Author: Chris Ashby

Where to watch BARC LIVE at Silverstone this weekend

The British Automobile Racing Club returns to the Home of British Motor Racing this weekend (August 21/22) with no less than nine championships taking centre stage at Silverstone – and our cameras will be there to broadcast it all live on YouTube.

With the second half of the 2021 season now in full swing, every point up for grabs across each action-packed day is set to be crucial in deciding who will finish the year crowned champion.

Viewers will be able to see the likes of the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Kumho BMW Championship, Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship, Carbon8 Coupe Cup and the Trophy class of the Britcar Endurance Championship in action.

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 | YouTube

Sunday Race Show – Starting from 09:20 | YouTube

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

Silverstone revved up for BARC bonanza

Silverstone is preparing for a British Automobile Racing Club bonanza this weekend (August 21/22) as a number of championships continue their 2021 campaigns around the Home of British Motor Racing.

Taking centre stage on the National layout of the Northamptonshire venue, the battle for supremacy will undoubtedly have those in attendance on the edge of their seats as those competing head into the business end of the season.

One of the headline acts over the course of the weekend will be the Britcar Endurance Championship. Whilst the Endurance class won’t be in action, the Trophy contingent will and they have a pair of 50-minute contests on Saturday to work through.

In what has been another memorable year for the series, every point is set to be crucial in the chase for championship glory. Front-running contenders Simon Baker, Kevin Clarke, Richard Higgins, Steve Thompson and Aaron Thompson will all be worth keeping an eye on.

The Junior Saloon Car Championship reaches a pivotal point in its season with three races scheduled to play out. Kicking off the first of two consecutive triple-headers – the second of which comes at Pembrey in October – the next six races will be crucial in deciding who enters the final few events of the season in credible contention to be crowned champion.

Charlie Hand finds himself in the box seat as it stands however he will be keen to extend his 26-point lead as the likes of Harvey Caton, Ruben Hage and Alfie Jeakins will be giving it everything they have to make in-roads.

It’s been an ultra-competitive season for the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship with David Amphlett, Anthony Bate, Mark Baker and Steve McDermid starring as the respective class leaders.

All four of them will be eager to strengthen their position at the summit of the standings however they won’t have things all their own way, with several rapid drivers setting their sights on the top step of the podium.

Multi-class thrills ’n’ spills will be served up in the shape of the Kumho BMW Championship at Silverstone too, as the single-manufacturer series hits the track for he latest chapter of its season.

Elsewhere, Alex Cursley will be looking to continue his rich vein of form in the Carbon8 Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires – which once again boasts a bumper entry list of 33 drivers and 27 cars for Sunday’s qualifying session and 45-minute endurance race.

Rounding off the weekend’s busy program of track action will be races from the British Superkarts Championship, Avon Tyres Intermarques Championship, Biddenden Motor Racing Super Saloons and CMMCS Tin Tops.

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

Convoy in the Park gears up for return at Donington Park with unmissable race schedule

Donington Park will rumble to the sounds of horsepower this weekend (August 21/22) as the British Automobile Racing Club speeds into Leicestershire for a titanic two days of track action.

After being postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, Convoy in the Park makes a triumphant return. Showcasing more than 1000 Show Trucks, driving experiences, stunt arena, trade village and much more, the two-day event is a festival of all things trucking that is fun for all the family.

Whilst there is set to be plenty to see off-track over the course of the weekend, on it will see a number of championships continue their 2021 campaigns.

Heavyweight thrills ’n’ spills will be provided by the British Truck Racing Championship, with bumper entry lists in Division’s 1 & 2 confirmed for its five scheduled contests.

Reigning champion Ryan Smith is in the box seat of Division 1 as it stands after making a lightening start and he will be hard to beat once again. In Division 2, just a couple of points separate Craig Evans and Steven Powell heading into the weekend.

Miles Rudman occupies top spot in the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres standings and the former champion looks in good form as he seeks to retain the title he lost last year.

With no less than six races set to play out under the flight path of East Midlands airport during the weekend, Rudman will need to be at his best as the likes of John Mickel, Jack Parker and Sean Smith, amongst many more, will all be hot on his heels.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship has been home to a number of edge-of-the-seat moments this year and more are expected to come, whilst there have also been plenty of entertaining battles in the Caterham Graduates Championship.

Notable names to look out for during the weekend amongst the Caterham contingent include Harry Senior, Ben Winrow, Jamie Ellwood, James McCall and several more.

Saturday afternoon will see the Silverlake C1 Racing Series take centre stage as they hold what should be an enthralling 180-minute endurance race around Donington’s flowing curves. 

