Standout BTCC rookie switches to Toyota Corolla for sophomore campaign

Andrew Watson – one of the standout stars of the 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – has joined TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK for his sophomore season in the country’s premier motor racing series.

Watson arrived in the BTCC last year off the back of a successful career in international sportscar competition – including stints in the FIA World Endurance Championship, British GT Championship, Blancpain GT Series and a brace of top six finishes in-class in the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours.

He might have been making his debut in both touring cars and front wheel-drive machinery, but the former Aston Martin Racing ‘Junior’ wasted no time at all in making his mark. Showcasing his versatile skillset – not to mention his scintillating raw speed – Watson qualified an excellent ninth for the curtain-raising contest at Donington Park in the high-calibre, 27-strong field, going on to convert that into a fourth-place finish, a whisker shy of a sensational podium first time out.

Possessing a particularly deft touch in inclement conditions, he proceeded to reach the rostrum twice later in the season – at Knockhill and Silverstone – and tallied 15 points-scoring finishes in total from 30 starts.

A member of the MBP talent management stable – founded by former Formula 1 driver, Mark Blundell – the 29-year-old Northern Irishman complemented that impressive set of results with a trio of victories in the Independents’ Championship, in which he wound up fourth overall. He simultaneously achieved no fewer than ten wins in the Jack Sears Trophy – open to drivers without a podium to their name prior to the beginning of the campaign – to clinch that particular crown.

In his efforts to build upon that promising start, Watson has now joined forces with the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK manufacturer outfit – run by Northwich, Cheshire-based Speedworks Motorsport – to pilot one of its pair of potent Toyota Corolla GR Sport hatchbacks in 2024.

The team’s second driver will be announced in the coming weeks. Racing will get underway at Donington Park on 27/28 April – home soil for the British-built Corolla, whose road-going cousins are produced at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) just up the road in Burnaston. All of the action season-long will be broadcast live and in high-definition on ITV channels.

Andrew Watson, Driver, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK, said:

“I’m extremely excited to be joining TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK and Speedworks Motorsport for the 2024 season. They are proven winners in the BTCC with a fantastic track record – and I’m hoping to add to that tally! With a year under my belt, I can go into the season properly acclimatised to the championship and hit the ground running.

“To be associated with one of the world’s leading manufacturers is an amazing opportunity for me, and I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone at Speedworks Motorsport, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK and MBP for all of their support. Having met the team and explored the facilities, there’s no doubt that this is one of the most professional organisations I have worked with, and that fills me with great confidence that we can achieve something special together this year!”

Christian Dick, Team Principal, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK, said:

“It’s a real coup to attract Andrew to the team for 2024. Although he was by no means a rookie in the wider motorsport sense when he joined the BTCC last year, he was very new to both front wheel-drive and the unique style of racing in the series – but right from the start, you would have been hard-pressed to tell, so impressive were his performance, pace and racecraft.

“We also saw that the skills he acquired earlier in his career enable him to adapt very quickly to any given situation – a key attribute in the unpredictable world of the BTCC. He is an extremely accomplished racer and clearly a very special talent who looks destined for great things in the championship. We can’t wait to get going!”

Mark Blundell, CEO, MBP, said:

“Andrew had an extremely promising debut season in the BTCC, winning the Jack Sears Trophy and showing that he has the talent to consistently fight at the front of the grid – despite it being his rookie campaign. Now moving to TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK and Speedworks Motorsport, he has a fantastic platform to kick on and achieve even more in the championship!”

BRANDS HATCH, CROFT AND DONINGTON PARK TO HOST PRE-SEASON ACTION

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship has today (6 February) announced its official 2024 Season Launch venue and date, as well as a total of three official test days prior to the competitive campaign kicking off in late April.

The on-track action will get underway with the first test day at Brands Hatch on 3 April, before the cars and stars of the BTCC move on to Croft in North Yorkshire on 10 April. Both venues will be offering FREE ENTRY to spectators with refreshments also available throughout the day.

The 2024 BTCC Season Launch will then take place at Donington Park on 16 April. Again, FREE ENTRY will be available for all spectators wishing to attend, with the fantastic Garage 39 being open for refreshments.

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.

Some off-circuit media duties will take place at Donington Park the day prior (15 April) where the likes of ITV Sport, BTCC Media Team, Kwik Fit and other official partners will be putting the drivers to work with their official pre-season media-related activities and interviews.

