TEAM AVAGO CONFIRMS UNCHANGED 2025 COOPER LINE-UP

Team Avago has confirmed it will field an unchanged line-up for the 2025 Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy season as it embarks on a second full year in the series.

Having debuted in the final rounds of 2023, the Yorkshire-based team embarked on a full year of competition in the Cooper class last season with a two-car entry for rookie pairing Joshua Wilby and Louis Fleet.

In what was his first season in cars, Wilby produced a number of encouraging performances on track over the course of the campaign, scoring rookie class wins at both Pembrey and Thruxton – the latter in front of a large crowd whilst supporting the British Touring Car Championship.

Despite a heavy accident at Donington Park that threatened to derail his season, Wilby would score multiple top ten finishes en-route to third in the Rookie Cup standings and will now look to make an impression on the both the Graduate Cup and the overall championship in 2025.

“It was a tricky but enjoyable first year in cars, coming straight from karting and having to learn everything from scratch,” he said. “We made great progress throughout the year and showed our pace at the last round by setting the fastest lap of the weekend.

“I’m hoping to continue that progress this year with a great team behind me, with hopes of challenging for race wins and the championship. Everyone at Team Avago helped me to adapt and improve in my rookie season, and it’s made me a better driver going into 2025.”

Fleet meanwhile also made solid progress across his rookie campaign, with his best result being a 13th place in the final race of the Croft MINI Festival event.

That helped Fleet to finish the season in fourth spot in the Rookie Cup and just outside the top 15 overall, with his focus being on forward progress up the order during his second season.

“I am excited to be returning to the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy grid in 2025 alongside Team Avago, and with the support of JB Engineering Services Ltd,” he said. “I can’t wait to be part of the series for a second year, and am aiming to do the best job I can to see what we can achieve together.

“Last year gave me an insight into the discipline and commitment needed to race at this level, and the goal now has to be to push harder and improve on the results from my debut season. I’m grateful to have the support of my team, family, friends and sponsors, who have all helped to get me on the grid. I hope to repay with them with some strong results.”

Team manager David Sutton said he was delighted to keep both drivers onboard going into 2025, with hopes high of making an impression in one of the most competitive championships in the UK.

“I’m extremely excited to be going into our second full season in the MINI CHALLENGE with an unchanged line-up,” he said.

“Both Josh and Louis showed glimpses of their potential last season, and we need to try and keep the momentum of setting the fastest lap in the final round of the year and carry it into 2025.

“The team has gone from strength to strength with a solid winter testing programme behind us, and I’m sure we will be fighting up towards the sharp end this year.”