Author: Chris Ashby

BARC delivers scorching Brands Hatch bank holiday blockbuster

The British Automobile Racing Club put on an Easter extravaganza at Brands Hatch this past weekend (April 20/21/22) as eight championships basked in the bank holiday sun to produce three days of unmissable action.

Topping the bill were eight dramatic race, four for Division 1 and four for Division 2, from the MV Commercial BTRA Championship. Kicking off another season of edge-of-the-seat entertainment, the heavyweight behemoths served up a string of spellbinding performances. 

In Division 1, reigning champion Ryan Smith began the defence of his title in style as he picked up a pair of victories whilst Stuart Oliver and David Jenkins also triumphed.

There was a similar theme in Division 2 as well with reigning champion Luke Garrett making an equally flying start as he too picked up a pair of wins. Eric Forsstrom and Steve Powell left the Kent circuit with a win apiece as well whilst Paul Rivett made his mark by scoring a hat-trick of podium finishes.

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2019, the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres was back and better than ever. Renowned for close-quarter racing, the 5/8 scale championship wowed crowds from start-to-finish with a host of photo finishes.

Connor Mills prevailed as the most successful driver around the 1.2 mile circuit as he bagged three wins whilst the trio of Sy Harraway, Jack Parker and James Hall-Morton, upon which was his maiden victory in the series, shared the remaining spoils.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship is set to be wide open this year with five different drivers filling the podium across the weekend’s two races. With the void of double champion Scott Bourne needing to be filled, Michael Smith came to the fore in the curtain-raiser to beat George Turiccki and David O’Regan.

O’Regan would move up the order in the second race as he produced a scintillating performance to score victory ahead of Dale Gent and Paul Jones.

Malcolm Blackman wrote his name into the history books as the first winner in the BARC Super Silhouette Championship, which is now being run by SHP Promotions. A stalwart of the spaceframe formula, Blackman delivered a stunning lap in qualifying to bag pole position and then backed it up with victory in race one.

The former champion made it two from two later in the day but was made to work for it as he came under extreme pressure from Chris Brockhurst in the closing laps.

Wayne Rockett was at his brilliant best as a new season of the Carbon 8 Hyundai Coupe Cup got underway, notching two commanding race wins as Alex Cursley, Kevin Smiles and Nick Moore all rounded out the rostrum across the two respective races.

Saturday saw a Classic Touring Car Championship takeover with several races from its multiple classes. Mike Luck and Stephen Primett were the victors in the Pre ’83 Touring Car Championship whilst Richard Wood dominated the combined Classic Thunder & Blue Oval encounters.

Jonathan Lewis emerged as the driver to beat in the Pre ’66 Touring Car Championship, winning both races, as the amalgamated Pre ’93, Pre ’03 & Pre ’05 spoils fell the way of Don Hughes and AJ Owen.

The BARC Clubmans Sports Prototype Championship in association with King Henry’s Taverns saw Clive Wood kick off his campaign on the right as he stormed to a trio of pole positions, and then backed it up with a pair of race wins.

Dominating proceeding’s in races one and two, Wood had looked to be a sure bet to complete a clean sweep in race three however a mechanical issue when trying to leave the pit lane put an end to that dream before the race had even begun. Taking advantage of a vacant pole position spot, Peter Richings brought the curtain down on the weekend with victory.

Capping off the bank holiday weekend’s racing at the Kent circuit was a pair of races from the BARC Tin Tops Championship. Guest driver Steve Rothery piloted his Peugeot 308 to the top of the time-sheets in qualifying and then onto victory twice later on Saturday afternoon.

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

Derek Tohill claims maiden British Rallycross victory at Lydden Hill

Derek Tohill stormed to the summit of the Toyo Tires Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship standings on Easter Monday (April 22) after claiming his first victory in the adrenaline-fuelled series at Lydden Hill.

Descending on the Kent circuit for the traditional bank holiday meeting, the second event of the season threw up yet more entertainment as the Irishman got the better of former champion Ollie O’Donovan in a pulsating final.

O’Donovan had been the man to beat in the first two rounds of heats, setting the fastest time at the wheel of his Ford Fiesta however it would be Tohill that set the pace in the third and final qualifier.

