2025 BTCC drivers and teams

Mikey Doble returns to Power Maxed Racing for third season

Updated: Thursday 20^th March. Mikey Doble will embark on his third season in the British Touring Car Championship continuing his relationship with Power Maxed Racing. The announcement of Doble follows confirmation earlier this week that the team will now be known as Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing, following the reveal of a new title sponsor for the Vauxhall Astra squad.

Doble made his debut in the Championship with Power Maxed Racing in 2023 and enjoyed something of a breakout year in 2024, scoring his first ever outright podium result on his way to securing the Jack Sears Trophy title. The Caterham-based racer also finished runner-up in the Independent’s standings behind team-mate Aron Taylor-Smith as the team cruised to the Independent crown.

The 26-year-old took no fewer than seven Independent wins in 2024 and will be aiming for more success as he gets set to lead the team into the 2025 campaign.

“I’m thrilled to be returning to the BTCC for a third straight year and aiming to kick on from what has already been an amazing couple of years in the Championship,” said Doble. “I’m delighted to be doing it with Power Maxed Racing and leading the charge there, showing everyone our best is yet to come.

“So far I’ve accomplished everything I set out to achieve in my first couple of years in the BTCC, including scoring a pole position in qualifying, an overall podium finish and of course winning the Jack Sears Trophy last season. This year we’re looking to take things up to the next level by challenging for podiums on a more regular basis, taking that Independent Drivers’ title and ultimately winning a race - it won’t be a success in my eyes if we don’t do the latter.”

“We are incredibly happy to retain Mikey for a third successive season which provides excellent continuity and consistency for the team,” added team principal Adam Weaver. “Mikey has done a great job in his first two seasons with us, we are fully aligned on our collective goals and cannot wait to get started.”

2025 BTCC drivers and teams

Stephen Jelley makes second BTCC return with One Motorsport

Updated: Tuesday 18^th March. Stephen Jelley will return to the British Touring Car Championship grid in 2025 having inked a deal to complete One Motorsport’s driver line-up.

A multiple-time race winner in the BTCC, 42-year-old Jelley will partner Josh Cook in the Brackley team’s two Honda Civic Type-Rs, having spent the 2024 competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain support series.

Jelley’s BTCC career started in 2008 with West Surrey Racing, having spent his time in various single seater series from 2002 to 2008, including the GP2 Asia Series with ART Grand Prix where he was teammates with series champion, and future Formula 1 hero, Romain Grosjean.

After two seasons and two wins with the RAC BMW squad, the Leicester-based driver moved into GT and sportscar racing before returning to the BTCC with Team Parker Racing in a Ford Focus in 2017. The team switched to an ex-West Surrey Racing BMW for 2018 before he would rejoin the West Surrey Racing works BMW squad in the team’s 3-Series for the 2021 campaign.

“It’s fantastic to be back in the BTCC and to be part of One Motorsport,” said Jelley. “If I’m honest, I didn’t think I’d get another crack at the championship so to be back is a victory in itself; it’s an opportunity that really excites me. I’ve obviously spent a good few years racing against the Honda so to now have the chance to get behind the wheel myself is something I’m relishing. I’ve got to make that transition back to front-wheel-drive but having a well-sorted car underneath me will accelerate that process.”

“We’re very pleased to welcome Stephen to the team,” added Steve Dudman, One Motorsport team owner. “The championship is shaping up to be as competitive as ever this year and with Stephen now joining Josh, I’m confident we have two drivers that will give us a great chance of success in all areas for 2025.”

Gordon Shedden returns to BTCC with Toyota

Updated: Monday 10^th March. Triple British Touring Car champion Gordon Shedden will return to the championship for the 2025 season having agreed a deal with Toyota Gazoo Racing UK.

Shedden, best known for his time with the works Honda team run by Team Dynamics, will be behind the wheel of a marque other than Honda for the first time since 2009, when he steps into the Speedworks Motorsport-run Toyota Corolla GR Sport.

The Scot is one of the most successful drivers to ever compete in the BTCC, winning the overall crown in 2012 and back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016. He has finished in the top three in the points table on no fewer than eight occasions.

With a win tally of 52 (matching his preferred race number), Shedden, who is also Methuen House Captain here at Goodwood, sits fourth in the all-time win record standings, with four of those coming in his most recent stint in the championship in 2021 and 2022. His past successes sees him enter the 2025 campaign with the most wins of any active driver, and his return ensures at least four Champions – Shedden, Ashley Sutton, Tom Ingram and reigning champion Jake Hill – will be on the grid.

“It’s pretty well-known that I didn’t want to leave the BTCC two years ago,” said Shedden. “The team I was due to race with pulled out of the championship on the eve of the season, which was a body blow and completely beyond my control. Since then, my desire to race has never gone away, but I don’t do this just to be on the grid, and I was quite clear that I wouldn’t come back unless it was with a programme that I believed in. That is what I am confident I have found here with Speedworks Motorsport and Toyota Gazoo Racing UK.

