Author: Chris Ashby

TOCA Junior Championship set for official launch this August

Organisers of the TOCA Junior Championship have today (Monday 22nd July) announced the venue and date for its official launch, as well as where fans will be able to get a first look at the car that will be competing in the new 2025 one-make category.

With the build process of the car approaching its conclusion and an extensive testing programme scheduled to begin in the coming weeks, a strictly invite-only event will be held at the Mercure Daventry Court Hotel on the evening of Tuesday 13th August.

Prospective teams and drivers, as well as media and partners, will be invited to attend as the covers come off the machine – which bares the Chevron name – that drivers aged 14 to 17 will compete against each other in next year.

Information on the championship will also be provided to those in attendance before the registration process formerly opens two days later on Thursday 15th August, with teams and drivers that have legitimate interest to join the series can secure their spot on the entry list.

For the inaugural season of the TOCA Junior Championship, the size of the grid will be capped to a maximum of 26 cars. Spaces will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

A little over a week on from the invite-only launch, spectators will have the opportunity to get up close with the official TOCA Junior car at Donington Park on the 24-25 August as one will be on display in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship paddock.

Dave Beecroft, TOCA Junior Championship Director: “It feels great to finally be able to announce that we will be officially launching the TOCA Junior Championship in less than a months’ time.

“Since the concept of the Championship was first announced we have been inundated with teams and drivers expressing their interest to be on the grid; which has been truly fantastic to see and a testament to the appetite that there is for junior racing in the UK.

“Behind the scenes our team has been working tirelessly to put the finishing touches on the car. Taking the covers off the car to prospective teams and drivers first is something that is important to us and we’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to the Mercure in Daventry.

“To then head to Donington Park afterwards and display the car in the British Touring Car Championship paddock – whereby we will become a fixture on the support bill next year – is just as exciting as the public will be able to give us their reactions.

“Obviously these launches officially mark the countdown to our inaugural race however there is a lot more to look forward to, especially as we have plenty more announcements to make over the coming weeks and months.”

BARC North West Rescue Unit enhances operational capabilities

The British Automobile Racing Club’s North West Rescue Unit has recently enhanced its operational capabilities with the acquisition of a Mini Cutter CCU10 from Holmatro, a leading manufacturer of high-performance rescue equipment.

In what is a significant upgrade for the NW Rescue Unit, the state-of-the-art tool promises both improved efficiency and safety when it comes to critical rescue scenarios.

The Mini Cutter CCU10, designed for precision and power, is crucial in scenarios involving vehicle extrication, allowing rescuers to swiftly and safely cut through components like pedals and steering wheels, enabling trapped individuals to be freed more quickly.

Holmatro’s Mini Cutter CCU10 is renowned for its ergonomic design, lightweight structure, and formidable cutting force, which ensures that even the toughest materials can be handled with ease.

This investment underscores the North West Rescue Unit’s commitment to maintaining cutting-edge equipment and providing the best possible response to incidents; enhancing their ability to perform rapid and effective rescues, potentially saving more lives in the process.

BTCC partners with world renowned oil and additive brand LIQUI MOLY

The British Touring Car Championship has announced that it is welcoming German motor oil and additive manufacturer, LIQUI MOLY, as its ‘Official Oil and Lubricants Partner’ with immediate effect.

Putting pen-to-paper on a long term three-and-a-half-year deal, the relationship between them will officially kick off at Croft at the end of July with the event ‘Presented by LIQUI MOLY’. The brand will then lend its name to the race weekend at Croft for the subsequent events in 2025, 2026 and 2027.

LIQUI MOLY branding will be present at all BTCC race venues, with circuit signage and podium backdrops among the areas in which its logo will be presented. Furthermore, the blue-red-white company branding will be present on the official BTCC website and other media channels.

“The BTCC is not only a firm fixture in motorsport throughout the United Kingdom, but also attracts fans worldwide,” says Debbie Barnes, Managing Director of LIQUI MOLY UK.

“Speed, adrenaline rush, emotions – the BTCC has been thrilling motorsport enthusiasts for decades. Placing LIQUI MOLY in this dynamic environment is the perfect opportunity for us to increase the fascination for our quality brand – and our partners and customers will hugely benefit from this partnership.”

“We are delighted to welcome LIQUI MOLY into the BTCC family,” said Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive. “We have always cherished our loyal and long-term relationships with our very specific and carefully chosen partners, and we look forward to LIQUI MOLY joining that illustrious group.

