Author: Chris Ashby

Successful first weekend on-track as BARC embraces ‘new normal’

Face masks, social distancing and revised protocols; they were just some of the new measures put in place at Cadwell Park this past weekend (July 4/5) as the British Automobile Racing Club made a triumphant return to the track. 

More than 100 days since motorsport in the UK was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, four of the Club’s championships visited the picturesque Lincolnshire venue to mark the start of what is now a condensed 2020 season.

Whilst spectators were not permitted to attend; competitors, teams and officials all got to grips with what is being dubbed as the ‘new normal’ for the foreseeable future – and it proved to be a successful first outing for all involved.

Prior to the event, the Club issued its own guidelines for Competitors and Officials which outlined the adjustments that had been made to the practice and procedures in order to continue providing the safest possible environment.

With driver and marshal sign-on completed online, Personal Protective Equipment such as face masks were a mandatory requirement once at the venue to whilst social distancing was implemented wherever possible in the paddock and pit-lane.

In the absence of paperwork being distributed over the course of the weekend, a ‘Virtual Noticeboard’ was also created on the Club’s website to ensure that competitors and officials were being kept abreast with the latest updates.

Commenting on the success of the weekend as a whole, David Wheadon, BARC Competitions Secretary, said: “I just want to thank all the competitors for an outstanding meeting at Cadwell this weekend just gone.

“Apart from all the brilliant racing we experienced at the meeting, I was equally impressed with our competitors, their guests and all of our Marshals & Officials attitudes towards the new COVID safety regulations with regards to social distancing, PPE and personal hygiene.

“Motorsport UK had sent representatives to the event on the Saturday and they were equally impressed with their observations of everything as a whole.

As one of the first Motorsport UK permitted events happening in the post lockdown era, BARC understood that how our event performed would have a knock on effect on future events held throughout the remainder of the 2020 season.

“The phrase “start as you mean to go on” has never been more appropriate! Well done to all involved.”

The British Automobile Racing Club now heads to Croft this weekend (July 11/12), with several more championships set to kick off their own condensed 2020 campaigns.

Cadwell Park serves up blockbuster action on season-opening BARC weekend

Cadwell Park provided a fitting backdrop for the British Automobile Racing Club’s long-awaited 2020 season-opener this past weekend (July 4/5); with plenty of edge-of-the-seat, blockbuster action being served up by each championship over the course of both days.

With motorsport having been suspended since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, racing finally roared back into life and in style too as new protocols were introduced whilst spectators were unfortunately not permitted.

Lewis Saunders’ quest to make history in the Junior Saloon Car Championship got off to the perfect start as he took a pair of race wins around the tight, twisty Lincolnshire venue.

Aiming to become the first two-time champion in the teenage series, the 2018 title winner powered his way to victory in race one ahead of Charlie Hand and Benjamin Greenhill. Saunders replicated his superlative performance in race two, leading home Hand and Alex Solley.

In the 2CV Parts.com Classic Racing Championship, a 15-car grid kicked off what is set to be another memorable year of on-track action with two entertaining encounters.

Alec Graham narrowly beat Sandro Proietti in race one to take the spoils before Luca Proietti turned the tables on Graham in race two, taking the chequered flag by just under a second.

The Classic Touring Car Championship boasted big grids and a wide variety of machinery across its eight scheduled races – with several drivers taking centre stage as well.

Guy Smith was the driver to beat in the Poultec – Classic Race Engines Pre ’66 Touring Cars, powering his Ford Lotus Cortina to a brace of race wins – with Roger Stanford and Peter Smith hot on his heels on both occasions.

The Shell Oil Pre 83′ Touring Car Championship saw a familiar name at the helm across both days as Stephen Primett notched two wins. Setting his sights on yet another CTCRC crown, the Ford Escort MK1 driver proved unstoppable all weekend.

