WSR anticipate raucous local support this weekend for local driver Lewis Gilbert as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship ventures north of the border for its annual Scottish event at Knockhill.
The triple-header race weekend at the Fife circuit marks the beginning of the second half of the season for the UK’s most popular racing series and gives the 18-time champions a great opportunity to add to their two wins so far in 2026.
Scottish rookie Gilbert, who is joined by team-mates Charles Rainford and Dary De Leon, is excited for what is only his second BTCC event; the Dalry, North Ayrshire, driver having switched to touring cars from single-seaters less than a month ago.
The 22-year-old came close to scoring points on his BTCC debut last time out at Thruxton and is eager to make good on his promise in front of his home crowd aboard his BMW 330i M Sport.
Team-mates Rainford and De Leon are both eager to return to the podium after enduring frustrating weekends at Thruxton last time out.
The former has won twice in 2026 aboard his BMW 330i M Sport – those victories coming at Snetterton and Oulton Park ahead of the summer break – and the Horsham racer is determined to achieve more success in Scotland.
Rainford headed an all-WSR top three to score his first career BTCC pole position at the 1.3-mile circuit last year, adding a second-place finish and setting the fastest race lap of the event.
De Leon, meanwhile, started second – his maiden front-row qualifying result – and scored valuable Jack Sears Trophy points during a campaign in which he would eventually become class champion.
The Anglo-Filipino, who turned 21 this week, was a double podium-finisher at Snetterton and is currently second in the Independent Drivers’ points
WSR have the best record of any current BTCC team at Knockhill with 19 race wins, including double victories in each of the past three seasons, and pole positions in four of the past five visits to the track.
Lewis Gilbert (#29): “It’s pretty cool that in only my second event in the BTCC, I have the chance to race at my home track. Knockhill’s about an hour away from where I live so it’s as local as it gets for me. Although I’ve never raced there, I’ve done a rally and I’ve driven the circuit on track days so I’m familiar with the layout and it’s a pretty testing one for just over a mile. I’ve watched BTCC at Knockhill before there and always noticed how great the support is for Scottish drivers, so hopefully we can get some good results to really get the crowd cheering.”
Charles Rainford (#99): “I can’t wait to get to Knockhill and to the scene of my first BTCC pole position last year. After the challenging time we had at Thruxton, I’ll be very glad to be back a tight and twisty track that should suit our BMWs down to the ground. Last year it was podiums and fastest laps for me in Scotland, but this time I’m determined to get that big ‘Number One’ board and come away with a win.”
Daryl De Leon (#2): “Going from Thruxton to Knockhill is pretty much the biggest change you can get in the BTCC – the two tracks are the total opposite. I don’t mind that, though, as Knockhill should be really good for our BMWs. The rear-wheel-drive layout means we can put the power down really well out of the hairpin and get a good slingshot up the straight. After qualifying on the front row last year, I’m setting my targets nice and high.”
