The lone Filipino driver on the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) grid will be wearing new colors in 2025. That’s because Daryl DeLeon is making the big switch to West Surrey Racing (WSR) for the upcoming season to race the team’s BMW 330i M Sport.
Daryl made his BTCC debut back in 2023 where he entered mid-season with Team HARD Racing. He went on to deliver a best 12th place finish during the finale at Brands Hatch before returning for a full year in 2024. Still driving a Cupra León, he now raced under the colors of Unlimited Motorsport and impressed with regular point-scoring finishes. His best result of the season was 7th allowing him to secure 4th in the Independent’s Trophy with 11 podium finishes and 3rd in the Jack Sears Trophy.
He now becomes WSR’s youngest-ever BTCC driver since Tom Onslow-Cole made his series debut in 2007. The 19-year-old is also in good hands with the team’s track record of 18 championship wins in the BTCC. As a matter of fact, WSR is the reigning Drivers’ and Manufacturer’ champions with Jake Hill taking the title in 2024.
While the 2025 season won’t kick off until April of next year, Daryl will get to test the team’s new machinery after the New Year.
2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Race Calendar
Round 1 | April 26-27 (Donington Park)
Round 2 | May 10-11 (Brands Hatch Indy)
Round 3 | May 24-25 (Snetterton)
Round 4 | June 7-8 (Thurxton)
Round 5 | June 21-22 (Oulton Park)
Round 6 | August 2-3 (Croft)
Round 7 | August 16-17 (Knockhill)
Round 8 | August 30-31 (Donington Park GP)
Round 9 | September 20-21 (Silverstone National)
Round 10 | October 4-5 (Brands Hatch GP)
Daryl DeLeon: “It’s a dream come true to join WSR and to be with the best team in the BTCC after only one full season in touring cars. I still can’t quite believe it. I’m excited to return to a rear-wheel drive car as that’s been my background pre-BTCC and the BMW is clearly a mega machine as it proved by winning the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ Championships in 2024. The first aim will be to score a podium finish and I’ll also be trying to win the Jack Sears Trophy across the season. I think both are realistic targets and I’ll be working hard with the team to raise my performance level to where it needs to be for a team like WSR.”
Dick Bennetts, WSR Team Principal: “We’re very pleased to welcome Daryl to WSR for the 2025 season. He’s impressed us with what he’s achieved across the year and has a lot of the raw potential and determination that we’ve seen in a number of young drivers that have gone on to achieve great things in our cars and beyond. Given his background racing rear-wheel drive cars he should have little trouble getting used to our race-winning BMW. We look forward to helping him develop and move towards the front of the grid.”
Daryl DeLeon Taylor is supported by Train Maintenance Services (TMS).
For news and updates, Like the Daryl DeLeon Racing page on Facebook, follow @daryldeleon on Instagram, or visit daryldeleonracing.com.
[Photos courtesy of West Surrey Racing]