“Everybody has been working hard and keeping their heads down over the winter, and the team is consequently in a good place. Last year, three of the four Toyota drivers won races in the Corolla, so it’s evidently a very capable package and I’m excited to be working with Neil Brown Engineering again on the engine side, and with Árón and Ronan as team-mates for the first time.

“The primary objective is to be competitive, so the immediate goal is to tick as many boxes as possible pre-season. We all know that success in the BTCC requires a lot of round pegs to fall into round holes, but experience counts for a lot in this championship and hopefully everything will come together and we can fight for race wins – if not more. That’s what we’re here for!”

Shedden’s sentiments are shared by Toyota Gazoo Racing UK Team Principal, Christian Dick, who added: “We’re thrilled to be bringing Gordon back to the BTCC. He is inarguably one of the very best drivers ever to have competed in the Championship, and his achievements bear testament to his tremendous talent and tenacity behind the wheel. His comeback in 2021 and 2022 proved that he has lost none of his speed or spark, and it’s clear that his motivation and thirst for success still burn very brightly indeed.”

Josh Cook returns to One Motorsport

Updated: Wednesday 5^th March. Josh Cook will rejoin One Motorsport as he returns to lead the team’s charge in 2025.

The Somerset racer first competed with the team in 2019, spending five years there and was a regular front runner in the Honda Civic Type-R. Both of Cook’s back-to-back Independent Drivers’ titles came with the team in 2022 and 2023, and he racked up 16 of his 20 career victories while driving the Honda.

“I’m thrilled to be returning to One Motorsport,” said Cook. “This is where I’ve spent a large proportion of my BTCC career so to be coming back to familiar faces and surroundings, as well as a car that I know very well is a really exciting prospect.”

Although the short-term goal will be to get the Honda Civic Type-R back up at the sharp end of the grid after a year out, Cook has admitted that he is playing the long game and focusing on the biggest prize in the next couple of seasons.

“This move back to the team is with the long-term view of laying down the foundations for 2026 and beyond. I want to be BTCC champion – simple as that. Going into the season I feel like I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in – both physically and mentally. I know what I need to do, and I’ve got a fantastic team around me; all the ingredients are there and I’m confident this move is going to be the start of something special.”

“Josh is a class act and bringing him back into the One Motorsport fold was a key objective when we were setting the wheels in motion to return to the grid this year,” added Team Owner Steve Dudman. “There’s no denying that he has been fast and competitive in whatever he has driven, so to now reacquaint him with a car that has been refined over the past year is hugely exciting for everyone involved.”

Unchanged Ford quartet as NAPA confirms Sam Osborne return

Updated: Monday 3^rd March. NAPA Racing UK will contest this season's British Touring Car Championship with an unchanged line-up following the confirmation of Sam Osborne's return to the Ford squad.

Osborne will roll out at Donington Park in April for his fifth season at the wheel of the Ford Focus, and is keen to continue the run of form he enjoyed at the tail end of 2024.

“To be honest, I didn’t want last season to end, we got things going and I was on a bit of a run,” said Osborne, who will celebrate his 200th BTCC start this season. “I think it was nine consecutive top ten finishes in the last nine races. Midway through the year, we added Rory (Butcher) to my car crew, and along with Rich (Townsend, engineer) and my side of the team, it progressed us in all areas on and off-track.

The Worksop-based racer first joined the BTCC grid in 2019, competing in an Excelr8 MG6 having previously contested both the Mini Challenge and Renault Clio Cup. A season in a Honda Civic came about in 2020, before stepping into the Ford cockpit for 2021.

Since then Osborne has gradually worked his way up the BTCC grid, and has become a regular finisher in the top ten. Last season he scored his best finish to date, coming 15^th in the points standings, and will once again be eligible for the Jack Sears Trophy owing to having only visited the podium once before.

“We’re proud for NAPA to continue with Sam for another season,” said Steve Richardson, Managing Director of Alliance Automotive Group. “On the track, Sam continues to ascend towards the front of the grid, in 2024 it was fantastic to see him consistently challenge the top ten and for Jack Sears Trophy wins. In 2025 we’re looking forward to seeing him alongside his NAPA Racing UK team-mates on the overall podium.”

Dan Rowbottom signs two-year extension with NAPA Racing UK

Updated: Tuesday 25^th February. Daniel Rowbottom will continue to race with NAPA Racing UK for the next two seasons, having signed a contract extension with the Alliance Racing run outfit.

The extension will see Rowbottom in NAPA-backed machinery until the end of the 2026 season, having first joined the team in 2023. The 2023 season was ‘Rowbo’’s most successful season in BTCC to date, winning at Thruxton and finishing a further four races on the podium on his way to seventh in the overall standings. Last season was a little more modest, only visiting the podium twice and finishing 11^th in the table, 40 points short of his 2023 tally.

