British Touring Car Championship Chief Executive Alan Gow is predicting an ‘extremely exciting’ 2023 season, as he spoke at the official season launch.
27 drivers from seven different teams and seven manufacturers will take to the field for the season opener at Donington Park next weekend in the 66th BTCC season.
The off-season has seen consolidation amongst the entry list, with two outfits – Ciceley Motorsport and Team Dynamics – leaving the series, whilst other squads – Team HARD, Power Maxed Racing and WSR – have expanded their driver line-ups.
Two of the championships biggest names– Jason Plato and Gordon Shedden – have also departed the series. Plato announced last year that 2022 would be his final season in the championship, whilst Shedden has been left without a drive after Team Dynamics lost Halfords and Cataclean backing during the off-season.
There have been a number of drivers switching teams ahead of the start of the season. Árón Taylor-Smith moves to Power Maxed Racing, Dan Lloyd, Jade Edwards AND Dexter Patterson switch to Team HARD, Adam Morgan has joined Team BMW, George Gamble moves to Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, Aiden Moffat will race with One Motorsport (formerly BTC Racing) and Daniel Rowbottom joins NAPA Racing UK.
Amongst all the changes, 15 of last year’s top 16 driver remain on the grid, with Excelr8 Motorsport’s Tom Ingram seeking to defend his first title in the BTCC.
“It has been as busy as ever during the off-season, but now we can’t wait to get the 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship started,” said Gow on the eve of the season launch.
“The championship again boasts a hugely competitive driver line-up with an ever-growing number of genuine title contenders all looking to win the title, so it will be interesting to see who will come out on top.
“The Hybrid introduction last year proved very successful and popular among fans, but we immediately identified ways in which to tweak how the Hybrid is deployed in order further enhance the competitiveness for 2023.
“This, plus the reintroduction of the Goodyear option tyre and the ‘Top Ten Showdown’ qualifying format now being adopted at five of the ten events, means it is set to be an extremely exciting season ahead.
“Kwik Fit, Goodyear, ITV, Cosworth, M-Sport and our other incredibly loyal partners play a massive role in this championship, and we remain always grateful for their support and enthusiasm.
“It’s almost time for the talking to stop and the action to get underway, so we hope you all enjoy the 2023 BTCC season.”
2023 BTCC Entry List
| Driver | No. | Team | Car |
 Tom INGRAM |
1 | BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 | Hyundai i30 N Fastback |
| Tom CHILTON |
3 | BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 | Hyundai i30 N Fastback |
| Colin TURKINGTON |
4 | Team BMW | BMW 330e M Sport |
| Rory BUTCHER |
6 | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK | Toyota Corolla GR Sport |
| Andrew WATSON |
11 | CarStore Power Maxed Racing | Vauxhall Astra |
| Stephen JELLEY |
12 | Team BMW | BMW 330e M Sport |
| Ronan PEARSON |
14 | BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 | Hyundai i30 N Fastback |
| Aiden MOFFAT |
16 | One Motorsport with Starline Racing | Honda Civic Type-R |
| Dexter PATTERSON |
17 | Re.Beverages and Bartercard with Team HARD. | CUPRA Leon |
| Bobby THOMPSON |
19 | Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils | CUPRA Leon |
| Nick HALSTEAD |
22 | BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 | Hyundai i30 N Fastback |
| Jake HILL |
24 | Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport | BMW 330e M Sport |
| Dan CAMMISH |
27 | NAPA Racing UK | Ford Focus ST |
| Nicolas HAMILTON |
28 | Go-Fix with Autoaid Breakdown | CUPRA Leon |
| Daniel ROWBOTTOM |
32 | NAPA Racing UK | Ford Focus ST |
| Adam MORGAN |
33 | Team BMW | BMW 330e M Sport |
| Ricky COLLARD |
37 | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK | Toyota Corolla GR Sport |
 Árón TAYLOR-SMITH |
40 | CarStore Power Maxed Racing | Vauxhall Astra |
| George GAMBLE |
42 | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK | Toyota Corolla GR Sport |
| Josh COOK |
66 | One Motorsport with Starline Racing | Honda Civic Type-R |
| Will POWELL |
70 | One Motorsport with Starline Racing | Honda Civic Type-R |
| Sam OSBORNE |
77 | NAPA Racing UK | Ford Focus ST |
| Mikey DOBLE |
88 | CarStore Power Maxed Racing | Vauxhall Astra |
| Jack BUTEL |
96 | Go-Fix with Autoaid Breakdown | CUPRA Leon |
| Jade EDWARDS |
99 | Re.Beverages and Bartercard with Team HARD. | CUPRA Leon |
| Ashley SUTTON |
116 | NAPA Racing UK | Ford Focus ST |
| Daniel LLOYD |
123 | Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils | CUPRA Leon |