4th JUNE BTCC THRUXTON
One Motorsport with Starline Racing may be a new name for the 2023 season, but the team – who had previously competed under the banner of BTC Racing – really got to grips with the new season with a string of impressive results at the fourth meeting of the Championship at Thruxton.
Josh Cook scored consecutive third place finishes in the opening two rounds at Thruxton - the fastest track on the BTCC calendar – to consolidate his advantage at the head of the Independents’ Trophy points table.
Meanwhile Cook’s team-mate Aiden Moffat claimed third place for himself in the final race of the weekend. A result that pushed Moffat up to second place in the Independents’ standings behind Cook.
Those three consecutive podium finishes meant that the One Motorsport with Starline Racing team also lifted The Independent Team Trophy in each race, propelling them to the head of the Independent Team standings for the season so far.
The successful weekend spoke volumes about the focus of the “new” team which had worked into the night after qualifying to refine the chassis and squeeze the last few mph out of the engine.
COBRA SEATS CUSTOMER TEAM PROFILE: ONE MOTORSPORT WITH STARLINE RACING.
BTC Racing joined the “Cobra family” in 2018 when – having initially joined the BTCC in 2017 the team switched to very competitive Honda Civic Type Rs.
It didn’t take long for the wins to arrive: Daniel Lloyd achieved BTC’s first series victory at Croft, while his teammate Chris Smiley sealed a maiden success of his own at Rockingham on the Championship’s final visit to the circuit.
Josh Cook joined the line-up for 2019 as Smiley continued with the outfit for a third straight year, the pair piloting new, current FK8-generation Honda Civic Type Rs. The combination propelled Cook to three victories and seven podiums to claim fourth position in the overall Drivers’ classification, with three further rostrums for Smiley securing BTC the same spot in the Teams’ standings.
In 2020, BTC expanded to three cars, as Tom Chilton joined Cook while Michael Crees entered the fold under ‘The Clever Baggers with BTC Racing’ banner. A consistent campaign for Crees saw him secure the Jack Sears Trophy, while a number of podiums for Chilton and Cook – including a double win at Croft – resulted in a top-five finish in the standings for the team by the conclusion of the campaign.
Cook again drove for the team in 2021, joined by Jade Edwards embarking on her first full BTCC campaign. A late call up for Dan Cammish saw the 33-year-old join the squad during Thruxton’s opening rounds, while Senna Proctor would get behind the wheel for the remainder of the campaign. The Brackley-based outfit celebrated an impressive 15 visits to the rostrum throughout the year, concluding 2021 second in the overall teams’ battle.
In 2022, Rich Energy BTC Racing retained Cook and Edwards, with the pair joined by legendary BTCC star Jason Plato. The season had its ups and downs, but highlights included Cook securing four podiums and 296 points, taking sixth in the Championship overall and winning the Independent Drivers crown, as well as a podium at Snetterton for Jason Plato, who was driving his final season in the Championship.
The 2023 campaign has a new look for the team, after One Motorsport – formerly BTC Racing – joined forces with Starline to form One Motorsport with Starline Racing, retaining reigning Independents’ Champion Josh Cook, who will be joined by Aiden Moffat and Will Powell.
COBRA SEATS CUSTOMER DRIVER PROFILE: JOSH COOK
In 2015, a strong first season in the British Touring Car Championship saw Josh Cook claim seven top ten finishes including a podium at Rockingham – results which helped him to lift the Jack Sears Trophy for top rookie.
Cook added two further podiums in 2016 before moving to Team Parker Racing with Maximum Motorsport for 2017, claiming a fourth place at Oulton Park before switching back to MG machinery midway through the campaign.
In 2018, Cook joined the works Vauxhall team at Power Maxed TAG Racing and won in two of the opening three race weekends. He sealed four further podiums on his way to sixth in the Drivers’ Championship.
For 2019, Cook made the move to BTC Racing, driving the teams newly acquired Honda Civic Type R to three victories and fourth in the final standings.
Cook remained with the team in 2020, claiming three more wins – including his first double, at Croft – and finishing in the top ten following a consistent second half of the year.
Sticking with BTC Racing for the 2021 campaign, Cook kicked off the year with an impressive double victory at Thruxton’s season opener and, alongside four other visits to the podium throughout the year, ended the campaign with a pair of wins at Brands Hatch which gave him second place in the seasons BTCC Drivers Championship.
In 2022 Cook claimed five victories and four other podiums and became the most successful BTCC driver of all time at Thruxton leaving him sixth in the Championship overall.
This season Cook is joined by Aiden Moffat and Will Powell again driving Honda Civic Type R’s for the newly renamed One Motorsport with Starline Racing.