The Kidderminster-based driver first appeared on the BTCC grid in 2019, driving a Mercedes-Benz A-Class for Adam Morgan’s Ciceley Motorsport squad. A year away from the series in 2020 was followed by a move to Team Dynamics alongside two-time champion Gordon Shedden in 2021, and saw him take his first BTCC win that year at Oulton Park.

His move to NAPA Racing UK was instantly justified by taking pole position on his debut in the Ford Focus, and Rowbottom will be hoping for a return to that form in 2025 after a solid if quiet campaign in 2024. His off-season has been somewhat unorthodox, with planned heart surgery taking the place of the usual training regime. A winter of rehab has been undertaken to ensure he is fighting fit for the opening round at Donington Park in April.

“Following two seasons inside the NAPA Racing UK/Alliance family, we are delighted that Dan has resigned for another two years,” said Pete Osborne, NAPA Racing UK and Alliance Racing Team Owner. “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.”

One Motorsport officially confirms BTCC return

Updated: Tuesday 25^th February. One Motorsport has confirmed its return to the British Touring Car Championship following a season on the sidelines last year.

While the team stopped short of naming any drivers for its return, it also confirmed it will continue to run a pair of Honda Civic Type-Rs. One Motorsport was hard at work throughout 2024, making improvements to the Civic’s chassis, powertrain and more, all in line with the latest regulation changes made by TOCA in October.

One Motorsport’s roots can be traced back to the final rounds of the 2006 season when Chris Stockton and Darren Dowling contested a pair of Lexus IS 200s. The team then sporadically competed in the championship with Lexus, Seat and Chevrolet machinery before a full-time return to the grid in 2017. Since 2018, the Brackley-based squad has raced Honda Civics, and achieved back-to-back Independent Teams’ and Drivers’ titles in 2022 and 2023 with Josh Cook, before stepping away from the championship in 2024.

“When we announced that we would be sitting out the 2024 campaign I’m sure there were many people that thought we may never be back, however that never entered my mind – the goal was always to come back and come back stronger than ever,” explained owner Steve Dudman.

“The small team that we’ve had working back at base deserve a lot of credit because they’ve put in a tremendous amount of effort to get us to where we are currently. Now we’re growing that team back to what it was before we took our sabbatical.

“We’re putting the finishing touches on what is without doubt a very strong driver line-up and there are a number of commercial partners – both old and new – that we’ll be working with over the course of the year. It’s an exciting time behind the scenes at the moment.”

Charles Rainford completes BMW line-up

Updated: Friday 21^st February. West Surrey Racing has announced that British Touring Car Championship rookie Charles Rainford will complete the LKQ Euro Car Parts with WSR line-up for the 2025 season.

The 26-year-old will make the step up from the BTCC support package, having previously competed at the front of the Porsche Carrera Cup for a number of seasons. Rainford made his Porsche debut in 2021, winning the Pro-Am class in his first race, before going on to achieve championship success and an outright win in 2022. Graduating to the Pro class in 2023, the Horsham-based driver finished in fourth and second respectively over the next two seasons, chalking up more wins in the process.

“I’m so excited, not just to race in the BTCC, but with the most successful team on the grid in LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR,” said Rainford. “Some of my earliest memories of racing are of watching the BTCC with my dad, so to be there myself feels amazing.

“Walking into WSR HQ for the first time and seeing the trophies and the names on the wall like Senna, Mansell, Priaulx and Turkington was incredible. I’d love to see my name up there one day and if we can win the Jack Sears Trophy this year, that would be a great start.”

The announcement confirms all seats in BMWs, with West Surrey Racing holding four ToCA BTCC Licences (TBLs) for the 2025 campaign.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Charles to LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR,” offered West Surrey Racing team principal Dick Bennetts. “He’s had an unusual route to the BTCC, but from what we’ve seen of him in Carrera Cup GB and, in particular, the calibre of driver he’s beaten there, we’re confident he has the speed and skill necessary to turn his potential into on-track success. He and Aiden [Moffat] should make an exciting pair to keep an eye on this year.”

Dan Lloyd returns to BTCC grid with Restart Racing

Updated: Friday 21^st February. Dan Lloyd will return to the BTCC grid in 2025, completing the Restart Racing lineup alongside Chris Smiley.

The announcement sees the Yorkshireman return to the series after an injury forced him to the sidelines in 2024. Lloyd will also get back behind the wheel of a Hyundai i30 for the first time since his 2022 season with Excelr8, which saw him take three race wins and end the season’s points table in the top ten for the only time in his BTCC career to date.

“I’m absolutely buzzing to be back on the BTCC grid with Restart Racing," said Lloyd. "The last 12 months have been a rollercoaster – I’ve had to fight harder than ever to get back to this point, but that’s only made me hungrier.

“When Pete Jones contacted me about the seat and the investment in the car, I knew exactly where I wanted to be. I know what the Hyundai is capable of, and with the team’s commitment to the best package possible, I’m confident we can be right in the mix this season.”

