Ronan Pearson Shifts Gears to British GT Championship for 2026 Season
Ronan Pearson, the 24-year-old Scottish driver, is making a decisive move from touring car racing to the fiercely competitive British GT Championship in 2026. After securing just one race victory in three seasons of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), Pearson is resetting his career with GBR Stratton, a partnership between Graham Brunton Racing and Stratton Motorsport, and aims to compete in the GT4 class.
Pearson is also a candidate in the esteemed Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy, vying to become its ninth winner. With GBR Stratton, he will partner with John Hartshorne, who has a long history in British GT since his debut in 2002.
At the recent Media Day at Silverstone, Pearson drove the #97 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 Evo for the first time, utilizing over three hours of valuable testing. Supported by four-time British GT champion Jonny Adam, he expressed optimism about the transition: “It’s been a mega so far… We’ve planned a big testing programme before we arrive at Round 1.”
The vehicle, equipped with an AMG-derived 4.0-litre V8 engine, presents significant power and weight advantages over his previous BTCC machinery. Pearson noted that while rear-wheel-drive car dynamics differ from his past experiences, similarities in driving styles ease the transition: “Some of the driving styles and similarities with the touring cars I’ve raced are actually a little bit similar.”
With four Aston Martin GT4 entries, the competition will be fierce. The Silverstone 500 on April 25-26 is the championship’s marquee event and will challenge Pearson to navigate the complexities of multi-class racing, where GT4 cars must contend with significantly faster GT3 competitors.
Reflecting on his upcoming debut at Spa-Francorchamps, Pearson anticipated the experience as a “bucket list weekend” citing the iconic Eau Rouge as a highlight. He said, “It’s gonna be absolutely incredible… to actually go there.”
The 2026 British GT season comprises two sprint meetings and four endurance races, presenting new challenges including pit stops for refueling, tire changes, and driver swaps. However, Pearson’s extensive experience in door-to-door racing may serve him well as he adapts to the demands of GT racing.
“I’m really at home with the guys here at GBR Stratton… It’s just nice to come into a paddock again and feel really excited to have a fresh start,” Pearson concluded, signaling his readiness for this pivotal phase in his motorsport journey.
Images courtesy of SRO/JEP
