Author: Chris Ashby

BTCC announces 2022 calendar

The British Touring Car Championship has today (June 30) officially announced its calendar for the 2022 season.

Comprising of 30 races across ten events at eight of the UK’s top circuits, the 2022 campaign is set to be significant one for Britain’s premier motorsport series as Hybrid technology is fully introduced.

Donington Park plays host to the season-opener in late April before visits to Brands Hatch Indy, Thruxton, Oulton Park and Croft occupy dates during May and June before the annual summer break.

The annual visit north of the border to Knockhill will kick off the second half of the season before the series then travels to Snetterton. A second visit to Thruxton follows that before the penultimate weekend at Silverstone in late September and the finale on the legendary Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit in early October.

In addition to the all-important race dates, the BTCC is also planning to host three official pre-season test days at various venues to allow as much time as practical for teams to carry out Hybrid testing.

BTCC Chief Executive, Alan Gow, said: “I’m pleased to confirm our calendar for the 2022 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship. As the biggest series in the UK, it is vital that our schedule is issued so early, to allow the rest of British motorsport to plan their respective calendars.”

British Touring Car Championship – 2022 Calendar

Rounds 1/2/3 – Donington Park (National) – April 23/24

Rounds 4/5/6 – Brands Hatch (Indy) – May 14/15

Rounds 7/8/9 – Thruxton – May 28/29

Rounds 10/11/12 – Oulton Park (Island) – June 11/12

Rounds 13/14/15 – Croft – June 25/26

Rounds 16/17/18 – Knockhill – July 30/31

Rounds 19/20/21 – Snetterton (300) – August 13/14

Rounds 22/23/24 – Thruxton – August 27/28

Rounds 25/26/27 – Silverstone (National) – September 24/25

Rounds 28/29/30 – Brands Hatch (Grand Prix) – October 8/9

Tom Oliphant, Tom Ingram & Adam Morgan score BTCC wins at Brands Hatch

Tom Oliphant, Tom Ingram and Adam Morgan scored a win apiece at Brands Hatch this past weekend (June 26/27) as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship served up a feast of entertainment across Rounds 7, 8 & 9 of the 2021 campaign.

Despite not winning, Laser Tools Racing’s Ashley Sutton cemented his position at the top of the standings as he netted a trio of top eight finishes – one of which was a podium – to move three points clear at the summit.

In front of thousands of spectators, the 1.2-mile Indy circuit played host to the usual thrills and spills that have come to be expected whenever Britain’s premier motorsport series descends on the Kent venue.

Qualifying on Saturday proved to be ultra-competitive as 28 of the 29 drivers lapped the tight and twisty track within a second of each other. Come the end of a frenetic session, Dan Rowbottom edged out his Halfords Racing with Cataclean team-mate Gordon Shedden to score his first pole position in the series.

Rowbottom wouldn’t be able to convert his front row start into victory however as Team BMW’s Oliphant stormed to his second career victory. Making a sensational getaway from fourth as the lights went out, Oliphant swept into the lead as the field streamed into the first corner and then made his escape.

Building a commanding lead of more than four seconds at one stage, the West Surrey Racing driver came under late pressure from the charging Shedden but he held on to score a well-deserved victory.

After bogging down off the line and dropping down the order, Rowbottom produced a spirited fightback to claim his first-ever podium finish in the BTCC.

Oliphant came to within a lap of scoring back-to-back victories in race two before the Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com Hyundai of Tom Ingram made a last-lap lunge to underline their title credentials with a second win of the season.

Ladened with 75kgs of success ballast, Oliphant valiantly led 26 of the 27 laps as he withstood race-long attacks from a number of drivers. However, heading onto the final lap, Ingram made a bold move down the inside of Paddock Hill Bend and following slight contact, completed the pass at Druids.

Reigning champion Sutton then got the run on Oliphant as they exited Clark Curve and went side-by-side with him on the drag to the line, pipping the BMW to second by just 0.038s.

Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport’s Morgan then claimed an empathic lights-to-flag victory in the reverse grid contest. Starting from pole position, the Lancastrian didn’t put a wheel wrong as he guided his new BMW 330i M Sport to the top step of the rostrum for the first time this season.

Behind, Team HARD. with Autobrite Direct’s Jack Goff secured a maiden podium for the all-new Cupra whilst Laser Tools Racing’s Aiden Moffat finished third after a back-and-forth battle with Jason Plato in the final few laps.

At the end of a battling weekend, Sutton leads Ingram by three points in both the BTCC Drivers’ Championship and BTCC Independent Drivers’ Championship.

