Author: Chris Ashby

Tom Ingram and Jack Goff share Silverstone spoils as BTCC title fight intensifies

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will go down to the wire with five drivers in mathematical contention to lift the coveted crown following a chaotic rain-affected penultimate meeting of the year at Silverstone this past weekend (September 28/29).

Reigning champion Colin Turkington will head to Brands Hatch in under two weeks’ time holding a 16-point advantage over Dan Cammish, with Andrew Jordan a further point behind. Both Josh Cook and Tom Ingram remain within touching distance in fourth and fifth.

In what proved to be one of the most dramatic days in recent BTCC memory, Team Toyota GB with Ginsters’ Ingram charged to a brace of race wins around the Northamptonshire venue before Jack Goff secured the first-ever victory for Team HARD in the series.

Qualifying on Saturday saw Jason Plato end a two-year barren run as he powered his Vauxhall Astra to the top of the times in a thrilling dry session. The Power Maxed Racing driver narrowly edged out Chris Smiley to top spot whilst Matt Neal and Ingram locked out the second row of the grid.

Turkington emerged as the lead championship contender, benefiting from a tow off team-mate Tom Oliphant to secure sixth. Cammish and Jordan were seventh and 14th respectively.

Ingram reignited his championship challenge with an emphatic win in greasy conditions in the opening encounter. Wrestling the lead off of Plato on lap four, the Toyota Corolla driver then powered his way to the chequered flag ahead of the double champion, with Smiley rounding out the podium.

Drama for Team BMW’s Turkington saw him tumble down the order after a spin but a valiant fightback to 14th kept him at the summit of the standings.

Race two would see Ingram double up his tally for the day as he triumphed in challenging conditions. Leading from the outset, contact from Plato allowed Oliphant to charge into the lead before the safety car made an appearance to recover the stricken Adam Morgan.

With rain beginning to fall around the circuit and a majority of cars on slick tyres, the action got back underway with Ingram regaining the lead after a slight wobble for Oliphant through the first corner.

As the rain intensified, the decision was taken to red flag the remainder of the contest, declaring Ingram the winner ahead of the charging Turkington and Cammish.

The third and final race of the weekend is likely go down in the history books as Team HARD’s Goff served up a wet-weather masterclass to take the team’s maiden win in the BTCC.

Beginning in dry conditions, rain once again battered the circuit just a couple of laps into the race. Scrambling for grip, a safety car period saw severe drivers dive to the pit lane to change to wet tyres – with Goff and Aiden Moffat being the first to do so.

The likes of Cook and Cammish stayed out on slicks and looked set to strengthen their title credentials before the wet tyre runners began to make their mark.

Scything through the field, Goff charged from the back to score a popular win ahead of Moffat and Matt Neal, who had also charged from the latter end of the starting grid.

That final result meant that Turkington remains on course to clinch a record-equalling fourth BTCC title however the chasing quartet are likely to take the fight to Northern Irishman on a dramatic final day of the season

To view the full classification of results from all BTCC sessions at Silverstone, click here.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will draw to a close at Brands Hatch on October 12/13 with champions being crowned across the board.

BTCC title fight speeds into Silverstone for penultimate event of the season

The 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship enters the home stretch this weekend (September 28/29) as Silverstone plays host to the penultimate event of what is proving to be another enthralling season.

With six races remaining, three at Silverstone and three back at Brands Hatch, and a total of 134 points still up for grabs, the battle to lift the most coveted title in British motorsport is only set to intensify.

Chasing a record-equalling fourth BTCC crown, reigning champion Colin Turkington heads to the Northamptonshire venue at the top of the standings, however both Andrew Jordan and Dan Cammish now find themselves firmly within striking distance.

Knockhill saw the title pendulum swing one way and then the other last time out and the National layout of Silverstone could do the same on providing a vital moment in deciding the outcome of where this year’s title will be heading.

Turkington is no stranger to the final few hurdles in a BTCC campaign having already won three titles and the Northern Irishman will need to utilise all of his experience if he is triumph for a fourth time.

BMW Pirtek Racing’s Jordan, a stablemate of Turkington at WSR, has the bit between his teeth as after notching his sixth win of the season at Knockhill. Despite having non-scored on six occasions this year, the 2013 champion has been clawing back points wherever possible and is now on the heels of his 3 Series counterpart.

