Author: Chris Ashby

BARC TV: What’s On This Weekend – June 17/18

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship reaches the halfway point in the 2023 campaign this weekend (June 17/18) as it speeds into Cheshire for Rounds 13, 14 & 15 around Oulton Park.

Bringing the curtain down on what has been a frenetic first half of the season for the UK’s premier motorsport series, the BTCC is poised to take centre stage on the Island layout for what promises to be an action-packed Sunday.

Joining them on the support bill will be races from the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE JCW, ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA and Hagerty Radical Cup UK.

Below is all the information you’ll need to know to keep up-to-date with all the action that is being broadcast live:

Oulton Park

Saturday 17th June // BTCC Qualifying – 15:30 – WATCH HERE

Sunday 18th June // ITV – 12:00 to 14:00 // ITV4 – 14:00 to 18:15 // ITV Website – WATCH HERE

Classic Touring Car Racing Club headlines scorching Castle Combe Summer Spectacular

The Classic Touring Car Racing Club continued its full-throttle 2023 season last weekend (June 10/11) as it took centre stage at Castle Combe for the venue’s annual Summer Spectacular race meeting.

On what proved to be a sun-kissed weekend at the Wiltshire circuit, a trio of British Automobile Racing Club categories turned up the heat on-track as they delivered a feast of edge-of-the-seat thrills and spills for the bumper crowd in attendance.

Hot on the heels of producing captivating events at Silverstone and Brands Hatch, iconic tin tops from the Classic Touring Car Racing Club were back in action with a total of eight blockbuster encounters. 

In the amalgamated Poultec Pre-66 Touring Cars and Orange Aero Pre-83 Group 1 Touring Cars bouts, spoils were shared between William Davison and Stephen Primett, who each claimed a win apiece. 

Elsewhere, Stuart Waite and Mike Manning reigned supreme in the combined Laser Tools Pre-93 Touring Cars, Burty Haulage Pre-03 Touring Cars and Burton Power Blue Oval Saloon Series races whilst Guy Connew and Tom Lenthall triumphed in the Berkshire Jag Component Jaguar Challenge.

Concluding the CTCRC action were a pair of races from the Edmunson Electrical Classic Thunder Saloons, both of which were won by Jason West in his BMW M3 E46 – albeit by slender margins. 

That wasn’t to be the only success that West enjoyed either as he added a further two wins to his weekend tally in the Kumho BMW Championship. 

The Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship also continued its 2023 season with two entertaining races and reigning champion Steve McDermid stamping his authority on proceedings by charging to a brace of victories.

At the wheel of his MG ZR, McDermid led home Mark Willis and Lee Sullivan in both encounters whilst his main title protagonist Scott Bugner endured a weekend to forget as he recorded two non-finishes.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Castle Combe, CLICK HERE.

Thruxton hails record BTCC weekend

Thruxton Circuit delivered a fabulous spectacle of BTCC racing over the weekend, drawing record numbers to the Hampshire venue to witness the excitement.

As the sun shone and the ice cream melted, the spectator banks and grandstands were packed out, thanks to a 17% increase on the weekend’s attendance figure compared to 2022.

“It was an amazing weekend,” said Ben Taylor, BARC Chief Executive. “The weather was incredible, the racing was great and the off-track entertainment kept everyone busy. All the visitors that I spoke to were having a brilliant time and having now crunched the numbers, it’s great to be able to say that it was definitely the most successful BTCC round at Thruxton of the past 15 years.

“There is such a lot of hard work that goes into making events like this happen and every member of the team did a magnificent job. We thank them all.

“The circuit has never looked so well presented and that is a huge tribute to Pat Blakeney and his team who put in all the hours to make it look first class. Sadly they’ve got quite a bit of work to do now to put right what the drivers got wrong! I am sure it will be pristine again by the time the Thruxton Historic comes around in two weeks’ time.”

