Author: Chris Ashby

TOCA support bill delivers Oulton Park scorcher

Oulton Park played host to a blockbuster two days of TOCA support championship action this past weekend (June 22/23) as the 2024 campaign reached the half-way point in typically dramatic fashion.

Sharing the bill with the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship in Cheshire, four one-make categories wrote the latest spectacular chapter of their seasons as they delivered an array of thrills and spills for the bumper crowd that was in attendance.

Nathan Edwards enjoyed a dream weekend in the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE JCW as he reigned supreme, starting both races from pole position and then duly following it up with two impressive wins. 

Race one around the 2.26-mile circuit saw Edwards produce a clinical display as he converted his front row start into a maiden victory. Nailing the launch as the lights went out, the EXCELR8 driver held firm out front to triumph despite coming under pressure from Nelson King and Tom Ovenden.

Edwards then repeated the feat in race two as he again didn’t put a wheel wrong out front to emerge victorious, with Ovenden this time leading home King after a fraught battle for the remaining podium honours.

The Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain saw Thomas Bradshaw make a welcome return to the winners enclosure as he took the fight to Sebastian Hopkins in the overall battle for the coveted championship crown.

Hopkins picked up where he left off at the last round and scored victory in the weekend’s opening contest however he could do nothing to stop Bradshaw in his Toro Verde GT machine from romping to the top step of the podium in the remaining two races.

Some of the closest on-track battles over the course of the weekend came in the Vertex Caterham Seven UK Championship, which was making its first appearance of the season on the support bill of the UK’s premier motorsport series. 

All three races ended with just a handful of seconds covering the lead protagonists; something that has become a staple of Caterham racing down the years. Paul Donkin triumphed in the weekend’s opening race before Lewis Thompson then struck back – twice.

Returning to the BTCC support package was also the all-action Hagerty Radical Cup UK – having last featured at Snetterton in late May – where an ultra-competitive grid served up three captivating contests.

As he has done on countless occasions already this year, Chris Lulham was the driver to beat as he snared pole position and he then streaked clear of the chasing pack to claim a commanding hat-trick of race wins. 

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

Thruxton serves up retro-themed thrills at annual Historic meeting

Thruxton Circuit rolled back the years this past weekend (June 22/23) as a bumper trackside crowd was taken on a captivating trip down memory lane for the annual Thruxton Historic meeting.

One of the standout events on the UK motorsport calendar since it first debuted back in 2018 as part of the venues 50th Anniversary celebrations, the two-day spectacle once again brought together legendary machines and racers for an adrenaline rush like no other.

Undoubtedly one of the headline acts of the weekend was the prestigious two-part Jochen Rindt Trophy; which celebrated the best single-seater race cars – with up to 2-litre engines – from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Second place in the opening contest was followed up by a hard-fought victory in the finale for Tom Smith, which secured him the overall bragging rights for this year.

Further single-seater thrills were on display courtesy of the Heroes of FF1600 Sprint Cup, which was battling for the coveted Ian Taylor Trophy. Small margins played their part across both races as Cameron Jackson triumphed in race one before Richard Tarling then came to the fore in race two.

The HSCC Guards Trophy Championship for Sports Racing & GT Cars prompted plenty of close competition with the team of Robert Tusting and Benjamin Tusting getting the better of Ross Hyett and Charlie Hyatt in their Lenham P69.

Andrew Hibbert was the driver to be in the weekend’s two Historic F3 for the Chris Moore Memorial Trophy, however he didn’t have things his own way as the Brabham BT18 was pushed to the limit in both contests, although he managed to hang on to triumph twice.

Over in the HSCC Historic Formula Ford 2000 Championship, Samuel Harrison was in a league of his own as he swept his way to pole position in qualifying and then followed up with two commanding lights-to-flag victories.

Italian flair was in full force courtesy of the Superformance Ferrari Club Classic Series, where Gary Culver, Nicky Paul-Barron and Tristan Simpson each claiming a win apiece in their respective prancing horse machines.

