Author: Chris Ashby

Croft braced for more magic moments as BTCC speeds into town

Fans will have ‘plenty to get excited about’ when the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship races into North Yorkshire this weekend (23/24 June). That’s the prediction of Tim Harvey, as the 1992 title-winner forecasts more magic moments in the Croft Circuit story.

Croft first hosted the UK’s premier motor sport series all the way back in 1968 – then known as the British Saloon Car Championship – making 2018 the 50th anniversary of the circuit’s relationship with the BTCC.

That initial stint lasted until 1971, and while a major Croft regeneration in the 1980s meant the championship did not return to the north-east until 1997, it has featured on the calendar every year since, becoming a hugely popular stop on the schedule for competitors and spectators alike.

Harvey was on the grid for the 1997 event – one that very nearly didn’t go ahead due to rain flooding the circuit – and he has fond memories of the track.

“Croft always generates great action, with plenty of opportunities for overtaking and, dare I say it, incidents!” reflected the 16-time race-winner turned ITV4 commentator. “It’s a difficult circuit to master; the first half of the lap is a high-speed challenge, before you get to the Complex, where you need to slow it all down. There’s a bit of everything, which is what the drivers really appreciate.

“I always enjoyed racing at Croft, whether in the BTCC, Porsche Carrera Cup GB or my one-off outing in the Ginetta GT SuperCup a few years ago. The first year – 1997 – was certainly an interesting one. The one thing no venue can control is the weather, and Croft didn’t drain well back in those days – it’s much, much better now – but it’s testament to the circuit’s strength-of-character that the race meeting went ahead and went well, and Croft has remained a favourite on the BTCC calendar ever since.”

Fast forward 19 years to 2016, and Croft provided the platform for Ashley Sutton to scythe through the spray in changeable conditions to claim his breakthrough BTCC victory. Barely a year later, the Subaru star clinched the coveted drivers’ crown at the end of only his second season, but it was Yorkshire where he first made his mark.

“That was a really significant moment – the point at which people properly sat up and said, ‘boy, this kid has got something special’,” acknowledged Harvey. “He made the most of his opportunity in tricky conditions, so I’d say Croft was where he really announced his arrival – and in some style. And then obviously he went on to fulfil that potential by winning the championship last year…”

Results might be proving hard to come by for Sutton at present, but the man currently leading the charge – BMW’s Colin Turkington – has earned the sobriquet ‘King of Croft’ for his stellar success at the track over the years, tallying 12 race wins, 19 podium finishes and eight fastest laps. Harvey, however, suggests the Ulsterman won’t have it all his own way this weekend, with a quartet of local heroes all eager to steal the spotlight for themselves.

“Colin’s results can be attributed to consistently putting the standout rear wheel-drive driver in the best rear wheel-drive car,” he opined. “That said, things have now evened out a bit in terms of the front wheel-drive / rear wheel-drive difference at Croft, and while I still expect him to have a slight edge, running with maximum ballast in qualifying and race one as championship leader certainly won’t make life easy for him.

“The BTCC is proving absolutely impossible to predict this year, with ten or 15 drivers that can realistically win races – including the four Yorkshiremen in the field. None of them will be carrying any extra weight, and Sam Tordoff in particular has been quick everywhere while Dan Cammish is due a good weekend and the Honda he drives has traditionally gone well around Croft – so there should be plenty for the home crowd to get excited about.”

Tickets to the BTCC’s only north-eastern event of the year can be purchased on the gate, priced at just £15 for Saturday, 23 June (BTCC Qualifying), £30 for Sunday, 24 June (BTCC Race Day) or £38 for the full weekend. Accompanied children aged 15 and under are admitted free of charge.

More information on all of Croft’s driving experiences and racing events can be found at www.croftcircuit.co.uk

MotoFest Coventry ready to roar into life in city centre

Competitive motorsport is will return to the streets of the UK this weekend (June 2/3) as the Power Maxed MotoFest Coventry delivers a glittering array of star cars, bikes and competitors to Coventry City Centre.

Running for the fifth year in succession, the two day event is draw in a big crowds as it blends motorsport competition and demonstrations, static displays, live music and anything else with a connection to Coventry and transport together.