Keen to bounce back from a tough season-opener, O’Donovan began the final on pole position with Tohill second and round one winner Julian Godfrey completing the front row. As the lights went out, Godfrey immediately took his joker lap as the top two scrapped for the lead.

O’Donovan held off Tohill through the first corner, Chesson’s Drift, and powered into a lead he held until the fourth lap when he was passed by Tohill, who had elected to take his joker one lap earlier.

Godfrey threw himself into contention in the closing stages but neither could stop Tohill from taking the chequered flag in his striking Ford Fiesta.

“It’s amazing to win here, it was a great job by everyone in the team all day. We worked hard for this, but it feels like we really earned it,” Tohill said. “It was a hustle out there with Ollie, I got him off the line then he sank himself down the inside into the first corner, which drifted me out wide. Then I had to keep the pressure on and try to pass him, or force him into an early joker. I had one lap to do it after I took the joker and I put in a real good lap so it was just enough. It was a brilliant end to the day to get the win.

Tristen Ovenden extended his lead in the  Motorsport UK Supernational Rallycross Championship as he dominated proceedings at his home track. Emerging as the driver to beat throughout qualifying, the Renault Clio V6 race led Paige Bellerby in the final to score an emphatic victory.

The Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross Championship saw heartbreak for Latvian ace Roberts Vitols as he set the pace in the qualifying before then leading a majority of the final. Bad luck was to strike however as Vitols ran into technical trouble on the fourth lap, subsequently handing the lead and victory to points leader Luke Constantine.

Dominic Flitney was the winner in the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship whilst David Bell benefitted from a Drew Bellerby retirement to maintain his strong start in the defence of his BMW Mini Rallycross Championship title.

In the RX150 Championship, Stephen Jones claimed a maiden victory when race leaders Tom Onslow Cole and Jon Armstrong came together on the fifth lap and subsequently retired.

Rounding out the list of winners was FIA World Rallycross Championship star Liam Doran, who led the way in the Retro Rallycross Championship. Driving a Ford RS200, Doran was dominant and claimed victory in Retro RX’s Group B & Four Wheel Drive final from the second row of the grid, ahead of Steve Harris.

For the full classification of results from Lydden Hill, click here.

The Toyo Tires Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship heads to Pembrey next on June 22/23.

BARC revved up for Easter extravaganza at Brands Hatch

Brands Hatch is set to play host to a blockbuster Easter extravaganza this weekend (April 20/21/22) as the British Automobile Racing Club descends on the Kent circuit with eight championships for three days of door-to-door action.

A traditional fixture on the motorsport calendar for both the Club and the circuit, the Easter race weekend has provided plenty of memorable moments down the years and 2019 is likely to be no different.

Headlining the action with eight races will be the MV Commercial BTRA Championship, which roars back into life for another year. Weighing in at more than five tonnes and producing in excess of 1000bhp, the championship is a favourite among many and boasts a bumper entry list in both Division 1 & 2.

Three-time champion Ryan Smith will be the man to beat in Division 1 as he bids to write his name into the history books whilst both former champions David Jenkins and Stuart Oliver will be keen to halt the MAN juggernaut and get the jump on him early in the year.

Division 2 will see Luke Garrett begin the defence of his title however he faces a stern test from a raft of contenders including Brad Smith, Steven Powell, Simon Cole and Paul Rivett, who has made the switch from the Renault UK Clio Cup to Truck Racing full-time.

At the other end of the scale in terms of size competing at Brands Hatch is the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres. Marking the start of a milestone year for the category as it celebrates its 25th Anniversary, the 5/8 scale machines are set to wow crowds with a host of races, and a big grid all aiming to topple reigning champion John Mickel.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship will crown a new champion this year with two-time victor Scott Bourne not returning for 2019, and judging by the entry list it is set to be as wide open as ever. A blend of experienced and fresh-faced racers will line up on the grid for the opening event of the year with it all to play for.

Rebranded and running under the SHP Promotions banner, the BARC Super Silhouette Championship will kick off a new era at Brands Hatch. Formerly known as Intermarques, the space-frame machines are set to ensure pulses are racing as a strong entry list dukes it out for honours in the opening event of the season.

Those wanting to take a trip down touring car memory lane will be well catered for as the Classic Touring Car Championship continues. Kicking off the season at Oulton Park in March, the championship once again has another awe-inspiring line-up of cars and drivers, all of whom will be keen to shine at this second meeting of the year.

