“It’s fair to say we’re all extremely excited ahead of the new season,” said Team Principal Christian Dick. “It’s a significant challenge to expand from two cars to three, but at the same time, having three sets of data to cross-reference should allow us to make progress faster than we’ve ever done before."
British Touring Car Championship
As we launch the 2023 season, Speedworks have partnered with Toyota GAZOO Racing for another outstanding season. For the first time, they are entering with three drivers; Rory Butcher will be joined by Ricky Collard and George Gamble in the Speedworks Motorsport team for BTCC.
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Whilst we look forward to another successful season of BTCC, 2022 drivers Rory Butcher and Ricky Collard reflect on last year's season:
Driver: Rory Butcher
“I was absolutely buzzing after qualifying [at Brands Hatch]. It was great to back up our Silverstone form with another front row start, and I felt in a good place – properly gunning for it and on the hunt for some trophies. We’ve actually been mega-consistent this year and have scored points in 29 of the 30 races – that kind of consistency is really hard to come by in this championship."
Driver: Ricky Collard
“Looking back, it’s been the toughest season I’ve ever had, with repeated bad luck and issues beyond our control as a team that have denied us better results. I feel like I’ve driven some really good races and I’ve certainly had fun along the way. I’m extremely grateful for all the help and support Rory and Speedworks have given me, not only on-track but away from the circuit, too. They’ve been absolutely fantastic, and I’m proud to count them all as mates.”
Christian Dick’s 2022 BTCC review
Toyota GAZOO Racing UK team boss Christian Dick reflects on the successful 2022 BTCC season: “What a great way to end the season: five podium finishes from the last six races. It’s a tremendous achievement and shows just what a sweet spot we’ve got the Corolla into. To be equally competitive at two such different types of circuit as Silverstone and Brands GP is testament to how well the Corolla is working across the board."
Interested in exploring our GAZOO inspired range?
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Explore the history of Toyota's participation in BTCC:
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1975 BTCC: Enter the Samurai
The groundwork for Toyota’s participation in BTCC was laid in 1974, before being taken over by Samurai Racing in 1975. Win Percy was hired to and with more power and overhauled suspension, the 1,588cc Celica CT won its class nine times.
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1982: Percy’s clean sweep
At the helm of a new Corolla GT, Percy racked up a clean sweep of victories – 11 out of 11 – and gave Toyota its first overall BTCC title. Percy’s four-cylinder car was a regular fixture in the overall top ten, despite not having as big an engine as other machines.
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1985 BTCC: Sheene’s machine
In 1983 Toyota GB stepped up to the main class, with a 2.8-litre straight-six Celica Supra. Percy scored this car’s only outright BTCC win at Brands Hatch in 1984, with Barry Sheene taking over as his replacement in 1985.
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Toyota BTCC History – 1986/87: Hodgetts back-to-back
For 1986, Toyota GB returned to the class for 1,301-1,600cc engine capacities, entering an AE86 Corolla GT Coupe and contracting Chris Hodgetts to drive. Over two seasons he and Toyota GB secured back-to-back overall BTCC titles.
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1988: Corollas everywhere
At the tail-end of the decade, the rear-wheel drive AE86 Corolla continued to be a fixture on the BTCC grid, even though it had effectively been replaced by the newer, front-wheel drive Corolla GT hatch that was also competing.
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1991: Enter the Super Tourers
With the BTCC switching to a single-class formula, Toyota was back with a brace of front-wheel drive Carina models run under the Kaliber ICS Team Toyota banner. Multiple BTCC champion Andy Rouse ended the season third in both drivers’ and manufacturers' standings.
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1993 BTCC – “The car upside down is a Toyota!”
In 1992, reigning champion Will Hoy joined the team, enjoying one of the strongest seasons ever. Renowned Toyota tuning company TOM’S GB took over the running of the Carina Es in 1993 as Toyota expanded to its most ambitious BTCC assault yet.
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2011: Back where it belongs
After an absence of almost a decade-and-a-half, Toyota returned to the BTCC. Two cars appeared on the grid and, in 2012, Frank Wrathall scooped the first BTCC win for the Avensis NGTC at Brands Hatch- the first win for Toyota after 19 seasons.
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2014: A new star is born
Having impressed within BTCC’s, Tom Ingram signed for independent team Speedworks Motorsport to race the Avensis in 2014, claiming two podiums ending the 2015 season 13th overall. He started 2016 by qualifying on pole position and a debut victory at Brands Hatch.
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Toyota BTCC History – 2017: Independents’ champion
The 2017 season saw the introduction of a newly facelifted Avensis. By the end of race three at the Brands Hatch finale, Ingram had not only secured the independents’ trophy for Speedworks Motorsport but leapfrogged into third place in the overall championship.
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2019: Official backing
The bond between Speedworks and Toyota was cemented in 2019 when the Cheshire-based team acquired official backing to become Team Toyota GB. This also meant the outfit transitioned from the ranks of being an independent to a manufacturer entry.
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2020: Global alignment
While the Team Toyota GB name provided a memorable link to BTCC history, 2020 saw the BTCC team align itself more closely with Toyota’s international race and rallying activities.
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Toyota BTCC history – 2021: Expanding the team
Following the acquisition of a second licence, Toyota Gazoo Racing continued its assault on the BTCC with an expanded two-car line-up, with each of the Corollas wearing the brand’s distinctive white, red and black livery.
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