Lloyd took a memorable double victory at his home race of Croft when he drove the i30 in 2022, and has plenty of experience in the BTCC, having driven no fewer than six different cars across his time in the championship. Before becoming a BTCC regular in 2021, Lloyd turned heads in his time competing in various global TCR series. A dominant season in the inaugural TCR UK came in 2018, before finishing runner up in the TCR China and TCR Malaysia series respectively.

"From the moment we secured the Hyundai i30s for 2025, we knew we needed a strong driver pairing to unlock their full potential,” said Restart Racing Managing Director, Pete Jones. “Dan was at the top of our list. He’s a proven winner, has experience with this car, and his determination to fight his way back onto the grid says everything about the competitor he is.”

While the team has already started its pre-season testing programme, Lloyd is expected to get his first laps in the i30 in the coming weeks.

Taylor-Smith joins Toyota; Turkington not on 2025 grid

Updated: Monday 17^th February. Reigning Independents’ Champion Áron Taylor-Smith has joined Toyota Gazoo Racing UK for the 2025 British Touring Car Championship season. The move comes off the back of his most successful campaign to date, finishing seventh in the overall standings and taking no fewer than 20 class victories across the course of the year.

The confirmation of Taylor-Smith’s move to Toyota came just 24 hours after his previous team, Power Maxed Racing, released a statement explaining how its short-term future is in doubt following the loss of a major sponsor on the eve of the upcoming season.

“It’s an incredible feeling to be stood here as a Toyota Gazoo Racing UK driver,” said Taylor-Smith. “To work with the world’s largest car manufacturer on the biggest stage in British motorsport was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up, and this is without doubt one of the proudest days of my career.

“I’m hugely grateful to them for the faith they’ve put in me. This is an exceptionally motivated team, with some of the best staff in the business and a real ‘family feel’. Speedworks’ track record over the years speaks for itself, and I’ve been massively impressed with everything I’ve seen and heard so far – all the ingredients are in place to make this a real success.

“Having spent the past two years trying to beat the manufacturer-backed cars, it’ll be a surreal feeling to be amongst them, but that just spurs me on even more to put on a show. I’ve only ever wanted a chance to fight for the overall BTCC title, and I firmly believe that joining forces with Toyota Gazoo Racing UK gives me the perfect platform and environment to create that opportunity.”

“We’re thrilled to have a driver of Árón’s unquestionable ability in the team,” added team manager Christian Dick. “We believe that his experience will be of inestimable value to [team-mate] Ronan [Pearson], and that they will extract the very best out of each other. We have every confidence that both drivers will prove to be real assets and will help to drive us on to even greater success in 2025 and beyond.”

Later that same afternoon (14^th February), four-time BTCC champion Colin Turkington released a statement confirming that he would not be on the grid for 2025, citing “a combination of factors and feelings” as leading him to make the decision.

The Northern Irishman also confirmed that he did not know if this would be a permanent step away from the series, but there were hints that we may have seen the last touring car race of Colin Turkington in the British championship.  

“I don’t have too much more to say at this point except that this decision just feels right for me,” said his statement. “I reflect on so many amazing memories and life experiences that only the BTCC could have given me.

“Thank you to the BTCC, thank you BMW and thank you to WSR.  Thank you to all my mechanics and engineers for always giving me 100 per cent and believing in me. Thank you to all my loyal supporters, incredible sponsors and partners who’ve shared the journey with me and finally, thank you to my family who’ve been on this emotional rollercoaster with me.

“Driving into parc ferme and seeing the happy faces on my Mum and Dad, Louise, Lewis and Adam are the memories I cherish most and will take with me forever. The BTCC will forever leave an imprint on me, and I now join many of you as an enthusiastic fan of the series once again.

“That’s all for now.  I would like to wish Dick and the entire WSR family the very best of luck in this new season. I often say to my boys, ‘Don’t be sad it’s over, just be thankful it happened.”

Ronan Pearson joins Toyota Gazoo Racing UK

Updated: Monday 3^rd February. Toyota Gazoo Racing UK has announced its first driver for 2025, recruiting former Excelr8 competitor Ronan Pearson.

The 23-year-old Scot has two seasons under his belt in the BTCC, although the 2024 campaign ended following his home round at Knockhill. Despite competing in nine races fewer than his debut season, Pearson enjoyed a successful 2024, earning his first BTCC victory in the third race at Brands Hatch in May. Toyota Gazoo Racing UK also enjoyed its best season to date last year, with the Corolla winning five of its 17 race victories last season – though three came from the satellite LKQ Euro Car Parts team.

Following an encouraging test in the Corolla at Donington Park, the Toyota outfit opted to offer Pearson a drive for the 2025 season – with his eyes set firmly on consistently challenging for podium results.

“When an opportunity to join a manufacturer-backed team presents itself, you have to give it proper consideration and I feel really proud to be representing the world’s number one car brand on the biggest stage in British motorsport,” said Pearson. “It’s a dream for any young driver.

