Author: Chris Ashby

British Hillclimb Championship postpones 2024 season-opener

The British Hillclimb Championship presented by Nova Motorsport has announced that its opening rounds of the 2024 season at Prescott have been postponed due to extreme wet weather.

Originally scheduled to take place on April 20/21, the recent torrential rain that has battered large parts of the United Kingdom has made it unviable for the meeting to proceed as planned.

With Prescott being moved back to a later date in the season, the 2024 campaign will now commence in Northern Ireland at Craigantlet on Saturday 4th May.

“We appreciate this decision will cause disappointment, but would like to reassure everyone that it has not been taken lightly,” read a statement from championship organisers.

“Considering the importance of this event being the opening round of both the British and Midland Hill Climb Championships and having assessed the ground conditions in conjunction with the long-range weather forecast, we felt there was no choice other than to postpone the meeting.
“The new rescheduled date has been set for 17th & 18th August. All Competitors and General Admission ticket holders have automatically been transferred to this new date and notified directly of this change.”
For more information on the British Hillclimb Championship presented by Nova Motorsport, visit https://www.britishhillclimb.co.uk/.

Nova Motorsport signs five-year deal with British Hillclimb Championship

Nova Motorsport has announced the signing of a landmark five-year strategic partnership with the Motorsport UK British Hillclimb Championship, which has in-turn secured the future of the premier hillclimb series in the United Kingdom.

Inspired by heritage and dedicated to technical excellence, Nova Motorsport has acquired the assets of Avon Motorsport from Cooper Tire – who have been long-term tyre suppliers for the championship.

Supported by BMTR, that partnership is set to continue moving forward this year with Nova Motorsport committing themselves as official tyre suppliers and also developing new products for the future.

Jack Price, Product Category Manager at Nova Motorsport, said: “Hillclimbing holds a very special place in the hearts of everyone at Nova Motorsport.

“We are honoured to uphold the legacy of Avon Motorsport and continue its support for the Motorsport UK British Hillclimb Championship with the announcement of Nova Motorsport as the title sponsor of the series for five years.

“This partnership not only reaffirms Nova Motorsport’s dedication to the sport; it also underscores our mission to provide the highest quality products and services to drivers and teams competing at the highest level.”

Tim Wilson, Championship Co-ordinator of the British Hillclimb Championship, added: “Nova Motorsport’s commitment to the Motorsport UK British Hillclimb Championship is instrumental in helping us to drive towards a bright future for the sport.

“We are delighted to collaborate with a company that shares our passion for excellence and innovation.”

BARC delivers Brands Hatch blockbuster on Easter Sunday and Monday

The British Automobile Racing Club concluded its blockbuster Easter bank holiday weekend at Brands Hatch on Sunday and Monday (March 31/April 1) with seven more championships bursting into life to kick-start their 2024 campaigns in action-packed style.

Taking centre stage in front of a bumper crowd at the Kent venue, no less than 21 races played out around the challenging 1.2-mile Indy circuit – each of which were packed with the traditional thrills (and occasional spills) that fans have become accustomed to. 

Headlining the action were five heavyweight contests from the British Truck Racing Championship, which this year again boasted another ultra-competitive grid across both of its classes. 

In Division 1, reigning eight-time champion and title favourite Ryan Smith dominated proceedings on the first day of running as he powered his Daimler Freightliner to pole position and back-to-back race wins in commanding fashion. 

Unfortunately Smith was unable to repeat the feat on Easter Monday as windscreen issues plagued him in a handful of races. Instead, local driver Steven Powell would score a brace of his own whilst David Jenkins also opened his account for the year with a win in the finale.

Division 2 was ultimately all about one driver; defending champion Paul Rivett. Returning with NAPA Racing UK for a second successive season, Rivett enjoyed a dream weekend as he scooped all five Division 2 wins and even scored the overall victory in race four. 

The Junior Saloon Car Championship launched its 10th Anniversary season in superlative style with second-year racer Harry Smith showing his class by taking a clean sweep of pole positions and race wins.

Continuing to serve as a launchpad for drivers aged 14 to 17, the one-make series demonstrated why it remains on the UK’s premier junior championships with two entertaining bouts. 

Smith, who was one of the leading lights last year, underlined his credentials as being a star for the future as he charged to victory ahead of Jonathan Moore and James Sherrington, who each claimed a brace of podiums. 