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

Media Accreditation is now open, for both the official Season Launch test day and for BTCC Season Media Passes. Interested parties should email Simon Melluish (BTCC Media Director) at simon@smsportsmedia.com under the title ‘Media Accreditation’. The application process for both will be strictly closed on Thursday 28 March.

BTCC 2024 Pre-Season Test Dates

3 April                         Brands Hatch (Indy)
10 April                       Croft
16 April                       Donington Park (National)

We caught up with Power Maxed Racing’s Adam Weaver earlier this week as the Team Principal looked back at an impressive 2023 season for the outfit and ahead to the upcoming BTCC campaign.

PMR enjoyed a memorable season with Mikey Doble and Andrew Watson duelling it out for the Jack Sears Trophy, whilst fans’ favourite Aron Taylor-Smith made a welcome return to the overall podium.

The good news for the team continued with Doble and Taylor-Smith being retained for 2024 – their early signatures providing important consistency and experience for the squad – and now Weaver is looking to complete his line-up for the season ahead.

Click below to listen to the full exclusive interview…

Despite being a new team with Restart Racing there is a familiar face returning to the championship in Chris Smiley, who returns to the BTCC after two seasons away.

“It feels like we're back to finish off a little bit of unfinished business,” said Smiley.

The team will take over two Cupra Leon cars previously run by Team HARD, a car that Smiley believes has more potential to unlock.

“It showed flashes of pace at points last year. I think it lacked a little bit of consistency, but we can sort of sharpen up the areas where we think it's lacking in.

“It's obviously going to take me probably a little bit of time to adapt to the hybrid and just fully get back into the BTCC game.”

The return to the championship has left Smiley optimistic for the 2024 season, but he’s fully aware that the level of competition is of an extremely high standard.

“I'm not stupid. I'm under no illusion of how tough this championship is. I think if we can get ourselves a good little bit of pre-season testing, get ourselves with a setup that we think is somewhere good to start from, that will give us a platform to build on.

“Obviously, the top ten is where you have to be aiming for. It's all about consistency. It's about working with people who you've worked with for a long time, who know what you need to get out of a car.

“I'm very fortunate that Ben and Bert Taylor have stuck with me for the last seven or eight seasons now. They know me inside out and I’m looking forward to it.”

Alongside Smiley is a newcomer to the BTCC in 19-year-old Scott Sumpton.

“For my first time to get out in a car, I really can't wait for that,” said Sumton. Then to be sitting with loads of other British Touring Cars around me, waiting for the lights to go out. I can't wait for that either.”

Despite his young age, Sumpton has already had gained solid TCR experience in both the UK and overseas. 

“I've learned a lot on how to deal with a front-wheel drive, high-horsepower car. I've had a really good time in that. Over in Spain as well, we got two podiums to finish off the season in 2023.

“I think it's set me up really nicely and given me a big boost of confidence to try and go into British Touring Cars and do the best I can.

“I think Jack Sears Trophy, that's what I want to aim for, to be champion of that. Of course, it's not going to be easy – there is a lot of great competition.

“I think if we set ourselves a target and aim for that, then there's no reason why we can't do great things this year.”

The 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship gets underway at Donington Park on 27/28 April, tickets for every event can be purchased here while every qualifying session and race will be broadcast live across the ITV network.

Get to know the BTCC's newest team – Restart Racing

We recently caught up with Jade Edwards to quiz her on all things BTCC.

Including aspects of Edwards' current three-season history within the sport, insights into the last 2023 season and hope for 2024.

Use the link below to watch the full interview on our YouTube channel.

Alternatively the full video can also be found on our Facebook page.

Mikey Doble, 25, ended 2023 as the only non-NAPA Racing UK driver to take pole position. To do so in his rookie season – along with fighting for the Jack Sears Trophy – was certainly no mean feat. The Power Maxed Racing driver reminisces on some highlights on what made 2023 a season that surpassed expectations.

“Coming into your rookie season, you never know quite what to expect.” Doble said. “But I came in with no specific goals other than to just try and hold my own. I didn't want to go out and kind of be off the back or not be able to keep up and give it a proper fight. 

“Obviously the highlight being the pole position at Silverstone, only one of four drivers to do that and the only non-Napa driver in the whole field to score a pole position, that was by far the highlight. 

“We also had other strong runnings with top ten finishes and qualifying fourth at Thruxton. We were solidly in the top ten at Brands Hatch at the finale. There's a lot of positives to take away and I think that we should only be stronger this year.”

