WSR’s Daryl DeLeon sealed the Jack Sears Trophy title as the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship climaxed on an exhilarating day of action at Brands Hatch.
With stablemate Charles Rainford (LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR) making it a one-two in the end of season standings and 2024 champion Jake Hill (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport) bowing out of the series with an overall podium finish, it was a fitting end to the year for the 18-time title winners.
DeLeon experienced a true rollercoaster of a weekend, having scored his second pole position in a row on Saturday aboard his BMW 330i M Sport. Cruelly, a freak engine issue forced him to miss the day’s opening race, pulling into the pits from leading the green flag lap, while a new unit was installed by the WSR crew. This meant he would have to start the second bout of the day from the back of the grid.
While this was happening, Rainford was taking full advantage of the #2’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 DeLeon into a 12-point advantage, but the pendulum swung back towards the Anglo-Filipino in race two as the #99 found himself in the Paddock Hill bend tyre barriers after contact entering the famed first corner.
The finale, on Sunday evening, began with Rainford five points behind DeLeon – who recovered to 13th overall in the day's middle race – and needing to beat his team-mate by three places to steal the title for himself.
Both battled to the end with the Surrey racer finishing 11th and the Cambridgeshire driver 13th – results that decided the title in DeLeon’s favour by just three points.
While this title battle was unfolding, 2024 champion 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 by 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 in the race prior. His opening bout fell short when he was ordered by Race Control to pit to have a resultantly flapping rear bumper removed.
The results of the day mean that LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR secured third place in the Teams’ Championship while Hill finished fourth in the Drivers’ standings with Rainford eighth, Moffat 11th and DeLeon 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.”
