Team Vertu EXCELR8 Motorsport
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Founder
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Team Principal
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Founded
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First Modern Appearance
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Team Titles
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BTCC Titles
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BTCC Drivers Titles
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Team Base
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Current Car
Justina Williams
Justina Williams
2010
2019
53
1
2
Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire
Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance BTCC
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Heritage
Competing at the sharp end of the British Touring Car Championship, Team Vertu has rapidly established itself as one of the most successful and progressive operations in British motorsport. Running under the Team Vertu banner in the BTCC and operated by EXCELR8 Motorsport, the team combines championship-winning performance with a modern, commercially driven approach that has helped redefine what a contemporary racing organisation can be.
EXCELR8 Motorsport was founded by Justina Williams and first entered competition in 2010. From the outset, the team enjoyed success in the highly competitive MINI CHALLENGE, securing championship honours in its debut season and quickly building a reputation for professionalism, innovation and driver development. Over the following decade, EXCELR8 became one of the most successful teams in the series, collecting multiple championships across both the JCW and Cooper classes while developing future touring car talent.
The team made its British Touring Car Championship debut in 2019, entering a pair of MG6 GT machines and laying the foundations for a long-term BTCC programme. A major step forward came in 2020 when EXCELR8 introduced the Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance, a car designed and developed in-house. Despite limited testing opportunities, the new package immediately showed promise with podium finishes during its first season.
EXCELR8’s rise accelerated in 2021 through a strengthened commercial partnership with automotive retail giant Vertu Motors. The relationship expanded significantly in 2022 under the Bristol Street Motors branding and coincided with the team’s breakthrough season. Led by Tom Ingram, EXCELR8 captured the British Touring Car Championship Drivers’ title, achieving one of the fastest climbs to the top of the BTCC in modern times. Remarkably, the championship was won just four seasons after the team entered the series and with a car developed entirely within the organisation.
Since then, the team has remained a consistent championship contender. Ingram secured runner-up finishes in both 2023 and 2024 while EXCELR8 continued to add race victories, pole positions and podium finishes to its growing record. Alongside its BTCC achievements, the team has maintained its dominance in the MINI CHALLENGE, collecting further driver and team titles and reinforcing its reputation as one of Britain’s leading motorsport organisations.
Ahead of the 2025 season, the BTCC operation adopted the Team Vertu name following the consolidation of the Vertu Motors retail brands. The rebrand reflected the strength of a partnership that had begun four years earlier and highlighted a shared commitment to long-term success both on and off the circuit.
What distinguishes Team Vertu is not only its results but also its philosophy. Built on a business-first mindset, the organisation places equal emphasis on competitive performance and delivering value for commercial partners. That approach has driven continuous innovation in presentation, hospitality and fan engagement, helping establish Team Vertu as one of the most forward-thinking teams in the BTCC paddock.
Today, Team Vertu stands as a championship-winning force in British touring car racing, a team that has combined entrepreneurial vision, technical excellence and relentless ambition to become one of the benchmark operations in the sport.
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