Author: Chris Ashby

All-action TOCA support championships star at Brands Hatch

Brands Hatch provided the backdrop to a thrilling two days of TOCA support championship action this past weekend (May 6/7) as four categories served up an abundance of edge-of-the-seat entertainment on the Indy circuit.

Taking centre stage alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at the Kent venue, a bumper trackside crowd – as well as many more watching on ITV4 – were treated to a feast of thrills and spills in contrasting weather conditions. 

One of the undoubted highlights of the weekend proved to be debut of the Legends Cars Elite Cup with JLM; however it wasn’t to be without its fair share of drama as both Saturday and Sunday’s grand finals were hampered by multi-car accidents. 

In the remaining races that did take place, Jack Parker – who was filling in for the injured John Mickel – blasted his way to a brace of wins whilst there were also victories for Will Gibson, Miles Rudman and Robert Barrable. 

Three new faces stood on the top step of the podium in the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA over the course of the weekend however that didn’t stop Louis Sharp from extending his advantage in the points standings. 

The weekend’s opening contest – which took place in damp conditions – saw Kenato Le capitalise on a frantic front-running battle to score victory before Dion Gowda came to the fore to win a much drier race two on Sunday, inheriting the win from Deagen Fairclough who was penalised for gaining an unfair advantage.

Fortec Motorsport’s James Higgins then produced a commanding lights-to-flag victory in the weekend’s third and final contest to vault himself into second in the standings and more importantly, title contention.

Spoils were shared in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB as Robert de Haan and James Kellett claimed a win apiece on Sunday. 

In what is proving to be a sensational rookie campaign, Richardson Racing’s de Haan reigned supreme in a pulsating opener and then had looked to have repeated the feat in race two before he was hit with a post-race penalty, which gave Kellett a maiden win in the one-make series.

Rounding out the weekend’s support race action were three high-octane races from the Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE JCW, won by Dan Zelos and Will Orton. 

EXCELR8 Motorsport’s Zelos didn’t put a wheel wrong in Saturday’s opener to master the wet conditions and take victory. However, he could do nothing to stop Orton the following day as the Hybrid Tune driver produced a virtuoso display out front to take a brace of race wins.

To view the full classification of results from all TOCA support sessions at Brands Hatch, CLICK HERE.

Both the Hagerty Radical Cup UK and Porsche Sprint Challenge GB will feature alongside the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA and Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE JCW when the BTCC support bill competes next at Snetterton 300 on May 20/21.

Porsche to be celebrated and honoured at Goodwood Festival of Speed

This year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard will celebrate 75 years of Porsche, with the world-famous event honouring the German manufacturer by displaying some of its most iconic models on its prestigious Central Feature.

Billed as the ultimate summer motorsport garden party, the four-day event – which takes place on July 13-16 – will see the great and good of motor racing come together at the West Sussex venue for a spectacle that can only be seen to be believed.

The 2023 edition of Festival of Speed coincides with not just the 75th anniversary of the creation of Porsche’s very first sportscar – the 356 – but also the 60th birthday of one of the most celebrated performance cars in history; the Porsche 911.

Porsche’s year of anniversaries is also perfectly aligned with the Festival of Speed’s theme this year: Goodwood 75, in which 75 years of motorsport at Goodwood – since the circuit opened in 1948 – will be marked.

In addition to the central display in front of the house, there will be more static exhibits and new immersive displays, as well as parades, across the Goodwood site that will both delight and amaze those that are in attendance.

“Porsche has been one of our most loyal and enthusiastic partners, supporting the Festival of Speed since 1995, and the Revival since 2010,” said the Duke of Richmond, Goodwood owner.

“This year Porsche will become the first manufacturer to create the Central Feature at the Festival of Speed for the fourth time, underlining the huge success of this iconic manufacturer as we both celebrate a milestone of 75 years.”

Legends Cars Elite Cup ready to make BTCC support bill bow

Legends Cars are poised to kick off an exciting new era this weekend (May 6/7) as the hotly-anticipated Legends Cars Elite Cup with JLM debuts on the support bill of the British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch – with a grid of well over 30 entrants already confirmed.

Set to deliver the same unmissable, full-throttle action that the sister Legends Cars Championship has produced for almost three decades, the Elite Cup is set to put the 5/8 scale series in front of its biggest-ever audience in Kent this weekend.

