BTCC fans get a full slate of 2026 season predictions, with the hosts ditching their usual format after last season’s predictions sparked heavy fan banter. They rank all 21 drivers (21st to 1st) and then debate championship categories: manufacturers, teams, independent titles, Jack Sears, plus “flop,” “surprise good,” and other wild cards. Standout themes include new-car uncertainty (especially Audi and Plato/Robo dynamics), Toyota/Honda/BMW performance swings, and whether Ash Sutton or Tom Ingram takes the crown. Tom Ingram is widely tipped to win the drivers’ title.
"we know that those are the three drivers and we believe they will be data sharing between the manufacturer and the independent outfit um but i think he is going to struggle a little bit"
“Data sharing” refers to teams exchanging performance information—like telemetry, setup trends, and tire behavior—between a manufacturer program and independent teams. In BTCC, this can accelerate development and reduce the gap between factory-backed and privateer entries.
"they weren't well at media day but it's a brand new car for him it's a brand new style of car he's not driven a saloon since the infinity and that was a real drive this is I believe a front wheel drive car yep so there's lots of him to learn"
Front wheel drive means the front wheels do the work of pulling the car forward. It can feel different in corners and when you accelerate out of them.
“Front wheel drive” (FWD) means the engine’s power is sent to the front wheels. In touring cars, FWD affects how the car rotates on turn-in, how it manages traction under acceleration, and what driving style works best compared with rear-wheel-drive saloons.
"we saw last year how quick he can be a couple of times he got into the super six in that Toyota yep completely agree"
In BTCC, the “Super Six” is a special qualifying stage for the quickest drivers. If you make it into the Super Six, it usually means you’re one of the fastest cars on the weekend.
“Super Six” is a BTCC session where the fastest drivers from qualifying advance to a short, high-stakes shootout. It determines additional grid/points outcomes, so getting into the Super Six is a strong indicator of outright pace.
"you've got to remember this would hopefully be his first full season um I think that you know obviously I have an eye on the overall championship the independence and the Jack Sears"
The “overall championship” is the big season goal—who finishes first in the standings at the end of the year. It’s based on total points from all the races.
The “overall championship” is the main BTCC title awarded based on total points across the season. The speaker suggests drivers may sometimes shift focus between the overall title and other sub-competitions.
"Osborne in 14th I think the way that we saw his pace come on towards the end of last season obviously taking that win gives you a big confidence boost as a driver"
They’re saying the driver got faster later in the year. That usually happens when the team learns how to set the car up better and the driver gets more comfortable.
“Pace coming on” refers to a driver improving their speed and results as the season progresses. In touring car racing, that often reflects better car setup, increased confidence, and the team learning what works at different tracks.
"be more consistent this season in scoring points and getting better and higher points results which is why I've got him up in 14th"
“Scoring points” refers to finishing positions that earn championship points under BTCC’s points system. Consistency matters because even without winning, regular points finishes can lift a driver significantly in the standings.
"so yeah do let us know yours down in the comments as well we're going to go through the full list of 21 drivers and when we read out our overall season predictions you can put your yours down in comments as well"
They’re basically guessing how each driver will do over the whole season. It’s based on things like speed, team progress, and how quickly drivers get up to speed.
The hosts are discussing preseason expectations—where each driver is likely to finish in the championship. In BTCC, these predictions usually revolve around driver pace, team development, and how quickly new signings adapt.
"I think he's got a little bit of catching up to do so he might struggle in the very early parts of the season."
“Catching up” refers to the gap a new driver has to close in the early season—learning the car, building familiarity with braking/turn-in, and understanding setup preferences. Late integration can lead to slower starts before results improve.
"...we've got to be realistic and I think that this will be a car that will be good at some circuits not so good at the next they've got to learn setups for all of the cars setups for the drivers..."
A “setup” is how the team adjusts the car to suit a particular track and conditions. Even the same car can feel very different with different settings.
“Setups” are the adjustable settings teams change to make the car work at a specific track and condition. In BTCC, setup choices (suspension, differential behavior, brake balance, aero balance) are crucial because the cars must perform across many different circuits and weather/temperature swings.
"...there's so much to learn of that car and it's a brand new racing team they haven't been in this series before..."
A “brand new racing team” in BTCC implies limited series-specific data and less experience with the car/track/tyre ecosystem. New teams often start slower because they’re still building baseline setups and refining development direction.
"[857.3s] settled there he seems pretty relaxed I think the car is pretty quick we saw at the end of
[861.3s] our season with the engine change um which I've stuck with for the upcoming season that they
[866.5s] did find a way to to unlock some speed in that car yeah right let's get on we'll break there"
They mention an “engine change,” meaning the team swapped or updated the engine for the next part of the season. The goal is usually to make the car run better and faster while staying reliable.
An “engine change” in BTCC typically means swapping to a different engine unit (or updating the powerplant) for the next phase of the season. Because touring cars are tightly regulated, teams often do this to address reliability, drivability, or to find performance gains within the rules.
"[877.0s] sort like overall season predictions so we've got championship winners in the different categories
[882.2s] and then we've got some of our more regulation choices should we say throughout the season
[888.4s] that we normally go by yep so we'll take a very quick break and then we'll come back into it"
They’re talking about decisions teams make based on the rules for the season. Those choices can change how fast and competitive the cars are.
“Regulation choices” refers to how teams decide to interpret and implement the season’s technical rules—within what’s allowed. In BTCC, these choices can affect car setup, performance balance, and how competitive a team is across different tracks.
