Alex Coles - Nova Motorsport Rookie of the Year 2025

Alex Coles - Force TA Wiscombe Park - British Championships

In the world of motorsport it is the time of the year for reflecting on the successes of the previous season, and for Plymouth based racing driver Alex Coles, he has just scooped a prestigious award – the Nova Motorsport Rookie of the Year 2025. This recognises the best performance in the British Hillclimb Championship by a driver under 25. 

Nova Tyres are the main sponsors of the British Hillclimb Championship – a motorsport series that began in 1947 and comprises 30 Rounds taking competitors all over the UK, the Channel Islands and Ireland. Alex was presented with his Award at the British Hillclimb Championships Annual Awards Dinner at The Manor Hotel, Meriden on Saturday 10th January. 

Alex is the third generation of his family to go racing - his father Neal and grandfather Roger were regular competitors on the hills, and he spent a lot of his early years in the race car paddock. 

The spotlight first shone on Alex in 2022 when he won the BHC Cup in a Van Diemen RF86 that he shared with Caroline Ryder, mother of 2024 and 2025 British Champion, Matt. He was 17 and competing in his first season of motorsport. He clinched the title with two rounds in hand and set numerous hill records. 

For 2023, he shared an OMS28 with his father Neal and made his debut in the British Hillclimb Championship. Another landmark year scoring his first Championship points at Wiscombe Park near Honiton after qualifying for both Run Off’s and finishing 8^th and 10^th. 

In 2024 another change of car – this time sharing a Force TA powered by a 1.3L supercharged Hayabusa engine with Kelvin Broad. Alex finished 11^th in the British Championship with a season, and career, best result of 4th in the final Run Off of the year at Loton Park. In the BHC Cup Alex finished 8^th overall, and with 8 wins, he topped Class K(ii).  

For his 2025 BHC season Alex continued in the Force TA. This continuity no doubt helped towards achieving consistent results. He regularly qualified and scored points in the Top 12 Run Off’s and achieved a season best result of second place in the Round 15 Run Off at Harewood. This was also Alex’s highest placing to date in a British Championship event. Collecting regular points throughout the season resulted in an impressive 8^th place finish in the Championship. Alex also enjoyed another successful year in the BHC Cup finishing 6^th overall, and with 11 wins, he again headed Class K(ii). At Wiscombe Park he also set a new Class Record – 34.06s. 

In addition to the Rookie of the Year title Alex also collected three other awards - for his 8^th place finish in the British Championship; the Highest placed 2000cc racing car in the BHC; and the BHC Cup First in Class K(ii). Alex’s trophy cabinet will now look very full! 

Congratulations to Alex, his family and supporters on his fantastic achievements during the 2025 season.  

Plans are now being formulated for the 2026 season – almost certainly Alex’s race to the top will continue and he has his sights firmly set on becoming a British Hillclimb Champion. 

For all the latest news from Wiscombe Park, please visit the web site www.wiscombepark.co.uk  - the season gets underway at the end of April.