In addition to competing – three times on Saturday and a further three times on Sunday – in front of tens of thousands of spectators, the Elite Cup will also benefit from amazing exposure via ITV4 with some of the day two action set to be broadcast on live television.

Announced more than five months ago, the series will take centre stage alongside the BTCC – the UK’s premier motorsport series – at three race meetings over the course of the 2023; starting this weekend at Brands Hatch before moving on to Croft and Knockhill in the coming months.

Headlining the entry, which currently sits at 33 registrations, includes multiple champion Miles Rudman, current Legends Cars Championship points leader Will Gibson and Jack Parker – who is stepping in to replace the sidelined John Mickel.

Other notable names to look out for amidst the stacked grid is Mark Higgins, Andy Bird, Chris Needham, Matt Isherwood, Marcus Pett and Mike Schlup, among many others.

“After months of preparing and planning here we are, the start of the all-new Legends Cars Elite Cup with JLM,” said Phil Cooper, Legends Cars Elite Cup Owner.

“It’s a landmark moment in the long history of Legends Cars here in the UK, to be part of the BTCC package is absolutely incredible and I know I speak for the drivers and teams as well when I say we’re all looking forward to putting on a first class show for the fans at home and trackside.

“We believe our style of racing is tailor-made for the fans of the BTCC, and so a perfect fit for the touring car weekends, and we’re delighted to have this opportunity as part of the biggest motor racing package in the country. 

“I’m very confident we’ll have a good number of new Legends Cars fans by the end of the weekend at Brands!”

TOCA support package makes a splash at Donington Park curtain-raiser

Donington Park provided the backdrop to a memorable 2023 season-opener for championships competing on the TOCA support bill this past weekend (April 22/23).

Taking centre stage alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship for another season, four all-action categories delighted fans with two blockbuster days of wheel-to-wheel entertainment under the flightpath of East Midlands airport. 

Dan Zelos’ pursuit of a second Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE JCW title got off to the perfect start as he blasted his way to pole position and two wins. 

Embarking on another season in the one-make tin top category, the former champion laid down his marker to the rest of the field with a commanding brace of victories, one in the dry on Saturday and the other in the wet on Sunday morning.

It wasn’t to be a hat-trick for Zelos though as he found himself caught up in a scary accident with Sam Smith that brought out the red flags. The high-speed incident – which took place on the run down to Redgate – saw Zelos walk away unhurt whilst Smith was extricated from the car and transferred to hospital for precautionary checks. 

With the race not restarting, Will Orton was declared the winner ahead of Joe Tanner and last year’s MINI CHALLENGE Trophy champion Nelson King. 

Louis Sharp put his stamp on the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by the FIA with a near-perfect weekend in the single-seater category. The New Zealander – who was one of the series’ leading lights in 2022 – claimed two impressive victories to grab the early points lead.

After narrowly missing out on pole position, the Rodin Carlin driver took a commanding win in the season-opener before then showcasing his overtaking prowess in a thrilling full reverse grid contest.

Starting 20th, Sharp carved his way through the order to clinch a famous victory before then capping off his weekend with a drive to sixth place as Noah Lisle triumphed in race three.

Spoils were shared in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB as pre-season favourites Robert De Haan and Adam Smalley claimed a win apiece. 

Touted as one’s to watch prior to the new campaign beginning, both drivers produced assertive performances to each stand on the top step of the podium. Joining them on the rostrum across the two races was Gus Burton and Matty Graham.

Concluding the weekend’s action were three races from Porsche Sprint Challenge GB, which had secured a full-time spot on the TOCA for this season after recently making sporadic appearances in previous years.

Second-year racer Toby Trice claimed the early bragging rights as he edged out Joe Warhurst and Steve Roberts in a frenetic opener. Roberts would then prove to be the driver to beat in the remaining two contests as he cruised to victory to establish an early championship lead.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Donington Park, CLICK HERE. 

Brands Hatch provides the next step on the calendar for three of the four championships – who’ll also be joined the Legends Cars Elite Cup with JLM – on May 6/7.

BTCC produces wet and wild 2023 opener at Donington Park

Dan Cammish and Tom Chilton made a winning start to the 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season this past weekend (April 22/23) as they shared the spoils at what was a wet and wild Donington Park opener.

