Author: Chris Ashby

BARC closes out 2024 season with blockbuster Brands Hatch title-decider

The British Automobile Racing Club brought the curtain down on its 2024 season in spectacular style at Brands Hatch this past weekend (November 2/3) as the final batch of champions were crowned in front of a sell-out crowd.

Concluding what has been a year to remember for the Club’s championships, series, centres and venues; two days of blockbuster racing provided the backdrop to a fitting finale around the Indy layout.

Headlining the action was the British Truck Racing Championship, where Ryan Smith continues to re-write the history books in his Daimler Freightliner as he claimed a remarkable ninth consecutive Division 1 title.

Arriving at the Kent venue with one hand on the coveted crown, Smith was wheel-perfect as he blitzed the opposition to claim pole position in qualifying and then swept his way to all five race wins that were up for grabs. 

Behind him, former title winner David Jenkins edged out Steven Powell to clinch second overall whilst Michael Oliver and Stuart Oliver also stood on the podium over the course of what was a frenetic weekend.

In Division 2, John Powell made his dreams a reality as he finally savoured championship glory after edging out Simon Cole to top spot. The pair were virtually inseparable throughout the meeting however a non-finish for Cole in the finale allowed Powell to reign supreme. 

At the front of Division 2, the spoils of victory went to former champions Adam Bint and Paul Rivett – with the latter closing out his reign as defending champion with four superlative victories in his NAPA Racing UK MAN. 

The battle for supremacy in the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy went down to the wire with Westbourne Motorsport’s Harry Hickton ultimately doing enough to beat his team-mate Sam Gornall to the title by just two points. 

Hickton went into the final meeting of the season sitting second in standings, 31 points adrift of the top of the table. Bagging pole position in qualifying, Hickton then outscored Gornall to close the gap in race one while James Black triumphed up ahead.

The Hampshire racer then claimed a critical fifth win of the season in race two to take the lead in the points before shadowing Gornall all the way to the chequered flag in the finale, which in-turn ensured he clinched the Drivers’ Championship. 

Remarkably, the difference between the top two in the Junior Saloon Car Championship was even closer than in the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, with the bonus point for setting the fastest lap in the final race being the deciding factor.

Concluding its 10th Anniversary season with six drivers in contention, it boiled down to a straight shootout between Harry Smith and Jonathan Moore – and as always the one-make series had everyone on the edge of their seats as the pair scrapped for the right to call themselves champion.

James Sherrington scored victory in race one but with Moore finishing ahead of Smith it set up a tantalising title showdown. In a final contest that was truncated with red flags, Moore finished first on the road however confirmation of a champion remains to be decided virtue of how many laps were completed.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship was another category that crowned a new champion as Dale Gent finally climbed to the top of the mountain after just coming up short during the past few years. 

Going into the weekend at the top of the standings, Gent held his nerve to score the points that he required while Ryan Hadfield and Matt Simpson enjoyed a share of the spoils at the front of the field. 

Rounding out the weekend’s track action was the Mini 7 Racing Club’s O-Plate Winter Shootout. Aaron Smith and Rupert Deeth were undoubtedly the cream of the crop as they dominated all three races, with Smith narrowly beating Deeth on each occasion. 

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

Thruxton Circuit announces six-event 2025 race meeting calendar

Thruxton Circuit has revealed its calendar for the 2025 season, which will see likes of the Kwik British Touring Car Championship and Bennetts British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli take centre stage at the Hampshire venue.

Coming off the back of an action-packed 2024 campaign, the fastest circuit in the UK is poised to host to the some of the biggest championships and clubs over the course of next season, staging a total of six race meetings from May through to September.

The season will start in early May with the new Thruxton Tops Down Weekender, an exciting celebration of open-air driving which will include a number of championships that fall under the Caterham Motorsport banner.

From there, the UK’s premier motorsport series – the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – descends on the South of England for what promises to be three frenetic tin top contests on June 7/8.

In addition to the BTCC, the weekend will also see the likes of the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA, Vertu MINI CHALLENGE and all-new TOCA Junior Championship also feature on the support race programme.

Thruxton will then step back in time and transport fans on a spirited trip down memory lane to celebrate the sights and sounds of motorsport with the all-new Thruxton Retro meeting.