"[914.0s] need to get that bell on yeah press that subscribe button it's only a click to you but to us it opens
[919.7s] more possibilities and doors you could ever imagine it's it's the difference between a clean overtake
[925.8s] which you don't really notice and a big bang in your door from a certain driver in surname here"
A “clean overtake” is a pass executed without contact or unsafe driving—typically judged by race stewards and fans as fair and controlled. The speaker contrasts it with more disruptive overtakes that create noticeable incidents.
"[919.7s] more possibilities and doors you could ever imagine it's it's the difference between a clean overtake
[925.8s] which you don't really notice and a big bang in your door from a certain driver in surname here
[930.3s] we notice the bang in the door more we notice the little clean overtake and if we want to keep the"
They’re describing a rough overtake where the cars hit each other side-on. That kind of contact can damage the car and usually costs you time.
“Big bang in your door” is a vivid description of a contact-heavy overtaking incident. In touring car racing, door-to-door racing can lead to side impacts, which can cost time, damage aero/underbody components, and trigger penalties depending on severity.
"we think is going to be the manufacturer's champion at this season yep at Napa oh forward then Ash and Dan okay I'm going for Hyundai"
This is the award for the car brand that scores the most points over the season. It’s like a “best brand overall” competition, not just one driver.
In BTCC, the “manufacturer’s champion” is awarded based on how well cars from a given manufacturer perform across the season. It’s essentially a brand-level points battle, separate from the drivers’ and teams’ championships.
"okay I'm going for Hyundai virtually yes yes should be clear um so yes I'm going for Hyundai I think that they've got a better package overall"
Hyundai is being predicted as the manufacturer to win the BTCC manufacturer’s championship. The hosts argue Hyundai has a stronger overall package after off-season changes, which they believe will translate into better results.
"there's been a lot of changes to that forward this season in the off season two things to counteract it"
The “off season” is the period between BTCC seasons when teams can develop cars, update parts, and refine setups. The hosts credit Hyundai’s off-season changes as a key reason they expect improved performance.
"normally it is very close between the teams and the constructors I there's only normally a few points in it"
BTCC championships are decided by points accumulated across many races, so small margins can decide titles. The hosts emphasize that the gap between teams/constructors is usually only a few points, making predictions sensitive to consistency.
"your independent drivers championship for 2026 will be this is a really difficult one because there's a lot of good drivers in there but I'm going for Charles Rainford"
This is a “best of the non-factory teams” award. It’s for drivers who aren’t in the main manufacturer-backed setup.
The independent drivers championship is a BTCC sub-competition for drivers not tied to the manufacturer’s works team structure. The hosts treat it as a separate points battle and predict who will win it in 2026.
"...can Camish hit the ground run of this car I don't know and I learn look at them think out the three..."
It means whether someone will start performing right away after switching to a new car or team. Early adaptation is often the hardest part.
“Hit the ground running” means adapting quickly and performing well immediately after a change—like joining a new car/team. In touring cars, early-season performance can hinge on setup understanding, driver feedback, and getting tire behavior right fast.
"will there be a driver swap this season no see I think they will I know where you're going to go"
A driver swap is when a team changes who’s driving the car during the season. It can happen for reasons like injury or team strategy.
A “driver swap” means replacing a driver partway through the season, often due to injury, scheduling, or strategic planning. In BTCC, teams sometimes bring in a substitute driver to keep the car scoring points while the primary driver is unavailable.
"unless it comes down to injury or something like that which we obviously hope for you know it doesn't"
An injury is when a driver can’t race because of a health problem. In racing, that can lead to another driver stepping in quickly.
In BTCC, injuries can force immediate driver changes and disrupt development plans. Teams often plan contingencies so they can keep the car running and scoring points even if a driver can’t race.
"[1802.1s] raw pace I can see he's got raw pace I don't think I've seen enough consistency in that pace yet
[1809.0s] and I think yes okay we've seen the BMW be quicker at Croft and quick at media day as well"
“Raw pace” means the car is genuinely quick. But being quick doesn’t always mean you’ll finish well every race, so consistency matters too.
“Raw pace” refers to outright speed—how quickly a car can run when everything is working well. In predictions, it’s often contrasted with consistency, because a car can be fast but still have variable results.
"[1809.0s] and I think yes okay we've seen the BMW be quicker at Croft and quick at media day as well
[1816.1s] but I still think there's bits for them to still gain upon I think they're gonna struggle against"
BMW is the car brand being discussed. The speakers are saying a BMW has looked fast recently, but they’re not sure it can consistently beat the top factory teams yet.
BMW is referenced as having shown quicker pace at Croft and during media day. In BTCC context, it implies a BMW-powered/ BMW-bodied entry is competitive, and the discussion is about whether it can close the gap to manufacturer teams.
"[1860.6s] in that way um yeah and I think it's most likely as you said to go on the podium or even take a
[1865.4s] race win in 7th I've gone for the ever present Josh Cook same yeah it's what Cook does"
A podium finish is a top-three result. It usually means the driver was among the very best in that race.
A “podium” finish means placing in the top three in a race. In BTCC, podiums are especially important because they strongly boost points and often reflect both speed and racecraft.
"[1860.6s] in that way um yeah and I think it's most likely as you said to go on the podium or even take a
[1865.4s] race win in 7th I've gone for the ever present Josh Cook same yeah it's what Cook does"
A race win is finishing first in that race. In touring car championships, winning is a big deal because it brings lots of points.
A “race win” is the top result in a single BTCC race. Because BTCC points heavily reward winning (and winning often correlates with strong strategy and reliability), predicting wins is a key part of season forecasting.
