The young guns of the BTCC

“It’s the biggest championship in the UK,” says Porsche Carrera Cup convert Dan Cammish, 29, who drives for the works Dynamics Honda team. “It’s easier to make a name for yourself here than in sports cars; more people in the UK know who Jason Plato is than Nick Tandy.”

That profile is a huge help in attracting sponsors. Sam Tordoff, 28, has returned to the BTCC this year with the Motorbase Ford team after a season of racing sports cars in Europe. “The BTCC suits my sponsors,” he says. “It’s easier to raise a bigger budget for the BTCC than a smaller budget to do GT racing.”

The decline in the number of manufacturer teams, which generally preferred employing experienced racers with a profile, from the height of the Super Touring days is also part of the reason for the rise of the young guns. “Experience is important, but it’s about more than just driving these days,” says Eurotech Honda driver Jack Goff, 27. “My family does all my marketing and hospitality. The works drivers didn’t have to do that.”

Sutton adds: “If you want to race these days, you’ve got to earn it, and you have to find sponsors and maximise what the BTCC can offer. You have to build a whole infrastructure around you and work towards long-term goals.”

The current cars are relatively affordable and accessible, too, so drivers with less experience can step in and be competitive. And the fact that young drivers see the BTCC’s long-term career prospects helps when it comes to promotion. “Touring car drivers aren’t transient, so people can find a young gun and get behind them for five to 10 years,” says Gow. “In the old days, the young guns weren’t really chased after by the public. Now they’re really popular.”

Sutton adds: “You have to learn that it’s about more than just the on-track action. You can become a hero to some people and build a profile that goes far beyond the BTCC.”

The popularity of the BTCC’s young guns with the public is, in part, because they are far more open and accessible than their F1 counterparts. “They’re all prima donnas anyway,” quips Speedworks Motorsport racer Tom Ingram, 24.

Regardless, though, their success isn’t driven by their age but by their results. “Lots of young drivers are fast,” says 21-year-old Mercedes racer Aiden Moffat. “They’re just great drivers. Age is just what it is.”

And there’s more: 

There are plenty of other prominent BTCC drivers under 30. Power Maxed Vauxhall’s Senna Proctor, 19, and Josh Cook, 26, have both claimed their first race wins this season. Mercedes racer Adam Morgan, 29, has also finished first.

Drivers to have visited the podium this year include BTC Norlin Honda’s Chris Smiley, 26, and Team Hard Volkswagen’s Jake Hill, 24. Then there’s series veteran Andrew Jordan, who won the title back in 2013 andis in his 11th BTCC season – and yet he’s still only 28 years old.

Six twenty-somethings to watch: 

AIDEN MOFFAT: Team Laser Tools Racing Mercedes A-Class

Age: 21

BTCC wins: 2

Why the BTCC?

“It’s something any driver would want to be involved in. It’s a massive championship and draws great crowds.”

Earliest BTCC memory?

“When I started in Fiesta Junior, my driver coach was [BTCC race winner] Tom Onslow-Cole; I had no idea who he was! My team boss told me to go and watch ITV4 to find out.”

Favourite BTCC driver growing up?

“I always supported Tom, and I respect what Jason Plato and Gordon Shedden have done.”

DAN CAMMISH: Team Dynamics Honda Civic Type R

Age: 29

BTCC wins: 0

Why the BTCC?

“I’d had success racing Porsches, but in sports cars nobody could say: ‘Yes, you’re going to be a works driver’. When the Honda opportunity came up, it was a bit of a no-brainer.”

Earliest BTCC memory?

“TOCA 2 on the PlayStation. I was usually Alain Menu in the Renault Laguna.”

Favourite BTCC driver growing up?

“I admired drivers such as Matt Neal and Jason Plato. Having Matt as my teammate is amazing; he’s able to share so much info.”

SAM TORDOFF: Team Motorbase Performance Ford Focus RS

Age: 28

BTCC wins: 6

Why the BTCC?

“It’s the biggest championship in the UK. I left the BTCC [after 2016] to do GT racing in Europe, but I didn’t like sharing a car and preferred racing in the UK.”

Earliest BTCC memory?

“TOCA on the PlayStation: the yellow and blue Renault Lagunas, Tim Harvey’s green Peugeot 406, the Audi A4 quattros and so on.”

Favourite BTCC driver growing up?

“John Cleland; I liked the Vectra he raced. It was weird to get to know him as a driver, given that I used to play as him on a game when I was eight.”

ASHLEY SUTTON: Team BMR Subaru Levorg

Age: 24

BTCC wins: 7

BTCC championships: 1

Why the BTCC?

“It was always a dream to be on the grid. It’s somewhere you can build a profile as a driver, and gain a proper fan base and sponsors.”

Earliest BTCC memory?

“Watching Jason Plato and Matt Neal go head to head when Jason was in the Seat and Matt was in the Integra.”

Favourite BTCC driver growing up?

“I won a karting title aged 11 and went to an awards ceremony. There were two drivers I wanted to meet: Lewis Hamilton and Jason. Having Jason as my teammate now is surreal.”

JACK GOFF: Team Eurotech Honda Civic Type R

Age: 27

BTCC wins: 3

Why the BTCC?

“My generation grew up watching it on TV. When I started karting, I thought of F1, but you have to look at the reality: it costs £50 million just to get there. With touring cars, there are more opportunities if you don’t have the money; my parents cashed in their pensions to buy my first car.”

Earliest BTCC memory?

“Paul O’Neill crying when he took his first win [at Oulton Park in 2002]; that still gives me nightmares!”

Favourite BTCC driver growing up?

“Alain Menu. I was his team-mate in 2014 [at Team BMR], which was a bit surreal.”

TOM INGRAM: Team Speedworks Toyota Avensis 

Age: 24

BTCC wins: 6

Why the BTCC?

“It’s been a passion since I was five. I had the BTCC 1997 season review video and watched a race every morning before school. I used to watch F1, but it never really appealed.”

Earliest BTCC memory?

“Watching Matt Neal taking the £250,000 prize for winning as an independent driver [at Donington Park in 1999]. I wish they still had that prize...”

Favourite BTCC driver growing up?

“Matt Neal. In my first BTCC race, he was next to me on the grid. That was a very cool moment.”

Subaru Levorg racer Ashley Sutton secures two wins at Croft

BTCC adds second Thruxton date, drops Rockingham for 2019

Honda Civic Type R driver Simpson stars in the BTCC at Oulton Park