Sitting in third and 11 points off the top is Honda Yuasa Racing’s Cammish, who is very much the form driver as it stands. Claiming a total of 11 podiums so far this season, the Type R driver has been the epitome of consistency and has momentum on his side.

Beyond the top three and still firmly in contention for the title also is BTC Racing’s Josh Cook. Trailing Turkington by just 30 points, Cook has been quietly going about his business in recent rounds but the three-time race-winner should shine around a circuit that will be well-suited to his Civic.

Rory Butcher, who will likely be still riding high after his home heroics, can’t be overlooked in the race for the title either as he enters the weekend fifth. A further 12 points down on Cook, the Scotsman has proven himself to be a worthy contender and shouldn’t be discounted yet.

Whilst all eyes are likely to be on the championship protagonists around the 1.64-mile circuit, a host of other front-runners will undoubtedly be in the mix for overall honours too.

Speedworks Motorsport’s Tom Ingram continues to make improve in the new-for-2019 Toyota Corolla whilst former champions Ashley Sutton, Matt Neal and Jason Plato are all still chasing their first victories of the season.

Other notable names to keep a watchful eye out for across the weekend’s three pivotal encounters include Adam Morgan, Mike Bushell, Tom Chilton, Chris Smiley, Rob Collard, Aiden Moffat, Jake Hill and Jack Goff, to name but a few.

To find out more information on this weekend’s pivotal Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship event at Silverstone, click here.

Battle for title supremacy set to intensify as TOCA support championships head to Silverstone

It’s crunch time on the TOCA support package this weekend (September 28/29) as Silverstone plays host to what is set to be a pivotal penultimate event of the 2019 season for all five championships.

Whilst the title battle in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship continues to intensify, the battle for supremacy elsewhere is likely to ramp up with every point proving crucial in deciding who will walk away as champion.

After missing Knockhill, the Porsche Carrera Cup GB returns to action for its second trip of the year to Silverstone. Having featured around the Grand Prix layout on the support bill of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the fastest one-make series in will now take to the shorter National configuration for two more action-packed encounters.

In the championship battle, Dan Harper holds the initiative with four races left to run and the Northern Irishman finds himself with a healthy advantage. Behind, the trio of Lewis Plato, Josh Webster and George Gamble are all within striking distance and none of them should be counted out as it stands.

The Renault UK Clio Cup has produced its fair share of drama throughout 2019 and with just two events now remaining, the action is only set to ramp up. Just four points separate Max Coates and Jack Young, who have been locked together all year, and it looks likely that their duel will go down to the wire.

Jamie Bond remains a constant threat in third place whilst the likes of Brett Lidsey, Jade Edwards, Ben Colburn and Ethan Hammerton are all expected to be in the mix too.

James Hedley will look to edge closer to title glory in the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship this weekend, with three pulsating encounters scheduled to take place. Having only finished off the podium in three of the 20 races run so far, the Elite Motorsport driver is in the pound seat.

Having the led since the season-opener, Hedley looks to be the teenager to beat but the likes of Zak O’Sullivan, Will Martin and Casper Stevenson, all of whom are still in contention, can’t be discounted either.

The Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup has seen the title pendulum swing back and forth in recent events and this weekend’s trip to Northamptonshire is set to be pivotal in deciding the outcome of who walks away as champion.

Will Burns controls the state of play as it stands having finished in the top three in the last eight consecutive races. Whilst the 2016 vice-champion has been in fine form, he will have to maintain it over the course of the weekend’s three races as both Harry King and Tom Hibbert will look to chase him down.

Rounding out the weekend’s action will be three races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – Powered by Ford EcoBoost. As it stands, a total of six drivers remain in mathematical contention for the single-seater title, with Zane Maloney in prime position at the summit of the standings.

To find out more information on this weekend’s pivotal Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship event at Silverstone, click here.

BARC champions begin to be crowned as 2019 season heads towards its finale

September; the start of the autumnal season and for the British Automobile Racing Club, a month that marks the start of the title run-in for several of its championships – and several champions having already been crowned.

With the business end of the motorsport season seeing nail-biting, edge-of-the-seat entertainment being provided around the country, a host of BARC categories have already brought the curtain down on their 2019 campaigns.