Brands Hatch will mark the start of new seasons for the BARC Clubmans Sports Prototype Championship in association with King Henry’s Taverns and the Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup too. Both delighting fans wherever they went in 2018, the two categories are polar opposites from each other however one theme is set to relate them around the Indy circuit and that is that they will deliver non-stop entertainment.

Capping off the action will be further saloon car thrills from the BARC Tin Tops Championship, which is open to a diverse range of machines.

In total, a scheduled 33 races are set to take place over Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Brands Hatch making it an event that is not to be missed. To find out more information on the event as a whole, click here.

BARC quartet set for race day of twists and turns at Cadwell Park

The British Automobile Racing Club is set to make it an Easter Sunday to remember this weekend (April 21) as four championships get set to take on the technical twists and turns of Cadwell Park.

In what is the first of three visits to the Lincolnshire-based track over the course of 2019 by the BARC, those attending are set to be treated to a feast of on-track entertainment from the opening lap.

Having kicked off their year at Silverstone, the 2CV Parts.com Classic Racing Championship will continue with a trio of 20-minute races scheduled to take place. Reigning champion Pete Sparrow set his stall out as the man to beat last month by storming to a pair of race wins and it would be hard to bet against him adding to his win tally on Sunday.

Leading the chase for Sparrow are several front-running contenders including former champion Lien Davies, Nick Crispin and Nigel Hollis – to name just a few. Boasting another bumper entry list, this iconic car and series has continued to be a smash-hit and that theme should continue at Cadwell Park.

Flying the flag for the Club’s North West Centre, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship will be back action with a wide variety of cars set to battle it out for supremacy.

Coming off the back of a disjointed opening event at Oulton Park where there was a red flag stoppage for a start-line incident followed by the race finishing under a safety car, hopes are high for a smoother race day – with two frenetic encounters taking place.

Notable names to keep an eye on over the course of the day include Oulton Park victor Jon Woolfit in his MK Indy, Paul Dobso, David Harvey and Nigel Mustill, amongst many more.

The Mighty Minis Championship meanwhile will lift the curtain on their 2019 season with two races. Never short of producing door-to-door action, the iconic Mini will once more take fans on a spirited trip down memory lane to showcase why it became one of the most popular cars globally.

Split into two classes, Mighty Mini and Super Mighty Mini, the championship is proving to be as popular as it ever has done with a healthy grid size for this Sunday. Amongst them is a list of possible title contenders that are hungry to make their mark during the opening weekend of the year.

Reigning champion Stuart Coombs, David Kirkpatrick, Alex Comis, Paul Inch and Paul Ogborn are just five drivers to cast a watchful eye over.

Capping off the action at Cadwell Park will be a pair of races from the British Superkart Championship. Small in stature but able to clock eye-watering speeds, the very best karting drivers in the country will be going wheel-to-wheel in a bid to top the podium – and it is not to be missed.

For more information, such as the entry list and timetable for this Sunday’s event, click here.

British Rallycross gearing up for Easter Monday show-stopper at Lydden Hill

The Toyo Tires Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship will descend on Lydden Hill this coming Bank Holiday Monday (April 22) with five-time champion Julian Godfrey looking to build on his strong start to the 2019 season.

In what has become a traditional event over the Easter period at the spiritual home of rallycross, a bumper crowd is expected to turn out in force to witness the latest chapter of what has already been an entertaining campaign of sideways thrills.

Silverstone provided the backdrop for the season-opener last month and Godfrey laid down the gauntlet to his rivals as he claimed a clean sweep of victories across all heats and then the final to charge into the points lead.

Chasing a sixth crown, the multiple champion will be behind the wheel of a former title-winning Ford Fiesta instead of his Spencer Sport-run Mitsubishi Mirage for the second round of the year – adding further intrigue before lights out.

Irish Rallycross champion Derek Tohill made his mark at Silverstone with a string of notable performance, ultimately finishing second, and he has confirmed he will race in his Ford Fiesta too. If the cards fall his way, Tohill could well be the man to take the fight to Godfrey over the course of the day.

Jake Harris will make his first start of the year in a Citroen DS3 whilst Pat Doran will also fly flag for the French marque in his trusty Citroen C4, and the former champion will have his sights set on building on his podium start to the year.