Carving a unique circuit out of Coventry’s ring road, a series of time trials will take place thanks to new legislation and a licence being granted by the Motor Sports Association (MSA).

The event will mark the first time that competitive motorsport has been hosted on a UK city centre circuit since the Birmingham Superprix in 1990, with organisers having worked closely with the MSA, Auto-Cycle Union (ACU) and Coventry City Council.

Made up of competitors from various British Automobile Racing Club championships, the sprint is set to garner substantial interest by those in attendance.

Elsewhere across the two days will also be a host of demonstrations and iconic machines on display, ensuring that the locals can get closer to the action than ever before.

As event sponsors, Power Maxed will have a major presence and will bring along their Vauxhall Astra’s that have enjoyed great success in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship this season already, giving Josh Cook and Senna Proctor a win each. Both will be in attendance too to meet fans and hit the roads.

The Fueltopia Action Arena is not to be missed either as it stages the latest round of the Fueltopia Formula G Championship and lots of close-quarter action from Legends.

Around the venue live music and culture as well as hospitality is set to ensure that this years MotoFest Coventry event is the biggest and best yet.

TOCA support package ready to blast into life for 2018

Brands Hatch is set for an enthralling weekend (April 7/8) of wheel-to-wheel, edge-of-the-seat thrills as the TOCA support package blasts into life.

Following months of hype and anticipation, five championships will join the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at the Kent venue to kickstart their 2018 campaigns.

Serving as the perfect stepping stone for drivers to graduate into the BTCC down the years, the Renault UK Clio Cup boasts another bumper entry list for this year. With champion Mike Bushell moving on to the BTCC, the quest to find a new title holder begins around the Indy circuit and there are no shortage of contenders.

Multiple champion Paul Rivett will be one to watch, as will the ever-impressive Max Coates, who returns for another crack at clinching the coveted crown. Throw into the mix the likes of Lee Pattison, James Dorlin, Mike Epps, Jack McCarthy and James Colburn, to name a few, and you begin to see how competitive this years crop of contenders are.

Two races around the famed Brands Hatch layout will serve as the perfect starting place for what is set to be another enthralling year.

Serving as the first step on the motorsport ladder for aspiring racers, the Ginetta Junior Championship is set to provide plenty of excitement on the opening weekend of the season too.

Having had the likes of Lando Norris, Tom Ingram and many more cut their teeth in the championship down the years, this years crop of youngsters will be hoping to springboard onto great things too.

The 2018 intake of racers sees a blend of familiar and new faces line up on the grid. Ginetta Junior Winter Series champion Adam Smalley tops the entry list, returning for a shot at the outright title, however the likes of Fin Green, Luke Browning and Matt Luff lead the rest of the pack in trying to stop his charge – starting with this weekend’s two encounters.

Action from the Yorkshire brand will also come from the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup, with immense quality running throughout the Pro and Am categories. Setting its stall out as one of the top proving grounds for young racers in the UK, the championship is back once again, with three races set to be run at the season-opener.

Notable names to keep an eye on include Jac Constable, Michael Crees, Jack Minshaw, Carl Boardley and Ginetta Junior graduate Harry King.

A new champion will be crowned in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB this year, due to title holder Charlie Eastwood moving on to pastures new. With a new car, new points system and new faces; the battle for supremacy this year is set to provoke serious intrigue.

Runner-up last year, Dino Zamparelli enters the season as an early favourite however he will have a whole host of drivers keen to take the fight to him at the front. Junior Scholarship winner Daniel Harper, George Gamble, Rory Collingbourne, Lewis Plato and Tio Ellinas are just a handful of contenders.

To cap things off, there will also be single seater action from the British F4 Championship. Despite the departure of Carlin, another stacked entry list has been confirmed for the 2018 edition of the popular series.

Arden, Fortec Motorsports, JHR Developments and Sharp Motorsport lead the way to Brands Hatch with the likes of Jack Doohan, Sebastian Priaulx, Ayrton Simmons and Patrik Pasma ones to watch.

Mark Higgins victorious in second round of British Rallycross at Lydden Hill

Bank holiday Monday brought with it plenty of edge-of-the-seat, sideways thrills at Lydden Hill as the Toyo Tires MSA British Rallycross Championship put on a show in front of a bumper crowd.

