Paddock Motorsport will look to convert steady progress into regular podium contention this season after confirming the return of Mark Smith and Martin Plowman for a fourth consecutive British GT Championship campaign.
The established pairing will once again contest the GT3 class in the team’s #9 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, which features a refreshed version of Paddock’s distinctive black and pink livery. Continuity across the driver line-up, engineering group and technical package provides the team with a strong platform as it aims to move closer to the sharp end of the grid.
The Northamptonshire-based squad enjoyed a notable step forward in competitiveness last season, with Smith and Plowman emerging as consistent top-five contenders. A key factor in that improvement was the recruitment of experienced engineer Toby Phillips, combined with valuable additional mileage gained through a parallel GT Cup programme.
Those gains translated into tangible results, as Paddock Motorsport’s McLaren scored points in all but one British GT race and completed every competitive lap of the season without a single mechanical retirement — a testament to both reliability and operational execution.
Away from British GT, Smith underlined his growing confidence and pace by dominating the GT Cup GT3 class, claiming an impressive 15 wins from 19 starts to secure the championship title. The form carried over into the latter stages of the British GT campaign, leaving the team optimistic about what can be achieved with a full season building from that momentum.
“Ever since we took the chequered flag at Snetterton to clinch the GT Cup win last October, I’ve been thinking about British GT in 2026 and finally starting to fight for the podium,” said Smith. “Throughout 2025 we showed significant improvement in both qualifying and race pace, and toward the end of the season the car felt better than it ever had.”
Smith believes that late-season breakthrough could prove pivotal. “If we can reproduce how the car felt in that race, I have no doubt that we’ll be fighting near the top in British GT this year. As a team, Paddock just keeps getting stronger, and having a flawless mechanical record last season gives us huge confidence going forward.”
Plowman, who continues to play a dual role as driver and team founder, shares that confidence and points to the long-term development approach paying dividends. “Last season we made huge progress with both the car and our driver development,” he explained. “Mark’s GT Cup results speak for themselves, and in British GT we were regularly in the mix for top-five finishes even if the final results didn’t always reflect our true pace.”
With additional GT Cup outings planned to further refine both car and driver performance, Paddock Motorsport is also keeping an eye on potential European opportunities following a successful debut campaign in the McLaren Trophy Europe. “We want to push forward this year and be fighting for podiums,” Plowman added. “We have the team, the expertise and the ambition to do exactly that.”
Beyond on-track ambitions, the 2026 campaign will also see Paddock Motorsport launch a significant new partnership with Prostate Cancer UK. The initiative will feature prominent branding on the McLaren, alongside an extensive fundraising programme including hospitality donations, charity auctions and on-event awareness campaigns.
“It’s a cause very close to the hearts of the team and my family,” Plowman said. “Being involved in British GT gives us an incredible platform to give something back, and we’re determined to make a real difference.”
Prostate Cancer UK’s Head of Events and Community Fundraising, Seren Evans, welcomed the collaboration, noting: “Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with one in eight diagnosed. We’re incredibly grateful to Paddock Motorsport for going the extra mile to help fund lifesaving research and raise awareness.”
Paddock Motorsport will begin its 2026 preparations with a pre-season test at Portimão in February, followed by British GT Media Day at Silverstone on March 31. The opening round of the championship takes place at Silverstone on April 25–26.
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