"[1865.4s] race win in 7th I've gone for the ever present Josh Cook same yeah it's what Cook does he'll take a couple of wins"
“Ever present” means they’re usually there and competitive, not having lots of bad luck or retirements. It suggests they score often and keep the car running.
“Ever present” means a driver is consistently in the mix across races—showing up, finishing, and scoring regularly rather than disappearing due to DNFs or poor weekends. In championship talk, it’s a compliment to reliability and steady performance.
"I think consistency across the season is what he struggled for especially in the last couple of seasons"
Consistency is highlighted as a factor that has “struggled” in recent seasons for a driver. In BTCC, points are accumulated over many races, so being reliably fast and avoiding DNFs often matters as much as outright speed.
"we're seeing hints of a stop and may walk away from F1 for
various reasons more out of boredom than anything I think"
F1 refers to Formula 1, the top tier of open-wheel racing. The segment discusses drivers potentially leaving F1, framing it as a mix of motivation, boredom, and the long-term sustainability of competing at that level.
"events throughout the season which might just take his eye off the touring cars a little bit"
Touring cars are race versions of normal cars you might see on the road. The point here is that doing other events could distract from focusing on the touring-car championship.
Touring cars are race cars based on production sedans/hatchbacks, typically with regulations that keep them closer to road cars than many other categories. The discussion uses touring cars as the “home” series that a driver might take their eye off by doing other events.
"I think that when you're bringing a new car in perhaps that his driving style might be a little bit
more kinder to bring in the car in"
They’re saying when a team gets a new car, the driver may have to adjust how they drive. That can affect how confident they feel and how smoothly they can get the car into corners.
The segment suggests that bringing a new car can change a driver’s approach and how the car is “brought in” to corners. New-car seasons often involve setup learning, tire behavior changes, and adapting driving inputs to a different balance.
"I don't think he's particularly strong at
Croft I've been from the top of my head"
Croft is a race track in the UK. Some drivers do better there because their driving style matches the track’s corners and braking demands.
Croft refers to Croft Circuit, a UK race track used for touring-car events. Track-specific characteristics (layout, braking zones, and corner types) can strongly influence which drivers feel comfortable and which cars suit the circuit best.
"and I think he will adapt really well to the new format that we're
[2242.6s] going to have on a Saturday and still be able to come out on top and be consistent and and place like
[2249.0s] third fourth fifth if necessary in those difficult races which is exactly what he did last season"
“Consistent” means doing well again and again, not just once. In a season-long points race, steady results usually help you win the championship.
“Consistent” means regularly finishing in strong positions rather than only winning occasionally. In a points-based championship, consistency often beats sporadic wins because it reduces the chance of large points swings.
Select text to request an explanation
a slight change proceedings as we review our predictions to 2026 hello and welcome back
to the British Touring Hub podcast we are changing it up this season we are how many times are you
going to say that this pod well let's get it in the open you've got absolutely slaughtered lastly on
the seal predictions to the point where even fans are at me today were sort of commiserating how bad
you are and how good I was so because you're such a good loser you decided to ditch that format and
go for a slightly different one it's a similar format we're just are being open with our viewers
so letting them know how bad or good we are at the predictions at the start of the season
and then they control us throughout the whole season the cynic in me thinks you don't believe
that I got those and you're suggesting I saw them written down in front of me I marked yours
didn't I and they were so I can't contest it that's good enough for me but we're going to bring
you all of our predictions for the 2026 season before we get into the first weekend at Donnington
Park we will also for anyone that's worrying still be doing our week to week predictions don't
worry about those or weekend to weekend trophies on the line there are still trophies on the line
and we will still be doing our various predictions at the start of every race weekend as well so
don't worry that staying but yes we'll be bringing you our full 21 drivers the orders are going to
finish in as well as the overall championship winners and a few other predictions as well now
just on scoring for further down the line if a driver drops out or is replaced if they are it
doesn't matter we cannot we cannot put jelly in here on the base that you might turn up we have
gone for the 21 that entered on major day if one of them drops out half a few this season whoever
is closer at the end of the season where they originally have them will get the point we can't
be we can't be mucking about like we did a couple of years ago so it gets too complicated so we're
going to split this into three sections today we're going to go through 21 to you 11 in the
championship reverse order first of all we'll go through our main predictions for the season
and then we'll bring you at 10 to 1 absolutely right should we I think we probably we all do
respect going to have the same driver at 21 so I think so as well yeah Tom Ingram sorry well
yeah I've got Hamilton down in 21st obviously coming into the new team this season I think
he might struggle a little bit to adapt it is going to be a difficult season and the quality on
the grid this year is high agreed yeah same here look I think it'll be if he can hopefully he can
use this season as a bit of a data gatherer yeah and then use it and stay there next season to
really try and push on yeah I think he'll score points yeah well I don't think he'll score him
enough to lift him off the bottom of the championship I'm afraid okay who have you got in 20th
Selby okay so there's a little bit of a thought going into this is that I actually don't think
we'll see any driver changes in the season however I don't necessarily think there's such a step up
it's such he's a big step up yeah agreed he's also not got the benefit of having the hatchback
the mini isn't a hatchback he did a lot of running over media baby but was he particularly
impressive either I don't know media day is difficult to know the car's brand new the series
is tough you just said how difficult it is and how good the racers are yep I'm going to struggle
to see where yeah maybe it's Osborne on a regular basis personally I've gone for Buxton in 20th
I think he might struggle a little bit especially with the three other drivers he's up against in
a Toyota we know that those are the three drivers and we believe they will be data sharing between
the manufacturer and the independent outfit um but I think he is going to struggle a little bit
