Rubbins Racin - with Team Hard

Basking in the barmy, sunny, twenty-six degree weather, we spent the day at Brands Hatch Circuit yesterday as guests of Team HARD. Racing for the final round of the BTCC season.

For anyone that's not familiar with BTCC, we whole-heartedly recommend it. It's proper, rubbin' is racin' action from lights out to chequered flag. A dull moment there is not.

Team Hard may have a small(er) budget, but what they lack in budget (compared to the manufacturers) they make-up for in spades with truck loads of heart, charm, grit and determination. Sound familiar?

Largely considered an underdog team (but under-estimate the underdog at your peril) their driver line-up includes Daryl DeLeon and Bobby Thompson. Thompson is fast becoming increasingly recognised as a potential British Touring Car Championship star of the future from one of the few remaining independent teams mixing it with the big boy budgets (BMW, Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, Honda, etc). And mix it up they did with Bobby Thompson qualifying 5th, fighting passed Butcher (Toyota Corolla GR Sport) and fending off the Turkington (BMW 330e M Sport) in his Cupra Léon to finish 3rd and on the podium for the first race.

Team Hard were still in the mix with the bigger budgeted manufacturers finishing a well-earned 5th (Thompson) in race and 7th (Lloyd) in race 3.

We were invited to watch the race from inside their garage, surrounded by the Team Hard family and friends. It was a beautiful, humbling experience. A true family run operation, full of passion to go racing and win. Proper. Rubbins. Racin.

What was of particular interest was their newly signed 17 year old driver, Daryl DeLeon (https://lnkd.in/ek4nNuHx) from the Philippines. Daryl's first taste of racing began in karting back in 2008, since then he's risen through the ranks British & World Champion in Radical Sportscars, Achieving a podium in his GB4 race debut and two podiums in his debut Asia Touring Car debut. He went on to win the Hard Team's 2023 scholarship programme which earned him a race seat at Team Hard's BTCC team.

Proof that talent can be found from outside Oxfordshire, 6,912 miles to be precise. If only you invest the time and passion to find it. LKYSUNZ plans on doing just that with Formula One.

Our trip was cut short, missing the 3rd and final race of the day. But our thanks to Tony, Chris, leanne and the whole Team HARD. Racing team for inviting us along for the ride (pun intended) and looking after us so well - it was a pleasure to meet you all.