Author: Chris Ashby

BARC delivers Brands Hatch blockbuster on Indy layout

The British Automobile Racing Club served up a late summer spectacular at Brands Hatch this past weekend (August 31/September 1) with Caterham Motorsport grabbing a majority of the headlines around the short Indy layout.

As the 2024 season begins to edge towards what is shaping up to be a thrilling conclusion, the Kent circuit provided a fitting backdrop for some captivating entertainment – which included many breathtaking moments along the way.

The Caterham Academy Championship, which is for drivers that are embarking on their first year in national motorsport, was at the forefront of the action as its Green and White groups served up a blockbuster contest apiece.

In the Green category, Harrison Cavers notched his first win of the season after pipping Bruno van Dyke to the chequered flag by less than a second while Paul Oggelsby got the better of William Harris to triumph in the White group.

Spoils were shared in the Bilstein Caterham Roadsport Championship as Paul Goldstein and Jonathan Emery scored a win apiece. Such was their dominance over the rest of the field, the pair also tailed a second place finish as well.

The Mission Motorsport Caterham Seven 270R Championship produced a trio of memorable races and up until the finale it had looked as though the weekend belonged to the impressive Charlie Lower.

Winning races one and two in commanding fashion, Lower looked on course to record a sensational hat-trick of victories before he was hit with a time penalty for gaining an unfair advantage. That dropped him back to third and handed Harry George the win.

While Lower failed to secure all three wins in his class, Taylor O’Flanagan did manage to achieve the feat in the Motul Caterham Seven 310R Championship. Despite missing out on pole position, O’Flanagan managed to pace the opposition to strengthen his title charge with a maximum score.

Reigning Vertex Caterham Seven UK Championship title holder Lewis Thompson remains firmly in with a shot of retaining his title this season after delivering another impressive display in Caterham’s premier series.

Two wins from three races proved to be the highlight for the accomplished racer with Harry Senior – who has made a name for himself in the Caterham Graduates Championship in recent years – also making it onto the top step of the podium.

Over in the OT Publishing Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires, Daniel Munro was the toast of the field as he charged to an impressive brace of race wins in the popular one-make tin top category.

Munro wasted no time in establishing himself as the driver to beat as he romped to pole position in qualifying before then converting it into consecutive lights-to-flag victories. Mark Ridout and Neale Hurren were the best of the rest in both races to complete the top three.

Also on the billing over the course of the weekend was the Classic Racing Car Club Classic Formula Libres, CMMC Hoosier Tire Intermarque Silhouette Series and CMMCS Ashstone MEP Super Saloon Car Series / Tin Top Series.

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

BARC Awards Evening heads back to Old Thorns Hotel for 2025

The British Automobile Racing Club is delighted to announce that its annual Championship Awards Evening will take place on Saturday 1st February 2025 at the Old Thorns Hotel in Liphook, Hampshire.

On what is always one of the biggest prize-giving nights of the year, race suits and overalls will be swapped for black ties and ball gowns as the great and good of UK motorsport come together for what should be an unforgettable evening, held at a venue that has staged the event in years gone by.

Celebrating a momentous 2024 season, the star-studded evening will include a three-course dinner alongside the customary trophy presentations and live entertainment.

Tickets for the Club’s ‘Big Night Out’ will be on sale shortly, with more information set to follow in due course.

First BARC Mini Festival to take place at Croft Circuit

Croft Circuit will celebrate one of the world’s most iconic cars when the first-ever British Automobile Racing Club Mini Festival takes place next weekend (September 7/8).

There will be something for everyone to enjoy with modern day and classic Minis alongside retro single seaters competing as well as track parades, an autograph session, grid walk and children’s activities, including learner driver sessions for teenagers.

Headlining the circuit action at the new event, which includes 14 races, will be the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, which provides a stepping stone up the racing ladder with drivers closely battling it out in identical R50-spec Cooper models with the one-make series often found on the support bill of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

MINI Trophy competitors will take to the track in three races over the course of the weekend with a chance for fans to get up close to the drivers and their machines with a grid walk at 3pm on Sunday ahead of their final race.

