Dan Zelos is ‘feeling very positive’ about 2025 after concluding his nine-race stint in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this year with another trio of points-scoring finishes for Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS in the season finale at Brands Hatch GP (5/6 October).
"We worked incredibly hard to be at Brands Hatch," Zelos stated. “It was very touch-and-go and very stressful, but we managed to get the deal over the line eventually and it was amazing to be part of the BTCC season finale. I felt very proud to be there."
The performance at the famous Kent venue brought to fruition the culmination of nine races that closed out the 2024 season. Of those, Zelos scored in every single bout, accruing an average of points that would have seen the Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS driver finish 13th in the standings over the 30-race season despite his lack of experience in BTCC machinery.
“Brands Hatch GP is a completely different kettle of fish compared to Silverstone and Donington Park, and probably one of the hardest circuits on the calendar,” continued Zelos. “Not just that, but pretty much everybody else in the field had previously been around there in a touring car whereas I hadn’t, so it was always going to be a challenge.
“I went into Sunday with a positive mindset and I knew we would be quicker in the races. In the first of them, we unfortunately had to battle against a lack of balance and a power steering problem, which was a bit intermittent through right-handers and got progressively worse, so to finish 11th was a solid result in the circumstances.
“In race two, we were much more competitive, and in the fight for seventh and what turned out to be the reversed grid pole position. I felt I had more pace than the cars in front of me, but I just got a little bit impatient and tried to pull off a hero move around the outside of Paddock and ended up in the gravel. That was frustrating, because it was the first significant error I feel I’ve made since jumping in a touring car and I was gutted for the team, who deserved a front row start for race three, but it’s all a learning experience.
“I then went out for the last one simply aiming to enjoy myself. The conditions were really tough, and I don’t think the wet particularly suited our car. I had a slow start but began building up some confidence and was able to fight back to finish 13th and second-highest Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS driver, so while it wasn’t the race day that we wanted overall, there were certainly plenty of positives to take away.
Being a newcomer to the championship, Zelos saw himself competing in the last nine rounds of the Jack Sears Trophy, a competition for drivers without an overall victory. In these rounds, the #45 would score two victories and would finish off the podium only once at his debut event. Even more impressive, the number of points Zelos averaged in the JST over the full season would have seen him tied on points with 2024 Champion, Mikey Doble.
With the 2024 campaign now in the rearview mirror, Zelos is already turning his attentions to next year, as he promises to pull out all the stops to secure his spot on the grid on a full-time basis.
“I’m still absolutely over-the-moon that we’ve made it this far,” concluded Dan. “Up against drivers that have been competing in the BTCC for years, I’ve been able to do a consistently good job for the team and bring the Macklin Motors Hyundai back in one piece every time, which is hopefully a solid stepping-stone for what the future might hold. I think I’ve shown I can be sensible and quick, and that with more time in the car, I can do some great things.
“Since Donington, we’ve been trying to get partners on-board within just a two or three-week turnaround; we now have three-to-four months to work towards next season, and I’m feeling very positive. Winning the MINI CHALLENGE again and getting to race three weekends in the BTCC has been a dream come true, and I’ve loved every second. We’ll never forget what we’ve achieved this year – but now we want to make sure 2025 is even better!”