WSR are very pleased to announce Charles Rainford as the team’s first confirmed driver for the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship in 2026.

Charles, 27, remains with the team for a second season after an impressive rookie campaign in 2025 and will race a BMW 330i M Sport as part of a multi-car line-up.

The Horsham driver made his BTCC debut last year at the Donington Park season opener and scored his maiden series victory at only his second event - becoming the first driver in 21 years to win so early in his career.

He claimed three podium positions and three fastest laps as well as scoring a first pole position at Knockhill.

That took him to eighth in the overall standings while he also took second in the Jack Sears Trophy with six maximum scores and 22 class podiums.

The continuation of his relationship with WSR ensures he stays with the 18-time series champions, who last year broke the BTCC’s all-time record for race wins.

BTCC 2026 begins at Donington Park on April 18-19 and comprises 10 triple-header rounds at eight of the UK’s finest racetracks, culminating on the iconic Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit on October 10-11.

Charles Rainford said: “Racing in the British Touring Car Championship was always a long-term plan, so it’s brilliant to be able to announce a second season with WSR for 2026. I learnt so much in my rookie season and am a much stronger driver as a result. Obviously the win at Brands Hatch and the pole at Knockhill were the highlights and the support from WSR was fantastic, but some of the tougher moments may well have helped us even more. We’ve done some very good work in testing so far and we’re heading into the new season aiming high.”

Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, said: “We’re very pleased to announce Charles as the first piece of our puzzle for the 2026 British Touring Car Championship season. The BTCC can be a real minefield for a rookie with the tyre and boost regulations as well as the general rough and tumble that comes with racing a touring car, but he navigated the pitfalls extremely well, scored a win, a pole position and podiums and established a terrific relationship with the team. With a year of experience under his belt, I’m sure he’ll be a far more consistent threat for wins and podiums and we look forward to being a part of that development.”