and with the quality that we've got on the grid I think he's going to be down towards the bottom
end unfortunately if you're going for in 19th position I have gone for selby much for the
same reasons as you I'm less convinced um that he will actually finish the season but being in a
better quality of car I think he was all points along the way fair enough I've gone for Patterson
I think in my heart of hearts I think it'd be higher but I didn't know how high to push in
his own for perhaps a bit of a safer option maybe the Audi's a bit of an unknown entity yes
they weren't well at media day but it's a brand new car for him it's a brand new style of car he's
not driven a saloon since the infinity and that was a real drive this is I believe a front wheel
drive car yep so there's lots of him to learn there's lots of him to get stuck into and I think
also he'll probably have more of an eye on the jackseeds of the season progresses maybe yeah
and that might come at a cost for the overall championship I've gone for him in 18th instead
um I think he's going to be there or thereabouts as you say possibly struggling a little you kind
of want to put him higher but looking at the other drivers on the grid it's a real struggle
exactly that for my team I've gone for Buxton in the Toyota that again on paper is a slightly
it's not necessarily a better car but it's a potentially more stable team he's got a little
bit of data from last year on the car as well yeah I think to be honest those three I've just
given you in Buxton Pats and Selby you could swap around and I wouldn't argue too much about it
you know definitely who have you got in 17th then mate got Osborne I think that looking at the
drives above him you know Osborne's so hot and cold when he's good he's really good and he won
a race last year and as points you thought yeah he's really got this together little points you
thought so yeah one thing I would say is he has got Proctor in the background there to be a driver
yeah but is that a good thing or is that the is that the overhanging Alex Ferguson at
Old Trafford sort of looking down upon who's poor which poor sods in the dugout now trying to do
their best and trying to play three at the back against the Grims beside you I'm not sure whether
that is helpful or not if I'm being brutally honest I don't know my 17th might surprise you then
okay I have gone for Smiley it doesn't it doesn't we saw towards the end of last season that Smiley
struggled certainly in the second half and I'm very much so compared to Dan Lloyd who went on to
so like grab back the points and actually go on to take that independent championship
driver's championship for himself and also the team's championship for restart and that just
I don't know he he went off the boil basically yes he started last season well but I think
Dallin might outshine him okay fair enough are we on 16 now are we yep okay I've gone for your
favorite driver on the grid which is Ada Moffat again I don't know if the Audi he could he could
finish a lot higher and I'd go okay fair enough but also I think to myself playing the percentage
game and playing the numbers it's a new car it's a tough grid and we just don't and I'd also argue
that on media day I'd argue he was potentially the weakest of the three again for whatever whatever
that actually means is another question but I felt that perhaps Doblin Patterson took the car
quicker or better on media day but as I say we'll see what happens over the season on that one
I've gone for his teammate I've gone for Mikey Doblin to finish 16th overall very much the same
I'm not quite 100% sure how that Audi is going to do um but as I alluded to in also our full
season preview I think Moffat might surprise a few people this season yeah I wouldn't be surprised
if he did finish high on what I've got him at but I've also tried to yeah play the numbers a little
bit as well Mikey Doblin 16th for enough in 15th 15th I've gone for James Dallin I think he will
just do that a little bit better than Smiley in my personal opinion he seemed very happy when
we interviewed him on media day what was it talking to us if you haven't seen that we've
got a blog uh interview with him at 10 minutes lovely guy really down to earth knows the difficulties
that it is to get on the grid and appreciates being there but he was very positive in the way
that he was speaking about being able to make changes on the car and feeling those changes
yeah absolutely hopefully he's going to settle in nicely and we saw last year how quick he can be
a couple of times he got into the super six in that Toyota yep completely agree I think
again it is firstly it's a little bit of fun right so let's let's get too carried away
and it is really difficult to put these drivers because I think that from about I'd say from
about ninth down to 17th any of those could move and I wouldn't argue too much if he came to the
table and said no they're going to finish there so yeah I'm with you I think Dallin you've got
to remember this would hopefully be his first full season um I think that you know obviously I have
an eye on the overall championship the independence and the Jack Sears but I think there'll come a
point where he may need to focus on one of those um and that might then similar to what I said of
Patterson may deflect from the overall championship because you focus on finishing like I might not
get your points in the overall but it'll get you good enough points in yeah there's other two
that's fair enough who have you got in 14th overall?
Mikey Doble I think yeah look I don't see the Aldi's getting any higher than 14th if I'm honest
at this stage but again I wouldn't be overly shocked if they did I just look at the teams
and the drives I got ahead of him I think that they might just have a little bit too much
frowdy in their first season I think Doble will still take a win this year
I think we've we've got our biggest disagreement so I've got Osborne in 14th I think the way that
we saw his pace come on towards the end of last season obviously taking that win gives you a big
confidence boost as a driver and I think he'll start to not necessarily really fully kick on but
be more consistent this season in scoring points and getting better and higher points results
which is why I've got him up in 14th to get ahead to your 17th.
I can understand that I just don't necessarily have the same faith
that's fair enough from what I've seen previously okay but again as I've said you in the minute
go you can swap these around I wouldn't be overly shocked or dying on any particular hills
I did I did have to keep shuffling drivers and go should they do that maybe one position different
oh no those two need to swap around and stuff like that so yeah do let us know yours down in
the comments as well we're going to go through the full list of 21 drivers and when we read out our
overall season predictions you can put your yours down in comments as well 13th I've gone for Ricky
Collard okay now only because I'm not sure he's come late into that team late into the car he was
only having the seat fit in on the day before media day I think yeah I think he's got a little
bit of catching up to do so he might struggle in the very early parts of the season.
