Author: Chris Ashby

BARC championship serve up Brands Hatch thrills and spills

Brands Hatch played host to a memorable two days of British Automobile Racing Club track action this past weekend (August 1/2) as six championships took centre stage in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

Whilst some categories continuing their 2020 campaigns and others starting them, the Indy configuration of the Kent venue proved to be smash-hit for competitors and spectators alike.

The Classic Touring Car Championship was one that was continuing its condensed season having starred at Cadwell Park last month. With bumper grids of tin top machines from a bygone era, there was something for everyone across the multiple races that took place around the 1.2-mile layout.

James Card and James Janicki took a win apiece in the amalgamated Thunder Saloons and Blue Oval Saloons whilst Alan Greenhalgh was unstoppable across both Pre 66’ Touring Car races in his Ford Falcon.

In the Pre 83’ category, Mike Luck enjoyed a trouble-free two races to cater to victory with Rod Birley doing the same in the two Pre 93’ & Pre 03’ spectacles.

The Dunlop Endurance Championship served up a feast of entertainment as it staged races in both its Endurance and Trophy classes. VR Motorsport duo of Danny Harrison and Jem Hepworth were the victors in the Endurance category whilst Trophy Class spoils were split between Charlie Campbell and Barry McMahon.

Lewis Saunders continued his relentless march towards a second Junior Saloon Car Championship title, sweeping to another brace of race wins to take his tally for the season to six.

Saunders didn’t have things his own way however as the Ciceley Motorsport-backed former champion fended off the race-long advances of Charlie Hand in both encounters, whilst Alex Solley clinched a pair of third place finishes.

James Card was another driver to leave the Kent venue with plenty of silverware, claiming both wins in the opening round of the Kumho BMW Championship. At the wheel of his E46 M3, Card dominated proceedings to kick-start the new season in fine style.

The Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship was another category to see one driver take centre stage as Fergus Campbell lifted the curtain on the new season with a double-winning performance.

Piloting his MG ZR, Campbell led a bumper entry list throughout Sunday’s two races as David Mellor, Steve McDermid and Steve Darbey filled the remaining podium positions.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action at Brands Hatch were two races from the UK Sports Prototype Cup. Having debuted in 2019, the multi-marque series boasted a bumper entry list for the start of its sophomore season and it put on quite the show.

Alex Kapadia narrowly edged out Scott Mansell in the opener before Mansell struck back in race two, getting the better of Bradley Ellis to take home a share of the spoils.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Brands Hatch, click here.

BTCC makes long-awaited return to racing in dramatic fashion at Donington Park

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship blasted back into life in dramatic fashion this past weekend (August 1/2) at Donington Park with Dan Cammish, Colin Turkington and Ashley Sutton sharing the spoils.

Commencing 294 days since the 2019 season finale, Britain’s premier motorsport series took centre stage at the Leicestershire venue to kick-start the new season in style, albeit behind closed doors.

Qualifying around the 1.9-mile circuit proved to be a frenetic affair on Saturday as the 26-car grid chased pole position. Reigning four-time champion Turkington emerged as the driver to beat in the end, setting a new lap record on his way to pole position.

Halfords Yuasa Racing’s Cammish, who qualified second, would go on to score victory in the season-opener after getting the better of Turkington and Sutton in memorable, back and forth battle for the lead.

Launching into second place off the line, Laser Tools Racing’s Sutton was a man on a mission in the opening stages and soon began to hound the back of Turkington. On lap four,  the critical moment of the contest came as Sutton got the switchback on Turkington and made his move.

Running side-by-side through McLeans, contact was made and as the field streamed up to Coppice, Cammish took advantage to squeeze by both of the, while contact from Tom Ingram on Turkington tapped the BMW driver into Sutton – sending him spinning down the order.

Recovering to finish 14th at the flag, it was a race of what ifs for Sutton as Cammish led Turkington to the chequered flag, with Rory Butcher rounding out the podium in the brand-new Motorbase Performance Ford Focus.

Race two would see Turkington cruise to an impressive lights-to-flag victory ahead of Butcher and Team BMW team-mate Tom Oliphant. Out-dragging the ballast ladened Cammish off the line, the Northern Irishman powered his way into the lead and ultimately never looked back.

