Multiple race winner Daniel Rowbottom will commence a new chapter in his Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship career this year after joining debutant team Plato Racing for the eagerly-awaited 2026 season.
In headline-grabbing news, Rowbottom will spearhead the new squad – figureheaded by Jason Plato, two-time champion and winner of 97 BTCC races – driving a Mercedes-AMG A35 Saloon designed and built by renowned engineering outfit RML.
Joining Rowbottom at Plato Racing are long-term backers Cataclean, a brand firmly established across the UK's automotive aftermarket sector, developing and manufacturing its fuel and exhaust system cleaner since 1995.
Cataclean and Rowbottom have enjoyed considerable success over the years, both on-track and through their business relationship, which has enabled partnerships such as Kwik Fit to be forged as a direct result of competing in the BTCC.
The 36-year-old debuted in the UK's premier motorsport series in 2019, and after switching to Team Dynamics, he made his mark in 2021, claiming a maiden pole position, podium and race win on his way to dominating the coveted Jack Sears Trophy.
After further success the following year, the Worcestershire racer moved to Alliance Racing in 2023, where he doubled both his career wins and podium tallies in a single season.
Playing a valuable role in helping the outfit claim consecutive Teams' Championship titles the following season, Rowbottom underwent major heart surgery just over a year ago before returning to the grid to enjoy his best season to-date in 2025.
With three wins and five further podium finishes on his way to a career-best fifth in the Drivers' Championship, Rowbottom is now poised to embark on an exciting new challenge at Plato Racing.
Playing an integral role in the launch of the new team, Rowbottom is relishing the prospect of driving the team forward on-track this season and establishing himself as a championship challenger in the A35 Saloon.
Daniel Rowbottom, Plato Racing, said: "This is without doubt the biggest move of my career so far. To be a partner with Jason at Plato Racing is a pretty special feeling and something that 10-year-old me would have never believed could be possible.
"The deal has been in the works for a while and as you would expect with Jason being involved, everything is being done properly and to the highest of levels. Being aligned with the team gives Cataclean much tighter control of our destiny and being able to maximise future opportunities.
"We've recruited some big names and the work that is going on back at base is pretty incredible; I'm confident that we've got something special with the Mercedes. For me personally, I'm really excited to be stepping into that role of leading a team and driving it forward too.
"Last season was my best yet in the BTCC and the target now is to build on that. I want to be BTCC Champion one day and believe this is the place where I can do just that. We've got a big year ahead of us but I believe we'll be mixing it for wins and podiums from the get-go."
Jason Plato, Plato Racing Team Owner, said: "We are all very excited to have Dan and Cataclean as a part of Plato Racing for 2026 and beyond.
"On a personal level I'm very proud to have Dan in one of our race cars; the journey he has been on, to come through open heart surgery at the end of the 2024 season is remarkable. His performances last year were the best they have ever been and his focus and determination is second to none. We're all expecting great things from Dan.
"It's also fantastic to have the backing from Cataclean. They are a fantastic company who understand how to leverage this investment in the BTCC; we're all working hard to further expand their growth in the automotive sector.
"I'm confident that Plato Racing, with Dan and Cataclean on board, will be a true force in the BTCC this coming season."
Plato Racing will announce Rowbottom's team-mate in due course.
Donington Park plays host to the opening round of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season on April 18/19.