Alongside the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, the Mini Challenge Clubsport with Airtec Motorsport series will go head-to-head in three races over both days. Launched last season as a club level series for Mini racers it is the first time the championship will visit Croft with it also hosting the final round of the series.

The Scottish Mini Cooper Cup will make a trip south over the border to contest three rounds in its penultimate meeting of the season as the Mighty Mini Championship will provide some nostalgia for spectators as classic models of the popular marque line-up on the grid on both Saturday and Sunday to go wheel to wheel.

On Saturday the Heroes of FF1600 Sprint Cup will offer a change of scene with the single seater series, in its debut season, racing twice. The championship features models from the golden era of the 1980s and 1990s with the visit to Croft their final outing of the year following events at Thruxton and Oulton Park.

Sunday will also see a special Mini Enduro event take place with qualifying followed by a 40-minute race whilst there will be track parades, the Paul Swift stunt display and a pit lane autograph session in the morning.

Off the track, children aged between 13 to 17 will have their chance to get behind the wheel of a Mini with the opportunity to learn to drive in the Croft Mini rally cars with other activities as well as a bar and gourmet street food being on offer. There is also a range of VIP packages available for Mini owners starting at ÂŁ38 with those signed up required to be at the circuit by 9.30am on Sunday for the track parade.

Action gets underway at 9.30am on Saturdaywith practice and qualifying before race one at 12.40pm starting with the Scottish Mini Cooper Cup. Sunday begins with a track parade at 10am with racing at midday following the pit lane autograph session at 11.10am.

Ticket prices are ÂŁ18.00 for each day in advance for adults with children aged 15 and under admitted FREE, there is FREE car parking and FREE paddock access.

There are two Mini owner VIP packages available with package one including an entrance ticket, exclusive infield parking and a lap of the circuit costing £38 and package two, which additionally includes a £15 food and soft drink voucher for Croft’s new cafe Hangar 50, costing £50.

For further information, please contact Croft Circuit on 01325 721815 or you can book your tickets online now at: www.croftcircuit.co.uk.

Ayrton Senna’s McLaren MP4/4 to feature at Welsh Motorsport & Supercar Festival

Ayrton Senna’s McLaren MP4/4, which first came to Pembrey Circuit in 1988 and dominated that year’s Formula 1 World Championship, will be the centrepiece of a Senna tribute at the Welsh Motorsport & Supercar Festival.

The festival takes place on Sunday 22 September, exactly 31 years to the day since the Brazilian F1 driver set the fastest lap around the home of Welsh motorsport.

Pembrey will open its doors like never before at the Welsh Motorsport & Supercar Festival, with visitors able to get up close to a collection of historic F1 cars and modern rally cars in the pit garage area. The main infield paddock area will be filled with supercar clubs and displays by Porsche, Lotus, Alpine, Ducati, Toyota, Darrian, historic rally cars, TT motorbikes (and much more!) – while on the outside of the track there will be more supercars and classic cars, tractor pulling demos, junior arena trials bikes, electric motocross, food stations and a funfair.

There will also be a full day of track demo action featuring many of the race and rally cars as well as displays from the renowned Betty’s Surf Shop drifting team and motorcycle stunts courtesy of the Two Brothers Racing Stunt Team.

“We are thrilled that McLaren has agreed to support the Welsh Motorsport & Supercar Festival,” says Phil Davies, Pembrey Circuit Manager.

“Pembrey has enjoyed a long working relationship with McLaren for over thirty-five years, which is still going strong today. Some of Ayrton Senna’s original engineers are still working on these beautiful Heritage cars when they come down. It’s also great to see McLaren back up front in F1 with Lando [Norris] and Oscar [Piastri] who themselves have spent many hours honing their skills at Pembrey in junior category testing.”

It was widely reported at the time that Senna broke the Pembrey lap record in 1988. Less known however is that the team returned five years later to test a ‘stretched’ McLaren MP4/8B powered by a Lamborghini V12 engine. On 22 September 1993, Senna recorded an incredible time of 40.60 secs which remains the fastest lap ever around the Pembrey Circuit.

Winning 15 of 16 races in the 1988 Formula 1 World Championship, the MP4/4 is one of the most successful F1 cars of all time. Senna and Alain Prost finished first and second, scoring 199 points, almost three times as many as runners-up Ferrari.

