Daniel Lloyd will return to the British Touring Car Championship in 2025, as the Huddersfield racer joins Restart Racing to drive a Hyundai i30 N Fastback.
Lloyd, 32, had a year away from touring car racing in 2024 when he competed instead in the TOCA-supporting Porsche Carrera Cup GB.
However, a difficult season saw him finish tenth overall out of 12 drivers in the ‘professional category’, with just one podium finish, recorded in a wet race two at Silverstone.
Lloyd will join Restart Racing in the 2025 BTCC, reuniting him with a Hyundai i30 N Fastback which he previously campaigned to three victories in the 2022 season with EXCELR8 Motorsport.
The four-time BTCC race winner had already revealed his intent to return to the BTCC prior to Christmas, and he has now secured sufficient backing to seal the deal, where he will line-up alongside Chris Smiley in the team, who he was previously team-mates with at BTC Norlin Racing in 2018.
Lloyd will work with race engineer Tom Hunt, who he previously worked with at Team HARD in 2023 and who previously worked at Team Dynamics.
“It’s no secret that I’ve had a tough few years since the accident at Oulton Park back in 2022, so to be in a position where I can now confirm I’ll be back on the BTCC grid in 2025 is fantastic,” said Lloyd.
“Getting to this stage has taken a lot of hard work, probably more than ever before, but when this opportunity presented itself, I knew it was one I had to take as it was where I wanted to be.
“I know what the Hyundai is capable of having driven it in the past and whilst Restart Racing is only going into its second year in the BTCC, the team has put a lot of investment into not only the cars, but also the personnel required to run them.
“Having Tom as my engineer is great because we know how each other work and he brings wealth of experience, and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.
“The goal is certainly to be right up there fighting for podium finishes and race wins, and I see no reason why we can’t look to challenge for the Independents’ title over the season as a whole.
“Of course it wouldn’t be possible without the support of my partners, old and new, and I’m looking forward to working with them during the year ahead.”
Pete Jones, Restart Racing Managing Director, said that Lloyd had long been a target for the fledgling squad.
“From the moment we secured the Hyundai i30s for 2025, we knew we needed a strong driver pairing to unlock their full potential,” added Jones.
“Dan was at the top of our list as he’s a proven winner, has experience with this car, and his determination to fight his way back onto the grid says everything about the competitor he is.
“With Dan and Chris leading the charge, we’re confident that we have a line-up capable of pushing for podiums and delivering strong results.
“More than that, Dan is another cornerstone in the long-term vision of Restart Racing. We’re not just building a team for this season – we’re laying the foundation for sustained success in the BTCC, and Dan is a key part of that journey.”