BTCC: Plato Racing to run Mercedes-Benz entry for 2026 season

The newest entry into the BTCC, Plato Racing, have confirmed that they will be running a pair of Mercedes’ for the upcoming season.

Team owner, Jason Plato, announced at the Silverstone round of last season he will be making his return to the BTCC for 2026 not as a driver, but as a team owner. Since then the team announced that they will be partnering with RML to design and build their cars but it was still to be confirmed what they will be running. The team acquired two TBL’s for 2026 in December to gain entry into the upcoming season and have now announced via Motorsport News what cars they will be running.

Plato announced that he will be entering two Mercedes-AMG A35 Saloons for 2026 which will be the first time since 2020 a pair of Mercedes will be entered into the BTCC when Cicerly Motorsport ran the A-Class Hatchback. The manufacturer will return to the BTCC grid for 2026 but as a constructor entry for the first time. TOCA have assessed and approved the new facility plans for the entry as they plan to run a shakedown of their new cars at the end of February before taking part in the pre-season tests at Croft and Brands Hatch.

Speaking to Matt James of Motorsport News, Jason Plato said: “I would say we looked at in excess of five different types of car, but the Mercedes AMG A35 -V177 Saloon was the one that stood out, not only does it sound like a rocket, we intend it to be so!”