Lifting the curtain on the new campaign after months of excitement and anticipation, the UK’s premier motorsport series blasted back into life in spectacular style with three high-octane contests around the 1.98-mile National layout. 

Boasting enhancements to hybrid deployment and the re-introduction of the Goodyear ‘Option’ tyre this year, the unpredictable nature of the BTCC was there for all to see – and it started on Saturday as the 27-car field battled it out be a part of the Top Ten Showdown in qualifying.

Following a frenetic 30-minute session, the top ten fastest drivers progressed into the Top Ten Showdown to battle for pole position and it was Dan Rowbottom that roared to the summit of the times; 0.041 of a second ahead of his Ford stablemate Ashley Sutton. 

Behind, Jake Hill and Colin Turkington made it an all-BMW second row whilst Cammish and reigning champion Tom Ingram completed the top six.

Damp conditions greeted drivers on race day and the first of Sunday’s three contests would see NAPA Racing UK’s Cammish produce a superlative performance to kick-start the new campaign with a visit to the top step of the podium.

Following contact at the start between Sutton, Hill and Rowbottom – which ultimately forced Sutton to retire – Hill controlled proceedings out front for much of the race however Cammish remained a looming figure in his mirrors throughout. 

Closing on the Laser Tools Racing BMW in the latter stages, the three-time Porsche Carrera Cup GB title winner made his move at the bottom of the Craner Curves with two laps to go and once in the lead, he pulled clear to take victory ahead of Hill, Ingram and impressive debutant Andrew Watson.

Race two proved to be a truly wet and wild affair as heavy rain on the formation lap saw a number of drivers dive into the pit lane for wet tyres, whilst many of the front-runners remained on slicks. 

After an early safety car period, the rain only intensified and as more switched tyres, those that made the early gamble came to the fore – with Chilton leading the way. 

Along with Adam Morgan, the Hyundai ace scythed his way through the field to claim what was his first win the series in four years. Morgan would finish second on his WSR debut whilst Sam Osborne claimed a first-ever podium finish after rookie Ronan Pearson was disqualified post-race.

One of the undoubted stars of the show however was Team HARD driver Nicolas Hamilton who produced the perfect drive after switching to wets early on to clinch a career-best finish of sixth place.

The weekend’s third and final contest would see Cammish cap off a memorable day with a commanding lights-to-flag victory. Starting back on pole position virtue of the reverse grid draw, the Yorkshireman pulled clear of the chasing pack to triumph comfortably.

Behind, the battle for second place had everyone on the edge of their seats as Ingram, Sutton, Hill and Turkington all jostled for position; with the quartet going on to finish in that order.

Leaving Donington Park, Cammish holds an early seven-point lead at summit of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship with Ingram and Hill hot on his heels in second and third.

EXCELR8 Motorsport/Hyundai top the BTCC Manufacturer-Constructors Championship whilst BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCLER8 have secured a slender advantage in the BTCC Teams’ Championship. In the Independents’ category, Bobby Thompson and CarStore Power Maxed Racing lead the way after three rounds.

The Jack Sears Trophy – which is once again open to drivers that haven’t scored an outright podium in the series – saw Watson edge out Dexter Patterson to claim weekend honours.

To view the results of all BTCC sessions at Donington Park, CLICK HERE.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season continues at Brands Hatch on May 14/15; with Rounds 4, 5 & 6 playing out around the Indy layout of the famous Kent venue.

Britcar Endurance and CTCRC star during blockbuster Brands Hatch weekend

The British Automobile Racing Club made an action-packed return to Brands Hatch this past weekend (April 22/23) with the British Endurance Championship, Britcar Trophy and Classic Touring Car Racing Club serving up an unmissable show.

Less than a month on from them lifting the curtain on the 2023 campaign at Silverstone, the trio of categories provided big entertainment for the both the fans that flocked trackside and those that were watching via the Club’s ever-popular live stream.

Saturday afternoon’s headline act saw the British Endurance Championship take centre stage for a pulsating two-hour contest; where the PB Racing duo of Peter Erceg and Marcus Clutton charged to a dominant victory in their Audi R8 GT3.