The super-sized machines of the British Truck Racing Championship will follow in July and the full-throttle thrills are poised to continue into August as the Bennetts British Superbike Championship hits the track with some of the best riders in the world battling for outright honours.

Concluding the 2025 campaign at Thruxton will be the return of the Classic Sports Car Club towards the end of September.

Tickets for all 2025 race meetings at Thruxton are now available to purchase online at https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/thruxton-events?category=race-meetings.

Thruxton Circuit 2025 Calendar

May 4/5 – Thruxton Tops Down Weekender
June 7/8 – Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship
June 21/22 – Thruxton Retro
July 5/6 – British Truck Racing Championship
August 8/9/10 – Bennetts British Superbike Championship
September 20/21 – Classic Sports Car Club

Tickets for 2025 BTCC meeting at Croft now on sale

Tickets for the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship’s 2025 visit to Croft Circuit are now on sale.

In what is the biggest event of the year at the British Automobile Racing Club operated venue, the UK’s premier motorsport series will descend on North Yorkshire to kick-start the second half of next season on August 2-3.

Three high-octane tin top races will top the bill while a bumper supporting cast which includes the all-new Mairon Freight UK TOCA Junior Championship will also take centre stage.

Tickets can be purchased at advance prices online today via: https://croftcircuit.co.uk/racing/btcc

BTCC to introduce 100% sustainable fuel as hybrid departs

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship has announced that 100% sustainable fuel will be introduced for 2025, whilst the use of hybrid power has been discontinued.

Maintaining its position at the forefront of national motorsport innovation and industry-leading standards, the BTCC will next year become the first championship in the UK to fully adopt sustainable fossil-free fuel for all of its cars.

The new fuel – designated Hiperflo ECO102 R100 – is specifically engineered to maximise performance, compatibility, and sustainability. The fuel is 100% fossil-free, meaning all components are derived from synthetic and biological (i.e. non-crude) sources. Hiperflo ECO102 R100 conforms to the highest FIA and ISCC compliances. 

Following a thorough test and development programme of the fuel, the decision to introduce it means that the hybrid programme – which was officially launched for the 2022 season – will now come to an end.

From next season, cars will have the same power-boost output as in 2024 – and the same boost deployment format as previously used – with the additional power surge coming solely via turbo boost. Cars will also be some 55 kgs lighter and nimbler as a result. 

A further tweak will see all notifications of the turbo boost deployment being removed from the timing screens, as it was felt this gave teams and drivers immediate information to try to counteract its use by other drivers.

“The introduction of 100% fossil free sustainable fuel for 2025 shows that the BTCC remains committed to innovation in motorsport,” explained BTCC Chief Executive, Alan Gow.

“As the highest profile championship in the UK, this introduction is a significant and essential step in maintaining the competitiveness and excitement synonymous with the BTCC, but in a more sustainable and forward-thinking way.

“The hybrid era was a great one for the BTCC. Six years ago, when we first announced hybrid, it was a technology still in its relative infancy within motorsport. We’ve successfully completed that programme – and really have no more to prove in that respect – whilst others have yet to catch up. 

“But, as we’ve now ticked that box we can move further forward with the introduction of the fossil-free sustainable fuel, whilst very importantly delivering the same performance parameters that made this year’s BTCC such a memorable one.

“We don’t just sit still with the BTCC – we evolve, and we advance, as today’s announcement firmly underlines.”

Other rule tweaks have been ratified by Series Organisers TOCA ahead of the 2025 BTCC season, with information on these regulation changes to be released in the coming few days.

BTCC confirms 2025 Season Launch and official pre-season test dates

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship has announced that its 2025 Season Launch will take place at Donington Park, while Croft has also been chosen to host two official pre-season test days.

Croft will welcome the UK’s premier motorsport series on April 1-2 for two days of testing before the Season Launch, and the final official pre-season test day, will be staged at Donington Park on April 15.

As is now customary, drivers and teams will carry out official pre-season media-related activities and interviews on April 14 before television and photography will also make up the early morning activities the following day. The ‘Class of 2025’ will then embark on six hours of testing at the Leicestershire venue.