Slip-streaming thrills and spills were in full force when it came to the Mighty Minis Championship as Greg Jenkins powered his way to a brace of wins. Steve Rideout, Ben Butler and David Kirkpatrick also featured on the podium across the weekend.

Undoubtedly one of the biggest grids of the weekend came in the shape of the Adams & Page Swinging Sixties and new Thruxton Circuit owner Alex Thistlewayte marked his recent acquisition by comfortably winning the 40-minute race in his trusty Chevrolet Camaro.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action was a thrilling half-hour FISCAR which was dominated by Jonathan Abecassis, who claimed a commanding victory in his Austin Healey 100/4 by almost a full lap.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at this year’s Thruxton Historic, CLICK HERE.

Thruxton’s next major event takes place on July 6/7 as the British Truck Racing Championship thunders into town to headline the highly-anticipated Convoy on the Plain weekend.

Advance tickets are available to purchase online here: https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/british-trucks.

TOCA Junior poised to make eagerley-anticipated public debut this summer

Organisers of the TOCA Junior Championship have earmarked an upcoming round of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship as the setting for its all-new car to be launched.

Following the successful completion of all mandatory Motorsport UK chassis stress tests, the forthcoming series – which is aimed towards young drivers – is set to stage a public launch this summer, offering fans and industry stakeholders the opportunity to get up close with the new machine.

With the critical step of casting and assembly of all vehicle moulds having now been finished, track testing is poised to begin in the coming weeks.

Behind the scenes, the championship has locked in a number of collaborations which includes Curley Motorsport undertaking all interior vehicle panelling while Haltech, who are renowned for their expertise in motorsport electronics, will supply all vehicle electronics and ECUs.

Elsewhere, Corbeau will equip all cars with the latest championship-specification seats, harnesses and safety nets, with Questmead Ltd providing essential AP Parts and Mintex friction materials. Vehicle funding will be available from Bute Finance.

In recognition of the teams and drivers that have already registered their interest in the new-for-2025 series, an exclusive invite-only launch event is being eyed for early August.

More information on the TOCA Junior Championship will be provided in due course.

Thruxton Historic revved up to deliver weekend of full-throttle nostalgia

Thruxton Circuit is gearing up for a spectacular weekend of motorsport and entertainment with the Jochen Rindt Trophy (JRT) headlining the Thruxton Historic on June 22/23.

Fans can expect a dazzling display of historic and classic race cars and top-tier drivers, all set against the backdrop of the UK’s fastest race circuit. Here are some highlights and exciting entries for this year’s event:

JOCHEN RINDT TROPHY IN ASSOCIATION WITH YUASA BATTERIES
The highly anticipated Jochen Rindt Trophy is set to be the highlight of the two-day Thruxton Historic. This thrilling event will showcase two celebration races for single-seat race cars up to 2 litres in capacity, evoking the spirit of Thruxton throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

For the 2024 running of the Jochen Rindt Trophy, the world’s leading battery manufacturer, Yuasa are the title sponsor and will be providing trophies, welcome packs to JRT competitors and teams, and showcasing their products throughout the event.

INCREDIBLE SELECTION OF MACHINES IN ACTION
Scotland’s Tim Jacobsen will race the Ex Bev Bond / Alan Jones March 74B, marking its return to Thruxton after half a century. This car, built in late 1973 and raced by Jones to three victories in 1974, will be a crowd favourite, especially now that it’s back in the original ’74 Jones/Stiller livery. Multi-Champ Rob Moores will be racing his Ex-Derek Daly Chevron B38.

This car, with a rich history including multiple championships, will be a star attraction. Moores’ presence adds significant prestige, given his success at European circuits over the last 15 years. Ex Hanny Wiano/Richard Hawkins Monaco March 743 with Hampshire racer Bruce Balchin at the wheel originally raced at Monaco. This car’s storied past and recent restoration make it a must-see at the Thruxton Historic.

Delta Motorsport’s Iain Rowley in the Ex ‘Howdy’ Holmes March 79B will also be in attendance. Known for his charismatic character and impressive driving, Rowley’s participation adds excitement to the lineup. 2022 Best Presented Car Winner Neil Jenkins returns, showcasing his beautifully prepared Chevron B38 Toyota Novamotor. This car, always a contender for best presentation, will compete in the Derek Warwick Trophy class for 2-litre F3s.

