Author: Chris Ashby

Motorsport Maestros take centre stage at Goodwood Festival of Speed

Iconic drivers and groundbreaking cars came together to take centre stage as the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard returned this past weekend (July 8-11) – with tens of thousands of spectators attending the star-studded spectacle.

Following a pandemic-induced hiatus last year, the popular four-day event was back up and running as part of the government’s Events Research Programme. 

Celebrating the ‘The Maestros – Motorsport’s Great All-Rounders’ – the drivers, teams and manufacturers that have transcended the boundaries of motorsport – those in attendance were able to soak up a feast of entertainment on the Sussex grounds.

From the eye-catching central feature outside Goodwood House, which was dedicated marked the achievements of Lotus, to the swish new Electric Avenue exhibition, showcasing an array of electric cars, there was something for everyone.

Some of the sport’s leading lights were in attendance over the course of the weekend too; with Lando Norris, Roger Penske, Mario Andretti, Damon Hill, Jenson Button, Emerson Fittipaldi, Daniel Ricciardo, Adrian Newey and Alex Albon just a few of the star names.

One of the standout elements of the Festival of Speed was the coveted Hillclimb Shootout. Pitting driver and machine against the tight, twisting course through the Goodwood grounds, Sunday’s action had everyone on the edge of their seats as the battle for top spot unfolded.

Rob Bell would prove to be the benchmark in the end as he powered the McLaren 720S GT3X to a blistering time of 44.95 to claim victory. Reigning Porsche Carrera Cup GB champion Harry King finished as Bell’s closest challenger in second whilst Travis Pastrana narrowly missed out in third.

British Touring Car Championship race winner Jake Hill emerged as one of the stars of the show as he finished fifth overall and first of the touring car batch, having pieced together a stunning time in the Nissan Skyline GT-R R32.

You can watch back all the action from the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, HERE.

To view the full classification of results from the Hillclimb Shootout, CLICK HERE.

The great and the good of motorsport will next descend on Goodwood for the annual Goodwood Revival on September 17/18/19.

BTCC Hybrid adds vital mileage to test and development programme

Preparations for the introduction of the British Touring Car Championship’s Hybrid era continued last week as the Cosworth-TOCA Hybrid Toyota Corolla took part in the two-day Goodyear tyre test at Oulton Park.

Clocking significant mileage around the Cheshire circuit with former champion Andrew Jordan behind the wheel, the car ran with the new-for-2022 TOCA engine which has been produced by M-Sport.

Running alongside a majority of the grid competing in this years championship, Jordan completed 118 laps and more than 263 miles as he worked through a methodical test and development programme.

Significantly, all major hybrid components in the test car (such as the hybrid motor, battery and electronics) are exactly the same as those in the car when it first ran in July 2020, with no component failures or maintenance needed.

“We’ve already done a number of other days in the car at Anglesey, but it’s important to come here so we can see performance-wise, the level that it’s at, and also to get miles on it,” said Hybrid Development Driver Jordan.

“It needs to be reliable for when the championship goes to Hybrid power next year, so we’ve done a lot more laps than anyone else purely with that reliability in mind. Minor things come up, mainly software-tweaking, as they always will during the development process, and we’re working through them as we’re going.

“I’m really happy to be involved with it all. Yesterday I felt a bit behind the car, I haven’t driven it around here before, but today I feel much more on it. I’m trying to give feedback where I can, but I’m enjoying it.”

Neal Bateman, Cosworth Electrics Head of Support, added: “These two days have been part of the final stages of our validation process and it’s also the first time we’ve properly run in the public eye. We’ve been able to complete a great number of laps, weather permitting – which has presented its own challenges!

“Both yesterday and today, we’ve completed lots of deployment of the hybrid electronics utilising different strategies – including the pit lane strategy of running electric to the end and then the engine starting and driving out, which has been excellent. So we’re very happy with the miles we’ve got from the test. It’s all building towards the excitement of running it next year.”

Testing is set to continue throughout the remainder of 2021 before the full introduction of hybrid power next year.

Goodwood Festival of Speed revved up to make triumphant return

The Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard will make a triumphant return this year, revving into life on July 8/9/10/11.

Billed as the world’s greatest celebration of motorsport and car culture, the four-day extravaganza will welcome thousands of fans to the Goodwood estate in West Sussex for the first time since 2019.

With coronavirus restrictions continuing to ease, Goodwood has worked tirelessly with the UK Government to be operate as a pilot event as part of the Events Research Programme (ERP).

As a pilot event, all people on site will need to agree to the conditions of entry set out by the Events Research Programme in order to enjoy the event safely. This will include either having had both doses of the vaccine at least 14 days before the event, or proof of a negative Lateral Flow Test, which can be taken at home or at a recognised centre within 48 hours of the event.