Laser Tools Racing hold the advantage in the BTCC Teams’ category, with Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com heading the Independent Teams’ standings.

BMW remain on top of the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ Championship whilst Rowbottom has extended his advantage in the Jack Sears Trophy.

The BTCC now enjoys a five-week break before returning to action at Oulton Park on July 31/August 1.

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

Brands Hatch provides backdrop to blockbuster TOCA support race action

Brands Hatch played host to a bumper two days of TOCA support race action this past weekend (June 26/27) as the 2021 season ramped up.

Callum Voisin wrote his name into the history books of the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship as he became one of only a handful of drivers to win all three races on the same weekend.

Entering the third event of the season as one of the form drivers, the R Racing ace didn’t put a wheel wrong as he stormed to pole position and then went on to triumph in each contest, vaulting him into title contention.

Behind, the trio of Liam McNeilly, Seb Hopkins, Josh Miller filled the remaining podium places however none of them could ultimately stop Voisin from scoring a famous hat-trick around the Kent venue.

The Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup delivered three breathtaking encounters around the tight and twist Indy layout as Carlito Miracco, Adam Smalley and Tom Hibbert shared the spoils.

Miracco had to dig deep for his victory in the opener – the championship’s 250th race – as he withstood pressure from the charging Smalley. There was no stopping the latter in race two however as he surged to his third win of the campaign.

Race three proved to be one of attrition as Hibbert and James Blake-Baldwin had those watching trackside on the edge-of-their-seats as their battle for victory went down to the wire, with Hibbert narrowly prevailing in the end.

There was plenty of drama in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB as Dan Cammish and Harry King found themselves in the wars. Coming together in race one, the pair were unable to fight their way to victory – leaving the door open for others to take centre stage.

Lorcan Hanfin continued his fine start to the campaign with a superlative victory in race one before Will Martin reigned supreme in the second bout.

Further tin top thrills were provided by the MINI CHALLENGE JCW, which served up three action-packed races. Max Bird, Max Coates and Dan Zelos were the drivers to beat over the course of the weekend, each taking a win apiece.

Rounding out the weekend’s action were a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. Zak Taylor scored victory in the reverse grid bout before James Hedley and Matias Zagazeta also triumphed.

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

TOCA support championships head to Brands Hatch for latest chapter of the season

Nearly a fortnight on from an action-packed two days of racing at Snetterton, the TOCA support package charges into Brands Hatch this weekend (June 26/27) for what is shaping up to be a blockbuster third meeting of the season.

Taking centre stage alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship around the famous Indy circuit, five categories will continue their campaigns in front of a 4000-strong trackside crowd once again.

It is set to be a momentous weekend for the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup as it celebrates a special milestone, with the opening contest at the Kent venue being the championship’s 250th since launching in 2011.

Adam Smalley made a near-perfect start to his title challenge at Snetterton, scoring a pair of lights-to-flag victories, however a race three retirement has left him trailing Tom Hibbert in the points. All eyes will undoubtedly be on these two as they renew their battle at the front however they won’t be the only one’s bidding for glory.

Josh Rattican – the winner of race three at Snetterton – and team-mate Tom Emson will be in the mix over the course of the weekend’s three races, as will the likes of Carlito Miracco and James Blake-Baldwin.

The Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship is proving to be just as exciting and unpredictable as ever with a mammoth grid of youngsters serving up bumper-to-bumper thrills around almost every turn.

Tom Edgar, Will Jenkins, Callum Voisin, Liam McNeilly, Aston Millar and Seb Hopkins have all featured towards the sharp end of the grid across the opening two events and will undoubtedly continue to be in the battle for silverware once more.

Dan Cammish made a triumphant return to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB as he scored a win and a second to establish an early lead in the points. In what is already showing signs of being a hotly contested season in the one-make category, the Redline Racing ace will be keen to extend his points lead.

Just six points separate Kiern Jewiss, defending champion Harry King and Lorcan Hanafin from Cammish, and with the likes of James Dorlin, Lewis Plato and Will Martin also in the conversation, all bets look to be off in terms of predicting who will reign supreme.

Further tin top thrills around Brands Hatch will come in the shape of the MINI CHALLENGE JCW over the course of the weekend. Delivering some breathtaking moments last time out, the one-make championship is expected to deliver three unmissable races.

Lewis Brown scored a pair of wins at Snetterton and heads into series’ second event of the year leading the way. Hot on his heels however sits Sam Weller, Max Bird, Brad Hutchinson and Dan Zelos, to name but a few, and any one of them could hit the front.