Following on from the season-opener at Silverstone last month, where five-time champion Julian Godfrey grabbed the early advantage in the points, the series descend on the spiritual home of the sport for round two.

With another strong entry list hitting the track, Albatec Racing’s Mark Higgins proved to be the man to beat as he swept his way to make it two different winners from two rounds in 2018.

Kevin Proctor opened the day by charging to victory in Q1, leading the way ahead of Godfrey and fellow Ford driver Ollie O’Donovan.

The returning Liam Doran, at the wheel of a Citroen C4, then staked his claim in Q2 as he utilised his experience and home knowledge to edge out his opponents and score victory.

Showing consistency throughout each of the heats, Higgins imposed himself on the event in the third and final round of qualifying at the wheel of his Peugeot 208 RX Supercar. Going from fourth to first in Q3, Higgins made it back-to-back wins as he produced a dominant display in his semi-final.

With heavy rain battering the circuit for the final, the former British Rally champion made a perfect start, blasting into the lead. Surviving early pressure from Doran, who would later retire, Higgins controlled the final to take victory on just his second outing.

Elsewhere, Tom Constantine was the winner in the MSA Junior Rallycross Championship whilst Supernational honours went the way of Tristan Ovenden.

Bradley Durdin was the victor in the BMW Mini Rallycross Championship, narrowly pipping Leigh-Anne Sedgwick crossing the line.

Morgan Bailey and Roger Thomas took the spoils in the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship and Retro Rallycross Championship respectively, with Chrissy Palmer rounding out the list of winners with an RX150 triumph.

For the full classification of results, click here.

The Toyo Tires MSA British Rallycross Championship is next in action at Croft on May 6.

Seven championships kickstart campaigns in Silverstone thriller

Seven championships from the British Automobile Racing Club kicked off their 2018 seasons this past weekend (March 24/25) at Silverstone.

Tackling the National layout of the popular venue, high sped edge-of-the-seat thrills were on order in contrasting conditions of rain and sun.

Battling the wet weather on Saturday, the Hyundai Coupe Cup roared into life with a record 24-car entry list. Now entering what is it’s third full season as a standalone series, the one-make tin top category produced a memorable two encounters around Northamptonshire venue.

Like he did on countless occasions last year, Steve Kite proved to be the man to beat as he stormed to a brace of victories, both by more than three seconds. Kite fended off Alex Cursley and Wayne Rockett in the opener before then leading Rockett and Neil Hurren in race two.

The theme of dominant doubles continued in the Michelin Clio Cup Series as Ben Palmer kickstarted his title defence in fine style. With the number one adorning his car for this year, Palmer underlined why he is the benchmark by romping to victory by more than 19 seconds in race one ahead of Simon Freeman and John Hamilton.

Both Hamilton and Freeman locked out the podium in race two but both could only watch on again as Palmer took the chequered flag, this time by just two seconds. In the Road class, Nic Harrison also enjoyed a strong start to the defence of his crown by picking up a pair of wins.

In the Renault UK Clio Cup Junior Championship, Nick Reeve had a dream debut as he took a clean sweep, claiming a pair of pole positions and then converting them into wins.

A five-car entry produced plenty of thrills ’n’ spills with Gus Burton winning on the road in race one after making a robust move on Reeve on the penultimate lap. Following a review, the positions were swapped by officials, giving Reeve the win.

The Specialized Motorsport driver proved to be in a league of his own in race two as he led Lorcan Hanafin and Burton to vault himself to the top of the championship standings.

Ben Kasperczak was in similar form in the Junior Saloon Car Championship, another one-make series that caters for drivers 14 to 17-years-old. At the wheel of his brightly coloured Citroen Saxo, Kasperczak stormed to a brace of victories to establish himself at the helm of the points.

Jemma Moore, Steven Chandler, Tony Rodriguez and Lewis Saunders all also picked up silverware across the two races too.

In the Mighty Minis Championship, Scott Kendall kicked off the defence of his title in style with an impressive victory in race one, taking the chequered flag ahead of Neven Kirkpatrick by four tenths of a second – a sizeable gap in Mini terms.

Race two proved to be a much tighter affair with a host of cars all dicing for top spot. In the end, Jo Polley made it a debut to remember as she took the win ahead of Greg Jenkins, Kendall and Kirkpatrick – a mere tenth of a second covering the four of them.