“Driving the Corolla for the first time really backed up my decision. I felt at home pretty much straight away and settled in really quickly. I think that showed in the lap times, even if they weren’t the main goal given it was a cold day in October, so that was a really positive start.

“Ultimately, I want to be in the BTCC for the long-term. What I’ve learned over the past couple of seasons – both on and off-track – has shaped me into the person and driver I am now, and I feel much more established in the championship and ready to grasp this opportunity with both hands. I really think we could be onto something here.”

Toyota Gazoo Racing UK Team Principal Christian Dick echoed his enthusiasm, saying: “Ronan was exceptional when he tested the Corolla – very quick indeed – but even more importantly, the energy and enthusiasm he brought with him put the whole team in an overwhelmingly positive mindset going into the winter rebuild. Everybody really picked on the positive vibes, and we have no doubt that together we can achieve some great things in the BTCC.”

Dexter Patterson completes Un-Limited lineup

Updated: Wednesday 15^th January. Dexter Patterson will return to the BTCC in 2025 as he completes the Un-Limited Motorsport alongside newcomer Max Hall.

Patterson, a former karting World Champion and Sauber Junior Team member, last competed in the BTCC in 2023 with Team HARD. In his two seasons in the championship to date, he scored a best result of sixth at his home round of Knockhill. 

Moving out of the BTCC in 2024, Patterson made his GT racing debut in a GT4 Lotus Emira for Mahiki Racing in the GT4 European Championship. While the season would produce no points-scoring results, Patterson did share the car with Max Hall, who he now shares a garage with at Un-Limited Motorsport. The move also sees Patterson return to the wheel of a Cupra Leon, having driven the Leon in his season with Team HARD.

“I’m excited to be back on the BTCC grid after spending a year racing GT4 in Europe,” said Patterson. “Having already competed in two BTCC seasons, I have a strong understanding of the championship and the driving style required to succeed. My main goal for 2025 is to extract the maximum performance from every event on the calendar, with a particular focus on the Jack Sears Trophy. Of course, a few podiums along the way would be fantastic, too.

Bob Sharpless, Un-Limited Motorsport team owner added: “We’re incredibly excited to welcome Dexter to Un-Limited Motorsport for the 2025 season. We had the chance to do some testing with him at the end of 2024, and his pace in the Cupra was undeniable.

“Having raced with the car before, he was immediately comfortable and confident, which is a huge asset for the team. With Dexter and Max as team-mates, we’re in a strong position to make a serious push for the Jack Sears Trophy and Independents Championships.”

Aiden Moffat jumps to WSR with LKQ Euro Car Parts

Updated: Monday 6^th January. West Surrey Racing has announced that Aiden Moffat will be the first driver to fill one of the LKQ Euro Car Parts backed BMWs in the 2025 season.

The team announced the new partnership in December, with the brand’s colours moving across from the Toyota Corollas of 2024 to a pair of BMW 330 M Sports. Moffat will continue wearing those colours having competed with the team this season, taking a win at Donington Park on the opening weekend.

“It sounds like a cliche, but this really is a ‘dream come true’ moment for me in touring car racing,” said Moffat. “The chance to join the best team on the grid doesn’t happen often so it’s fantastic that everything’s lined up for 2025 and that we can go forwards together with the support of LKQ Euro Car Parts.

“Having seen from the outside how WSR operate, they just seem to do things the right way in every area and we’ve all seen how much success they’ve had as a result. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so excited or motivated for a new BTCC season and honestly I wish we could get on track right now!”

“We’re very pleased to welcome Aiden to WSR for 2025 as part of our LKQ Euro Car Parts BMW line-up,” added Team Principal, Dick Bennetts. “As one of the few current BTCC drivers to have won races in front-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive cars, he should adapt to the BMW quickly and be able to challenge for strong results everywhere.

“It’s also interesting that he had his best BTCC Championship result in a rear-wheel-drive car in 2021. We’ve seen what he’s capable of on the racetrack – including several impressive wins – over the years. Our job now is to give him a car that will allow him to get the best out of himself as often as possible.”

Adam Morgan bolsters Team VERTU lineup

Updated: Monday 16^th December. BTCC race winner Adam Morgan will join Tom Ingram and Tom Chilton at the Excelr8-run Team VERTU for 2025.

The Lancastrian is one of the more experienced drivers on the grid, making his debut back in 2012 as a reward for winning the 2011 Ginetta GT Supercup. After two years in a Toyota Avensis, Morgan came to the fore in a Mercedes A-Class with family-run Ciceley Motorsport. Between 2014 and 2020, Morgan racked up eight wins and 30 podium results, finishing seventh in the points table in both 2015 and 2018.

The 2021 season saw a switch to rear-wheel-drive for Morgan, with Ciceley joining forces with West Surrey Racing for two seasons before he moved across to the official works Team BMW garage. Three further victories came across the four years, and 2024 marked the third consecutive top ten finish in the overall standings for Morgan.