Kent’s Martin Wood brings his stunning March 73B, adding to the Formula Atlantic ranks. Wood’s rich racing history and the car’s Cosworth engine are sure to delight fans. Gary Ward with a background in FF1600, F3, and F3000, will race the Ex Didier Theys Ralt RT3. Known for his detailed race car preparation, Ward’s return is eagerly anticipated. Also watch out for Gary in his own original Lola FF1600 in the ‘Heroes’ race. Former Classic F3 Champion Andy Smith will race in his March 783 Toyota. Smith, a prominent figure in historic racing, adds significant competition to the Derek Warwick Class.

John Cottrill’s Ex Henri Pescarolo Brabham BT30, fitted with a period-correct Ford Cosworth FVA engine, will debut at Thruxton. This car’s rich history is sure to captivate spectators. Former F1, F5000 & World Sportscar racer Mike Wilds will drive a Formula Atlantic Lyncar FA005. Wilds, known for his extensive career and engaging personality, is expected to be a highlight of the event. Simon Langman’s beautifully restored Ex Rolf Stommelen Brabham BT30 returns. This car, a highlight from last year’s event and promises to be a visual treat for racing fans.

Raimund Fein from Germany brings back Ian Taylor’s March Holbay F3, a car deeply connected to Thruxton’s history. Historic F3 cars, including a Ralt RT1 and Chevron B38, will return to Thruxton. These cars, with their links to local racing legend Derek Warwick, are sure to bring back memories for long-time fans.

The Thruxton Historic will also feature an array of exciting races that celebrate the rich history of motorsport:

Ferrari Superformance: Watch road-legal and modified Ferraris up to the era of the 355 challenge, including models like the 308, 328, 348, 355, 456, 550, Mondial, and more.

Historic Formula Ford 2000: Single-seater cars built and raced before 1980 offer an affordable way to compete in a slicks and wings class.

FISCAR: The Fifties Sports Car Racing Club showcases sports cars from the 1950s, providing a competitive and friendly environment for drivers and enthusiasts.

Mighty MINIS: This highly competitive series features compact, modified Mini Coopers known for their speed, agility, and thrilling wheel-to-wheel action.

Swinging Sixties: A mix of sports, saloons, and GT cars race in a series that ensures close, clean competition with exciting 40-minute races and mandatory pit stops.

HSCC Guards Trophy: The HSCC’s Guards Trophy Championship makes a rare appearance at Thruxton this weekend, showcasing a splendid array of 1960s sports-racing and GT cars in a 50-minute mini-enduro race. In this enduring and highly successful series from the Historic Sports Car Club, pit stops are mandatory, but driver changes are optional. Saturday’s race will be one of the longest races at Thruxton this season. Sports racing cars and grand touring cars from the 1960s compete, with separate awards for each class.

HSCC – Historic F3 1L: When the current circuit opened in 1968, the one-litre Formula 3 category was thriving, earning the nickname ‘screamers’ due to the high-revving 1000cc engines. This weekend’s races mark a rare return to Thruxton for these iconic racing cars, and fittingly, a trophy from that era is being reintroduced. With the support of the British Automobile Racing Club, the Chris Moore Memorial Trophy will be awarded to the aggregate race winner.

Chris Moore was one of Britain’s promising young stars in the mid-1960s, racing competitively in one-litre Formula 3. Tragically, he passed away from a brain tumour at the age of 25. In his memory, his mother and brother presented the Chris Moore Memorial Trophy to the BARC, which was awarded to the winner of a Formula 3 race for many years.

Heroes of FF1600: New for 2024 is the Heroes of FF1600 Sprint Cup, a mini-series comprising of three events that celebrate Formula Ford cars from the category’s golden era up to 1993. This weekend’s competitors will fittingly be racing for the Ian Taylor Trophy, in honour of the leading Formula Ford racer who played a pivotal role at Thruxton for many years. Ian Taylor’s name is synonymous with both Formula Ford and Thruxton, and the aggregate winner from the two races will be awarded the trophy dedicated to his memory.

