Author: Chris Ashby

BARC speeds into Snetterton for blockbuster weekend

The British Automobile Racing Club will speed its way into Snetterton this weekend (September 7/8) for what is set to be a spectacular two days of track action, headlined by the thunderous MV Commercial BTRA Championship.

Providing the latest stop on the calendar for no less than five different championships, the unique challengers of the 2.99-mile East Anglia venue will likely provide a whole host of defining moments as drivers battle for title glory.

The MV Commercial BTRA Championship heads towards the business end of the season with it all to play for in both Divisions 1 & 2 and a total of seven races that will have fans perched on the edge of their seats.

Three-time reigning champion Ryan Smith remains the man to beat in Division 1 as he continues his pursuit of a fourth crown. Winning a majority of the races this year, Smith will likely be the man to beat however David Jenkins, Mark Taylor and John Newell, amongst others, are all set to be in contention for overall honours.

In Division 2, Luke Garrett is on course to successfully defend his crown although an ever-growing list of contenders is beginning to form behind him; with Brad Smith, Steven Powell, John Bowler, Paul Rivett hot on his heels.

From the heavyweight behemoths of the BTRA to the pocket rockets of the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres, which will undoubtedly serve up a feast of entertainment across both days.

Renowned for producing close-quarter competition, the Legends contingent is set to continue its ultra-competitive trend with another blockbuster weekend. Miles Rudman finds himself in the pound seat currently at the summit of the standings however his lead is a slender one.

Multiple champion John Mickel, Sean Smith, Sy Harraway and Marcus Pett are all within striking distance and shouldn’t be discounted from contention either.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship has hit new heights this year and Snetterton provides the latest chapter of what has been an enthralling season to-date.

As the series begins to wind towards what should be a frenetic season-finale, the likes of Michael Smith, Dale Gent, George Turiccki and Mark Wallis will be worth keeping a keen eye on.

Malcolm Blackman’s reign in the BARC Super Silhouette Championship has been nothing short of superlative so far and the Vauxhall Tigra ace will be hard to deny from continuing his recent run at Snetterton.

Winning all but one of the races run in the spaceframe series so far this year, Blackman has been a juggernaut of sorts and the likes of Chris Brockenhurst will be keen to stop him from tallying a further two wins this weekend.

Rounding out the weekend’s action from Norfolk will be a brace of races from the Kumho BMW Championship, which caters for all models of the popular German manufacturer.

Running under a multi-class format, the Kumho BMW Championship has proven to be a smash-hit this year with Garrie Whittaker as the benchmark to look upon, winning every single race as it stands and looking peerless in his BMW E36 M3.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event, including links to live timing and the meeting timetable, click here.

Caterham Graduates and Hyundai Coupe Cup set to headline Anglesey race day

The picturesque delights of North Wales and Anglesey Circuit awaits the British Automobile Racing Club this Saturday (September 7) as the Caterham Graduates Championship and Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup continue their 2019 campaigns.

Originally set to include the ever-entertaining Distrigo Parts Distribution Citroen C1 Series, the first of two action-packed race days from the Club at the venue this month is likely to set pulses racing for those in attendance.

With six events in the books already, the Caterham Graduates Championship descends on Anglesey for what will be the penultimate event of the season – and with it all to play for in the battle for class title supremacy.

In the Classic class, Robin Webb’s seven wins have powered him to the top of the standings, however the chasing pack of Trevor Harber, Mark Carter, Peter Tattersall and Robert Appleton are all within striking distance and ready to pounce at any time.

Luke Balmforth holds a slender five point lead in the Sigma 150 category but missing the past two events has allowed Chris Dear and Barry White to close the gap. Meanwhile, just six points cover the top three in the Mega class and one little mistake from either Kevin Barrett, Neil Sturgess or Kim Rayment could open the door for the other two contenders to take advantage.

Capping off the weekend’s action will be another two blockbuster performances from the Sigmax class, which is currently led by Stephen Clark. Pairing consistency with his three race wins so far, Clark leads Samuel Wilson and it will be this battle at the standings summit that will be watched with baited breath.

