One Motorsport with Starline Racing are targeting Independent title success this weekend (7/8 October) as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship reaches a thrilling climax at Brands Hatch.
Bringing the curtain down on the 2023 season around the world-famous Grand Prix layout, the Brackley-based outfit heads into the finale holding a 27-point lead at the summit of the Independent Teams’ Championship, with a total of 60 points set to be up for grabs.
With the possibility of retaining the coveted crown for a second successive year, drivers Josh Cook, Aiden Moffat and Jade Edwards are fired up to ensure they sign off their respective campaigns in style at the wheel of their Honda Civic Type Rs.
Cook heads to the Kent circuit with an unassailable lead in the Independent Drivers’ Championship, and is fully focused on adding to his silverware collection.
“It’s nice to be able to go into the final weekend of the season knowing that we are in a strong position,” Cook said. “Now it’s all about making sure that we can bring home the Teams’ title; that would be a great reward for everyone’s hard work this season.
“Obviously it hasn’t been the year we’d have hoped for but we’ve been chipping away at things and we’ve made solid progress with both the car and engine. There’s more to come and hopefully we can show that across Saturday and Sunday.
“Down the years the Brands Hatch GP circuit has been well-suited to our car so I’d like to think that we should be able to mix it towards the front. I’ll be on maximum attack to try and get back on that podium!”
Also aiming to add to his silverware collection is Moffat, who will make his 300th start in the UK’s premier motorsport series in Race Three. With one overall podium to his name this season, the Scotsman has his sights set on finishing the season strong.
Moffat said: “To reach 300 races in the BTCC is quite the milestone and it’s something that I’m quite proud of. There have been plenty of highs and lows along the way but on the whole I’ve had an absolute blast.
“We’ve had to dig deep at times this year but the enthusiasm and hard work of everyone at One Motorsport hasn’t dropped. It’s fair to say we’ve been a bit out of luck over the past two events so it would be mega to end the year with three strong races and hopefully a trophy.”
Since returning the team in the summer break, Edwards has seen her impressive – and ever-improving – pace put her on cusp of the points-paying positions on a number of occasions. Now with three races remaining, her target is clear for the weekend.
“It’s been a challenging season but there have been some positives to take away so far.” Edwards explained. “I’m fully focused on making sure we end the year on a high and I’ll try to play my part in clinching the Independent Teams’ title for everyone.
“I love the GP circuit at Brands Hatch and I feel like I’m driving as well as I ever have done, so as long as we can stay out of trouble, there is no reason why we can’t finally break into that top 15 and get some long-awaited points on the board.”
Saturday’s final qualifying session of the season – which gets underway at 1540 – will be streamed live via ITV Sport’s YouTube channel, whilst all three BTCC contests on Sunday will be available to watch on ITV4.
Race one is scheduled to begin at 1130 before race two blasts into action at 1440. The reverse grid finale will then round out proceedings at 1725.
