Author: Chris Ashby

TOCA support package speeds into Croft

Croft Circuit provides the latest challenge for not just the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this coming weekend (September 18/19) but also the TOCA support package, with five championships all looking to make their mark.

With events coming thick and fast on the calendar, the title run-in is in full swing and every point is set to be crucial around the North Yorkshire venue.

The pendulum in the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup has continued to swing between Adam Smalley and Tom Hibbert so far this year, and it’s Smalley that heads into the weekend in the box seat holding a 12-point advantage over Hibbert.

Having been the benchmark since the season began, the two championship protagonists look set to once again renew their battle whilst also fending off the challenge from the likes of local star Josh Rattican, Tom Emson and Carlito Miracco.

Yorkshireman Dan Cammish will be aiming to draw on home support as he bids to hit the front in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. In what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive campaigns in recent memory for the one-make series, Cammish is one of five drivers in contention for the coveted crown – with all of them blanketed by just 15 points.

Cammish trails leader Lorca Hanafin by five markers whilst Kiern Jewiss, defending champion Harry King and Lewis Plato are within striking distance and aiming to close the gap across Sunday’s two scheduled contests.

Locals will have another home hero to cheer on in the MINI CHALLENGE in the shape of Max Coates. Much-loved on the TOCA support bill, Coates will be keen to make it a weekend to remember as he bids to make further inroads in the battle at the top of the single-make standings.

After enjoying a sensational weekend at Knockhill, Dan Zelos currently leads the way however the chasing pack of Max Bird, Sam Weller, Jack Davidson and Lewis Brown are all hot on his heels and gunning for glory.

Whilst the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship won’t be in attendance, the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge is set to make a welcome return to share the BTCC limelight with a pair of races set to take place.

Notable names to look out for in the closely fought category include Josh Steed, Will Aspin, John Bennett, Mikey Doble and David Ellesley, to name but a few.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action will be a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event at Croft, including links to live timing and ticket information, CLICK HERE.

Pembrey plays host to memorable BARC weekend

Pembrey Circuit played host to a memorable two days of track action this past weekend (September 11/12) as the British Automobile Racing Club took centre stage in South Wales.

Headlining the weekend were two races from the Sliverlake C1 Racing Series, which has announced that it will be parting ways with the Club at the end of this year, bringing to and end a partnership that began back in 2017.

Saturday’s three-hour contest for the one-make category saw J W Bird Motorsport duo Matthew Wilson and Nick Beaumont charge to victory by more than half a minute, clocking an impressive 122 laps along the way.

After finishing as runners-up the day before, Sunday’s second three-hour race saw Danielemax Motorsport come to the fore. Max Finn and Julian Daniel produced a superlative performance to triumph, again completing 122 laps of the Welsh track.

Champions were crowned as the curtain came down on another ultra-competitive year in the Caterham Graduates Championship.

James McCall cemented his status as the driver to beat in the Sigma 135 category over the course of the year with another sensational showing. Powering his way to two more wins, McCall capped off an impressive championship-winning campaign in style. 

In the amalgamated Sigma 150 / Sigmax races, Harry Senior and Stephen Clark shared the spoils, taking a win apiece. Senior was ultimately crowned champion of the Sigmax class whilst Jamie Ellwood claimed overall honours amongst the Sigma 150 contingent.

Alex Cursely continued his fine run of form in the Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires. Despite already being declared the most successful competitor in the series for 2021, Cursley powered his way to an impressive pair of wins – adding to his victory tally.

The Dunlop Mini Challenge supported by Mini Spares provided plenty of edge-of-the-seat moments throughout the weekend as well. In the Miglia class, former BTCC champion Andrew Jordan and Endaf Owens triumphed whilst Spencer Wanstall and Connor O’Brien won the Se7en races.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action were two bouts from the Welsh Sports/Saloon Car Championship. The experienced Chris Everill proved too much for the competition however, winning both races in his Ginetta G55 GT4.