The car coming to the Welsh Motorsport & Supercar Festival, the MP4/4B-2, was built as one of the test mule cars ahead of the new regulations for the 1989 Formula 1 World Championship. Following a ban on turbocharged engines, the MP4/4B-02 was designed to evaluate Honda’s new 3.5–litre V10, which would be replacing Honda’s V6 Turbo engine in 1989.

“The McLaren MP4/4B was based closely on the dominant MP4/4 of the 1988 season,” explains Neil Oatley, Director of Design and Development at McLaren Racing.

“The chassis, bodywork, cooling system and transmission were all revised to suit the very different concept of power unit, all trimmed to a much lower weight limit of 500 kg.

“In late summer 1988, we ventured to South Wales for McLaren’s first look at the Pembrey venue with the prototype MP4/4B, sister car to the one on display. The circuit operated by the local Llanelli Council was relatively short but was built to a full F1 standard running surface on the site of a disused airfield.

“A little later in the spring of 1989, this particular car, the MP4/4B-2, also made the journey to Carmarthenshire, in the company of a then current 1989 MP4/5 race car forfour days of testing. In those pre-race meeting days, the circuit was yet to gain a pit lane or garages, so the team ‘camped out’ under awning tents on one of the redundant runways inside the apexes of the fast Dibeniand Paddock bends.

“Both of our contemporary drivers, World Champions Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, drove each of the two cars during that particular intense test, only a few days after their infamous ‘fall out’ at Imola. They were particularly impressed by the arrival of a local mobile fish and chip shop to provide hot lunchtime meals for all the crew. In addition to this, Llanelli Council went beyond the call of duty to ensure the team had everything we needed for the whole test to run as smoothly as possible, and even arranged for the coastal rain to stay away.

“The testing with this car certainly contributed enormously to the successes in the 1989 World Championship, which was followed by many further tests with our cars over the years at this remote circuit. Ayrton continued to drive cars at the venue until late into his final year with the team, where notably he tested a prototype Lamborghini-engined car in the company of another of the team’s future World Champions, Mika Häkkinen.

“The McLaren team’s relationship has always been very strong with this wonderful little circuit in Wales, continuing for over 35 years, right up to the present day, where we remain regular visitors with many Heritage collection race cars.”

BARC TV: What’s On This Weekend – August 31/September 1

The British Automobile Racing Club speeds into Kent this weekend for an action-packed two days of wheel-to-wheel entertainment at Brands Hatch.

Taking centre stage on the short Indy layout, no less than 21 races will play out across Saturday and Sunday – all of which will be live streamed via the Club’s YouTube channel too!

Headlining the weekend will be races from Caterham Motorsport, which will be in attendance with its Academy, 270R, 310R, Roadsport and Seven UK Championships. Also on the bill are the latest two rounds of the OT Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires.

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

Saturday 31st August | 12:20 | WATCH HERE
Sunday 1st September | 10:50 | WATCH HERE

To find out more information on this weekend’s race meetings at Brands Hatch, including the official entry lists and timetable, CLICK HERE.

Don’t miss any future BARC LIVE events by subscribing to our YouTube channel HERE.

Championship twists and turns play out across TOCA supports at Donington Park

Championship battles took further twists and turns on the support bill of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Donington Park this past weekend (August 24/25) – setting up what promises to be a tantalising title showdown for a number of one-make categories.

With the business end of the 2024 campaign now very much in sight, the legendary Grand Prix layout of the Leicestershire venue was the battleground for a pulsating two days of wheel-to-wheel action, all in front of a bumper trackside crowd.

One of the undoubted leading lights under the flightpath of East Midlands airport was the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, which staged three captivating races and served up three different race winners.

Renowned for producing close-quarter racing, the tin top series returned to action after a near three-month hiatus and wasted no time in making its mark. Rhys Hurd hit the ground running in the opening encounter as he scored a narrow victory to bolster his title aspirations.

Harry Hickton came to the fore in the weekend’s reverse grid race as he converted pole position into what was a relatively commanding lights-to-flag triumph before his Westbourne Motorsport team-mate Sam Gornall capped things off with victory in a thrilling finale.

