BTCC 2026 Season Launch: Rainford Tops Brands Hatch Pre-Season Test

The 2026 British Touring Car Championship burst into life on Wednesday 8 April at Brands Hatch, where teams assembled for the official Season Launch and final pre-season test. Under clear spring skies and in front of 9000 fans, the Indy Circuit hosted six hours of crucial running that offered the first real indication of how the grid is shaping up ahead of the new campaign.

All 21 cars completed in the BTCC 2026 Season Launch, testing across the day, with teams focusing on everything from tyre evaluation to longer race simulations. As is always the case in testing, outright lap times only tell part of the story, with differing fuel loads and setups playing a major role. Even so, the pace at the front was strikingly close throughout the day, with multiple drivers trading fastest times as conditions improved.

Rainford Sets the Benchmark Late On

Charles Rainford ultimately emerged as the fastest driver of the day, delivering a standout performance in the closing stages of the afternoon session. His lap of 47.102 seconds in the #99 BMW 330i M Sport came right at the end of the test and decisively moved him to the top of the timesheets.

The timing of the lap was significant, as the field had been tightly packed all day. Rainford’s late improvement created a more noticeable gap at the top, putting him just over three tenths of a second clear of the chasing pack. It was a confident statement from both driver and team heading into the opening race weekend.

Behind him, #27 Dan Cammish secured second place with a strong and consistent showing, while Josh Cook completed the top three after demonstrating competitive pace throughout both sessions. All three drivers appeared comfortable in their machinery, suggesting they will be firmly in contention once racing begins.

Close Competition Across the Grid

One of the most striking aspects of the test was just how close the field remained from start to finish. The top runners were separated by only fractions of a second for much of the day, and even by the end, the gaps remained incredibly tight across the top 15 positions. This level of competitiveness suggests that the 2026 season could deliver some of the closest racing the championship has seen in years.

Power Maxed Racing made a particularly strong impression with their Audi A3 package, which showed impressive speed across both sessions. The team frequently appeared near the top of the timing screens before ultimately securing fourth with #17 Dexter Patterson and #88 Mikey Doble in fifth position overall. This performance indicates that they could play a significant role in the early stages of the season.

There were also encouraging signs from several other teams running new or updated machinery. Established names such as #116 Ashley Sutton and Gordon Shedden remained firmly in the mix, underlining the depth of experience within the field.

Combined Results Overview

The final combined classification from the day saw Rainford leading the way with a lap time of 47.102 seconds. Cammish followed in second place, just over three tenths behind. #66 Josh Cook lighting up his brake disks completed the top three a fraction further back. Dexter Patterson and Mikey Doble ensured a strong showing for Power Maxed Racing by securing fourth and fifth positions respectively.

Ashley Sutton ended the day in sixth position, followed closely by Árón Taylor-Smith and Gordon Shedden, both of whom remained within striking distance of the front. James Dorlin and Adam Morgan completed the top ten after consistent performances across both sessions.

Further down the order, Aiden Moffat, Chris Smiley and Sam Osborne all remained within touching distance of the top ten, while Daniel Rowbottom and Max Buxton also featured within the tightly packed midfield. Lewis Selby followed closely behind, with Team VERTU’s trio of #80 Tom Ingram, Tom Chilton and Ricky Collard completing the top 19.

Looking Ahead to Donington Park

With pre-season testing now complete, attention turns to the opening race weekend of the 2026 season at Donington Park on 18–19 April. This event will provide the first true indication of competitive order, as teams shift from experimental testing programmes to full race conditions.

The data gathered at Brands Hatch will prove invaluable, but the transition to race weekend intensity often reshuffles the order. Factors such as qualifying pace, race craft and tyre management will begin to play a far greater role once the lights go out.

Final Thoughts

The Brands Hatch Season Launch delivered an exciting and informative start to the 2026 BTCC story. The combination of close lap times, competitive new machinery and experienced race winners all running near the front suggests that the championship is in excellent shape.

While testing results should always be interpreted with caution, the evidence from this event points toward a fiercely contested season ahead. If the margins seen during the test carry over into race conditions, fans can expect another year of intense, unpredictable and high-quality touring car racing.

Combined Results – Brands Hatch Season Launch Test

1	Charles Rainford	WSR	47.102
2	Dan Cammish	NAPA Racing UK	+0.317s
3	Josh Cook	Speedworks Corolla Racing	+0.335s
4	Dexter Patterson	Power Maxed Racing	+0.372s
5	Mikey Doble	Power Maxed Racing	+0.421s
6	Ashley Sutton	NAPA Racing UK	+0.514s
7	Árón Taylor-Smith	MB Motorsport	+0.542s
8	Gordon Shedden	MB Motorsport	+0.555s
9	James Dorlin	Restart Racing	+0.620s
10	Adam Morgan	Plato Racing	+0.633s
11	Aiden Moffat	Power Maxed Racing	+0.637s
12	Chris Smiley	Restart Racing	+0.645s
13	Sam Osborne	NAPA Racing UK	+0.653s
14	Daniel Rowbottom	Plato Racing	+0.668s
15	Max Buxton	Speedworks Corolla Racing	+0.708s
16	Lewis Selby	NAPA Racing UK	+0.715s
17	Tom Ingram	Team VERTU	+0.886s
18	Tom Chilton	Team VERTU	+0.947s
19	Ricky Collard	Team VERTU	+1.086s
20	Daryl Deleon	WSR	1.201
21	Nicolas Hamilton	Team VERTU	1.223

Donington Park will host the opening round of the 2026 BTCC Championship on the 18 – 19 April 2026.

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