Team VERTU can today confirm that Noah Young will form part of its driver line-up for the 2027 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season, with the teenager set to make series history as the youngest person to ever contest a full season.
Noah will make his debut at Donington Park in April aged just 16 years and 11 months old, with no other driver having started a full season at a younger age.
Ironically, the youngest driver to have previously committed to a full season is former Team VERTU driver Tom Chilton, who debuted at the age of 17 back in 2002 and brought the curtain down on his professional racing career during the recent Brands Hatch season finale.
The deal that sees Noah join the BTCC grid comes on the back of two seasons competing in the Ginetta Junior Championship, which marked his first foray into real-world racing after showcasing his skills in eSports - where he is currently one of the highest-ranked drivers in the iRacing community.
During his rookie season in the Ginetta series, Noah scored seven wins in the Freshman class - for drivers new to motorsport and with no karting background - before going on to secure his first overall podium finish in the 2025 Ginetta Junior Winter Series.
Returning to the series for a second year in 2026, Noah scored a best finish of fourth overall and took twelfth in the standings as the best-placed racer for the Performance One team.
Noah will take his place on the grid alongside two-time BTCC champion Tom Ingram, who has held the role of driver coach for the youngster over the past season.
Prior to starting work with Ingram, Noah was also coached by BTCC podium finisher Bobby Thompson, with both drivers having been impressed by his raw talent and his desire to learn.
Noah’s deal with the team not only covers the 2027 season, but also 2028, with his Rookie campaign being viewed as a season in which he can learn the ropes before seeking to move further up the grid in year two.
Having sampled the Hyundai for the first time in testing at Donington Park, a number of additional outings are planned prior to Christmas before Noah embarks on further testing in the New Year.
Noah Young #95 Team VERTU Hyundai i30 Fastback N, said:
“Ginetta Juniors has been a brilliant place for me to learn over the last two seasons, with close racing and battles for the podium positions from the first lap of a race to the last.
"I have been able to learn a huge amount about racing in a series that is hard but fair, and now I have an unbelievable opportunity to make the move into the most high-profile series in UK motorsport with one of the very best teams on the grid.
“I’m under no illusions that this is a big step up for me and that there are going to be plenty of challenges ahead, but I’m ready to tackle them head on and I cannot wait. Getting behind the wheel of the car for the first time at Donington was an amazing experience in itself, and it promises to be a busy winter preparing for my first race in the spring.
“I have to say a huge thank you to EXCELR8 and Team VERTU for backing me to make this move, and to CarMats.co.uk and the rest of my sponsors for getting me onto the grid.”
Tom Ingram, #80 Team VERTU Hyundai i30 Fastback N, said:
“Noah is a young driver who asks the right questions and takes everything you say onboard, and I’ve really enjoyed working with him this year.
"Racing in the BTCC is a big step up for him as the action is relentless and there is nowhere to hide, but I have no concerns about him joining the grid despite his young age.
“He’s got the race craft, he has a mature head on young shoulders, and I’m sure he will fit in well with the team. I'm looking forward to having him alongside us in the garage.”
Bobby Thompson, BTCC podium finisher and former Jack Sears Trophy Champion, said:
“Having coached Noah through his rookie season at Performance One, I’ve seen first-hand the talent, determination and professionalism he brings to his racing.
“He’s developed enormously since those early days, and although the BTCC is a big step up, I have no doubt he’ll embrace it, learn quickly, and keep showing the qualities that have taken him this far.”
Justina Williams, EXCELR8 Team Owner, said:
“We’re delighted to announce that Noah will be part of our driver line-up not only for the 2027 season, but also for 2028 as part of a multi-year deal, which is a reflection of the promise we see in him.
“Despite being a relative late starter to racing having not taken the traditional route through karting, Noah has shown his potential during his time in the Ginetta Junior Championship. When drivers like Bobby Thompson and Tom Ingram speak so highly of a youngster, you know they are someone who is capable of making it to the very top.
“The Donington Park test was a good opportunity for Noah to get a taste of the Hyundai and to start working with the team ahead of a full winter programme designed to ensure he is fully prepared for his debut season.
“Although he will be the youngest driver to ever undertake a full programme in the series, we’re confident he can make a real impression and will be one to watch when we arrive at Donington Park in April."
