Following 15 years as a key part of the management structure for the Legends Cars Championship, former British Touring Car Championship racer Simon Belcher has announced he is stepping down from his role as Commercial Director in order to focus on his own international race programme.
As a past Legends Cars racer himself, and BTCC competitor, Belcher – who presently races in the Jet Ski World Series – took over the commercial side of Legends Cars racing in the UK in 2010 to enable championship founder and owner Phil Cooper to concentrate fully on the category’s coordination.
Taking care of all of the commercial aspects of Legends Cars, including the supply and distribution of cars and parts across the UK, Belcher has been instrumental in the success of the championship over the last decade and a half.
Having thrilled competitors and spectators alike for more than 30 years, the Legends Cars have gone from strength-to-strength during the 15-year period with Belcher at the commercial helm. Indeed, in recent years the Legends Cars have run as support to the BTCC, British GT Championship, the British Truck Racing Championship and as part of major festivals, such as Amercian Speedfest.
Championship owner and coordinator Cooper remains in role as the commercial aspects are placed in extremely capable new hands – those of Legends Cars mainstay, double Legends Cars Champion, and 2025 Vice-Champion, Will Gibson.
From the outset of discussions when Belcher had made the decision to relinquish his role within the championship, it was vital the right person was selected to take over the running of the commercial interests. Gibson’s appointment has been given the full backing of Belcher, Cooper and, importantly, US Legends Cars.
Gibson not only brings his long association with Legends Cars, and vast experience as a team owner and driver, but also his long-standing passion for the formula, his technical prowess and commercial background having run his own business for many years. The appointment will allow Legends Cars in the UK to continue growing and developing over the coming seasons.
Simon Belcher:
“While I am excited for this new chapter for Legends Cars, it is with mixed emotions I am leaving after such long involvement with the championship and the fantastic working relationship I have had with Phil [Cooper]. However, I need to focus on my racing in the Jet Ski World Series. I am racing people half my age, and this takes a lot of dedication to stay at the level I am. So, stepping back is the right thing for me and Legends Cars. I know Will [Gibson] is the right person to take over and he has some great, fresh ideas for the future. I want to thank the drivers, teams, staff and suppliers for all the support over the years and wish everyone all the best for the future.”
Will Gibson – New Legends Cars Commercial Director:
“I have been extremely honoured to be given the chance by Simon [Belcher] and Phil [Cooper] to take over the commercial running of Legends Cars in the UK. I was present as a fan at the very first Legends Cars race in the UK some 30 years ago and have had the pleasure of racing in the series for over a decade now. Simon has done a fantastic job over his 15 years of involvement, and I truly hope I can continue to grow the Legends Cars series. I will be taking a step away from the actual racing in Legends so I can fully focus my attention on developing and running the commercial side. It will be great to start working with Phil over the next few months, I really want to make 2026 a year to remember for all involved in Legends Cars.”
Phil Cooper – Legends Cars Championship Owner:
“It is with a great deal of sadness we say an extremely fond farewell to Simon [Belcher], he has been an integral part of Legends Cars for 15 years on the commercial side and, obviously, longer than that as a racer. The importance of the role he has played in the professionalisation and development of the championship during that time cannot be underestimated. Nothing lasts forever, and Simon’s are big shoes to fill, but we know we have found the perfect candidate in Will [Gibson] to take over the Commercial Director role. I am very much looking forward to working closely with Will over the coming months as we prepare for, what we know will be, an outstanding 2026 season.”
The 2026 Legends Cars Championship will begin over the weekend 4th/5th April at Silverstone National Circuit in Northamptonshire. The inter-series Legends Cars Elite Cup will commence at the championship’s second event, the visit to Donington Park in the East Midlands on 18th/19th April.