In the amalgamated Laser Tools Pre-93 Touring Cars Championship and Simply Serviced Pre-2003 Touring Cars Championship races, Alexander Owen and his trusty Honda Civic Type R proved too hot to handle as he also claimed a pair of wins.

Rounding out the CTCRC action was the combined Burton Power Products Blue Oval Saloon Series and Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder Saloons Championship. Andy Robinson and Michael Pensaville took a win apiece following two frantic encounters.

Representing the Club’s North West Centre, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship had those in attendance on the edge of their seats as Paul Rose and Paul Dobson topped the rostrum after two pulsating races.

Bringing the curtain down on the weekend’s entertainment were races from the British Superkarts Championship, where Liam Morley clinched a sensational hat-trick of wins.

To view the full classification of results from all championships competing at Cadwell Park, click here.

The British Automobile Racing Club will be back in action this coming weekend (July 11/12) at Croft as several other championships kick off their 2020 campaigns.

Thruxton Circuit announces five-event post-lockdown calendar

Thruxton Circuit is making preparations for a busy second half of the 2020 motorsport season after announcing a post-lockdown schedule comprising of five events.

With UK motor racing having been suspended since late March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the much-loved Hampshire track has worked hard to piece together a calendar.

The Classic Sports Car Club will kick off what is set to be a feast of on-track entertainment over the coming months with its eclectic mix of infamous racers going wheel-to-wheel on July 25/26.

On August 15/16, the high-speed venue will then take a trip down memory lane as a bygone era of machinery takes centre stage for the coveted ‘Thruxton Historic’ meeting.

One week later on August 22/23, attention will turn to the British Racing & Sports Car Club as it makes a welcome return with multiple Caterham categories and Fun Cup Championship topping the bill.

Moving from its traditional May date, the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship and TOCA support categories will speed into the fastest circuit in the country on September 19/20.

As the 2020 campaign begins to edge towards its conclusion, three high-octane races from Britain’s premier race series will provide plenty of tin top thrills and spills.

Rounding out Thruxton’s revised schedule will be a two-day event hosted by the British Automobile Racing Club on October 24/25.

Unfortunately, both the Bennetts British Superbike Championship and the BTRC British Truck Racing Championship meetings have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will now return in 2021.

All dates and events remain provisional and subject to change in line with the latest government guidelines.

The CSCC race meeting will be run behind closed doors (no spectators) but the venue is hopeful that spectators will be able to attend the remaining events. Confirmation is expected in the next few weeks.

Thruxton Circuit – Revised Provisional 2020 Calendar

July 25/26 – Classic Sports Car Club

August 15/16 – Thruxton Historic

August 22/23 – British Racing & Sports Car Club

September 19/20 – Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship

October 24/25 – British Automobile Racing Club

Gurston Down cancels remaining 2020 events

Gurston Down Speed Hillclimb has confirmed that it has cancelled its remaining events that were scheduled to take place in 2020.

Operated by the Club’s South West Centre, the Salisbury-based venue had been set to play host to the likes of the British Hillclimb Championship, amongst other meetings, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

A statement on Gurston Down’s website read: “After an exhaustive Committee meeting on the 29th June 2020, BARC South West Centre have to announce that we will not be running an event on 30th August 2020.

“As many of you already know, as a consequence, there will be no hill climb events at Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb for the 2020 season. The Turbo Dynamics Gurston Down Hill Climb Championship and the Cavendish Ships Store BARC SW Top Ten Challenge have both been cancelled as has our Annual Awards Dinner in November.

“The Committee heard from all of those involved in the running of the event, discussed the safety and financial implications, as well as views from each of the committee members.

“The primary concern of the Committee was driver and stakeholder safety. The Committee, by majority vote, decided that the event could not be run taking into account all of the current guidance issued by Motorsport UK, BARC, HM Government and the other stakeholders.

“Our Competition Secretary, Nick Revels will be in touch with all competitors over the next few weeks to arrange refunds. These refunds will be processed as quickly as possible.”

