Author: Chris Ashby

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

TOCA support championships star at Brands Hatch

Brands Hatch played host to a memorable two days of racing on the TOCA support package this past weekend (April 6/7), with a raft of show-stealing performances across all championships.

Taking centre stage alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, five categories produced  spell-binding edge-of-the-seat entertainment amid the challenging conditions.

Showcasing the next generation of motorsport talent aged between 14 and 17, the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship was back and better than ever with a pair of pulsating encounters wowing those in attendance.

Richardson Racing’s James Taylor edged a thrilling season-opener as he pipped debutant Zak O’Sullivan to the chequered flag by little over half a second, whilst 2018 Winter Series champion James Hedley rounded out the podium.

Race two saw Tom Emson emerge victorious from a nail-biting race which ultimately saw the top three covered by a mere 0.133. Narrowly missing out on the win was Hedley and Lorcan Hanafin, who had led a majority of the race.

The final season of the Renault UK Clio Cup began with Max Coates reigning supreme, enjoying a near-perfect weekend as he bagged a pair of pole positions and race wins. After topping the times in qualifying, the Team HARD driver converted his front row start into a lead that he would never lose as he led Jack Young and Brett Lidsey.

Young would be the winner on the road in the second race of the weekend but was later penalised after falling foul of rules regarding braking under the safety car. Despite having dominated proceedings, Young was issued a one-second time penalty, handing the win to Young whilst Lidsey once again bagged a podium.

In the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup triple-header; Reece Somerfield, Harry King and the returning Will Burns took a win each to set up a tantalising year of on-track action.

Spoils were also shared in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB as two of the pre-season favourites, Dan Harper and George Gamble, set their stalls out as credible title contenders with a win each – Harper the one that finished the weekend on top of the standings.

Capping off the weekend’s racing was a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost, with the spoils being shared between Sebastian Alvarez, Luke Browning and Louis Foster who each took a win apiece.

From the full classification of results, click here.

All five TOCA support championships now head to Donington Park for the next event of the season, taking place on April 26/27.

BTCC kicks off 2019 season in style at Brands Hatch

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship kicked off its 2019 season in entertaining style at Brands Hatch this past weekend (April 6/7) as Josh Cook, Andrew Jordan and Rory Butcher shared the spoils to take a win apiece.

In front of a bumper trackside crowds amid challenging and changeable conditions, Britain’s premier race series underlined why it remans the biggest and best tin top category with a pulsating three encounters.

Adrian Flux Subaru Racing’s Ashley Sutton was the man to beat in qualifying as he got the best out of his rear-wheel-drive Levorg in the damp conditions to clinch pole position ahead of former team-mate and double champion Jason Plato.

Sutton would be unable to convert his front row start into victory however as the conditions once again played their part, with drivers opting for different tyre tactics. As others switched to the wet Dunlop BluResponse compound, BTC Racing’s Josh Cook elected to gamble on dry tyres starting from tenth.

Dropping down the order in the early stages, the Honda driver soon became the man to watch as he set the fastest lap on lap five. Scything through the order, and bringing a number of other dry tyre runners with him, Cook was soon on the back of race leader Sutton and duly made his move with ease.

As Cook made his escape out front and onto a third career victory, the final podium places were also occupied with those that had stuck their neck out and opted to go against the grain. Jake Hill and Tom Chilton enjoyed similar charging drives to finish second and third respectively.

Changeable conditions once again played their part in the second race of the day, however unlike the first, all drivers opted for to run the dry compound. BMW Pirtek Racing’s Andrew Jordan ensured it was a debut to remember for the all-new BMW 330i M Sport as he opened his account for the new season in emphatic fashion.

The early running saw a host of overtaking take place, with Jordan and Sutton making the most progress towards the front. Soon a three-way battle for the lead began as a ballast-laden Cook valiantly fended off the charging duo, although 2017 champion Sutton soon made a move stick with a daring late lunge under brakes heading into Graham Hill Bend.

Jordan followed Sutton through and was soon hounding the back of the Levorg, dispatching him to take the lead on the start-finish line. From there the West Surrey Racing driver was unchallenged as he pulled away to take victory, whilst Sutton withstood a barraging attack at the end to fend off Adam Morgan, Hill and Stephen Jelley.

Cobra Sport AmD Autoaid/RCIB Insurance’s Butcher clinched a maiden BTCC victory in the reverse grid encounter after Chilton was handed a post-race penalty.

Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher’s Chilton had taken the lead on lap 13 after contact with Matt Neal, and it would be that subsequent contact that led to Chilton being penalised by the stewards.