Matt Simpson began his pursuit of the Pickup Truck Racing Championship on the right foot as he claimed two of the three race wins that were up for grabs, while Allen Cooper scored the remaining victory. 

Following the news that two-time champion Reece Jones will not be competing this year, the battle for supremacy in the series is set to be wide open, and Simpson wasted no time in establishing himself as the lead contender to possibly capture the crown.

Near capacity grids and close-quarter racing was the story of the SIM Motorsport Caterham Graduates Championship, which served up no less than four races during the weekend – each of which proved to be as captivating as the previous one.

Tom McEwing and Paul Goldstein claimed a win apiece in the two Sigma 135 races whilst Jamie Ellwood and reigning double champion Harry Senior emerged victorious from the remaining two thrilling Sigma 150 contests. 

Andy Preece made a flying start to life in the Adrian Flux Insurance MG Owners Club Championship – which was boasting one of its most competitive entries in recent years – as he opened his 2024 account with two narrow victories. 

At the wheel of his MG ZR, Preece fended off Mark Baker and Martin Willis in a pulsating opening encounter before then repeating the feat in race two, this time with Steve McDermid and Ryley Price as his main protagonists. 

Elsewhere, Ross Alexander was wheel-perfect in the MINI CHALLENGE Clubsport with Airtec Motorsport as he claimed a clean sweep of race wins.

Looking to build on an encouraging 2023 campaign, the MINI Cooper S driver had the measure of last year’s overall victor Stephen Berry and the rest of the field to comfortably romp to a hat-trick of victories, laying his marker down as the one to beat in the process. 

Rounding out the bank holiday action at Brands Hatch were two races from Track Action, which is previously went by the name of the Track Attack Race Club. Gareth Porter and Paul Roddison proved to be the cream of the crop from the budget-conscious category as they each snared a win apiece.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Brands Hatch, click here. 

Donington Park plays host to thrilling BARC 2024 season-opener

The British Automobile Racing Club kicked off its 2024 season in action-packed style at Donington Park this past bank holiday weekend (March 29/30) with no less than 12 different championships taking centre stage on the world-famous Grand Prix circuit.

Following months of excitement, anticipation and preparation, a bumper crowd flocked to the Leicestershire venue to witness an Easter extravaganza of wheel-to-wheel entertainment and high drama. 

Headlining the two-day meeting was the coveted British Endurance Championship in association with Motorsport UK, which lifted the curtain on its brand-new campaign with a spectacular two-hour contest. 

Boasting a monstrous grid of GT3 and GT4 machines, battles took place up and down the field however there was no denying PB Racing with JMH at the front of it – as Peter Erceg and Hugo Cook teamed up to claim a commanding victory in their Audi R8 GT3.

After coming close to the coveted crown last year, Erceg entered the campaign as one of the title favourites and he duly lived up to the hype as he punched in a superlative lap in qualifying to net pole position. He did so on his own too due to Cook travelling down from Oulton Park at the time of the session. 

Sharing the front row of the grid with the Lamborghini GT3 of John Seale and Jamie Stanley, Erceg wasted no time in making his escape from the chasing pack as the lights went out, carving out a substantial advantage during his stint before handing the reigns over to Cook.

When Cook took over at the wheel, the Audi outfit were relatively untroubled for the remainder of the contest with Seale and Stanley trailing by a lap at the finish. Completing the overall podium was the impressive Xentek Motorsport entry of Josh Steed and Ban Sidhu in their Porsche GT4. 

Further endurance thrills and spills were also provided over the course of the weekend by the Britcar Trophy Championship, which staged two frenetic 50-minute races under the flightpath of East Midlands airport. 

Race one proved to be an all Ginetta affair at the front as Seb Dubois survived a chaotic opening few laps to eventually take a comfortable victory over Datum Motorsport. Avoiding a number of clashing cars on the opening tour, Dubois showcased his talents as he carved his way to the front and ultimately triumph by more than 11 seconds in his G56 GTA. 

Behind, Maurizio Sciglio and Marco Anstasi – two of last year’s benchmark drivers in the series – enjoyed a superlative scrap to round out the remaining positions on the podium.

Britcar Trophy’s second bout proved to be just action-packed as the Sim Dynamics with Jabbasport SEAT Cupra Gen 1 of Chris Bialan and Simon Mason edged out Axel van Nederveen to claim a famous victory. 