A total of four Caterham Graduates Championship races will be played out around the 1.55-mile circuit and not one of them should be missed.

All eyes meanwhile will be on Wayne Rockett in the Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup as he bids to continue his rich vein of form and add another two race wins to his already impressive tally.

Having become a regular front-runner last year, Rockett has been the driver to beat for much of the season so far, wracking up a number of victories

Alex Cursley, Nick Moore, Kevin Smiles, James Goodwin and Mark Dicken are just a handful of drivers that will be bidding to overhaul Rockett during the day’s racing; all of them more than capable of scaling the top step of the podium on any given day.

To find out more information on the event, including links to live timing and the race timetable, click here.

Cadwell Park plays host to memorable BARC race day

Cadwell Park played host to be a memorable British Automobile Racing Club race day this past Saturday (August 31) as a range of championships continued their 2019 campaigns in thrilling fashion.

Faced with changeable conditions throughout what proved to be an action-packed event, the undulating challenges of the Lincolnshire-based venue served up a feast of entertainment for those in attendance.

In the Max5 Racing Championship, Paul Roddison continued his march towards retaining his Class A title as he once again produced another superlative performance. Having emerged as the form driver from the beginning, Roddison once again reigned supreme as he bagged another brace of victories.

Powering his way to pole position by more than a second in qualifying, Roddison converted his front-row start into a visit to the top step of the podium – beating Andrew Pretorius by a slender two tenths of a second after a back-and-forth scrap for outright honours.

Race two proved to be a little more comfortable for Roddison as he claimed the chequered flag ahead of Pretorius, albeit this time by more than three seconds.

The breathtakingly fast British Superkart Championship delivered a host of thrills and spills across all classes, with eye-watering speeds being clocked around the 2.18-mile layout.

Liam Morley tallied a memorable hat-trick in the Formula 125 Open / F450 National whereas the F250 National / Division 1 spoils were shared between Andy Bird, Tom Rushforth and Ross Allen.

Wheel-to-wheel entertainment came in the shape of the Mini 7 Racing Club and both classes didn’t disappoint. The Mini Miglia Championship saw Aaron Smith and Rupert Death claim a win apiece whilst the Mini Se7en Championship saw victories for Jeff Smith and Joe Thompson.

The Darlington & District Motor Club’s Northern Saloon & Sports Car Championship capped off the days racing with spoils being shared between Paul Woolfitt and Paul Brydon.

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

Toyota Gazoo Racing score 1-2 finish at FIA World Endurance Championship season-opener

The FIA World Endurance Championship kicked off its 2019/2020 season in sensational style this past weekend (August 30 – September 1) as Toyota Gazoo Racing swept its way to a 1-2 finish in an action-packed 4 Hours of Silverstone.

Lifting the curtain on what is set to be another enthralling year of racing, the Northamptonshire venue welcomed a bumper crowd of almost 50,000 to witness a stunning endurance spectacle.

Undertaking an organisational role once again, the British Automobile Racing Club showcased its ability to deliver at the highest level

After dominating qualifying, the trio of Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Jose-Maria Lopez reigned supreme as they battled sunshine, rain and two safety car periods to kick the eighth season of the championship off on the top step of the podium.

Rebellion Racing rounded out the rostrum whilst Ginetta enjoyed a strong return to the series with a fourth and sixth respectively.

In LMP2, newcomers Cool Racing scored a win on their debut whilst Porsche GT Team and AF Corse ran out as winners in LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am.

The European Le Mans Series also roared into life for another season with their own four-hour encounter, with IDEC Sport Oreca clinching victory in the final four minutes of the race.

Traditionally featuring on the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship support package, the Porsche Carrera Cup GB was also in action as the one-make category featured on the world stage.

Billed as the fastest single marque GT racing championship in the UK’s blue ribbon event of the 2019 season, the iconic 3.7-mile circuit provided a fitting backdrop to a breathtaking two races which could prove critical in the title battle.

