As the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season rumbles on, Birch Commercial Director Tom Chilton’s racing calendar is far from one-dimensional.
Beyond the high-stakes world of contemporary touring cars, Chilton thrives in the demanding world of historic racing—where vintage machinery, diversity of handling characteristics, and long stints behind the wheel bring a different kind of challenge.
Next on his agenda is the Peter Auto Championship at Paul Ricard, where he’ll swap his modern Hyundai BTCC machine for two wildly different icons: a Lotus Cortina and a Zytek prototype.
Sideways in the Cortina
The Cortina, a car steeped in British motorsport folklore, represents a complete shift in driving style. With period tyres, limited grip, and a naturally lively rear end, the racing often means driving sideways almost from flag to flag.
“Racing the Cortina for an hour is physically and mentally exhausting,” Chilton says.
“You’re constantly on opposite lock, wrestling with a slippery old leather steering wheel. When I last tested it, my forearms were sore for weeks afterwards. It’s like a 24-hour kart race condensed into 60 minutes—it’s relentless but brilliant fun.”
For Chilton, the challenge isn’t simply surviving. It’s extracting speed from a car that demands both precision and flair. “The tyres go off quickly, so the art is keeping momentum without losing the rear end completely. It’s a dance, really, and it rewards drivers who enjoy the fight as much as the finesse.”
Prototype power
The Zytek prototype is another beast entirely. Lightweight, aero-driven and turbocharged, it promises extraordinary speed—but comes with its own hurdles. At Paul Ricard, the long straights and altitude expose the car’s weaknesses.
“We’re up against Bentleys and Audi R8s with huge power and turbo advantage,” Chilton explains. “We were 20 km/h down on straight-line speed in testing. Over a lap, that’s several seconds gone before you even start pushing. But in the corners, we can make a lot back. It means the race will be tough but fascinating.”
Chilton’s official classification as an “elite platinum driver” also tips the balance against him, with organisers keen to level the playing field across the grid. But he thrives on the challenge. “I don’t expect it to be easy. What matters is racing hard, enjoying the competition, and if I can get on the podium in either car, I’ll be over the moon.”
A driver for all eras
Switching between modern BTCC machinery and vintage racers isn’t just variety for variety’s sake. Chilton believes it makes him a more rounded driver.
“The BTCC car is about maximising technology—data, setup, strategy—while the Cortina strips everything back to raw driving feel. Then you have the Zytek, which needs precision with aero and engine management. Each discipline teaches you something useful. I love that mix.”
Birch values in every paddock
For Birch, Chilton’s dual commitments underline the brand’s philosophy: heritage and modernity can coexist, and both deserve equal care. Whether it’s a priceless classic or a cutting-edge prototype, the common thread is preparation, precision and attention to detail—the same standards Birch applies to every car in storage.
Chilton’s versatility reflects that ethos perfectly: a professional who can jump from BTCC’s bumper-to-bumper battles to the timeless theatre of a drifting Cortina, without ever losing focus on performance.
As Paul Ricard looms, one thing is certain: win, podium or simply a weekend of sideways fun, Tom Chilton will continue proving that great drivers never stop learning—no matter what era of car they’re in.
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