WSR’s Daryl DeLeon sealed the Jack Sears Trophy title as the 2025 British Touring Car Championship climaxed on a dramatic day of action at Brands Hatch.
And with stablemate Charles Rainford making it a one-two in the end of season standings for WSR and 2024 champion Jake Hill bowing out of the series with an overall podium finish, it was a fitting end to the year for the 18-time title winners.
Daryl experienced a true rollercoaster of a weekend, having scored his second pole position in a row on Saturday aboard his BMW 330i M Sport.
A freak engine issue that could not have been anticipated forced him to miss the day’s opening race while a new unit was installed by the WSR crew. This meant he would have to start Race Two from the back of the grid.
While this was happening, LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR driver Charles was taking full advantage of Daryl’s misfortune as he bagged maximum Jack Sears Trophy points in fourth place overall and set the race’s fastest lap.
This helped him turn an eight-point deficit to Daryl into a 12-point advantage, but the pendulum swung back towards the Anglo-Filipino in Race Two as Charles was pitched into the Paddock Hill bend tyre barriers by another car; his race over on the spot.
Just as the WSR mechanics had worked together to change Daryl’s engine between Races One and Two, they showed true team spirit to repair Charles’ damaged BMW and ensure he would start the finale.
That finale, on Sunday evening, began with Charles five points behind Daryl – who recovered to 13th overall in Race Two – and needing to beat his team-mate by three places to steal the title for himself.
Both battled to the end with Charles finishing 11th and Daryl again 13th – results that decided the title in Daryl’s favour by just three points.
While that drama was unfolding, 2024 champion Jake Hill was turning a second-row start into a third-place finish – his seventh of the season – after a determined drive.
The Kent ace now leaves the BTCC to move into international racing with 20 WSR victories and 48 rostrum finishes in just four seasons.
Just as impressive was a relentless charge from 19th to 10th in Race Two; his opening race having been ruined when side-by-side contact on the opening lap caused a left-front puncture that necessitated an unplanned pitstop and a 19th-place finish.
The Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport driver’s final-race rostrum came after a race-long battle with LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR’s Aiden Moffat, who was drawn on reversed-grid pole position and led initially.
The Scottish racer eventually finished fifth – to equal his best result of the season – after superbly climbing from 20th to ninth.
His opening race was ruined when he was hit hard by a rival at the rear and was ordered by Race Control to pit to have a resultantly flapping rear bumper removed. This dropped him from sixth to virtually last.
The results of the day mean that LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR secured third place in the Teams’ Championship while Jake finished fourth in the Drivers’ standings with Charles eighth, Aiden 11th and Daryl 13th.
Daryl DeLeon, WSR: “What a day it’s been; 2025 Jack Sears Trophy Champions! What a year and what a day. I had a non-start in Race One because of an engine issue when I was supposed to be starting on pole, but we recovered it in Race Two and then in Race Three we got the job done. Massive thank you to everybody at WSR, my car crew and to everybody that’s supported me. It’s been a mega year. I’ve learnt so much, developed a lot as a driver and finished as a champion. I can relax now.”
Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport: “What a day it’s been; a real mixture of highs and lows. I had a puncture in Race One, a great recovery from 19th to seventh and then in Race Three I started third and finished third. It’s been a mixed day, but I really can’t believe the incredible time I’ve had in the BTCC. I want to thank everybody that’s supported me throughout my career here. It’s been mega.”
Charles Rainford, LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR: “What a year it’s been. I’ve ended up eighth in the overall championship, which I’m pretty happy with. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to win the Jack Sears Trophy – a Toyota put paid to that today in Race Two – but I was pretty happy to make it back to 12th in Race Three. Thank you to everybody that’s supported me this year and to this brilliant team. I’ve loved my first year in touring cars.”
Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR: “I started the last race on pole and was hoping to get a podium to finish the season, but the BMW just didn’t react so well to the soft tyres, having been mega on the mediums through the day. I don’t think the safety car helped me much, but it is what it is. To finish fifth after what happened in Race One, and then coming back to ninth in Race Two, is a pretty good day’s work.”
Dick Bennetts, Team Principal: “Finishing the season with a one-two-finish in the Jack Sears Trophy is an excellent result for both Daryl and Charles. Both have made such a positive impact on the team this year that it’s a shame they can’t both be the champion. The work of both their car crews was excellent and embodied the sort of team spirit we have at WSR. A podium finish was a fitting end to Jake’s BTCC career and Aiden performed really well after his misfortune in Race One.”