The Jack Sears Trophy is a stalwart for drivers of the future with current and four-time champion Ash Sutton being one name to have previously taken the prize. Not only was Doble in contention but team-mate and eventual winner Andrew Watson was also in the fight.

“It was a very captivating battle because we're both from very different racing backgrounds. We're both very new to touring cars and we were sort of the new kids on the block. We had a lot of following from the crowd, which is always nice. 

“It's nice to see PMR back towards the front end again after a couple of years off. It was an interesting battle. We both led the Jack Sears title standings at various points of the season, and it was nip and tuck all the way to the end and that's what makes a good championship.”

In 2023, PMR scored over six times as many points as the team had accrued in 2022, as Doble and the rest of the squad proved they could the mix it at the sharp end of the grid.

“It's a nice position to be in as a rookie because you come into the season perhaps with a car that people aren't expecting any results from. So, you feel like you can only really do good because if you don't do so well, people are like, ‘Well, it's his first season, he's in an older car’.” 

“We've proved that the car is still more than capable, particularly with Árón (Taylor-Smith) and some of the podium finishes he had. We were also outperforming other rookies and other experienced drivers in championship winning cars. There was a lot of good to come from it and I think PMR are firmly back on the map for 2024.”

Doble alone scored more points in 2023 than PMR as a team did in 2022. Along with finishing runner-up in the Jack Sears Trophy he has already been announced, alongside Taylor-Smith, to return to PMR in 2024.

“I'm arguably looking forward to this season more than I was last season. Now I've got a season under my belt, I know what to expect, I've gelled with the team, I know how to work in that sort of environment now whereas I had no experience of that before.

“There's less nerves and more promise. For me, going into the season I want to start strong and pick up where we left off at the end of last year. It's nice to get the announcement done early before Christmas, myself and Árón are both in that same boat. 

“We're just focusing on getting our car developed and improving it going into this year. We've got a little bit of testing planned before the season starts.”

After that strong 2023 campaign, Doble is looking for trophies and championships in 2024.

“Last year I wanted to contend for the Jack Sears Trophy, but this year I definitely want to win it. I think that coming so close last year and arguably having it taken away from me by getting shunted off in one of the races was unfortunate, but it's not all negatives.

“I think I can come into it this year with more confidence that I've got the pace and that I'm a true contender to win it. I'm also going to set my sights on contending for the Independents’ Championship.

“I think that the last couple of rounds we were probably overall the quickest independent runner on the grid. So, with some consistency thrown in throughout the season, there's no reason why we shouldn't challenge for that title as well.”

The 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship gets underway with a trip to Donington Park on the 27/28 April. 

Speedworks to field new two-car entry alongside existing Toyota Gazoo Racing UK effort

Speedworks will run four Toyota Corollas in the country’s premier motor racing series this year – two Toyota Gazoo Racing UK entries, and two under the new LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ satellite banner.

Owned by the LKQ Corporation – a leading provider of recycled and manufactured parts – Euro Car Parts distributes car, LCV and speciality parts throughout the UK, the Republic of Ireland and Europe. Boasting more than 330 branches and a comprehensive stock of over 160,000 different parts, the brand operates in three key markets – trade, retail and collision – while SYNETIQ, an IAA company, is Britain’s foremost integrated vehicle salvage and recycling company, maximising the economic and environmental benefit of every vehicle they receive.

To fans of the BTCC – with some 15 million tuning into ITV’s cutting-edge primetime coverage last season – Cook needs little introduction. A familiar face in the paddock since 2015, the West Country ace has tallied no fewer than 18 victories – making him the 19th ‘winningest’ driver in the championship’s 66-year history – 42 podium finishes, three pole positions and 24 fastest laps. It is an impressive set of statistics by any standards. 

Like Speedworks, Cook has twice lifted the Independents’ laurels in the fiercely-contested series – in 2022 and 2023 – while finishing inside the top six in the overall standings in five of the past six campaigns, placing a career-high third in 2021. The 32-year-old is hoping the move to LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ will prove to be the final piece of the puzzle to kick-start his quest to clinch the biggest prize of all – the coveted Drivers’ crown.

The team’s second driver will be announced in due course. Racing will get underway at popular Leicestershire circuit Donington Park on 27/28 April – home soil for the British-built Corolla GR Sport, whose road-going cousins are produced at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) in nearby Burnaston. All of the action season-long will be broadcast live and in high-definition on ITV channels.