Rounding out the weekend’s action will be a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. James Hedley maintains his advantage at the standings summit however the chasing pack is growing and he’ll need to be on top form if he is to leave Brands Hatch still leading.

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

Sunday’s coverage will be broadcast live on ITV3 starting at 11:00.

BTCC battle speeds into Brands Hatch

With two events in the books, the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship speeds into Brands Hatch this weekend (June 26/27) where the battle for supremacy at the summit of the standings is only set to intensify.

Coming off the back of a scorching weekend at Snetterton where spectators made their long-awaited return, Britain’s premier motorsport series now heads to the Kent venue with three blockbuster races set to take centre stage.

Last time out saw Colin Turkington, Ashley Sutton and Tom Ingram all reach the top step of the podium and in doing so, they elevated themselves into the top three spots of the overall points.

A second win of the season last time out for reigning champion Sutton sees him hold the early advantage, however it is a slender one of just two points ahead of Ingram whilst Turkington sits a further three markers back.

Bidding to clinch back-to-back titles, Laser Tools Racing ace Sutton has shown ominous pace at times already this year and despite carrying maximum ballast into the third event of the season, he will be one to watch – as will Ingram and Turkington.

Despite the BTCC’s big guns coming to the fore at the Norfolk venue, the chasing pack is still very much within striking distance with BTC Racing’s Josh Cook and MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square’s Jake Hill – the stars of the Thruxton opener – leading the way in fourth and fifth.

Both Rory Butcher and Stephen Jelley enjoyed strong showings at Snetterton and they have positioned themselves firmly inside the top ten too. Carrying less ballast than those above them and having each enjoyed success at Brands Hatch in the past, both will be worth keeping an eye on.

Former champions Jason Plato and Gordon Shedden have endured mixed fortunes so far this season, although both have tallied a rostrum finish. Keen to get their respective championship challenges firmly on track around the famous Indy circuit, the experienced duo could will be aiming high.

Elsewhere, the likes of Ollie Jackson, Jack Goff, Dan Rowbottom, Tom Oliphant and Adam Morgan are just a handful of drivers that will be eyeing big results – having all made their mark at some stage already.

Like Snetterton, Brands Hatch will welcome a 4,000-strong trackside crowd whilst up above in the skies, the Goodyear Blimp will take flight in the UK for the first time in nearly a decade to provide aerial shots.

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

As always, fans can watch all of the action throughout the weekend with qualifying getting underway at 15:05 via www.itv.com/btcc on Saturday before Sunday race day commences at 11:00 on ITV3.

Paul Rose wins prestigious Dave Simpson Trophy

At the Oulton Park meeting on the 12th June competitors in the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Championship competed for the prestigious Dave Simpson Memorial Trophy. This must be one of the most sought after trophies in club motorsport and is eagerly competed for each year.

The trophy was presented to the Centre by Margaret Simpson in honour of her husband Dave. Back in the early days of the series, as it was then, Dave was instrumental with Ken Mitchell and myself in setting up the championship. With grids of perhaps 10/12 cars back then it did not look too good for the success of the Championship. However with Dave’s encouragement and enthusiasm the Championship grew from strength to strength and within a few years we saw grids of over 30 regularly. Unfortunately Dave has not seen how strong the Championship has become in recent years. There cannot be many Championships this strong in their 38th season. 

The Trophy was decided by the driver who wins his or her class and has the greatest speed differential to the driver coming second. This basically translates to the driver who is most dominant in their class. The only proviso is that there must be at least three starters (and of course at least two finishers!).

This year the outcome was incredibly close, perhaps the closest ever! Unfortunately for four of the classes the battles at the head of the classes was very close so they were not in the running for the award. Paul Rose in his Saker often wins his class by a country mile but this time he was pegged back by a slightly tardy start and it was several laps before he took the lead. Graeme Smith in his scrapyard engined Mazda MX5, helped perhaps by the retirement of David Bird took class F by a tidy margin. These two were in the running for the award, when the results were scrutinised it was found that Paul Rose took the award by the tiniest of margins.

Margaret Simpson was on hand to present the trophy to Paul who was very pleased to receive it for the second time.

TOCA support package serves up spectacular entertainment at Snetterton

Snetterton played host to the latest rounds across the TOCA support championship this past weekend (June 12/13) and there was action across the board.

On a weekend where spectators made a triumphant return in scorching temperatures, the supporting cast of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship took centre stage around the popular Norfolk venue.