Tickets for the Thruxton Historic on June 17/18 can be purchased here: https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/thruxton-historic

BARC North West meeting delivers all-out Anglesey action

Anglesey Circuit provided the backdrop to the British Automobile Racing Club’s annual visit to North Wales last weekend (June 3/4) as a number of championships continued their 2023 campaigns in action-packed style. 

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, the two-day meeting – which took place under bright sunshine along the coast of the Irish Sea – served up a feast of wheel-to-wheel entertainment around the challenging 1.55-mile layout. 

In the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Daire Flock strengthened his stranglehold at the summit of the standings as he charged to an emphatic hat-trick of race wins around the picturesque Welsh venue.

Arriving at Anglesey off the back of a double win at Pembrey, the second-year racer had to settle for fourth place in qualifying however no-one was to deny him when it came to the weekend’s trio of contests as he reigned supreme.

Edging out Jack James in a frenetic opener, Flock then led home Jonathan Moore in race two before he concluded what proved to be a memorable weekend with a narrow victory over Cameron Pratt-Thompson in the finale.

Elsewhere, the Track Attack Race Club – which is run by the same organisers of the JSCC – saw a healthy grid of tin tops take centre stage, with Tim Evans and Nick Tasker sharing the spoils. 

Hot on the heels of claiming a maiden win at Snetterton, Luca Staccini Anzanello was back on the top step of the podium as he triumphed in the latest rounds of the OT Publishing Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires. 

The popular one-make series may have seen lower numbers than usual but that didn’t detract from the frenetic door-to-door action that was produced, with Staccini Anzanello emerging as one of the standout performers.

Guiding his Hyundai Coupe to pole position in qualifying, the flamboyant driver headed Mark Ridout and Paul Smith in the opening contest before then leading Daren Ford and Miguel Contreras in race two.

Variety was the spice of life when it came to the North West Centre’s flagship series, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, as they hit the track for a trio of races.

Showcasing a variety of different cars across multiple classes, former champion Paul Rose proved to be the benchmark in races one and two as he piloted his Sakar S1-500 to victory before then being cruelly denied from completing his hat-trick.

Rose led 16 of the 17 laps in the finale before he was forced to retire, which then allowed Arron Armiger to inherit victory in his Vauxhall Tigra.

Concluding the weekend’s track action were a number of races from the British Superkart Racing Club. In the combined F250 Mono/F125 contests Paul Platt, Lee Plain and Kirk Cattermole scored a win apiece whilst Liam Morley took a clean sweep in the Division 1/F450 category.

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

Ginetta marks 65th Anniversary in style at Silverstone

Ginetta celebrated its 65th Anniversary in style this past weekend (June 2-4) as it took centre stage at the Home of British Motor Racing, Silverstone, for a festival of action-packed racing, high-octane demonstrations and eye-catching displays.

Marking more than six decades of the successful Yorkshire manufacturer, the three-day ‘G Fest’ event paid homage to Ginetta’s past, present and future by serving up a plethora of on-track entertainment which was headlined by 19 captivating races.

The Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship provided plenty of edge-of-the-seat thrills and spills as they delivered six frenetic contests – with two drivers standing head and shoulders above the rest. 

R Racing’s Freddie Slater strengthened his championship challenge with a virtuoso performance as he charged to four impressive wins whilst this year’s Scholarship winner Chase Fernandez opened his account for the season with a brace of victories. 

In the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT Championship, Blake Angliss and Ruben Hage emerged as the cream of the crop as they shared the spoils. Angliss – who was making his debut in the series – powered to no less than four wins whilst Hage snared a hat-trick of his own.

Rounding out the weekend’s race action were a flurry of races from the Ginetta GT Academy, which were won by Ravi Ramyead and Nick White.

While wheel-to-wheel racing topped the bill, those in attendance were also treated to a number of other mesmerising machines taking to the world-famous Northamptonshire venue over the course of the weekend. 

Taking centre stage was Ginetta’s incredible Le Mans prototype, the Ginetta G60- LT-P1, showcased what its capable and it was joined on-track by its LMP3 counterpart, the G61-LT-P.