“LIQUI MOLY is a much admired and trusted motor oil and additive manufacturer throughout the world, not just in motorsport, and we are looking forward to what will be a hugely successful partnership.”

Pembrey to stage inaugural Welsh Motorsport & Supercar Festival

Pembrey Circuit will debut a brand-new event later this year in the shape of the Welsh Motorsport & Supercar Festival, which is scheduled to take place on September 22. 

Set to deliver an action-packed day of automotive excitement, the one-day meeting is set to boast a wide variety of machines – and it’s not to be missed. 

To coincide with it being more than three decades since the legendary Ayrton Senna set the fastest ever lap around Pembrey, a display of Historic Formula 1 cars will be situated in the paddock for all to see.

Elsewhere, a stunning array of supercars will be front and centre while those in attendance will also be able to marvel at timeless Classic & Historic Car Collections. 

The power and precision of both Rallycross and Rally cars will also be demonstrated, with those with an interest for two-wheeled machinery being well catered for too. 

There will be plenty to see and do off-track as well with live music and celebrity interviews taking place on the main stage. Junior electric motocross, tractor pulling, a funfair, trade stands and a food village will guarantee further fun for the whole family. 

Tickets for the event are available to purchase on the Pembrey website HERE. 

BTCC welcoming applications for new teams to join 2025 grid

The British Touring Car Championship has announced that it has opened applications from interested teams that are looking to join the UK’s premier motorsport series from the 2025 season onwards.

Having reached its ‘quality over quantity’ targets for the 2024 campaign, BTCC Chief Executive Alan Gow will consider applications from ‘fresh, high-quality’ outfits as part of the championship’s forward development plans.

“For the last six years I’ve said many times that, ideally, I’d like to cap our numbers to around 24 cars for several different reasons – not least of which is to support our teams by utilising the sound commercial principle of maintaining ‘supply’ just below ‘demand’ in order to underpin their entries and investment,” said Gow.

“Whilst reviewing these plans I also appreciate that some interested new teams (i.e. non-current TBL holders) have, until now, been unable to join the championship due to the tightly controlled restrictions of the TBL allocation system.

“With that in mind, I’ve opened the door for expressions of interest from up to two, two-car teams who are looking to join the championship from 2025. With high and consistent levels of quality and competitiveness throughout the current grid, the final number could then be capped at 24 cars/TBLs.”

“Stable technical regulations are, of course, one of the most cost-effective ways of controlling costs and equalising competition. So, whilst new technical regulations are due to be introduced from 2027, these will be an evolution of the current hugely successful and stable NGTC regs.

“Therefore, cars purchased or built by current or new teams will also be valid to use during that next phase of the regulations, with only relatively minor updates that are specifically aimed at reducing costs, whilst continuing to provide the proven equality of performance that exists.”

Confidential expressions of interest should be directed to; alan.gow@btcc-toca.com.

Goodwood delivers Festival of Speed to remember

The Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard hit new heights this year as tens of thousands of spectators flocked to West Sussex this past weekend (July 11-14) for the 2024 edition of motoring’s greatest garden party. 

Bringing together a host of eclectic road and competition cars, legendary drivers, riders and global manufacturers, this year’s Festival of Speed saw the focus on the evolution of the motoring industry, from the days of the ‘horseless carriage’ to today’s sustainable march forward.

As always, a stunning Central Feature took pride of place outside Goodwood House and this year it commemorated 100 years of MG. The incredible sculpture paid homage to the iconic manufacturers centenary, with both the past and future showcased/

Whilst the Central Feature stood tall for all to see, jaw-dropping machinery was around almost every turn with a wave of new cars launched, the Supercar Paddock showcasing exotic machines and Electric Avenue offering a glimpse into the present and future for the automotive industry. 

Red Bull Racing were one of many outfits that had their own celebrations, with the Formula 1 powerhouse marking two decades of competition by pairing a number of iconic drivers with some of their most famous single-seater machines.

Of course, it wouldn’t be the Festival of Speed without a plethora of star names and this year proved to be no different with the likes of Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez, Travis Pastrana, Logan Sergeant and Sir Jackie Stewart being just some of the motorsport royalty that was in attendance.

On the prestigious one-mile Hillclimb layout, all manner of cars and bikes entertained the masses and on Sunday afternoon the all-important Hillclimb Shootout saw Romain Dumas claim bragging rights as he piloted the Red Bull-liveried Ford Supervan to a time of 43.98 seconds.