Bialan and Mason battled their way to the front of the field from the second row of the grid and looked an irresistible force however all eyes would be focused on van Nederveen as he carved his way from dead-last to finish a couple of seconds away from the top step of the rostrum. 

Action aplenty best characterised the Classic Touring Car Racing Club – which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in association with the BARC this year – across the weekend.

Joe Ferguson made a wheel-perfect start to the new season in the Everard Garage Equipment Pre-66 Touring Cars as he claimed victory by more than eight seconds in race one. Things were a lot closer in race two however as Peter Mutlow Smith triumphed following a time-penalty for Tom Bell. 

Stuart Waite was perfection personified as he claimed overall honours in both amalgamated Pre-83, Pre-93 and Super Tourer races. Back behind the wheel of his BMW M3, last year’s Pre-93 champion reigned supreme in style whilst the Super Tourers in particular faced mechanical heartache.

The Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder showcased another flame-spitting grid once again and two familiar names, Bryan Bransom and Kevin Clarke – tallied a win apiece. Capping off the CTCRC action were a pair of races from the Pre-03 Touring Cars and Blue Oval Saloon Series, both of which were won by Piers Grange.

Concluding the weekend’s action at Donington Park were also races from the Mini 7 Racing Club and British Superkart Racing Championship. 

Former British Touring Car Championship title winner Andrew Jordan was unstoppable in the Dunlop Mini Se7en Championship race to take two wins whilst Jeff Smith and Endaf Owens shared the spoils in the Dunlop Mini Miglia Championship.

In the Super Series by the British Superkart Racing Club, Liam Morley visited the top step of the rostrum twice whilst Tom Rushforth claimed the remaining victory that was up for grabs.

To view the full classification of sessions results from Donington Park, click here.

BARC set to kick off 2024 season with Easter weekend double-header

The British Automobile Racing Club will lift the curtain on a brand-new motorsport season this bank holiday weekend with two race meetings – one at Donington Park and the other at Brands Hatch – making it an Easter extravaganza that is not to be missed.

After months of excitement, anticipation and preparation, the 2024 campaign is poised to blast back into life with no less than four full-throttle days of action-packed competition from some of the Club’s biggest championships.

At Donington Park, the British Endurance Championship in association with Motorsport UK will headline track action across Friday and Saturday – on the world-famous Grand Prix circuit as well no less. 

Boasting a monstrous grid of GT3 and GT4 machines, the BEC will kick off its season with a two-hour contest that is guaranteed to have fans perched on the edge of their seats.

Whilst last year’s champions have not returned to defend their crown, the battle for supremacy still looks to be as competitive as ever with the likes of Peter Erceg in his Audi R8 GT3, Witt Gamski and Michael Lyons in a Bentley Continental and the duo Lamborghini duo of John Seale and Jamie Stanley all set to be in contention. 

The Classic Touring Car Racing Club will mark its 50th year in association with the Club with a plethora of races from the Pre-66, Pre-83, Pre-93, Pre-03, Classic Thunder, Blue Oval Saloon and Super Tourer ranks. 

Variety has often been the spice of life when it has come to the CTCRC and that this year looks to be no different with packed grids and the likes of Stephen Primett, Stuart Waite, Pat Kenneally and Gary Prebble – along with many more – all locked in.

Also in action under the flightpath of East Midlands airport will be the Britcar Trophy Championship – which is set to stage two 50-minute bouts on Saturday – and the Mini 7 Racing Club and British Superkart Racing Championship. 

Hot on the heels of the chequered flag falling at Donington Park, Brands Hatch will take on the mantel of providing BARC entertainment across Sunday and Monday.

Topping the bill will be five colossal races from the British Truck Racing Championship, which returns with another ultra-competitive grid that is headlined by reigning Division 1 champion Ryan Smith and Division 2 champion Paul Rivett.

While the titans of truck racing are set to be the main attractions at the Kent venue, fans will also be able to see a host of other categories including the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Pickup Truck Racing Championship, MGOC Championship and Caterham Graduates take centre stage too.

All four days of racing will be broadcast LIVE on the BARC YouTube channel. Event information about both meetings can be found here.

BARC TV: What’s On This Weekend // March 29 – April 1

The British Automobile Racing Club lifts the curtain on its 2024 motorsport season with an Easter extravaganza double-header, with two action-packed days at Donington Park being followed by two more at Brands Hatch. 

Kicking off what promises to be another blockbuster year for one of the UK’s biggest racing organisations, the Club will be broadcasting live online across all four days via its official YouTube channel. 

