Plato Racing picks RML to build BTCC challengers

Jason Plato’s return to the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) sees him reunite with RML Group to deliver his new team’s cars. The newly launched Plato Racing has commissioned Northamptonshire-based RML Group, the total engineering solutions provider, to design, engineer and build two cars ahead of a planned year of racing in 2026.

Having won multiple BTCC championships over more than 30 years in the series, RML Group’s Motorsport division will build Plato Racing’s vehicles, handing them over ahead of the season opener at Donington Park on 18^th April 2026.

Since 2016, RML Group has been an official parts supplier to the BTCC, providing specified chassis, suspension and associated components to all teams on the grid and this new agreement does not alter the long-standing supplier contract. All parties – RML Group, Plato Racing, and series organisers TOCA – have approved this new relationship which will be entirely separate from RML’s BTCC parts operations, ensuring a level playing field within a championship that prides itself on balanced performance and fiercely competitive racing.

RML Group has extensive experience working on compartmentalised projects and can operate as official parts supplier to TOCA and the BTCC’s teams, as well as focus on delivering the most competitive car to Plato Racing as a customer.

Paul Dickinson, chief executive officer at RML Group, said: “We are delighted to be working with Jason again, following a number of successful years together when RML Group ran the Chevrolet works BTCC team from 2009-2011. Both RML and Jason Plato are synonymous with BTCC, winning multiple championships over the past 30 years.

“As ever, our professionalism can be relied upon, and we have worked with TOCA to ensure that everything is clearly defined and partitioned. This new project signifies an important next step in our strategy deployment as a group. We bring our engineering expertise and decades of experience across multiple racing formats to the benefit of our motorsport customers. RML’s Motorsport division are thrilled to have the opportunity to deliver a highly-competitive racing car.”

RML Group has won multiple teams’ and manufacturers’ titles since first entering the BTCC in 1992, working with major manufacturers such as Vauxhall, Seat, Nissan and Chevrolet on factory team efforts over the years. Jason Plato is a two-time BTCC championship winner, driving in the series between 1997 and 2022, holding the record for the most overall race wins – 97 and in excess of 240 podiums.

Further announcements about Plato Racing’s plans ahead of the 2026 season will take place in the coming months. Find out more about RML Group's Motorsport capabilities here.