Silverstone is no stranger to Formula 1 cars and last weekend proved to no exception, with a stunning Toleman TG183B-05 – the car that launched the career of three-time world champion Ayrton Senna – hitting the tarmac.

Also making an appearance was a stunning recreation of a 1960’s Jaguar E-Type Lightweight. The competition roadster competed in many legendary events in period, including the Nürburgring 100km Spa 500km and Prix de Paris, beating formidable rivals including the Ferrari 250 GTO and Shelby Daytona Coupes. 

Elsewhere, iconic and rare cars from the manufacturer’s history were on parade courtesy of the Ginetta Owners’ Club whilst there were a number of other attractions for fans to soak up as well. 

To view the full classification of results from all Ginetta sessions, CLICK HERE. 

NAPA Racing UK take BTCC clean sweep at Thruxton

NAPA Racing UK claimed a clean sweep of victories in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this past weekend (June 3/4) as Ash Sutton and Dan Rowbottom shared the spoils around Thruxton.

Making its only visit of the season to the home of the British Automobile Racing Club, the UK’s premier motorsport series was greeted in Hampshire by bright sunshine and packed spectator bankings – all of whom witnessed a day of domination. 

Three-time champion Sutton – who arrived at Thruxton off the back of double wins at Brands Hatch and Snetterton – wasted no time in asserting his dominance on the rest of the field as he stormed to a second consecutive pole position during Saturday qualifying. 

Blasting away from the front row on race day, Sutton replicated his tactics of Snetterton by punching in a number of rapid lap times during the opening exchanges. Establishing an advantage over the chasing pack, he then cruised home to comfortably take victory in races one and two.

Not only did those triumphs enable him to extend his championship lead but it also meant he became the first driver in the BTCC’s ‘three-race format’ to claim double wins in three successive race meetings.

As Sutton romped to success in races one and two, reigning champion Tom Ingram and ‘King of Thruxton’ Josh Cook ran bumper-to-bumper across both contests to clinch a brace of second and third place finishes respectively.

Rowbottom then rounded out an incredible weekend for the Kent-based powerhouse outfit as he won the reverse grid encounter in style, hunting down pole-sitter Adam Morgan before making the decisive move for the lead upon entry into Church Corner.

Starting fifth, Rowbottom wasted no time in working his way up the order and after dispatching a resolute Aiden Moffat, the Ford driver set off after Morgan – closing down a two second lead within a matter of laps. 

Diving down the inside as they sped towards the fastest corner in the country on lap ten, Rowbottom soon scampered clear to claim his first win of the season while Morgan and Moffat completed the rostrum.

Following the conclusion of Rounds 10, 11 & 12, Sutton tops the BTCC Drivers’ Championship – 14 points ahead of Ingram – whilst Motorbase-Ford head the Manufacturers-Constructors Championship.

On the TOCA support package, high speed thrills and spills were in full force as the a number of championships took centre stage to continue their campaigns.

Robert de Haan and Charles Rainford shared the spoils in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB whilst James Piszyck, Noah Lisle and William Macintyre claimed a win apiece in the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA.

Arguably some of the most entertaining races over the course of the weekend came in the shape of the Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, Dunlop Mini Miglia Challenge supported by Mini Spares and Dunlop Mini Se7en Challenge supported by Mini Spares.

Sensational slip-streaming and at times four-wide wheel-to-wheel battles had everyone on the edge of their seats and rightly so. In the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, Alex Solley and Jack Byrne triumphed whilst the father-son duo of Andrew and Mike Jordan took a clean sweep in the Miglia and Se7en contests.

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

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship reaches the halfway point in the 2023 season next time out as it travels to Oulton Park on June 17/18.

BARC TV: What’s On This Weekend – June 3/4

It’s set to be a full-throttle weekend for the British Automobile Racing Club on June 3/4 with a number of race meetings taking place both in the UK and abroad. 

Below is all the information you need to know to keep up with the action that is being broadcast live: 

Thruxton Circuit

The British Touring Car Championship speeds into the fastest circuit in the UK, Thruxton, for Rounds 10, 11 & 12 of the 2023 season. 

