Macklin Motors are proud to be represented in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) through the EXCELR8 Motorsport team and driver Ronan Pearson.
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The addition of new driver Ronan to the team is an exciting development which will help us to expand the reach of our brand in a nationally recognised motorsport championship.
In a Macklin Motors-branded Hyundai i30N Fastback, Ronan will help to drive awareness of the brand and help us to celebrate motorsport with our local customers. All while making a start on his professional motorsport career.
The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) is one of the most well-known motorsport championships in the world, with a history going back to 1958. Captivating the attention of millions of fans globally, the championship sees racing versions of everyday cars compete fiercely on challenging tracks.
Traditional manufacturers such as Jaguar, Austin, Ford, MINI, Lotus, Sunbeam and Triumph all joined in on the action in the first 20 years of the championship, later followed by Mazda, Toyota, and Alfa Romeo.
Watch all the action of the BTCC on ITV4, or join Macklin Motors at Knockhill Circuit on 12-13 August to be trackside cheering on Ronan as he battles for points.
Joining the EXCELR8 team for the 2023 season is Ronan Pearson, proudly representing our Macklin Motors brand. Pearson is a 21-year-old Scottish driver from Kelty, a mere 10 minutes away from the Knockhill circuit in Fife.
Having recently graduated from the EXCELR8 Young Drivers’ Development Programme founded by team owner Justina Williams, Pearson is now making history with his debut to touring cars as the first young driver from the scheme to do so.
Joining experienced drivers Tom Chilton and Tom Ingram, along with Nick Halstead, Pearson will take a seat in the fourth and final Hyundai i30 N, aiming to win the Jack Sears Trophy to kickstart his touring car season. We are excited to sponsor Ronan as he begins his first BTCC season, as he represents our Scottish brand in the championship.
The championship sees drivers race in various locations, starting at Donington Park in late April and ending at Brands Hatch GP in early October. With three races a day, the BTCC promises audiences both value for money and maximum entertainment in an action-packed atmosphere, where the excitement is truly never-ending.
22 - 23 Apr
06 - 07 May
20 - 21 May
03 - 04 Jun
17 - 18 Jun
29 - 30 Jul
12 - 13 Aug
26 - 27 Aug
23 - 24 Sep
07 - 08 Oct
In 2022, the BTCC made further history as the first in the world of motorsports to incorporate hybrid cars into the championship. Providing drivers with 15 seconds of hybrid power deployable per lap, this gives them a 15-metre advantage against non-hybrid drivers.
The championship begins at Donington Park making stops at Brands Hatch, Snetterton, Thruxton, Oulton Park, Croft, and Knockhill before a return to Donington. The semi-final takes place at Silverstone before the finale at Brands Hatch.
Founded by Justina Williams in 2010, EXCELR8 Motorsport originally competed in the MINI Challenge, and now competes in the BTCC. The team has seen many wins and podium finishes over its time showing a promising future ahead, which our sister brand Bristol Street Motors continues to support.
This year, the team is comprised of top drivers Tom Chilton and Tom Ingram, Nick Halstead, and Ronan Pearson. Ingram will return fresh from his championship win last season alongside experienced teammate Chilton, while Halstead joins the team for his first season.
Scottish driver Pearson joins the team in the fourth and final car, which will represent the Macklin Motors brand. A striking new livery has been revealed to celebrate the move, with the newly revamped team ready and raring to go this season.
Former MINI Challenge driver, and experienced racer Ronan had the opportunity to launch his first ever BTCC livery at our Nissan Glasgow Central dealership on Port Dundas Road to give our colleagues a slice of the excitement. Being not only a touring car fan, but a music fan, Ronan nominated singer-songwriter Callum Beattie to join us for the livery reveal and give each a chance to discuss life on the main stage.
Edinburgh-born Callum has since called upon Macklin Motors to support in transport for tour dates in 2023 and helped to launch Ronan’s helmet design competition at the Royal Highland Show.
“Ever since I started racing, my goal has been to make it onto the BTCC grid and it’s hard to find the words to express how excited I am to know it’s going to happen this year.
"The original plan had been to return to the MINI CHALLENGE before moving up into touring cars in 2024, but then we started to look at whether it might be feasible to bring the plans forward. Having approached the team to say I wanted to be in the fourth Hyundai seat, we’ve been able to make it happen and I couldn’t be happier.
"I’m hugely proud to be the first member of EXCELR8’s Young Driver Development Programme to make this move, and the fact that I’ll be joining the BTCC grid with support from a major Scottish brand in Macklin Motors is fantastic - and I’ll be doing my all to repay the faith they have shown in me.
"Spending time working alongside the BTCC team last season is going to be hugely beneficial to me as I know a lot of the people who will be working on my car already, and I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to work alongside two of the top drivers on the grid during my rookie year.
"Tom and Tom have a huge amount of experience and I don’t think I could have a better pair of drivers to learn from when you consider that Tom Ingram is the defending BTCC champion, and Tom Chilton has won a title in the World Touring Car Championship and tasted victory at the highest level. I’ll be looking to learn as much as I possibly can from them both to help me progress, and get to where I want to be.
"I’m well aware that moving up to the BTCC is a huge step to take, and it’s important for me to be realistic in my goals. The first aim has to be to challenge for wins in the Jack Sears Trophy, then take it from there and see how things go."
Ronan Pearson, Driver at EXCELR8 Motorsport
Hyundai launched its 'N' performance sub-brand with the i30 N hot hatch. The i30 N remains the kind of car you simply wouldn't expect from this manufacturer, with an output of up to 280PS intended to provide performance to rival the much-coveted Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Scottish youngster Ronan Pearson had planned to chase top honours in the MINI CHALLENGE in 2023 but the opportunity to make the step up to the British Touring Car Championship with the BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 team was one that was too good to miss.
Ronan Pearson has been given a boost in his quest to secure the Jack Sears Trophy after Macklin Motors increased its support for the young Scot on the back of an impressive weekend at Knockhill.
Macklin Motors has launched an exciting competition inviting talented individuals from all walks of life to design a helmet for up and coming racing driver Ronan Pearson.
The stunning livery of the car that will be driven by rising star Ronan Pearson during the 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season has been unveiled.