Christian Dick, Team Principal, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ, said:

“All of us here at Speedworks are really pumped to launch LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ alongside our existing Toyota Gazoo Racing UK programme for the upcoming BTCC campaign. Having expanded from two cars to three last year, to now take the next step up to run four Toyota Corollas in the series is tremendously motivating for the entire team and a hugely exciting prospect. It’s a well-proven package, and we know there is still more pace and potential to be extracted from it.

“By the same token, we’re absolutely thrilled to be bringing Josh on-board. Having raced against him since 2015, we know just how tough a competitor he is. He’s quick, switched-on and a first-class racer, and the kind of driver who is capable of extracting a result out of any given situation. He’s been a leading contender for the past six years and is very much ready to put together a proper championship push. Hopefully we can help him to achieve that.”

Josh Cook, Driver, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ, said:

“I’m delighted to be joining Speedworks to compete for LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ in the BTCC in 2024. After sharing the paddock with them in recent years, it has been clear to see how professional and dedicated Christian [Dick] and the entire team are. The Toyota Corolla will be a new challenge for me, and one I’m very much looking forward to getting to grips with during the forthcoming campaign.”

Colin Cottrell, Trade B2B and Marketing Director, LKQ Euro Car Parts, said:

“We’re excited to be continuing our support for the BTCC alongside our new partner SYNETIQ for the 2024 campaign, and to carry on working closely with Josh. We’ve witnessed his success first-hand and are looking forward to seeing him in action as part of LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ and Speedworks this year. Best of luck to Josh and the whole team.”

Tom Rumboll, UK Managing Director for IAA and CEO of SYNETIQ, said:

“We’re thrilled that Josh is joining the LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ team. Many of our colleagues and customers are huge motorsport fans, so this is a particularly proud moment for us all. We’re looking forward to following the season and wish Josh – and his future team-mates – the best of luck.”

Chris Smiley and Scott Sumpton will be on the #BTCC grid this season with new entry Restart Racing.

The BTCC Media Team caught up with them both recently and here's what they had to say...

Former Champion Tom Ingram is fully focussed on trying to take back the Drivers’ title this year as the 2024 BTCC season fast approaches.

“It will come around soon enough and we’re looking forward to trying to take it back from Ash (Sutton),” enthused Ingram.

Whilst the EXCELR8 Motorsport driver line-up is yet to be confirmed for 2024, the 30-year-old has had time to reflect on his and the team’s title defence last season.

“I don’t think Ash was that dominant last year,” he continued. “I don’t necessarily think it was like Formula One with Max Verstappen and Red Bull… that was dominant. 

“Ash was just a little bit quicker at some places and if you look at it over the course of the year, take away our bad event at Knockhill, we could have taken them down to the wire. That would’ve changed the course of the season with a car that we also know wasn’t quite right.

“So, I’m encouraged that we were able to challenge all the way through the year – we were probably the only ones that we were able to stay very close to him, which is great, and means the improvements that we’ve got planned will help us to come back really strong for this season, we can fight.”

Whilst the grid for the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship continues to take shape, Ingram only has eyes on his own preparations for the season ahead.

“Ultimately, we’re focusing on our own game, what everyone else does is, is none of my business in the nicest possible way,” concluded the 2022 champ. “So, as long as we keep our heads down and focus on what we need to do and what we are doing… we’ve got a big year ahead of us trying to snatch back the title.

“The package last season was a good one. It was consistent as well. There are some changes coming – big changes and subtle changes – so it’s going to be nice to see how those unfold. 

“A lot of the changes will be based off facts and figures that we saw in 2023 – what worked and what didn’t work – we never really had enough chance to test a lot of those items. 

“We’re still actively pushing for improvements – we’re not just settling for what has worked in the past, so yeah it’s exciting.”

The 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship gets underway at Donington Park on 27/28 April, tickets for every event can be purchased here while every qualifying session and race will be broadcast live across the ITV network.

The fifth episode of 'On the Limit|Season 4' dropped on Tuesday (23 January), marking the halfway stage of Kwik Fit's latest season of the popular BTCC behind-the-scenes documentary.

If you haven't caught up with the action so far then fear not, as we've got you covered with all the latest episodes right here!

The Prologue and Episodes 1-5 are available below and make sure you keep an eye out for Episode 6 on Kwik Fit and the BTCC's social channels this coming Friday.

Prologue

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 5