Having looked after his tyres in the early stages, Butcher became a man on a mission in the latter part of the race as he caught and passed the scrapping pair of Neal and Jelley. Contact between those two would lead to Neal suffering left-rear suspension damage on the final lap, which allowed Jelley to jump into third and take his first BTCC podium in nearly ten years.

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

Leaving Brands Hatch Cook and BTC Racing find themselves sitting atop of the BTCC Drivers’, Teams’, Independent Drivers’ and Independent Teams’ Championship standings.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship nows descends on Thruxton on April 17 for the customary TOCA test before the Rounds 4, 5 and 6 at Donington Park on April 27/28.

BTCC ready for 2019 blast off at Brands Hatch

After several months of driver announcements and pre-season testing, the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is primed and ready to roar back into life this weekend (April 6/7) for the opening event of the season at Brands Hatch.

Billed as Britain’s biggest motorsport series, 2019 boasts another competitive 30-car capacity entry list – including ten different marques and an impressive 12 models of car. In addition, this year’s grid includes five former champions and 18 BTCC race-winners – further underlining the strength in depth the series possesses.

Having kicked off the new season at Hever Castle and Brands Hatch last week, where more than 3000 laps were clocked by the entire field, the talking is set to stop on Sunday as Rounds 1, 2 & 3 kick off proceedings.

Reigning champions West Surrey Racing enter the weekend bidding to ignite their title defence as they debut the BMW 330i M Sport. The manufacturer squad fired out a warning shot in testing with Colin Turkington and Andrew Jordan both on the pace, and Tom Oliphant was not far behind either.

Toyota’s long-awaited return to the BTCC has set tongues wagging and both Speedworks Motorsport and Tom Ingram will see where they stack up with its Corolla whilst the Halfords Yuasa Racing duo of Matt Neal and Dan Cammish will be keen to score points early on.

Power Maxed Racing boast one of the most experienced driver line-ups, with Jason Plato and Rob Collard returning to front-wheel-drive to spearhead Vauxhall’s championship charge.  Elsewhere, Adrian Flux Subaru Racing have retained the services of 2017 champion Ashley Sutton and recruited race-winner Senna Proctor in a bid to regain their title.

Beyond the manufacturer entrants sits a raft of title contenders amongst the Independent ranks, with Motorbase Performance leading the way. Tom Chilton proved to be a worthy challenger in 2018 and will be keen to bounce back at the teams local circuit, with Ollie Jackson and Nicolas Hamilton also added.

BTC Racing have aligned themselves with Team Dynamics, secured to brand new Honda Civic Type Rs and signed Josh Cook to join Chris Smiley. If the cards fall their way, BTC Racing could become a force to be reckoned with over the course of the year.

Aiden Moffat, Adam Morgan and Daniel Rowbottom head up the Mercedes Benz A-Class entrants whilst Matt Simpson and Stephen Jelly will also be keen to move further up the order this year.

Team HARD. and AMD Tuning both class Brands Hatch as their local circuit and the two will be keen to make home advantage count. Both Sam Tordoff and Rory Butcher showcased what the AMD Hondas can do at last week’s test, with Tordoff topping the times under the official lap record. Jake Hill and former F1 racer Mark Blundell are also part of the AMD stable in a pair of Audi S3s.

Jack Goff, Bobby Thompson, Michael Crees and Carl Boardley have been selected to lead Team HARD and their quartet of Volkswagen CCs. Goff was the man to beat at the season-opener last year, storming to pole position and then victory.

Rounding off the grid this year will be Excelr8 Motorsport, who make their BTCC debuts with Rob Smith and Sam Osborne in the former race-winning MG6 machines.

With 30 drivers all geared up for the start of the new season, the stage is set for the BTCC to produce another unforgettable year of racing, with the fight to secure the UK’s biggest motorsport crown the focus of everyone.

ITV4 will once again screen every second of the season live with coverage for this weekend beginning on Saturday as qualifying takes place from 15:00 on itv.com/btcc. ITV4’s coverage on race day begins at 10:15.

For more information on this weekend’s opening event of the year, click here.

Goodwood gearing up to roll back the years at 77th Members Meeting

Goodwood is set to take a spirited trip down memory lane this weekend (April 6/7) as it hosts the 77th Members Meeting, with a mouth-watering array of iconic machines primed to take centre stage.

In what is the opening weekend of the year of the West Sussex venue, Goodwood will aim to recreate the atmosphere and camaraderie of the original BARC Meetings that were held at the circuit through the late-1940s to mid-60s.

As is always the case when it comes to the Members Meeting, the modern era will become just a memory once you walk through the gates as those in attendance are transported back to yesteryear.