Deagen Fairclough moved another step closer to securing an unassailable lead in the ROKiT British F4 Championship certified by FIA after powering his way to a sensational tenth win of the campaign.

Having been the benchmark driver for much of the year, the Hitch Pulse-Eight ace was wheel-perfect in the the weekend’s final race – having claimed runners-up honours in the previous three contests.

Despite his best efforts, Faircloiugh could do nothing to stop Rodin Motorsport from claiming three wins on the bounce, the first of which was scored by Alex Ninovic before James Higgins came to the fore to win back-to-back races.

Over in the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain, Hugo Ellis moved to the top of the championship standings are clinching a crucial win – his third of the season no less – in the ultra-competitive GT series.

The Team Parker Racing driver took advantage of Will Martin’s struggles in race one to assume control at the summit of the leaderboard as he beat to Angus Whiteside and Will Burns to outright honours in a pulsating opening race.

Ellis then added a har-fought podium later in the day as he shadowed George Gamble and brand-new winner Harry Foster across the line in a thrilling second contest.

Rounding out the weekend at Donington Park were three races from the Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain, which saw Max Coates continue to head the standings despite not standing on the top step of the podium this time around.

Instead, that honour went the way of Joe Marshall who claimed a victory either side of Thomas Bradshaw, who also triumphed.

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

The Home of British Motor Racing, Silverstone, provides the penultimate stop on the calendar for the TOCA package on September 21/22.

BTCC title race hots up on dramatic return to Donington Park

The battle for supremacy in the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship saw more twists and turns play out this past weekend (August 24/25) as Colin Turkington, Ash Sutton and Dam Cammish scored a victory apiece at Donington Park – however it is Jake Hill that leads the way in the standings.

Entering the home stretch of the campaign, the UK’s premier motorsport series returned to the Leicestershire venue – albeit this time on the longer Grand Prix circuit – where a bumper trackside crowd was treated to blockbuster entertainment.

Proceeding’s began with LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ’s Josh Cook coming out on top of a breathless qualifying to claim his first pole position in more than two years, and on the home soil of Toyota UK no less.

In what proved to be a captivating fight for pole position, Cook edged out Team BMW’s Turkington to secure the bragging rights while Mikey Doble impressed in his Vauxhall to net third ahead of Sutton and Tom Ingram.

As he has done in each race meeting since the summer break, Turkington reigned supreme in Sunday’s opening encounter as he leapfrogged Cook at the start and then powered clear to clinch a pivotal fifth win of the season.

Despite coming under late pressure from Sutton, Turkington never looked likely to relinquish the lead as he bolstered his own championship aspirations while his BMW stablemate Hill rocketed up the order to complete the podium.

Ingram would endure a less than ideal start to his race day as contact from Doble sent him tumbling down the order on lap one. With the help of a safety car intervention closing the pack up, the Hyundai driver recovered to sixth however things would get worse come race two.

Fighting his way up to second place in no time at all, Ingram looked as though he could wrestle the lead off Sutton; that was until a stone pierced his radiator and forced him to retire as engine temperatures continued to rise.

The departure of the Team Bristol Street Motors driver meant that Sutton, who had grabbed the lead off Turkington on lap one, claimed a crucial win while the Northern Irishman and Hill filled the remaining spots on the rostrum.

The twists and turns of the BTCC title race threw up more drama in the weekend’s final contest as Sutton’s joy was short-lived as he scored zero points after getting caught up in an incident on the opening tour that saw him take an excursion through the gravel.

Out front, Alliance Racing’s Dan Cammish – another title contender – produced a wheel-perfect drive to claim his first win of the season however all eyes were on Ingram as he charged from the back of the grid to clinch runner-up laurels ahead of Aron Taylor-Smith.

Heading into the penultimate event of the season towards the end of September, Hill holds a nine-point advantage at the top of the Drivers’ Championship ahead of Ingram; Sutton, Turkington and Cammish complete the top five.

A strong weekend for NAPA Racing UK saw them continue their march at the summit of the Teams’ Championship, whilst Ford hold a narrow lead over BMW in the battle for the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ title.

Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing are on the verge of securing the Independent Teams’ crown for the first-ever time while Taylor-Smith is closing in on the Independent Drivers’ Championship. His Vauxhall team-mate Doble controls the Jack Sears Trophy leaderboard.

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

The penultimate event of the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will see Rounds 25, 26 & 27 play out around the Home of British Motor Racing, Silverstone, on September 21/22.

Covers officially come off TOCA Junior Championship at exclusive launch event

The Mairon Freight UK TOCA Junior Championship officially launched this evening (13 August) with the covers coming off the car that will power young drivers in the brand-new series from 2025 – the Chevron B1417.

As part of an exclusive event at the Mercure Daventry Court Hotel, the rear-wheel-drive machine took centre stage in front of almost 125 invited guests including those prospective teams and drivers, championship partners, suppliers and media.

Attendees not only had the opportunity to get a first-look at the car, but they were also provided with further insight into the series as it prepares to take its place on the support bill of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) next year.

Hosted by Alan Hyde, guests first heard from BTCC Chief Executive Alan Gow before Tommy Watson, the Chief Executive of title sponsors Mairon Freight UK, took to the microphone. Championship Director Dave Beecroft and Operations Director Vickie MacClinton then took to the stage before formerly revealing the car.

The event was the culmination of almost two years hard work and marked the birthplace of a category that is set to develop and prove talent between the ages of 14 to 17 for many years to come.

Putting safety first

The Chevron B1417 has been designed and built from the ground up as an entry-level machine that has safety at the core of its ethos, allowing young drivers to make the transition from karting to cars as seamlessly as possible.

Built to the highest FIA standards and regulations, the car’s chassis boasts a number of industry-leading features, one of which is the Roll Over Protection System that has been designed in accordance with the latest FIA Homologation Regulations for Safety Cages including utilising a 16mm main hoop.

Side-impact panelling has also been built into the chassis while the driver’s door is filled with energy-absorbing materials; both of which increase the structural integrity of the car and dissipate the force of impacts.

Significant safety features continue inside the cockpit with every car being fitted with a Corbeau ARS-6 (AS.090.21) seat homologated to FIA 8862-2009 standard. The seat is used in conjunction with a six-point harness and FIA 8863-2013 Racing Net; a vital component that protects drivers by preventing debris from entering the cockpit and safeguarding them in a collision.

Inspired by the BTCC, the Chevron chassis also boasts front and rear removable subframes for easy maintenance and repairability, while aerodynamics come in the shape of a front splitter and adjustable rear wing.

Other key features include adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars and sealed two-way suspension dampers with controlled springing. Adjustable functionality has also been built into the steering position and the brake, throttle and clutch pedals.

Weighing approximately 850kg, the car is powered by a custom built four-cylinder naturally aspirated 1898cc engine. Serving as a stepping-stone to professional motorsport, championship competitors will have the benefit of utilising that power through a five-speed manual gearbox and a limited slip differential, both of which will be sealed.

The series will use Goodyear Direzza Race tyres, with restrictions being placed on the number of tyres that are allocated at each event to ensure parity and to also contain costs.

To view the full specification of the Chevron B1417, click here.

Chevron name returns to the track

At the heart of the TOCA Junior Championship is the triumphant return of Chevron Cars to the modern racing scene.

Founded by the late Derek Bennett in 1965, the British manufacturer was once a motorsport powerhouse as it went from humble beginnings in Bolton to enjoying worldwide success across the likes of Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula 5000, Formula Atlantic and Sports Cars.

Unfortunately, the untimely passing of Derek in 1978 led to the company subsequently enduring instability over the next four decades – that was until when the iconic marque recently partnered with the TOCA Junior Championship.

With Championship Director Dave Beecroft having aligned the two brands, the car that will place the next generation of racing drivers behind the wheel will bare the prestigious Chevron badge, and in-doing so pay homage to the company’s engineering credentials at the same time.

Registration process set to open

Applications for the supply of the 2025 TOCA Junior car will be open to teams and drivers from Thursday 15th August, and early indication points towards their being very strong demand.

The series’ inaugural campaign will see the grid capped at 26 cars, with the option to expand on this number in the future. All applications to purchase cars will be evaluated by the organisers of the championship, with teams permitted to field no more than four cars.