Roger Thomas and Andy Grant are set for maiden outings in a Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus respectively whilst rounding out the front-running contenders are Steve Hill, Steve Mundy, Mike Manning and Liam Manning.

Alongside the Supercar class of the Toyo Tires Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship, an all-out action supporting cast will also keep fans on the edge-of-their-seats.

Tristan Ovenden is the early pace-setter in the Motorsport UK Supernational Championship and he heads a list of quick local drivers in the two-wheel-drive category including Paul Coney, Darren Scott and Fred Ling.

In the Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross Championship, Luke Constantine leads the way however he will have to be wary of the threat from Tom Constantine and others if he wants to stay there come the end of race day.

Elsewhere the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship, BMW Mini Rallycross Championship, Retro Rallycross Championship and RX150 Championship will all be in action too.

To ensure you don’t miss a second of the racing on Easter Monday, head to the official event page here.

Touring car stars set the scene for double bill of tin-top thrills

The stars of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship and several of its support categories descended on Thruxton today (17 April) for a key test ahead of a tantalising double helping of the UK’s premier motor racing series over the coming months.

For the first time since 2007, Thruxton will play host to the BTCC twice this season – on 18-19 May and 16-18 August. As the fastest circuit in the country – with speeds reaching an eye-watering 160mph through the quickest sections – the popular Hampshire track presents a unique challenge. That means every opportunity to put miles on the clock is precious – and between them, the 29 touring car drivers in attendance today logged more than 1,200 laps.

Whetting the appetite for the forthcoming race meetings, fans enjoyed free entry to the test to watch their tin-top heroes in action – and if the drivers’ awe-inspiring commitment through Thruxton’s flat-out sweepers is anything to go by, spectators are in for a real treat come May and August.

Halfords Yuasa Racing star Dan Cammish was arguably the most committed of all, setting a scintillating pace in the morning session that nobody could match in the afternoon. More than three tenths-of-a-second under the existing lap record, the Yorkshireman led a Honda Civic 1-2-3 at the top of the timesheets, ahead of BTC Racing’s Chris Smiley and Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance ace Rory Butcher.

In evidence of just how close and intense the competition is in the BTCC, less than one second blanketed the gaggle of cars from Butcher in third all the way back to Stephen Jelley in 20th – setting the scene for six sensational races.

“I always enjoy coming to Thruxton,” enthused Cammish, the series’ reigning Jack Sears Trophy Champion. “It’s a lot of fun to drive and Honda has historically gone well round here. It’s a bit of a home track for us too, so it’s fantastic to have two race weekends this year.

“Thruxton is well-known as the fastest circuit in the country, and it feels every bit of it when you’re driving round. No matter how many laps you’ve done, Church corner never gets boring – it’s always an adventure. It’s enjoyable enough to drive on your own – but when you’re in a pack of 30 cars, it becomes a challenge like no other…”

More high-profile names at the test included defending title-holder Colin Turkington (sixth overall), current championship leader and Thruxton instructor Josh Cook from nearby Bath (seventh), Hampshire’s own Rob Collard (12th), five-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton’s brother Nicolas Hamilton (24th) and former F1 podium-finisher Mark Blundell (28th).

Making his BTCC debut this year, the 1992 Le Mans 24 Hours winner is still finding his feet in the series and adapting to its famously cut-and-thrust, doorhandle-to-doorhandle nature. He admitted that he also needed to re-adjust to Thruxton’s particular demands, having not driven the track for more than three decades…

“Thruxton is pretty unique as a circuit, and I think everybody really enjoys coming here,” said Blundell. “It’s a one-off – there’s nowhere else like it in the world. It’s flat-out and the lap just unfolds in front of you, with extremely challenging corners like Church that call for maximum commitment. It’s a remarkable place. You get a slot of slipstreaming in the races – which is vital for the drivers and very exciting for the fans.”

In addition to the BTCC, leading lights from the F4 British Championship – the Formula 1 stars of the future – the Ginetta Junior Championship for prodigiously talented 14-to-17-year-olds and the Ginetta GT5 Challenge took to the track, offering a glimpse of the wide variety of entertainment to be enjoyed later this year.