Can I just taper that with that center proctor came in half a through a season and hit the ground
very quickly yes that that I think is the best comparison that you can make between last season
this to whether Ricky can do a similar kind of job I don't this is going to sound bad I don't
know if he's as quick as Senna. I don't to be fair know that for sure but I have him high okay that's
fair enough who have you got in 13th. Smiley I think that yeah I think he'll have a better season I
think hopefully you did get a bit of bad luck towards in the last season as well a couple of engine
problems as well so yeah I think he'll have a strong season I think that that car is quick
let's not forget restart racing only in their third season last year was the first year running
that car new shape new style I think that the bank sandwich date from last year I can see
Smiley going a little bit better this one fair enough so 12th position I have Aiden Moffitt
okay that's quite high for you yeah decently hi I'm going to shock you oh gosh I'll finish your
Moffitt so yeah I've got Moffitt up there I just have this sneaky feeling and suspicion that he might
do okay in that Audi and be kind of the best best of the rest or best of those drivers in that car
certainly and just sort of like miss out on that top 10 fair enough Adam Morgan is my 12th
see that's not that big a surprise I I will say now I've got him 11th okay fair enough I
I don't have high hopes necessarily for play alright okay do I have I have realistic hopes
for play a racing I think that a lot of people are getting themselves very excited and frothing
at the mouth about the fact it's a really nice looking car and play those back I get all of that
look this is nice it doesn't necessarily need go quickly no and also look I'm not going to debate
play me back and it's helped our numbers exponentially we've seen massive rises for
just mention later his names yeah you know fantastic news on that front but look I think
we've got to be realistic and I think that this will be a car that will be good at some circuits
not so good at the next they've got to learn setups for all of the cars setups for the drivers
setups for the track when it's hot when it's cold when it's on the option tire there's so
much to learn of that car and it's a brand new racing team they haven't been in this series before
so the only thing I would say and I think it was mentioned on media day is that both of the drivers
seem to drive the car in a very similar way and like it's set up in a similar way so they they've
I think there are options to go okay one driver goes this way and the other drive goes this way
and they find one way works they instantly go right both drivers going this way both drivers
are going that way the only difficulty of that is that I understand that and that's great when
you find it however it can take longer to find because you're not at two opposite ends of the
extreme and you've got a sudden and a cam issue I think drive quite differently I'd have to be
corrected but from looking as a fan they drive quite differently you might be able to find that
common ground quite quickly because you've got further extremes but yeah I think you've got to
be realistic about plateo racing and I think Morgan will struggle more than Robotham is my
early thought on that yeah I agree I think he struggles more so who have you got in 11?
Aaron Taylor Smith okay um I think it's about the area you're expected to be in really I think
he'll do well I think he'll take some good points here and there I think that's some weekends we go
oof what was all that about I think that's that's the Aaron Taylor Smith package do you think he'll
grab that fifth win this season yeah yeah I do I think I think that that side of the garage
it looks quite good they were quite quick on me today again for a taper that's worth
but also he's got the car knowledge underneath him he's got a good teammate he seemed pretty
settled there he seems pretty relaxed I think the car is pretty quick we saw at the end of
our season with the engine change um which I've stuck with for the upcoming season that they
did find a way to to unlock some speed in that car yeah right let's get on we'll break there we'll
get on to our new 11 oh you did more than sorry yes apologies yes yes we'll get on to our main
sort like overall season predictions so we've got championship winners in the different categories
and then we've got some of our more regulation choices should we say throughout the season
that we normally go by yep so we'll take a very quick break and then we'll come back into it
Sam did you know that many of our fans on YouTube are not subscribed yes I did actually
it's a little analytics bit and I'm going to put it on screen now you lot that aren't subscribed
need to get that bell on yeah press that subscribe button it's only a click to you but to us it opens
more possibilities and doors you could ever imagine it's it's the difference between a clean overtake
which you don't really notice and a big bang in your door from a certain driver in surname here
we notice the bang in the door more we notice the little clean overtake and if we want to keep the
channel growing you've done brilliantly in the off season we cannot believe how far I've come but
let's keep the momentum going make sure you're subscribed make sure you're liking
make sure you're interacting where you can it boosts us unbelievably well to the point where
YouTube are actually starting to recommend us on other motorsport videos now which is the holy
land for us so let's keep out it feels like we might have cracked the algorithm this season so
please keep on commenting down below and we'll keep you updated throughout the season in exchange
right let's head straight back into it then and go for the various predictions we're going to do
I'll let you start because you've probably got an order in your head so I'll let you decide what
what we do this in so we're also going to leave the winner till the end with our championship
order as well yes and we'll go straight into who we think is going to be the manufacturer's champion
at this season yep at Napa oh forward then Ash and Dan okay I'm going for Hyundai
virtually yes yes should be clear um so yes I'm going for Hyundai I think that they've got a better
package overall and there's been a lot of changes to that forward this season in the off season
two things to counteract it with if I may I personally think that Dan and Ash are better
than two toms as a package together yep and there's no bottom at Napa this year to to course
to sabotage things in the last round yeah that's fair no all jokes aside that I think it'd be
close to in the two of them I do but I just think that if you say Tom and Ash that's Tom Ingram and
on the same level I think Cambridge is that level above Chilton fair enough fair enough
your teams champion them Napa for much the same reasons so I've gone for Napa here yeah I think
over the season them as a team will will score better points normally it is very close between
the teams and the constructors I there's only normally a few points in it I also see all four
