NAPA Racing UK has completed its unchanged line-up for the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship after confirming the return of Sam Osborne to fill the fourth and final seat.
Osborne will once again race alongside Ash Sutton, Dan Cammish and Dan Rowbottom as he embarks on his fifth season at the wheel of a Ford Focus ST, the last two of which have been in NAPA Racing UK colours.
“To be honest, I didn’t want last season to end, we got things going and I was on a bit of a run,” said Osborne.
“I think it was nine consecutive top ten finishes in the last nine races. Midway through the year, we added Rory (Butcher) to my car crew, and along with Rich (Townsend, my engineer) and my side of the team, it progressed us in all areas on and off-track.
“Since Brands Hatch, it’s been non-stop with work and preparing for the 2025 season. We’re determined to start the season strong and put all the hard work to good use.”
Having debuted in the championship back in 2019, after previously racing in both the MINI CHALLENGE and the Renault Clio Cup, Osborne initially showed flashes of speed, but it was the tie-up with NAPA Racing UK at the start of 2023 that saw him take huge strides forward.
Picking up a podium at Donington Park in a rain-affected race, Osborne would go on to be a regular point scorer and ended the year with 65 points to his name – more than in the previous four seasons combined.
“Sam becomes the final piece of the BTCC Team jigsaw with the announcement that Sam will continue with NAPA Racing into the 2025 season,” confirmed Malcolm Swetnam, Director – Motorsport.
“Sam has forged a great relationship with his new-for-2024 Engineer Richard Townsend and the addition of Rory Butcher as driver coach mid-season really brought out the best in him. His performance in the latter half of 2024 gives the team high hopes for 2025, with particular focus on the Jack Sears Trophy.”
Things would get even better for the 31-year-old last year as he again improved his seasonal score to end the year in a personal best, finishing 15th in the championship standings.
En route, Osborne would score points in more races than ever before, including 14 in a row in the second half of the season. The latter stages of the campaign saw him regularly inside the top ten, with eight top ten results from the final nine races
“We’re proud for NAPA to continue with Sam for another season,” said Steve Richardson, Managing Director, Alliance Automotive Group. “On the track, Sam continues to ascend towards the front of the grid, in 2024 it was fantastic to see him consistently challenge the top ten and for Jack Sears Trophy wins.”
“In 2025 we’re looking forward to seeing him alongside his NAPA Racing UK team-mates on the overall podium.”
Going into 2025, a season in which he will celebrate his 200th BTCC start, Sam will seek to build on the momentum generated last season and look to challenge for overall podiums. Having only visited the podium once before, Sam will again be eligible to campaign for the Jack Sears Trophy.