Advance tickets for the two Thruxton BTCC race meetings are available from just ÂŁ13 for Saturday entry and ÂŁ29 for Sunday. Accompanied children aged 12 and under will be admitted free of charge.

For further information or to buy tickets, see thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc (May), thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc-aug (August) or call 01264 882222.

For more information on Thruxton’s race meetings and driving experiences, visit: thruxtonracing.co.uk

For season or individual race meeting accreditation, please e-mail: press@barc.net

BARC produces spellbinding weekend in Spring sunshine at Croft

The British Automobile Racing Club produced a spellbinding two days of track action at Croft Circuit this past weekend (April 13/14), with a trio of championships continuing to gather momentum.

On what was the first event on the newly laid surface at Croft, the sun shone on a busy trackside crowd – all of whom soaked up a feast of thrills and spills across both days.

In the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Scott McIntyre proved to be in irresistible form as he produced a flawless weekend performance, scoring a pair of pole positions and a pair of race wins.

Having come into the weekend trailing defending champion Lewis Saunders in the standings, the former Scholarship winner underlined his credentials as a threat for the title in North Yorkshire in fine style.

Separated by little over three tenths of a second at the chequered flag, McIntyre narrowly edged out Jemma Moore in race one whilst Saunders followed the duelling duo to round off the podium. 

Race two later in the weekend would see the roles reversed with Saunders being the closest challenger to McIntyre, albeit he wasn’t able to topple the impressive teenage as he chalked up his third consecutive victory of the year, with Moore capping off a stellar weekend with another podium finish.

Records were broken in the Caterham Graduates Championship as the popular one-make category boasted a bumper 33-car entry for its second event of the season. Coming off the back of a pulsating 2019 curtain-raiser at Silverstone, Samuel Wilson showcased his talents behind the wheel with a mesmerising performance.

Bagging pole position and a new lap record around the iconic 2.1 mile circuit, Wilson emerged to be in a league of his own as he broke away from the chasing pack in race one to cross the line by more than eight seconds ahead of Jamie Ellwood and Stephen Clark

Wilson was then in even more dominant form in race two as he again converted pole position into a commanding lead. Piloting his SigMax machine, Wilson scampered into the distance to clinch the chequered flag ten seconds ahead of Ellwood and Clark once again – capping off a stellar two days of track action.

Paul Roddison picked up where he left off last year in the Max5 Racing Championship as the series roared into life for the first time in 2019. Having been the man to beat in 2018, the Roddison  juggernaut continued as he bagged victory in all three encounters.

Taking pole position ahead of Ian Loversidge in qualifying, Roddison showed his challengers a clean set of heels as he romped away to notch a perfect hat-trick amongst the Spring sunshine.

Loversidge, Matthew Tidmarsh, Jeremy Shipley and Andrew Pretorius all netted podiums behind the dominant Roddison.

Competing alongside the BARC categories was the Mini 7 Racing Club and the North Sports Saloon Car Championship where Lee Deegan, Aaron Smith, Joe Thompson, Dom Burger and Park Brydon ran out the victors in their respective championships.

For the full classification of results from all sessions from the weekend, click here.

Croft lays down foundations for new season with full-circuit resurfacing

Croft Circuit is gearing up to reverberate to the sound of horsepower once more as a busy year of British motorsport is set to begin at the North Yorkshire venue following the completion of the entire circuit being resurfaced.

Coming off the back of another memorable season on-track last year, the much-loved circuit focused on executing long harboured plans to resurface during the off-season, with consultations between the circuit landlord and the British Automobile Racing Club taking place.

In conjunction with the UK’s leading sustainable building materials group Tarmac, work to remove all 2.1 miles of tarmac, prepare the ground and then lay new tarmac began in early April – with the work ultimately finishing less than two weeks later.

Such was the meticulous preparation by Tarmac, lines of test tarmac were firstly laid in the paddock to make sure the different batches of tarmac were consistent in their formulation and grip.

Whilst the newly tarmacked surface is set to provide new levels of grip for competitors, the unique character and challenges that Croft has always presented remains the same, with the venue set continue producing edge-of-the-seat entertainment.

“It has been a huge project but one that has proven to be very rewarding for everyone involved as the circuit now looks even more wonderful given that all of the work has been completed,” explained Tracey Morley, Croft Circuit Manager.

