TOCA MINI CARNIVAL SUPPORTING BTCC HIGHLIGHTS 2026 MINI CHALLENGE SCHEDULE

A British Touring Car Championship support meeting including all three classes of the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE is the highlight of a 13-date calendar that can today be confirmed for the 2026 season.

The event in May will see the JCW and JCW Sport classes joined at a BTCC event by the Cooper class cars from the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy for the first time, with no fewer than six action-packed races taking place across the weekend.

The opportunity to bring the three categories together will see the creation of the ‘TOCA MINI Carnival supporting BTCC’ and means that the Cooper field will now race on the biggest package in UK motorsport no fewer than four times in 2026.

That provides greater levels of exposure for the MINI CHALLENGE’s ‘entry level’ series, which is widely regarded as one of the most competitive in the country and a proving ground for young talent looking to move into tin top racing.

The seven-date calendar for the JCW and JCW Sport classes is largely unchanged from 2025, with six of the meetings held this year being retained for the new campaign, albeit with some revisions to the event order.

The only difference is a return for the Brands Hatch Indy layout after a year away, with the JCW field not returning to Croft in 2026.

Alongside the Snetterton date, the Coopers once again join the BTCC package at Thruxton and Donington Park GP, whilst also taking over the Croft date.

The three non-BTCC events include the season opener with Motorsport Vision at Silverstone alongside a return to Pembrey as part of the Convoy Cymru event with the British Truck Racing Championship, and the traditional season finale at Brands Hatch.

“We’re excited to confirm our calendars for the 2026 season, and particularly the news that our three classes will both be in action on the same weekend at Snetterton,” Championship Co-ordinator Rhea Beauchamp said.

“That’s a fantastic opportunity for us to really showcase everything that the MINI CHALLENGE is all about, and the fact that we have been able to secure a fourth BTCC date for the Cooper grid is a reflection of the brilliant racing we’ve seen in recent years.

“Both the JCW, JCW Sport and Cooper calendars will provide an interesting mix of circuits for our teams and drivers, and with interest in both championships looking positive, we’re looking forward to what promises to be another fantastic season of racing.”

Alongside confirmation of the calendar for the 2026 campaign, the series can also reveal a new facelift package will be introduced for both the JCW and JCW Sport classes, which will be mandatory for all competing cars.

The new package has been developed by OX4Racing – the team that operates from MINI Plant Oxford – and will see cars visually match the F66-spec MINI that is currently on sale.

The current F56 cars were first introduced into the series in 2015, with the introduction of the new facelift package extending the life of the JCW class into the coming seasons.