AET Turbos to sponsor BHC Tin Top – Top Ten Challenge

The British Automobile Racing Club can announce that AET Turbos have been named as title sponsors of the BHC Tin Top – Top Ten Challenge.

Formed in 1974, the company – which is a major provider of remanufactured and re-engineered turbochargers – is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year and will mark the occasion by partnering with the popular series.

“We are delighted to have AET Turbos on board as partner and title sponsor of the 2024 BHC Tin Top – Top Ten Challenge,” said Tim Wilson, British Hillclimb Championship Co-ordinator.

“Due to its popularity with both competitors and spectators, we have increased the Tin Top – Top Ten Challenge to five events for the season ahead. With events spread across the country at many of the top UK Hillclimb venues, this season should be very exciting. We look forward to working in partnership with AET over the coming months and years ahead.”

Andy Taylor, Managing Director of AET Turbos, added: “After supporting 2023 BHC Tin Top – Top Ten Challenge winner Damien Bradley and Team Legacy for a number of years, the next logical step for us is to support the Championship.

“The AET Turbos team look forward to offering our advice and servicing to competitors and supporters of the BHC, BHC Cup and the world of Hillclimbing in general in 2024 and for many seasons ahead.”

The opening round of the BHC Tin Top – Top Ten Challenge takes place at Harewood Hillclimb in Yorkshire on July 6/7.

BARC championships star at the Home of British Motor Racing

The British Automobile Racing Club delivered unmissable wheel-to-wheel entertainment this past weekend (June 15/16) as a number of championships wrote the latest chapter of their 2024 seasons at the Home of British Motor Racing, Silverstone.

Taking centre stage at the Northamptonshire venue just a few weeks before the Formula 1 British Grand Prix rolls into town, the two-day event saw a total of 15 races play out around the world-famous 3.66-mile circuit.

Peter Erceg and Marcus Clutton maintained their unbeaten record in the British Endurance Championship in association with Motorsport UK as they guided their PB Racing with JMH Audi GT3 to a commanding victory.

Following an almost two-month hiatus, the monstrous GT machines of Britcar’s flagship category returned to action in superlative style as a bumper grid battled for supremacy in a captivating two-hour race.

Having triumphed at every event so far this year, Erceg and Clutton wasted no time in establishing themselves as the team to beat as they charged to the top of the times in qualifying to clinch pole position by more than three seconds.

As the lights went out for the race, the Audi duo quickly broke clear of the chasing pack and once out front, they were never really challenged. After two hours and 51 laps, Erceg and Clutton claimed the chequered flag three laps clear of their nearest rivals.

Behind the eventual race winners, Witt Gamski and Ross Wylie marked a rare appearance in the Bentley Continental GT3 Gen 2 with a fine drive to snare second place, while Xentek Motorsport’s Josh Steed and Bal Sidhu filled the final step on the podium.

One week on from tackling the high-speed curves of Thruxton, the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA was back in action with three races that were packed with slip-streaming and close-quarter battles.

Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Deagen Fairclough emerged as one of the stars of the show as he maintained his sensational early-season form by charging to a commanding fifth win of the season in the weekend’s opening bout, which in-turn extended his standings lead.

Unfortunately the single-seater ace was unable to repeat the feat in race two as he found himself caught up in a multi-car incident on the opening lap, which wiped out a number of other drivers too.

Up at the front, JHR Developments driver Leo Robinson became the latest first-time winner in the series as he overhauled Ella Lloyd to claim a memorable victory. Rounding out the podium was Rodin Motorsport’s Alex Ninovic.

The weekend’s third and final race belonged to Reza Seewooruthun as he converted pole position into a clinical lights-to-flag victory, leading home Fairclough for a Hitech 1-2 while Ninovic completed the top three.

Four of Caterham Motorsport’s five championships were also in attendance as they continued their all-action campaigns on the hallowed Silverstone tarmac, with each of them serving up their fair share of thrills and spills.

The Caterham Academy Championship, which is for drivers that are taking their first steps into the crucible of motorsport, boasted an entry list of almost 50 cars for their solitary race however nobody was able to stop Bruno van Dyke from claiming a comfortable victory.