A diverse range of tin top thrills were also provided by the Classic Touring Car Racing club, which boasted more than 80 cars competing in a range of classes.

The amalgamated Classic, Historic Thunder Saloons & Blue Oval Saloon Series races brought outright victories the way of Dale Gent and Dave Cockell. The Pre 66 Classic Saloon & Historic Touring Cars saw Jonathan Lewis emerge victorious in both races at the wheel of his Mini Cooper S.

Rounding out the action at Silverstone was two races from the Luna Logistics Classic Formula Ford 1600 Championship. Catering for fans of single seater machines from yesteryear, Mike Gardner and Benn Tilley were the drivers to beat as they shared the spoils, taking a win apiece.

For the full classification of results from all championships, click here.

Entries open for 2018 Race of Remembrance

Preparations for the 2018 Race of Remembrance event are already underway with forces charity Mission Motorsport confirming that entries are now open for teams and drivers.

Once again taking place at Anglesey on November 9/10/11, the momentous meeting will once again commemorate the sacrifices made by all service personnel and their families.

This year’s event will have further meaning too with it being the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day; marking the cessation of hostilities between the Allies of World War 1 and Germany.

A permanent fixture on the UK motorsport calendar, the 2018 edition of Race of Remembrance is set to be bigger and better than ever with a total of 50 teams set to battle it out in a 12-hour endurance race.

Alongside the racing, which will take place both during the and into the night, there will also be a Heroes Dinner and a special remembrance service, where the track will fall silent at 10:45 on the Sunday.

James Cameron, CEO of Mission Motorsport, said: “Race of Remembrance is always a special event and one that is eagerly anticipated by a growing number of people from across the charity, racing industry and further afield.

“This year will be especially poignant, falling as it does on the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, and we will be commemorating the sacrifices made by service men and women in a very special way.”

BARC kicks off new season at Oulton Park

Following months of preparation and anticipation, the 2018 motorsport season for the British Automobile Racing Club is set to get underway this weekend (March 17) at Oulton Park.

A traditional starting point in mid-March for the Club, the Cheshire-based venue will host four championships in what is set to be a blockbuster day of non-stop thrills ’n’ spills.

Boasting an impressive 33-car grid for the forthcoming season and keen to put on a show for those in attendance is the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres.

Kicking off what is set to be a frenetic 51-race season, spanning the length and breadth of the UK, the popular category will race three times around Oulton Park on Saturday, with all eyes on reigning champion John Mickel as he bids to defend his title.

Challenges to Mickel’s crown are set to come from all angles however with the likes of Ben Power, Jack Parker, Steve Whitelegg and Marcus Pett, amongst a host of others, set to take the fight to the multiple title winner.

Big grids are also expected in the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, the jewel in the crown of the BARC’s North West Centre.

A mammoth 38-car grid has been confirmed for the opening two races of the season with a diverse range of cars set to duke it out for outright honours. One notable absentee however from the entry list is 2017 champion Joe Spencer, however he is hoping to compete in selected events later in the year.

With Spencer out of the picture, many eyes will be on the Saker duo of Paul Rose and Steve Harris who head the entry list. Throw into the miss the likes of former champion Paul Dobson, Dave Taylor and Garry Wardle and you will get just a taster of how competitive this year is set to be.

Close-quarter action is set to be a theme in the APL Health Caterham Graduates Championship too as they also roar into action for the first time this year.

Introducing a revised class structure and benefitting from the blend of old and new faces competing, the championship is set to go from strength-to-strength as it seeks to build on what was a stellar 20th anniversary last year.

Rounding out the on-track action for this one-day event is the Lancaster Insurance MG Owner’s Club Championship. Mixing nostalgia classics with some of the most recent models from the iconic brand, another jam-packed grid are set to battle it out for the multiple class titles that are on offer.

BARC & Cre8media launch new audio platform

The British Automobile Racing Club is to further cement its multimedia projects in 2018 with the introduction of a revised audio platform, in conjunction with Cre8media Limited.

Taking into consideration the feedback that has been provided as well as the need to continue pushing forward; barcaudio.net has been launched to cater for both Android and Apple users.

With more than 60 race meetings and 30 championships being overseen by the Club this coming season, 2018 is set to be another memorable year of racing – with a wealth of stories to be told too.

