Finn Leslie, the highly rated reigning Fiesta Junior champion, will make his British Touring Car Championship debut at Oulton Park this weekend, replacing Ronan Pearson in the Speedworks Motorsport-run Toyota Gazoo Racing UK team due to unexpected commercial challenges.
Pearson, who had high hopes for the 2025 season after his performance with Excelr8 Motorsport last year, will be sidelined from Oulton, though it is unclear who will be in the team lineup when the BTCC resumes at Croft after the summer break.
Leslie, a 17-year-old Yorkshire college student, has impressed in the TCR UK series this season and is seen as a rising talent, having received praise from ex-BTCC race winner Paul O’Neill.
Speedworks team boss Christian Dick expressed confidence in Leslie’s abilities, acknowledging the challenges he may face in his BTCC debut but noting that Leslie has shown promise and potential.
Leslie had his first run in a BTCC car on Wednesday and is expected to seize the opportunity to showcase his skills on a major stage, despite his limited experience in the Corolla GR Sport car.