The 2019 edition of the Members Meeting once again boasts a diverse range of races, with the Gerry Marshall Trophy topping the bill. Run in memory of British saloon-car legend Gerry Marshall, the two-part race for Group 1 saloon cars between 1970 and 1982 will likely be a highlight of the weekend.

Paying homage to the cars that first raced at Goodwood Motor Circuit, a mixture of pre-war grand prix cars and the latest post war machinery will compete in the Parnell Cup. Elsewhere the Tony Gaze Trophy will feature a raft of stunning 1950s GT machines.

Fans of nostalgia single seater action will be well-catered for as one-litre Formula 3 cars that competed between 1964 and 1970 will duke it out for victory in the Derek Bell Cup.

The Members Meeting will also pay tribute to Canadian motorsport legend John Duff with jaw-dropping machinery from the late 1920s going wheel-to-wheel, whilst the Graham Hill Trophy will also be up for grabs for GT cars of a type that raced at Goodwood from 1960 to 1966.

The ultimate David-versus-Goliath battle will be found in the Gurney Trophy as Group 4 and Group 7 sports racing cars bid to steal the show.

Making a welcome return to the race programme is the Peter Collins Trophy, which features drum-braked sport scars from the 1950s such as Maserati and Jaguar as just some of the marques being represented.

Rounding out the enthralling Members Meeting weekend will be the Betty Richmond Trophy and the Sheene Trophy, showcasing the very best Mini saloons and iconic two-wheeled motorcycles.

This weekend’s action from Goodwood will be streamed live online via YouTube, whilst all other event information can be found here.

Ginetta Juniors look to take centre stage at Brands Hatch opener

The next generation of UK motorsport talent is set to take centre stage at Brands Hatch this weekend (April 6/7) as the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship roars back into life with a bumper 24-car entry list.

Never short of entertainment on the TOCA support package and open to drivers aged between 14 and 17, the one-make tin-top category has become the ideal environment for youngsters to transition from karting into cars, and reap the benefits that come with it.

With the likes of current McLaren F1 star Lando Norris and BTCC runner-up Tom Ingram products of the Ginetta Junior programme, this years crop of aspiring superstars will be keen to make their mark and follow in their footsteps.

Of the 24 cars taking to the grid for the opening two rounds, just nine of them have experience in the series. Winter Series champion James Hedley will be one to watch in his Elite Motorsport G40, as will Lorcan Hanafan and Gus Burton – two drivers that ran Hedley close last November.

The remaining second-season competitors include former Scholarship winner James Taylor, Will Martin, Harry Dyson, Tom Emson, Ethan Hawkey and Ben O’Hare – and all will be looking to make experience count, especially in the early running.

Several drivers will take their first tentative steps into the world of car racing around the iconic Kent circuit however none of them should be written off, with many of them holding credible backgrounds in karting and other disciplines.

Casper Stevenson, Freddie Tomlinson and Will Rochford and just three of several first-time racers that will be keen to make their mark.

Frankie Taylor meanwhile will step across from the Junior Saloon Car Championship and bid to build on his encouraging pre-season pace.

The same can also be said for Ethan Brooks who is on the grid virtue of winning the Ginetta Junior Scholarship. Brooks is no stranger to the British Automobile Racing Club either after being a standout performer in the British Schools Karting Championship in 2017 and 2018, winning the title with Brentwood School on both occasions.

For more information on the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship’s opening event, including links to timetable and live timing, click here.

Renault UK Clio Cup poised for memorable final season

The Renault UK Clio Cup is set to begin its final season at Brands Hatch this weekend (April 6/7) with an ultra-competitive entry list aiming to write their name into the history books.

Coinciding with the end of its current three-year contract with TOCA and the last year of the fourth generation Clio car, Renault UK confirmed at the end of last year that the 2019 campaign would be the last for the championship.

Since its inception in 1991 the one-make category has enjoyed unrivalled success, especially in the 19 years it has supported the British Touring Car Championship, and has become the ideal proving ground for drivers to elevate themselves further up the UK motorsport ladder.

With a pulsating 18-round calendar kicking off at the Kent venue this weekend, the race to be crowned the last Renault UK Clio Cup champion is set to be captivating.

Team HARD heads the entry list with a three-pronged challenge for the title, led by Max Coates. Having narrowly missed out on the overall crown last year, Coates returns for his fourth season in the season with his sights firmly set on lifting the championship trophy.

Joining Coates is former Junior Saloon Car Champion race winner Ethan Hammerton and fan favourite Jade Edwards. Hammerton will embark on his inaugural season in the senior Clio category whilst Edwards is bidding to score a breakthrough podium and race win after a turbulent 2018 campaign.

