The British Touring Car Championship season finale at Brands Hatch this weekend will feature a tense battle for the Jack Sears Trophy title between WSR BMW drivers Daryl DeLeon and Charles Rainford.
And with the team’s reigning champion Jake Hill taking part in his final BTCC event – for now – at his local track, the 2.6-mile ‘Grand Prix’ circuit looks set to be the scene of even more action than usual.
The fight for Jack Sears Trophy honours has raged between WSR driver Daryl and LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR racer Charles ever since both claimed their maiden BTCC race wins on the shorter Brands Hatch Indy layout in May.
“It’s going to be a very different final event for a number of reasons,” commented Team Principal Dick Bennetts. “For the first time we have two drivers going for the Jack Sears Trophy in Daryl and Charles.
“They’re both fast and determined, but sensible and I’m expecting them to race right up to the chequered flag of Race Three. Aiden too, has a point to prove as he’s eager to get the podium finish his performances have deserved.
“It’s also the final weekend with WSR for Jake and for a couple of our team members, who are moving on to international racing next year. While naturally it’s sad to see them go, we’re proud of what we’ve achieved together and hope to end things on the top step of the podium.”
Anglo-Filipino racer Daryl is eight points ahead of Sussex driver Charles in the standings thanks to two top scores in the prize, which is contested by rookie drivers and those without at least two career podium finishes at the start of a season.
Due to both drivers having achieved multiple podiums this year, neither will be eligible for the prize in 2026, making this weekend an ‘all or nothing’ one for each.
While Daryl has won more individual races in the category (nine to Charles’ four), it is Charles who has taken more ‘event wins’ – four of the nine weekends contested so far – leading to such a closely-fought contest.
Daryl and Charles are two of the three contenders left in the fight with the latter aware that wins in each of the three races will enable him to overhaul his fellow BMW driver.
Charles’ LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR team-mate Aiden Moffat enjoyed his best points haul of 2025 last time out at Silverstone with a pair of top-six finishes and a season’s-best qualifying result to climb into the championship top 10.
The Scottish racer was a winner on the GP circuit in 2017 and has an additional podium finish to his name on the circuit too. He will look to use this to inspire him to cement his position in ninth spot in the standings.
Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport driver Jake Hill, Brands Hatch will mark his final BTCC appearance – for now – as he bows out of the series to take on new challenges in international motorsport in 2026 and beyond.
The Grand Prix circuit was the scene of his greatest triumph to date as he clinched the 2024 BTCC Drivers’ Championship at the season climax and also helped BMW secure a record-breaking 10th Manufacturers’ crown.
The 23-time race winner, (20 coming with WSR) who lives locally, claimed the title with a huge 56-point haul and was also victorious in the 2023 season finale and at this year’s May event on the shorter ‘Indy’ layout.
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