Rounding off the weekend will be a regular appearance from the BARC North West Centre’s flagship series, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship. Renowned for producing close-quarter racing, the multi-class series isn’t to be missed.

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

Colin Turkington, Ashley Sutton and Tom Ingram share BTCC wins at Knockhill

Colin Turkington, Ashley Sutton and Tom Ingram scored a win apiece at Knockhill as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship took centre stage in front of a bumper crowd at the Scottish venue this past weekend (August 14/15).

On what proved to be a critical fifth event of the season, three of the most experienced drivers on the grid came to the fore to triumph, with Sutton extending his lead in the battle for the biggest prize in UK motorsport.

As predicted, qualifying proved to be an ultra-competitive affair around the undulating 1.27-mile circuit with less than a second covering 26 of the 29-car grid. Having endured a barren couple of events, Team BMW’s Turkington delivered when he needed it the most.

Hustling his BMW 330i M Sport to the top of the times, the Northern Irishman netted his second pole position of the season by little over a tenth of a second ahead of BTC Racing’s Senna Proctor and countryman Chris Smiley.

Turkington cruised to a commanding lights-to-flag victory in the opening contest around the Fife track, taking a historic 100th BTCC win for West Surrey Racing in the process.

Blasting away from the front row, the four-time champion duly pulled clear of the chasing pack before a safety car halted his charge. When the action resumed, nobody could stop the rear-wheel-drive ace from stretching his legs on his way to the chequered flag.

Behind, Proctor and team-mate Josh Cook rounded out the podium, the latter having got the better of Smiley after a hard-fought battle in the closing stages.

Reigning champion Sutton secured a famous victory to extend his championship lead in race two after passing Turkington on the last lap. Ladened with 75kgs of success ballast, Turkington led 26 of the 27 laps before making a small mistake during the final tour.

Piling on the pressure throughout the bout, Sutton’s constant presence in Turkington’s mirrors paid off when the BMW ace took too much kerb through the chicane which forced him wide and allowed the Infiniti to drive past and clinch his third win of the 2021 campaign.

MB Motorsport’s Jake Hill completed the podium after passing the BTC Racing duo of Cook and Proctor during what was a fraught race.

Steadily chipping away throughout Sunday, Ginsters with TradePriceCars.com’s Ingram came to the fore in race three as he scored a crucial victory to remain within striking distance of Sutton in the fight for the championship.

Charging from fourth to the front following a string of sensational overtakes, the Hyundai pilot was never challenged once in first and powered his way to a commanding win.

Behind, Proctor capped off a memorable day with his second podium whilst Stephen Jelley ensured there was more silverware for BMW in third place.

Leaving Knockhill, Sutton has extended his lead at the top of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship to 14 points ahead of Ingram. He has also stretched his advantage in the BTCC Independent Drivers’ table too.

Laser Tools Racing continue to have a stranglehold on both the BTCC Teams’ and BTCC Independent Teams’ categories whilst BMW have cemented their status at the helm of the Manufacturer/Constructors’ leaderboard. Daniel Rowbottom remans out front in the Jack Sears Trophy.

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

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship now heads back to the fastest circuit in the UK, Thruxton, for Rounds 16, 17 & 18 of the 2021 season on August 28/29.

Tickets are available to purchase online from https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc-august at discounted prices.

MINI CHALLENGE UK extends TOCA support package deal until end of 2026

The Quaife MINI CHALLENGE will continue to feature on the support package of the British Touring Car Championship until the end of 2026 after signing a new five-year agreement.

Renowned for producing blockbuster wheel-to-wheel entertainment, this new deal cements the one-make series as one of the leading categories in the UK.

As has been the case across the last two seasons, the JCW class will race solely on the TOCA package, although the calendar for 2022 has yet to be confirmed. The remaining dates will be taken up by the Quaife MINI CHALLENGE Trophy,

Antony Williams, MINI CHALLENGE Promoter, said: “When we announced that we had secured a slot on the prestigious and high profile TOCA package back in 2019, I was incredibly proud of how the MINI CHALLENGE had come of age, and was just as proud of my team, our partners and our drivers for helping us to achieve our aim. 

“To have been able to sufficiently impress the TOCA team despite the difficult times we have all faced, and now be in a position where we can announce that we will be supporting the BTCC – with its incredible ITV coverage – for another full five years, is even more satisfying. 

“This news enables us, our drivers and our teams to plan for the future, knowing the investment we all make can be rewarded for the longer term.

