Some deals have already been announced, but the off-season rumour mill is in full swing as teams and drivers look forward to the late April start to the 2025 season. While many fans bemoan the long off-season, it does allow a little longer for commercial partnerships to be formed and budgets to be raised.
Naturally with an extended winter break it allows for a right old silly season, with fans speculating on who could end up where. There’s none of that here as we look at what is already known about 2025 in both the BTCC and TCR UK, along with some of the talk around both paddocks as some solid info is dropped, along with some whack-job suggestions from those ‘in the know.’
BTCC
WHAT WE KNOW
At NAPA/Alliance Ash Sutton and Dan Cammish carry over their multi-season deals. Sutton is tied to NAPA for the next two seasons, with NAPA hoping to introduce a new car for the 2026 campaign, ahead of the new ruleset for the following year.
Tom and Tom (that’s Chilton and Ingram) will be back with Excelr8. The team revealed a new livery for the pairing for next season during the week – to mixed reviews – while confirming that their side of the garage will remain as is.
Árón Taylor-Smith remains in his Power Maxed seat having signed a two-year contract ahead of last season. The team has the ability to return to three cars should the opportunity arise.
Jake Hill has publicly stated that he’d like to remain with WSR for 2025, but a deal has not yet been signed. Adam Morgan told Touring Car Magazine he’d like to remain with the team but pointed out that the budget a driver can raise is shrinking – while the budget a team needs is growing.
Un-Limited Motorsport secured a second Cupra chassis earlier this year and have indicated that it is very close to having their 2025 two-car line-up confirmed.
The BTCC confirmed that four TOCA Licenses (TBL) will be available for 2025 for up to a pair of new two car teams with a grid likely to be capped at 24 cars. With the possibility of Un-Limited/Power Maxed Racing expanding, it is currently unclear if two viable teams come forward whether a possible 26 car grid would be considered.
The official season kick-off begins with a two day test on April 1st and 2nd at Croft, with the season launch at Donington Park on April 15th before the first race of 2025 at Donington on the weekend of April 26th and 27th.
THE RUMOUR MILL
Two seats remain at NAPA, the rumour mill places Sam Osbourne back at the team. A strong second-half of 2024, while working with Rory Butcher, has the seat nailed on if you believe paddock talk.
Chris Smiley was a major part of Restart Racing joining the BTCC, there was no public announcement about terms or length of contract, but this appears to be a personal passion project. Some rumouring is that Restart has the capability and capacity to run a third car.
Andrew Watson to MB/WSR. The rumour is based upon Watson being part of the MB ‘family’ and having more experience via GT racing of RWD, which would suit him hopping into a BMW.
Naturally, plenty of drivers will be back, possibly in the same teams. The yearly ‘Turkington to retire’ mutterings have not arrived, Rob Huff openly admitted that the BTCC is a three or four year project – his current jaunt to TCR World Tour does not appear to be a precursor to returning there – unless the story we reported about TCR World Tour coming to Britain (linked below) turns out to be true.
Depending on who you listen to, Ronan Pearson will return in a PMR Astra. Or a Toyota. Or a Cupra, with Dexter Patterson filling one of those other rides.
The glue sniffer side of the BTCC and TCR UK paddocks have Dick Bennetts selling WSR, Carl Boardley starting a two car BTCC team – but only appearing as team owner, Nick Halstead leading a buyout of TOCA and William Storey returning as a team owner with two Honda Civics.
TCR UK
WHAT WE KNOW
TCR UK is making the switch to BARC for next season. Running under the same club that sanctions TOCA. It is hoped by TCR UK that they become a viable feeder series for BTCC, as well as providing a financially viable alternative for racers unable to pull together a BTCC budget.
Donington returns for two rounds as Thruxton and Silverstone International are dropped.
A support slot for the opening round of the British GT championship has been secured, as well as featuring on the British Truck Racing bill on two occasions.
Maximum Motorsport to run more than one Hyundai i30N as part of a Junior Team with support from Hyundai.
Steve and Sam Laidlaw will compete for the full 2025 season in the factory fresh Cupra VZ machines they debuted at Silverstone.
Callum Newsham intends to return to the series. Newsham mentioned that a Hyundai Elantra would be an ideal switch if a deal, and a fairer BoP could be pulled together.
MPH Racing and Brad Hutchison aim to remain in the series. The commercial aspect of the team places TCR UK as a perfect place for them to race.
On the final day of the season Carl Boardley had mixed feelings, first stating that two titles are enough, but at the end of the day – possibly ‘in the moment’ after taking the crown – he did say ‘you never know’ about going for a third championship.
THE RUMOUR MILL
Restart Racing are eying a return to the series. Peter Jones, part owner of Restart Racing BTCC LTD and director of sponsor Third Millenium, was at Silverstone with an eye on the series and is considering bringing the 2022 champions back. The team were initially slated to return for 2024.
There will be more brand-new factory fresh cars coming to the series, with a fresh, unnamed team.
Will Powell could arrive with the FL5 he told Touring Car magazine last July that he had lined up.
The top three Gen One drivers are reportedly aiming for Gen Two entries.
The more outlandish muttering that we’ve heard include supposed TCR UK returns for Scott Sumpton and Alex Ley, Josh Cook in a Lynk & Co, Khumo tyres replacing Goodyear and hybrid for 2026. The kind of gossip that calls for regular drug testing – not the performance enhancing kind.
And of course, as mentioned above (click on the link) a possibility of TCR World Tour hitting Donington Park, with TCR UK teams making up at least half of the grid.
Touring Car Magazine 