Continuing its long-standing partnership with Cre8media, barcaudio.net will house all the latest previews, interviews, reactions and announcements over the course of the season – all at the click of a button.

In addition to the new platform being unveiled, the existing iTunes podcast page will also still be updated on a regular basis, giving listeners an option depending on their device.

BARC Chief Operating Officer, Drew Furlong, said: “We as a club are constantly seeking to make improvements and the introduction of a revised audio platform does just that.

“We have taken on-board the feedback provided by some of our podcast listeners and the introduction of a new website, which houses all of our content, that is compatible on all electronic devices was the logical step forward – especially alongside our team at Cre8media.

“Our new audio service also allows us more scope what content we can produce moving forward too.”

“I’m delighted that Cre8media will, again, be supporting the BARC in moving forward by supplying and maintaining the new audio platform alongside the existing official iTunes podcast channel,” added Cre8media’s Matt Jones.

”The BARC’s online presence with social media, audio and video has increased dramatically over the past two years and having been working on this platform for some time, it is great to finally launch it.

“The audio website will be updated throughout the season with race, test and media day interviews covering more than 30 BARC’s championships that include driver, team and BARC representatives – all documenting what is set to be another memorable year of racing.”

To listen to the latest audio, head to barcaudio.net

British Truck Racing Association Championship headlines bumper BARC event at Snetterton

The British Truck Racing Association Championship returns to action this weekend (September 8/9), headlining what is set to be a bumper two days of track action around the long straights and demanding curves of Snetterton.

As the 2018 campaign moves towards the business end of the season, title battles are set to further intensify around the Norfolk circuit with five categories primed and ready to duke it out.

Having not competed since late July at Donington Park, the British Truck Racing Association Championship will pick up where it left off with a scheduled eight races set to be run and a 23-driver entry list confirmed.

In Division 1, reigning champion Ryan Smith has been a one-man juggernaut at times and has built up a sizeable advantage at the summit of the standings. On course to retain his crown, Smith could well put himself in an even stronger position this weekend if he adds to his impressive win tally.

Smith’s nearest challengers as it stands is former champion David Jenkins and multiple race winner Jamie Anderson, both of whom are not to be discounted. Other drivers to keep an eye on include ten-time champion Stuart Oliver, Luke Taylor and Richard Collett.

Luke Garrett finds himself in a similarly comfortable position at the top of Division 2 and the MAN driver will be keen to replicate the clean sweep he recorded at Donington Park. With 15 victories to his name thus far, Garrett will have his sights set on the top step of the podium.

Bidding to reel Garrett back in is Brad Smith, Steve Powell, John Powell, John Bowler and Simon Cole, amongst others.

The Dunlop Endurance Championship will bring a jaw-dropping array of GT machinery to Snetterton for a 50-minute sprint race and a longer two-hour encounter as well.

Matt Greenwood and Sarah Moore currently hold top spot in the Endurance rankings whilst Michael Igoe and Adam Wilcox lead the way in the Sprint category. With another bumper entry list confirmed, which includes Renault UK Clio Cup series leader Max Coates, this weekend is set to be an enthralling one for Britcar.

Lea Wood and Scott Bourne will resume their battle in the Pickup Truck Racing Championship with a pair of races set to write the latest chapter in what has been a memorable season. As it stands, there is nothing to separate the pair at the top of the points.

Whilst Wood is gunning for his maiden championship in the popular series, Bourne is bidding to make it back-to-back triumphs and a slip up for either of them could prove costly in the remainder of the season.

The Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres campaign will resume at Snetterton too with John Mickel aiming to retain his title. In what has been a frenetic season for the Legends contingent, wheel-to-wheel thrills and spills are all but guaranteed at Snetterton as 25 cars get ready to battle it out across six races.

Behind Mickel; Steve Whitelegg, Miles Rudman, Jack Parker, Sean Smith and Paul Simmons are all firmly in title contention and could make their own impact.

Rounding off the action at Snetterton will be a set of races from the Mighty Minis Championship. Despite being small in size, Mighty Minis pack a big punch and fans can expect to witness cars four abreast on countless occasions. Jo Polley has been a revelation of sorts this year and enters the weekend as the form driver.

