UK Racing Icon’s Comeback Poised to Revitalize the BTCC Scene
A new entrant aims to shake up the British Touring Car Championship when it debuts at the Donington Park opener in April 2026. Plato Racing will field two Mercedes-AMG A35 Saloons for Dan Rowbottom and Adam Morgan. The operation pairs driver-partner Rowbottom with two-time BTCC champion Jason Plato.
Team structure and key personnel
The team recruited experienced staff from across the paddock. Malcolm Swetnam joins as team manager. Paul Ridgway is technical chief and Dave Kelly takes a senior mechanic and crew-chief role.
Tom Hunt will engineer Adam Morgan. Several of the hires arrived from Alliance Racing. Plato describes his own role as overseeing people and standards.
Car development and engineering
RML in Wellingborough designed the Mercedes A35 racecars. The company supplied the spec subframe, suspension and steering systems. RML also created CAD models after scanning a donor A35 shell.
The initial donor was a water-damaged road car bought for £7,000 in early October. The project moved from raw shell to recognisable race car by the new year. Development used CFD and CAD to refine aero and safety structures.
Safety and powertrain
Design work emphasised driver protection and a strong survival cell for leg safety. An automotive body stylist contributed to a production-like finish. The power unit will be the customer TOCA engine supplied by M-Sport.
Drivers and backers
Rowbottom, 37, brings long-term support from Cataclean and a clear target: fight for a title. He finished fifth in the 2025 standings. Morgan, who finished sixth in 2025, arrives from Excelr8 Motorsport.
Morgan’s family runs Ciceley Commercials, a Mercedes HGV dealership. That commercial link helped his decision to join Plato Racing. The two drivers have a long friendship and a shared history dating back to karting in 1998.
RML ties and paddock context
RML has a deep BTCC pedigree, including 1990s manufacturer titles and work that helped Plato win his 2010 crown in a Chevrolet Cruze. Plato’s relationship with RML was strained over a decade ago but has since been repaired.
Plato Racing also leased an RML storage unit last September. The close proximity has aided rapid development and hands-on collaboration.
Staffing market and finances
The team acknowledged a tough recruitment market. Cadillac F1’s hiring spree of around 650 people pushed salary expectations higher. Plato said budget assumptions changed dramatically as a result.
Rowbottom accepts current spend is inefficient but expects this to improve with further funding. Alliance Racing provided strong support previously, but Rowbottom sought a new platform to chase a championship.
Wider BTCC developments
Meanwhile, Alliance Racing has prepared a Focus Titanium saloon for 2026. The model is a modified version of the existing Focus racer. Teams received dispensation from TOCA to run a saloon model not sold in the UK one year early.
Development work has involved reshelling the rear and retaining the original rollcage. Power Maxed Racing’s Audi A3 also joins the field as a fresh contender for 2026.
Outlook and ambitions
Plato Racing positions itself as a disruptive force. The partners want to lift standards and challenge established teams from the first round. The entry of a UK racing icon’s comeback could help revitalize the BTCC scene.
With experienced engineering partners, manufacturer-style bodywork and commercial backing, the team will be watched closely. The countdown to Donington Park has begun.
