BTCC technical director to stand down

Peter Riches, the technical director of the British Touring Car Championship, has revealed that he will stand down from his role at the end of the current campaign after announcing plans to retire from a role he has held for more than 30 seasons.

Riches has worked in the role since the early 1990s having started his career in motorsport in the ’70s, and will be replaced in the role by his son Sam, who has more than 20 seasons of experience as part of the TOCA technical team himself.

Riches Sr will revert to a consultancy role for 2023 to assist ‘where required’.

“This is something we’ve been preparing for, and I feel ready to retire, the world is so different now to where we started,” he said. “I had a set of scales in the pit lane and a boost control system and that was it basically, and now we’ve got a 40-foot trailer full of kit, the world has moved on!

“[As a consultant] next year, I’ll be in more of a guiding role, maintaining the things we’ve done in the past and ensuring the wheel doesn’t get reinvented and become square in order to have a smooth transition. What we don’t want to do is change the direction we’ve been going in, so my knowledge will still be there if required.”

Series boss Alan Gow admitted that the departure of Riches from his role would be felt across the paddock.

“Peter’s retirement will mark a significant change for the championship but I’m confident that it will be a successful transition as Sam takes the reins,” he said. “Having been an integral part of the BTCC since 1993, Peter’s departure will be felt throughout the TOCA paddock, but we’re pleased to be retaining his services as a consultant throughout the 2023 season and wish him all the best in his retirement.”