CROFT RETURN FOR ONE MOTORSPORT WITH STARLINE RACING AS BTCC BLASTS BACK INTO LIFE
All three One Motorsport with Starline Racing drivers have pledged to go on the attack as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship bursts back into life at Croft in North Yorkshire this weekend.
Josh Cook, Aiden Moffat and new recruit Jade Edwards will be strapped into the ambitious team’s Honda Civic Type R for Sunday’s three rounds on the 2.13-mile track, which features tight, technical sections as well as some flat-out sweeping corners.
Cook goes into the meeting, which kick-starts the 15-race run-in to the title, aiming to capitalise on a strong sign-off to the first portion of the campaign. has a substantial lead of the Independents’ Trophy points table with seven victories in the class so far and is striving to continue his progress towards an overall triumph.
Cook said that he and the One Motorsport with Starline Racing squad had not been resting during the six-week break in Britain’s highest profile saloon car competition.
The Bath racer said: “Coming off the back of a long mid-season hiatus, I am raring to get going. It almost feels like the first day of term all over again.
“We were gaining some real momentum just before the break. We had a couple of overall podium finishes as we are understanding more and more about the Honda Civic Type R. The gap between the rounds has given the team and myself a chance to have a breath and look through the areas where we think we can improve.
“It is crucial that we do this work, because nothing stands still in the BTCC for very long,” added Cook. “We have turned the spotlight on every area of the car and my performance too and we will get a chance to put all that progress into practice this weekend.
“While I am delighted to be leading the Independents Trophy points at this stage, my ambition doesn’t stop there. For me, it is all about overall wins and I want lots of them…”
Scotsman Moffat has also tasted podium success with One Motorsport with Starline Racing this term and is knocking hard on the door of the top 10 in the standings overall. The 26-year-old is in Cook’s slipstream in the Independents Trophy table and he too has targeted outright glory.
The former airfield track at Croft, near Darlington, has been a happy hunting ground for Moffat, who is a former winner at the venue. He is aiming to repeat that trophy-claiming form this weekend.
“Croft presents a really unique challenge on the BTCC calendar,” he explains. “There are some high-speed corners and chicanes which require some real bravery, and then there are the slow and twisty bits at the end of the lap which are all about good traction.
“With the work we have done on the One Motorsport with Starline Racing Honda, I think we will be in a good position to be on top of all of these demands.
“It is a circuit I enjoy and the six-week break has made me even more eager to get back out there and show that the progress we have made so far is enough to help us land the big points and the wins. I am relishing our prospects.”
Jade Edwards will make her return to the One Motorsport with Starline Racing crew for the remainder of the BTCC, which will tackle five meetings through to the start of October at Brands Hatch.
The Ascot racer spent two years with the squad in 2021 and 2022, and she is pleased that the partnership with the team has now been rekindled.
“I am really looking forward to getting back into the Honda, although I won’t get a chance to sample the car until the opening free practice session on Saturday morning at Croft,” she said. “There will be a lot to learn in a short time – but I am up for a challenge.
“It will be great to work with team boss Steve Dudman, team manager Paul Hartley and all my crew – many of who I know from my previous stint with the team. I have a great relationship with Josh and Aiden too, and I know we will work well together on track as well as off-track to push each other forwards in term of getting the most from the car.
“Croft is a really challenging circuit but it is one that I have always really enjoyed. I am buzzing to be back out there with a great crew behind me and I am aiming to sign off the season with some really strong results under my belt.”
Team principal Danny Buxton said that the team was chomping at the bit to kick off the second half of the season and he was delighted to welcome Jade Edwards back into the fold.
“There is certainly plenty to look forward too over the next five meetings, and we are going to Croft, which is a circuit which has traditionally been good for the Honda Civic FK8. It is a demanding track but the challenges make it a really rewarding place when you find the sweet spot with the cars.
“Josh and Aiden will both be aiming to continue the upward momentum we had shortly before the six-week break and having Jade back in the team has been a real pleasure already. She has fitted right back in and has already been working well with the team.
“We are going to Croft with a great shot at some silverware and that will set us up for the remainder of the season. We can’t wait to get going again.”
Round 16, 17 and 18 from North Yorkshire will be shown live on ITV4 over the course of the weekend. The opening round is due to take place at 12:10, the second at 14:35 and the reverse-grid finale at 17:00 on Sunday. Saturday’s qualifying session will be broadcast live on the ITV Sport YouTube channel and will be streamed live on itv.com/touringcars. It is scheduled to start at 15:25.