Spoils were shared in the Bilstein Caterham Roadsport Championship as Paul Goldstein and Jonathan Emery claimed a win apiece, whilst Ben Timmons charged to triumphant clean sweep in the Mission Motorsport Caterham Seven 270R Championship.

The Motul Caterham Seven 310R Championship capped off the pulsating action from the British manufacturer with Taylor O’Flanagan winning the opening bout before Tom Wyllys bagged himself a double.

Rounding out the BARC’s first visit to Silverstone this year were two races from the Britcar Trophy Championship which, like the British Endurance Championship, hadn’t been in action for almost eight weeks.

Despite the lay-off, there was no signs of race rust from Chris Bialan and Simon Mason as they piloted their Sim Dynamics Racing with Jabbasport Cupra Gen 1 to the top step of the podium in both races.

Shadowing them on both occasions was Datum Motorsport’s Axel van Nederveen, who clinched two second place finishes, with Geoff Steel Racing’s Lee Goldsmith tallying a pair of third place finishes in his BMW M3 E46.

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

Each and every race is now available to re-watch on the British Automobile Racing Club’s YouTube channel HERE.

Duckhams Oils to sponsor Heroes of FF1600 Sprint Cup

Duckhams Oils are set to celebrate their Formula Ford history this year after confirming that they will be the headline sponsors for the inaugural Heroes of FF1600 Sprint Cup.

The three-event campaign – which is for 1980s and 1990s Formula Ford machinery – begins at the Thruxton Historic in June with the coveted Ian Taylor Trophy race before going on to stage events at Oulton Park in July and Croft in September.

The series was founded by Co-ordinator Ian Temple, former HSCC Historic Formula Ford champion Richard Tarling, Heroes of FF1600 webmaster Wayne Pearson and long-time Formula Ford racer Steve Deeks.

Celebrating its 125th Anniversary this year, Duckhams has been a trusted partner within motorsport for a number of decades – with its legacy dating back to 1934. During its illustrious history, the original British motor oil brand has has supported winners in Formula 1, Formula 3, Formula 5000, Formula Atlantic, Formula Ford, British and World Rally, Superbikes, Porsche Carrera Cup GB, British GT and the BTCC.

In the 1974 season alone, a staggering 43 out of 55 Formula Ford races were won on Duckhams Q oil. Duckhams also enjoyed a long and successful partnership with the Van Diemen Formula Ford racing team, which culminated in the Duckhams team winning the Championship in 1993.

“When we started dreaming about revisiting the golden age of FF1600, we dreamed of tempting back the ‘names’: drivers, chassis, engine builders – and sponsors,” said Sprint Cup organisers.

“The iconic brands and colours that shout ‘Formula Ford’. We are excited to welcome aboard as a championship sponsor ‘Duckhams’ – finest quality lubricants, whose product packages will be awarded to ten of our fastest competitors.”

Rajat Moitra, Duckhams’ Global CMO, added: “Duckhams and motorsports have been synonymous with each other along the brand’s legacy of 125 years. We are excited to be supporting this event which celebrates the “golden era” of Formula Ford in the ’80s and ’90s.

“A great British engine oil brand, Duckhams has such an iconic motorsports heritage, packed with so many winners. Here’s to driving and winning together for the next 125 years!”

BARC TV: What’s On This Weekend // June 15-16

The British Automobile Racing Club returns to action this weekend (June 15-16) with a blockbuster two days of on-track entertainment around Silverstone’s world-famous Grand Prix circuit.

Taking centre stage at the Home of the British Motor Racing will be the monstrous GTs of the British Endurance Championship; while potential future stars of Formula 1 will duke it out across three unmissable contests in the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA.

Also featuring over the course of the weekend will be races from the Caterham Academy, Caterham 270R Championship, Caterham 310R Championship, Caterham Roadsport Championship and Britcar Trophy Championship.

