Photo credit; Lee Fisher Motorsport Photography
EXCLR8 Motorsport announced today that their championship winning partnership with Vertu would be extended until the end of the 2029 season, off the back of a down season for the EXCLR8 outfit in 2026.
The deal comes after six seasons of EXCELR8’s partnership with Vertu, where the team have taken two drivers titles in 2022 and 2025 with Tom Ingram, along with titles in the teams championship in 2022 and a Manufacturers’ / Constructors’ championship in 2025 during the first season under the Team Vertu name! The team have also taken 42 victories during their partnership with Vertu, with the extension of the deal cementing the partnership as one of the strongest in the BTCC.
Team Vertu will take four cars into the 2027 BTCC season, with Tom Ingram and 16 year old prodigy Noah Young both confirmed, with two seats still up for grabs after Tom Chilton’s retirement. It is unknown if Ricky Collard will return to the series in 2027, with budget constraints being a major factor, Collard returned after missing a round at Silverstone while Osamu Kawashima took his seat for the weekend, coming back and ending his season after a controversial race 30 at Brands Hatch GP in October, where Collard would win the race on track but receive a penalty that would snatch the race win off the British GT champion, after a couple of incidents throughout the race – most notably with record breaking five time champion Ash Sutton. It’s not been announced as of yet who will fill the two spare seats for the 2027 season, but there are some strong candidates.
Nicholas Hamilton has a strong chance of finding himself in one of the two seats up for grabs in 2027, finding success in parts through the 2026 season, enjoying the best season of his BTCC career up to date while consistently fighting in the Jack Sears Trophy throughout the season. If Collard doesn’t return for 2027, it’s possible EXCLER8 will look to their Mini program for a 4th driver, where both Tom Ovenden and Nathan Edwards found themselves competing in 2026. With Tom Ovenden – Vertu’s reserve driver for the 2026 season – winning the title by a singular point at Brands Hatch GP, while Edwards sits just outside the top three in fourth, 28 points back from Alex Solley. Showing flashes of pace in his two wins while suffering for poor luck all season. The door is likely open for Ovenden in 2027 if Collard doesn’t return, however if Hamilton also doesn’t return to the outfit in 2027, The line-up could include three very promising drivers full of potential. However unfortunately, little is known at this time.