The Season Closer We Deserve
Brands Hatch GP. The full layout. The final weekend of 2026. Sutton's fifth title is sewn up and the champagne has been sprayed, but if you think this weekend is a formality , you have not been paying attention. The battle for second in the championship, the Independent titles and a handful of personal scores to settle mean there is plenty left to race for. The GP loop adds Hawthorn, Westfield and Sheene to the familiar Indy layout, turning Brands into a proper 2.4-mile test of everything a touring car can do. Long straights, heavy braking zones and that plunge down Paddock Hill Bend at the start of the lap. It always delivers and I cannot see this weekend being any different.
Ingram vs Cammish: The Scrap for Second
Tom Ingram grabbed a wet-weather win in the Silverstone finale and arrives at Brands Hatch with momentum and a realistic shot at finishing the season as runner-up. Dan Cammish will have something to say about that. These two have traded blows all year and neither is the type to settle for a quiet points haul when there is a position to fight over. Second in the championship might not carry a trophy the size of Sutton's but it matters on the CV and it matters in contract negotiations. Expect both of them to push hard from the opening lap of the qualifying race on Saturday.
Collard Back for the Finale
Ricky Collard returns to the Team VERTU Hyundai for this weekend after Osamu Kawashima stepped in at Silverstone. That is a late deal confirmed and Collard will want to end 2026 on a high. He has been quick when the car has been underneath him and Brands Hatch GP should suit his aggressive braking style. Paddock Hill into Druids is tailor-made for a committed overtaker and Collard has never been shy about sticking his nose in.
Louise Goodman Takes Her Final Bow
This one stings a bit. Louise Goodman will work her final BTCC weekend as a broadcaster after 30 years with ITV. She has been the voice of the pitlane through every era of modern touring car racing in this country and her warmth, professionalism and sheer love of the sport have made her irreplaceable. The paddock will feel different without her and I suspect a lot of fans trackside will want to show their appreciation this weekend. A proper send-off at Brands Hatch feels fitting for someone who has given so much to the coverage we all enjoy.
Power Maxed Want to End on a Statement
Mikey Doble has been sensational in the second half of this season. Back-to-back qualifying race wins at Silverstone, a new lap record and the kind of confidence that makes him look like a future champion. Aiden Moffat got his first win of the year overturned and then reinstated at Silverstone, which was a rollercoaster in itself. Power Maxed have run as many as four Audis this year and the depth of data and development they have built should make them strong at Brands. The GP layout rewards a well-balanced car through the high-speed sweeps and Doble in particular has the kind of precision that thrives on a technical lap. I would not be surprised to see him on pole again.
CPRL Close Out a Turbulent Year
Adam Morgan and Dan Rowbottom bring the CPRL Mercedes pair to Brands having survived one of the most chaotic seasons any team has ever endured. Administration. A change of name. The departure of the team's founder. And through all of it, Morgan has won five times including qualifying races. Rowbottom has chipped in consistently. The fact that this team is still racing, still competitive and still scoring podiums is a testament to everyone involved. A strong finale would be the perfect way to draw a line under the drama and head into the off-season with their heads held high.
The Circuit Itself
Brands Hatch GP is special. The Indy layout is brilliant for close racing but the GP loop adds a completely different dimension. Hawthorn Hill climbs steeply before dropping into Westfield, where cars get unsettled and mistakes happen. Sheene Curve is flat for some and a lift for others depending on setup and tyre condition. Clearways feeds back onto the start/finish straight and gives a slipstreaming opportunity that the Indy circuit simply does not provide. Late-season Brands can also throw weather curveballs. October in Kent is not exactly predictable. If we get a damp qualifying session or a rain-affected race, the order could be scrambled entirely. Bring layers. Bring enthusiasm. This is the last time we see these cars in anger until 2027.
One Last Thing
The BTCC community lost Scott Dennis recently and the paddock will be carrying that sadness into this weekend. Moments like that put the racing into perspective. The sport is a family and Brands Hatch will pay its respects in the way it always does. Enjoy every lap. Soak in every moment. The 2026 season has been extraordinary from start to finish and this weekend is our last chance to savour it.