The 36-year-old has set his sights firmly on the podium in 2025, as he returns to front-wheel-drive machinery once more.

“I’ve always felt that before I finished my time in the BTCC I wanted to get back in a front-wheel-drive car, as most of my success in the series came when I was in front-wheel-drive with the Mercedes,” explained Morgan. “To be able to do that with Team VERTU and the Hyundai is hugely exciting for me as a driver because I’m joining a championship-winning team that has arguably the best front-wheel-drive car on the grid, and have two fantastic team-mates alongside me.”

Team VERTU team owner, Justina Williams, added: “This is a deal that I’m sure will catch some people by surprise, but when we saw the opportunity was there to bring him into our lineup, it was one we had to take.

“Adam’s record through the years is very impressive and putting him alongside Tom Ingram and Tom Chilton means we have three drivers in place who we know are capable of winning races and fighting right at the front of the grid in what promises to be another hugely competitive season.”

The team has already begun testing at Anglesey, but Morgan will have to wait until the New Year to get his first sampling of the i30.

Daryl DeLeon signs with WSR for 2025

Updated: Tuesday 10^th December. West Surrey Racing will field its youngest driver in almost 20 years, having announced that rising star Daryl DeLeon will get behind the wheel of a BMW 330i M Sport in 2025.

Aged just 19, DeLeon embarks on his second full-time season in the BTCC, having debuted in the second half of 2023 with Team HARD. Before his BTCC introduction, the Irish driver enjoyed success in both the Radical SR1 Cup and the British Endurance Championship, winning the latter in 2023.

Despite Team HARD’s departure, he returned to the BTCC in 2024 with Un-Limited Motorsport, under the Duckhams Racing banner. The youngster would secure his first top ten finishes on his way to finishing 18^th in the overall standings, as well as finishing fourth in the Independents’ Trophy and third in the Jack Sears Trophy standings.

With a pre-season testing schedule due to start in the New Year, DeLeon is setting his sights firmly on silverware and Jack Sears Trophy honours in 2025.

“It’s a dream come true to join WSR and to be with the best team in the BTCC after only one full season in touring cars,” said DeLeon. “I still can’t quite believe it. I’m excited to return to a rear-wheel drive car as that’s been my background pre-BTCC and the BMW is clearly a mega machine as it proved by winning the Drivers’ and Manufacturer’s Championships in 2024.

“The first aim will be to score a podium finish and I’ll also be trying to win the Jack Sears Trophy across the season. I think both are realistic targets and I’ll be working hard with the team to raise my performance level to where it needs to be for a team like WSR.”

“We’re very pleased to welcome Daryl to WSR for the 2025 season,” offered Dick Bennetts, WSR Team Principal. “He’s impressed us with what he’s achieved across the year and has a lot of the raw potential and determination that we’ve seen in a number of young drivers that have gone on to achieve great things in our cars and beyond. Given his background racing rear-wheel drive cars, he should have little trouble getting used to our race-winning BMW. We look forward to helping him develop and move towards the front of the grid.”

Restart Racing switches to Hyundai; keeps Chris Smiley

Updated: Wednesday 4^th December. Restart Racing has confirmed that Chris Smiley will return to the team for its second season in the British Touring Car Championship, following an announcement that it will run a pair of Hyundai i30s in 2025.

Announcing a “multi-year collaboration” with Excelr8, Restart Racing will bring an additional Hyundai i30 Fastback N entries to the BTCC grid next season, marking the first customer programme for the Korean brand in the BTCC.

The works team stated back in August that it was open to working with an additional team for 2025, whether that would be a new entrant to the series or an existing stable already on the grid. Restart Racing – founded by former BTC Racing boss Bert Taylor – joined the grid in 2024 and finished third in the Independents’ Trophy with two class victories.

Chris Smiley, who secured a season-best result of sixth for the team at Silverstone, has been rewarded with a second season leading the Restart Racing outfit in the BTCC. Smiley is a race winner in the BTCC, having won for BTC Racing at Rockingham in 2018 and picked up a further four podiums for the team across 2018 and 2019 in the Honda Civic Type R.

Smiley has also collected silverware behind the wheel of an Excelr8 prepared Hyundai i30, finishing in second place at Donington Park for the 2020 season opener – the first ever podium for Hyundai in the BTCC.

“I’m fully aware of what this package can deliver,” said Smiley. “It’s a proven race winning car, and with the right team and preparation, we’re aiming to climb as far up the grid as we can. I’m thrilled to be back with Restart Racing and can’t wait to get started.”

Ben Taylor, Restart Racing team principal added: “Having worked with the i30s during my time at Excelr8, I know firsthand just how fast and competitive these cars are. They were among the quickest on the grid last year, and with the talented team we have here at Restart Racing, we’re eager to hit the ground running in 2025.” 

TBL announcement confirms grid expansion

Updated: Tuesday 3^rd December. The organisers of the British Touring Car Championship have confirmed that the grid will grow to 24 cars in 2025 following the publishing of allocated TOCA BTCC Licences (TBLs) for the upcoming season.