Further back, all eyes were on 2017 champion Sutton as he once again served up an overtaking masterclass, scything his way though the field to take cross the line in fifth, just behind Ingram.

Virtue of the reverse grid draw, Chris Smiley was drawn onto pole position but it was to be Sutton that stole the show once again, speeding to a historic first victory for the Infiniti Q50 after starting eighth.

In the thick of the action from the get-go, the 26-year-old picked his way through the top ten and soon found himself on the back of an enthralling four-way battle for the lead, which also included Smiley, Ollie Jackson and Josh Cook.

Jumping into second not long after catching the leaders, Sutton soon found a way past Smiley and made his escape to clinch a 15th career win.

At the end of the opening weekend, Turkington holds a slender advantage at the top of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship ahead of Cammish and Sutton, with Team BMW topping the Teams’ Championship.

Honda and BMW are tied at the summit of the BTCC Manufacturer/Constructors Championship whilst Rory Butcher and Motorbase Performance are in control of both Independents’ categories. Michael Crees leads the Jack Sears Trophy.

To view the full results from this past weekend, click here.

Rounds 4, 5 and 6 of the 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship takes place at Brands Hatch on August 8/9.

Brands Hatch beckons for BARC championships

The British Automobile Racing Club makes the first of two scheduled visits to Brands Hatch this weekend (August 1/2) for what should be a spectacular two days of on-track entertainment, with no less than six championships in action.

Following on from successful events at Cadwell Park and Croft last month, this weekend will be a notable one for the Club as it will be the first for spectators to watch in person since motorsport resumed in the UK following the COVID-19 lockdown.

With a total of 20 races set to take place around the iconic Indy layout of the Kent venue across both days, thrills and spills will be all-but guaranteed across each category. 

In the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Lewis Saunders has proven to be the benchmark driver thus far having scored an impressive three wins from four races. Bidding to become the first two-time champion in the series, Saunders has been in fine form but hasn’t had things all his own way.

Charlie Hand has been the other race winner and alongside the likes of Molly Dodd, Ruben Hage and Jake Weston, things are far from a forgone conclusion – especially with two more encounters taking centre stage this weekend.

Variety has always proven to be the spice of life in the Classic Touring Car Championship and that was on full show last month as a bumper entry list of tin top titans lifted the curtain on the new season.

Featuring cars built in 1966 through to the early noughties, the CTCRC has something for everyone. Expect the likes of Guy Smith, Stephen Primett, Alexander Owen and Andy Robinson to be some of the names dicing towards the front for outright honours.

The Dunlop Endurance Championship starred at Croft several weeks ago and it is set to do so once again in Kent as a feast of GT machinery will do battle across a pair of 50-minute races.

At Croft, the RAW Motorsport duo of Steve Burgess and Ben Dimmack, as well as VR Motorsport’s Danny Harrison, shared the spoils and while both will be keen to replicate that feat once again this weekend, the competition is likely to make it a tough fight to do so.

Whilst several championships will be back in action this weekend, Brands Hatch will also represent the opening event of what is now a condensed 2020 season for some.

One category which will be making its first appearance of the campaign will be the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship. Home to some of the most famous cars to ever be built, the cost-effective category has been much-loved for a number of years.

Notable drivers to cast a watchful eye over at Brands Hatch include series stalwarts Jim Baynam, Stuart Plotnek, Steve McDermid and Will Sharpe – to name but a few.

Fans of all things BMW will be well-catered for over the course of the weekend as the Kumho BMW Championship roars into life for another year.

Home to all manner of models that have been produced by the Bavarian manufacturer, rear-wheel-drive rules the roost and is a sight to behold across all classes.

Rounding out the weekend will be action from the UK Sports Prototype Cup, which is embarking on its sophomore season in 2020. Looking to build on the foundations that it laid down last year, the multi-marque series boasts an ultra-competitive grid so expect fireworks to fly.

To view all of the important information ahead of this weekend’s event at Brands Hatch, such as links to the entry list and timetable, click here.

TOCA support championships ready to blast into life at Donington Park

It won’t just be the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship that takes centre stage at Donington Park this weekend (August 1/2) as championships from the TOCA support package will blast into life and begin their 2020 campaigns.