“Finally, I would like to thank Alan Gow and his team for the faith they have in us, and the support and guidance they have provided.”

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, added: “Since joining the BTCC support package, MINI CHALLENGE has provided our trackside spectators and TV audiences with some great and very entertaining racing.

“As well, the management team behind MINI CHALLENGE are incredibly efficient, committed and enthusiastic, so it was a very easy decision for me to reward their efforts by extending their current agreement through to the end of 2026.”

Blockbuster BTCC battle heads north of the border to Knockhill

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship heads north of the border to Scotland this weekend (August 14/15) as Knockhill hosts Rounds 13, 14 & 15 of what has been already proven to be a blockbuster 2021 season.

A longstanding favourite on the BTCC calendar for competitors and spectators alike, the rollercoaster nature of the compact 1.26-mile circuit is renowned for serving up high-octane entertainment and this weekend should be no different.

With Scotland’s COVID-19 restrictions differing from England, it had been touch and go as to how many fans would be permitted to attend the Fife venue; however confirmation that gates will be open to an unrestricted crowd recently has been warmly welcomed.

Coming off the back of an action-packed weekend at Oulton Park, nine different drivers have now stood on the top step of the podium but it is reigning champion Ashley Sutton that remains at the summit of the standings.

Despite enduring a testing weekend last time out, the Laser Tools Racing ace holds a five-point advantage over Ginsters  EXCELR8 with  TradePriceCars.com race-winner Tom Ingram – both having been the early pace-setters in the series.

The points-gap between the top two and the rest of the field has been significantly slashed though with Halfords Racing with Cataclean’s Daniel Rowbottom leading the chase after he scored a maiden victory in Cheshire.

Jake Hill and Adam Morgan have been tallying regular points all-season-long so far and they round out the top five ahead of the fifth event of the year.

Having all enjoyed strong performances at Oulton Park, the championship’s trio of Scots will be looking to make home advantage count in front of what is expected to be a capacity trackside crowd.

Former champion Gordon Shedden will compete on home turf for the first time since 2017 and after chalking up a pair of podium finishes at Oulton, he’ll be hungrier than ever to capture his first win of the season.

Elsewhere, Shedden’s brother-in-law Rory Butcher was a winner at Oulton in his Speedworks Toyota Corolla whilst Aiden Moffat has become a regular fixture inside the top ten in recent rounds – and both will be eyeing further success.

Josh Cook and Colin Turkington also feature inside the top ten whilst the likes of Stephen Jelley, Tom Oliphant, Jason Plato, Jack Goff, Senna Proctor and Daniel Lloyd are amongst a number of other names that will be worth keeping an eye on over the course of the weekend.

All three BTCC races at Knockhill will be broadcast live on ITV4 from 11:15 on Sunday with Saturday’s qualifying session being streamed via itv.com/btcc from 14:40.

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

TOCA support package sets course for Scotland

A bumper crowd is expected to flock to Knockhill this weekend (August 14/15) as the TOCA support package sets course for Scotland.

Taking centre stage alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at the picturesque Fife venue, five championships will write the latest chapter in what have already been captivating stories.

Things couldn’t be closer in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB as it stands with just one point splitting the top three and 15 covering the top six.

Shaping up to be a vintage year for the Carrera Cup, Kiern Jewiss will arrive at Knockhill ahead of Lorcan Hanafin and Dan Cammish, eager to open up his lead across the weekend’s two races.

However, throw into the mix the likes of Will Martin, Lewis Plato and defending champion Harry King and you begin to see why Knockhill is primed for an all-out battle.

With the addition of the postponed Oulton Park bout to factor in, the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship is set for a busy weekend in Scotland as its bumper grid of talented teenagers contest four races.

Liam McNeilly heads into the meeting as the championship leader after scoring a sensational second win of the campaign last time out. The Fox Motorsport driver has been one of the leading lights so far however he is not alone in the battle for title supremacy.

Seb Hopkins, Will Jenkins, Aston Millar, Josh Miller, Tom Edgar and Callum Voisin have established themselves as front-running contenders and each of them will be keen to make their mark as the series moves into the second half of the season.

The Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup has served up its fair share of memorable moments this year already and more are expected from the monstrous one-make category as it makes a rare appearance north of the border.

Perennial title challenger Tom Hibbert finds himself in the box seat currently after enjoying a dream weekend at Oulton Park where he scored a pair of wins. The pendulum has swung in favour of Hibbert currently but it could yet swing back to Adam Smalley, who is also firmly in the mix.

Max Bird managed to extend his advantage at the top of the MINI CHALLENGE JCW Championship standings last time out and doing so again will be the aim of the Excelr8 Motorsport driver heading into this weekend.

