Pearson makes Toyota switch for 2025 BTCC season

British Touring Car Championship race winner Ronan Pearson has switched to the official Toyota line-up for the 2025 season.

The 23-year-old Scot left Excelr8 Motorsport Hyundai with three rounds remaining of the 2024 campaign, but a very strong post-season test with Speedworks Motorsport at Donington Park has encouraged him to join the Cheshire operation.

As a result, Pearson will race a Corolla GR Sport run under the Toyota Gazoo Racing GB banner.

He is the first driver to be confirmed for the four-car Speedworks effort for this season with, of the 2024 quartet, only 2012 World Touring Car champion Rob Huff in the frame for a deal.

“There’s obviously many sought-after seats in the BTCC, and to have something locked in early helps a lot,” Pearson told Autosport.

“So that’s what I wanted to set about doing, and work towards making the comeback a really good one, because it needs to be.

“And I wouldn’t be putting myself in this position if I didn’t feel like it could be. That’s the very short of it, I would say.

“I’m massively excited to get going now. Speedworks’ passion for the sport is undeniable, and even the test day that I have done with them, being integrated with them, the guys all share the same passion and drive, and they’ve all competed at the top level.

“It’s just a real nice family feel, which is super-important at the same time as enjoying going racing. This is a long-term picture for me. Once I had my sights set on it, I wanted to make it happen.”

Team boss Christian Dick added: “We are fortunate to have worked with some of the very best drivers in the business during our time in the BTCC so far and, in Ronan, we strongly believe we have an extremely promising young talent and are confident we can help him to extract and exploit his full potential.

“Within the space of just two seasons, he has already made a significant impact in the championship and marked himself out as a star of the future.

“We have been keeping a close eye on his performances and – recognising his ability – once he became a free agent, we moved swiftly to bring him into the fold.

Ronan Pearson, Toyota Gazoo Racing Corolla GR Sport, Christian Dick

Photo by: Toyota

“Ronan was exceptional when he tested the Corolla – very quick indeed – but even more importantly, the energy and enthusiasm he brought with him put the whole team in an overwhelmingly positive mindset going into the winter rebuild.

“Everybody really picked up on the positive vibes, and we have no doubt that together, we can achieve some great things in the BTCC.”

Although Pearson won the reversed-grid race at the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit last season, that remains his only podium finish to date in the BTCC and, as such, can therefore compete for the Jack Sears Trophy, for which the eligibility rules have been revised for 2025.

“Alan Gow [BTCC boss] must have been looking out for me because I am still eligible, which is absolutely brilliant,” joked Pearson.

“It’s hard to tell how that’s shaping up this year, but I’d like to think we’ll be in quite a strong position.

“Daryl [DeLeon] will be quick in the BMW and what have you, but there’s not a huge list of people that are knocking on the door for that in my opinion.”