“A full resurface has been long overdue and conversations regarding the process had been ongoing for a number of months. One of the major points we worked on with Tarmac was to ensure that the circuit retained its character and the unique challenges it presented teams, drivers and riders.

“We’ve been successfully able to do that whilst also eliminating all of the past issues, ultimately enhancing the experience for everyone that visits the circuit and takes to the track.

“To see Croft looking better than ever is a real positive and in-turn it has set us up for what is shaping up to be another busy season of racing – starting this weekend with the British Automobile Racing Club.”

The BARC will stage the first event on the new surface this weekend (April 13/14) before Croft embarks on another spectacular summer of racing with the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (June 15/16) and the Croft Retro & Classic Weekend (August 3/4) serving as the headliners.

For more information of Croft’s race meetings and driving experiences, visit: www.croftcircuit.co.uk

For season and individual race meeting accreditation, please e-mail: press@barc.net

BARC championship trio gearing up for Croft corker

The British Automobile Racing Club travels to North Yorkshire this weekend (April 13/14) for a pulsating two days of action at Croft, with three of the Club’s championships set to go all-out to steal the show.

In recent weeks Croft has seen hive of activity with a brand new track surface being laid around the entire 2.1 mile circuit, and this weekend marks the first event since the extensive work has been completed.

An entertaining pair races at Oulton Park kicked off the Junior Saloon Car Championship last month and the one-make series will continue to gather momentum at Croft. Showcasing the very best UK talent aged between 14 and 17, the Citroen Saxo category has forged a path for itself in recent years as the place to be for those wanting to take their first steps onto the motorsport ladder.

Reigning champion Lewis Saunders currently resides as the driver to beat at the summit of the points after a win and second place last time out, however a raft of drivers will be keen to topple him across the weekend’s two races.

Fellow Oulton Park race-winner Scott McIntyre, Thomas Ward, Owen Hizzey, Alex Jay and Kyle Nisbet all find themselves within striking distance of the current title holder and will be ones to watch.

The Caterham Graduates Championship has also enjoyed another stellar start to the season with an edge-of-the-seat curtain-raiser at Silverstone providing the building blocks for what is shaping up to be another vintage year.

Split into multiple classes depending on engine capacity, the popular single-marque series has become a stable for close-quarter action down the years and that is set to be no different as they face the challenges Croft presents.

Samuel Wilson, Jamie Ellwood, Jon Curry, Kevin Barrett and Luke Balmforth are just a handful of drivers to keep a keen eye on as the weekend progresses.

Whilst both the JSCC and the Caterham Graduates have already competed this year, the Max5 Racing Championship will kick its 2019 campaign this weekend. Run on the principle of providing exciting racing at an affordable price, the championship is set to scale new heights once more this year.

Classes A, B & C are well populated with a raft of familiar names including reigning champion Paul Roddison, Jeremy Shipley, Ian Loversidge and Andrew Pretorius – all of them whom are set to be firmly in the mix across both races.

Joining the BARC categories over the course of the weekend will be the Mini Miglia Championship, Mini Se7en Championship, and the North Saloons and Sports Car Championship.

The final race of the weekend will also see the NSSCC welcome ‘Allcomers’ for a 15-minute encounter that is likely set to end the event on a high note.

For more information on this weekend’s race meeting including links to timetables and live timing, click here. Ticket information can be found by visiting the Croft website here.

MV Commercial becomes title sponsor of 2019 BTRA Championship

The British Truck Racing Association has announced that the leading supplier of new and used trucks in the UK, MV Commercial, will become the title sponsor of the BTRA Championship for 2019.

Titled the MV Commercial BTRA Championship for the forthcoming season, the announcement comes off the back of a collaborative effort between the BTRA, MV Commercial, the British Automobile Racing Club and Truck & Driver Magazine to widen the audience of fans across the UK.

Since it’s inception in 2001, MV Commercial has grown to become one of the UK’s leading manufacturer of original build crane trucks and construction recycling vehicles. Today it operates a rental fleet of more than 1,600 vehicles, and has over 280 ready to trucks for sale or hire, strategically placed across three sites in Aidrie, Haydock and St Albans, including a wide selection of Ready to Go plant trucks, tippers, grabs, recovery vehicles and trailers.