The Classic Touring Car Racing Club, where variety is the spice of life, served up another exciting season and finished with a flourish at Cadwell Park. Patrick Harris reigned supreme in the Paul Inch – Classic Race Engines Pre ’66 Touring Cars whilst CTCRC Group 1 Touring Car Championship honours fell the way of Alan Wilshire.

Envirotec Hygiene Services Pre-93 Touring Cars spoils went to Graham Myers with AJ Owen triumphing in the Simply Serviced Pre-2003 Touring Cars. In the Toyo Tyres Pre-2005 Production Touring Car Championship and Burton Power Blue Oval Saloon Series, Josh Barber and Piers Grange were the respective victors.

Rounding out the CTCRC winners was Andy Robinson, who was crowned champion in the Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder Saloons Championship.

Pete Sparrow was the driver to beat in the Classic 2CV Racing Championship once again as he recorded an unprecedented eighth title triumph. Entering the season as defending champion, nobody could ultimately stop Sparrow from writing his name further into the history books.

The Max5 Racing Championship delivered another captivating year of racing too with Paul Roddison, Aaron Bunning and Steve Kite triumphing in Classes A, B and C respectively.

Ginetta’s raft of different categories have wowed crowds wherever they have competed, with both the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge and Ginetta G40 Cup going down to the wire. Scott McKenna did enough for GT5 spoils whilst Chris Salkeld was the winner in the G40 Cup.

Whilst the Ginetta Racing Drivers Series is not recognised as a championship, Michael Kidson was declared as the winner for achieving the most successful run of results across the six-event calendar. 

Outright honours in the BARC Connaught Speed Championship meanwhile went to James Hunt.

Finally, the British Schools Karting Championship once again saw another ultra-competitive year of racing however nobody was able to stop Brentwood School from scooping a fourth consecutive title.

With plenty more motorsport action taking place over the next month and a half, championship triumphs are set to come thick and fast before another year of motorsport draws to close.

To stay up-to-date with all the latest news and reports from the British Automobile Racing Club, visit www.barc.net.

In addition, you can also follow the BARC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

BARC North West Centre celebrates 21st Anniversary of competing at Anglesey in style

This past weekend (September 21st/22nd) saw the British Automobile Racing Club’s North West Centre celebrate 21 years of competing at Trac Môn in style, with a blockbuster two-day event setting pulses racing.

Having been in existence since the end of the Second World War, the Club’s North West Centre has been responsible for covering the Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside & Greater Manchester areas; organising race meetings at Oulton Park and Anglesey in particular.

Following an initial track visit in 1997, Anglesey got its first taste of BARC NW Centre competition on the 14th June 1998 and has never looked back since. Racing from MGs, Westfields, Citroen 2CVs, Formula Ford 1600 and the centre’s flagship Sports/Saloons category (supported in those days by Ace Vehicle Deliveries) made it a race day to remember.

Whilst the circuit has changed over the past two decades, the edge-of-the-seat entertainment that comes with the NW Centre has never wavered – leading to the now several race meetings that are held around the picturesque venue based in North Wales each year.

After significant alterations were made to the venue in 2006 and 2007, encompassing a variety of new circuit configurations, Anglesey has prospered. As it stands, both the International and Coastal layouts have been used extensively by the Centre.

Richard Peacock, former Trac Môn Manager, said: “The BARC as an event organiser has a long and most impressive history and the North West Centre has always been at the forefront of organising race meetings at circuits such as Aintree, Oulton Park and Anglesey.

“It is great to be able to celebrate 21 years of BARC competition, courtesy of the North West Centre, and here is too many more.”

With the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Max5 Racing Championship, KW Automotive Classic VW Cup, CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Championship and more taking centre stage and putting on a show at Anglesey to mark 21 years of the Club’s NW Centre competing at the venue this past weekend, the future looks bright for several more decades of ultra-competitive action.

After racing on the Saturday the CNC Heads competitors, marshals, officials and circuit staff joined the committee of the North West Centre to celebrate the milestone. Cakes, suitably decorated by Trac Môn, where displayed on a Scalextric depiction of the current International circuit whilst words from both Annette Freeman, Anglesey Commercial Manager, and Ray Sumner, BARC NW Chairman, said a few words.