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

Saturday 15th June | 12:45 | WATCH HERE
Sunday 16th June | 09:45 | WATCH HERE

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

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

TOCA support championship star in Hampshire

Thruxton Circuit played host to an action-packed British Touring Car Championship support bill this past weekend (June 8/9) as five different categories took centre stage in front of a bumper trackside crowd.

Garnering plenty of attention around the high-speed Hampshire venue was the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA, which is the home to potential future single-seater stars. One driver that looks destined to go far is series leader Deagen Fairclough and he strengthened his stranglehold in the standings by charging to yet another victory in the weekend’s opening contest.

Starting from pole position, the Hitech Pulse-Eight driver was perfection personified as he fended off the charging pack to net his fourth win of what is turning out to be an impressive campaign.

Unfortunately for Fairclough that would be his only triumph of the weekend as the spoils for races two and three fell the way of two first-time winners; Fortec Motorsport’s Alex Berg and Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Reza Seewooruthun.

The monstrous machines of the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain undoubtedly had those in attendance on the edge of their seats and for good reason too, as the UK’s fastest single-make series served up two captivating contests.

Race one saw Will Martin dominate proceedings in his Eden Race Drive machine as he claimed victory by more than eight seconds over George Gamble and Harry Foster.

Gamble and Foster would occupy second and third on the podium in race two as well however this time it was South African racer Andrew Rackstraw that reigned supreme for the first time in the championship.

Concluding the weekend’s on-track entertainment was an abundance of MINI, three of which were from the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy while the remaining four races came from the Mini 7 Racing Club.

In the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, Rhys Hurd procuded a superlative performance to claim two commanding wins while Alex Solley managed to prevent him from clinching a clean sweep as he picked up a win of his own.

Over in the Mini Miglia and Mini Se7en races, overall honours belonged to the Jordan family as former BTCC title Andrew Jordan did the double in the Miglia races while his Dad Mike repeated the feat in the Se7en category.

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

Brilliant BTCC weekend sees Jake Hill and Ash Sutton conquer Thruxton

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship delivered a blockbuster spectacle at Thruxton this past weekend (June 8/9) which culminated in Jake Hill and Ashley Sutton enjoying a share of the spoils. 

Making its only visit of the season to the home of the British Automobile Racing Club, the UK’s premier motorsport series was greeted in Hampshire by cool conditions and packed spectator bankings – all of whom witnessed a blockbuster day of tin top thrills. 

Qualifying on Saturday afternoon saw Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS driver Tom Ingram walk away with the bragging rights as he produced a superlative lap to clinch a second pole position of the season in his Hyundai i30 N. 

On a weekend that coincided with centenary celebrations for the manufacturer-backed outfit, Ingram struck late to snatch top spot while Dan Cammish, Hill, Dan Rowbottom and Sutton trailed behind by a few tenths of a second.

Hill became the first treble winner of the season in the first of Sunday’s three races as his lightening start propelled him onto what proved to be a comfortable lights-to-flag victory ahead of Cammish and Sutton. 

Race two then saw the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport driver make it back-to-back triumphs as he inherited the victory following a post-race penalty for on-the-road winner Ingram.

Ingram had initially powered his Hyundai to the chequered flag however he was to be demoted back to third after gaining an unfair advantage in an incident involving Cammish at the final chicane.

Sutton was the first to hound Hill for the lead but damage to his Ford would see him drop back, which in-turn left the door open for Ingram to seize the moment and claim what he thought would be a third win of the year. 

Unfortunately, his part in an incident which saw him straight-line the chicane led to him being pushed back behind Hill and Cammish in the final result.

Reigning champion Sutton would come to the fore in the day’s final contest as he opened his win account for the year in style, bouncing back from a sluggish start to comfortably claim victory. 

Starting fourth, the four-time champion bogged down off the line, which dropped him back a few places, but once he was up and running there was no stopping him. Rising through the order with relative ease, the front-wheel-drive ace soon dispatched Josh Cook and Cammish before overhauling Adam Morgan for the  win. 

Following the conclusion of Rounds 10, 11 & 12, Sutton tops the BTCC Drivers’ Championship – five points ahead of Hill – whilst Ford head the Manufacturers-Constructors Championship.