To view the full list of results from all sessions at Pembrey, CLICK HERE.

Pembrey primed for BARC trio to star in South Wales

The British Automobile Racing Club makes a welcome return to Pembrey Circuit this coming weekend (September 11/12) for what should be an action-packed two days of wheel-to-wheel entertainment.

In what is the first of two visits to the picturesque Welsh venue in the next month – the second coming on October 9/10 for the penultimate round of the British Truck Racing Championship – the meeting is the first for the BARC at the track since 2019.

Headlining the weekend’s action will be not one but two three-hour endurance contests from the Silverlake C1 Racing Series.

Having seen plenty of highs and lows take place over the course of this season already, the C1 contingent arrives at Pembrey coming off the back of a pulsating three-hour bout in mixed weather conditions at Donington Park.

Boasting a bumper entry list for this weekend’s double-header, an abundance of edge-of-the-seat thrills and spills are all-but guaranteed when it comes to the C1 Racing Club.

It’s crunch time in the Caterham Graduates Championship as champions will be crowned at Pembrey. Bringing the curtain down on what has been a pulsating year of competition, the single-make series is poised to take centre stage with four scheduled encounters.

Jamie Elwood, James McCall and Harry Senior lead the way in the Sigma 150, Sigma 135 and Sigmax standings respectively, however all of them have a number of contenders hot on their heels that could still spoil their championship parties – so they’ll need to be in fine form to get the job done.

The Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires is renowned for producing blockbuster thrills and it is expected that Pembrey’s two bouts will be no different.

Alex Cursley has once again proven to be one of the leading lights from the one-make category this year and he has already guaranteed that he will end the year as the most successful driver of 2021. Aiming to add to his impressive win tally, Cursley will be one to watch alongside the likes of Wayne Rockett and Mark Jones.

Also in action over the course of the weekend will be races from the Welsh Sports & Saloon Car Championship and the Mini Seven Racing Club.

To find out more information on our upcoming event at Pembrey, including links to live timing and the entry list, CLICK HERE.

Josh Cook, Ashley Sutton & Adam Morgan triumph as BTCC serves up Thruxton thriller

Josh Cook, Ashley Sutton and Adam Morgan scored a win apiece this past weekend (August 28/29) as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship put on a show around the fastest circuit in the UK, Thruxton.

Kicking off the second half of the season, the BTCC’s second visit of the year to the Hampshire venue was a triumphant one as fans flocked to the venue to watch the action unfold for the first time in two years.

Those in attendance weren’t to be left disappointed either as Britain’s premier motorsport series served up a feast of entertainment.

Qualifying on Saturday saw Halfords Racing with Cataclean’s Daniel Rowbottom take centre stage as he stormed to the top of the times late in the session to clinch his second pole position of the season ahead of Jake Hill.

Unfortunately, Rowbottom wouldn’t be able to covert his front row start into a win in the opening encounter as Thruxton maestro Cook came to the fore to triumph.

Having chalked up six wins in the past four seasons, the BTC Racing ace wasted no time in adding to his record as he charged to a commanding victory. Starting third, the Honda Civic Type R driver hit the front on the opening lap and never looked back, pulling clear to win and reignite his championship challenge.

Behind, Jake Hill and Tom Oliphant enjoyed relatively trouble-free drives to the chequered flag to claim second and third respectively.

Race two saw reigning champion Sutton score his fourth win of the year. After shedding weight following the opening encounter, the Laser Tools Racing driver was a man on a mission as he carved his way to the front from fifth.

Sizing up the now ballast-ladened Cook for a number of laps, the double title winner made his move heading into Allard and once out front he was able to push on and extend strengthen his stranglehold at the standings summit.

Cook held firm in second whilst Oliphant made it two third place finishes from two races as he rounded out the podium.

The third and final race of the weekend proved to be action-packed, with the safety car making a total of three appearances along the way.