Having been the man to beat for much of the season, Daniel Harper kicked off his weekend in sensational style as he powered his way to pole position in qualifying. From there, the JTR driver converted his front-row start into a dominant seventh win of the season ahead of Josh Webster and Lewis Plato.

Former champion Webster then came to the fore in the second encounter of the weekend as he powered his way to a crucial after overhauling George Gamble early on. The victory for Team Parker Racing driver means he has leaped into second place in the overall standings.

Missing the annual trip north of the border to Knockhill, the Porsche Carrera Cup GB will next be in action at Silverstone once again on September 28/29 around the National layout.

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

New FIA World Endurance Championship season set to kick off at Silverstone

The FIA World Endurance Championship will descend on British shores this weekend (August 30 – September 1) for the opening round of the 2019/2020 Super Season, with Silverstone playing host to what is set to be a blockbuster four-hour race.

Returning to Great Britain following a relatively short off-season, the battle for supremacy in the world’s greatest endurance category will roar into life around the iconic Grand Prix circuit of the Northamptonshire venue – with a bumper crowd expected to be in attendance.

Off the back of a near-perfect 2018/2019 campaign, all eyes will be on Toyota Gazoo Racing in the LMP1 class as they bid to once again rule the roost. Defending champions Sébastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima are joined by Brendon Hartley, whilst home hero Mike Conway will partner Kamui Kobayashi and José María López in the sister car.

Conway won’t be the only British driver that will garner plenty of support, with a further 18 drivers across the entire entry list all kicking off their campaigns on home soil.

Four of them will come from Team LNT as Ginetta makes a return to LMP1 action with Charlie Robertson, Ben Hanley, Mike Simpson and Guy Smith all setting their sights on scaling the rostrum on Sunday.

Rebellion Racing, winners of the corresponding event last year at Silverstone, make up the final two entrants in the LMP1 class, making it an ultra-competitive field for outright honours.

LMP2 features four new teams for the eighth season of the championship including United Autosports and JOTA – both of whom will be keen to make their mark early on.

Elsewhere there is set to be plenty of wheel-to-wheel entertainment from both LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am over the course of the 240-minute encounter around the home of British motorsport.

It won’t just be the FIA World Endurance Championship which will take centre stage across all three days at Silverstone however, with the European Le Mans Series and Porsche Carrera Cup GB both in action.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event at Silverstone, including links to live timing, entry lists and the timetable, click here.

Max5 Racing Championship revved up to headline Cadwell Park race day

The British Automobile Racing Club will make the second of its three 2019 visits to Cadwell Park this Saturday (August 31) with the Max5 Racing Championship headlining what is expected to be an action-packed race day.

Renowned for its sweeping curves and undulations, the Lincolnshire-based venue is favourite amongst competitors and spectators alike and is likely to serve up a multitude of thrills and spills.

Staging what will be the penultimate event of the season, crunch time approaches in the Max5 Racing Championship and one of the biggest entry lists of the year is expected for the popular one-make series.

In the title race, Paul Roddison will be one to watch as he bids to continue his dominant run of form by adding another two victories to his already impressive tally. Leading the chase for the reigning champion includes Ian Loversidge, Jeremy Shipley and Andrew Pretorius – all of whom are capable of triumphing too.

Elsewhere, Matthew Tidmarsh will be a man on a mission as he bids for Class B honours whilst Steve Kite could well take a step close to overall glory in Class C. With an ultra-competitive grid set to go wheel-to-wheel, it is all to play for at the sharp end of the grid across the days two encounters.

It won’t just the Max5 Racing Championship that takes centre stage either at Cadwell Park as the British Superkarts Championship.

Providing a flat-out adrenaline rush like no other and clocking mind-boggling speeds mere millimetres off of the tarmac, the category will take a step closer to crowning its class champions as Cadwell hosts its penultimate meeting of 2019 as well.

Also timetabled to be in action during the day is the Darlington & District Motor Club, whilst there will be plenty of doorhandle-to-doorhandle entertainment from the Mini Se7en Championship as well.