Bumper entry list steps back in time for Croft Nostalgia Festival extravaganza

The curtains are ready to raise on the 2018 Croft Nostalgia Festival this weekend (4-5 August) with a huge entry list of iconic racing machines primed to take the North-East’s premier circuit by storm for a spectacular two days of riveting retro racing.

Showcasing majestic machinery spanning the decades, the annual historic racing festival never fails to deliver a terrific spectacle as the thrilling competition on track is complemented by stunning military exhibitions and parades, plus a packed programme of performers and entertainment.

Now into its ninth year, the Croft Nostalgia Festival has established itself as a major highlight on the North-East region’s social calendar, with thousands of visitors annually being transported to the halcyon days of motor sport.

With 180+ entries going wheel-to-wheel around the challenging Croft Circuit across 19 races – including some classes with more than 25 cars packing the grids – many leading lights of the historic racing scene are joined by numerous local drivers, who will count on the home support from those packing the banks of the North Yorkshire circuit.

Racing categories at the Croft Nostalgia Festival include Historic Touring Cars, Historic Formula 3, Classic Clubmans, the 70’s Road Sports, Spridgets (Sprites & Midgets), Historic Road Sports Formula Junior, URS with Historic Formula Ford 2000 and the Guards Trophy – all brought to you by the Historic Sports Car Club.

Among the many highlights is the perennially popular Historic Formula Ford race, which has attracted a huge 35-strong line-up across 14 different makes of single-seater car, while 26 drivers will hunt glory in Historic Formula Ford 2000 with URS featuring an intriguing battle between Reynard, Lola, Delta, Dulon, Royale and Crossle entries.

The evocative 70’s Road Sports category features a mouth-watering array of iconic cars, including a number of British favourites, such as the Lotus Elan and Europa, plus a brace of TVR 3000Ms and Triumphs. Fans will also have their heartstrings tugged by a cavalcade of Italian entries, including a Ferrari 308GT, Lancia Monte Carlo, Lancia Beta and Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint, while a plethora of Porsches add German engineering excellence to an exciting line up.

In the year Croft contributed towards the British Touring Car Championship’s (nĂ©e British Saloon Car Championship) 60th anniversary celebrations, the enduringly-popular Historic Touring Car Championship tips a nostalgic nod to its modern successors with a showdown featuring many of the series’ most renowned contenders, including the fearsome Ford Mustang muscle machine and the more-nimble ‘Brit pack’ of the Lotus Cortina, Ford Anglia and the evergreen Mini Cooper S.

In addition to the enthralling track action, flying demonstrations by the Twisters Aerobatics Display team will take over the skies and classic car parades will take a lap of the circuit, while trade stalls will be selling a variety of products from vintage clothing and military kit to fashionable accessories and a period hair style makeover.

Moreover, the weekend’s entertainment in the marquee will be hosted by Colin Bourdiec ‘AKA’ George Formby, who perform classics including ‘When I’m Cleaning Windows’ and a World War II ENSA (Entertainment National Services Association) routine that will take you back to the 1940s. Back by popular demand, harmony trio ‘The Daisy Belles’ and The Evernotes will also perform in the marquee on both days.

“The Croft Nostalgia Festival is one of the region’s veritable summer highlights and this year’s event is shaping up to be another memorable one, enthused Circuit Manager Tracey Morley. “With the unmistakable sights, sounds and smells of magnificent historic racing machinery filling the venue across two days of glorious competition, the Croft Nostalgia Festival really is a treat for motoring enthusiasts and motor sport fans alike.

“More than that though, with noble military machinery on display, period exhibitions and activities, plus a wealth of entertainment and performances harking back to days gone by, there really is something for the entire family to enjoy.”

Tickets for the weekend are available on the gate from just £15 for Saturday, 4 August and £20 for Sunday, 5 August – or just £30 for the weekend. Accompanied children aged 15 and under will be admitted free of charge.

BARC championships set to dazzle at Donington Park

The British Automobile Racing Club heads to Donington Park this weekend (June 2/3) with six championships set to produce plenty of wheel-to-wheel thrills as they continue their 2018 campaigns.

With summer approaching and events coming thick and fast, this visit to the Leicestershire-based venue for some will mark the second half of the season – igniting title battles even further.