One of the most highly-anticipated spectacles over the course of the weekend was two races from the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, which featured former champions Dan Cammish and Harry King, as well as a number of others.

Lorcan Hanafin looked as though he had spoiled the party after qualifying on pole and winning on the road in race one, however a time penalty for being out of position on the start saw Cammish mark his return to the series with a win.

Reigning champion King then came to the fore in race two as he surged into the lead and looked on course to open his account for the year. It wasn’t to be though as a time penalty for exceeding track limits saw the Team Parker Racing drive drop down the order, with Kiern Jewiss triumphing instead.

The battle for supremacy in the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship intensified during both days as the next generation of motorsport stars delivered three breathtaking contests.

Despite the safety car bringing proceedings to an early close in race one, Callum Voisin was declared the winner ahead of Will Jenkins and Liam McNeilly. Race two would then see McNeilly go on to score a breakthrough win in the series as he edged out the rapid Tom Edgar.

Having come close during the two earlier races, Edgar finally scored victory in the third and final race as he fended off the advances of Jenkins and McNeilly – each of whom had sensational weekends as they picked up silverware in all three encounters.

Kicking off its 10th Anniversary season, the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup provided further one-make thrills as they too delivered a trio of memorable races.

Tipped by many as a credible title contender, Elite Motorsport’s Adam Smalley wasted no time in hitting the ground running as he scored victory in races one and two. The former Ginetta Junior champion had looked on course to make it a hat-trick until contact, whilst in contention for the lead, forced him to retire.

As Smalley was left to watch on from the sidelines, Josh Rattican took full advantage to cap off an impressive debut in the category to score victory.

The MINI CHALLENGE JCW Championship also lifted the curtain on its 2021 season at Snetterton, and it too made its mark around the challenging 2.97-mile circuit.

After narrowly missing out on pole position by little over two tenths of a second, Lewis Brown made the perfect start to the new campaign as he triumphed ahead of Max Bird and Sam Weller in race one.

Brown doubled his tally for the weekend in race two before Brad Hutchinson came to the fore in race three to triumph for MotorsportApps.com with MPHR.

Rounding out the weekend’s action were a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. Showcasing the latest crop of single seater stars, a bumper grid went wheel-to-wheel with Matthew Rees and Georgi Dimitrov sharing the spoils.

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

The TOCA support package will join the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch in a little under two weeks’ time on June 26/27, for the next chapter of the 2021 campaign.

Colin Turkington, Ashley Sutton & Tom Ingram share BTCC spoils at Snetterton scorcher

Colin Turkington, Ashley Sutton and Tom Ingram claimed a win apiece in front of returning spectators at Snetterton this past weekend (June 12/13) to move into the top three places of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship standings.

Welcoming back its loyal fanbase for the first time in more than a year, Britain’s premier motorsport series produced three thrilling contests in scorching temperatures, with defending champion Sutton moving to the summit of the points come the end of race day.

Basking in the bright sunshine, qualifying on Saturday served up plenty of drama as the Top Ten Showdown format made the first of three appearances scheduled for this season.

With a marginally reduced window to record their lap times, the top ten fastest competitors at the end of the 25-minute session were rewarded with the opportunity to clinch their final position on the grid during a ten-minute pole position showdown.

At the end of a frenetic battle, Halfords Racing with Cataclean’s Gordon Shedden looked to have secured top spot after a sensational last-gasp lap in his Honda Civic Type R. However, following post-session scrutineering checks the Scotsman was disqualified due to a technical infringement, meaning Team BMW’s Turkington inherited pole position.

Race one would prove to be a relatively tame affair as Turkington converted his front row start into a commanding lights-to-flag victory. Opting to run the option soft tyre, the Northern Irishman withstood early pressure from the rapid Ingram before pulling clear to open his account for the new season.

Behind, Ingram enjoyed a relatively trouble-free run to secure second whilst Rory Butcher ran unchallenged in third place to net his first podium for Toyota Gazoo Racing UK.

After finishing a lowly 11th in the opening bout, Sutton came to the fore in race two as he sliced his way up the order to claim victory. Free of success ballast and with the soft tyre bolted on, the reigning champion made pass after pass before hitting the front in the latter stages.

In what has now become a familiar sight, Sutton’s charge from outside the top ten completed a turnaround which had seen him undergone an engine change after qualifying.

Turkington’s strong day around the 2.97-mile circuit continued as he bagged second place whilst the MB Motorsport with Blue Square Ford Focus of Ollie Jackson rounded out the podium, having made up a number of places at the start.