After pipping the Aston Martin Vulcan of Glebs Stepanovs and Stephen Tompkins to pole position in qualifying, many expected the two teams to battle it out for victory however it quickly became apparent that that wasn’t going to be the case.

Upon approach to Clearways on the opening lap, the Aston Martin speared left into the barriers, ending its race on the spot. From there, Erceg and Clutton controlled proceedings out front – lapping the entire field six times – to clinch a memorable victory.

Behind, the Team HARD Porsche 991 Cup car of Brad Thurston and Daryl DeLeon claimed second whilst Chris Jones and Matt George guided their Mercedes GT4 to the third step on the podium. 

The Classic Touring Car Racing Club delivered an abundance of thrills and spills as its rosters of championships produced no less than 10 races over the course of both days.

In the Poultec Pre ’66 Touring Cars, less than one second covered the top three in a captivating opening contest that saw Michael Sheraton triumph in his Ford Anglia ahead of the Ford Lotus Cortina duo of Timothy Abbott and Ian Thompson.

James Ibbotson – who went viral online last year for drifting his Hillman Imp down the Craner Curves – put on a commanding display in the weekend’s second race to guide his way to the rostrum summit.

Over in the Orange Aero Pre ’83 Touring Cars, Mark Cholerton took advantage of a start-line mechanical issue for Stephen Primett to take victory in race one before Primett bounced back and came to the fore in Sunday’s second bout to claim a win of his own.

Elsewhere, the amalgamated Laser Tools Pre ’93 Touring Cars, Burty Haulage Pre ’03 Touring Cars and Burton Power Blue Oval Saloon Series races saw Stuart Waite and James Dunkley take an overall victory apiece.

Concluding the CTCRC action were two races from the Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder and two from the Berkshire Jag Components Jaguar Challenge. In the Classic Thunder, Bryan Bransom claimed the spoils whilst Colin Philpott starred in the Jaguar Challenge.

Rounding out the weekend was an enthralling two-hour race courtesy of the Britcar Trophy Championship. Off the back of an impressive performance at Silverstone last month, Datum Motorsport’s Axel van Nederveen continued his scintillating form by taking his Ginetta G56 GTA to victory lane.

Finishing a full lap clear of his closest opposition, van Nederveen led home Simon Clark in his Porsche 997 Carrera S and SVG Motorsport duo of Neil Wallace and Ian Astley.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Brands Hatch, CLICK HERE.

Watch all races that were streamed live across both days on the BARC’s official YouTube channel HERE. 

How To Watch BARC LIVE: Brands Hatch – April 22/23

The British Automobile Racing Club returns to Brands Hatch this weekend (April 22/23) for what promises to be an action-packed two days of track action on the Kent venue’s Indy circuit.

After lifting the curtain on the 2023 season at Silverstone last month; the British Endurance Championship and Britcar Trophy Championship back in action and ready to put on a show.

Elsewhere, no less than eight contests from the Classic Touring Car Racing Club are set to add to the billing – with all manner of iconic saloon cars poised to go wheel-to-wheel.

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

Saturday Race Show – Starting from 11:45 – Facebook | YouTube

Sunday Race Show – Starting from 10:45 – Facebook | YouTube

To find out more information on this weekend’s race meeting at 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.

BARC delivers Cadwell Park cracker of a weekend

The British Automobile Racing Club enjoyed a bumper two days of wheel-to-wheel entertainment at Cadwell Park this past weekend (April 15/16) as a further seven championships lifted the curtain on their 2023 campaigns. 

On what was the first of two visits to the popular Lincolnshire venue this year – the second coming in late July – the Club staged no less than 23 races across Saturday and Sunday, with each of them putting fans on the edge of their seats.

Renowned for producing its fair share of full-throttle thrills, one of the weekend’s headline acts came in the shape of the 5/8 scale pocket rockets that make up the Legends Cars Championship with MRF Tyres.

Serving up six breathtaking races, last year’s series runner-up Will Gibson kicked off proceedings with victory in the opener before Andy Bird and Marcus Pett chalked up two wins apiece. Matthew Isherwood then concluded the action with a win in the finale.

The Junior Saloon Car Championship blasted into life for another season with a 26-car grid of 14 to 17-year-old racers all eager to kick-start their burgeoning motorsport careers.