This year’s theme for Goodwood FOS – “The Maestros – Motorsport’s Great All-Rounders” – is carried over from the abandoned 2020 event and it will highlight those drivers, teams and manufacturers that have transcended the boundaries of motorsport.

One of the most eagerly anticipated parts of the event will be the coveted Hillclimb shootout, which takes centre stage on Sunday, With all manner of machinery set to go against the stopwatch, blistering times are expected to be set on the 1.16-mile course.

Stars of motorsport will also be in attendance across all four days with the likes of Lando Norris, Daniel Ricciardo, John McGuiness, Mario Andretti, Jamie Chadwick Alex Albon, Lance Stroll and Emerson Fittipaldi are just a handful of names fans will see.

Major car manufacturers will all be present at FoS too as they showcase some of their new and innovative models, with one new feature being the ‘Electric Avenue’, which looks towards the future of cars.

With plenty to see and fun for all of the family on every day, the 2021 edition of the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard is not to be missed.

Find out more information on the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard by heading to https://www.barc.net/event/goodwood-festival-of-speed/.

Statement: Snetterton – July 4

The British Automobile Racing Club is saddened to confirm that a fatal accident occurred at Snetterton race circuit on Sunday 4 July, during the C1 Racing Series race.

The BARC has been working with the national governing body, Motorsport UK, and the police to understand the circumstances of the incident.

The C1 Racing Club has quickly grown into a strong and close-knit community since its creation in 2017 and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the well-known and much-loved member of the series.

Our thoughts are also with the volunteer marshals and rescue crews who were involved in the event and we are offering them all our support at this difficult time.

Endurance excitement as Britcar puts on a show at Silverstone

The Britcar Endurance Championship put on an almighty show at Silverstone this past weekend (July 3/4) as both the Endurance and Trophy categories continued their 2021 campaigns.

Making their second trip to the Home of British Motor Racing this season, each championship boasted a bumper entry list and those in attendance were treated to a feast of wheel-to-wheel entertainment.

Saturday’s two-hour Endurance race will undoubtedly go down as an instant classic as drivers battled both each other and the changing weather conditions.

The Powerhouse Performance duo of Charlie Martin and Jack Fabby looked to have reigned supreme in their Praga R1T however a 34-second time penalty was added to their race time in lieu of a drive through penalty, meaning they dropped to second.

That demotion meant that fellow Praga racers Richard Morris and Christopher Wesemael were declared the winners, allowing them to strengthen their position in the Praga standings.

Behind, the Motus One with Moorgate McLaren GT3 of Dave Scaramanga and Will Powell would prove to be the closest challengers to those in Praga’s as the scooped victory in the Endurance class.

Sunday’s two Trophy races saw Datum Motorsport dominate proceedings to take a clean sweep. At the wheel of their Ginetta G55A, Axel van Nederveen and Adriano Medeiros powered their way to pole position in qualifying before then taking two sensational victories.

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

BARC championships continue campaigns at Snetterton

Snetterton provided the latest stop on the calendar for a number of British Automobile Racing Club championships this past weekend (July 3/4) with the title battles in many of them ramping up.

In the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Charlie Hand strengthened his grip at the summit of the standings with a superlative performance. Having entered the weekend as the driver to beat, the teenage sensation didn’t put a wheel wrong as he powered his way to a brace of wins.

Paul Roddison’s march to the Max5 Racing Championship crown continued as he scored his fifth win from six races. Roddison had hoped to add to his winning streak however the return of Jon Halliwell put pay to that, with the latter claiming a well-deserved victory.

Spoils were shared in the Kumho BMW Championship as James Card and Brad Sheehan powered their way to a win apiece. Showcasing some of the most iconic models from the Bavaria brand, Card struck first with a commanding win in race one before Sheehan repeated the feat in race two.

The Silverlake C1 Racing Series was also in action, with 24-hour race winners Hybrid Tune – Full Circle Racing tallying another victory in a thrilling three-hour bout on Saturday.

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

Convoy on the Plain delivers Thruxton thriller

Thousands of enthusiastic spectators flocked to Thruxton Circuit this past weekend (July 3/4) for what proved to be an action-packed Convoy on the Plain spectacle.

In what was the inaugural running of the trucking festival, fans flocked to the high-speed Hampshire venue to soak up both the on and off track entertainment – of which there was plenty.

Headlining the two-day schedule were five colossal contests from the British Truck Racing Championship. Weighing in at more than five tonnes and producing in excess of 1000bhp each, the heavyweight behemoths provided unmissable action around Thruxton’s sweeping curves.

Reigning Division 1 champion Ryan Smith strengthened his position at the summit of the standings as he was perfection personified, powering his Mercedes to four commanding victories. John Newell proved to be the only driver that could stop Smith as he claimed the remaining win.