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

Julian Godfrey scorches to British Rallycross Championship victory at Lydden Hill

Julian Godfrey took a step closer to clinching a sixth Toyo Tires Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship title this past Bank Holiday Monday (August 26) as the Ford Fiesta driver reigned supreme at Lydden Hill.

Battling searing temperatures at the Kent venue, Godfrey produced a scorching performance to take control of the overall standings with double-header events at Pembrey and Croft now only remaining on the 2019 calendar.

Heading into the fourth event of the season tied on points with chief title protagonist Derek Tohill, the battle for supremacy across both loose and tarmac surfaces reached fever pitch in front of a bumper trackside crowd.

Tohill would strike first on race day as he powered his Ford Fiesta to the fastest time in the first round of qualifying heats, before Godfrey then did the same in both Q2 and Q3.

Jack Thorne, who was making his first Supercar start in three years, underlined his credentials as one to watch as he got the launch as the lights went out for the final and leapt into an early lead from behind the wheel of his Ford Fiesta.

Despite the strong start from the front row Thorne was unable to hold off the charging Godfrey who retook the lead at the end of the opening lap. From there, the former champion was unstoppable and went on to score his third win of the season.

Tohill emerged from an almighty scrap for third place to claim the final spot on the podium, albeit narrowly ahead of the charging Steve Hill.

In the Motorsport UK Supernational Rallycross Championship, Tristan Ovenden continued his unbeaten run of form to score yet another victory, leading Peter McGarry and Darren Scott across the line in an ultra-competitive final.

Patrick O’Donovan, son of former British RX champion Ollie O’Donovan, moved to the summit of the Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross Championship standings as he claimed his first win of the season in impressive fashion.

Tom Constantine delivered a controlled drive in the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship whilst Drew Bellerby took a lights-to-flag victory in the BMW Mini Rallycross Championship.

Rounding out the list of winners at Lydden Hill was Gary Simpson, who reigned supreme in the Retro Rallycross Championship.

Trio of championships star at Donington Park

The British Automobile Racing Club served up an action-packed day of tin top thrills at Donington Park this past weekend (August 24) as three categories continued their journey towards crowning 2019 champions.

With the sun shining on the challenging Leicestershire venue and the business end of the season fast approaching, the need to succeed was as great as ever.

Ronan Pearson did just that in the Michelin Clio Cup Series as he closed the gap to Simon Freeman in the battle for Race Class honours, winning twice. Having been the benchmark drivers at the front of the field up until now, the pair continued their scrap under the flightpath of East Midlands airport.

In the Road Class, Nic Harrison produced another flawless performance to further extend his points lead after scoring another two wins – edging him closer to a third successive title triumph in the process.

The Classic Touring Car Championship meanwhile boasted plenty of variety as some of the most iconic saloon cars went wheel-to-wheel across six enthralling encounters.

Both the Burton Power Blue Oval Saloon Series and Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder Saloons Championship amalgamated together for an action-packed pair of races which saw spoils shared between Andrew Wilson and Mathew Evans.

Elsewhere, Stephen Primett and Mike Luck were the victors in the Paul Inch – Classic Race Engines Pre ’66 Touring Cars and CTCRC Group 1 Touring Car Championship races.

The Envirotec Hygiene Services Pre-93 Touring Cars, Simply Serviced Pre-2003 Touring Cars and Toyo Tyres Pre-2005 Production Touring Car Championship also came together for two races over the course of the day, with Ray West reigning supreme in both.

Garrie Whittaker capped off the day’s action with another superlative performance in the Kumho BMW Championship, extending his winning streak with another two lights-to-flag drives.

For the full classification of results from all sessions at Donington Park, click here.

Double-winning performances headline Mallory Park race day

Mallory Park played host to a blockbuster British Automobile Racing Club race day this past Bank Holiday Monday (August 26) as four championships continued their 2019 campaigns at the picturesque Leicestershire venue in scorching temperatures.

