WSR announce exciting GT racing plans for 2026

MIA Member West Surrey Racing has shared the following press release.

WSR announce exciting GT racing plans for 2026

West Surrey Racing, which has had an impressive record of success in Formula 3 (with five titles between 1981 and 1991) and then becoming the most successful team in the history of the British Touring Car Championship, with 18 championship titles, is planning to expand into GT racing in 2026.

Reigning British Touring Car Champions WSR today (Thursday, 7 August) announce plans to enter high-level GT racing in 2026.

This new venture will bring WSR into GT competition for the first time and will run alongside the team’s BTCC programme, which has resulted in 18 overall titles since 2009.

It also provides opportunities for new drivers to join a list of WSR alumni that includes Jonathan Palmer, Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen, Nigel Mansell, Rubens Barrichello, Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish, Andy Priaulx, Colin Turkington and Jake Hill.

GT3 and GT4 categories in series such as British GT, GT World Challenge Europe, the 24H Series and GT4 European Series are currently being evaluated. Single-make categories for GT machinery are also being considered.

Further announcements on confirmed programmes will be made in due course. WSR can be contacted by email for further details.

Dick Bennetts, Team Principal and Managing Director, WSR, said: “This is the start of a new era for WSR and may surprise a few people, but it’s something we’ve been evaluating ever since we were asked to put together a GT programme a few years ago, but decided it wasn’t quite the right time. GT racing is now at an all-time high, making this the perfect moment to move into the space alongside our BTCC programme. There’s still work to do, like finalising which manufacturer or manufacturers we align with, selecting the right series and bolstering our team with technical and operational personnel with GT racing experience. By declaring our intentions now, we give ourselves the best chance to be fully up-to-speed by the start of the 2026 season.”

Carl Mitchell, Sporting and Operations Director, WSR: “When I was appointed to my role last Winter, it was my intention to use it to diversify WSR’s motorsport activities outside touring cars. It’s taken a lot of work behind the scenes to get to this point, but we are now in a position to make a commitment to GT racing in the UK and further afield. We are currently in dialogue with several of GT racing’s most prominent manufacturers as we close on the ideal package for this first campaign. We have the capability to compete in either GT3, GT4 or single-make series – or all three – and have the kind of track record across various disciplines that few organisations in the UK can match. It’s a very exciting time.”

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