One of the most successful engine suppliers in the British Touring Car Championship will likely be absent from the grid for 2027, as Autosport reports. Swindon Powertrain, which has constructed bespoke Hyundai powerplants for Excelr8 Motorsport since 2022 and for customer team Restart Racing since 2025, has not secured a contract renewal with Excelr8 for the upcoming season.
Tom Ingram famously utilized the Swindon-built Hyundai engine to secure BTCC titles in 2022 and 2025. However, difficulties arose after the series' TOCA technical team reduced the boost on all engines prior to this year, pushing the Hyundai into a different parameter and requiring a further reduction specifically for this powerplant. Ingram and his fellow Hyundai racers consequently struggled for straight-line speed in 2026, leading team-mate Tom Chilton to switch to the customer M-Sport-built TOCA engine for the final two rounds at Silverstone and Brands Hatch. It is therefore expected that all the Hyundais will adopt the TOCA unit next year.
We’ve gained considerable experience, brought numerous innovations to the [BTCC] and will be ready to win again with the right partner,
Swindon boasts an incredible pedigree in the championship. Prior to the Hyundai programme, the company supplied the TOCA powerplant from 2010 to 2021, powering Ashley Sutton to the 2020 and 2021 titles in a Laser Tools Racing/BMR Infiniti Q50. This means Swindon has powered the BTCC champion in four of the past seven years. Furthermore, the firm was a mainstay of the 1990s Super Touring era as the engine builder for the factory Vauxhall team, guiding John Cleland to the championship in 1995.
Reflecting on the departure, company CEO Raphael Caille shared his thoughts. “We are extremely proud of the contribution made by the entire team at Swindon Powertrain, and we would like to thank everyone in the BTCC for the success we have enjoyed together,” Caille said. “The performance, reliability and cost efficiency of our engines have enabled more drivers and teams to challenge for titles, helping the BTCC remain one of the most demanding and competitive touring car championships in the world.”
Caille also pointed to the shifting landscape of the sport. “Motorsport is always evolving. Changing regulations and long-term commercial considerations inevitably influence technical direction and supplier choices. We are proud of the value and competitiveness our package has delivered over many years, and we look back on our time in the BTCC with enormous pride and gratitude.”
Although the BTCC chapter is closing for now, Swindon remains open to returning through a new engine-supply programme and retains heavy involvement in touring car racing elsewhere. The company currently builds powerplants for Toyota in Australia's Supercars series, where the Japanese manufacturer has claimed four race wins to date in its first season, including the most recent round at the enduro at The Bend. “We’ve gained considerable experience, brought numerous innovations to the [BTCC] and will be ready to win again with the right partner,” Caille added.