Division 2 saw a trio of drivers stand on the top step of the podium with Craig Reid leading the line with an impressive hat-trick. Current title holder Steven Powell and former champion Adam Bint also charged to victory over the course of the weekend too.

From the titans of truck racing to the pocket rockets of the Mighty Minis Championship, where sensational slipstreaming had fans on the edge of their seats. Following an almighty scrap for outright honours, Greg Jenkins edged Stuart Coombs to score victory in race one before Steven Rideout came to the fore in race two to triumph.

Additional single-make thrills and spills were provided by the Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires, where Alex Cursley claimed a commanding win to the tune of more than 13 seconds.

Cursley was the driver to beat in race on Sunday, however this time it was by the reduced margin of five seconds ahead of Wayne Rockett and Matt Mitter.

The Caterham Graduates Championship wrote the latest chapter in their 2021 campaign with four pulsating bouts. In the Sigmax/Sigma 150 bout, Jamie Ellwood charged to victory before Harry Senior did the same in the Sigmax/Sigma 135 race.

Jamie Winrow then proved too much for the opposition in the Sigma 150/Sigma 135 race before Ben Winrow powered his way to the front of the non-championship encounter on Sunday afternoon.

Elsewhere, William Sharpe and Fergus Campbell shared the spoils in the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship, each taking a superlative victory apiece. BARC Red was back on track too, with local ace Jamie Sturges piloting his Volkswagen Golf TCR to victory.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action were two races from the Welsh Sports/Saloon Car Championship, both of which were won by the Ginetta G55 of Chris Everill.

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

Where to watch BARC LIVE from Thruxton this weekend

The British Automobile Racing Club is back in action this weekend (July 3/4) with a titanic two days of track action from Thruxton Circuit.

As part of the inaugural ‘Convoy on the Plain’ – the ultimate festival for all things trucking – two days of frenetic racing around the fastest circuit in the UK will undoubtedly get fans on the edge of their seats, and our cameras will be there to broadcast it all live on Facebook and YouTube.

Those that have opted in for TV coverage and will feature on the broadcast over the course of the weekend include the British Truck Racing Championship, Caterham Graduates Championship, Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship and Carbon8 Coupe Cup.

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 14:15 – Facebook | YouTube

Sunday Race Show – Starting from 10:35 – Facebook | YouTube

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

Where to watch Britcar on BARC LIVE from Silverstone this weekend

The Britcar Endurance Championship is back in action this weekend (July 3/4) with a total of three races taking place around the famous Silverstone Grand Prix circuit.

Having starred at the Home of British Motor Racing earlier in the year, both the Endurance and Trophy classes will take centre stage for some pulsating endurance entertainment.

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

Endurance Race Show – Saturday – Starting from 15:45 – YouTube

Trophy Race Show 1 – Sunday – Starting from 13:00 – YouTube

Trophy Race Show 2 – Sunday – Starting from 16:55 – YouTube

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

Thruxton revved up for inaugural Convoy on the Plain spectacle

Thruxton Circuit is gearing up to stage the ultimate festival for all things trucking this weekend (July 3/4) as the inaugural Convoy on the Plain takes centre stage for an expected bumper trackside crowd.

In what continues to be one of the most popular events on the Thruxton calendar each year, the British Truck Racing Championship will descend on the Hampshire venue to headline what is set to be a blockbuster two days of track action around the fastest circuit in the UK.

The passion for ‘big rigs’ doesn’t stop there either, with fun for all the family on offer at Convoy on the Plain. Show truck displays, a trade village, skid pan rides, food stalls, free camping and much more will make it a weekend to remember.

Coming off the back of blockbuster season-opener at Brands Hatch last month, the heavyweight behemoths of the British Truck Racing Championship will do battle in five scheduled contests across both days.

Division 1 has a familiar feel to things as reigning champion Ryan Smith sits atop the standings after claiming a hat-trick last time out. Aiming to clinch a sensational sixth consecutive crown, Smith enters the weekend as the driver to beat however the likes of Stuart Oliver, David Jenkins and Mark Taylor are just a handful of names hoping to take the fight to the Mercedes ace.

Over in Division 2, defending champion Steven Powell and Craig Reid find themselves tied at the top of the points after both enjoying a strong start at Brands Hatch. Throw into the mix Adam Bint, Simon Cole, Brad Smith and Craig Evans and you will see it can be just as wide open in class two.

will also be hoping to extend his early advantage in the championship after enjoying a strong start to this title defence. Adam Bint, Brad Smith, Simon Cole and

It won’t just be the titans of truck racing that will have fans on the edge of their seats either as a bumper supporting cast of championships will also be in action.

Wheel-to-wheel entertainment from the Caterham Graduates Championship, which will compete four times, and a feast of slip streaming from the Mighty Minis Championship will undoubtedly set pulses racing too.