The BARC is set to pay one last visit to Anglesey in 2019 as it once again joins forces with Mission Motorsport on November 8/9/10 for Race of Remembrance.

To find out more information on the 2019 Race of Remembrance, click here.

All-out Anglesey action as BARC shines in North Wales

The British Automobile Racing Club celebrated 21 years of racing around Anglesey in spectacular style this past weekend (September 21/22) as a host of championships served up an entertaining extravaganza of track action.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, the two-day meeting marked more than two decades since the very first event at the Welsh venue, and the milestone was celebrated with frenetic action across both days.

The Max5 Racing Championship brought the curtain down on its 2019 campaign in blockbuster fashion with a trio pulsating encounters. Paul Roddison, who has arguably been the benchmark for a majority of the year, signed off with two more wins as Ian Loversidge also triumphed.

Roddison’s two wins clinched the Class A crown whilst Matthew Tidmarsh and Steve Kite were the champions in Class B and Class C respectively.

Scott McIntyre put himself within touching distance of the Junior Saloon Car Championship title as he powered his way to an impressive brace of race wins. Edging towards the coveted crown in his sophomore season, the Team HARD driver was however forced to work for both victories by Alex Jay.

Having been the driver to beat last time out, Jay continued his front-running momentum with a pair of stunning drives, narrowly losing out to McIntyre on both occasions by a mere six-thousandths of a second.

In the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, the BARC NW Centre’s flagship multi-class category, Danny Bird proved to be in a league of his own as he piloted his Spire GTR 1000 to a hat-trick of race wins.

David Kirkpatrick and Neven Kirkpatrick shared the spoils in the Mighty Minis Championship whilst the KW Automotive Classic VW Cup, Uncle Luke’s BARC Saloon Series and TDi North Honda VTEC Challenge amalgamated together also, giving tin tops enthusiasts plenty to cast a keen eye over.

Steve Rothery and Chris Sparks proved too hot to handle for the rest of the competition in the end and ran out winners, taking a win apiece.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action from the picturesque venue in North Wales were a host of races from the Motorsport UK British Superkarts Championship; with Lee Harpham, Liam Morley, Matt Robinson and Mark Bramhall all scoring victory.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions over the course of the weekend, click here.

The BARC is set to pay one last visit to Anglesey in 2019 on November 8/9/10 as it once again joins forces with Mission Motorsport for Race of Remembrance. Click here for more information.

Derek Tohill triumphs at Pembrey to take British Rallycross Championship fight down to the wire

The destiny of the 2019 Toyo Tires Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship will go down to the wire at Croft next month after Derek Tohill served up a near-perfect performance to score victory at Pembrey this past weekend (September 21/22).

Making its second visit to South Wales this year for the penultimate event of the season, the adrenaline-fuelled series was in full force as it produced a weekend to remember on-track. 

Adopting the two-day FIA World Rallycross Championship event format for the first time, a bumper crowd enjoyed a feast of entertainment as title protagonists Derek Tohill and Julian Godfrey went wheel-to-wheel for outright honours.

Proving to be the cream of the crop this year already, the Ford Fiesta duo couldn’t be separated across the four qualifying heats, both of them tallying two wins apiece to set up an intriguing grand final.

Hitting the front as the lights went out, Tohill wasted no time on stretching his advantage and powered his way towards  crucial victory. Behind, contact at the first corner scuppered Godfrey’s as he finished second despite picking up a puncture in the closing stages.

Roger Thomas gave the locals plenty to cheer about too as he rounded out the podium whilst both Steve Hill and Andy Grant found themselves in strife and out of the action.

Tohill’s triumph now means that just two points separate the top two heading to Croft at the end of next month.

As always, alongside the Toyo Tires Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship Supercar action was a host of blockbuster thrills and spills from a variety of supporting categories.

The Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross Championship saw Luke Constantine and Ben Sayer triumph whilst Motorsport UK Supernational Rallycross Championship honours fell the way of the formidable Tristan Ovenden.

Drew Bellerby and David Bell shared the spoils in the BMW Mini Rallycross Championship, with Will Layton and Max Weatherley doing the same in the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship.