Various incidents involving the likes of Jade Edwards, Gordon Shedden, Sam Smelt, Ollie Jackson and Carl Boardley halted proceedings however Morgan held his nerve out front to take a lights-to-flag win.

Drawn onto pole position via the reverse grid draw, the Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport driver soaked up race-long pressure from Colin Turkington to win whilst Senna Proctor clinched the remaining spot on the podium.

Leaving Thruxton, Sutton has extended his lead at the top of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship to 30 points over Tom Ingram.

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

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship heads to North Yorkshire next for Rounds 19, 20 & 21 at Croft Circuit on September 18/19.

Team Toyshed score famous Classic 2CV Racing Club 24-hour victory at Snetterton

The Classic 2CV Racing Club took centre stage at Snetterton this past weekend (August 27/28/29) to produce an exciting 24-hour race.

Billed as one of the most coveted events on the national motorsport calendar, this years edition – which served as the penultimate meeting of the 2021 campaign for the 2CV Racing contingent – was no different as it produced

After a day-long contest which had its fair share of thrills and spills throughout the day and night, Team Toyshed emerged as race winners.

Completing a staggering 710 laps in their Mini Grande, the team of Michael Dryden, Andy Slade, Chris Slade and Elliott Stafford took the chequered flag four laps ahead of their nearest rivals.

Leading the chase for the eventual winners was 2CV Team Lion 1; made up of multiple champion Pete Sparrow, David O’Keeffe and Gary Adnitt.

Rounding out the podium – albeit six laps down on the winners – was APO Sport, who had James May, Lee Poolman, Alex Osborne and Jeffrey Oxford sharing driving duties.

Elsewhere, the Max5 Racing Championship wrote the latest chapter in its 2021 season with two pulsating races seeing the spoils shared.

Jon Halliwell converted pole position into a commanding lights-to-flag victory in the opening contest as he finished more than ten seconds ahead of his nearest challengers, Ben Taylor and Paul Roddison, around the Norfolk venue.

Race two would see Roddison strike back with a win of his having started from second. The series veteran and Halliwell proved to be in a class of their own as they diced for overall honours, with Roddison coming out on top in the end by four seconds.

Capping off the weekend’s track action was a single 45-minute bout from Snetterton Saloons, won by Ryan Polley in a Honda Civic Type R.

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

Where to watch BARC LIVE from Cadwell Park this Bank Holiday Monday

Cadwell Park is braced for a blockbuster Bank Holiday Monday (August 30) as the Classic Touring Car Racing Club takes centre stage for a full-throttle day of tin top action.

Writing the latest chapter of what has been an action-packed 2021 season, the CTCRC’s multitude of championships will tackle the twists and turns of the Lincolnshire venue in front of our live TV cameras.

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

Monday Race Show – Starting from XX – Facebook | YouTube 

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

TOCA support package readies itself for Thruxton return

After providing the backdrop for the start of what has gone on to be a captivating 2021 season back in May, the championships that make up the TOCA support package are all set for a return to Thruxton this weekend (August 28/29).

Taking centre stage alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, the expected bumper crowd that is set to flock to the fastest circuit in the UK is in for two days of full-throttle entertainment from the five championships that join the BTCC.

Just six points separate the top two in the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship as the second half of the season kicks into life. After a fraught few events, Aston Millar holds the advantage at the standings summit having finished every race inside the top six so far – with a breakthrough two wins at Knockhill last time out being the highlight.

Liam McNeilly is the closest challenge to Millar with three wins of his own and he’ll be keen to return to the top of points. Meanwhile, the likes of Seb Hopkins, Josh Miller, Callum Voisin and Will Jenkins will all be worth keeping an eye on during the weekend’s three races as they aim to close the gap to the top two.

An impressive 10 podiums from 11 races sees Tom Hibbert head to Hampshire in the lead of the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup. The Rob Boston Racing driver has his sights set on the title and with the form he has been showing you’d be hard pressed to bet against him.