Elsewhere, further one-make competition will come in the shape of the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship and Carbon8 Coupe Cup, as well as BARC Red and the Welsh Sports/Saloon Car Championship cap what will be an unmissable spectacle.

Tickets for this weekend’s unmissable spectacle are on sale at https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/trucks at discounted prices currently. Programmes will be available to purchase during the course of the weekend from £3.00.

Fans will also be able to watch all of the action on the BARC’s YouTube channel HERE.

BARC speeds into Snetterton for two days of action-packed thrills

The British Automobile Racing Club speeds into Snetterton this weekend (July 3/4) with four championships ready to continue their respective campaigns.

With summer upon us and spectators continuing to make their return trackside, the weekend has all the hallmarks of being an instant classic.

Back out of the border following their highland fling at Knockhill, the Junior Saloon Car Championship will make its second trip to the Norfolk venue with a grid of youngsters that are revved up for action.

Charlie Hand remains the driver to beat as it stands having paired raw speed with relentless consistency, however he will need to be at his best if he is to continue his spell at the summit. Hot on his heels are a number of front-running contenders and leading the chase is Harvey Caton and Aaron Walker.

Throw into the mix the likes of fie Jeakins, Ruben Hage, Matthew Cripps, Loui Hounsell, Harry Rice, Tommy Gilham, Ashley Gregory, Jacob Heap and Oliver Cottam, and you begin to see why the weekend’s two contests will be so fiercely fought over.

Elsewhere, the Silverlake C1 Racing Series is gearing up for an epic weekend at Snetterton which will consist of no less than seven hours of track time.

Having kicked off the season with their annual Silverstone 24-hour race in May, the much-loved one-make category descends on the 300 layout boasting a bumper, ultra-competitive field.

Qualifying will take place on Saturday morning before a three-hour contest that afternoon caps off the action for day one. They’ll then return on Sunday for a slightly longer four-hour bout.

The Max5 Racing Championship is set to make the first of its back-to-back trips to Snetterton this Sunday with the battle for supremacy delicately poised.

Renowned for producing high-octane, wheel-to-wheel entertainment, the one-make series has already starred at Cadwell Park and Silverstone, and it is expected that they will do the same around the near three-mile track.

Paul Roddison finds himself in the box seat as it stands, with four wins from four races putting him top of the standings. The series stalwart will need to be at his best however as the likes of Jeremy Shipley, Ben Taylor, Kimberley Nolan and Joe Jacob have all made their mark over the course of the opening two events and they can’t be discounted.

Fans of all things BMW will be well-catered for as the Kumho BMW Championship continues its 2021 season with two races. Showcasing a variety of different models from the Bavarian marque, the championship runs to a multi-class format, leading to plenty of enthralling wheel-to-wheel moments.

Notable names to look out for over the course of the weekend from the Kumho BMW contingent includes Brad Sheehan, Darren Morgan-Owen, Ian Crisp, Kevin Denwood, Trevor and James Card, amongst many more.

Rounding out the weekend’s action will be the Radical Challenge Championship, which makes its second appearance at BARC race meeting this year.

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

Britcar Endurance returns to Silverstone for latest chapter of enthralling season

The Britcar Endurance Championship returns to the Home of British Motor Racing this weekend (July 3/4) for a trio of blockbuster contests around the famous Silverstone Grand Prix circuit.

Having kicked off their 2021 season at the venue back in late April, the category has since raced at Snetterton and Oulton Park, delivering an abundance of edge-of-the-seat entertainment along the way.

Saturday afternoon will see the Endurance Championship take centre stage for a sensational two-hour spectacle, the first for several years. With the Praga contingent now having settled into a rhythm – especially in race trim – the battle for supremacy this weekend looks to be wide open.

Wheel-to-wheel duels are set to play out across all classes and with a change in strategy needed due to race time being doubled, the competition is set to be fraught.

Notable names to look out for over the course of the day include Praga leaders Richard Morris and Chris Wesemael, McLaren duo Dave Scaramanga and Will Powell, Ferrari pairing Bonamy Grimes and Johnny Mowlem, and Nissan GT3 team of Richard Wheeler and Danny Harrison – amongst many more others.

After a short break, the Trophy Championship blasts back into life with two one-hour encounters headlining Sunday. A mammoth 45-car entry list has been confirmed and with a number of drivers all keen to make their mark, it will be a case of blink and you’ll miss the action.

Alongside Britcar, Silverstone will also play host to races from a variety of BRSCC Caterham categories, as well as the Toyo Tires Racing Saloons.

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

All three races from the Britcar Endurance Championship will be streamed LIVE on the BARC YouTube channel. Make sure you don’t miss any of the action by subscribing to the Club’s channel HERE.