In what has been a frenetic year for the single-make series so far, the twists and turns of Knockhill’s 1.16-mile track will undoubtedly produce even more breathtaking moments.

Whilst Bird holds the initiative, the likes of Dan Zelos, Lewis Brown, Sam Weller and Max Coates, among many more, will all be looking to topple him.

Rounding out the weekend’s action, as always, will be three contests from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost, which continues to be currently led by James Hedley.

All of Sunday’s action will be broadcast live on ITV4, with coverage scheduled to begin at 11:15.

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

Ginetta confirm dates for Junior Scholarship and Winter Series events

Dates for Ginetta’s hugely-popular Junior Scholarship and Winter Series events have been confirmed for later in the year.

As one of the biggest prizes in UK motorsport, the Ginetta Junior Scholarship attracts some of the country’s top karters and undiscovered racing talent as they battle to win a fully-funded season in the Ginetta Junior Championship.

Taking place at Blyton Park on November 5/6/7, the three-day event features two qualification days with up to 30 drivers taking part in driving, fitness and media assessments.

The third day will play host to the grand finale, where the 20 most promising drivers from the first two days are invited back for further driving and media assessment. From there a judging panel will select one winner who will go onto compete in the Ginetta Junior Champinship in 2022.

On November 13/14, the Ginetta Junior Winter Series will make a popular return after not taking place in 2020 due to the main championship calendar being pushed back.

Playing out around Brands Hatch, the usual format of qualifying and two races on both the Saturday and Sunday will decide who walks away as this years champion.

To find out more information on both these events, head to https://www.ginetta.com/. 

Bobby Thompson to make racing return with Mighty Minis

Former British Touring Car Championship driver Bobby Thompson is set to make a return to racing later this month at Brands Hatch (August 21/22) as he lines up on the grid of the Mighty Minis Championship.

Thompson hasn’t raced since last October at Croft when he suffered a high-speed barrel roll in his Audi S3, which ultimately ruled him out from competing for the remainder of the 2020 season.

Having undergone a multitude of medical tests, Thompson is using this guest drive to not only test himself but also kick-start what he hopes will be the path back to Britain’s premier motorsport series.

The 25-year-old isn’t the only former BTCC driver to have turned to Mighty Minis to get back behind the wheel, with Jeff Smith doing so after he too suffered a sizeable accident at Croft in 2017.

Commenting on getting back behind the wheel, Thompson said: “This will be my first competitive event racing since I had my crash at Croft last year. I’ve been through all of the medical tests since then

“Obviously since the crash I have done lots and lots of track and coaching days but this will be my first proper race. It will be nice to get the competitive feeling back and have a bit of fun.

“This is a great opportunity for me to not only race competitively but also give back to my sponsors and begin to get the ball rolling on making a return to the BTCC in 2022.

“I’ve had a good relationship with Rodger [Tello, Mighty Minis Coordinator] and we have often spoken about getting me out in a car. I’ve always wanted to race them so when he came to me and said there was a seat available I jumped at the chance. He had a long list of drivers he could have called so I’m thankful he picked up the phone for me.

To find out more information on the Mighty Minis Championship, head to http://mightyminis.co.uk/.

Additional information on Thompson can be found by visiting HERE.

Mixed weather adds to BARC spectacle at Croft

Mixed weather conditions only added to the spectacle at Croft this past weekend (August 7/8) as the British Automobile Racing Club served up a motorsport bonanza in North Yorkshire.

In what is always a popular trip to the north of England, five championships continued their campaigns in front of an enthusiastic trackside crowd.

Miles Rudman maintained his position at the top of the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres standings after producing an impressive performance around the 2.12-mile circuit.

Chalking up two wins, the former champion was one of the leading lights over the course of the weekend whilst there were also victories for John Mickel, Will Gibson and a brace of Jack Parker.

The Caterham Graduates Championship produced its fair share of thrills and spills with no less than four races taking centre stage too. Wheel-to-wheel action ran throughout the entire Sigma 135 class as James McCall and David Read each scored victory.

Elsewhere, the amalgamated Sigma 150 / Sigmax bouts also saw a different driver stand on the top step of the podium in each encounter. Harry Senior – one of the in-form drivers heading into the event – starred in race one as he powered to victory before Ben Winrow came to the fore in race two.

There was unmissable action in the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship. Jon Woolfitt powered his Spire GTR to top spot in race one before Paul Rose bounced back from a retirement to end the weekend on a high, winning race two.