George Turiccki staked his claim in the Pickup Truck Racing Championship as he powered his way to a dominant double around the challenging oval layout. Entering the event as one of several title protagonists, Turiccki enjoyed a near-perfect

Running as low as fourth in the opening encounter, Turiccki was soon on the move as the 25-lap race progressed and took the lead on the fifth tour, never looking back from there onwards to triumph.

Race two was almost a carbon-copy of the previous duel as Turiccki once again bided his times inside the top five before striking early and controlling proceedings right the way up to the chequered flag.

The BARC Super Silhouette Championship had a familiar feel to it once again as Malcolm Blackman continued his rich vein of form with another double-winning performance.

Having entered the event as the driver to beat, winning all but one of the races run, Blackman topped the times in qualifying before then producing a scintillating performance to top the podium in both races.

Alex Jay continued the theme of drivers scoring two wins at Mallory Park in the Junior Saloon Car Championship, as the teenage sensation enjoyed a breakthrough meeting. Having shown plenty of speed throughout the year, Jay came to the fore firstly by storming to the front row of the grid in qualifying.

From there, the #77 was peerless as he powered his way to a maiden victory in the opener before doubling his tally later in the day.

Rounding out the day’s action was a pair of races from the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship, where the spoils were shared between William Sharpe and Steve McDermid – both of whom took a step closer to title glory in their respective classes.

For the full classification of results from all sessions at Mallory Park, click here.

Donington Park awaits trio of championships for latest chapter of 2019 season

Donington Park is set to play host to a scintillating Saturday (August 24) of British Automobile Racing Club track action this weekend as three championships journey to the Leicestershire venue to continue their 2019 campaigns.

One of the headline acts will be the Michelin Clio Cup Series, where the pendulum looks likely to continue swinging back-and-forth this weekend as the popular one-make category gears up for its latest instalment.

The Race Class has proven to be highly entertaining with Simon Freeman and Ronan Pearson going wheel-to-wheel on a number of occasions already. Freeman holds the advantage however a breakthrough win for Pearson last time out will likely serve as added motivation to close the gap in the standings.

New-for-2019 has been the Sport Class, which has been open to the fourth generation Clio Cup car and Westbourne Motorsport’s James Colburn has emerged as the benchmark driver up to now, winning every race that has been run so far.

Capping off the Clio Cup Series grid is the Road Class, which is home to machines that are the closest to their road-going counterparts. Double champion Nic Harrison holds the initiative at the moment as he bids to record a third successive title however both Richard Colburn and Darren Geeraerts remain within touching distance.

Garrie Whittaker will look to continue his dominant winning streak at Donington Park this weekend as the Kumho BMW Championship resumes battle.

Open to any production BMW sold in the UK, the championship has proven to be a popular draw for fans and competitors alike with non-stop action all-but guaranteed at every event so far this year.

Triumphing at every event so far, the E36 M3 driver has been the cream of the crop so far, and is showing no signs of slowing down. Notable names to look out for as they aim to take the fight to Whittaker during the day include Lucky Khera, James Card, James West, Trevor Ford and Jas Sapra, amongst many more.

The Classic Touring Car Championship takes centre at Donington Park this weekend as the 2019 approaches its climax, with this stop in Leicestershire the penultimate event on the calendar.

Overall honours in the Paul Inch – Classic Race Engines Pre ’66 Touring Cars, CTCRC Group 1 Touring Car Championship, Envirotec Hygiene Services Pre-93 Touring Cars, Simply Serviced Pre-2003 Touring Cars, Toyo Tyres Pre-2005 Production Touring Car Championship, Burton Power Blue Oval Saloon Series and Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder Saloons Championship are what drivers have been fighting for this – and the battle line are drawn.

Boasting a glittering array of iconic tin top machinery, notable names too cast a watchful eye over as the day progresses include AJ Owen, Martin Reynolds, Piers Grange, Stephen Primett, Alan Wilshire, Patrick Harris and Paul Inch – to name but a few.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event at Donington Park, including links to live timing and timetables, click here.

