BARC championships deliver action-packed weekend to remember at Brands Hatch

The British Automobile Racing Club soaked up the sun to produce two days of unmissable, edge-of-the-seat entertainment this past weekend ( June 5/6) at Brands Hatch.

Making the first of several visits to the Kent venue over the course of the 2021 season, a total of eight championships took to the Indy circuit and turned on the style for the enthusiastic crowd that was in attendance.

One of the headline acts during the weekend was the British Truck Racing Championship. Lifting the curtain on a brand new season, the heavyweight behemoths wasted no time in making their presence known as they served up five bruising encounters.

Division 1 saw reigning five-time champion Ryan Smith begin the pursuit of a sixth crown on the right foot as he powered his way to a hat-trick of wins. Martin Gibson and Mark Taylor would go on to end Smith’s winning streak on Sunday as they tallied a win apiece.

In Division 2, defending champion Steven Powell enjoyed an equally impressive start to the season as he, like Smith, scored a trio of victories. Such is the competitiveness throughout the field, Powell was unable to claim a clean sweep as former champion Adam Bint and Craig Reid also stood on the top step of the podium.

It proved to be an emotional weekend for the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres as they paid tribute to Gerard McCosh, a stalwart of the series who passed away earlier this year. A poignant two-lap parade on Sunday saw the entire 34-car grid follow Gerard’s infamous car for the final time before it is retired.

Aside from the tribute, the Legends as ever delivered six pulsating encounters that will live long in the memory. John Mickel, Will Gibson and Steve Whitelegg reigned supreme on the Saturday before Mickel and Gibson added to their tallies on Sunday. Paul Simmons would emerge as the other race winner.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship made its first appearance at Brands Hatch since 2019 and didn’t disappoint with two frenetic races taking centre stage. Current title holder George Turiccki opened his account for the season with a win in race one before Michael Smith did the same in race two.

Hot off the heels of starring at Donington Park on Bank Holiday Monday, the Kumho BMW Championship was back in action with another two races. Brad Sheehan proved to be the driver to beat in his E46 M3, winning both bouts narrowly ahead of James Card.

Pete Sparrow continued his fine start to the 2CVParts.com Championship as he bagged another brace of wins. Having won at their Cadwell Park season opener, the former multiple champion arrived at Brands Hatch keen to extend his advantage in the points – and he did just that.

Storming to pole position for both races, Sparrow didn’t put a wheel wrong in either contest to stretch his legs out front and take the chequered flag comfortably.

The Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship boasted a bumper entry list however Steve McDermid wasn’t to be denied from claiming his fourth straight win of the year in race one. William Sharpe finally halted his momentum however in race two, as he claimed a win of his own to cap off a memorable second event for the magnificent MGs.

Steve Burrows and Ray Harris were victorious in the CMMCS Avon Tyres Intermarque Silhouettes whilst the Quaife MINI CHALLENGE Trophy rounded out the weekend’s action, with wins going the way of Matt Hammond and Joe Wiggin.

To view the full classification of results from Brands Hatch this past weekend, CLICK HERE.

You can watch all the action back too by heading to our YouTube channel HERE.