The third and final race at Snetterton saw a small piece of BTCC history made as Tom Ingram scored the first-ever win for a Hyundai in the championship.

In what was only his sixth race for new team Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com, the fan favourite muscled his way past pole-sitter Stephen Jelley shortly after mid-distance before pulling clear of the chasing pack.

Despite carrying 75kgs of success ballast, Sutton fought his way into second place at the halfway stage too and then produced a masterful defensive drive to fend of the charging Shedden, who claimed his first podium since returning to the series.

Further down the field, other notable performances included a pair of top ten finishes for Jack Goff, a charging drive for Josh Cook in race three and a maiden point for Jade Edwards – making her the first female driver in the championship to score a point since Fiona Leggate in 2006.

With the dust having settled on a frenetic second event of the season, Sutton leads the way by two points over Ingram, with Turkington a further three markers behind.

BMW have scaled to to the top of the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ leaderboard whilst Laser Tools Racing heads the Teams’ category.

Ingram and Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com are top of the table in both Independents’ Championships. Dan Rowbottom meanwhile picked up his first piece of silverware of the year having triumphed in the Jack Sears Trophy.

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

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns to action in two weeks’ time (June 26/27) at Brands Hatch.

Fans soak up retro-themed thrills at Thruxton Historic

Thruxton Circuit produced an action-packed two days of nostalgia this past weekend (June 12/13) courtesy of the ‘Thruxton Historic’, which saw a mouth-watering array of sensational sportscars, flame-spitting saloons and evocative racing cars take centre stage.

Basked in glorious sunshine, the Hampshire venue opened its doors for the first time this year to welcome a limited number of spectators, all of which soaked up the variety of attractions both on and off the track.

Retro-themed thrills were the order of both days on-track, with a number of pulsating contests by the Motor Racing Legends and HRDC being produced for those in attendance.

In the RAC Woodcote Trophy & Stirling Moss Trophy for Pre ’61 Sportcars, the Lister Knobbly duo of Rob Smith and Chris Ward showcased their class by taking victory in emphatic fashion, doing so by more than 30 seconds.

James Cottingham and Harvey Stanley were the ones to beat in the Pre ’63 GT encounter, narrowly pipping Jack Minshaw at the end of an hours’ racing in their Jaguar E-Type.

There was high drama in the HRDC Liqui Moly Jack Sears Trophy as Tiff Needell looked to have victory in the bag before a mechanical issue befell him at the final corner on the last lap, costing him victory.

Roy Alderslade would benefit in his Lotus Ford Cortina to claim outright spoils whilst the duo of Needell and John Spiers could only hobble their Cortina across the line to claim second place.

James Colburn was the cream of the crop in the HRDC ‘Classic Alfa Challenge’ whilst Spiers piloted his Lister Knobbly to the top step of the podium in the HRDC ‘Dunlop Allstars’ for Pre-66 Sports, GT and Touring Cars encounter.

Spiers then partnered Needell again to reign supreme in the MRL Jaguar Classic Challenge, sharing driving duties in the sensational Jaguar E-Type Lightweight.

In the Historic Touring Car Challenge, just five seconds separated the top two at the end of a blockbuster opening 40-minute contest. At wheel of their Ford GA Capri, Adrian Willmott and Mark Farmer were the victors ahead of Andy Middlehurst and Jonathan Bailey.

Ric Wood would demonstrate his abilities in his Nissan Skyline GTR in race two as he got the better of Farmer and Willmott to score victory.

The Pre-War Sports Cars made their presence known too as the pairing of Gareth Burnett and Michael Birch navigated their Talbot AV105 Brooklands to the chequered flag first.

Capping off the track action were two races for the coveted Jochen Rindt Trophy. Celebrating the best single-seater race cars from the 60s, 70s & 80s, outright honours on the Saturday went the way of Matthew Wrigley in his March 79B.

Peter Williams came to the fore in race two to lift the famous trophy. At the wheel of the mighty Ralt RT1, Williams pipped Greg Roberston to victory and due to Wrigley being one of many unfortunate retirements, he wrapped up the Jochen Rindt Trophy as well.

Away from the racing there was plenty to see and do around the venue with parades, car clubs adorning spectators bankings and a trade village. One of the star attractions was situated on the Skid Pan in the shape of the Land Rover Legends.