In the Teams’ Championship, NAPA Racing UK lead the standings after three events whilst Aron Taylor-Smith and Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing sit out front in both the Independent Drivers’ and Independent Teams’ Championship’s respectively. 

The Jack Sears Trophy – which is open to drivers who hadn’t scored an outright podium in the series prior to the start of the season – continues to be led by Mikey Doble.

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

The 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship reaches the halfway mark of the 2024 season in less than two weeks’ time at Oulton Park on June 22/23.

Jake Hill and Rob Huff score famous BTCC wins at Snetterton

Jake Hill and Rob Huff shared the Snetterton spoils in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this past weekend (May 25/26) as ever-changing weather conditions played their part in delivering an action-packed third meeting of the season.

Hot on the heels of blockbuster events at Donington Park and Brands Hatch, the country’s premier motorsport series served up three hard-fought contests around the 300 layout – which further shook up the championship order in the process. 

Qualifying on Saturday afternoon proved to be an edge-of-the-seat affair as Hill powered his Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW to a well-deserved pole position in the final moments of the session.

Having shown his hand in greasy conditions earlier in the day, Hill produced a superlative last-gasp lap to claim top spot ahead of reigning champion Ash Sutton, who was as equally impressive given he had just one second of hybrid deployment available to him.

Behind the top two, Adam Morgan netted third ahead of Dan Cammish and the returning Bobby Thompson, who was making his debut with West Surrey Racing after putting together a deal that will see him drive for the team for the remainder of the season.

Sunday’s opening contest proved to be a masterclass from Hill as he claimed a comfortable lights-to-flag victory. Opting to run the soft tyre on his rear-wheel-drive machine, Hill blasted away from pole position and was ultimately never challenged on his way to a first win of the year.

As Hill scampered clear, stablemate Thompson continued his dream debut with the team by progressing up to second while Sutton completed the podium in third, which in-turn saw him equal the record of scoring seven consecutive top three finishes. 

If Hill’s victory in race one was impressive, the way he went about triumphing in race two will be remembered for some time as he obliterated the field in a frenetic wet-dry-wet race.

A huge storm had hit the circuit prior to lights out which led to a lengthy delay as circuit officials shifted large areas of standing water. With the sun beaming down, many drivers opted to switch to slick tyres however Hill remained on wets, which proved to be an inspired decision.

Hill’s chances of victory had looked almost impossible though as he was hit with a ten-second penalty for jumping the start. He immediately began to build a lead out front though and when the rain returned, he only got stronger and triumphed by more than 15 seconds ahead of Dan Cammish and Josh Cook.

The final word of the weekend went the way of home hero Huff who led home a first-ever Toyota 1-2-3 to claim his first win in the BTCC in 20 years. 

Hill originally had looked like he would score a historic hat-trick of wins as his gamble to run on wet tyres powered him into an early lead however as the track continued to dry, the slick-shod cars closed in.

Huff, Cook and Aiden Moffat led the charge for the BMW driver and all found a way past just after mid-distance. Once they were out front, there was no stopping them as Huff recorded a famous third career win in the series.

Leaving Snetterton, Sutton holds a ten-point lead over Colin Turkington at the top of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship whilst Ford head the Manufacturers-Constructors Championship.

In the Teams’ Championship, NAPA Racing UK lead the standings after three events whilst Aron Taylor-Smith and Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing sit out front in both the Independent Drivers’ and Independent Teams’ Championship’s respectively. 

The Jack Sears Trophy – which is open to drivers who hadn’t scored an outright podium in the series prior to the start of the season – continues to be led by Mikey Doble.

On the TOCA support championship, Dan Zelos continued his march towards what could be a third Vertu MINI CHALLENGE JCW title as he claimed three wins from four races – one of which came in his 100th start in the series.

Zelos looked unbeatable around the longest circuit on the calendar however his team-mate Max Hall managed to overhaul on him the finale to clinch a third win of the season.

Alex Ninovic was one of the leading lights in the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA as he claimed two wins, with Yuanpu Cui also clinching a breakthrough win.

The Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain began its campaign with Seb Hopkins and Max Coates sharing the spoils, with Luke Hilton and Chris Lulham doing the same in the Hagerty Radical Cup UK.

