall Astras undertake pre-season testing at Donington Park.

“This will be the first time I’ll be heading into the championship with some pre-season testing under my belt. I’ve always been thrown in at the deep end a little bit, so I can’t wait to get stuck into the programme.”

Dan Lloyd, Power Maxed Car Care Racing

Continuing an extensive week of testing, Cheshire-based squad Speedworks Motorsport will be at Norfolk’s Snetterton circuit later this week for a further two days before heading to Brands Hatch next Monday.

"We’re going to be trying to get as many test days in as possible. It’s a brand new chassis that I’m driving, which had been built by custom cages and we begin testing at Donington.

"Then we get a couple of days at Snetterton, we’re going to do Croft, Knockhill and we’ll also be at Silverstone for Season Launch. We’re getting most of the tracks in, in just a short space of time and I’ll be getting to know the Toyota pretty well.”

Rory Butcher, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK

As the countdown reaches less than one month until the official pre-season test at Silverstone, teams will be ensuring no stone remains unturned to make sure they’re at the sharp end come the season opener on 8/9 May.

The wraps have officially come off Toyota Gazoo Racing UK’s 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship contender, sporting a livery reminiscent of the brand’s ultra-successful, multiple World Championship-winning FIA WEC and WRC models as the Speedworks Motorsport-run squad targets title glory in the country’s premier motor racing series.

After achieving impressive results with a single-car effort since 2014 – recording 16 race wins, 41 podium finishes and back-to-back Independent Drivers’ and Teams’ crowns – the forthcoming campaign marks Speedworks’ expansion to two cars for the first time in eight years.

Former BTCC Independents’ Champion Rory Butcher and series returnee Sam Smelt will pilot the Northwich, Cheshire-based outfit’s brace of Motul-backed Toyota Corollas, which will take to the track to begin Toyota Gazoo Racing UK’s pre-season testing programme later this week, starting at Donington Park before moving on to Snetterton and Brands Hatch.

The action will then get underway in earnest on 8/9 May at super-fast Thruxton – scene of a superb double victory for the British-built Corolla last September. Every race will be televised live and in high-definition on ITV4.

Rory Butcher, Driver, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, said:

“I think the new livery is amazing! It’s typically Toyota, and it looks so cool with the red and black lines against a white background – it’s unmistakably a member of the Toyota Gazoo Racing family. It will definitely stand out on the BTCC grid, and I’m so excited to be carrying such iconic colours this year.

“I’ve got to say, I’ve settled into the team very well. All the guys and girls have made me feel extremely welcome from the outset, and everybody is so focussed on the objective of fighting for the championship, pushing hard in every single area to ensure we really maximise our performance.

“I’ve been getting to know the mechanics and my new engineer Paul Ridgway, who has been involved in the BTCC for a long time and arrives with an excellent reputation. My brother-in-law Gordon Shedden – who worked with Paul a couple of years ago – gave him a ringing endorsement too, so I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together.

“The whole vibe right now is hugely positive, and I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to the first test at Donington Park. I’ve been counting down the days ever since I signed up, and having raced closely against the Corolla over the past couple of years, I can’t wait to climb behind the wheel for myself and discover what all the buzz is about!”

Sam Smelt, Driver, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, said:

“I was at the team workshop when they were just starting the wrapping process, so it’s fantastic to now see the Corolla up close in the flesh with my name on the side. I think it looks really striking and reinforces the team’s ties with Toyota Gazoo Racing, a brand that has become synonymous with success in recent years. That’s a really powerful association and great motivation for all of us.

“After testing the Corolla for the first time towards the end of last year on a wet and greasy day at Snetterton, I’m looking forward to hopefully benefitting from some proper running over the next few days and really familiarising myself with the car. I’m excited about getting into the groove and back into ‘touring car mode’ following a couple of years away – it feels a bit more real with every passing day.

“The start of the campaign is now less than seven weeks off and it’s coming around fast. I’ve not been to Thruxton since 2018, but it’s a great place to begin the season and obviously the Corolla was super-strong there last year, so I think it’s fair to say the whole team will return with a great deal of optimism and ready to fight up at the sharp end. ”

Christian Dick, Team Principal, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, added:

“We’re delighted to show off the Corolla’s ‘new clothes’ for 2021! Since first gaining official BTCC ‘Manufacturer’ status two years ago, we’ve worked hard to foster ever-closer relations with Toyota Gazoo Racing and to now see not just one but two Speedworks-built touring cars in the brand’s signature red, black and white colour scheme is a very special moment indeed. I must also pay tribute to Motul and [official UK importer and distributor] Witham Motorsport for their ongoing support in stepping up to the role of Primary Partner this season.

“I have no doubt that the cars will look even better at speed, and we are all excited to go testing this week to try out everything we’ve been working on back at base over the winter months. We are quietly confident of taking another step forward with the Corolla this year, and once the action gets underway, we look forward to seeing the Toyota Gazoo Racing colours where they belong – right at the front of the pack.”

British racing driver Nic Hamilton has today (19 March) been confirmed as the final driver on the upcoming Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship grid, completing Team HARD. Racing’s new-for-2021 Cupra Leon line-up.

Remaining with the team in which he achieved his best qualifying position and first points paying finish, in a Volkswagen CC in 2020, there’s great excitement for what a second consecutive campaign with the squad will bring, as Hamilton remains at the wheel of a ROKiT Phones and ABK Beer sponsored car this season.

The team has been working hard to build the brand-new quartet of Cupra Leons for the upcoming season, including Hamilton’s adapted machine, which allows him to compete with cerebral palsy. With the newest cars on the BTCC grid, the team will be aiming to move up the order in 2021.

“I am enormously proud to be back on the BTCC grid this year,” proclaimed Hamilton. “A lot of hard work and physical conditioning ensures I can participate in the sport and I am grateful to ROKiT Phones, ABK Beer and my other partners for their continued support and belief in me. Having accomplished some great personal results last year, in what was a difficult car to drive, I cannot wait to get behind the wheel of our new Cupra Leon and start a new chapter with Team HARD.

“Team HARD has made a huge decision to invest in the new car programme and I’m thankful for the decision to welcome me into their fold again. I really believe we can achieve some great results and memorable moments together this season. There’s a lot to look forward to.”

“It’s great that Nic has chosen to remain with the team for 2021,” added the squad’s Managing Director, Tony Gilham. “He was a fantastic asset last season, and his determination was rewarded with this best qualifying position and first BTCC points finish at Brands Hatch. These results only add to our optimism about what we can achieve together this year in our all new Cupra Leons.

“We made the decision to replace our trusted Volkswagen CCs midway through the season in 2020 in favour of the then to be released Cupra Leon. The engineers have done a great job to design the car from the ground up and have been working in cohesion with the mechanics who have built the cars. Team morale is high and the signing of Nic has only raised their spirits higher.

“Nic has a wealth of BTCC experience, and his specially adapted car is well into the build process. I look forward to seeing Nic and the car’s development as he continues to work alongside Jack [Goff], Glynn [Geddie] and Aron [Taylor-Smith]. We have a very strong line-up.”

“We are delighted to continue our support for Nic as he pursues his ambitions in BTCC,” said Jonathan Kendrick, Co-Founder & Chairman of the ROKiT Group of Companies. “He’s a tremendous inspiration for so many people and a great Ambassador for ROKiT and, in his new car, I’m confident that we’ll see his talent really shine through this year.”

With just 50 days remaining until Thruxton’s season opener, Hamilton and his new ROKiT stealth liveried Cupra will be heading out on track next week as his pre-season test programme gets underway.