Dave Beecroft, TOCA Junior Championship Director, said: “This is a ground-breaking moment for not only the TOCA Junior Championship but also UK motorsport as a whole; and it’s something that myself and the team are all immensely proud of delivering.

“Since being entrusted this project by Alan Gow we have set out on a vision to deliver the safest possible car that also provides a perfect platform for young drivers to thrive and progress – and I’m confident that we have done just that.

“It’s important that I acknowledge and thank every single person and supplier for their outstanding work. It has been a massive undertaking to design and build a new car and we shouldn’t underestimate for a moment everything that went into this.

“I feel that we have a championship that covers all bases for those that are going to be taking their first steps onto the ladder of motorsport: the highest of safety standards, high performance, parity in all the key areas and of course, value for money.

“We’re excited to open up registrations and then go on to showcase the car to the fans. A thorough testing programme is in place and with the build of more cars and many more exciting announcements still to come, we’ve got lots to be looking forward to.”

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, added: “It’s great to see the TOCA Junior Championship coming to life and we’re looking forward to the championship joining the package next season.

“This is a fantastic stepping-stone for young drivers in the UK – a vital bridge between karting and moving into the professional ranks of motorsport. Junior categories in this country have produced Formula 1 race winners and many drivers have gone on to have successful careers in open-wheel, touring car and GT racing – we look forward to the TOCA Junior Championship helping to continue that great tradition.”

Next for the TOCA Junior Championship is the public debut of the Chevron B1417, which is scheduled to take place at the upcoming Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship event at Donington Park on the 24-25 August.

Mairon Freight UK named title sponsors of TOCA Junior Championship

Mairon Freight UK, a trusted worldwide freight management company, has today (12 August) been announced as the title sponsor of the new TOCA Junior Championship.

In what is an exciting multi-year deal that begins with immediate effect, the highly-anticipated young driver series will be now known as the Mairon Freight UK TOCA Junior Championship.

Mairon Freight UK’s sponsorship will include branding on the windscreen of all cars, as well as on official clothing, paddock infrastructure and digital collateral, which will come in the shape of a variety of media platforms.

Founded in 1998, Mairon Freight UK has established itself as a trusted provider of freight services across the globe that specialises in seamless logistical solutions for air, sea and road freight movements.

Boasting extensive experience and industry expertise, the company is a go-to partner for dependable and cost-effective freight solutions, with an emphasis firmly on customer service and competitive pricing.

Racing fans in the UK will be no strangers to the Mairon Freight UK name either with the brand having been partnered with British Touring Car Championship race winners Tom Ingram, Ronan Pearson and EXCELR8 Motorsport for a number of seasons.

Both Mairon Freight UK and the TOCA Junior Championship will hope this partnership attracts even more fans as preparations continue to take centre stage on the support bill of the UK’s premier motorsport series ahead of the inaugural 2025 campaign.

Tommy Watson, Chief Executive of Mairon Freight UK, said: “We are thrilled to be the title sponsor of the new TOCA Junior Championship. Having been involved in motorsport for a number of seasons, seeing this championship come forward for the 2025 season is so exciting, and to be part of it with Mairon Freight is an honour.

“To be in a position to support a championship that has the overriding goal of giving younger drivers a huge platform to build upon is so exciting to see. I’m sure the close racing the series will promote will set them in good stead as they one day embark on the next steps in their careers.”

Vickie MacClinton, TOCA Junior Championship Operations Director, added: “We’re thrilled to welcome Mairon Freight UK into the TOCA Junior fold. This collaboration will undoubtedly enable us to introduce thousands more people to the championship – which is hugely exciting.

“Mairon have underlined that they are industry leaders in the logistics sector and being able to connect with them is something that can benefit us just as much off the track as on it. Aligning with a brand-new championship allows them the opportunity to grow their brand further too.”

BARC takes centre stage at Donington Park for captivating Convoy

Donington Park provided the backdrop to a spectacular two days of on-track entertainment this past weekend (August 10/11) as the British Automobile Racing Club took centre stage in Leicestershire for the 2024 edition of Convoy in the Park. 

