BTCC confirms 21-car grid for 2026 season at Brands Hatch launch
The 2026 British Touring Car Championship has officially launched at Brands Hatch today (April 8), with the UK’s premier motorsport series confirming a 21-car grid for the new season.
Despite all driver announcements having been made by teams in recent weeks and months, series organisers, TOCA, have published the complete entry list at the Kent venue – scene of the championship’s annual launch event.
Headlining this year’s field are reigning champions Tom Ingram and EXCELR8 Motorsport. After clinching a second Drivers’ title last season, Ingram remains at the Hyundai i30 Fastback N squad as he bids to go back-to-back.
Joining Ingram at the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ title holders is Tom Chilton, who was twice a race winner in 2025. Also lining up for EXCELR8 is the returning Ricky Collard and fan favourite Nicolas Hamilton.
Alliance Racing have carried out extensive developments to their Ford Focus’ over the off-season, with the successful hatchback being transformed into what is now the saloon-based Titanium model for the new campaign.
Four-time title winner Ash Sutton once again leads the line for the squad as he looks to become the first driver in BTCC history to be crowned champion on five separate occasions. Alongside him is perennial contender Dan Cammish, race winner Sam Osborne and debutant Lewis Selby.
After plenty pre-season excitement, Plato Racing will make their eagerly-anticipated bow in the BTCC this year. Headed up by former double champion Jason Plato, the team will run two Mercedes-AMG A35 Saloons for Dan Rowbottom and Adam Morgan.
Power Maxed Racing are the third team to be bringing a new car to the grid, the Audi S3 Saloon, and it has re-signed Mikey Doble for a fourth successive year. The one-time race winner will team with Aiden Moffat and Dexter Patterson at the Independent outfit.
Over at West Surrey Racing, the multiple title winners will field two BMW 330i M Sport machines. Race winners Charles Rainford and Daryl De Leon both continue for a second campaign.
Speedworks Motorsport remain the only team to field an unchanged line-up this year with their quartet of Toyota Corolla GR Sport cars being driven by Árón Taylor-Smith, Gordon Shedden, Josh Cook and Max Buxton.
Restart Racing complete the grid as they look to contend for Independent honours once more, with Chris Smiley and James Dorlin each piloting a Hyundai i30 Fastback N.
2026 BTCC Entry List
2 – Daryl De Leon – West Surrey Racing – BMW 330i M Sport
3 – Tom Chilton – EXCELR8 Motorsport – Hyundai i30 Fastback N
11 – Ricky Collard – EXCELR8 Motorsport – Hyundai i30 Fastback N
15 – Lewis Selby – Alliance Racing – Ford Focus Titanium
16 – Aiden Moffat – Power Maxed Racing – Audi S3 Saloon
17 – Dexter Patterson – Power Maxed Racing – Audi S3 Saloon
19 – Max Buxton – Speedworks Motorsport – Toyota Corolla GR Sport
22 – Chris Smiley – Restart Racing – Hyundai i30 Fastback N
27 – Dan Cammish – Alliance Racing – Ford Focus Titanium
28 – Nicolas Hamilton – EXCELR8 Motorsport – Hyundai i30 Fastback N
32 – Daniel Rowbottom – Plato Racing – Mercedes-AMG A35 Saloon
33 – Adam Morgan – Plato Racing – Mercedes-AMG A35 Saloon
50 – Árón Taylor-Smith – Speedworks Motorsport – Toyota Corolla GR Sport
52 – Gordon Shedden – Speedworks Motorsport – Toyota Corolla GR Sport
66 – Josh Cook – Speedworks Motorsport – Toyota Corolla GR Sport
77 – Sam Osborne – Alliance Racing – Ford Focus Titanium
80 – Tom Ingram – EXCELR8 Motorsport – Hyundai i30 Fastback N
88 – Mikey Doble – Power Maxed Racing – Audi S3 Saloon
99 – Charles Rainford – West Surrey Racing – BMW 330i M Sport
116 – Ash Sutton – Alliance Racing – Ford Focus Titanium
132 – James Dorlin – Restart Racing – Hyundai i30 Fastback N