Marking the start of what is set to be a frenetic three-and-a-half months of racing, five categories will descend on the Leicestershire venue and hit the track for the first time since lockdown restrictions were eased.

The Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship has an exciting new look to it this year with a host of new faces joining a small group of second year contenders on the grid.

Joel Pearson, Josh Rattican, Bailey Voisin and Freddie Tomlinson are four of those returning and the quartet will undoubtedly be in the mix for outright honours across the weekend’s three Junior races.

Of the rookie drivers that will be keen to impress on their debut; Scholarship winner Tom Lebbon, Tom Edgar, William Vincent and Josh Miller will be ones to watch – as will last years Winter Series victor Aston Millar.

In the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup, a mix of championship returnees and talented newcomers will come together for what should be blockbuster triple-header under the flightpath of East Midlands airport.

Will Burns and Tom Hibbert, title contenders in 2019, lead the entry list and will be hard to bet against however the likes of Adam Smalley, Tom Emson, Gus Burton and Fin Green shouldn’t be counted out either.

The Porsche Carrera Cup GB, the fastest and most successful single marque GT championship in the UK, has become renowned for producing edge-of-the-seat entertainment down the years and 2020 should be no different.

Boasting an entry list that includes the likes of Harry King, Josh Webster, Scott McKenna, Ryan Ratcliffe and Esmee Hawkey, the Carrera Cup GB’s two encounters shouldn’t be missed.

One new addition to the TOCA support bill this year comes in the shape of the MINI CHALLENGE JCW Championship, which replaces the outgoing Renault UK Clio Cup. Armed with a 30-car grid and equal machinery, the one-make tin top series has proven to smash-hit in recent years.

Notable names to keep an eye on across the weekend’s opening three races include Max Coates, Ethan Hammerton, Calum Newsham, Max Bird and Dan Zelos, amongst many more.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action will be a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost, with a bumper entry list primed to battle it our for the single seater crown.

ITV4 will present live coverage of all the race day action on Sunday with the broadcast scheduled to begin at 10:40.

For more information on this weekend’s race meeting, including links to the timetable and live timing, click here.

BTCC revved up for Donington Park curtain-raiser

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship makes it long-awaited return this weekend (August 1/2) with three races at Donington Park marking the start of what is set to be an action-packed three-and-a-half months of blockbuster entertainment.

With motorsport having come to an abrupt stop back in March due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Britain’s premier race series has been busy preparing for a safe return and has put together a rescheduled 27-race schedule, taking place across nine of the UK’s best circuit layouts.

Like any championship, the BTCC has been impacted by the pandemic and has subsequently seen the likes of Andrew Jordan, Jason Plato and Mat Jackson all sidelined for the 2020 campaign.

One man that will be on-track however is reigning champion Colin Turkington, who is looking to clinch a record-breaking fifth BTCC title at the wheel of his West Surrey Racing BMW 330i M Sport.

Triumphing in dramatic style last year, the Northern Irishman is back to defend his crown with Team BMW alongside Tom Oliphant and will undoubtedly be hard to beat.

Whilst Turkington heads into the opening event of what is a condensed campaign, the list of challengers that threaten to take his title away from him in 2020 is vast.

Halfords Yuasa Racing came close to overall victory last year and the Honda Civic Type R outfit have retained the services of Dan Cammish and Matt Neal in the hope that they can go one better this time around.

BTC Racing will also field Honda Civic Type R’s once again and they will put their faith in Josh Cook, Tom Chilton and Michael Crees to finally deliver championship silverware.

Tom Ingram meanwhile has a season under his belt with the Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Corolla and his sights are firmly set on clinching a maiden title after finishing runner-up to Turkington in 2018.

Elsewhere, Laser Tools Racing have expanded their driver line-up for this season with former champion Ashley Sutton joining Aiden Moffat whilst Rory Butcher has switched to Motorbase Performance to spearhead its charge with the brand new Ford Focus.

Other notable names to keep an eye on over the course of the weekend at Donington Park include Jake Hill, Adam Morgan, Jack Goff, Senna Proctor, Stephen Jelley, Chris Smiley and Bobby Thompson – amongst others.

