Adam Morgan will compete for Plato Racing for the 2026 BTCC season. The 37-year-old joins Daniel Rowbottom to drive the new Mercedes-AMG A35 Saloon, marking a high-profile return to the brand where he enjoyed his greatest career successes.

In 2025, Morgan finished an impressive sixth overall in an Excelr8 Hyundai i30. Despite failing to win a race, he outperformed double-winner teammate Tom Chilton to finish as the team’s second-best driver behind champion Tom Ingram.

“This is unbelievably exciting; joining Plato Racing and being a part of a brand-new team, brand-new car, and a whole new way of approaching the BTCC is incredible,” Morgan said regarding his move to the ambitious new squad.

The move marks a fresh chapter for Morgan following a stint in the Hyundai and a prior four-season spell in the BMW 330. That period included two years with his family-run Ciceley team, where he secured three victories, followed by two years with WSR. While the WSR partnership was highly anticipated, it didn’t quite deliver the expected results, leading Morgan back to the front-wheel-drive machinery where he has proven so effective in recent seasons.

Now, reuniting with the Mercedes badge feels like a homecoming. Morgan’s history with the brand is well known within the paddock; during a seven-year stint in the A-Class hatchback he secured eight of his 11 career wins and 30 podiums. This existing comfort with the Mercedes platform, combined with the technical oversight of Jason Plato and engineer Paul Ridgeway, suggests that the new A35 Saloon will be a front-runner from the opening round.

“JP knows how to win championships and get the best not just out of the car but also out of the team,” Morgan said. “You can already see that clearly in how he has gone about setting up Plato Racing. The staff, the infrastructure, the investment, the no holds barred approach is something I have never witnessed before.

“For myself and my sponsor Ciceley Commercials Ltd, joining Plato Racing and driving a Mercedes Benz is commercially by far the best option for us both. And from the first moment we walked into Plato Racing HQ we knew this was where we wanted to be for 2026.

“I genuinely can’t wait to get started, it’s going to be a mega year! There’s going to be drama, of course, Jason Plato is involved!”

Beyond the technical data, the team dynamic appears rock-solid. Morgan and Rowbottom have raced together since they were eight years old and previously shared a garage at Ciceley in 2019. This established shorthand will be vital for a start-up team looking to develop a brand-new car under the pressure of the UK’s premier motorsport series.

Jason Plato is clearly betting on experience and chemistry to fast-track his team’s success. By bringing Morgan back into the Mercedes fold, he has secured a driver who knows exactly how to extract performance from the German brand while maintaining the consistency needed for a title tilt. For Morgan, 2026 represents the perfect blend of a fresh start and a return to familiar, winning ways.

“I’m thrilled to have Adam join my team, he has vast experience and has proved he can win BTCC races with his 11 wins and 47 podiums,” Plato stated. “Russell his father is a friend of mine, we raced together in 1996 Renault Spiders. They are honest lively people who are business savvy, with strong Mercedes and Daimler connections.

“I also believe, it’s also very important in the first year of a new team that both my drivers get on well and don’t fire my cars at the wall, I have absolute confidence that they fit the bill. Just like I expect from Dan, I also believe that Adam will be a true force at the sharp end in the BTCC this year. Wow, it’s a wonderful moment to have two great drivers who have the personality and wildness to fit in with my brand values at Plato Racing.”