Hibbert’s chief rival – both in the championship and over the course of the weekend’s three contests – is Adam Smalley. Closing the gap to Hibbert after a double win at Knockhill, the Elite Motorsport ace will be confident of success having won at Thruxton in both Ginetta Juniors and GT5 Challenge down the years.

The Porsche Visit Cayman Islands Sprint Challenge GB returns to the BTCC support bill for the penultimate event of their 2021 campaign. Starring back in May, the one-make series has dazzled fans at every turn this year and more are expected at Thruxton.

Theo Edgerton leads the Pro category fight from Jack Bartholomew, but a strong weekend for Bartholomew could set the scene for a nail-biting title showdown between the pair at the season finale.

Another series that will undoubtedly take on a starring role is the Quaife MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, where things couldn’t be tighter in the battle for title supremacy. Dominic Wheatley has moved into the lead of the points however when dropped scores are applied, he holds a slender single point advantage over Matt Hammond.

Reigning champion Harry Nunn is not to be discounted either having brought himself into contention following a brace of podiums at Croft earlier in the month. With three races and plenty of points up for grabs, it’s set to be an intriguing weekend for the tin top racers.

Rounding out the weekend, as always, will be a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. Matthew Rees is the new points leader following a nightmare Knockhill for James Hedley, however the latter has enjoyed great success at Thruxton in the past, making it the perfect place for him to try and get things back on track.

Tickets for Thruxton’s second dose of touring car thrills ’n’ spills will be available to purchase on the gate across the weekend. Head to https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc-august for the full list of admission prices.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event, including links to live timing and the event timetable, CLICK HERE.

Cadwell Park primed for bank holiday bonanza

Cadwell Park provides the latest stop on the calendar for the Classic Touring Car Racing Club on August 30 and if the season so far is anything to go by, those in attendance are set for a Bank Holiday Monday that will live long in the memory.

Showcasing the very best tin top and saloon cars that once took centre stage in the British Touring Car Championship, the CTCRC is the place to be if you want to take a spirited trip down memory lane.

Promoting affordable racing over countless decades, the racing on offer is divided by year of manufacture which reflects the relevant period. Within those championships, classes are formed depending on engine size.

Having reached the business end of the 2021 season now, every point is set to be crucial between now and the end of the year in the battle for title supremacy.

In the Poultec Pre ’66 Touring Cars, James Ibbotson has enjoyed a fine run of form to top the points however he has the likes of Alan Greenhalgh, Barry Sime, Patrick Harris and a host of others that are all keen to ascend the standings, both in their classes and overall.

Things are tight in the Shell Oils Pre ’83 Championship with a number of drivers in the hunt of the top prize. Mike Luck currently holds the advantage although Anton Martin, Mark Lucock, Simon Jeffs and David Howard are well within striking distance.

Ian Bower and Andrew Sheraton are split by just two points in the Laser Tools Pre ’93 Touring Cars whilst the Simply Serviced Pre ’03 Touring Cars has Gary Prebble in a commanding position atop the standings.

Throw into the mix action from both the Burton Power Blue Oval Saloon Series and Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder Championship, as well as the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club, and you begin to realise why edge-of-the-seat entertainment is all-but guaranteed.

The aforementioned names are just a handful of drivers that will be looking to make their mark at Cadwell Park, however the list is much greater and continues to grow as each race passes.

With the twists and turns of Cadwell Park’s much-loved layout set to spice up proceedings in the championship, all bets are off when it comes to picking a winner in the Classic Touring Car Racing Club.

To find out more information on this event at Cadwell Park, including links to live timing and the event timetable, CLICK HERE.

BTCC speeds back to Thruxton for second time this season

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship speeds back to Thruxton this weekend (August 28/29) for the latest chapter of what has already been a memorable season.