With three races scheduled to take place around the 1.9-mile Leicestershire venue, every point is set to be crucial in determining who will lift the coveted title come the end of the season at Brands Hatch in November.

ITV4 will present live coverage of all the race day action on Sunday with the broadcast scheduled to begin at 10:40.

For more information on this weekend’s race meeting, including links to the timetable and live timing, click here.

New BTCC video game set to launch in 2022

The British Touring Car Championship has announced that Motorsport Games has secured multi-year license to create the official video game and associated Esports for Britain’s premier race series.

Scheduled to launch in 2022, the new BTCC game will be developed for new generation consoles, as well as PC, using market leading technology with an option to also develop a mobile version. 

The BTCC proved popular with gamers in the 1990’s thanks to the TOCA Touring Cars series on PlayStation, but hasn’t appeared on PC or console platforms in an official capacity for more than 15 years.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “Finally, I’m proud to say that the huge demand from the BTCC and TOCA game fans is being answered.

“Just like the original BTCC/TOCA game, this will be a dedicated BTCC game featuring all the cars, all the teams, all the drivers and all the circuits – not merely some elements partially incorporated into an existing game. 

“It is hugely important to me, our teams, drivers and fans that any new BTCC game reflected exactly what everyone loves about our championship; the incredibly close non-stop action, intense competition and great enjoyment. I’ve no doubt that Motorsport Games will deliver exactly that.”

Stephen Hood, President of Motorsport Games, added: “This partnership is a clear signal of the enormous trust that the BTCC has placed in Motorsport Games. Our team demonstrated real enthusiasm for the project from day one, and our ambitions were immediately aligned.

“The opportunity is clear for all to see and we look forward to deploying the significant and proven capabilities of our esports, game development and media teams to return this series back to the forefront of gaming.”

BARC members to benefit from discounted Autosport subscription

New and existing members of the British Automobile Racing Club can now benefit from a discounted rate on a subscription to Autosport.

Autosport, which has been covering motorsport from Formula 1 to grassroots competition for nearly 70 years, is expanding its UK club racing coverage and has put together an exclusive subscription rate with the BARC that’s only available to Club members.

Members can have Autosport Magazine delivered straight to their door, access the digital magazine archive and have unlimited access to all Autosport Plus premium content on an ad-free version of Autosport.com for as little as £8.99 a month – an additional 25% off the current pricing.

For more information or take advantage of this special offer, visit: www.autosportmedia.com/offer/barc

To become a member of the BARC, simply head to www.barc.net/membership.

Survey results praise BARC’s return to racing action

The British Automobile Racing Club’s return to the track in recent weeks has been widely welcomed by competitors, marshals, officials and organisers who have completed a post-event survey.

With major sports having been suspended during recent months due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the appetite for national motorsport to resume has been great and bumper grids took centre stage at Cadwell Park (July 4/5) and Croft (July 11/12) for the BARC.

In line with Motorsport UK’s guidance for racing to return, changes to the Club’s protocols as well as guidelines to combat the spread of coronavirus were issued to ensure the safety and well-being of those in attendance at both meetings.

The research data, from more than 150 participants, confirms that this was well received and informative and that overwhelmingly people felt safe in the racing environment.

When asked to rate the information that was communicated to them prior to the event from 1-10, the club scored more than 9.2, with almost 60% scoring a perfect 10.

Similarly, the new method of handling paperwork electronically scored an impressive nine out of ten, whilst more than 94% felt that the BARC’s COVID Guidance covered all of the relevant information they needed.

Other encouraging results from the Club’s survey included 96.8% of people saying they felt safe whilst attending the meeting and only 1.4% of respondents suggested that they were less likely to attend another event after their experiences.

Concerns were registered about adherence to social distancing guidelines and the use of face masks, but more than 90% of people felt that the BARC’s guidance and procedures were generally adhered to during the weekends.

Whilst a high proportion of the results were positive, areas of development are always sought after and the BARC has taken all comments on-board to ensure improvements can be made for the remaining events taking place in 2020 and beyond.

Ben Taylor, BARC Group Chief Executive, said: “There has been a huge amount of work put into getting the sport up and running again, and it’s great to see that these efforts have been well received by the people on the ground.

“We have learned a lot from these first two events and of course we can make further improvements, but it is encouraging that of all our respondents, there was only one person who didn’t have an enjoyable event.