Rounding out the list of winners from Pembrey was Gary Simpson and Chrissy Palmer, who ran out victorious in the Retro Rallycross Championship and RX150 Championship respectively.

To view the full classification of results from Pembrey, click here.

The final round of the 2019 Toyo Tires Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship will take place at Croft Circuit on October 26/27. Tp buy tickets, visit https://www.croftcircuit.co.uk/racing/british-rallycross

BARC championships produce action-packed show at Croft

Croft Circuit played host to a memorable British Automobile Racing Club event this past weekend (September 21/22) as six categories continued their campaigns in action-packed style.

With the 2019 motorsport campaign having approached the business end of the season, the journey to North Yorkshire proved to be a pivotal one as the battle for title supremacy only intensified around the challenging 2.12-mile circuit.

The title pendulum continued to swing back and forth in the Pickup Truck Racing Championship as three enthralling races played out. Reece Jones underlined his credentials as one to watch as he powered his way to an emphatic pair of race wins.

Jones was unable to complete his hat-trick however as George Turiccki scaled the top step of the podium in the third and final race of the weekend.

Chris Brockenhurst produced a double-winning performance of his own in the BARC Super Silhouette Championship, edging out series leader Malcolm Blackman on both occasions.

Blackman, who has won a majority of the year’s races, found himself off the top step of the podium all weekend in the end as Danny Hunt recorded a memorable victory to also triumph.

Callum Grant made his mark in the Classic Formula Ford 1600 Championship as he tallied a pair of wins whilst Ronan Pearson did the same in the Michelin Clio Cup Series to set up a title showdown against Simon Freeman next month.

In the BARC Clubmans Sports Prototype Championship in association with King Henry’s Taverns, Daniel Gibson notched a pair of race wins and narrowly missed out on making it a hat-trick, missing out to Peter Richings by juts half a second in the finale.

Rounding out the weekend’s action from Croft was a three-hour encounter from the Distrigo Parts Distribution Citroen C1 Racing Series; where the Amigo Motorsport duo of Matthew Dawson and Rhys Lloyd reigned supreme.

To view the full classification of results from all of the weekend’s sessions, click here.

Croft’s next major event will see the Toyo Tires Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship bring the curtain down on its 2019 campaign on October 26/27. Ticket information can be found here.

Anglesey to play host to pivotal weekend of racing for BARC categories

The picturesque delights of Anglesey Circuit is the destination for six British Automobile Racing Club categories this weekend (September 21/22). with the fight for championship glory set to continue.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, this latest visit to North Wales will undoubtedly serve up two days of full-throttle entertainment, with it still all to play for across the board.

Bringing the curtain down on their 2019 campaign, the Max5 Racing Championship will sign off its year with a trio of 20-minute encounters and all three class titles being decided. In what has been another vintage season for the one-make series, more twists and turns are predicted.

Paul Roddison, Matthew Tidmarsh and Steve Kite find themselves in the pound seats at the summit of each class as it stands but with 150-points up for grabs, it could all change within a blink of an eye around the International layout.

In the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Scott McIntyre will look to take a crucial step closer to being crowned champion. With one round to go following this weekend, the tin top series for drivers aged between 14 to 17 is heading towards a nail-biting finale and it is McIntyre who holds the advantage.

Being the form driver for a majority of the season, the former Scholarship winner is on the cusp of glory but the likes of reigning champion Lewis Saunders and Alex Jay will undoubtedly have something to say before the final chequered flag flies.

Anglesey will also provide the backdrop for the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship’s penultimate event of the season. As the North West Centre’s flagship series, the multi-class championship is open to all manner of machinery and has become staple of the UK motorsport landscape.

Notable names to look out for include Danny Winstanley, Luke Armiger, Rob Burkinshaw, Paul Dobson and Dave Harvey; all of whom have been in the thick of the action towards the sharp end of the grid.

Small in stature but packing a real punch on-track, the British Superkart Championship will also be in action with several encounters its variety of classes, all of which are based on engine capacity.

Rounding out the weekend’s running on track will be amalgamated races from the KW Automotive Classic VW Cup, Uncle Luke’s BARC Saloon Series and the TDi North Honda VTEC Challenge.

Showcasing some of the best saloon car machines, from Volkswagen and Honda in particular, all three categories are set to take centre stage as they battle for overall honours.