of them finishing more often than I see all four of the virtue cars finishing that's fair enough
fair enough your independent drivers championship for 2026 will be this is a really difficult one
because there's a lot of good drivers in there but I'm going for Charles Rainford oh so am I yeah
to be honest with you it was between him and De Leon yeah agreed and I wouldn't be shocked to
De Leon did win it because we know how fast he is but I just got the feeling from me today from
talking to Charles and what we saw at the end of the session that he's he's comfortable he's happy
yeah he just feels I don't know it body language I'm not a body language expert but having you
know having hung around the WSR garage a fair bit on media day yeah I just got the feeling he's a
little bit more happy a little bit more settled maybe than De Leon and I think that those minute
differences carry a lot over the season they can and I think he's got a little bit of not
necessarily a B in his body but something to prove after last season when De Leon took the
Jack Sears off of him as well your independent teams winner then I've gone for WSR I think that
they are the obviously competing independent for the first time I just think as a package that
they've got the best two drivers and over the season of the better car agreed same same here
your Jack Sears champion I'm going James Dallin I think that yeah I am oh god I'm going to think
it's because it'll be decent but no I mean no genuinely there is five drivers in the Jack Sears
I think that he's got the best package among them in terms of the car but also
I think as I said on the preview of the season I think he was unlucky not to compete the full
season last year I think he showed some real promise in the Toyota as you mentioned he got into
the top six a couple of times I think out of the five drivers there he has the most raw pace as well
there are drivers in there where you go okay Selby's coming in the championship he's got a decent
amount to catch up on Hamilton's coming in or coming into a brand new team where he's got to
learn how that car now works Dexter's coming into a new car as well I think he's the driver
although he is coming into a new car as well he seemed comfortable already on media though I think
Dexter will be his main opposition I've been pretty honest yeah and then we'll get into our more
fun categories shall we I'm going to start you off with flop of the season mate or surprise bad
I'm going out of Morgan I just don't have high hopes at all are you going to say have you been
watching I just I just don't have heart I think that I think it's going to be difficult on a
mental level for him because it's very much Robo's team with Plato and I don't know when it comes
down to if there's new parts if there's upgrades there's bits of pieces how much is he going to get
how how how fair is it going to be is what I'm coming down to I think it's an interesting dynamic
where one of the drivers is also a partner of the team that makes it a little bit yeah the team
of that aspect I think Morgan is also in the time of his career where he probably looks at it and goes
how many more seasons have I maybe got left and what we've talked about this on media day as well
we've got a driver that's sitting out this season that is looking to come back onto the grid in
2027 that has worked with Plato before is very much of that mould and could be a prime driver
to come into that see if Morgan doesn't perform well and that's Dan Lloyd so I think Morgan's
speculating for 2027 before 2016 I think Morgan's going to feel a lot more of that pressure this
season because he's the driver most at risk in that team yeah I just think it's going to be an
interesting dynamic as I say your your teammate owns the team how if you think the car is crap
can you what you know can you say it I don't I don't think Morgan have too much issue we're
going no this isn't working no but you know I mean it's just a bit you know or if they're fighting
on track do you do you give what you do I know you when you race your teammate the ruling boys
don't hit them but do you take that to the degree you would have done normally or do you now back
off a little bit more because it's your team I just because he owns the team sorry I just think
I don't know I think it's an interesting dynamic yeah I mean they've worked worked together before
at Mercedes where obviously Morgan had more of a influence in that team at that point so
it's going to be interesting to see how that dynamic changes round
but yeah I agree with you I think Morgan's going to struggle fair enough where do I go next
your surprise good I would say the same thing Dexter Patterson no I think that Dex will do well
I think he will score points more often than not and I think that he may even take an overall
podium I've got high hopes I think the car that's good is in a team that is a sensible team that's
all I'll say for now on that and a team that has nurtured young talent in the past well so I think
that he's in the best position he's ever been in the touring car sport that way I'm sticking with
that team and I'm going for Moffat have you stood down from your role as president of the Moffat
this could really come back to bite me obviously because of how I've spoken about Aiden over the
last couple of seasons and how I finally rubbed off on you and how he's run but I just have this
sneaky suspicion that this Audi will be a really good place for him to be yes he's bought that
Polkler to sponsorship over but I think he's there with a driver who he's comfortable with with Patterson
Dobble is a driver that's known the team we get told off Dobble has known the team for a good
few seasons now and will sit there nice and comfortably and be able to perform and I think
all three of them working together will work quite well um yeah I just have this sneaky feeling
fair enough best of the rest we didn't do it best for the rest did we yes which one's that
I'm sure you said best of the rest I said winner if oh yeah winner if it's not Ingram or Sutton
that's best of the rest basically isn't it that's the third place third place or who will be the
okay fair enough I've gone for down to the Leon now there's a reason for this wow yeah look okay
I think I think that he is one of the better qualifiers on the grid what that's going to
stand for in the new system I don't know but he's got good raw pace um yeah I think to be
honest with this there's three drives went through my head for this one okay and I've already picked
one of them for another championship I don't want to pick him again yeah I mean Rainford
Camish was the other one but look Camish could struggle we don't know the the car
Napa is a bit difficult because it is a car that is new we know Sutton can drive a horse and
cart to victory he's you know I saw him messing about in GT over the weekend that pulled a car
and he got I think four things overall and or am I being gulked I don't understand it works
but anyway he did well in a car he you know just popped in to drive in a circuit you know in France
for a bit of a laugh you know he can drive anything