As always, the British Automobile Racing Club continued its tradition of playing a critical role in the organisational side of the multi-day event too by overseeing driver sign-on and providing marshals and officials.

Boasting hundreds of trade stands, live entertainment, an all-action arena and aerial acrobatics from the Red Arrows – plus much more – this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard could arguably stake its claim as being one of the best yet.

You can watch back all the action from the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard HERE.

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

The 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard is scheduled to take place on July 10-13, with tickets set to go on sale in the coming months.

Caterham contingent battle it out around Cadwell Park

Cadwell Park provided the setting for an action-packed two days of British Automobile Racing Club entertainment this past weekend (July 13/14) as Caterham Motorsport and the Caterham Graduates Racing Club took centre stage to deliver all-out entertainment. 

First-time racers continued their motor racing journeys in the latest round of the Caterham Academy Championship, with one race being staged for the White Group and another for the Green Group.

In the White Group, David Hall fended off the advances of Scott Helme to prevail by more than three seconds while James Hall was unstoppable in the Green Group as he halted Bruno van Dyke’s winning streak to take the chequered flag by more than ten seconds. 

Ben Timmons was perfection personified in the Mission Motorsport Caterham Seven 270R Championship as he strengthened his title challenge by clinching a sensational hat-trick of race wins. 

Timmons entered the weekend as the driver to beat and he duly lived up to all expectations as he bounced back from narrowly missing out on pole position to take a victory clean sweep. Ben Wheatley, Lyonel Tollemache, James Emson and Stephen Merritt all tallied podiums behind him.  

Spoils were shared in the Motul Caterham Seven 310R Championship as Harry Cook and Tom Wyllys both stood on the top step of the podium, Cook doing so twice as he came oh-so close to winning all three races like Timmons.

Cook beat Taylor O’Flanagan to the chequered flag in a pulsating opener before Wyllys then gave it everything he had to try and overhaul the race one winner in the second bout. While he was unable to do so on that occasion, he did finally triumph in the weekend’s finale. 

Over in the Bilstein Caterham Roadsport Championship, only two of the three scheduled races were run, with the spoils of battle going the way of Adam Kene and Paul Goldstein. 

The Sim Motorsport Caterham Graduates Racing Club was also in attendance over the course of the weekend at Cadwell Park and they too didn’t disappoint when it came to delivering wheel-to-wheel thrills.

In the Sigma 135 Class, Jamie Winrow was in a league of his own in races one and two as he led home Goldstein however the tables would turn in race three as the latter would take victory ahead of Tom McEwing and Alaric Barney.

Meanwhile, the Sigma 150 Class saw three different drivers stand on the top step of the podium; underlining just how competitive the one-make series has been since the opening round of the campaign. 

Jamie Ellwood kicked off proceedings by claiming a narrow victory ahead of reigning champion Harry Senior in a tense first race before the current title holder then had his moment in the sun as he edged out Henry Heaton in race two; Heaton would be then be the star of race three.

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

British F4 enjoys historic weekend at Zandvoort

The ROKiT British F4 Championship certified by FIA made history this past weekend (July 13/14) as the single-seater series staged its first-ever overseas event at Zandvoort; with Deagen Fairclough and Alex Ninovic claiming the all-important race wins. 

On what was a milestone outing in the Netherlands, a record-breaking grid of 27 cars showcased their talents on European soil – just a few weeks before the venue stages the coveted Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix. 

Hitch Pulse-Eight’s Fairclough was the driver to beat in qualifying on Friday afternoon as he mastered the wet conditions to clinch yet another pole position, beating team-mate Reza Seewooruthun to top spot by more than three tenths of a second. 

Fairclough – who has been the driver to chase since the 2024 blasted into life at Donington Park in April – maintained his front-running form in the weekend’s opening contest as he went on to claim a commanding lights-to-flag victory.

In challenging conditions, Fairclough blasted away from the front row of the grid and ultimately never looked back as he built up a comfortable lead over the subsequent laps, taking the chequered flag by over eight seconds in the end. 

Behind, Rodin Motorsport’s Ninovic extended his sensational run of successive podiums to eight as he got the better of Martin Molner in the early exchanges to net second place, with Molnar completing the rostrum in third. 

Unfortunately, the weekend’s second bout would take two attempts to run after a technical issue with the start lights caused a mass pile-up and damage to a number of cars.

When the action did resume on Sunday morning, Ninovic underlined his credentials as a championship contender by making a lightening start from the second row of the grid to take the lead from team-mate Abbi Pulling.

