The British Touring Car Championship returns to Knockhill this weekend with the largest grid of the 2026 season so far, as 23 touring cars prepare to battle it out in front of an expected crowd of 15,000 fans.
The annual visit to Scotland’s national motorsport centre on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 August promises to be one of the biggest race weekends of the year, with a packed programme featuring 19 races across a variety of championships.
Joining the BTCC grid for Knockhill is touring car stalwart Nick Halstead, who returns to partner Glasgow racer Dexter Patterson in the Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing Audi A3 Saloon.
The championship will also feature four Scottish drivers, with Gordon Shedden, Aiden Moffat and Dexter Patterson joined by 22 year old Knockhill debutant Lewis Gilbert.
Gilbert made his BTCC debut at Thruxton last weekend and will be racing competitively at Knockhill for the first time, having previously only driven parts of the circuit during the Border Access Rally earlier this year.
Knockhill Director of Events Stuart Gray said:
“This years visit of the British Touring Car Championship is special in so many ways.
“We will have a Saturday BTCC race for the first time, have four Scottish drivers to cheer on, see a record 89 laps of Touring Car racing over the weekend, and now have the largest number of Touring Cars entered of any round so far this year in the championship with 23 cars which is one more than in 2025!
“We are delighted to have such a varied race programme too as fans will enjoy the Touring Cars, Minis, Porsches, Caterham’s and our own Scottish Legends with a capacity grid of 34 cars.
“We took 33 to Oulton Park in June, so to have 34 racing here, in front of 15,000 fans will be the biggest race that many of the drivers will ever race in.”
Speaking about Lewis Gilbert’s first competitive circuit outing at Knockhill, Mr Gray added:
“Lewis will really have his work cut out to learn Knockhill with his only previous visit being in a rally car, going sideways!
“He is with a top team and will have all the data and set-up info from previous years, so he is in good hands and I am sure they will be guiding him to put in a strong drive as the weekend progresses.”
The action gets under way at 9am on Saturday with the inaugural Saturday BTCC qualifying race, before three British Touring Car Championship races take place on Sunday.
Fans will also be treated to support races featuring Minis, Porsches, Caterhams and the Scottish Legends championship.
Tickets are available through Knockhill Racing Circuit, priced at £31 for Saturday, £42 for Sunday or £60 for a weekend ticket.
Under 13s and parking are free.
Tickets are available at www.knockhill.com