For the KW Automotive Classic VW Cup in particular, this weekend will be pivotal in deciding the outcome of crowning a first-ever champion after championship status was granted at the start of the year.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event at Anglesey, including entry lists and the race timetable, click here.

BARC championships head north for Croft crescendo

The British Automobile Racing Club travels to Croft Circuit this weekend (September 21/22) for another blockbuster race meeting which includes no less six different championships.

On what should be a record-breaking weekend at the home of UK motorsport in the north-east following the venue’s recent resurfacing, a bumper crowd is set to witness an unforgettable two days of racing.

The battle for supremacy in the Pickup Truck Racing Championship is set to reach fever-pitch at Croft this weekend with two more races writing the latest chapter of what has been a captivating 2019 title tussle so far.

Bringing a flavour of America to British shores, the championship has been as competitive as ever this year with George Turiccki, Reece Jones, Michael Smith, Mark Willis, Dale Gent, David O’Regan and Paul Tompkins having all tasted success at some stage this year.

Those drivers mentioned are in the thick of the title tussle too and anyone of them could make their mark in North Yorkshire, in-doing so taking a step close to clinching the coveted crown at Brands Hatch in November.

One category that is guaranteed to have fans on the edge-of-their-seats this weekend will be the BARC Super Silhouette Championship, which has scaled new heights this year under the watchful eye of Sonny Howard.

Malcolm Blackman finds himself on the cusp of being crowned champion after producing what has been nothing short of a mesmerising run of results. An impressive 12 wins from 15 races sits him at the summit of the standings and on course to triumph, however nothing is set in stone and the likes of Chris Brockenhurst and Steve Burrows will be in the mix too.

The BARC Clubmans Sports Prototype Championship in association with King Henry’s Taverns arrives at Croft at a critical junction in its 2019 season, with the battle for title supremacy in full swing across all three classes; CSP1, CSP2 and CSP3.

Notable names to look out for over the course of the weekend include Clive Wood, Peter Richings, Morris Hart and Steve Dickens, to name but a few.

Tin top thrills from the Michelin Clio Cup Series will be provided too as three more races will undoubtedly edge proceedings closer its own the season finale. Billed as being an ideal step on the racing ladder for aspiring saloon car drivers to get on track for an affordable price, the one-make series has taken centre stage everywhere it has raced this year so far with its three classes.

In the Race Class, which is home to the third generation RS Clio 200, a straight title fight between Simon Freeman and Ronan Pearson looks set to continue with the latter aiming to overturn a 12-point deficit.

James Colburn and Nic Harrison meanwhile will look to cement their statuses as the drivers to beat in the Sport and Road categories respectively.

For fans of nostalgic single seater racing, the Classic Formula Ford 1600 Championship is not to be missed. Events at Silverstone, Castle Combe, Donington Park, Thruxton and Snetterton has seen the Class A lead between Rick Morris and Tim Harvey go back-and-forth – and it could well continue.

The pair have been virtually inseparable this year so far and have each stood on the top step of the podium on a handful of occasions as well. With the destiny of the title likely to boil down to between the duo, all bets are set to be off.

Kevin Mansell, Mark Armstrong, Stuart Kestenbaum and Steve Pearce, among many others,  aren’t to be discounted either as they bid to make their mark too.

Capping off the weekend’s action will be a three-hour encounter from the Distrigo Parts Distribution Citroen C1 Racing Series. Having starred at the venue back in March, the much-loved one-make category returns for another action-packed 180-minute race which includes another ultra-competitive entry list.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event at Croft, click here.

British Rallycross Championship title battle speeds back to Pembrey

The Toyo Tires Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship will edge closer towards its crescendo this weekend (September 21/22) as Pembrey plays host to what is set to be a decisive penultimate meeting of the season in the battle to be crowned champion.

In what will be the second visit to South Wales this year, having already taken centre stage in June with a pulsating double-header, the adrenaline-fuelled series is revved up to write the latest chapter in what has been a memorable 2019 campaign so far.

Taking on the FIA World Rallycross Championship’s two-day format for the first time, edge-of-the-seat entertainment around the challenging loose and tarmac surfaces of Pembrey are shaping up to be pivotal on deciding who lifts the coveted crown next month.