Boasting an entry list of both second-year drivers and rookies, the one-make category delivered a pair of blockbuster encounters, with the spoils being shared between Oskar Dix and Daire Flock.

In the North West Centre’s CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, Andrew Southcott enjoyed a winning start to the new season by comfortabley romping to a brace of victories.

At the wheel of his MG Midget Lenham, Southcott topped the times in qualifying and then didn’t look back when the lights went out; leading home the duo of Roddie Paterson and reigning champion Jamie Cryer by sizeable margins in both races.

Kris Tovey made a flying start to the 2CVParts.com Championship as he opened his account for the year with two superlative wins. Despite missing out on pole position in qualifying, Tovey made no mistake in the races as he powered clear of the opposition.

Behind him, defending champion David O’Keeffe, Nick Crispin and Lucas Proietti all scored podiums – setting up an exciting remainder of the season.

Novice racers beginning their journey’s in the sport put on a show across two Adrian Flux Insurance Caterham Academy races. Adam Kene narrowly pipped Matt Kirland in the White race before Callum McIntyre triumphed in the Green bout.

Cadwell Park also marked the dawn of a new era for the Track Attack Race Club as they ran under the BARC banner for the first time in its illustrious history. Encompassing all saloons, coupes and sports cars, the budget-conscious category kicked off the year with Andrew Neal guiding his Peugeot 106 to back-to-back race wins.

Another new championship to debut over the course of the weekend was the MINI CHALLENGE Clubsport with Airtec Motorsport; a one-make series designed to provide a first step on the racing ladder for entry level club racers.

Stephen Berry, Zac Blackwell and Freddy Hewitt proved to be the cream of the crop across the weekend’s three contests however despite their best efforts, Blackwell and Hewitt couldn’t stop Berry from taking a clean sweep of victories. 

miniRounding out the weekend’s bumper programme were four frenetic contests from the British Superkart Racing Club, all of which were won by the dominant Matt Robinson.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Cadwell Park, CLICK HERE.

Goodwood rolls back the years at all-action 80th Members’ Meeting

Goodwood Motor Circuit echoed to the sounds of horsepower from yesteryear this past weekend (April 15/16) as the West Sussex venue kicked off its 2023 motor racing season with the 80th Members’ Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport.

Taking fans and competitors on a spirited trip down memory lane, the two-day event marked the start of another captivating year of events and anniversary celebrations on the famous grounds.

Open to members and fellows of the Goodwood Road Racing Club, the Members’ Meeting is staged to recapture the intimacy and camaraderie of the race weekend’s in Goodwood’s heyday – with the British Automobile Racing Club playing a significant role as always.

Whilst there was plenty to see and do away from the track, on it saw an abundance of full-throttle thrills and spills – with one of the undoubted highlights being the Jim Clark Trophy for Ford-Lotus Cortinas that raced between 1963 and 1966.

Boasting an entry list of some of the most famous touring cars drivers from the past and present, an entertaining 45-minute race culminated in 2013 BTCC champion Andrew Jordan and David Dickenson fighting their way to a popular victory.

Fans of two-wheeled racing were well-catered for courtesy of the Hailwood Trophy, which was for Formula 750 and 250cc & 350cc two-stroke Grand Prix motorcycles. Scott Carson would reign supreme as he piloted his Yamaha TZ350G to an impressive brace of victories.

Sports prototypes that competed in the 1960s made up the Gurney Cup and after a hard-fought battle for outright honours, Shaun Lynn and former multiple IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti proved to be the team to beat as they triumphed in a Ford GT40.

Edwardian cars, GN Specials and cars in the spirit of early Brooklands races prior to 1923 made up the S.F. Edge Trophy. Behind the wheel of the incredible 1905-built Darracq 205bhp, Mark Walker did enough to win by half a second on combined times.

The Gordon Spice Trophy showcased some of the most iconic Group 1 and British Saloon Car Championship cars and those competing had everyone on the edge of their seats. Jake Hill and Nick Swift scored victory in the heats however nobody could stop Rob Huff from picking up the win in the final.

Front-engined Formula Juniors took centre stage in the Threlfall Cup – won by Stuart Roach – whilst Richard Bradley drove the Aston Martin Speed Model ‘Red Dragon’ to victory lane in the Trofeo Nuvolari encounter.