BARC championships ready to get back on track at Cadwell Park

The British Automobile Racing Club will take centre stage at Cadwell Park this weekend (July 4/5) for the first event of the 2020 season; with a blockbuster two days of ultra-competitive action lined up.

After months of uncertainty due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the UK motorsport scene is set to kick back into life although spectators will not be permitted to attend and strict post-lockdown rules are now in place to combat the spread of the virus.

Packed with tight turns, flowing corners and undulation; the Lincolnshire-based venue has been a popular destination for racers down the years and is set to be a fitting backdrop to start what will be a condensed and frenetic campaign over the coming months.

Topping the bill over the course of the weekend will be two races from the Junior Saloon Car Championship, home to the stars of tomorrow. Open to drivers aged 14 to 17, the one-make series has become renowned for producing plenty of thrills and spills and this year is set to be no different.

Former champion Lewis Saunders headlines the entry list as he bids to become the first two-time JSCC champion however he will be faced with a host of challengers including Ruben Hage, Harry Rice and Scholarship victor Deagen Fairclough, amongst others.

Variety is the spice of life when it comes to the Classic Touring Car Championship and this year’s eclectic mix of tin top machines is shaping up to be no different.

Racing from the Poultec – Classic Race Engines Pre ’66 Touring Cars, Shell Oil Pre 83′ Touring Car Championship, Laser Tools Pre-93 Touring Cars Championship, Simply Serviced Pre-2003 Touring Cars Championship, Toyo Tyres Pre-2005 Production Touring Car Championship, Burton Power Products Blue Oval Saloon Series and Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder Saloons Championship will undoubtedly provide thrilling entertainment.

Action from the Club’s North West Centre flagship category, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship will also take place during the weekend. Home to all manner of machinery, a bumper grid of differing machines are all set for battle across the multiple classes that are in place.

Steeped in more than 25 years worth of history, the 2CV Parts.com Classic Racing Championship has become a stalwart of the BARC and it will begin a three-event series this weekend.

With two races scheduled to take place and defending champion Pete Sparrow absent from the entry list, the door is wide open for someone to be crowned champion. Nick Crispin, Lien Davies and Chris Yates are just three possible contenders that could claim the throne.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action will be racing from the much-loved British Superkarts Championship, where high-octane speeds will be clocked just inches off the ground.

To view more information on this weekend’s 2020 curtain-raiser at Cadwell Park, including the full entry list and official BARC guidelines, click here.

Pembrey Circuit unveils revised provisional 2020 events schedule

Pembrey Circuit is set to play host to a blockbuster season of top-draw racing for the remainder of 2020 after unveiling a revised provisional schedule made up of eight events.

Having had to press pause on celebrating its 30th Anniversary in association with the British Automobile Racing Club due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the home of Welsh motorsport is primed to finally stage race meetings after already opening its doors for professional teams to test.

The Welsh lockdown has provided the venue with the opportunity to complete the build of its brand new garage complex, with further improvements having also been carried out in recent months too.

Working closely with the Welsh Government and Carmarthenshire County Council, the South Wales circuit will now aim to move from exclusive testing to playing host to race meetings.

All dates and events remain provisional and subject to change in line with the current and ever-evolving government guidelines. Spectators are currently not permitted to attend events at this moment in time.

Phil Davies, Pembrey Circuit Manager, said: “These have been trying months for everyone but I am proud that we have been able to persevere through this pandemic and come out the other side in a strong position.

“In recent weeks we have welcomed a host of professional teams for private testing and these have proven to be very successful with our own guidelines in place. Now we are looking forward to playing host to events.

“This hasn’t been the way we had planned to celebrate our 30th Anniversary but with our new garage complex finally built we are certain to make the best of it.”

