Jelley jumps from One Honda to Un-Limited Cupra in BTCC

Four-time British Touring Car Championship race winner Stephen Jelley has jumped ship to the Un-Limited Motorsport Cupra team for the remainder of the 2025 season.

The move from the 43-year-old Leicester man comes in the wake of One Motorsport announcing that its Hondas will not compete at the next two rounds at Croft and Knockhill due to team owner Steve Dudman “experiencing a number of ongoing health issues in recent weeks”.

While One’s statement added that “the hope is that both Honda Civic Type Rs will compete again later in the season”, BTCC sources were pessimistic that this would be the case.

That, in turn, leaves the short-term future of One team leader Josh Cook up in the air. While the 20-time BTCC race winner is unlikely to secure an alternative berth for this weekend’s round at Croft, the signs are that he is very much in the frame to replace a driver at another team from the mid-August event at Knockhill onwards.

Jelley’s departure allows him to fulfil his commercial obligations with his backers by replacing rookie Max Hall, who parted company with Un-Limited following the most recent round at Oulton Park.

“Obviously, it comes as a complete surprise to be joining Un-Limited Motorsport, but I’m thankful to be given the opportunity at very short notice,” said Jelley, who joins Dexter Patterson and Nicolas Hamilton in the squad’s Cupra Leon machinery.

“In speaking with the team owners, it’s clear they are hard workers who want the very best for their team and to move forwards competitively.

“The BTCC is incredibly competitive, and this team is relatively young [it joined the series at the beginning of 2024], but I’m confident we can make big strides with the work ethic they are showing.

“If I can use my experience to guide their effort in the correct direction then anything is possible. I have not driven the car yet so don’t know where the starting point is, but I’ll be looking to progress quickly.”

“Stephen is a proven driver in this championship and many others,” added Un-Limited chief Bob Sharpless. “We wish him all the best for the rest of the season and hope for a long-lasting team and driver relationship.”