Restart Racing has confirmed that reigning BTCC Independent Drivers’ Champion Dan Lloyd will return to the team for the remainder of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season, replacing James Dorlin from this weekend’s event at Donington Park GP (22/23 August).
The change follows confirmation that Dorlin will step away from Restart Racing after six events with the team in 2026. He joined the squad at the beginning of the campaign alongside Chris Smiley and enjoyed Jack Sears Trophy success at Brands Hatch, before producing his strongest weekend of the season at Thruxton with three top-ten finishes, two Independents’ victories and another Jack Sears Trophy win.
Lloyd will now return to the wheel of a Hyundai i30 N Fastback, reuniting with Smiley and a team he knows extremely well after playing a central role in Restart Racing’s breakthrough 2025 season. He claimed the squad’s first outright BTCC victory with a memorable win at Silverstone before going on to secure the Independent Drivers’ Championship.
Together with Smiley, Lloyd also helped Restart Racing claim the Independent Teams’ Championship, completing a landmark campaign for the squad in only its second year of BTCC competition.
Although Lloyd stepped away from competing in the championship at the end of 2025, he has remained closely involved with Restart Racing throughout this season in an advisory role on race weekends.
Pete Jones, Team Principal of Restart Racing, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have Dan back in the car. He knows the team, he knows the car and we know exactly what he is capable of. What we achieved together last year was incredibly special, so having the reigning Independent Champion back behind the wheel feels like a great fit for us.
“Dan has remained a big part of the team this year and has been with us at race weekends in an advisory role, so he has stayed very close to what we are doing and how the car has developed.
“He also has a brilliant relationship with everyone in the team and with Chris, which means he can come straight back in and get on with the job.
“We still have a lot we want to achieve this season and there are plenty of opportunities ahead of us. Bringing Dan back gives us a proven race winner who knows how to get the very best out of this car, and I think everyone in the team is excited to see what we can do together over the remaining rounds.”
Dan Lloyd said: “First of all, I want to say that I know this is a difficult situation for James. I’ve been in that position myself before in my career and I know how tough it can be. He’s a very talented driver and a great guy, and I genuinely wish him all the best for whatever comes next.
“From my side, I’m absolutely buzzing to be coming back. Restart Racing feels like home to me and what we achieved together last year was something I’ll never forget. To win the team’s first outright BTCC race and then finish the year as Independent Champion was incredibly special.
“I’ve stayed really close to the team this season, working with everyone at the race weekends, so I’ve never really felt like I’ve been away from it. That makes coming back into the car feel very natural.
“I know the Hyundai, I know the team, and I know how hard everyone works behind the scenes. I’m coming back hungry, I want to enjoy it and, most importantly, I want to help the team finish the season as strongly as we possibly can.
“I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel at Donington.”
Lloyd returns to BTCC action at Donington Park GP (22/23 August) as the championship enters its final four events of the 2026 campaign.