Elsewhere, Jonathan Abecassis and Martin Stretton triumphed in the Tony Gaze Trophy and Salvadori Cup whilst James Cottingham piloted an AC Cobra to the top step of the podium in the Moss Trophy – which was open to closed-cockpit GT cars.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at the Goodwood 80th Members’ Meeting, CLICK HERE.

BTCC officially launches 2023 season

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is primed and ready to embark on what promises to be another memorable year after officially launching its 2023 season this evening (April 11), announcing a 27-car entry list.

Ahead of tomorrow’s (April 12) official test day at Brands Hatch, the UK’s premier motorsport the former champions, proven contenders and young challengers that are all set to battle it out for the coveted crown.

Consistency is key for many of the BTCC’s leading lights, with last year’s top six contenders all remaining with their respective outfits for the new season.

Headlining the entry is reigning champion Tom Ingram, who once again spearheads the Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 team.. Back behind the wheel of the Hyundai i30 Fastback N, Ingram will run coveted number one this year – with Tom Chilton, Nick Halstead and Ronan Pearson joining him.

It’s familiar surroundings for Ashley Sutton as he bids to regain the title he lost last year. Sticking with NAPA Racing UK and the Ford Focus, Sutton partners up with Dan Cammish, Dan Rowbottom and Sam Osborne.

West Surrey Racing have expanded their operation to run four BMW 330e M Sports for the forthcoming season with Adam Morgan joining Jake Hill, Colin Turkington and Stephen Jelley.

Expansion is the key word at Toyota Gazoo Racing UK too as they add George Gamble alongside Rory Butcher and Ricky Collard in a third Corolla GR Sport for the year. 

The newly named One Motorsport with Starline Racing once again houses perennial contender and defending Independent Drivers’ champion Josh Cook in a Honda Civic Type R. Aiden Moffat and Will Powell complete the line-up.

One of the busiest teams over the off-season has been Team HARD, who – sticking with the Cupra Leon – have swelled to six entries across three teams. 

Bobby Thompson and Dan Lloyd will lead the line under the Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils banner whilst Dexter Patterson and Jade Edwards (Re.Beverages and Bartercard with Team HARD), Jack Butel and Nicolas Hamilton (Go-Fix with Autoaid Breakdown) will all look to play their part too.. 

Rounding out the Class of 2023 is CarStore Power Maxed Racing; another team that have added an additional car for the new season. Multiple race winner Aron Taylor-Smith will lead the Vauxhall Astra team with rookies Andrew Watson and Mikey Doble completing the trio.

CLICK HERE for the full 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship entry list.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “It has been as busy as ever during the off-season, but now we can’t wait to get the 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship started.

“The championship again boasts a hugely competitive driver line-up with an ever-growing number of genuine title contenders all looking to win the title, so it will be interesting to see who will come out on top.

“The Hybrid introduction last year proved very successful and popular among fans, but we immediately identified ways in which to tweak how the Hybrid is deployed in order further enhance the competitiveness for 2023. 

“This, plus the reintroduction of the Goodyear option tyre and the ‘Top Ten Showdown’ qualifying format now being adopted at five of the ten events, means it is set to be an extremely exciting season ahead.

“Kwik Fit, Goodyear, ITV, Cosworth, M-Sport and our other incredibly loyal partners play a massive role in this championship, and we remain always grateful for their support and enthusiasm. It’s almost time for the talking to stop and the action to get underway, so we hope you all enjoy the 2023 BTCC season.”

The 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship commences at Donington Park on April 22/23.

British Endurance Championship gets official TCR stamp

WSC Group, owners of the TCR trademark and technical regulations, has announced that it has granted a one-year licence to Britcar Endurance Ltd for a TCR Class to be run in the 2023 British Endurance Championship.

This latest tie-up with the WSC Group and TCR is the latest in a long line of exciting partnerships that Britcar has entered into in recent years, further strengthening itself as one of the premier GT championships in the UK.

“We are pleased to further expand the TCR footprint in Britain, adding to the successful growth of TCR UK, said WSC President Marcello Lotti. “Welcoming the British Endurance Championship under WSC’s umbrella provides local drivers and teams with more opportunities to enjoy racing TCR cars.”