Once out front, the Rodin ace controlled proceedings while Pulling – who is one of the leading lights of the F1 Academy this year – held off the charging Fairclough to secure second, with the race one winner settling for third.

Fairclough returned to the top step of the podium in the weekend’s final bout as he once again didn’t put a wheel wrong after starting from pole position. Like he had done earlier in the weekend, the second-year racer quickly broke free of the chasing pack to comfortably triumph.

Seewooruthun added to his silverware collection by scooping runners-up laurels while Jack Sherwood emerged unscathed from contact with Ninovic – which cost the latter a trip to the pit lane – to finish in third. 

The ROKiT British F4 Championship certified by FIA continues its 2024 season back on home soil as the series ventures to Knockhill on August 10/11.

BARC preparing to stage AutoSOLO event at Thruxton

The British Automobile Racing Club is poised to stage the Southern Car Club AutoSOLO at Thruxton Circuit on Sunday 21st July.

Designed to test precision and car control on a fun course laid out in the Thruxton paddock, the competition is open to all BARC members – with prizes awarded to the top BARC finisher and the top BARC Junior under 21.

The aim of an AutoSOLO is to negotiate as quickly as possible a memorised, low-speed course without hitting any markers – it is all about car control and is only open to standard road cars, which must be driven to and from the event.

Whilst the event may be at slower pace to the normal sort of events that take place at Thruxton, AutoSOLOs are still highly competitive and leave thousands of competitors all over the country smiling.

The course will be laid out in the paddock at Thruxton and will be marked out by plastic pylons or cones. There will be a number of tests to tackle, with two attempts at each.

The driver with the lowest accumulated time is the winner, although penalties are incurred for hitting cones, failing to stop on a line, or for taking the wrong route. Due to AutoSOLO being a low-speed event, there is no need for special safety gear which means that anyone with a car can enter.

Regulations and entry details for the event can be found HERE.

BARC TV: What’s On This Weekend – July 13/14

The British Automobile Racing Club sets course for Cadwell Park this weekend for what promises to be a blockbuster two days of Caterham track action.

Caterham Motorsport will headline proceedings at the Lincolnshire venue with races from their Academy, Roadsport, 270R and 310R Championship’s, while there will also be high-octane thrills from the Caterham Graduates Racing Club.

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

Saturday 13th July | 13:55 | WATCH LIVE
Sunday 14th July | 09:15 | WATCH LIVE

Also taking place from Thursday 10th July through to Sunday 13th July is the 2024 edition of the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard. Four days of full-throttle action from the famous West Sussex venue will be available to watch on the official Goodwood YouTube channel.

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

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

BARC battles the elements to deliver Thruxton thriller

The British Automobile Racing Club served up two days of blockbuster entertainment on home turf this past weekend (July 6/7) as a number of championships battled the elements around the fastest circuit in the country, Thruxton. 

Welcoming a bumper crowd for the 2024 edition of Convoy on the Plain, the high-speed Hampshire venue played host to a feast of exciting wheel-to-wheel battles across two full-throttle days – with the British Truck Racing Championship topping the bill.

Returning to action after an almost two-month hiatus, the titans of truck racing had everyone on the edge of their seats as they produced five blockbuster contests around the flowing 2.356-mile layout.

In Division 1, reigning eight-time champion Ryan Smith was untouchable out front as he bolstered his quest for a ninth consecutive title by delivering a five-star performance in his Daimler Freightliner. 

Smith converted pole position in races one and two into comfortable lights-to-flag victories before he then showcased his overtaking prowess in the remaining three reverse grid contests, coming from the back of the grid to complete a clean sweep of race wins.

Division 2 saw John Powell and the returning Paul Rivett renew their rivalry as they enjoyed a share of the spoils that were on offer. Powell struck first with victory across the first three races before Rivett – who was returning from injury – tallied a double of his own.

The Junior Saloon Car Championship made a welcome return to Thruxton and the next generation of UK racers didn’t disappoint either as they delivered a trio of captivating races that were packed with action. 

Harry Smith scored his fifth win of the season in the weekend’s opening bout, although this only came after on-the-road winner Jonathan Moore was given a one-place penalty after the chequered flag had fallen. 

Neither Smith or Moore would be able to do anything about Josh Selvadorai in the remaining two bouts, with Selvadorai underlining his credentials as one to watch in the title battle by scoring back-to-back wins. 