Westbourne Motorsport will field a four-car attack with Ben Colburn keen to build on the few rounds that he competed in at the end of last year. Joining Colburn is Finlay Robinson, who steps up from the Michelin Clio Cup Series, Aaron Thompson and the returning Anton Spires – also a product of the Clio Cup Series.

MRM Racing’s charge this year after coming off the back of a superlative performance in the Renault UK Clio Cup International event, winning overall. After triumphing in the Renault UK Clio Cup Junior, the Northern Irishman became a potent threat towards the front of the field in 2018 and will be keen to build on his momentum.

In addition, Young emerged as the man to beat at the 2019 Media Day as he dipped under the official Clio Cup lap record around Silverstone National. Brett Lidsey and Ben Davis join Young at MRM.

Rounding out the grid for this season is Luke Warr, who will also be looking to pose a threat at the sharp end of the field.

With two pulsating encounters around the Indy circuit set to have fans on the edge of their seats this weekend, the Renault UK Clio Cup is set to begin its farewell tour in typical unpredictable style at Brands Hatch.

For more information on this weekend’s event, click here.

All to play for as Porsche Carrera Cup GB gets set to lift the covers for 2019

Another frenetic and entertaining Porsche Carrera Cup GB campaign lies in wait for 2019, with Brands Hatch set to play host to the opening two rounds of the year this weekend (April 6/7).

A firm fixture on the TOCA package for a number of years, the Carrera Cup is the most successful single marque GT championship in the country and has once again welcomed a bumper entry list

With last years champion Tio Ellinas moving on, the mantel is set to fall on a new star to come to the fore and look to be the benchmark driver in the series.

Multiple champions Redline Racing enter the opening event of the season tipped as one of the favourites with Seb Perez, George Gamble and Jack McCarthy behind the wheel. Both Perez and Gamble will be keen to build on the experience they have in the series whilst McCarthy will be keen to make a solid start to life in the Carrera Cup after switching from the Renault UK Clio Cup.

Leading BTCC outfit Motorbase Performance will be keen to roll back the years and clinch championship silverware as they field Dan Vaughan and Lewis Plato in the Pro class.

Carrera Cup GB Scholar Dan Harper and Tom Roche, of JTR and Rob Boston Racing respectively, will also be ones to watch in the top category – further reinforcing the strength in depth across the field.

Off the back of clinching a spot on the coveted W Series grid, Esmee Hawkey will duke it out once more for Pro-Am honours with the aforementioned McCarthy, Karl Leonard and Jamie Orton.

Rounding out the entry list for the Brands Hatch curtain-raiser is Peter Mangion, Richard Hawken, Adam Knight, John Ferguson and Peter Kyle-Henney – all of whom will be battling for the Am title.

Two 34-lap encounters around the 1.2 mile Brands Hatch circuit kick off proceedings this weekend and if the Carrera Cup GB has taught anything in the past it will be to expect the unexpected.

For more information on the event including links to timetable and live timing, click here.

Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup gearing up to make their mark

The Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup will crown new champions in both the Pro and Am classes this year, and the journey to doing just is set to begin this weekend (April 6/7) at Brands Hatch.

Captivating at almost every turn in 2018, Ginetta’s flagship championship has become a proving ground for some of the UK’s top motorsport talent, and the class of 2019 are primed and ready to make their mark.

With Charlie Ladell not returning to defend his title, Rob Boston Racing have turned to 2016 runner-up Will Burns to spearhead their line-up alongside former Britcar Endurance front-runner Simon Rudd.

There is a Britcar connection over at Team HARD too as Tom Barley steps into the GT4 category after partnering Rudd last year. Barley will be joined in the Team HARD stable by former BTCC and Renault UK Clio Cup competitor Mike Epps, who is making his debut in Ginetta machinery.

Harry King and Elite Motorsport proved to be a tour-de-force last year and King could yet be a threat once more along with rookie Fin Green, three-time winner Tom Hibbert and Carl Shield.

Having triumphed in the Am category with Michael Crees last year, Century Motorsport are bidding to make it back-to-back titles starting this weekend and boast a strong driver line-up.

Jack Oliphant, brother of former champion and now BTCC racer Tom Oliphant, has stepped up whilst 2017 British Rallycross title winner Nathan Heathcote has elected to swap dirt for tarmac and tackle circuit racing.

Dan Kirby, Lee Frost, Lucky Khera, James Kell, Paul Taylor, Darron Lewis and Carl Garnett round out the impressive list of Am competitors for this weekend’s opening event, and all can’t be discounted from prevailing come Sunday evening.

This weekend will see a total of two 24-lap duels take place. For more information on the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup’s opening event of the 2019 season, including links to timetable and live timing, click here.