Photo: BTCC

Daryl DeLeon to step into Team HARD race seat

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Team HARD has announced that Daryl DeLeon make his debut in the BTCC when the series resumes at Croft, with the teenager stepping into the Cupra Leon vacated by Jade Edwards for the rest of the season.

The 17-year-old won the Team HARD scholarship earlier this year and has been competing with the team in the British Endurance Championship at the wheel of a Porsche GT3 and also in the Radical Cup UK – where he leads the standings for Valour Racing.

DeLeon sampled Bobby Thompson’s Cupra during the recent Donington Park tyre test, where he lapped just outside the top ten, and will now become the first driver from the Philippines to compete in the series.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have the chance to drive a touring car in the BTCC,” he said. “I’m very grateful to Tony Gilham and Dave Tyson at Team HARD. for extending this opportunity and for having faith in me.

“I’m still only 17 and the Team HARD scholarship has definitely opened doors. It’s put me in contact with the right people and given me the opportunity to race in the UK’s premier motorsport series.

“I’m looking forward to getting on track. The racing is fantastic but so is everything about the series. The engineers, mechanics and everyone that forms the team plus I’ve experienced racing in front of crowds but touring car spectators are just on another level, they are the best!

“I’ve been racing with Team HARD in the British Endurance Championship which has definitely helped me prepare for this step in my career. A Porsche GT3 is not exactly the same as a touring car but the approach to racing is the same. Working with engineers, data analysts, car set-up and race strategy is all part of it so the more racing and seat time I can have, the better.”