Team VERTU has signed a deal with teenager Noah Young to join the outfit for the 2027 British Touring Car Championship season, where he will be the youngest driver to ever take on a full season in the BTCC.

Following a test session at Donington Park this week, 16-year-old Young will join the Team VERTU outfit for a full campaign in 2027.

When he makes his début at Donington Park in Paril, Young will be just 16 years and 11 months old, which will make him the youngest-ever full-season racer in the BTCC – beating the previous record held by Team VERTU’s outgoing Tom Chilton in 2002.

The only other driver in the BTCC to have made a race start whilst they were still 16 was Aiden Moffat in 2013.

Young previously competed in the Ginetta Junior Championship in 2025 and 2026, finishing 21st overall in his maiden season of car racing last year. In the ‘Freshman’ class for drivers new to motorsport with no karting background, Young scored seven class wins.

He improved to 12th in the standings this year, with a best result of fourth, and will now graduate to the BTCC for 2027.

Young previously competed in eSports, where he is one of the highest-ranked drivers in the iRacing community, before joining the Ginetta series.

Young, who will team up with Tom Ingram next year, has also signed for the 2028 season.

“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,” said Young.

“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.

“Getting behind the wheel of the car for the first time at Donington was an amazing experience in itself, and it promises to be a busy winter preparing for my first race in the spring.

“I have to say a huge thank you to EXCELR8 and Team VERTU for backing me to make this move, and to CarMats.co.uk and the rest of my sponsors for getting me onto the grid.”

Ingram believes Young already has to what it takes to step up to the BTCC.

“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,” added Ingram.

“Racing in the BTCC is a big step up for him as the action is relentless and there is nowhere to hide, but I have no concerns about him joining the grid despite his young age.

“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. I’m looking forward to having him alongside us in the garage.”

EXCELR8 Team Owner Justina Williams said:

“We’re delighted to announce that Noah will be part of our driver line-up not only for the 2027 season, but also for 2028 as part of a multi-year deal, which is a reflection of the promise we see in him,” said Williams.

“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.

“When drivers like Bobby Thompson and Tom Ingram speak so highly of a youngster, you know they are someone who is capable of making it to the very top.

“The Donington Park test was a good opportunity for Noah to get a taste of the Hyundai and to start working with the team ahead of a full winter programme designed to ensure he is fully prepared for his debut season.

“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 and will be one to watch when we arrive at Donington Park in April.”