Following delays to the process, TOCA released the teams that hold TOCA BTCC Licences (TBLs) for 2024. This has revealed a number of interesting stories up and down the grid, giving the first idea of the shape of the grid next year.
What are TBLs?
Toca BTCC Licences are the entry requirement for teams to enter the BTCC season.
Teams can sell, gift, or loan their TBLs to other teams on a one season basis, meaning that the number of TBLs a team has might not mean that they will field an equal amount of cars.
The best example of TBLs switching hands was Team Hard in 2023. This time last year, they held 4 TBLs, but sold one to Power Maxed Racing to be left with 3 each. However, Team Hard used 2 TBLs from Aiden Moffat Racing and one from Carl Boardley Motorsport to acquire the 6 TBLs needed to run 6 cars in the 2023 season.
The release of the TBL list gives us the first insight into how the grid may look next year. It is the first port of call for speculation on driver transfers, and in the case of this year, confirms the fate of Team Hard. However, we will not have a definitive picture until March 2024, when the entry list is released.
What Stories do the TBLs Tell?
The biggest story to come out of the TBL list is the omission of Team Hard, who fielded 6 Cupra Leons in 2023. Power Maxed Racing have kept their TBL they acquired from Team Hard, implying that they will be fielding 3 cars again next year. Aiden Moffat Racing have retained their 2 TBLs and Carl Boardley Motorsport have also retained their TBL that they loaned to Team Hard, leaving 3 TBLs to be redistributed.
One of these TBLs has gone to Speedworks Motorsport, who ran 3 Toyota Corollas in 2023. This implies that they plan to run a fourth Toyota in 2024, which has led to speculation on who their fourth driver might be. One driver who has been touted for the drive is 2012 World Touring Car Champion Rob Huff, who is reportedly keen to return to the BTCC and has been spotted testing with Toyota in November.
The other two TBLs have gone to Restart Racing, who have already confirmed one driver in BTCC race-winner and 2022 TCR UK Champion Chris Smiley. They have also confirmed the acquisition of the two newest Cupra Leons used by Team Hard in 2023 by Bobby Thompson and Dan Lloyd. Naturally, there has been more speculation on who will get the second seat at Restart Racing, as well as the fates of Thompson and Lloyd who were the stars of Team Hard. Further complicating matters is the return of Aiden Moffat’s TBLs to him after being loaned to Team Hard in 2023.
It is believed that Moffat is looking to leave One Motorsport, and he has raced with his own family team before under the name Laser Tools Racing from 2019 to 2021. It is unclear whether Moffat will be heading to an established team or creating his own, but this predicament leaves a further 2 seats up for grabs. With plenty of drivers looking for a seat, competition for the two available seats will be strong.
For now, it is unclear what Carl Boardley will do with his TBL after winning the TCR UK Championship in 2023. It will reportedly be in use though, so that leaves another seat available for drivers to fight over.
While Alliance Racing and EXCELR8 Motorsport have retained the same number of TBLs for 2024, both teams have publicly stated that they are willing to provide customer Fords and Hyundais for a satellite team. Therefore, this could be the direction that Moffat and Boardley may go for a 2024 entry, especially as Ford was clearly the fastest car over the 2023 season.
It must be said that until the entry list is released in March, these stories remain speculative. But the release of the TBL list does tell some stories, such as the expansion of Toyota’s team and the return of Chris Smiley. Tracking where the TBLs go can give us the first insight into the plans of the teams for 2024, and from that we can try to predict next year’s driver lineup.
Team | 2023 TBLs | 2024 TBLs |
Motorbase/Alliance Racing | 4 | 4 |
EXCELR8 Motorsport | 4 | 4 |
West Surrey Racing | 4 | 4 |
Speedworks Motorsport | 3 | 4 |
BTC Racing/One Motorsport | 3 | 3 |
Power Maxed Racing | 2 (+1 from Team HARD) | 3 |
Team HARD | 4 (-1 to Power Maxed Racing, +2 from Aiden Moffat Racing, +1 from Carl Boardley Motorsport) | 0 |
Aiden Moffat Racing | 2 (-2 to Team HARD) | 2 |
Carl Boardley Motorsport | 1 (-1 to Team HARD) | 1 |
Restart Racing | 0 | 2 |
Comments