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Áron Taylor-Smith joins Toyota Gazoo Racing UK as Colin Turkington exits BTCC, with new drivers and rule changes ahead.

Áron Taylor-Smith, the reigning Independents` Champion, has made a significant move to Toyota Gazoo Racing UK for the 2025 British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season. After an impressive campaign where he secured 20 class victories and finished seventh overall, this transition comes as his former team, Power Maxed Racing, faces financial uncertainty due to the loss of a major sponsor.

In a surprising turn, four-time BTCC champion Colin Turkington has announced he will not compete in the 2025 season. Turkington expressed gratitude towards the BTCC, BMW, and West Surrey Racing (WSR) for his time in the series, hinting that this could mark the end of his touring car career in the British championship.

Toyota Gazoo Racing UK has also confirmed its second driver for the upcoming season, 23-year-old Ronan Pearson, who is coming off a successful 2024 campaign that included his first BTCC victory at Brands Hatch. Meanwhile, WSR will introduce its youngest driver in nearly two decades, 19-year-old Daryl DeLeon, who aims to secure a podium finish and win the Jack Sears Trophy in 2025.

Restart Racing will see Chris Smiley return for a second season, fielding a pair of Hyundai i30s, while the BTCC grid expands to 24 cars with One Motorsport making a comeback. Additionally, TOCA has announced rule changes for 2025, including a two-year engine freeze and adjustments to grid position decisions.

For more information on the BTCC, visit BTCC and BTCC drivers and teams.

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