Matt Simpson’s absence from the Pickup Truck Racing Championship opened the door for the chasing pack to close in, and that’s exactly what they did as three different drivers stood on the top step of the podium.

Dale Gent held off a number of drivers to claim a hard-fought victory in race one before the experienced Mark Willis battled his way to the front to clinch a commanding victory in race two. Ryan Hadfield then capped off proceedings with a superlative victory in the weekend’s finale. 

Ross Alexander was perfection personified in the MINI CHALLENGE Clubsport with Airtec Motorsport series as he powered his way to a hat-trick of wins – the second time this season he has achieved the feat. 

Alexander entered the meeting as one of the favourites to triumph and he duly lived up to all expectations as he got the better of Stephen Berry and Freddy Hewitt in his Mini Cooper S on each occasion.

The Adrian Flux Insurance MG Owners Club Championship saw high-drama as Steve McDermid and Fergus Campbell clashed exiting Noble Corner in race one which resulted in substantial damage that ruled them out of both contests. 

With two of the favourites to fight for victory watching on from the sidelines, Jonathan Candler stepped up to triumph in race one before Robb Addison then edged out Maninder Golhar to emerge victorious in race two.

Over in the OT Publishing Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires, slip-streaming was at a premium as the tin top category delivered incredible racing which often saw three or more cars going side-by-side on the run up Woodham Hill.

Daniel Munro and Mark Ridout proved to be the stars of the show as they each claimed a win apiece. Munro held off Ridout for his crowning glory in race one before the latter struck back in devastating fashion in race two, winning by more than ten seconds. 

Rounding out the weekend were two races from the ever-entertaining Track Action contingent, with victories going the way of Paul Roddison and Charlotte Birch – the pair being the cream of the crop throughout. 

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

BARC produces captivating Oulton Park race day

The British Automobile Racing Club took on a starring role at Oulton Park this past Saturday (July 6) as four championships produced high drama, wheel-to-wheel entertainment and plenty of enthralling talking points. 

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, the one-day meeting – which took place around the 2.692-mile International layout of the Cheshire venue – was expected to be packed with action from start-to-finish; and it duly delivered in challenging conditions. 

Topping the bill was the latest two-hour instalment of the British Endurance Championship in association with Motorsport UK, which saw the PB Racing with JMH duo of Peter Erceg and Marcus Clutton maintain their 100% winning record.

Arriving at Oulton Park having claimed victory in the previous three events this season, the Audi GT3 duo cemented their status as the team to beat in the overall standings by firstly blasting their way to pole position in qualifying by more than five seconds.

Lining up on the front row of the grid, Erceg and Clutton wasted no time in underlining their front-running credentials by quickly establishing a lead at the front of the field. As the race progressed, their lead only grew and they ultimately went on to triumph by four laps. 

While Erceg and Clutton comfortably reigned supreme, the battle for the remaining two spots on the podium had everyone captivated. Xentek Motorsport would have enough in hand to clinch second while the Porsche 992 Cup duo of Nick Hull and Richard Avery claimed third place. 

Fireworks flew in the Britcar Trophy Championship as the Ginetta G56 GTA proved to be the car to beat, with Marco Anastasi and Seb Dubois enjoying a share of the spoils that were on offer across the day’s two 50-minute contests.

Stephen Fresle and Ben Green had paced the opposition to snare pole position in qualifying however they were unable to stop the Datum Motorsport duo of Anastasi and Maurizio Sciglio as they forced their way to the front and then set about duking it out for overall honours. 

Remarkably there was less than a tenth of second separating the top two in the day’s second bout as Dubois held off the charging Dragon Sport Opel Astra of Rhys Lloyd and Harri Reynolds to score victory. 

The North West Centre’s flagship category, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, didn’t disappoint those that were in attendance either as a bumper entry list served up two very contrasting contests.

Race one proved to be one largely dominated by Stuart Pearson as he guided his AB Sabre to a commanding win of more than 11 seconds over Ben Roberts and Connor Modro, who filled the remaining spots on the podium.

Modro turned the tables on Roberts and Pearson in a shortened, red-flag affected race two a few hours later however as he blasted his Westfield Aero to victory lane by a little under two seconds. 

Concluding proceedings at the picturesque track were two races from the Heroes of FF1600 Sprint Cup Series, which proved to be one of the leading lights at the Thruxton Historic meeting last month. 

Richard Tarling maintained his race-winning form from Thruxton to tally a narrow victory in race one before Callum Grant, who had shadowed Tarling in the opener, then came to the fore to score victory in the finale. 

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