The grid for the 2026 TCR UK Touring Car Championship is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in the series’ history, featuring a mix of returning talent and new names connected to available seats.

Adding to the lineup for this term is Russell Joyce, CEO of Chelmsford-based Joyce Design, who has officially announced his comeback to TCR UK, after a hiatus following his 2022 campaign in a Gen 1 Cupra.

Entering the fray this time with an Audi RS 3 LMS Gen 2 machine, Joyce will be hard to miss on track. True to his brand, the car will feature an “unmissable” livery designed to stand out in both wet and sunny conditions.

To ensure his comeback is successful, Joyce has partnered with the 2024 TCR UK Teams Champions, JH Racing. Led by James Hone, the squad has established itself as a powerhouse within the paddock, known for their professional preparation and technical expertise. The team has already confirmed title contender and race winner Callum Newsham will continue with the outfit in his Hyundai Elantra this coming season.

For those familiar with the TCR UK paddock, the name Joyce Design is synonymous with high-impact visuals. Since 2021, Joyce Design has been a championship partner, providing the creative branding that makes many of the competitors’ cars stand out to fans and television cameras alike.

For Joyce, competing in the championship allows the brand to showcase the business: “At Joyce Design, we are passionate about producing high-quality, creative vehicle branding solutions,” he said. “Motorsport provides the perfect platform to showcase what we do, and we’re looking forward to seeing lots of our work on track this year.”

While Joyce brings experience – having finished as runner up in the Goodyear Diamond Award in 2022 – he rejoins a championship that has grown significantly in depth and talent. With the top end of the series expected to be fiercely contested in 2026, Joyce is focused on enjoying the competitive atmosphere.

“It’s great to be back in TCR UK after a few years out of competitive racing,” he explained. “The TCR Paddock has always been a high level of competition with many different factory cars, which has made this interesting for both driver and spectator.”

Regarding his decision to rejoin the grid, Joyce pointed to the quality of racing as a driving factor. “The TCR UK Championship has built a reputation for attracting a wide variety of manufacturer machinery and delivering close, wheel-to-wheel racing.”

Championship Manager Jack Finlan welcomed the news of Joyce’s return and the expansion of JH Racing. “It’s great to see Russell make his return to the championship after several years away. Russell has been a huge supporter of the TCR concept, and we have seen many entries over the years where liveries has been supplied by Joyce Designs, making the cars stand out on track even more during a race weekend. Working with JH Racing provides Russell a chance to come back fighting and enjoy his racing again as the team expands to multiple entries for 2026.

“I’m also very pleased to see drivers are returning to the grid after some time away from the championship. TCR UK has grown in recent seasons, with new drivers, teams and TCR brands making the move to the UK to compete against each other and is now the go to place for touring car racing across the UK.”