Saturday 3rd June – 15:15 – CLICK HERE

Sunday 4th June – 11:15 – ITV4 and itv.com/btcc 

Silverstone

At the Home of British Motor Racing, Silverstone, Ginetta will celebrate their 65th Anniversary in style with its three-day ‘G Fest’ event.

Friday 2nd June – 08:55 – CLICK HERE

Saturday 3rd June – 08:55 – CLICK HERE 

Sunday 4th June – 08:55 – CLICK HERE 

BTCC battle speeds into fastest circuit in the UK

Thruxton Circuit is gearing up for an all-action weekend on 3/4 June as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship heads to the fastest circuit in the country for Rounds 10, 11 & 12 of what is shaping up to be a sensational 2023 season.

With events coming thick and fast, the UK’s premier motorsport series speeds into Hampshire with it all to play for towards the top of the standings. 

NAPA Racing UK’s Ash Sutton arrives at Thruxton as the driver to beat after making history last time out at Snetterton by becoming the first driver since Alain Menu in 1997 to win four races in-a-row.

Riding a wave of momentum at the moment, the three-time champion holds a narrow advantage at this early stage but will undoubtedly be the one that everyone is looking to beat across Saturday and Sunday.

Hot on his heels are a number of drivers that have all stepped on the podium this season and leading the charge is reigning title holder Tom Ingram in his BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 Hyundai i30N.

Ingram opened his account for the year last time out and he, along with West Surrey Racing team-mates Colin Turkington and Jake Hill, will all have their sights set on achieving further success this weekend. 

Sutton’s Ford Focus stablemate Dan Cammish emerged as one of the leading lights at Thruxton last year and with two wins to his name already in 2023, the Yorkshireman could also be well in the mix for outright honours.

Another driver that can’t be discounted from featuring towards the front of the field is the undisputed King of Thruxton, Josh Cook. 

With ten wins around the 2.36-mile layout, the One Motorsport with Starline Racing racer is the most successful BTCC driver at the venue and he’ll be hoping for more as he pilots his tried and trusted Honda Civic Type R

Headline names continue to roll off the tongue as you look further down the championship standings with Dan Rowbottom, Adam Morgan, Rory Butcher and Bobby Thompson also featuring inside the top ten.

Then throw into the mix the likes of Donington Park winner Tom Chilton, Stephen Jelley, local ace Ricky Collard, Aron Taylor-Smith and Jade Edwards, amongst many others, and you begin to see why the BTCC continues to be as competitive as ever.

Support Races

It won’t just be the BTCC that takes centre stage though this weekend as a bumper supporting cast of categories is also revved up to put on a show for the expected bumper trackside crowd.

The ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA, Porsche Carrera Cup GB, Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, Dunlop Mini Miglia Challenge and Dunlop Mini Se7en Challenge make up the support bill.

Off Track Entertainment 

Away from the on-track entertainment there will be plenty to see and do around the venue with a bustling trade village, supercar display, skid pan rides, food stalls, live music, mini karts, face painting and an interactive kids show – guaranteeing fun for all the family.

BTCC Pit Lane Walkabout 

Fancy meeting the stars of the BTCC? On Sunday morning you can do just that as the Pit Lane Autograph Session takes place between 10:00-10:30.

Official Programme

Our souvenir BTCC programme will be available to purchase for ÂŁ5.00 from the main gate and vendors around the venue over the course of the weekend. Packed with previews, features, entry lists, timetables and more – it’s your essential guide to the action.

Tickets

Tickets for this weekend’s BTCC spectacular will be available to purchase on the main gate across both day’s; with children aged 12 and under being admitted for free. More information can be found here.

BEC and Britcar Trophy take centre stage at Oulton Park

Oulton Park provided the backdrop to a thrilling British Automobile Racing Club race day this past Saturday (May 27) as the British Endurance Championship and The ROWE Britcar Trophy Championship continued their respective campaigns in spectacular style. 

Hot on the heels of blockbuster meetings at both Silverstone and Brands Hatch, a plethora of GT cars flocked to the sun-kissed Cheshire venue for a frenetic day which was organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre.