The biggest headline of the off-season will be the return of One Motorsport, which sat out the 2024 season. Previous drivers Josh Cook and Aiden Moffat found seats at the satellite Toyota team for last season, taking Starline sponsorship and colours across with them to the LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ garage. The refreshed team has been granted a pair of TBLs for 2025.

Eight official teams will contest the BTCC in 2025, although these will be further split by various sponsorship and naming agreements. Four of those teams were granted four licenses each, with the remaining half of the field each granted a pair.

The 2025 season will see the expansion of West Surrey Racing once again, who will return to a four-car outfit having run three for the majority of 2024. Speedworks Motorsport has also retained four entries, having run two teams last season – both the works and satellite Toyota outfits.

EXCELR8 Motorsport continues with four entries for its Hyundai i30s, with both Tom Ingram and Tom Chilton already confirmed to return in 2025. Alliance Racing – the team behind the NAPA Racing UK Fords – also retains four licences, with three drivers to be announced alongside Ash Sutton.

Un-Limited Motorsport, who recently announced former MINI Challenge competitor Max Hall as its first driver for 2025, will also expand to a two-car team. The team previously ran Daryl DeLeon in its sole Cupra Leon.

Power Maxed Racing and Restart Racing round out the grid, both retaining their two entries each.

17-year-old Max Hall joins Un-Limited Motorsport

Updated: Tuesday 26^th November. Un-Limited Motorsport has announced that Mini JCW Championship runner-up Max Hall will graduate to the BTCC for the 2025 season.

Despite only being 17 years old, Hall has already racked up over ten years of racing experience, and secured the rookie title in the Mini JCW Championship in 2024. Hall will join the BTCC’s newest team, Un-Limited Motorsport, which will also look to continue the progress made in its debut season this year.

“Joining Un-Limited Motorsport at this stage of my career is an incredible opportunity,” said Hall. “While I know we have work to do as a team, I’m excited about the challenge and ready to give it everything I’ve got. Competing in the BTCC has always been a dream, and I’m confident we can make great progress together. This is a big step for me and I can’t wait to get started.”

Un-Limited Motorsport ran a single Cupra Leon in 2024 for Daryl DeLeon, with the young Irishman scoring a pair of top ten results on his way to 18^th overall in the standings. The team is currently working on expansion as it looks to finalise a deal to run a second car for 2025 and beyond.

“Max is exactly the kind of driver we were looking for to join Un-Limited Motorsport,” said Team Owner Bob Sharpless. “He’s demonstrated incredible skill and determination throughout his career, and we’re confident he’ll thrive in the BTCC environment. This is a pivotal moment for both the team and Max, and we’re excited to see what we can accomplish together. We’re also looking forward to expanding to a two-car entry next season, which will be another major milestone for us.”

For Hall, the Kent-based driver is well aware of the steep learning curve ahead of him, but has his targets in place for his rookie season – where he will compete for Jack Sears Trophy honours.

“Achieving regular top ten finishes and competing for podiums are key goals,” he said, “but it’s also about gaining valuable experience and helping the team and car reach their full potential. By the end of the season, I want to establish myself as a driver consistently in contention for top results, proving that young talent can make a meaningful impact in one of motorsport’s most prestigious championships.”

Andrew Watson and Speedworks part company

Updated: Thursday 21^st November. Speedworks Motorsport and Andrew Watson have confirmed that the Northern Irishman will not be competing with the team for the 2025 British Touring Car season.

After an impressive debut season for Watson in 2023 saw him bring home the Jack Sears Trophy for Power Maxed Racing, there was a lot of excitement around his pairing with Rob Huff in the Toyota Gazoo Racing UK team for 2024. Despite scoring points in 25 of the 30 races, including a best of fifth at Snetterton, the season was somewhat of a disappointment for Watson. Although he scored 28 more points than his 2023 tally, Watson could only finish 14^th in the final points standings.

“This season obviously didn’t yield the results we all wanted, which is a shame,” admitted Watson. “At the time, it was the obvious progression to move from an independent team to a manufacturer-backed entry. Due to various reasons, we didn’t operate at the level needed to fight at the front in the BTCC, but I wish everybody at Speedworks well moving forward.”

For the vast majority of the 2024 season, the independent satellite Toyota team lead by Josh Cook outperformed its sister team carrying the official Toyota colours. Although Cook’s pair of victories matched Huff, Aiden Moffat’s sole win meant the LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ outfit not only took more wins but also outscored the works team by 130 points.

“First and foremost, I would like to thank Andrew for all his efforts with Toyota Gazoo Racing UK this year,” said Speedworks Team Principal Christian Dick. “He has been a great guy to have in the team and worked well with Rob to help develop the Corolla. Ultimately, the anticipated results didn’t materialise for a variety of reasons, and following some post-season discussions, we have all agreed it is in everybody’s best interests to have a fresh start. We wish Andrew all the very best.”