At Donington Park, the British Endurance Championship in association with Motorsport UK and Classic Touring Car Racing Club headline proceedings whilst the likes of the British Truck Racing Championship, Junior Saloon Car Championship and MGOC Championship will star in Kent. 

Make sure you don’t miss any of the on-track entertainment by using the key timings and links below:

Friday 29th March – Donington Park GP – 12:30 – WATCH HERE

Saturday 30th March – Donington Park GP – 09:30 – WATCH HERE

Sunday 31st March – Brands Hatch – 13:30 – WATCH HERE

Monday 1st April – Brands Hatch – 09:15 – WATCH HERE

To find out more information on this weekend’s race meetings at Donington Park and Brands Hatch, including the official entry lists and timetable, CLICK HERE.

Don’t miss any future BARC LIVE events either by subscribing to our YouTube channel HERE.

BTCC to broadcast all races LIVE on TikTok in world-first deal

TOCA – organisers of the British Touring Car Championship – has today (March 27) announced that every race of the 2024 season will be streamed LIVE around the globe via TikTok, thanks to a world-first agreement with its partners at ITV Sport.

This ground-breaking agreement is in addition to the BTCC’s expansive and existing UK television contract with the ITV network, which sees around eight hours of broadcast – live and free – from each event across ITV4 and ITVX, as well as the continued highlights and catch-up offerings across the network.

As the UK’s premier motorsport series continues to look to bring the championship to a new audience, an agreement has been finalised to ensure that EVERY race will also be streamed LIVE and IN FULL via the ITV Sport TikTok channel – both in the UK and globally.

The deal marks the first ever sport to be streamed live via TikTok by ITV Sport, and it is also thought that it is the first major sporting organisation to stream its entire competition all season across the giant social media platform.

The announcement is also fantastic news for the BTCC’s loyal global fanbase, as this agreement will see every race in the UK’s premier motorsport championship broadcast live right around the world for the first time in its illustrious 66-year history.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “This is a truly ground-breaking move for the BTCC. I’m incredibly proud that we will be the first major motorsport championship in the world to have its entire race season streamed live on TikTok. It’s the real ‘cherry on the top’ of our ongoing and vast UK coverage, which is live and free on ITV4 and ITVX.

“Most importantly, this agreement will introduce the BTCC to a massive new and completely different demographic – a younger and more diverse audience – which is exactly what we, and in fact all of motorsport, are looking to achieve. This is very big news for the BTCC, our teams and our partners as we cement the future of the UK’s most prestigious motorsport championship.”

Andrew Hill, Senior Producer at ITV Sport, added: “This is a hugely exciting and innovative development in ITV’s production of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship. Live streaming BTCC races on TikTok, alongside our regular ITV4 and ITVX coverage, will help us to reach a much wider audience and enable a new generation of fans to enjoy the thrills and spills of the number-one championship in British motor racing.”

Issue 1 of 2024 BARC Magazine hits doorsteps for the first time in 2024

Issue 1 of the British Automobile Racing Club’s official magazine, APEX, is now available to read, with copies having hit doorsteps of its members this week for the first time in 2024.

Packed with the latest news and centre reports, as well as Martin Hunt’s Marshal Matters and the customary transcript from The Intercooler, the bumper edition also includes a number of must-read features too.

This latest issue sees the Club look back on a momentous night of celebrations at our annual Awards Evening back in February whilst Will Fewkes and Rob Huff delve into the importance of motorsport management, and in particular their company Fewkes Sport Management. 

To become a member of the BARC and to receive a copy of the magazine, head to https://www.barc.net/membership/.

Adrian Flux Insurance named as new title sponsors of MGOC Championship

Adrian Flux Insurance – one of the UK’s largest specialist motor insurance brokers – has been named as the new title sponsor of the MG Owners Club Championship this year.

Running under the new name of the ‘Adrian Flux Insurance MGOC Championship’ for 2024 and beyond, the much-loved series has welcomed in a new era as it prepares to hit the track for another year of captivating wheel-to-wheel racing.

The agreement with Adrian Flux brings to an end its previous long-standing relationship with Lancaster Insurance, who had been a title sponsor for a number of years. 

Offering a cost-effective route into motorsport, the MGOC Championship is a haven for enthusiasts of the famous marque as it pits models from a variety of decades against each other at the same time.