The company also provides complete design, build and sales service for top specification commercial vehicles.

Speaking about the sponsorship Tom O’Rourke, CEO of MV Commercial, commented: “Truck racing is one of the most exciting motorsports for spectators and is increasingly becoming a popular event for the entire trucking world.

“We are exceptionally proud to sponsor the 2019 season and continue to help grow the truck racing scene.”

BTRA Chairman, Steve Horne, added: “We are thrilled to welcome MV Commercial as title sponsors to the BTRA Championship – it is a perfect partnership for both parties. We’ve continued to build on the strong relationship with Truck & Driver Magazine and they have played a valuable part in this deal too.

“The BTRA is renowned for producing edge-of-the-seat entertainment wherever we go and we’re excited to share that all with MV Commercial moving forward, of course of whom are no strangers to the series either.”

The MV Commercial BTRA Championship begins its season at Brands Hatch over the Easter bank holiday weekend (April 21/22) before then visiting Pembrey, Thruxton, Nurburgring, Donington Park and Snetterton, ultimately capping off the season back at Pembrey and Brands Hatch.

TOCA opens tender process for BTCC hybrid system

British Touring Car Championship organisers TOCA have announced that it is inviting expressions of interest from companies to supply the hybrid system.

The introduction of the system is originally planed for the 2022 season, but with the previously started goal of being brought forward to 2021 if key parameters are met.

Over the course of the past nine months, TOCA has met with industry experts to clearly define the technical, performance, system specification, servicing and commercial requirements, with a comprehensive document available to those parties interested in tending.

The winning contractor will be required to a produce a light, cost effective, low-voltage hybrid system with proven durability. Once complete, the hybrid system will be incorporated into the current specification BTCC cars in addition to their two-litre turbocharged engines.

Those with an expression of interest should contact:

Peter Riches

BTCC Technical Director

richesst@aol.com

01953 797169

Goodwood serves up nostalgic entertainment at 77th Members Meeting

Goodwood basked in a fountain of nostalgia this past weekend (April 6/7) as the 77th Members Meeting provided all-out entertainment in front of a bumper trackside crowd.

Taking a spirited trip down memory lane, iconic cars, bikes and competitors took centre stage at the Sussex venue as the clock was wound back to a bygone era of edge-of-the-seat thrills and spills.

The Betty Richmond Trophy, which played homage to the Mini, enjoyed a stellar inaugural event as Nick Swift swept the opposition aside in the final. Following a pair of heat races, a 30-car Austin Mini Cooper S grid delivered a spellbinding finale, with Swift narrowly pipping Nicholas Padmore and Jonathan Lewis to the chequered flag to take the spoils.

Ben Richmond and Andrew Hibberd were the class of the field in the Derek Bell Trophy as the two duked it out for supremacy in their Brabham-Ford’s, Richmond getting the better of Hibberd as the flag fell by just a tenth of a second.

As it has done in years gone by, The Gerry Marshall Trophy proved to be a smash-hit with some of the top touring cars from yesteryear going wheel-to-wheel across two races. The pairing of Jani and Wood were the one’s to beat in race one as they steered their Rover 3500 to victory whilst Stig Blomquist then did the same in race two.

The jaw-dropping 1963 Jaguar E-Type was the car to beat in the Graham Hill Trophy as the pairing of Minshaw and Keen dominated proceedings, finishing more than 17 seconds ahead of their nearest challengers.

Former F1 race David Coulthard was amongst the silverware in the Tony Gaze Trophy whilst Julian  Majzub edged out Tony Lees in arguably the closest race of the weekend in the S.F. Edge Trophy – a mere 0.018 separating the pair as they crossed the line.

Victories for John Pearson, William Nuthall, Gregor Fisken and Cameron Jackson rounded out the list of four-wheeled winners, each scoring victory in the Peter Collins Trophy, Parnell Cup, John Duff Trophy and Gurney Cup respectively.

Fans of two-wheeled nostalgia were also well-catered for during the two days in the Sheene Trophy where Graham Higlett rode his 1972 Rob North Triumph T150 to the top step of the rostrum.

For the full classification of results from the weekend, click here.

Goodwood will now begin preparations for its next event of the year with the ultimate summer garden party, Festival of Speed, which takes place on