BARC bank holiday blockbuster expected to take centre stage at Mallory Park

The British Automobile Racing Club is gearing up for a spectacular Bank Holiday Monday (August 26) next week as Mallory Park plays host to what is set to be an action-packed race day which will be made up of four championships.

Having taken centre stage at the Leicestershire venue in treacherous conditions in late July, the Club will descend on the challenging circuit for what is set to be a pivotal stop on the 2019 calendar for all involved.

Featuring at that July event was the Pickup Truck Racing Championship; and they are back for more this time around with two races scheduled to be run on the infamous oval layout.

Michael Smith currently tops the standings and the championship leader will be one to watch having triumphed here earlier in the year. Chasing his first title since 2014, Smith will have to starve off the challenge of the chasing pack, where there are plenty of contenders.

Leading the fight is the ultra-consistent George Turiccki whilst Dale Gent, another to triumph at Mallory Park, is hot on his heels in third place. Reece Jones, Mark Willis, Paul Tompkins, Dean Tompkins and Daniel Petters are all also expected to be in the mix too.

The BARC Super Silhouette Championship was another category to feature at Mallory Park last month and the spaceframe coupe and saloon cars series returns for a second bite of the cherry.

This year has largely belonged to Malcolm Blackman who has proven to be a dominant force and two more wins to add to his already impressive 2019 tally could put him within touching distance of lifting the coveted crown.

Chris Brockenhurst has been the only driver to stand on the top step of the podium other than Blackman and along with the likes of title rivals Keith White and Steve Burrows, he’ll be aiming to repeat the feat.

Wheel-to-wheel action is all-but expected in the Junior Saloon Car Championship as the latest crop of teenage racers bid to make a name for themselves. Approaching the business end of the 2019 campaign,

Scott McIntyre and reigning champion Lewis Saunders have proven to be the cream of the crop so far with the two locked in a back-and-forth battle for overall honours. Jemma Moore and Alex Jay also remain on the fringe of the front-running fight too and shouldn’t be discounted.

Rounding off the day’s racing will be action from the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship; which has been rolling back the years to showcase some of the most jaw-dropping machines from the world-renowned manufacturer.

With multiple classes and all manner of different models sharing the same piece of tarmac, the on-track entertainment has been fast and frenetic so far.

Notable names to look out for include David Amphlett, Jim Baynam, Sarah Sullivan, Stuart Plotnek and Stephen McDermid – to name but a few.

To find out more information on this coming Monday’s event at Mallory Park, including links to live timing and timetables, click here.

British Rallycross Championship gearing up for return to Lydden Hill

The Toyo Tires Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship will roar back into life after its mid-season break at Lydden Hill this coming Bank Holiday Monday (August 26) with Derek Tohill and Julian Godfrey tied on points at the summit of the standings.

With three events already in the books, the adrenaline-fuelled series returns to the spiritual home of the sport in Kent for what is set to be a blockbuster race day of sideways thrills and spills.

Since the Silverstone season-opener, nothing has been able to separate Tohill and Godfrey towards the sharp end of the field – with neither of them able to break away from the other at the summit of the standings.

Tallying two wins apiece, the Ford Fiesta duo have been the cream of the crop so far and will undoubtedly be in the mix for outright honours at Lydden Hill.

Beyond the top two however are a host of front-running contenders that are all aiming to challenge for the top step of the podium as well. Former champion Ollie O’Donovan has endured a frustrating campaign to-date but the the Irishman can never be discounted.

Roger Thomas debuted his new Ford Fiesta last time out and will look to further improve whilst the likes of Steve Hill, Andy Grant and Simon Horton are all chasing silverware in their respective machines too.

Although the Toyo Tires Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship will take centre stage at the home of rallycross, a bumper supporting bill will also be in action over the course of the day to set the pulses of those in attendance racing.

The Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross Championship, Motorsport UK Supernational Rallycross Championship, BMW Mini Rallycross Championship, Swift Sport Rallycross Championship, RX150 Championship and Retro Rallycross Championship will all feature in entertaining fashion.

To find out more information on the Bank Holiday Monday spectacular, click here.