“If we can achieve that level of satisfaction while trying hard to ensure people’s safety and well-being, then that is what it’s all about. We would ask, however, that everyone keeps up their efforts to adhere to the guidelines so that we can enjoy the rest of the season with confidence.”

The Club’s next event will take place at Brands Hatch, with six championships set to compete around the Indy layout on August 1/2. That same weekend will see the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship and support categories in action at Donington Park.

Pembrey Circuit completes build of new garage complex

Pembrey Circuit has continued its preparations ahead of motor racing’s return to South Wales by completing the build of a brand new garage complex.

In what is a milestone year as the venue celebrates its 30th Anniversary of being associated with the British Automobile Racing Club, the picturesque track has been a hive of activity.

Despite the global coronavirus pandemic having prevented any race meetings from taking place so far this year, plenty of work has happened behind the scenes.

Situated down the pit lane next to the circuit’s control tower, the new complex is comprised of 12 double garages with capacity to hold 24 cars. In addition, vast paddock space behind the garages will also prove beneficial for competitors, spectators and customers.

Away from the track, further improvements have been made around the venue, including upgrades to the toilet facilities in the paddock.

Phil Davies, Pembrey Circuit Manager, said: “These past few months have been a testing time for everyone but I’m delighted that we have been able to come out the other side in an even stronger position.

“Whilst we haven’t been able to stage motorsport events or welcome spectators, we have been able to continue with our planned improvements to the venue and built our new garage complex.

“I personally think the new garages look fantastic and they are a welcome addition. They will significantly improve the experience for competitors and spectators alike.

“We are working closely with the Welsh Government and Carmarthenshire County Council and we are hopeful that we will be able to open our doors and stage top-draw motorsport in the coming months.”

Pembrey is scheduled to play host to its first race meeting since the UK’s lockdown on August 8/9 when the Autosport International BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship in association with Cooper Tires speeds into Wales.

At this moment, all dates and events remain provisional and subject to change whilst spectators are currently not permitted to attend.

BARC Audio catches up with General Manager Ian Watson

In the latest British Automobile Racing Club’s audio interview, we catch up with General Manager Ian Watson.

Speaking to the Club’s official audio partners Cre8Media, Ian talks about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on motorsport, the steps put in place to ensure a safe return, working alongside the BARC’s championships and much more.

Listen to the full interview below:

BARC Audio catches up with Group Chief Executive Ben Taylor

As the British Automobile Racing Club continues to bounce back, both on and off the track, following the UK lockdown caused by COVID-19, we caught up with Group Chief Executive Ben Taylor.

Speaking to the Club’s official audio partners Cre8Media, Ben discusses the impact the pandemic has had on the BARC and its venues, the processes and procedures that have been put in place, what the future of the Club looks like and much more.

Listen to the full interview below:

Clio Cup UK postponed until 2021

Renault Sport Racing has confirmed that its new Clio Cup UK championship has been postponed until 2021.

The single-make series was set to feature on the British GT support package this year, debuting the fifth-generation incarnation of the popular hatchback.

Benoît Nogier, RSR Customer Racing Director, said: “Renault has enjoyed incredible success with its motor sport programmes in the UK for more than 40 years, particularly with Clio Cup brand.

“This therefore is not a decision that we have taken lightly at all. It is important to stress that our decision is based on feedback from the teams as much as anything else.

“There is no escaping the fact that COVID-19 has had consequences for business models – that includes those of teams in the UK. As stakeholders, we have listened carefully to them and, now in July, clearly they would prefer more time to test the New Clio Cup car being introduced in 2020.

“Therefore, we have taken what we believe is a responsible decision to help protect their interest and have already put in place the following.

“We are making sure that track time will be reserved at British GT events for teams to test the New Clio Cup car. This will be at no cost to those teams and drivers taking up this option.

“UK teams are also invited to race their new cars in Clio Cup France and Spain in 2020 to help them gain additional mileage. Our ambition is very much to return with a full Clio Cup UK championship in 2021.

“Our commitment remains as strong as ever to make New Clio Cup UK as accessible as possible for club racers and novices just as much as career-minded drivers; also to build a sense of mutual regard and community on our grid.”