Tom Chilton switches to BTC squad in latest Honda in BTCC
Tom Chilton will partner Josh Cook at the BTC Racing British Touring Car Championship team in 2020 at the wheel of a latest-specification Honda Civic Type R FK8
Chilton, who began his BTCC career when he was 17-years-old in 2002, spent 10 seasons in the BTCC and drove for a number of teams including Barwell Motorsport, Arena International (pictured below), Triple Eight Race Engineering and Team Dymanics.
He then drove in the World Touring Car Championship between 2012 and 2017, but made his return to the BTCC in a twin campaign 2017, driving for the Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall squad. Since then, he has focused on the UK's tin-top series.
The 34-year-old switched to Motorbase Performance in 2018 and won two races with the Ford Focus team during his two-year spell. He was third in the overall championship in his first season with the team, before finishing 10th in 2019.
"The team did a sterling job last year," said Chilton.
"To have ended the season fourth overall and as Independent runners-up in their first season running the FK8 chassis was an outstanding achievement.
"I can't wait to get testing underway.
"I have a great history with Honda [as a former Arena International and Team Dynamics driver], and I'm really looking forward to getting back into one again, and behind the wheel of the FK8.
"Josh [Cook] is a great driver, and I like having good team-mates to push me.
"I'd like to think that with my years of experience I can bring something new to the team and help to push them on at the sharp end of the grid.
"BTC Racing is a relatively young team, but their attitude and performance caught my eye last year.
"I like their approach and professionalism.
"I'm optimistic about the future that we can build together, not just for this season, but hopefully for many years moving forward."
Joint team Principal Bert Taylor, who owns the operation alongside racer and businessman Steve Dudman, said: "Personally I couldn't be happier to have captured Tom.
"You only have to look back over his racing career to see what a true talent he is.
"Tom's signing is another part of our plan to push forward and challenge for the BTCC title in 2020.
"He brings a wealth of experience and talent to the team, and I have no doubt that his knowledge will help to develop the Civic further this season."
2020 BTCC grid so far
| Team Dynamics Honda Civic Type R FK8 | Matt Neal, Dan Cammish |
| WSR BMW 330i M Sport | Colin Turkington, Andrew Jordan, Tom Oliphant |
| AmD Tuning Honda Civic Type R FK2 | Jake Hill, Sam Osborne |
| BTC Racing Honda Civic Type R FK8 | Tom Chilton, Josh Cook |
| Laser Tools Racing Infiniti Q50 | Ash Sutton, Aiden Moffat |
| Trade Price Cars Racing | Bobby Thompson, James Gornall |
| Team Hard VW CC | Mike Bushell, Jack Goff |
| Team Hard BMW 125i M Sport | Carl Boardley |
Saluting a driver who helped boost Britain's modern F1 influence
Ciceley BTCC squad Ciceley reworking Mercedes, retains line-up
Porsche boss “as surprised as anyone” over Gulf-Williams F1 social media frenzy
Porsche’s head of motorsport Thomas Laudenbach found it “funny” that streamlining its Instagram channels caused a Formula 1 social media speculation frenzy last month.
Why Albon won't be "throwing around laptops" to gain a 2023 F1 edge
OPINION: At the Williams 2023 Formula 1 season launch, Alex Albon’s easy-going nature was again a point of focus. But does being “too nice” really matter in modern F1? Albon’s own expressions put that in an intriguing new light
Why Alfa Romeo has kept its blade roll hoop on 2023 F1 car
The Alfa Romeo Formula 1 team has retained its unique blade roll hoop for the C43 but designed it to withstand load tests that the FIA will introduce in 2024.
Daly to attempt 2023 Daytona 500 with The Money Team
IndyCar driver Conor Daly has announced plans to enter the 2023 Daytona 500 with The Money Team, making his superspeedway debut in NASCAR Cup.
Autosport writers' most memorable moments of 2022
The season just gone was a memorable one for many of our staff writers, who are fortunate enough to cover motorsport around the world. Here are our picks of the best (and in some cases, most eventful) from 2022
How the BTCC's new hybrid era aced its first test
Expectations were high for the start of the British Touring Car Championship’s hybrid power era, and despite nerves and problems to solve prior to its debut the new rules gained widespread approval. Here’s how the first test at Donington Park was passed and the thorough examinations that are to follow
The Ford BTCC superteam combining two reigning TOCA champions
Reigning BTCC champion Ash Sutton and Porsche Carrera Cup GB victor Dan Cammish form a potent line-up at the Motorbase-run NAPA Racing team as the series adopts hybrid power. With Sutton bringing the key components of his title-winning Laser Tools Racing set-up, and Cammish eager to prove a point on his return, their dynamic is set to be one of the season's major talking points
The stalwart tin-top boss still shaping careers more than 40 years on
Veteran team manager Marvin Humphries and former Tech-Speed team boss has worked not only with stars of the British Touring Car Championship, but legends including Gil de Ferran, Hans Stuck and Tom Sneva in a long and varied career that has spanned five decades across tin-tops, single-seaters and sportscars
The grassroots rise that shaped an understated BTCC star
Having started out in club-level competitions alongside his own university engineering studies, Josh Cook's journey to becoming an established frontrunner in the British Touring Car Championship is atypical. But it's these experiences that have moulded the 30-year-old into a humble star, respected throughout the paddock
Ranking the top 10 BTCC drivers of 2021
A refresh in equipment and some returning faces helped contribute to a supremely competitive 2021 British Touring Car Championship campaign. Ash Sutton was crowned a three-time champion, successfully defending his 2020 title, but faced stiff competition in the final year before the switch to hybrid. Autosport picks out the best performers
Why the BTCC's ballast increase couldn't stop champion Sutton
Ballast will be gone from the BTCC next year as hybrid power enters the scene, but for its final season the maximum was increased from 60kg to 75kg. Despite having to carry that nearly all season, Ash Sutton was always the favourite to pocket a third title - the 27-year-old getting his reward for a season of speed tempered by savvy to nail his opportunities
The much-loved tin-top superstar bowing out at 59
OPINION: It's not often that a driver achieves widespread affection for their personality, as well as their on-track performances. One such individual is Gabriele Tarquini, who will soon bring the curtain down on a remarkable career that has yielded touring car titles on the European and global stage - and, famously, in Britain too
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.