Topping the bill was a three-hour British Endurance Championship contest which was largely dominated by the PB Racing Audi R8 GT3 of Peter Erceg and Andrew Bentley.

Blasting to the top of the times in qualifying by almost two seconds, the duo were arguably in a league of their own in the race as they scampered into the distance to comfortably take victory.

Wasting no time in converting pole position into an early race lead, Erceg and Bentley soon began pulling clear of the chasing pack and ultimately lapped every other competitor at least twice on the way to the top step of the podium. 

Behind, the Venture Innovations Aston Martin Vulcan of Glebs Stepanovs and Stephen Tomkins were second whilst their Mercedes GT4 stablemates Chris Jones and Matt George completed the rostrum in third.

Armed with a new official lubricant partner and name, the ROWE Britcar Trophy Championship had those in attendance on the edge-of-their-seats as they served up a pair of captivating one-hour contests. 

Datum Motorsport proved to be wheel-perfect as they bagged a brace of Ginetta G56 GTA one-two finishes, with Maurizi Sciglio getting the better of Marco Anastasi on both occasions.

Following the Datum duo during both races was the SVG Motorsport Gintta G55 Academy entry of Neil Wallace and Ian Astley – who clinched two third-place drives.

To view the full results from all sessions at Oulton Park, CLICK HERE.

Every lap from Oulton Park is also now available to watch on YouTube HERE.

All go for new-look Croft Historic Weekend & Show

One of the highlights of the local motorsporting scene is set to return later this year with a new-look Croft Historic Race Weekend and Show planned for early September at Croft Circuit.

The popular meeting at North Yorkshire’s premier race track has been an established fixture on the calendar for over a decade in the guise of both the Croft Nostalgia and Croft Retro meeting, but for 2023,the organisers are planning something a bit special to incorporate classic cars and vintage vehicles up to the 1980s.

Many of the favourites remain, including a full programme of action-packed racing on track with various classes from the Historic Sports Car Club over the weekend of September 2nd/3rd, whilst off the track, there is entertainment of all sorts in a hark back to the care-free world of days gone by.

The event is acknowledged as one of the best events in the north of England given its variation of attractions which will again see displays of military vehicles, classic cars and other interesting and rare classics dating from the 1940s through to the 1980s.

There will also be a range of live music ranging from the 1950s to the 1980s, trade stands and steam engines for the crowds to enjoy and the friendly atmosphere at Croft Circuit allows everyone to get close to the race cars in the paddock area along with a display of around 600 vehicles of all shapes and sizes pre-1988.

Application forms to lodge an interest to display a vehicle are now available to be downloaded from the Croft Circuit website until 4th August or until all space is allocated, which ever comes first.

Ticket prices start at just ÂŁ18 for adults in advance each day with children aged 15 and under admitted free, there is free car parking and paddock access.

For further information, please contact Croft Circuit on 01325 721815 or visit www.croftcircuit.co.uk

Thruxton launches Ultimate Junior Driving Experience

Thruxton Circuit has announced the launch of the Ultimate Junior Driving Experience; a comprehensive and unforgettable day of thrills and skill development that has been designed for young drivers.

Combining the best elements of the Hampshire venues popular junior driving experiences, this new attraction will allow those aged 12 years and above and measuring at least 4ft 10 inches (1.47m) tall to embark on a full-throttle day in becoming confident drivers.

The Ultimate Junior Driving Experiences encompasses three exhilarating sessions, crafted to provide a well-rounded and immersive learning journey:

STAGE 1: Paddock Junior Driving // Take control of the new Ford Puma ST and master the fundamental skills of driving in the large tarmac paddock areas at Thruxton. Our expert instructors will guide you through smooth starts, precise steering, gear changing, and more!

