Two-time TCR UK champion Lewis Kent will return to the championship in 2026, racing a Lynk & Co 03 TCR for new team SVG Motorsport.
Kent, 25, was one of the first drivers in the UK to commit to TCR UK, joining the grid for the inaugural season in 2018 in a Hyundai i30 N TCR run by his family outfit Essex & Kent Motorsport.
Kent continued in the series for the next four seasons, three of which were run within the ‘Touring Car Trophy’, and in 2020 he won the TCR UK title.
He defended his TCR UK title in 2021 against an increasingly competitive field, before finishing fourth overall in 2022.
With 14 TCR UK wins, Kent is the joint record holder for race victories in the series, a record now shared with Adam Shepherd.
Since his last TCR outing, Kent has competed in the Civic Cup, finishing fourth overall in 2024 and third in the 2025 season.
In 2026 he will race for new outfit SVG Motorsport, which previously ran cars in the Civic Cup and GT racing and has recently merged with Vinna Sport.
“I’m really excited about the upcoming season with SVG Motorsport and the Lynk & Co,” said Kent. “I think the 2026 season will be one of TCR UK’s strongest years yet, and I can’t wait to start this new venture with a fresh team and a fresh car, and hopefully we’ll enjoy plenty of success along the way.”
Team owner Andy Johnson added that the team will undertake off-season testing prior to the 2026 season.
“We feel that this is a very strong driver / car combination,” added Johnson. “Combined with a winter test program already in place, we feel that SVG Motorsport have a very strong package for our assault on our 2026 debut TCR UK campaign.
“Given his history, Lewis is exactly the kind of driver we’ve been looking for to join SVG Motorsport for our debut season.”
Director of Motorsport Development, Russell Birch, added: “SVG Motorsport are very excited and looking forward to having the very accomplished TCR driver and two-time TCR champion Lewis Kent piloting our very capable Lynk & Co 03 TCR car for 2026.
“We’ve been working hard behind the scenes for a little while now to bring this deal together.
“With Lewis driving the Lynk & Co, I feel that we are now in a strong position to fight for the 2026 TCR UK Championship”.