The British Army has joined forces with Speedworks Motorsport for the 2026 British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season, and the partnership is about much more than motorsport.
Students and soldiers take part in a workshop inside the British Army Motorsport pits during the 2026 British Touring Car Championship season.
Students and soldiers take part in a workshop inside the British Army Motorsport pits during the 2026 British Touring Car Championship season.
A soldier speaks with students about the opportunities available through Army motorsport.
Colonel Rich Hall MBE, Head of Army Regional Engagement said:
"What makes this partnership particularly powerful is the opportunity it gives us to bring young people, especially college students, directly into an environment where STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) comes alive.”
The championship takes place across 10 events and features highly modified versions of family cars racing at some of the UK’s top circuits.
What makes this partnership particularly powerful is the opportunity it gives us to bring young people, especially college students, directly into an environment where STEM comes alive
The collaboration aims to show young people that the Army offers genuinely exciting, technically demanding careers by using the energy and spectacle of the BTCC as a platform.
The Army hopes to connect with a new generation who might not have considered military life but who love everything about engineering, technology, and high-performance machines.
Colonel Hall added:
“By using the platform of Speedworks Motorsport, we can showcase how military engineering and technical trades operate in dynamic, high-performance settings.
“At the same time, we can harness the passion and adrenaline of a race weekend to demonstrate that Army Sport, and especially Army motorsport, sits right at the heart of Army life. It shows that a career in the Army is not only professionally rewarding but also offers individuals the chance to pursue their passions, compete, and be part of something exceptional."
Inspiring future engineers
Throughout the season, dedicated military fan zones at circuits across the country will give fans up-close access to Army equipment and motorsport demonstrations.
We can harness the passion and adrenaline of a race weekend to demonstrate that Army Sport, and especially Army motorsport, sits right at the heart of Army life. It shows that a career in the Army is not only professionally rewarding but also offers individuals the chance to pursue their passions, compete, and be part of something exceptional."
Cadet forces and youth groups will also be invited to Speedworks' headquarters for hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workshops and race team visits giving them a chance to see professional motorsport engineering in action and draw the lines between the racetrack and a career in uniform.
Through our partnership with Speedworks Motorsport, I was able to engage with students during their visit to Oulton Park, demonstrating the opportunities available within the Army - not only in motorsport, but across the wider spectrum of sport within the Army.
Shared values of sport and service
In one of the most distinctive elements of the collaboration, soldiers from the British Army Motorsport Association are being embedded directly in the Speedworks garage on race weekends. This two-way exchange — military personnel and racing professionals learning from each other in environments where split-second decisions and flawless teamwork aren't optional, they're essential.
Speaking after the latest event at Oulton Park, Cheshire, Staff Sergeant Will Ashmore. Army Engagement Group (Army Motorsport) said:
“Through our partnership with Speedworks Motorsport, I was able to engage with students during their visit to Oulton Park, demonstrating the opportunities available within the Army - not only in motorsport, but across the wider spectrum of sport within the Army.”
Motorsport and the military share the same values – precision, teamwork and performing under pressure. By bringing soldiers into the race team environment, it shows that the Army offers genuinely rewarding careers for those with technical aptitudes.
Staff Sergeant Ashmore added:
“Prior to the event, none of the students were aware of the Army’s significant involvement in motorsport, which prompted a range of questions about the crossover between motorsport and Army life, as well as the level at which we compete.
Working alongside my team from the British Army Motorsports Association, we were able to bridge the gap between motorsport enthusiasts attending the event and the Army."
Your next move
The Army is recruiting right now, with 10,000 jobs available across the UK spanning more than 200 roles — from engineering and cyber security to logistics and technical support. If the BTCC season sparks something in you, or in a young person you know, find out more about an Army career today.
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