The 2024 season commences at Brands Hatch across the Easter bank holiday weekend (March 31/April 1) before then going on to compete at Cadwell Park, Mallory Park, Castle Combe, Thruxton, Donington Park and Snetterton. 

BARC announces bumper live stream schedule for 2024 season

The British Automobile Racing Club will continue its long-standing partnership with leading sports production company 247.TV this season, with no fewer than 14 race meetings set to be streamed live and online for free.

In what will be a fourth consecutive season of broadcasting on the Club’s YouTube channel, the 2024 campaign will once again showcase some of the best edge-of-the-seat racing that the UK national motorsport scene has to offer.

Encompassing all manner of production values, viewers will again be again to soak up the action courtesy of live commentary and presenting by the likes of Ian Waterhouse and Ewan Dunlop. 

Last year proved to be another successful one for the Club’s live platform with more than half a million views being amassed over the course of the season.

The British Endurance Championship, British Truck Racing Championship, Classic Touring Car Racing Club, Caterham Motorsport and Junior Saloon Car Championship are just some of the categories that are set to feature throughout the year. 

BARC 2024 Live Stream Schedule

March 29/30 – Donington Park (GP)

March 31/April 1 – Brands Hatch (Indy)

April 13/14 – Snetterton (300)

May 18/19 – Pembrey 

June 15/16 – Silverstone (GP)

July 6 – Oulton Park (International)

July 6/7 – Thruxton

July 13/14 – Cadwell Park

August 3/4 – Knockhill

August 10/11 – Donington Park (National)

August 31/September 1 – Brands Hatch (Indy)

September 14/15 – Snetterton (300)

October 19/20 – Donington Park (National)

November 2/3 – Brands Hatch (Indy)

Note that these dates remain provisional and can change.

British Truck Racing Championship partners with MANUP?

Raising funds and awareness for men’s mental health has become a focus for the British Truck Racing Championship this year, with the heavyweight series having today (March 8) announced it will align itself with the charity MANUP?.

Identifying that the stigma around men’s mental health remains a major issue, the MANUP? charity exists to raise awareness on the subject by encouraging openness, which will in turn promote the conversation.

Started in 2019, the organisation has grown exponentially in recent years and that trend looks set to continue throughout 2024 as a raft of fundraising concepts are brought to life through the championship.

The BTRC is no stranger to working alongside charities and the hope is that the heavyweight series will be able to use its sizeable platform – both on and off the track – to raise vital awareness and funds.

“As part of my commitment to breaking the stigma around men’s mental health, I’m proud to be partnering with the British Truck Racing Championship,” said Dan Somers, MANUP? Founder and Chief Executive. 

“At MANUP?, we reach men where they are, and BTRC offers a unique opportunity to amplify this message. Despite the fact that we are competing on the track, we are also driving a crucial conversation that illustrates mental health awareness has no boundaries.”

Gordon Snell, British Truck Racing Championship Manager, added: “We’re excited to have partnered up with MANUP? as the work they have been doing to promote the discussion around men’s mental health so far is to be really commended.

“We are using our platforms to push that conversation further and as has been proven, our fantastic fans are not only passionate about the sport but also supporting great causes. Raising awareness for men’s mental health is extremely important to all of us.”

To find out more information about MANUP? and how you can either donate or become involved in their initiatives, head to https://www.manup.how/.  

Thruxton rolls out winter upgrades ahead of new season

Work never stops when it comes to the British Automobile Racing Club and at Thruxton, a range of improvements have been taking place over the winter, all with the aim of ensuring the venue is in the best possible shape for a busy season.

A number of large projects – in addition to general maintenance – have kept the team busy at the Hampshire track, with the biggest of them being the implementation of a brand-new tyre wall at the Chicane.

No less than 800 tyres have been removed from the site and replaced, helped no less by long-time partners Pirelli. 

In an effort to maintain the circuits sustainability ambitions, the tyres that were removed from the Chicane have been re-purposed by extending the existing tyre wall on the exit of Church Corner, which now stands proud at an extra 70 metres long. 

Race control has also undergone a renovation, with more space being created to accommodate for the larger race meetings that take place at the Hampshire venue, moving forward. 

The wall between race control and the timekeepers has been moved back 1.5 meters, and the PA system relocated to the media centre, meaning the dividing wall that once housed it has been removed completed.

Rounding off the the ‘off-season checklist’ has been the acquisition of a new fire truck, lawn mower and radios, whilst the Kart Centre has had new barriers and fencing installed.