Claire Hedley, Britcar Endurance Managing Director, added: “We are delighted to be officially hosting a class for TCR cars within the British Endurance Championship, strengthening our already-close association with the TCR brand, and placing the endurance-level specification of these exciting touring cars in a high profile Motorsport UK-sanction national championship.”

“We are happy that the British Endurance Championship is an official place to race TCR cars in an endurance capacity, as this further strengthens the TCR brand in the UK,” concluded TCR UK Promoter Stewart Lines.

The next round of the British Endurance Championship takes place at Brands Hatch on April 22/23.

Sun shines on Brands Hatch as BARC serves up Easter extravaganza

The British Automobile Racing Club served up an Easter extravaganza at Brands Hatch this past weekend (April 8/9) as seven more championships lifted the curtain on their 2023 seasons in spectacular fashion.

Basking in the warm Spring sunshine at the famous Kent venue, a bumper crowd were treated to 21 blockbuster races across Saturday and Sunday – each of which were packed with their own thrills and spills. 

Headlining the weekend’s action around the 1.2-mile Indy circuit were five contests from the British Truck Racing Championship and they certainly didn’t disappoint; with a near capacity grid of heavyweight behemoths delivering an unmissable show.

In Division 1, two of the series’ most successful drivers staked an early claim to the title by sharing the spoils. Reigning seven time-champion Ryan Smith – who was armed with a brand-new Daimler Freightliner – bagged a hat-trick of wins whilst ten-time champion Stuart Oliver scored a brace of his own.

There was a similar theme in Division 2 as two drivers split the wins; Adam Bint and John Powell. Former champion Bint made one of his best starts to a season in recent years with three emphatic victories whilst championship stalwart Powell reigned supreme in the remaining two bouts.

Three different drivers stood on the top step of the podium in what was an action-packed start to the Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE Trophy. Widely regarded as one of the most competitive one-make categories in the UK, no quarter was given throughout the 30-car grid.

Second-year driver Tom Ovenden kicked off proceedings with an impressive victory before Jack Byrne scampered into the distance to win race two, all while an almighty scrap for second place played out behind him. Alex Solley then rounded out proceedings by clinching his maiden win in a shortened third race.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship also saw three different drivers claim victory. Renowned for producing high-octane wheel-to-wheel moments, the category had everyone on the edge of their seats as they debuted their new two heats and a grand final format.

Pre-season title favourites Matt Simpson, Dale Gent and reigning champion Reece Jones proved to be the class of the field as they led the way out front – taking a win apiece to set up what promises to be an exciting remainder of the season.

Elsewhere, the Morphmy Caterham Graduates Championship served up no less than four races during the weekend, each of them proving to be as captivating as the one that went before it. 

Harry Senior and Harry Cramer shared the victories on offer in the amalgamated Sigma 150 and Sigmax races whilst Richard Groom and Ben Wheatley emerged victorious from the two thrilling Sigma 135 bouts that were on offer.

Scott Bugner made a flying start to life in the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship as he opened his 2023 account with two wins. 

At the wheel of his MG ZR, Bugner edged out Jack Chapman and multiple champion Steve McDermid in a close opening race before then doubling up for the day with a more comfortable victory ahead of McDermid and Andy Heitman in race two.

Wayne Rockett showcased why he has established himself as one of the most successful drivers to ever compete in the OT Publishing Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires by taking a clean sweep of race victories.

Hot on the heels of finishing the 2022 campaign with the most race wins, Rockett picked up where he left off as he produced a pair of measured drives to lead home Luca Staccini Anzanello and Mark Ridout in both encounters.

Rounding out the weekend’s action was two races from the Kumho BMW Championship, the single-manufacturer series which boasts more than three decades of history and is home to some of the most iconic models that run the badge of the Bavarian brand.

Donning the mantel of defending champion after a sensational 2022 campaign, James Card picked up from where he left off last year with an assured performance in the weekend’s opening contest as he guided his E46 M3 to victory ahead of Jason West.

Roles were reversed in race two however as West staked his claim as one to watch over the course of the year with a somewhat dominant win; leading home Card and Paul Wood to the chequered flag by more than ten seconds.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Brands Hatch, CLICK HERE.

Watch all of the action that was streamed live across both days on the BARC’s official YouTube channel HERE.