STAGE 2: Skid Pan Driving // Get behind the wheel of the MINI Cooper and Toyota GT86 as they perfect advanced driving techniques. Conquer understeer, oversteer, and learn the ins and outs of electronic stability systems with help from our experienced instructors.
STAGE 3: Off-Road 4×4 Adventure // Unleash your off-road skills in a rugged 4×4 vehicle! Conquer challenging terrains, navigate obstacles, and tackle steep inclines and descents under the guidance of our skilled instructors.
Plus, to cap it off the Ultimate Junior Driving Experience also includes a high-speed ride with a professional racing driver around the fastest circuit in the country. 

This experience will run on the 4th, 5th, 19th, 24th and 25th August 2023 only. To book the Ultimate Junior Driving Experience please call our office on 01264 882222.

Ashley Sutton takes BTCC points lead with historic Snetterton double

Ashley Sutton stamped his authority on the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this past weekend (May 20/21) by moving to the summit of the points after charging to a pair of commanding race wins at Snetterton.

The NAPA Racing UK driver was wheel-perfect on a sun-kissed weekend at the Norfolk venue as he became the first driver since Alain Menu in 1997 to win four races in a row – having triumphed in races two and three at Brands Hatch last time out. 

Despite feeling under the weather, BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8’s Tom Ingram dug deep to triumph in a frenetic reverse grid encounter, ensuring he remains within reach of Sutton in the battle for the biggest prize in UK motorsport.

Hot on the heels of action-packed events at Donington Park and Brands Hatch, the country’s premier motorsport series served up three hard-fought contests around the 300 layout – shaking up the championship order in the process. 

Basking in bright sunshine on Saturday, qualifying around the challenging 2.97-mile circuit proved to be a truncated affair as two red flags – the first caused by Nick Halstead and the second by Dan Cammish – interrupted proceedings.

Once the session did restart it was three-time champion Sutton that reigned supreme as he broke the existing qualifying lap record on his way to a masterful pole position; which saw him finish more than three tenths clear of his nearest challenger.

Defending champion Ingram proved to be ‘best of the rest’ as he grabbed second ahead of West Surrey Racing duo Colin Turkington and Jake Hill. Rounding out the top five Toyota Gazoo Racing UK’s Ricky Collard in his formidable Corolla.

Race one saw Sutton take the 30th victory of his career in style as he held off a late charge from Hill, who had opted to run the soft tyre. Making a sensational start, Sutton bolted from the chasing pack in the early going as he built up a three second lead in as many laps. 

Behind, the trio of Turkington, Hill and Ingram scrapped for position and after multiple attempts, Hill finally made a move stick on his stablemate late on. With clean air, he wasted no time in reeling in Sutton but it proved to be too late for him to mount a serious challenge.

Opting to run the preferred soft tyre in race two, Sutton continued his fine run of form with another victory – this time in a more comfortable and commanding manner. 

Replicating his fast start of race one, the triple title winner built up a sizeable advantage over the rest of the field to coast to victory ahead of Hill and Turkington.

The weekend’s third and final contest then saw the current defending champion Ingram chalk up his first win of the season – despite enduring the effects of a fever.

Playing the tactical game by leaving the medium tyre until the reverse grid race, the Hyundai driver produced a masterful drive to charge from seventh to the top step of the podium and open his account for the year.

Behind, Cammish had carved his way through the order on the softs to finish second but a post-race exclusion saw Rory Butcher and Dan Rowbottom promoted to second and third on the podium.

Leaving Snetterton, Sutton holds a seven-point lead over Ingram at the top of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship whilst Motorbase/Ford head the Manufacturers-Constructors Championship.

In the Teams’ Championship, NAPA Racing UK lead the standings after three events whilst Josh Cook and Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils sit out front in the Independent Drivers’ and Independent Teams’ Championship’s respectively. 

The Jack Sears Trophy – which is open to drivers who hadn’t scored an outright podium in the series prior to the start of the season – continues to be led by Sam Osborne.

To view the full classification of results from all BTCC sessions at Snetterton, CLICK HERE.

The fastest track in the UK, Thruxton Circuit, provides the next stop on the calendar with Rounds 10, 11 & 12 taking place on June 3/4. Advance tickets for the event are currently available to purchase from the Thruxton website.