can Camish hit the ground run of this car I don't know and I learn look at them think
out the three De Leon has got in my view the best raw pace in my view I might surprise you here then
go on then I've gone for a certain Tom no chance he'll be on fire for a couple of rounds it always
happens there's no chance I think Tom will be back to his shredded we era of consistency
I think he will finish third in the championship I know I can't wait to see it I think you have
a good season but I don't think about it I just I think Camish might struggle a little bit again
possibly even reliability issues depending on how much they've had to change on the cars
whether he can obviously adapt to driving that saloon style Chilton has been in that team for
so many years now that he's really got his feet well under that desk and is comfortable
where he is and dare I say I think Tom Ingram is going to need him to step up this season
I agree with that which is why I think he will step up but equally Tom Ingram won't want him to
step up too much they start challenging for the title so is it I didn't say I didn't say challenge
you for the title I just said I think it will be best for the rest behind so I disagree but that's
what this podcast is all about agreeing and disagreeing in a nice manner you've already alluded
to this next one yeah we'll do it will there be a driver swap this season no see I think they will
I know where you're going to go and I didn't want to do the same because it would be fair enough
you know I think if it's anywhere the one you're about to say is the one but I don't think it
happens I think it does I do think that Selby won't complete the season with Napa and the reason
that Proctor has been brought in right at the start of the season is to carry on almost a similar
role to what he did last year at Virtue but can I just offer a counter argument to that
why not just put him in the car straight away and leave Selby in the minis I know I there's no
there was no reason to bring Selby in apart from obviously anything that we don't know about but
if you've got a choice between Selby and Proctor you pick Proctor all day long and I wonder whether
it's budget budget tree but you don't need as much I know I that's the reason I think Selby
competes I think if they put the eggs in the Selby baskets they have unless it comes down to
injury or something like that which we obviously hope for you know it doesn't and I I just don't
think Napa do I think that Virtue lost a little bit of credit last year with some of their antics
for a better word and I think that Napa will be keen to try and keep a little bit of professionalism
and keeping the driver there all year okay and also in Selby's defence giving him a fair crack of
the whip because we've seen it in F1 as well where you give something like Jack doing three races
he didn't win a race we're going to bin him for Collar Pinto why I you know I think you have to
give the jugs a fair shot I think it will probably possibly be a half half and half season sort of
thing um or whether we get towards the end of the season maybe around seven or eight and maybe Selby
hasn't got the budget left to to run dare I say and not wishing this upon him at any time if he
gets into too many scrapes too many accidents or reliability issues and he runs out of budget
we know budget is a big factor in the touring cars it is but I think that's very safe for them in
most places okay and then finally for our random predictions yes the it's like overall season
prediction the really wild out there one mine is wild out there okay I think that two or more
the jack sears drivers will get an overall podium okay okay so it is just under half of them we'll
get an actual yeah you can't have 2.5 you can't have half a driver getting a podium so I think we
will see I've gone down the podium route as well there you go so I think we are going to see at
least 15 different drivers on a podium this season and that is the overall race podium overall race
podium yeah so obviously we've got 21 drivers that's bold I think we're going to see 15 different
drivers claim a podium position this season I think we'll obviously at least one new race winner but
I think that was a bit too obvious agreed yeah I can see certainly people like Dorian Patterson
getting on the the overall podium yep actually Buxton if the situation is right so right then
let's get back into our championship order we'll take you from 10 to 1 and think I'll show you
who we think we have to give some copyright credit there just then Ken Bruce I think does that
already I don't know so yeah we'll take you from 10 to 1 and we'll bring you our possible
2026 champion 10th come on off okay I think you'll be quick enough to get in the top 10 I think you
will do pretty well there I don't think we're going to go any higher okay I've got Aaron Taylor Smith
there um I think he's gonna he's gonna be out of those good three drivers or reputable three
drivers should I say in the Toyota I think he's gonna be the one that struggles the most
pressure is a bit harsh wow Max Buxton hasn't got much of a reputable name behind him yet
but yeah I think Aaron Taylor Smith in 10th right 9th I've gone for row bottom I think he'll be
the better at the two I think he will make the top 10 yep I think if anyone's gonna take a win it
will be him but I don't see as I've said on the preview and they're here take your expectations
a little bit yeah I've gone for De Leon down in 9th
I thought that might shake you up a little bit especially with the prediction that you've just
given for him being best of the rest um yeah I've got him down in 9th I I know I know he's got
raw pace I can see he's got raw pace I don't think I've seen enough consistency in that pace yet
and I think yes okay we've seen the BMW be quicker at Croft and quick at media day as well
but I still think there's bits for them to still gain upon I think they're gonna struggle against
the manufacturer teams okay disagree but fine your 8th position I've gone for Tom Chilton I think
that he will have some really good patches and I think there'll be parts of where his car's parked
on fire because it's what happens to Tom Chilton he does have historically reliable more reliability
issues than his other time in the garage and I think yeah some weekends last year he was excellent
some weekends he went missing and I think we'll see much the same this season first okay I've got
Robotham down in 8th as you've said earlier I think he will be the better driver out of the
two at Cateclean Plateau Racing um being that sort of like part team owner probably helps him along
in that way um yeah and I think it's most likely as you said to go on the podium or even take a
race win in 7th I've gone for the ever present Josh Cook same yeah it's what Cook does it's what
Cook does he'll take a couple of wins he'll probably be mathematically in it with a couple of
rounds to go and I think that any higher than that would be a real achievement for him I'm
interested where you've put another driver that I haven't mentioned yet because that we've yeah
I'm guessing he's in 6th but in 6th yeah I've got Gordon check yeah so have I yeah so have I