The super-fast Hampshire venue lifted the curtain on the 2021 campaign, albeit behind closed doors, back in May and since then the usual twists and turns the BTCC has become known for have had fans on the edge of their seats.

With lockdown restrictions having eased, this weekend will mark the first time in two years that spectators will be in attendance to watch the UK’s premier motor sport series do battle around the fastest circuit in the country, and a bumper crowd is expected to fill the grass bankings and grandstands.

Kicking off the second half of the season, reigning champion Ashley Sutton heads into the weekend as the man to beat – sitting atop the standings holding a 14-point advantage.

The Laser Tools Racing driver has been in superlative form this year and he already has three wins to his name, one of which came at Thruxton. Looking to extend his lead, the double champion will need to be at his best as a long list of contenders are hot on his heels.

Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com Tom Ingram leads the chase ahead of multiple champions Colin Turkington and Gordon Shedden – both of whom have began to hit their stride in recent rounds.

Next on the leaderboard are two drivers that will be eager to replicate their performances from May. Jake Hill piloted his Ford Focus to the podium in all three races whilst BTC Racing’s Josh Cook bagged a brace of race wins. If they can get close to that again it will be game on for their own title aspirations.

Beyond the top six, fellow Honda drivers Senna Proctor and Daniel Rowbottom, as well as Stephen Jelley, Aiden Moffat, Adam Morgan, Rory Butcher, Jason Plato and Jack Goff will all be worth keeping an eye on across Sunday’s trio of races.

Qualifying for the sixth event of the BTCC season will be streamed live on itv.com/btcc from 14:35 on Saturday before Sunday’s race day coverage kicks off at 11:10 on ITV4.

Tickets for Thruxton’s second dose of touring car thrills ’n’ spills will be available to purchase on the gate across the weekend. Head to https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc-august for the full list of admission prices.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event, including links to live timing and the event timetable, CLICK HERE.

Classic 2CV Racing Club set for spectacular 24-hour race showdown at Snetterton

Snetterton is the destination for the British Automobile Racing Club this weekend (August 27/28/29) as the Classic 2CV Racing Club takes centre stage for its annual Citroen 24-hour race.

Billed as one of the biggest events on the national motorsport calendar each year, the coveted race is renowned for producing blockbuster entertainment and the 31st running should be no different around the challenging Norfolk venue.

Marking the penultimate round of the 2021 season, this weekend is set to be crucial in deciding who will be crowned champion this year too.

Former champion Pete Sparrow finds himself in the box seat as it stands having been perfection personified so far. Winning every race he has started, the series veteran is eager to reclaim the title he lost last year but he will need to be on top of his game if he is to wrap things up with one event to spare.

Leading the chase for Sparrow is Sandro Proietti, Kris Tovey and Luca Proietti – all of whom are covered by just five points. Throw into the mix the likes of Nick Crispin, David O’Keeffe, Matthew Hollis, Martin Roman, Aubrey Brocklebank and Marc Grasby and you begin to see that ultra-competitive right the way through the field.

With a number of competitors from mainland Europe set to make the journey to race as well, the battle for supremacy is set to be wide open this year.

Replacing Liqui Moly as title sponsors of the coveted season finale, Citroen’s presence at the event will see it stretch to a ‘Citroen Classics Gathering’ that will take place on the infield of the circuit.

Before the Classic 2CV Racing Club, the Max5 Racing Championship will be in action with two races. Paul Roddison has once again established himself as the driver to beat and he is hard to bet against from continuing his fine run of form.

Jeremy Shipley, Ben Taylor, Kimberley Nolan and Jon Halliwell have all been at the sharp end of the grid and any one of them could take the fight to Roddison.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action will be wheel-to-wheel thrills ’n’ spills from the Snetterton Saloons.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event, including links to live timing and the entry list, CLICK HERE.

Silverstone serves up BARC thriller in ever-changing conditions

The British Automobile Racing Club battled the elements to produce two days of scintillating action at Silverstone this past weekend (August 21/22).

