Green Flag Waves on the 2026 BTCC Season

The 2026 British Touring Car Championship officially burst into life at Brands Hatch on 8 April, as more than 9,000 fans packed into the venue for the series’ final pre-season test.

Under clear blue skies, all 21 cars hit the track across six hours of running, combining competitive preparation with a fan-focused season launch atmosphere. With media duties completed early in the morning, attention quickly turned to the circuit—but, as ever with testing, the true competitive order remained just out of reach.

That didn’t stop a late-session headline grabber.

West Surrey Racing’s Charles Rainford stole the spotlight in the closing moments, firing his #99 BMW 330i M Sport to the top of the times with a blistering 47.102s lap. In a session where the entire field had been covered by just over a second, Rainford’s effort—more than three tenths quicker than the chasing pack—laid down a significant marker ahead of the new campaign.

Speaking after topping the timesheets, Rainford said:

“I’m very happy that I’ve managed to go quickest, which has been a very nice surprise, and I’d like to thank West Surrey Racing for providing me with such an amazing car. It’s all eyes forward now to Donington. It’s been very hot today, but I can’t imagine we’ll get that lucky for the first event. Either way, I’m excited for the season ahead and looking forward to seeing lots of fans at Donington Park.”

Behind him, Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK) and Josh Cook (Speedworks Corolla Racing) left it late to secure second and third respectively, while Power Maxed Racing’s all-new Audi A3 Saloon package impressed throughout the day. Dexter Patterson and Mikey Doble ultimately secured fourth and fifth, despite earlier threatening to lock out the top two positions.

Reigning champion Ash Sutton slotted into sixth, narrowly ahead of Gordon Shedden, as former title winners continued to show strong early form. Árón Taylor-Smith and James Dorlin held onto seventh and ninth based on their morning efforts, while Adam Morgan completed the top ten for the debuting Cataclean Plato Racing squad.

As always, testing times come with a health warning. Differing fuel loads, tyre compounds, and hybrid deployment strategies mean the outright order remains far from definitive—but the closeness across the field suggests another ultra-competitive season lies ahead.

Off track, the day proved to be a celebration of the championship itself. Thousands of fans flocked to what is widely regarded as its spiritual home, meeting drivers, exploring the cars, and soaking up an atmosphere that underlined its status as the UK’s premier domestic motorsport category.

Adding to the launch-day headlines, Ricky Collard was confirmed as the final member of the Team Vertu line-up. The 29-year-old returns for his third full campaign, joining reigning champion Tom Ingram, Tom Chilton, and Nicolas Hamilton in the EXCELR8-run Hyundai i30 Fastback N squad.

Collard got his first taste of the car during the Brands Hatch test, marking the start of a new chapter after previous seasons with Toyota.

Speaking about his return, Collard said:

“I’m delighted to be returning to the BTCC this season as it’s a championship where I feel I’ve got unfinished business. Back in 2023, I picked up some strong results and showed I have the pace to run towards the front of the field, but I missed out on getting the win that I know I’m capable of.

“Winning the British GT title in what was a particularly competitive season allowed me to learn a huge amount, and I feel that I’m coming back into touring cars as a stronger driver and in better shape than ever.

“The opportunity to join forces with the defending champions is one that I had to take, and although this deal has all come together quite late and I won’t have much track time before round one, I’m feeling confident.

“The Hyundai is clearly a very strong package and with the support of Team VERTU behind me, I’m hoping to hit the ground running when we get to Donington Park.”

With testing complete, focus now shifts to the opening rounds of the season at Donington Park on 18–19 April. If Brands Hatch is anything to go by, the 2026 season is shaping up to deliver another year of close, unpredictable, and hard-fought racing.