Both Croft and Donington Park will be offering free entry to spectators, with refreshments available, whilst fans will be able to get autographs and photos with drivers during a pitlane walkabout at Donington Park.

The 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship campaign begins around Donington Park’s National layout on April 26/27.

BARC TV: What’s On This Weekend – November 2/3

The British Automobile Racing Club brings the curtain down on its 2024 season at Brands Hatch with a title decider that is guaranteed to provide fireworks – both on and off the track.

Headlining the action will be five colossal contests from the British Truck Racing Championship as the destiny of the Division 1 and Division 2 crowns are settled in what promises to be a heavyweight showdown.

They aren’t the only titles to be decided either as champions will be crowned in the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Pickup Truck Racing Championship, Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy and Mini 7 Racing Club Winter O-Plate Shootout.

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

Saturday 2nd November | 12:05 | WATCH HERE
Sunday 3rd November | 09:45 | WATCH HERE

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 of the action from a BARC LIVE event by subscribing to our YouTube channel HERE.

Tom Ingram full of praise for TOCA Junior Championship and Chevron B1417

The Mairon Freight UK TOCA Junior Championship and the new Chevron B1417 car has received a glowing endorsement from British Touring Car Championship title winner Tom Ingram following a recent test day at Pembrey Circuit.

Hot on the heels of narrowly missing out on a second BTCC crown earlier this month, Ingram became the first high-profile name to get behind the wheel of the bespoke rear-wheel-drive machine that is set to power the next generation of racing drivers from 2025.

Joining Championship Director Dave Beecroft and Tommy Watson, the Chief Executive of title sponsors Mairon Freight UK, the 31-year-old clocked a substantial amount of mileage around the Welsh venue and delivered a rave review.

“It’s been really interesting to jump behind the wheel at this stage because we’re in a position where it’s early days and we can therefore take the car in any direction we want to see what does and doesn’t work,” he said.

“As a base car it is very strong, very neutral. It’s fun and easy to drive, you can get to the limit comfortably and it’s also quite forgiving. Importantly, it’s confidence inspiring, which for the young guys and girls that are going to be driving it, is a really big plus point.

“At this stage in the development process it is about providing as much feedback as possible and then make small tweaks to steer things in the right direction. The car is in a great place out of the box and it has all the fundamentals you could ask for.

“Over the next few months we’ll start to push things further and take the car beyond its limit, find out how it reacts to certain things and also see what is what in terms of set-up changes. It’s an exciting time that’s for sure!

Commenting on the championship becoming part of the TOCA package, Ingram added: “I’ve no doubt that this championship will be the foundation for drivers to go on and enjoy careers in professional motorsport. We’re going to see people get involved from a very young age and go on to showcase their talent in front of a huge audience.

“Being on the TOCA package is a hugely important thing for the championship as it’s going to allow young drivers to make their mark and establish themselves. It will come with plenty of pressure, especially when the cameras are rolling and the spectator bankings are packed.

“That being said, I think one of the great things that the exposure of the TOCA package will provide is that it will allow drivers to learn and grow. They’ll become accustomed to everything that goes on alongside the racing and that will put them in good stead.

“Being able to do that in a junior championship that is as promising as this will ensure that when they finally make it to the BTCC or whatever it may be, they feel a lot more comfortable and are more than ready to embark on that next step in their careers.”

Christmas Stages Rally set to return to Croft this November

After a two-year absence, Croft Circuit will once again reverberate to the sound of rally cars when the Swift Signs and Shirts Christmas Stages Rally takes place on Sunday November 24th, 2024.

Organised by Northallerton Automobile Club, the legendary event has been a feature at Croft during the winter for many years and following the previous event in 2022 where it was called the Winter Stages Rally, a change back to its original name has been deemed appropriate for this year’s running.

The event over eight stages and totalling around forty miles is expected to attract the cream of UK asphalt rally drivers once again in a capacity 90-car entry list which will feature many local crews and a varied selection of competition cars.

Previous winners include local businessman Kevin Procter who has won the event no less than eight times and more recently, Frank Bird from Penrith and Durham’s David Henderson have added their names to the honours list.