With the battle for supremacy reaching a critical point in the season, this latest visit to the Home of British Motor Racing proved to be crucial in deciding who would end the year as champion.

The Britcar Endurance Championship’s Trophy Class saw a dominant showing from Woodrow Motorsport as the duo of Simon Baker and Kevin Clarke charged to a commanding pair victories.

It proved to be a big weekend in the Junior Saloon Car Championship as the single-make series not only fielded a 30-car grid, but also staged three races for the first time this season.

Entering the event as the driver to beat, Charlie Hand took a big step towards being crowned champion as he powered his striking orange Citroen Saxo to a clean sweep of race wins – extending his advantage in the standings at the same time.

Spoils were shared in the Kumho BMW Championship as Michael Vitulli and James Card scored a win apiece. Vitulli powered his way to an emphatic win in the opener to take the chequered flag by nearly 15 seconds before Card faced a sterner test in race two, winning by a little over three seconds.

The Carbon8 Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires broke new ground by hosting a longer 45-minute race and it proved to be a smash-hit. Boasting a bumper entry list, just five second separated the top three come the end of the race with Mark Jones emerging victorious.

Steve McDermid was perfection personified in the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship. At the wheel of his MG ZR, McDermid didn’t put a wheel wrong as he held off William Sharpe to take the chequered flag on both occasions.

Alongside the BARC billing of championships, those in attendance also saw the Avon Tyres Intermarque Silhouettes, CMMC Super Saloons & Tin Tops and the British Superkart Racing Club Super Series.

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

Action all the way as BARC championships star at Convoy in the Park

Donington Park provided the backdrop for a spectacular two days of track action this past weekend (August 21/22) as the British Automobile Racing Club took centre stage at Convoy of the Park.

Making a triumphant return after a pandemic-enforced hiatus last year, the festival of all things trucking was back and better than ever, with a bumper trackside crowd soaking up the variety of attractions situated around the Leicestershire venue.

Whilst the likes of a stunt arena and a glittering array of Show Trucks garnered plenty of attention away from the track, on it saw non-stop edge-of-the-seat entertainment in mixed weather conditions.

The British Truck Racing Championship served up five blockbuster contests and there was to be action aplenty across both Division’s 1 & 2. In Division 1, former champion David Jenkins ignited his title charge with a strong showing as he scored a brace of wins, as did Martin Gibson, whilst John Newell was the other winner.

In Division 2, Michael Oliver enjoyed a weekend to remember as he marked his return to the series with a hat-trick of wins. Jock Borthwick and Craig Reid also tasted success as they topped the podium in the remaining two bouts.

Miles Rudman staked his claim to being the driver of the weekend as he produced a sensational performance in the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres.

Looking to extend his advantage at the summit of the standings, the former champion scored five wins from six races to put himself in the box seat to regain his crown. Jack Parker prevented Rudman from a clean sweep as he claimed the remaining win.

Spoils were shared in the Pickup Truck Racing Championship as Paul Tompkins charged to victory in the opening encounter before former BTCC race-winner Matt Simpson scored his maiden win the series.

Elsewhere, Paul Rose was at his brilliant best in the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship as he netted an impressive brace. At the wheel of his Saker RAPX S1-500, the past champion dominated proceedings to add to his silverware collection.

Big grids were the order of the weekend when it came to the Caterham Graduates Championship, with all classes boasting bumper numbers. In the Sigma 135 category, David Read and Ben Buckley snagged a win apiece whilst Stephen Clark and Harry Senior did the same in the amalgamated Sigmax / Sigma 150 races.

Rounding out the weekend’s action under the flight path of East Midlands airport was a scheduled three-hour race from the Silverlake C1 Racing Series. Whilst the contest finished 30 minutes early, the competition was as fraught as ever – with the CSC Racing duo of Patrick Scharfegger and Simon Kilham triumphing.

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