Billed as one of the biggest race meetings on the UK motorsport calendar, no less than five championships – and one additional guest category – served up captivating thrills and spills to thousands of fans that had flocked trackside.

Headlining the action around the 1.64-mile National layout were five blockbusters contests from the British Truck Racing Championship, where twists and turns played out in both Division 1 and Division 2.

Ryan Smith remains on course to clinch what would be a record-breaking ninth consecutive title in Division 1 after he bounced back from a frustrating qualifying session to add three more wins to his tally for the season. 

The Daimler Freightliner driver twice charged from the back of the grid to claim runners-up laurels behind David Jenkins on Saturday however come Sunday there was no stopping him as he powered his way to a memorable hat-trick.

Over in Division 2, defending champion Paul Rivett continued his fightback in the points by claiming three impressive wins. There were also visits to the top step of the podium for John Powell and the returning Adam Bintn in his Volvo White Aerodyne.

That wasn’t to be the only truck racing that took place though during the weekend as the International Truck Prix made a welcome return to the schedule following its popular debut last year. 

Boasting an entry list that was packed with high-profile names, the weekend’s four races belonged to Jamie Anderson as he didn’t put a wheel wrong in Neil Yates’ MAN to claim all four race wins. 

Over in the British Endurance Championship in association with Motorsport UK, perfection was the only word that could describe Peter Erceg and Marcus Clutton as they claimed yet another race win in their Audi GT3. 

Maintaining their 100% winning record in the series, the PB Racing by JMH duo edged out the Lamborghini GT3 pairing of John Seale and Jamie Stanley to snare pole position, and they then repeated the feat in that afternoon’s two-hour race; triumphing by a little over a lap.

Further back was the Team Tasman Porsche 991.2 Cup entry of David Harrison and Nathan Luckey who claimed third overall; finishing just ahead of Xentek Motorsport’s Bal Sidhu and Josh Steed who were crowned GT4 champions. 

The Britcar Trophy Championship complimented the long-distance racing with a pair of 50-minute races that threw up two different sets of winners. 

In race one, Jasver Sapra and Bryan Bransom proved too much for the opposition in their BMW E46 M3 to win comfortably win before Lee Goldsmith utilised his rear-wheel-drive BMW to rocket up the order and onto the top step of the rostrum. 

Standing on the highest peak of the podium became a familiar feeling for Matt Simpson who got his title challenge back on-track with a pair of wins in the Pickup Truck Racing Championship.

The former BTCC race winner was at times in a league of his own as he blitzed the opposition to triumph in races one and two however he was denied the chance of completing his hat-trick by Dale Gent, who tallied a win of his own in the finale. 

Steve McDermid bounced back from a high-speed crash at Thruxton by returning to winning ways in the Adrian Flux MG Owners Club Championship. The MG ZR driver reigned supreme in race one however he could only muster second in race two as Howard Hunt came to the fore.

Concluding the weekend’s track action at Donington Park were three races from the MINI CHALLENGE Clubsport with Airtec Motorsport, where the spoils were shared between the series’ top two drivers – Stephen Berry and Ross Alexander. 

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

Every lap from the two-day event is also available to watch on demand via the British Automobile Racing Club YouTube channel HERE.

Title races heat up across TOCA support championships at Knockhill

Blockbuster entertainment proved to be the overriding theme for the TOCA support package this past weekend (August 10/11) as four championships ventured north of the border to dazzle fans Knockhill.

Making the annual trip north of the border alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, 

Stealing many of the headlines around the undulating Fife circuit was EXCELR8 Motorsport’s Dan Zelos, who claimed a historic third Vertu MINI CHALLENGE JCW title with one round still remaining. 

Zelos entered the weekend retaining a slim chance of securing an unassailable lead in the standings but after triumphing in race two and then seeing his main title rival Max Hall retire from the finale, the record-breaking feat was achieved. 

“I’m not really sure what to say as no-one told me it was possible going into that race,” said Zelos. “Of course I didn’t want to win the title like that with Max at the side of the road, particularly through no fault of his own, and it’s a shame that we couldn’t battle it out on the track.

“However, the team has done a fantastic job this season to help give me the buffer in the points to wrap things up early, and it might not have been the most flattering way to win the crown, but we’ve got it done with three races to go.”

