The latest one-car entry into the BTCC certainly faced a baptism of fire in its debut year, and it’s fair to say that Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport exceeded expectations. Driver Daryl DeLeon was also contesting his first full season in the championship, and the combination proved to be one of the most eye-catching stories of 2024.
Not only did the team continue its on-track development throughout the year, culminating in four overall points finishes in the last seven races, the Cupra Leon outfit would also be the only squad to run 100% sustainable fuel for the final two events of the season. Working in collaboration with TOCA and its partners, testing the fuel in a competitive environment proved to be an important milestone ahead of the championship’s decision to introduce 100% sustainable fuel to every car from 2025.
After pulling the 2024 race programme together on the eve of the BTCC season, the initial goal was to produce a reliable and competitive car. DeLeon made a dream start in the first competitive session of the year, however, placing the #18 in the top half of the grid with ninth place during qualifying at Donington Park.
The Kent-based team would go on to mix it up with eventual Independent Teams', Drivers' and Jack Sears Trophy (JST) Champions, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing, on many occasions, collecting 24 podiums across the 30-race season.
The campaign had its ups along with its downs as any newcomer would expect, as DeLeon would finish the first event of 2024 placing fourth in the JST before falling to sixth after the trip Brands Hatch Indy. The Anglo-Filipino driver would go on to stage a season of positive results to end the year in third place.
Snetterton would prove to be Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport's best weekend in the Independent Teams' Championship with the Kent-based team finishing all three races in second place.
Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport and the #18's best result, not only of this season but also DeLeon's short BTCC career so far, came at the final event of the year with a seventh-place overall finish on the legendary Brands Hatch GP circuit.
Now, heading into the 100% sustainable fuel era of the BTCC – which the team played a part in bringing to fruition – the squad will be aiming to battle with the best in the Independents’ categories in its sophomore season in 2025.
Daryl DeLeon, #18 Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport, said: “2024 has been an amazing season. A massive thank you to Bob [Sharpless] at Un-Limited and everyone else at the team for putting in a lot of hard work and effort for getting me back on the grid.
“We've made some awesome memories and had some great results. One being at Brands Hatch with our best result of the year, crossing the line in P7 on pure pace and performance was a great feeling.
“I’m happy to see the progression of the car and also in myself. Throughout this year I have learnt a lot so I’m really happy with my development. It has been an outstanding season.
“I've met some awesome people and I'm thankful to everyone for giving me the opportunity to have competed in this year’s British Touring Car Championship.”
