Tyler Read (Weedon) will embark on a much-anticipated defence of his Legends Cars Championship and Elite Cup titles when the 2026 season begins in early April, with the first 10 drivers for the new campaign officially confirmed today.
Heading a list of familiar entries for the eagerly awaited new Legends Cars season, Read returns with the No.1 plate on his popular bright red ‘Lighting McRead’ livery – a nod to the Lighting McQueen character in Disney Pixar film franchise Cars – and will be aiming to mount a successful defence of the Legends Cars Championship and Elite Cup crowns he won in style last year.
Fellow young charger Oli Schlup (Cuckfield) finished third in both title battles in 2025, his most successful season yet in Legends Cars, and the rapid multiple race winner will undoubtedly begin the new campaign as one of the chief challengers to the reigning champion.
His father, Mike Schlup (Cuckfield), makes a welcome return for his 12th season in Legends. Ending last year third in the Masters Cup class battle in both the overall Championship and Elite Cup, he will be aiming to regularly mix-it in the overall top 10 this season.
Nick Price (March), who placed just outside the top 10 in the standings last season, was by far the stand-out performer running the traditional air-cooled Yamaha engine in 2025 before sampling the new MT09 water-cooled three-cylinder powerplant mid-season. Price goes into his fourth Legends season this year and the former multiple Grand Prix Midgets Champion will be one to watch.
Joining the prestigious list of Legends Cars race winners last year, Matt Knight (Shoreham-by-Sea) clearly has the pace and ability to be a consistent front-runner this season. Debuting in the national category in 2023, Knight only just missed out on a top 10 finish in the standings in his maiden year and only a little misfortune last season prevented similar.
Having dipped into Legends a couple of times over the past two years, Aaron Cooke (Croxley Heath) will contest the full season in 2026. Debuting his impressive new Pirtek livery at the recent MSV Media Day at Donington Park, if the three-time Toyota MR2 Champion pedals his Legends Car as quickly as it looks he is in store for some impressive performances.
The Se-Van of category mainstay Nathan Anthony (Horley) is back for a complete season of Legends this year, after he only contested a part campaign in 2025. Even so, Anthony was able to place fifth in the Masters Cup class in both the overall Championship and Elite Cup. Back in 2023 he did, of course, win the inaugural Elite Cup Masters Cup title.
Ben Mahoney (Horley) will be on the grid again with his jet black Sedan, only his third ever season within motorsport. After being named ‘Most Improved Driver’ in Legends in 2024, Mahoney will now be aiming to build on the sixth place finish he achieved in the Masters Cup standings last year.
Second in both Rookie class battles last year was successful ex-Grand Prix Midget racer David Bonser (Tamworth), and he has confirmed a return for his sophomore season in Legends Cars. As last year, he will be eligible for the Masters Cup division.
Nathan Williams (Higher Bebington) enters his first true season of Legends, having debuted at last year’s penultimate event at Oulton Park with the #2Mater squad. Williams, the 2025 Hyundai OT Coupe Cup Champion, will again race with James Newbery’s Team #2Mater outfit which originally brought the world of movie franchise Cars into Legends in 2020.
Will Gibson – Legends Cars Championship Owner:
“It’s brilliant to be able to announce the first 10 drivers for the 2026 season. We have our returning Champion back with us as well as a stack of quality drivers to challenge him along the way. The new season is shaping up to be incredible, with the Legends Cars featuring at some of the biggest race events in the UK. I can’t wait for 4th April and the return of Silverstone to our calendar.”
Northamptonshire’s Silverstone National Circuit will host the opening six races of the 2026 Legends Cars Championship season across the weekend 4th/5th April.
Provisional 2026 Legends Cars Championship Calendar
Rds1&2 – 4/5 April – Silverstone National Circuit
Rds3&4 – 18/19 April – Donington Park National Circuit (BTCC – Elite Cup)
Rds5&6 – 2/3 May – Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit (Elite Cup)
Rd7&8 – 6/7 June – Brands Hatch Indy Circuit (American Speedfest)
Rds9&10 – 25/26 July – Snetterton 300 Circuit (USA Snetterton 300 – Elite Cup)
Rd11 – 22 August – Oulton Park International (US Autoshow)
Rds12&13 – 26/27 September – Donington Park Grand Prix Circuit
