British Touring Car Championship squad Motorbase Performance are set to claim their first overall drivers' title this weekend - but will do so under a different name.

The Wrotham-based team's star driver - three-time title winner Ash Sutton - starts the final round at Brands Hatch with a commanding 45-point lead over nearest rival Tom Ingram.

But the squad have changed their name with immediate effect prior to this weekend’s season finale, and will now be known as Alliance Racing.

They will also leave their Tower Industrial Estate base and relocate to a “30,000 sq ft motorsport headquarters in the Midlands in preparation for the 2024 motorsport season".

The switch marks the end of an era for Motorbase, which was set up by David Bartrum in 2004 but have been owned by former Porsche racer Pete Osborne since early 2021.

Osborne said: “‘This is a fresh and exciting new era for all of us involved. We’ve had strong plans right from the start and now we’ve done a few years learning and growing within the BTCC and TOCA package, we aim to continue in that vein.”

Running under the NAPA Racing UK banner, the squad have set the pace all season, with their blue-and-yellow Ford Focus STs claiming all but one pole position.

Sutton, who narrowly lost out to Hyundai pilot Ingram last season, has scored 10 outright wins this year, including two victories on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit in May.

The full 2.4-mile Grand Prix loop will be used this weekend, but only Ingram can mathematically beat Sutton with 67 points on offer across the two days.

Jake Hill’s bid is over for another year following mechanical woe at the last round at Silverstone with his West Surrey Racing-run Laser Tools Racing BMW 330e.

The Platts Heath charger won the first race but was hit by an electrical misfire while leading the second encounter.

He now sits third in the standings, 68 points behind Sutton.

Broadstairs racer Michael Crees will also be in action having rejoined the BTCC following the mid-season break.

He will handle a Cupra Leon for Detling-based Team Hard Racing.

Off track, this weekend's event will raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association following an agreement with circuit owners MSV.

Ahead of the event, a silent auction to raise funds has been launched, featuring a range of prizes including four VIP hospitality tickets to this weekend's meeting.

David Ward, whose 34-year-old son, Alex, died of MND in 2020, has organised the fundraising.

The Tenterden Town Council member said: "It's quite an experiment. I don't think Brands Hatch has done anything quite like this before.

"I know they have various charities usually doing something in the merchandise area, but it is the first time I can remember them doing it in such a prime-time way.

"One of the problems with MND is it is not widely seen as a common disease but it is much more common than people realise.

"There is a one in 300 chance of getting it which is a lot more than people would think. It is a very cruel disease.

"Fifty people a year die in Kent of MND, the same number of people were killed on Kent's roads last year.

"We are very grateful to Brands Hatch for their support."

All cars competing in the BTCC this weekend will carry MND Association stickers.

Tickets for Sunday are available for £34 in advance, or £38 on the gate, with children under 13 going free.