Zelos wasn’t the only one that had plenty to celebrate as both Dominic Wheatley and Nathan Edwards also scored race wins over the course of the weekend in the ultra-competitive tin top series. 

In the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA, Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Deagen Fairclough took a substantial step closer to lifting the coveted crown as he clinched his eighth and ninth wins of the campaign.

Having been the benchmark since the season began, Fairclough was in superlative form as he dominated proceedings in races one and three, claiming lights-to-flag victories and the fastest laps in both contests. 

Had he had a few more laps, there was every chance that Fairclough could have triumphed in the reverse grid contest too as he fought his way from outside the top ten to sixth at the finish. JHR Developments Leo Robinson would instead emerge victorious after overhauling Ella Lloyd. 

The Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain delivered two captivating contests with a monstrous grid of 911 GT3 machines putting fans firmly on the edge of their seats. 

Charles Rainford did a masterful job in fending off Hugo Ellis to win race one before ex-BTCC race winner George Gamble claimed a long overdue – and comfortable – win in the weekend’s remaining contest. 

Rounding out the weekend’s action at Knockhill was the Legends Cars Elite Cup with JLM. Never short of entertainment, the 5/8 scale series saw drama play out all the way until the final chequered flag being dropped. 

Among the race winners across both days was Jack Parker, Oli Schlup, Will Gibson and Tyler Read. 

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

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship and TOCA support categories continue their campaigns in less than two weeks’ time, returning to Donington Park to tackle the Grand Prix layout on August 24/25.

Colin Turkington, Jake Hill and Rob Huff fly high in Scotland

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship enjoyed one of its most thrilling events of the 2024 season so far this past weekend (August 10/11) as Colin Turkington, Jake Hill and Rob Huff blasted their way to victory around Knockhill. 

As the UK’s premier motorsport series begins its approach towards the business end of the campaign, the annual trip north of the border saw further twists and turns play out in the battle at the top of the standings – which continues to be headed by Tom Ingram. 

Four-time champion Turkington was once again the driver to beat during Saturday’s qualifying session as he claimed a third pole position of the year, but only after edging out the impressive Árón Taylor-Smith to top spot by 0.035s.

Like he did at Croft, the Team BMW was perfection personified in race one as he converted his front row start into a commanding lights-to-flag win. However while the Northern Irishman cruised to victory, the battle for second place had everyone captivated. 

Taylor-Smith had held firm during the first half of the contest however both Adam Morgan and Josh Cook began to apply pressure as the race drew towards ints conclusion, with both drivers finding a way past at the chicane.

Once clear of the Vauxhall driver, Cook then launched a sensational move around the outside of Morgan at turn one to snatch second place away. Despite quickly pulling away, Cook was unable to making any inroads into Turkington, who had scarpered up the road. 

After battling back from – by his own standards – a tough qualifying, Turkington’s BMW stablemate Hill came to the fore in race two as he utilised the soft tyre to record his sixth win of the season.

The Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport driver wasted no time in fighting his way to the front and once he got into the lead there was no looking back. NAPA Racing UK’s Dan Rowbottom followed Hill’s charge to net second while Turkington tallied more valuable points in third.

An argument could be made that the BTCC saved its best till last as race three proved to be one to remember as TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK’s Rob Huff withstood race-long pressure from Ingram to claim a second win of the season. 

Ingram was another driver that was recovering from a tough qualifying showing but despite his best efforts, he could do nothing to find a way past Huff who was wheel-perfect in his Toyota Corolla GR Sport. 

Huff would hold firm either side of a brief safety car period to triumph while Ingram claimed a well-earned podium; and he was joined on the rostrum by his Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS team-mate Tom Chilton.

Heading back down south, Ingram now leads Hill by three points in the Drivers’ Championship with Ford and NAPA Racing UK topping the Manufacturer-Constructor and Teams’ categories respectively after seven events. 

Aron Taylor-Smith and Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing continue to close in on clinching the Independent Drivers’ and Independent Teams’ crowns, whilst Mikey Doble is the current pace-setter 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 season continues in less than two weeks’ time when the series travels returns to Donington Park – this time on the Grand Prix circuit – on August 24/25.