Daniel Rowbottom will continue to fly the flag for NAPA Racing UK in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship after extending his stay with the team for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
“I’m fit, I’m healthy and I’m ready to win this championship,” said Rowbottom. “Last year we just didn’t get the results the team's efforts deserved, but I know how hard we’ve all been working to ensure we can deliver in 2025.
“As many of you know I had some major heart surgery over the winter, thank you to all the fans who reached out and showed support, I really appreciate that. It has at times been overwhelming, the BTCC supporters are truly something else.
“To have NAPA Racing UK around me, along with some incredible sponsors, means that I’m confident we can be challenging at the front of the grid this year. See you all at Donington Park.”
Rowbottom first joined the BTCC grid back in 2019 and, after a year out in 2020 as a result of the pandemic, made his return in 2021 at the wheel of a Team Dynamics-run Honda Civic.
A successful two-year stint that included a maiden win at Oulton Park was the precursor to Rowbottom joining forces with NAPA Racing UK in 2023.
The move to the Alliance Racing-run squad and the Ford Focus ST saw the 36-year-old kick off in fine style when he scored pole position on his debut with the team at Donington Park.
A consistent presence inside the top ten throughout the year, Rowbottom raced to a fine victory at Thruxton – on a weekend when NAPA Racing UK secured a hat-trick of victories – and he bagged four further podium finishes as he secured seventh in the overall Drivers’ standings.
Rowbottom’s on-track performances also contributed to the team securing the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ title for the first time, ending a run of success for BMW that had stretched back to 2016.
Returning to the team in 2024, Rowbottom picked up a further two podium finishes in another solid campaign. Rowbottom would also play an important role in helping NAPA Racing UK wrap up the Teams’ Championship for a third successive season.
“We're delighted that Dan has committed to NAPA Racing UK for a further two years,” said Steve Richardson, Managing Director, Alliance Automotive Group.
“Since Dan joined the team, he has proven to be a great ambassador on and off the track for NAPA and coming from a family workshop background, really understands what we're trying to achieve. Time and time again, he has proven he has the speed to race at the front and has been an essential team player in our on-track success.”
The off-season has been somewhat different for the popular Midlander, undergoing planned heart surgery. However, Dan has been working hard during a winter of rehab to ensure he is fully recovered and ready for the season ahead.
“Following two seasons inside the NAPA Racing UK/Alliance family we are delighted that Dan has resigned for another two years,” said Pete Osborne, Team Owner, NAPA Racing UK/Alliance Racing.
“Dan has demonstrated that he is a team player who also has a burning desire to succeed in BTCC. We know he will hit the ground running in 2025 and beyond.”
Embarking on his sixth season in Britain’s premier motorsport series, Dan is set for another highly competitive season. His sights are firmly set on challenging for the most illustrious prize in British motorsport, the BTCC Drivers title.
Alongside his personal goals, Dan will join his team-mates in defending NAPA Racing UK’s Teams’ Championship for a fourth successive year as well as battling to recapture the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ title.