I have this funny feeling that he settled into that car right at the end of last season
and he's got his feet in there he's got a bit more comfy in that seat you're obsessed with that
same yeah everyone's comfy apart from us he's got comfy in that seat and I think he's going to
drag the most amount of performance that he can out of that car um just yeah have this
suspicion that he's going to do well yeah that's completely fair enough I I agree with you um
yeah he's looked for me the better of the Toyota drivers last year and I think that um he'll carry
on the season fair enough uh your 5th position then mate 5th I have decided to go for Charles
Rainford and have I very good yep I think that um yeah he's quick he looks pretty settled he seemed
in a good place on major day I think there'll be some tracks where the BMW just struggles I think
he's the only real drive car on the grid now yeah and I do think that there'll be a few rounds where
that car doesn't quite go as well as it does in other places um I think one of the things I've
got to do this year is make sure that he can run in various weather conditions I know Charles
said in their interview he likes the rain doesn't mean a bit of W does but Charles likes the rain
and we'll have to see I don't know this is but I think yeah I think it'd be a strong season for
okay your 4th overall then I've gone for De Leon 4th you could switch these two around I wouldn't
be over shot I think there's not a lot between them if I'm being brutally honest yep um but
yeah I'm going to be on 4th I think he might just I think he's qualifying is slightly better than
Rainford so I'm being brutally honest and I think that that might play in the favour of
the season goes on albeit we don't know how qualifying's going to play out this year the rule
changes no this is going to surprise you then I've gone for Camish in 4th it does doesn't it doesn't
he is a good driver we know he's a good driver I think consistency across the season is what he
struggled for especially in the last couple of seasons at Napa um he's always been a little bit
of that understudy to Sutton I think again obviously Sutton will have more than he needs to
keep him behind and he seems to be the unluckiest Napa driver agreed I think I'm going to
shock you in a minute but agreed okay um your 3rd Ash Sutton oh okay yeah
he's due about season at some point please explain he's due about season at some point
just by the law of averages I know that what I said earlier about him being able to drive any car
very well but it's a bit of an unknown entity I do wonder whether that driving style it or that
in fact he's got a new car might be more lean towards a more what's the word softer driving style
then then here's maybe I don't know I don't know I've just seen to that pretty well in the infinity
I've just got this feeling that he may have eyes elsewhere I don't know you know he's doing a bit
of some pieces in GT a bit more regularly now yeah I do think that we all know that racing drives
have a fairly short window yes yes we're seeing hints of a stop and may walk away from F1 for
various reasons more out of boredom than anything I think but yes I get what you're saying but I think
there's also an issue you know we've seen Turbines gone across to GT to try to I think there is a
feeling that yeah you can only race for so long and I think there is a I think there's in certain
drivers and I think Ash sounds like one of these who is one who just loves driving and loves racing
that he will at some point want to look elsewhere I would be surprised if he does a couple of other
events throughout the season which might just take his eye off the touring cars a little bit
I don't know I could be wrong he could well win it I wouldn't be shocked but I don't know I've just
got a feeling that it might not be the top level for Ash we've had the last couple of years fair
enough I have gone for Tom Chilton to finish third in the championship as I'd already mentioned I
think he's gonna mind he's gonna have a stellar season this season um nice and comfortable where
he is at virtue he'll come and back to his best was probably that shredded wheat era wasn't it
yeah if he's third and he and I think he's gonna be back to that sort of form second
is Ash Sutton for me um I think he'll I get up for the record I would not be shocked if he's
higher than what I put him as I don't think he'll struggle as such I just think Ingram will have
more than him this season so obviously you've gone for Karmish in second yep yeah look I think
the Karmish might this might be the year where he just gets the the one over on Ash a little bit I
think that when you're bringing a new car in perhaps that his driving style might be a little bit
more kinder to bring in the car in I don't know Ash didn't particularly round me any of the tests
over the period no that's right and not just me today I don't think he's particularly strong at
Croft I've been from the top of my head I just I don't know I just think Karmish will have the
bit between his teeth a little bit and I think I don't think I'll win the championship I think Ingram
wins it by a mile by the way but um yeah I think and again I think you've finished head of Sutton
I'm not saying by 30 60 70 points I think it would be five points but I think he will finish
head of Sutton this year so yeah we've both gone for Tom Ingram to be your 2026 drivers
champion um he's hard to pass him he was so quick in that car last year back to back titles um
taking him up to three titles in total um I think he is definitely the driver to beat oh I agree
yeah definitely that car is monstrously quick we know it is especially in his hands and it's just
gonna be as long as he's on form and he doesn't have reliability issues or stuff like that I can't
really see anyone being quicker and I think he will adapt really well to the new format that we're
going to have on a Saturday and still be able to come out on top and be consistent and and place like
third fourth fifth if necessary in those difficult races which is exactly what he did last season
yeah I couldn't add any more to that I just think that he's going to be very difficult to beat
over a season yes he won't win every race it's not be silly but you know he's a car so good
it's it's such a and it's no surprise that most of the gridded side they want to get a car that's
a bit similar to me yeah I think that speaks volumes doesn't it yeah it does it does let us know your
thoughts on the predictions for the 2026 season let us know if you think we're wildly wrong and
Hamilton's going to win the championship or something bizarre like that um do your full
championship order down below and also go back to that middle section of the video and let us
know who your champions are for each of the titles yeah until then you can mark our progress
throughout the year and mind us how little we know we unless the season goes on um I look forward to
that please respect from the comments everyone generally is but let's keep it that way and um
we'll see you don't it see you soon
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