BTCC: Cook returns to Toyota as One Motorsport bows out for remainder of the season

Josh Cook has been announced to be returning to Toyota Gazoo Racing for the remainder of the 2025 season after One Motorsport confirmed that they would not be racing for the rest of the year.

A tough few weeks for the Independent squads of One Motorsport and Power Maxed Racing have caused a lot of ruckus heading into the second half of the season. While Power Maxed Racing continues to run, despite the horrifying fire that burnt down all their facilities and most their equipment. Thanks to support from rivals Un-Limited Motorsport and the Patterson family who leased two Cupra’s to the team, as well as TOCA for allowing everything to go ahead due to the situation, the team was able to compete at Knockhill. However, One Motorsport, due to the current health of Team Owner Steve Dudman, will not be returning to the grid for the remainder of the 2025 season, focusing on 2026 to make their return to the grid.

Due to the team pulling out ahead of the Croft round, it left Cook unable to compete and meant Stephen Jelley moved to Un-Limited Motorsport for that weekend. Due to the team officially pulling out for the remainder of the season, Cook made the move to go back to Toyota for the final three race weekends of the season, meaning James Dorlin after mutual agreement with the team, would step back and allow Cook to take the last few races alongside three time champion Gordon Shedden, Árón Taylor-Smith and Max Buxton.

Christian Dick, Team Principal of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA, said: “Firstly, I would like to be clear that James is still very much part of the team, and he will be on-site with us in the garage at all three upcoming race weekends. It has been a pleasure to witness his progress over the course of this season, and he remains in our future plans. We jointly came to the conclusion that his stepping down would be beneficial to his prospects in the longer-term, in allowing him to focus fully on 2026, when we hope to see him return to the grid.

“We obviously already know Josh well not only from last year but also from recent events, where he has acted as a mentor to Max Buxton, who has been unequivocal about the positive impact that Josh’s input has made as he learns the ropes in the BTCC. His skill behind the wheel is unquestionable, and having already piloted the Toyota to the top step of the podium on more than one occasion, we are eager to see what we can accomplish together over the coming races.”

After making the switch, Josh Cook said: “I’m really excited to be returning to the track in the Toyota. It’s all come together quite last-minute, and I need to say a huge ‘thank you’ to everybody at Speedworks Motorsport for giving me this opportunity. I’m very much looking forward to working alongside the whole TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA crew and my three new team-mates.

“It’s been a few weeks since I was last in a BTCC car, and the Corolla is now 55kg lighter than when I previously drove it due to the removal of the hybrid system. There will inevitably be some initial set-up exploration to get it into a place where I feel happy and comfortable, but I know the team well and they know the car inside-out, so I’m confident that together, we can quickly get up-to-speed and begin pushing for some strong results.”

James Dorlin said: “I’ve really enjoyed being part of the Speedworks and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA set-up in the BTCC, but things haven’t worked out as we’d hoped recently. It’s been a tough decision for us all to take, particularly with the strong relationship we’ve built, but we feel it is more beneficial at this stage to step back and focus with the team on 2026, when the aim will be to challenge for podiums and race wins together.”