TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK has confirmed rising star Ronan Pearson as its first driver for the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship campaign, as the Speedworks Motorsport-run outfit bids to reap the rewards of a winter of development on its Corolla GR Sport.

Since being introduced to the country’s premier motor racing series in 2019, the British-built Corolla – based upon the Japanese brand’s popular road-going model – has notched up no fewer than 17 victories, 30 further top three finishes, five pole positions and ten fastest laps, representing an impressive set of statistics by any measure.

Five of those triumphs came last year, marking the Corolla’s most successful season to-date, but far from willing to rest upon its laurels, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK has been busy honing and refining its ‘hot hatch’ in recent weeks to ensure it hits the ground running in the Donington Park curtain-raiser on 26/27 April.

Indicative of the team’s ambitions is the recruitment of Pearson, one of the most highly-rated of the BTCC’s current crop of young guns. The Scot was a multiple race-winner and title contender in the fiercely-disputed MINI CHALLENGE prior to joining the touring car grid in 2023, and took his maiden BTCC victory at Brands Hatch last season.

An encouraging test outing in the Corolla at Donington Park then prompted TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK to secure Pearson’s services for 2025, when the Fife native will be aiming to establish himself as a consistent front-runner and podium-finisher.

Christian Dick, Team Principal, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK, said: “We are fortunate to have worked with some of the very best drivers in the business during our time in the BTCC so far, and in Ronan, we strongly believe we have an extremely promising young talent and are confident we can help him to extract and exploit his full potential.

“Within the space of just two seasons, he has already made a significant impact in the championship and marked himself out as a star of the future. We have been keeping a close eye on his performances and – recognising his ability – once he became a free agent, we moved swiftly to bring him into the fold.

“Ronan was exceptional when he tested the Corolla – very quick indeed – but even more importantly, the energy and enthusiasm he brought with him put the whole team in an overwhelmingly positive mindset going into the winter rebuild. Everybody really picked up on the positive vibes, and we have no doubt that together, we can achieve some great things in the BTCC.”

Ronan Pearson, Driver, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK, said: “When an opportunity to join a manufacturer-backed team presents itself, you have to give it proper consideration and I feel really proud to be representing the world’s number one car brand on the biggest stage in British motorsport – it’s a dream for any young driver.

“Toyota’s input on the technical side is immensely valuable, and you only have to look at what Speedworks has accomplished in the series over the years to appreciate the level of experience inside the team; that kind of knowledge plays a big part in success in the BTCC, and it’s incredible to have access to so much expertise.

“At the same time, Speedworks has always been a close-knit, family-run team at heart, and their passion and drive to win mean a lot to me – that’s the main reason why we do this, after all. Everybody in the team is pushing in the same direction and very hungry to succeed. I’ve got some really good people around me, and the fact that both Christian [Dick] and Danny [Buxton – Speedworks’ Head of Motorsport] are former racers themselves makes a huge difference, because they genuinely ‘get it’.

“Driving the Corolla for the first time really backed up my decision. I felt at home pretty much straightaway and settled in really quickly. I think that showed in the lap times, even if they weren’t the main goal given it was a cold day in October, so that was a really positive start.

“Ultimately, I want to be in the BTCC for the long-term. What I’ve learned over the past couple of seasons – both on and off-track – has shaped me into the person and driver I am now, and I feel much more established in the championship and ready to grasp this opportunity with both hands. I really think we could be onto something here…”