Having been in action just last weekend, the Max5 Racing Championship descends on Donington Park for another two races this weekend with it all to play for. Marking the fourth stop on the calendar, the multi-class category has served up plenty of entertainment thus far.

Paul Roddison enters the event as the man to beat having won five of the six races already. Winning five in-a-row, the series veteran saw his winning streak come to an end at Anglesey last time out as Jeremy Shipley took the chequered flag. Keen to strike back with further triumphs, Roddison will be one to watch however Shipley, Matthew Tidmarsh, Richard Smith and Josh Malin are set to all be in the mix.

The BARC Clubmans Sports Prototype Championship in association with King Henry’s Taverns will be in action for the second time this season over the course of the weekend too. Kicking off their campaign at Brands Hatch, the popular prototype series is never short of producing close racing.

Mark Charteris, Steve Dickens and Michelle Hayward all took class victories around the Indy layout last month and the trio will be looking to add to their ever-growing silverware collections under the flightpath of East Midlands airport this weekend.

Small in size but packing a real punch on-track, the Mighty Minis Championship will undoubtedly be deliver a host of edge-of-the-seat moments. Boasting a bumper grid made up of the iconic car, Donington Park marks the halfway point in the season and it is all to play for.

In the more powerful Super Mighty Mini class wins have gone the way of Stuart Combes, Lee Polman, Greg Jenkins, Damien Harrington and Alex Comis – making picking a winner for outright glory at this event almost impossible to choose from.

Elsewhere in the Mighty Mini class, the likes of Seven Kirkpatrick, Scott Kendall and Jo Polley have all been the leading lights and each will be looking to add to their impressive 2018 resumes.

There will be a diverse range of machinery in the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship as it too reaches the halfway stage of the season. Events at Oulton Park, Rockingham and Snetterton have set the tone already, with the likes of Jim Baynam, Stuart Plotnek and David Mellor as the perennial contenders to look out for.

Fans of single seater racing will be well catered for over the course of the weekend too via the Luna Logistics Classic Formula Ford 1600 Championship. Taking a trip down memory lane of the once popular category, the jaw-dropping machines of yesteryear continue to spark great racing.

Mike Gardner, Mark Armstrong, Benn Tilley, Adriano Mederios and more have all tasted success this year and will be looking to do so once again.

Capping off the BARC competition will be a pair of races from the Kumho BMW Championship. Bringing the best models from the German manufacturer together onto one grid, the series has continued to keep going from strength-to-strength with Colin Wells, Ian Crisp and Russell Dack are three of just many drivers that have made their mark this year.

In addition to the feast of BARC action, the British Superkarts will also be in action around the sweeping curves of Donington Park.

Prizes confirmed for BSKC 2018 National Final

The British Schools Karting Championship have confirmed another bumper set of prizes for the most successful teams and drivers competing in the 2018 National Final, staged at Whilton Mill on June 30.

Following a host of regional finals, spanning the length and breadth of the UK, a total of 26 teams are set to battle it out for supremacy in what is set to be a highly competitive event.

Ten races stand between a variety of schools and colleges and their respective students from walking away with what could be argued as the biggest set of prizes that have been on offer for winning the championship.

The three students from the winning team and one representing adult will be given the opportunity to enjoy a Heritage Tour of the Williams Grand Prix Collection. Touring the state-of-the-art, multi-million pound Grand Prix Collection, the winners will be able to walk around the interactive museum that houses around 40 Williams Formula One cars dating from 1978 onwards.

Seminal race cars that carried World Champions such as Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve to victory over three decades of racing are all on display.

Ginetta Cars will also offer the entry onto the prestigious 2019 Ginetta Junior Scholarship for the highest placed competition licence holder [whose date of birth falls between 1st January 2003 and 21st March 2005, and who has not previously competed in an MSA circuit car race].

Giving them the opportunity to battle for free entry onto the 2019 Ginetta Junior Championship grid, the prize is one that can spring board any junior race onto great things.

Super Green Racing’s Howard and Ben Green will also continue their support of the BSKC by offering a pair of tickets to an event that Ben competes at later in the year. Now riding high in the British GT Championship, Green is a former winner of the event having triumphed with Debden Park High School in 2014.

For more information on the BSKC and how you can get involved in 2019, head to www.bskc.co.uk to find out more.