Regulations are now out and entries available from a link on the organising club’s social media page: www.facebook.com/xmasstages

With the return of the event, demand for tickets is expected to be high and once again, Croft are offering advance ticket sales at a discounted price. The cost is just £13 per adult in advance with accompanied children aged 15 and under admitted free, and to order, please visit https://croftcircuit.co.uk/racing/christmas-stages-rally

Gates will open at 8.00am and the first car starts stage one at 9.00am with action continuing throughout the day with the final stage being run in complete darkness. Extensive free parking is also available with full commentary, trade stalls and food outlets, including Croft’s very own cafĂ© Hanger 50 which will be open throughout the day serving hot food and drinks.

For further information please visit www.croftcircuit.co.uk. You can also keep up to date with the latest ticket alerts by following Croft Circuit on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Caterham contingent sign off 2024 season in style at Donington Park

Donington Park provided the backdrop to a thrilling penultimate event of the season for the British Automobile Racing Club this past weekend (October 19/20) as both Caterham Motorsport and the Caterham Graduates Racing Club closed out their 2024 campaigns in thrilling fashion.

More than 50 drivers bid farewell to their novice stickers as the final round of the Caterham Academy Championship provided plenty of entertainment. In the Green Group, Brian Thornton reigned supreme while White Group champion Paul Ogglesby signed off with yet another win.

Not content with staging one race each, both groups amalgamated together for the Autumn Trophy race later on Sunday however nobody could stop Ogglesby from triumphing as he beat Dean Burden and Alex Coombes to the chequered flag by more than six seconds. 

Earlier in the year Bruno van Dyke had been one to watch in the Academy although for the season finale he was invited to step up into the Bilstein Caterham Roadsport Championship – which is the next step up from the Academy on the Caterham Motorsport ladder. 

Grabbing the opportunity with both hands, van Dyke was in a league of his own as he romped to an impressive brace of wins. Two top-four finishes for Paul Goldstein proved enough for him to be crowned champion.

With Ben Timmons having secured an unassailable lead in the Mission Motorsport Caterham Seven 270R Championship prior to the finale, the bragging rights of race wins were on the line under the flightpath of East Midlands airport – and the 32-car field didn’t disappoint. 

Charlie Lower was perfection personified across races one and two as he cruised to victory however his chances of completing his hat-trick ended on lap four of the finale when he was forced to retire; which opened the door for Ben Wheatley to triumph. 

The destiny of the Motul Caterham Seven 310R Championship went down to the wire with Harry Cook capturing the coveted crown ahead of Taylor O’Flanagan after the pair went head-to-head across three captivating contests.

 

O’Flanagan entered the weekend leading the standings after dropped scores were applied however he could only watch on as Cook charged to all three wins and in-doing so, turned the tables to walk away as the new champion.

Over in the Vertex Caterham Seven UK Championship, less than half a second covered the top two in each of the final three races of the season. William Smith was the first to stand on the top step of the podium before Harry Senior came to the fore in race two.

After missing out in each of the previous two bouts, Samuel Smith finally had his moment out front as he closed proceedings with a hard-fought victory in race three ahead of Matthew Armstrong and Paul Donkin. 

Also in attendance at the Leicestershire venue was the SIM Motorsport Caterham Graduates Championship, with its two classes – the Sigma 135s and Sigma 150s – serving up plenty of edge-of-the-seat moments. 

Jamie Ellwood capped off a memorable year in which he was crowned Sigma 150 champion by winning the opening encounter of the Sigma 135 Class before Giles Derry pipped Megan Bruce to top spot in a thrilling finale. 

Paul Goldstein was crowned champion after a superb charge from the back of the grid in the finale. The title marked the second coveted prize he won over the course of the weekend, having earlier bagged Roadsport honours. 

In the Sigma 150 category, Jack Barlow was wheel-perfect as he clinched a dominant double over Will Stillwell. 

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

New leadership team in place for MINI CHALLENGE as 2025 entries open

The Vertu MINI CHALLENGE will mark the start of a new chapter next season after announcing a new leadership team comprising of Rhea Beauchamp, Luke Caudle and a third figure still to be confirmed.

Long time Championship Co-ordinator Beauchamp will take on the role of Championship Director with Caudle – a former MINI CHALLENGE title winner as Sporting Director. A new Technical Director is poised to be named in due course.

