Jack Sears Trophy 2025: The year of Daryl DeLeon
The 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship saw Daryl DeLeon take a popular victory in the Jack Sears Trophy (JST) as he and WSR-stablemate Charles Rainford battled right until the last to reign victorious.
It was Ronan Pearson who started the season better than the rest with a Quick Six appearance at the off, setting the Scotsman in great stead. Another Scot, in the form of Dexter Patterson, emerged to seize the opportunity to be the highest finisher after the opening race of the year.
The #17 claimed the second race as well before a non-finish in the day’s final bout hampered his weekend. Pearson retook his top spot in Round 3 to secure a one-point lead ahead of DeLeon.
| Ronan Pearson - 48 | Daryl DeLeon - 47 | Max Hall - 41 |
| Dexter Patterson - 40 | Nic Hamilton - 28 | Charles Rainford - 25 |
Brands Hatch Indy saw the charge of the BMWs as only James Dorlin could interrupt the top two-finishing positions within the category at the Kent venue. After taking his maiden front-row start, Rainford secured top spot after race one, with only a second-place finish in the day's middle race preventing a perfect weekend.
DeLeon took control as Rainford fell back to claim outright victory—the first of his career and the first Filipino driver to stand victorious in the BTCC during his 50th career start. His WSR-stablemate returned the favour in the final race of the day, securing his maiden outright victory in only his sixth BTCC race as BMW won all three races.
| Daryl DeLeon - 99 | Ronan Pearson - 89 | Charles Rainford - 82 |
| Sam Osborne - 63 | James Dorlin - 62 | Dexter Patterson - 60 |
Snetterton saw the continued rise of Sam Osborne as the NAPA Racing UK pilot became the fifth driver to take maximum points in a round. Standing as the highest scoring driver at the Norfolk venue, the #77 accumulated 20 points in both Rounds 5 & 6.
DeLeon claimed the opening race to extend his advantage from the off. This quickly became the highlight of the weekend as the #2 fell down the order in races two and three, leaving stablemate Rainford to finish second in all three races.
| Daryl DeLeon - 140 | Charles Rainford - 133 | Ronan Pearson - 129 |
| Sam Osborne - 118 | Dexter Patterson - 90 | James Dorlin - 88 |
The fourth event saw a TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA car take the fore, but this time with rookie Dorlin. Making his first Quick Six appearance, the #132 immediately capitalised to secure full points in the opening two races at the UK's fastest circuit.
Unable to finish the final race, it was a once again resurgent Osborne at the front after a non-score for himself in the opening race of the day. On this occasion it was DeLeon who stood in second position in all three races to remain the man to beat in the standings.
| Daryl DeLeon - 191 | Charles Rainford - 172 | Ronan Pearson - 157 |
| Sam Osborne - 147 | James Dorlin - 128 | Dexter Patterson - 127 |
Dorlin again shone in the JST as he had done at Thruxton, making a Quick Six appearance for the second time in his first five events. The #132 claimed two victories at Oulton Park, as he had in Hampshire, with Osborne being the only driver to take maximum points away from the rookie.
The rest of the field experienced a weekend of attrition, as DeLeon and series debutant Finn Leslie were the only other two drivers to complete all three races. Leaving the man out in front to extend his championship lead.
| Daryl DeLeon - 232 | Charles Rainford - 206 | Sam Osborne - 193 |
| James Dorlin - 185 | Ronan Pearson - 157 | Dexter Patterson - 137 |
Rainford and DeLeon proved to be inseparable during qualifying as the BTCC resumed after its traditional summer break at Croft. The duo, split by 0.008 seconds, battled throughout the opening two races, with the standings leader securing top spot on both occasions.
The #2 failed to finish the final race, leaving the #99 as the highest scorer for the round despite not taking a triumph. Osborne once again swept up the spoils to slowly cut into DeLeon's advantage.
| Daryl DeLeon - 272 | Charles Rainford - 253 | Sam Osborne - 239 |
| James Dorlin - 206 | Dexter Patterson - 184 | Ronan Pearson - 157 |
The BMW duo delivered another impressive display as the championship navigated the Fife circuit of Knockhill. Rainford claimed his maiden outright BTCC pole position, with DeLeon partnering the #99 on the front row.
The polesitter secured full points in the opening race, before DeLeon fought back to do so in the second exchange, before failing to finish the final bout in Scotland. This left the championship chaser free to claim a full score in race three, leaving the two separated by a single point.
| Daryl DeLeon - 309 | Charles Rainford - 308 | Sam Osborne - 277 |
| James Dorlin - 247 | Dexter Patterson - 227 | Ronan Pearson - 157 |
Heading back to the opening scene of the season, DeLeon achieved a feat never repeated in 2025 and secured maximum points across all three races. With Rainford and Osborne tied on points throughout the weekend, the Filipino driver made a clear leap ahead heading to the penultimate event.
| Daryl DeLeon - 369 | Charles Rainford - 355 | Sam Osborne - 324 |
| Dexter Patterson - 268 | James Dorlin - 247 | Nicolas Hamilton - 174 |
Silverstone saw DeLeon start the weekend in the best shape possible with the #2 securing his first outright BTCC pole position. Taking the newfound momentum into Sunday, the WSR driver claimed a full haul of points, but for the only time that weekend.
Rainford and Osborne shared the top spots over the following two races, with the former being the only driver to close the gap to DeLeon. The standings leader circulated laps down in the final round after his driveshaft broke on the way to the grid, taking with him 11 crucial points into the final weekend.
| Daryl DeLeon - 417 | Charles Rainford - 409 | Sam Osborne - 369 |
| Dexter Patterson - 306 | James Dorlin - 247 | Nicolas Hamilton - 174 |
The final event saw nothing but twists and turns for the crown of JST Champion of 2025. DeLeon claimed his second pole position in as many weeks to kickstart his title campaign on the front foot. Yet, an engine issue then saw the #2 pull into the pits on the formation lap for the opening race, forcing a non-score and handing Rainford the lead.
Fortunes reversed in the second race after contact sent the #99 sideways and beached into the gravel at Paddock Hill Bend. Despite both misfortunes, the gap had closed to five points heading into the final round of the year.
Rainford beat DeLeon, yet the #99 could not get past the two cars in front of Osborne and Patterson, meaning the standings leader held onto a three-point margin as the chequered flag fell. As agonising as the battle was for the second-place rookie, Rainford finished 0.604 seconds away from the position he needed to secure the crown. Instead, DeLeon reigned victorious after a season of nine top-score finishes to join the coveted list of Jack Sears Trophy Champions.
| Daryl DeLeon - 447 | Charles Rainford - 444 | Sam Osborne - 426 |
| Dexter Patterson - 353 | James Dorlin - 247 | Nicolas Hamilton - 205 |