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

North West Centre delivers memorable Oulton Park race day

The British Automobile Racing Club’s North West Centre staged an unmissable day of track action at Oulton Park this past Saturday (June 12) as a trio of championships continued their 2021 campaigns.

Basked in glorious sunshine, the one-day meeting saw the Britcar Endurance Championship, Mighty Minis Championship and CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship take on a starring role around the picturesque Cheshire venue in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

Edge-of-the-seat entertainment was served up by the Britcar Endurance Championship, who held the latest two rounds of what is shaping up to be an ultra-competitive Endurance season.

Coming off the back of a rapid qualifying session which saw the top of the timesheets dominated by the Praga Class, each one-hour race had its fair share of drama and safety car periods however that didn’t stop the team of Praga Race Academy from dominating proceedings.

The duo of Angus Fender and Jay Morton had missed out on pole position for both bouts but as soon as the lights went out, they marched their way to the front to comfortably win both races.

Paul Rose reigned supreme in the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, claiming the spoils in what was the only race for North West Centre’s flagship category. Boasting a bumper 34-car grid, the multi-class series put on a show for those in attendance, with Rose leading the way.

Starting third, the Sakar RAPX S1-500 driver found his way to the front early on and from there on he didn’t look back as he romped to victory by more than ten seconds ahead of Jon Woolfitt and Danny Bird.

In addition to his race win, the former CNC Heads champion also was awarded the Dave Simpson Trophy – which is bestowed upon the class winner who wins their class by the greatest speed differential.

Bumper-to-bumper entertainment was the order of the day in the Mighty Minis Championship, which served up a pair of mesmerising races. David Kirkpatrick triumphed in what proved to be a breathless opening bout, beating defending champion Ian Slark to victory by little over a tenth of a second.

Slark was not to be denied in the second Mini race however as he charged from fifth to claim victory ahead of Greg Jenkins and Kirkpatrick, further strengthening his position at the summit of the Super Mighty Minis standings.

Alongside the trio of BARC championships was a guest appearance from the Radical Summer Cup, which staged a two pulsating encounters. Elliott Goodman won a frenetic opening contest which ended early after a number of incidents in the latter stages.

Having seen victory slip away in race one after a mechanical issue dropped him out of the lead, Michael Clark emerged as the driver to beat in race two, taking the chequered a little under five seconds ahead of Goodman.

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

If you missed any of the day’s action then watch all of it back on our YouTube channel, HERE.

Mission Motorsport sets new hypermiling world record at Thruxton

Thruxton Circuit can add the title of being one of the most efficient race tracks in the UK alongside being the fastest after Mission Motorsport set a new hypermiling world record in a Renault ZOE.

Aiming to beat the previous benchmark of 351 miles for the longest distance driven in a Renault ZOE on a single charge, the Forces’ Motorsport Charity raised the bar in emphatic fashion around the Hampshire venue this past week.

Driving day and night, for more than 24 hours, at the optimum average speed of 19mph, the Renault ZOE – which was equipped with ENSO’s EV tyres – reached a world beating 475.4 miles on a single charge, smashing the French record by 124.4 miles.

Equipped with ENSO’s pioneering range extending EV tyres, a team of British veterans, the spouse of a serving soldier and a hypermiling expert came together to share driving duties around the 2.36-mile circuit.

James Cameron, Mission Motorsport CEO, said: “Thruxton was the obvious choice for this record attempt, but despite being the UK’s fastest track, the key to hitting 475.4 miles was finding the optimum speed and smooth consistent driving.

“Backed by ENSO’s unique EV tyre technology we were certain we could break the record, but what we couldn’t have foreseen was the incredible difference in efficiency, distance and feel with the ENSO tyres.”

During the world record attempt Mission Motorsport used two different sets of tyres on two identical Renault ZOEs. One vehicle was fitted with OEM tyres, clocking an impressive 424.7 miles whilst the second was fitted with ENSO tyres, eclipsing the old record and sister car with an astonishing 475.4 miles.

To find out more information on Mission Motorsport and the world record they have broken, click here.

Where to watch BARC LIVE from Oulton Park this Saturday

The British Automobile Racing Club makes its second trip of the season to Oulton Park this Saturday (June 12) and we’re in for quite the show.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, this one-day race meeting will undoubtedly set pulses racing as a trio of championships battle it out around the picturesque Cheshire venue, and our cameras will be there to broadcast 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 Britcar Endurance Championship, CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship and the Radical Summer 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 11:20 – Facebook | YouTube

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

Make sure you don’t miss any future BARC LIVE events by subscribing to our YouTube channel HERE.