Jake Hill and Laser Tools Racing to defend title with West Surrey Racing

Updated: Wednesday 6^th November. Jake Hill will return to the wheel of a West Surrey Racing-run BMW 3-Series for the fourth consecutive season in defence of his 2024 championship victory.

The 30-year-old came out on top at a thrilling Brands Hatch finale only last month, and will continue his strong partnership with the historic WSR squad. The partnership racked up an impressive eight wins, 16 podiums and scored 28 points finishes across the 30 races in 2024, in what was the first year Laser Tools had backed Hill and the BMW team.

Hill has confirmed he will carry the number one on the windows of his BMW for the 2025 season, and is pleased to continue with the team that has seen him take 17 of his 20 race victories across his BTCC career.

“I was so proud that, as a team, we managed to take the crown in 2024 after going close so many times before,” explained Hill. “To achieve it in the way we did in a thrilling title race that went right down to the wire made it even better. To put it simply, there was nowhere else I wanted to be in 2025 than to be lining the grid once again for Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, in a WSR-run BMW.”

Hill’s performances throughout 2024 alongside the Team BMW pairing of Colin Turkington and Adam Morgan were instrumental in getting BMW across the line to its record-breaking tenth manufacturers’ championship in the BTCC, while West Surrey Racing stretched its tally to a hugely impressive 18.

“We are very pleased to have extended our agreement with Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport and to have Jake back in one of our BMWs in 2025 to defend the championship,” said West Surrey Racing Team Principal, Dick Bennetts.

“He raised his level this year and dealt with late-season pressure extremely well to not only take the drivers’ title, but to help BMW win the manufacturers’ crown, too. Naturally, our aim is to win again in 2025 and having these important building blocks in place so early in the winter is a huge help so we must thank Mark, Alex and the team at MB Motorsport for their ongoing commitment to this programme.”

Which drivers are already confirmed for BTCC 2025?

Four-time champion Ash Sutton was one of the first to have a firmed-up drive for 2025. The NAPA Racing UK team confirmed in April that Sutton had signed a three-year extension on his contract, committing both parties to the BTCC until at least the end of the 2026 season.

While no there has been no official confirmation for 2025 at present, 2024 rookie Scott Sumpton has confirmed that he will not be returning with Restart Racing next season. Having competed with the squad for two years – the first in the TCR UK championship – Sumpton announced he was leaving the team in a social media update. The initial post suggested he would be leaving the series entirely, but a later edit confirmed that he was moving to “a new challenge within the BTCC.”

Elsewhere, Excelr8 Motorsport confirmed at the end of October the return of the two Toms – Chilton and Ingram, to spearhead its charge in 2025.

Which teams and cars will be racing in BTCC 2025?

While its drivers and cars will remain the same, Team Bristol Street Motors’ official entry will change to Team VERTU. This change follows the decision made by the Vertu Motors group to consolidate its main retail brands (of which Bristol Street Motors was one) together under one banner.

Vertu has been working with the Hyundai team since 2021, and has been title sponsor since 2022, enjoying no fewer than 20 race wins and 52 podiums. In its first season as title sponsor, Tom Ingram took the Hyundai to championship glory and finished no lower than second in the standings for the next season. Ingram returns to lead the team once more, with Tom Chilton joining him in the garage once again. Chilton celebrated his 500^th BTCC start in 2024 and will line up for his fourth year behind the wheel of the i30.

Alliance Racing, the team behind NAPA Racing UK, has also confirmed that the Ford Focus ST will be back for 2025, but there are serious discussions ongoing regarding a replacement for 2026. While remaining coy on what’s in the pipeline, team owner Pete Osborne has gone on record to state it will be a front-wheel-drive saloon from a manufacturer currently not in the BTCC paddock.

Grids in 2024 were noticeably lower than previous years, and the BTCC has stated it is actively looking for more teams for next season. However, TOCA boss Alan Gow has also announced there will be a cap of 24 entries on the grid for the 2025 season.

One of the teams expected to be in the running to extend the field next year will be One Motorsport. The team stepped away from the grid for 2024 but stated from the beginning that it was eyeing up a return in 2025. One Motorsport’s previous driver line-up have all found places in the BTCC paddock elsewhere, with Josh Cook and Aiden Moffat jumping across to Speedworks to drive the satellite Toyota Corolla team, while Jade Edwards is now a regular pundit in the ITV4 TV studio.

Are there any new rules in BTCC 2025?

ToCA have confirmed a number of rules tweaks for 2025. These include a two-year engine freeze, a slight amendment in how grid positions for those who fail to make it out of Part 1 of qualifying are decided, and the eligibility for Jack Sears Trophy contenders. The most noticeable changes, however, are likely to be the new rules that state only the top three from races one and two, rather than the top ten, will be forced to run the hardest tyre available in races two and three respectively, as well as a new NASCAR-style ‘Restart Point’ at the end of Safety Car periods.