BTCC 2025: Draper Extends Successful Partnership with EXCELR8
28th Jan 2025
Today, Draper Tools is thrilled to announce an extension of our hugely successful partnership with EXCELR8 Motorsport with a new multi-year agreement to run to the end of the 2027 British Touring Car Championship season.
We first joined forces with EXCELR8 when it made the move up into Britain’s premier racing series for the first time ahead of the 2019 season, having previously enjoyed years of success in the MINI CHALLENGE.
Originally running a pair of MG6 GT models before introducing the Hyundai i30 Fastback N in 2020, EXCELR8 has since gone on to firmly establish itself as one of the BTCC’s leading teams, with Draper Tools having played a key role in its rise to the top.
EXCELR8 has now scored 23 wins and has taken more than 60 podium finishes, with Tom Ingram lifting the coveted Drivers’ title in 2022 before finishing as runner-up in both 2023 and 2024.
As has been the case since the partnership began, Draper Tools will play a key role in EXCELR8’s bid for success during the new season, where it will operate a four-car programme under the Team VERTU banner.
Ingram is once again joined at the wheel of the Hyundai by Tom Chilton, with the addition of former BMW driver Adam Morgan providing extra experience in what looks set to be EXCELR8’s strongest driver line-up to date - with the identity of the fourth and final driver still to be confirmed.
As it looks to challenge for championship honours, the team will continue to make use of Draper’s extensive product range to prepare and run the touring car programme both at the workshop and trackside at each of the ten race meetings.
The Draper Tools brand will feature on the rear quarter of one of the Team VERTU Hyundais. In addition, the Draper team will also have a presence at a number of race weekends during the season, including our home circuit of Thruxton, where motorsport fans will have the opportunity to win prizes and test out their mechanic skills. Look out for us in the EXCELR8 fanzone!
Justina Williams, EXCELR8 Team Owner, said:
“Draper Tools have been a constant presence since we made the move up into the BTCC and it goes without saying that we are delighted to renew our partnership for another three seasons.
“Long term deals like this don’t come along very often, particularly in the current climate, and the fact that our relationship with Draper Tools will now run to nearly a decade is an indication of how strong the partnership now is.
“With the ongoing support of Draper Tools, we can go into the next three seasons knowing that our engineering team has the best tools possible to keep our cars at the front of the grid and it is fantastic to be able to count on their ongoing support.”
Sarah Hartland, Draper Tools Head of Marketing, said:
“Our partnership with EXCELR8 is a true collaboration that means a lot to us, with constant evolution and the opportunity to embrace new ideas. Justina and the team are always working hard to help support our goals as a business, and that is what makes this partnership so special.
“Over the years we’ve been working together, we’ve established a great relationship with both the team and the fans, and we really value both of those. Race weekends are especially important to us, and having fans queue up to come and see us whatever the weather is something we never take for granted. We also love how these weekends offer us the chance to see our automotive tools put to good use in the team garages, and allow us to connect with our retail partners in EXCELR8’s hospitality area.
“We’ve loved our time in the BTCC so far, and look forward to further success with EXCELR8 going forwards.”
