Daniel Lloyd will hope to bounce back from a challenging return to the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship when the series heads for Croft this weekend for the eighth round of the season.
Having elected to take a sabbatical from the series in order to focus on his business commitments this year, Huddersfield racer Daniel returned to action at Donington Park a fortnight ago with the same Restart Racing team that carried him to the Independents’ title last season.
Despite being out of the car since the 2026 season finale, and with limited practice time due to a revised weekend format introduced this year, Daniel was able to battle his way to a solid points finish in the opening race before a dislodged fuel line in race two led to a brief fire that ended his weekend early.
Since then, Restart Racing has worked to repair the #123 Hyundai i30 Fastback N ahead of the trip to North Yorkshire for Daniel’s home event at a circuit where he has enjoyed plenty of success in the past.
Scene of his maiden touring car win back in 2018, Croft was also the circuit where Daniel scored a memorable double victory in 2022 – success that was all the more remarkable given it came just two weeks after a huge accident at Oulton Park almost ended his season early.
As he prepares to climb back behind the wheel of the Hyundai this weekend, Daniel will hope to try and challenge for three strong results to bounce back from the disappointment of Donington Park, and to reward the team for its efforts to repair the car for his home meeting.
“It was great to be back in the car at Donington Park, although obviously things didn’t quite go to plan on track,” he said. “Although we didn’t quite get the car exactly how I like it, we managed to score some points in race one having made up ground on the ‘slower’ hard tyre, before the unfortunate incident in race two ended the weekend early.
“After losing a win late on in the Cupra a few years ago, maybe Donington Park GP just isn’t my circuit, but it’s a different story altogether when it comes to Croft.
“The fact it’s my home round always makes it special but there are so many positive memories from my touring car career, from my debut in the BTCC back in 2010 to my first win in 2018, and then the double victory in 2022.
“Croft is probably the best circuit I could be going to when I want bounce back from a difficult weekend, and I’m confident that we can have a strong weekend on track. Obviously I’d love to add to my win tally as fighting for victories is why we all go racing, but it would be fantastic to come away with a good haul of points to reward the team for their efforts to repair the damage from Donington Park.
“It would also be great to secure some good results for DEVELOP, JLC Group, iab Lab and Calder IT to thank them for their support in getting me back on the grid for these final four rounds of the season.”