It proved to be an emotional weekend for the Silverlake C1 Racing Series as the Club paid tribute to the late Angela Lucas, who tragically passed away at an event at Snetterton last month.

Following a poignant tribute lap, the 31-car grid embarked on an action-packed three-hour race which saw Team Davies ultimately prevail. The team of John Davies and Matthew Davies delivered a commanding drive to claim the chequered flag by more than 30 seconds.

Capping off the weekend’s track action were two contests from the ever-entertaining MINI CHALLENGE Trophy. Boasting a near 30-car field, Joe Wiggin and Nicky Taylor enjoyed a share of the spoils as they claimed a win apiece.

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

Croft Circuit ready to welcome BARC for full-throttle weekend

The British Automobile Racing Club heads north to Croft Circuit this coming weekend (August 7/8) for two days of full-throttle action from no less than five championships.

In what is always a popular visit to the North Yorkshire venue – which is owned and operated by the BARC – Croft’s 2.12-mile layout of sweeping curves and precise braking points make it real challenge and a firm favourite for those behind the wheel.

One of the headline acts for the anticipated bumper trackside crowd will be the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres. Renowned for producing edge-of-the-seat wheel-to-wheel moments, the pocket rockets will duke it out in six contests over the course of the weekend.

Former champion Miles Rudman finds himself in the box seat as the driver to beat currently however the likes of Will Gibson, John Mickel, Sean Smith, Jack Parker and Nick Bridgeman are all hot on his heels.

The Caterham Graduates Championship has arguably enjoyed one of its best years to date so far and it looks set to continue at the home of motorsport in the north of England. With near capacity entry lists for its Sigma 135, Sigma 150 and Sigmax classes, the series has gone from strength-to-strength in 2021.

With the business end of the season now rapidly approaching, every point will be critical in deciding who will end the year crowned champion. Notable names to look out for across both days includes Harry Senior, Jamie Ellwood, Ben Winrow, James McCall and Harry Cramer, amongst many more.

Fans will see plenty of variety courtesy of the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship too. Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, the multi-class category has been a smash-hit for more than three decades now.

Also boasting a bumper grid, some names that will be worth casting a watchful eye over during the weekend’s two scheduled races include Paul Dobson, Jamie Cryer and Graeme Smith.

The Silverlake C1 Racing Series is poised for an emotional return to the track at Croft this weekend as it prepares to pay tribute to the late Angela Lucas.

Whilst competing in the series’ four-hour race at Snetterton last month, Lucas sadly lost her life following an accident in the final hour of the contest at the Norfolk venue. A popular figure amongst the C1 Racing Club members and well-known throughout the motorsport community, Lucas’ tragic passing has seen the sport unite in recent weeks.

The one-make category will take centre stage on Sunday for a three-hour bout and it is expected to boast an ultra-competitive entry as well. Before that however, a parade lap will take place with the entire grid in honour of Lucas.

Rounding out the weekend’s action will be a pair of races from the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy. Matt Hammond currently leads the way however a sizeable accident at Oulton Park recently has left him in doubt to compete; if he doesn’t then the likes of Dominic Wheately, Harry Nunn and Charlie Mann will all be aiming to close the gap to the standings summit.

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

Further information in regards to tickets and what time gates open can be found HERE.

BTCC Hybrid car set to make race debut at Silverstone

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship has announced that its new-for-2022 hybrid system will likely makes its race debut at Silverstone on September 25/26.

Driven by 2013 champion Andrew Jordan – who will compete in the series for the first time since the 2019 finale – the Toyota Corolla will take part in both free practice sessions, qualifying and all three races.

As such, the outing will mark the maiden event for the new 2022 customer TOCA engine – developed by M-Sport – which has been run in the hybrid car throughout its testing programme this year.

Jordan is no stranger to the car having conducted a majority of the testing behind the wheel. Although scheduled to compete in all six sessions, the car will take each start from the pit-lane at Silverstone so as not to interfere with the ongoing championship.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “It’s not set in stone – it depends on how we’re getting along in the development cycle, but the plan is to run at Silverstone in free practice, qualifying and the three races.

“It will be invisible as far as points go; it will qualify, but wherever it qualifies it won’t start there. It’s more of a demonstration than a race – it won’t get involved in any dicing with anyone else.

“Competing at our Silverstone event is part of its full development cycle; although the hybrid components and engine have done far in excess of a seasons worth of running, we want it to also go through a normal race weekend procedure.

“So whilst it won’t get involved in any real dicing with other cars, it’s important that our fans and partners have the opportunity of seeing the hybrid car in action ahead of 2022.”