Pembrey Circuit – Revised Provisional 2020 Calendar

August 8/9 – Toyo Tires BTRDA Rallycross Championship

August 29/30 – British Supermoto Championship

September 12/13 – British Automobile Racing Club

September 26/27 – Classic Motorcycle Racing Club

October 3/4 – BTRC British Truck Racing Championship

October 9/10/11 – NGRR Motorcycle Championships

October 17/18 – Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy

December 28 – Christmas Stages Rally

Croft Circuit revved up to get back racing in 2020

As a return to racing draws nearer following, Croft Circuit is readying itself to play host to top-level motorsport once more in 2020 – with a four-event post-lockdown schedule having been announced.

All dates and events remain provisional and subject to change in line with the current and ever-evolving government guidelines. Spectators are currently not permitted to attend events at this moment in time.

The British Automobile Racing Club will lift the curtain on the revised schedule with a two-day bonanza on July 11/12, with the likes of the Legends Cars Championship and Dunlop Endurance Championship, amongst others, all in action.

On September 5/6, the Darlington & District Motor Club will take centre stage with a wide range of cars all vying to reign supreme before the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship rolls into North Yorkshire.

Scheduled to take place on October 10/11, Croft will play host to a pivotal three races for Britain’s premier race series as the 2020 finale draws ever-closer.

Croft’s condensed calendar will then draw to a close on December 13 with the annual Christmas Stages Rally.

Croft Circuit – Revised Provisional 2020 Calendar

July 11/12 – British Automobile Racing Club

September 5/6 – Darlington & District Motor Club

October 10/11 – Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship

December 13 – Christmas Stages Rally

BARC announces revised provisional 2020 calendar for remainder of the year

The British Automobile Racing Club can today (June 22) reveal its revised provisional calendar for the remainder 2020; kicking off on July 4/5 and running right the way through until November 22.

Following on from the suspension of UK motorsport in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Club has worked tirelessly to put together a calendar with the dates available that will suit each individual championship.

Unfortunately, both the British Hillclimb Championship and BARC Connaught Speed Championship have elected to cancel their 2020 campaigns, with the focus now on 2021.

To view the full revised list of 2020 British Automobile Racing Club race meetings, CLICK HERE.

All dates remain provisional and subject to change in line with the current and ever-evolving government guidelines. Spectators are currently not permitted to attend events at this moment in time.

Those wishing to enter a race meeting can do so via the BARC Competitor Entry System.

For those that do not have a Username to access the BARC Competitor Entry System or if you have a general enquiry, please contact BARC Competitors secretary David Wheadon via 01264 882209 or dwheadon@barc.net.

Guidelines for Competitors and Officials have also been published in relation to how BARC race meetings will operate moving forward. They can be viewed by heading to https://www.barc.net/barc-publishes-covid-19-guidelines-for-competitors-and-officials/ 

BARC begins to get back to work as head office partially re-opens

The British Automobile Racing Club will begin getting back to work from today (Monday 22nd June) with the partial re-opening of its head office at Thruxton Circuit, in particular the Competitions Department.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Club’s main office has been closed since late March with all administrative staff furloughed.

With a return to racing on the horizon, the Competitions Department has resumed work in order to prepare for race meetings – starting with those that are being held in July. The rest of the Club’s staff remain furloughed at this point.

Those wishing to enquire about events, whether a competitor or marshal, should contact David Wheadon or Paula Brown via the following means of communication:

David Wheadon – Competitions Secretary – 01264 882209 – dwheadon@barc.net

Paula Brown – Marshals Secretary – 01264 882210 – pbrown@barc.net

Ben Taylor, BARC Chief Executive, said: “It feels like a long time since we closed the doors and sent everyone home, but I would like to thank all our staff, members, competitors and supporters for their patience in recent months.

“We cannot wait to get started again and we are detecting that most people feel the same way, and are desperate to go racing.

“Obviously things will have changed in the meantime and there will be some noticeable changes to our operations and protocols, but we are confident that we can provide a safe and controlled environment for people to enjoy their motor sport at our events and venues.

“We would ask everyone to take particular care of themselves and those around them and ensure that when we do resume, we do so sensibly and responsibly for the safety and well-being of all.”