The news follows confirmation that entires have officially opened for the 2025 Vertu MINI CHALLENGE season, with drivers and teams able to now sign up and secure their place on the grid for each of the three classes.

Entry fees for the JCW, JCW Sport and Cooper classes are being held at 2024 levels whilst early bird discounts have also been put in place that will make the MINI CHALLENGE even more affordable.

Anyone registering for either the JCW or JCW Sport class by 29 November and paying their full entry by 1 February 2025 will benefit from a £2,000 discount on entry, with Cooper drivers following the same payment schedule receiving a discount of £1,000.

“We are delighted to officially open entries for the 2025 season and what promises to be another exciting year for the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE,” Beauchamp said.

“We are already seeing high levels of interest from teams and drivers who are interesting in competing with us next year, which is a nice position to be in at this stage considering that the Cooper class still has one round left to run.

“Holding entry fees at the same level as 2024 means that the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE continues to be one of the most cost-effective ways to go racing at a high level in UK motorsport, particularly when you consider the high profile that comes from being of the BTCC package.

“We have a number of things in the pipeline that we will announce in the coming months, and we look forward to welcoming drivers old and new into the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE for 2025.”

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, added: “The Vertu MINI CHALLENGE continues to be an important, entertaining and exciting part of our support package for 2025 and beyond. 

“So it’s great to see the Championship energetically working with its teams and drivers in order to continue to grow the championship – not just for next year, but for years to come“.

TOCA Junior Championship commits to using sustainable fuel

The Mairon Freight UK TOCA Junior Championship has announced its commitment to using sustainable fuel, appointing Haltermann Carless as its official fuel supplier from the 2025 season onwards.

Following an extensive research process for the supply of a sustainable fuel to the series over a three-year period, organisers have selected a fuel that is substantially more sustainable than that which is being sold to petrol station forecourts throughout the United Kingdom currently.

The fuel – which is also used in the British Touring Car Championship – contains 20% renewable components; comprising 15% second generation ethanol content and 5% of advanced sustainable hydrocarbons.

It is calculated by the manufacturer, Haltermann Carless, to give an 18% reduction in greenhouse gasses when compared to current pump fuel, which is significantly lowering the fuel’s impact on the environment.

A small batch of the fuel has been tested on the Chevron B1417 already, with excellent results being reported and no adverse effects to either engine performance or the fuel system.

Fuel will be manufactured for the TOCA Junior Championship by Haltermann Carless at its refinery in Harwich, Essex, UK and then distributed direct to the teams at each event by Vital Equipment Ltd.

Boasting decades of experience. Haltermann Carless is a pioneer and leading international supplier of high-value hydrocarbon solutions in Mobility, Life Science, Industrial and Energy, with access to renewable resources from strategic partners.

Dave Beecroft, TOCA Junior Championship Director, said: “Since launching the championship back in August we have been pushing the slogan ‘Fuelling The Future’ and this partnership with Haltermann Carless epitomises just that.

“We value the importance of sustainability and the introduction of a clean fuel is the first step in us maximising our impact on the world. We’re looking forward to working with Haltermann Carless over the next few years.”

Adrian Stuart, Head of Performance Fuels Sales UK at Haltermann Carless, added: “We’re excited to support the new TOCA Junior Championship with our Hiperflo¼ R20 fuel, which contains 20% renewable components.

“It achieves an 18% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, well-to-wheel (WtW), compared to standard pump fuel. We look forward to the next three years of working closely with TOCA Juniors, reinforcing our commitment to sustainable fuel innovation and powering the next generation of talent.”

BARC TV: What’s On This Weekend – October 19/20

Donington Park will welcome the British Automobile Racing Club this weekend (October 19/20) for an action-packed two days of track action that will be headlined by Caterham Motorsport.

Bringing the curtain down on their 2024 campaign, the Caterham contingent will be out in full forces with races from its Academy, 270R Seven, 310R Seven, Roadsport and Seven UK Championship’s.

In addition, the Caterham Graduates Racing Club will also be in attendance to add further spice to the entertainment.

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

Saturday 19th October | 14:05 | WATCH HERE
Sunday 20th October | 09:15 | WATCH HERE

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

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