With the new season drawing closer, we take a look at the headlines from February 2024…

4 February:
The rules around the Jack Sears Trophy have undergone minor revisions ahead of the new season. The award will still be for drivers who haven’t scored an overall finish, but a rewording of the regulations means any driver who has only scored a podium as a result of post-race judicial proceedings will now remain eligible. It means Sam Osborne will be able to challenge for the JST in 2024, with his podium at Donington last year coming after Ronan Pearson was excluded.

6 February:
The date for the official season launch event has been confirmed as 16 April at Donington Park, shortly before the opening meeting of the season at the same circuit. Prior to that, official tests are scheduled at Brands Hatch on 3 April and Croft on 10 April.

7 February:
Jack Sears Trophy champion Andrew Watson will switch from Power Maxed Racing to Speedworks for his second season in the series. Watson is the first of two drivers who will compete under the Toyota Gazoo Racing UK banner.

7 February:
Ricky Collard won’t be lining up alongside Watson at Speedworks after confirming a switch to the British GT Championship. Collard will share a Barwell-run Lamborghini with father Rob.

9 February:
EXCELR8 has moved its BTCC team to the Team Dynamics base in the Midlands. Team Dynamics staff, including head engineer Barry Plowman, will now work with EXCELR8 on its touring car programme as part of the first phase of a new partnership. Whilst Team Dynamics will not be returning to the BTCC grid, the team will remain active elsewhere, most notably in historic racing.

12 February:
In a move that comes as no surprise given the sponsors involved, Aiden Moffat will switch from One Motorsport to Speedworks for 2024 to drive one of the two satellite Toyotas being entered under the LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ banner. The same sponsors were on the Honda driven by Moffat and Josh Cook last year, with Cook’s switch having already been previously announced.

14 February:
Another widely expected move will see Tom Ingram and Tom Chilton once again join forces at EXCELR8. It means three of the four Hyundais are now officially filled, with the latter expected to go to Nick Halstead in what would be an unchanged line-up.

19 February:
NAPA Racing will be unchanged for the 2024 season after the Alliance Racing-run team announced its four-strong line-up for the new campaign. Ash Sutton leads the line-up as he chases a fifth title, with Dan Cammish also hoping to challenge for the championship. Dan Rowbottom will be keen to build on a solid 2023 season in the Focus, with Sam Osborne eager to fight for the Jack Sears Trophy.

21 February:
One Motorsport will not be part of the grid in 2024 having elected not to utilise its three TOCA BTCC Licences. The team will instead work on its Honda Civic Type Rs away from public view ahead of a planned return in 2025 – with the news meaning no Honda cars on the grid for the first time in 30 years.

22 February:
Nick Halstead will be back on the grid in 2024 after extending his deal with EXCELR8. Halstead will run with backing from Razor, the company behind the Crazy Carts that the former British GT Championship racer introduced to the paddock last year.