Chasing a sixth British title, Julian Godfrey heads into event in the pound seat after rocketing to the summit of the standings at Lydden Hill last time out. With three victories already to his name, the Ford Fiesta driver will be keen to increase his advantage before the season finale at Croft.

Irishman Derek Tohill has been Godfrey’s chief championship rival for a majority of the season so far, with the pendulum swinging one way and then the other as each round has passed. Aiming to clinch a maiden British title, the Fiesta racer

Beyond the top two in the Supercar category are a host of drivers that will all be keen to throw themselves into the mix for outright honours, one of which is home hero Roger Thomas.

Former champion Ollie O’Donovan, Steve Hill, Andy Grant and Simon Horton have all been named on the entry list and shouldn’t be discounted from standing on the top step of the podium.

The weekend will also see double-header action from the Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross Championship, Swift Sport Rallycross Championship and BMW Mini Rallycross Championship.

Elsewhere, Retro Rallycross Championship two-wheel drive runners will continue to duel in machines from yesteryear, capping off what should be an unmissable event at the home of Welsh motorsport.

Tickets will be available to purchase on the gate priced at £15.00 for Saturday, £18.00 for Sunday or £30.00 for the full weekend. Programmes will also be available to buy around the venue from £3.00.

To find out more information on the event, head to http://pembreycircuit.co.uk/racing/british-rallycross-sept or https://www.barc.net/event/toyo-tires-motorsport-uk-british-rallycross-championship/

BTCC title race gets blown wide open during dramatic Knockhill weekend

The 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship title race saw further twists and turns unfold north of the border this past weekend (September 14/15) as Knockhill served up a blockbuster three races.

Making its annual trip to Scotland, Britain’s premier race series saw the pendulum in the championship battle swing back and forth on a dramatic race day, setting up a sensational showdown with six races left to run.

Saturday around the undulating 1.27-mile layout belonged to home hero Rory Butcher, who used all of his local knowledge to top the times in both practice sessions, before then going even faster to clinch pole position in qualifying.

The Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance converted his front-row start into a popular victory in race one, albeit he had to fend off the attentions of BMW Pirtek Racing’s Andrew Jordan.

Leading for a majority of the contest, the Scotsman lost the lead heading onto the final tour after a sluggish exit out of the final hairpin, allowing Jordan to power past. The BMW ace wasn’t in the lead for long however as he carried too much speed heading into Duffus Dip, allowing Butcher back past and clear to net his third win of the season.

Behind the tussling top two, Dan Cammish maintained his championship charge with yet another podium ahead of series leader Colin Turkington.

Race two would see the battle for supremacy in the title race blown wide open as Jordan scored his sixth win of the year whilst Turkington was forced out of the points after contact with Butcher.

Powering into the lead off the start, the 2013 champion showed the chasing pack a clean set of heels and was unchallenged – as all the action kicked off behind.

Both Cammish and Turkington found their way by Butcher but the Team BMW driver was to find himself in strife moments later. Nudging his Honda Civic Type R down the inside of the reigning champion at Scotsman, inevitable contact tipped Turkington into gravel-bound spin and tumbling down the order.

Following the drama, the trio of Jordan, Cammish and Butcher filled the podium positions whilst Turkington clawed his way back to 19th, crucially out of the points.

The third and final race of the day in the Scottish highlands belonged to TradePriceCars.com’s Jake Hill, who took his first-ever BTCC win with a commanding lights-to-flag performance.

Drawn onto pole position virtue of the reverse grid draw, the Audi S3 driver became the tenth different victor of the season as he controlled proceedings, leading Josh Cook and Adam Morgan.

Further back, the title race saw yet more drama play out – this time for Jordan. Whilst trying to avoid the spinning Subaru of Senna Proctor on the opening lap, the BMW 3 Series driver found himself forced into retirement and critically scoring no points.

Turkington meanwhile recovered from his race two travails to take tenth at the chequered flag after a gritty drive.

Leaving Knockhill, Turkington holds a ten point advantage over Jordan, with Cammish a further point back.

To view the full classification of results, click here.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship heads to Silverstone on September 28/29 for Rounds 25, 26 & 27, marking the penultimate event of the 2019 campaign.