To view the post-lockdown revised events calendar for the remainder of the year, click here. Spectators are currently not permitted to attend events at this moment in time.

As has been the case throughout this pandemic, the well-being of staff, competitors, officials and all potential visitors to our venues and events remain at the forefront of our considerations at all times.

To that end, changes have been made to operations and protocols which will be communicated to all relevant parties in advance of any events moving forward. This situation will be kept constantly under review and may be subject to change at short notice.

All dates remain provisional and subject to change in line with the current and ever-evolving government guidelines.

‘Raceday Programme with a Difference’ launched for BTCC fans

Fans of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will be primed for the start of the post-lockdown 2020 season, whether watching at home on the sofa or trackside, courtesy of the ‘Raceday Programme with a Difference’ which is on sale now.

Put together by ITV4’s lead commentator David Addison, Motorsport News’ Matt James and more, the programmes serves as the perfect season guide ahead of the curtain-raiser at Donington Park on August 1/2.

The programme is packed with the latest news, features, the revised calendar, an extensive entry list and team guide, social media directory and much more.

The 2020 BTCC Raceday Programme with a Difference can be purchased from https://www.btcc-programme.co.uk/ and costs ÂŁ6.00, including postage.

BARC Connaught Speed Championship sets sights on 2021 after cancelling 2020 campaign

The BARC Connaught Speed Championship is setting its sights on hitting the ground running in 2021 after confirming that it has postponed its 2020 season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Organised and run by the Club’s Midlands Centre, the popular series was hoping to hit new heights after enjoying a stellar 2019 season.

With the first 13 rounds of the 2020 campaign postponed due to the suspension of motorsport in the UK from the end of March, the Midlands Centre kept in close contact with venues and competitors, discussing a range of scenarios and outlining possible contingency plans accordingly.

Unfortunately, based on the availability of dates needed to secure sufficient rounds and create a viable series, the Midlands Centre has elected to cancel the 2020 season with immediate effect.

A club statement said: “We fully appreciate the resultant disappointment amongst our competitors. After the considerable amount of work already invested by Bob Adams, our Championship Coordinator, and other members of the Midlands Centre Competitions Team, this decision has not been taken lightly and is a significant disappointment to us all.

“Based upon conversations with some of our long-standing competitors, we have decided to provide three options regarding the 2020 Championship Registration Fee.

“Those options are as follows: A roll over to the 2021 BARC Speed Championship, a donation to Mind, the championship’s 2020 charity, or a full refund. Bob will be contacting competitors individually regarding their preference.”

The BARC Midlands Centre may not be staging the 2020 BARC Connaught Speed Championship however it is working on potentially running a ‘Grand Finale Sprint’ at Curborough on October 17.

British Hillclimb Championship elects to cancel 2020 season

The British Hillclimb Championship has taken the difficult decision to postpone the 2020 season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Originally scheduled to stage 34 rounds at 11 different venues over the course of the year, the series had been working alongside venues and Motorsport UK on staging a foreshortened season which would take place starting in August, running at five venues over seven weekend’s.

However, recent announcements from the Bugatti Owners’ Club and Prescott Hill has meant that neither the British Hillclimb Championship presented by Avon Tyres or the British Hillclimb Cup presented by Footman James will proceed.

A statement from organisers read: “Clearly this decision was not taken lightly and we have listened to the opinions of the venues and the competitors, who rightly have concerns about safety, before deciding it was better not to continue to try to run a championship this year.

“We will now start plans for 2021 and it is our intention to revise and invigorate the Championship and to implement some changes that will take the Championship forward for another 75 years.

“For any competitor who has registered for the Championships we offer the option of leaving your entry intact, and this will be carried forward to next season regardless of any pricing alterations that may come into effect during that year.”

Competitors are encouraged to contact the British Hillclimb Championship Administrator Jackie Wilson via jackie@britishhillclimb.co.uk.