Noah Young will become the youngest driver to contest a full British Touring Car Championship season when he joins Excelr8 Motorsport for 2027. The 16-year-old will make his debut at Donington Park in April, aged 16 years and 11 months.

The previous record holder was former team driver Tom Chilton, who was 17 when he began his first full season in 2002. Chilton ended his professional racing career at the recent Brands Hatch season finale.

Young's move follows two seasons in the Ginetta Junior Championship, his first experience of real-world racing after competing in esports. In his rookie Ginetta season, Young took seven wins in the Freshman class for drivers with no karting background, before claiming his first overall podium in the 2025 Ginetta Junior Winter Series.

He returned for a second year in 2026, recording a best finish of fourth overall and finishing twelfth in the standings as the leading Performance One driver. Young will race alongside two-time BTCC champion Tom Ingram, who has worked as his driver coach over the past season.

His deal covers both 2027 and 2028, with his rookie campaign seen as a learning year before he aims to move further up the grid. Young has already tested the Hyundai i30 Fastback N at Donington Park, with further outings planned before Christmas and additional testing in the New Year.

"Ginetta Juniors has been a brilliant place for me to learn over the last two seasons, with close racing and battles for the podium positions from the first lap of a race to the last," Young said.

"I have been able to learn a huge amount about racing in a series that is hard but fair, and now I have an unbelievable opportunity to make the move into the most high-profile series in UK motorsport with one of the very best teams on the grid.

"I'm under no illusions that this is a big step up for me and that there are going to be plenty of challenges ahead, but I'm ready to tackle them head on and I cannot wait."

Ingram said he had been impressed by Young's approach during their time working together.

"Noah is a young driver who asks the right questions and takes everything you say onboard, and I've really enjoyed working with him this year," Ingram said. "He's got the race craft, he has a mature head on young shoulders, and I'm sure he will fit in well with the team."

Team owner Justina Williams said the multi-year deal reflected the team's belief in Young's potential.

"Despite being a relative late starter to racing having not taken the traditional route through karting, Noah has shown his potential during his time in the Ginetta Junior Championship," Williams said. "Although he will be the youngest driver to ever undertake a full programme in the series, we're confident he can make a real impression."