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

The fastest track in the UK, Thruxton Circuit, provides the next stop on the calendar with Rounds 10, 11 & 12 taking place on June 8/9. Advance tickets for the event are currently available to purchase from the Thruxton website.

Blockbuster BARC action headlines Convoy Cymru at Pembrey

The British Automobile Racing Club took centre stage at Pembrey Circuit this past weekend (May 18/19) for an unforgettable two days of blockbuster track action, all of which acted as the headline acts for Convoy Cymru.

On what proved to be a weekend to remember in South Wales, a bumper crowd flocked to the popular venue for a festival of all things trucking – which included an eye-catching show truck display, live music, monster truck rides, electric motocross and much more.

Whilst there was plenty to see and do off-track, edge-of-the-seat entertainment was the order of business on it as a number of categories continued their 2024 campaigns in superlative style.

Topping the bill were five heavyweight contests from the British Truck Racing Championship, which – just like Brands Hatch for the season-opener – delivered an abundance of drama across both Division’s 1 and 2.

As expected, reigning Division 1 champion Ryan Smith was a force to be reckoned as he romped to a brace of wins however the Daimler Freightliner driver didn’t have things his own way. Fellow former champion David Jenkins would tally a double of his own while Steven Powell also stood on the top step of the podium.

In Division 2, with defending champion Paul Rivett forced to watch on from the sideline due to sustaining a broken ankle, John Powell set about closing the gap to the early points leader by sharing the spoils with Rivett’s NAPA Racing UK replacement, BTCC star Sam Osborne.

Powell laid down his marker with pole position and a lights-to-flag victory in the opening contest however mechanical issues prevented him from starting races two and four, which provided Osborne with the opportunity triumph. Powell would however win the remaining races in his DAF.

Westbourne Motorsport’s Harry Hickton maintained his lead in the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy standings following three frenetic races of the popular tin top series in the Welsh countryside.

Hickton tallied a podium and a fourth place finish in races one and two before then coming to the fore in the finale, as he powered his way from third on the grid to claim a hard-fought victory – his third of the season so far.

Prior to Hickton reigning supreme, Jamie Keates splashed his way to the top of the rostrum in a wet’n wild opener before Alex Solley opened his account for the new campaign with a commanding win in race two.

Former BTCC race winner Matt Simpson enjoyed a near-perfect weekend in the Pickup Truck Racing Championship as he strengthened his early stranglehold on proceedings at the summit of the leaderboard.

Simpson was arguably untouchable out front for a majority of the event as he blasted his way to pole position in qualifying before then converting it into a brace of superlative wins in races one and two.

Dale Gent ultimately prevented Simpson from claiming what would have been a memorable hat-trick in the weekend’s finale as he underlined his credentials as a contender for the crown with a masterful defensive drive to hold off his rival and Mark Willis.

Like Simpson, Josh Selvadorai was another driver that narrowly missed out on clinching a clean sweep of wins as he laid down his marker as one to watch in the ever-exciting Junior Saloon Car Championship.

Series leader Harry Smith narrowly pipped Selvadorai to outright honours in a damp race one but from that point on the meeting belonged to the Citroen Saxo of Selvadorai as he piloted his way to a dominant double.

Behind him, Smith continued his fine start to the year by adding two more podium finishes to his tally while there was also silverware for Jonathan Moore and Kieran Roberts.

Paul Roddison was another driver that enjoyed a weekend to remember at Pembrey as he, like many others already mentioned, produced a double-winning performance – this time in the fledgling Track Action.

Roddison – who is a previous winner of the coveted BARC President’s Cup – guided his Volkswagen Scirocco to the chequered flag in races one and two before Dan Earl triumphed in his Vauxhall Astra VXR in the finale.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action were a pair of races from the Welsh Sports & Saloon Car Championship on Sunday, both of which were won by Deri Davies in his Darrian T90 and Damien Longotano in his Westfield SE.

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

You can also re-watch all of the action from Saturday and Sunday by heading to the British Automobile Racing Club YouTube channel HERE.