The 1996 British National Saloon Car Championship delivered a masterclass in production-based racing, merging the "Saloon 2000" and "Group N" categories. The season witnessed a duel between the high-tech, four-wheel-drive Nissan Skyline GTR and the raw power of the Ford Escort and Sapphire Cosworths.

The narrative of the year was dominated by Andy Middlehurst and despite weight penalties and a "detuned" engine designed to level the playing field, his mighty Nissan Skyline GTR remained the benchmark. However, the Ford camp fought back fiercely and Graham Coomes emerged as a persistent threat throughout the season.

Ultimately, Middlehurst’s early-season dominance secured the title with a round to spare and although Coomes claimed a redemption victory at the Silverstone finale, the 1996 crown belonged to Middlehurst and the Nissan Skyline GTR, cemented its legacy as the definitive force in British saloon racing.