Author: Chris Ashby

BARC confirms return to Chesford Grange Hotel for Championship Awards Evening

The British Automobile Racing Club’s prestigious Championships Awards Evening will return to the familiar surroundings of Chesford Grange Hotel early next year where the champions of 2018 will be celebrated.

Taking place on Saturday 9th February 2019, race suits and overall will be swapped for black ties and ball gowns at the Warwickshire-based venue.

Hosted by Alan Hyde, champions from across nearly all BARC categories will be honoured on the night whilst appreciation will be shown to officials and marshals for their help and efforts over the course of the year.

In addition to the traditional trophy presentation; dinner, a raffle and entertainment from 2tone will ensure that it is a night that will live long in the memory.

Tickets are priced at £72.00 for BARC Members whilst £82.00 for Non-Members. Click HERE to view the ticket booking form.

For more information regarding the event, please contact: Mandy Curley, BARC Ltd, Thruxton Circuit, Andover, Hants SP11 8PN | Tel: 01264 882202 (direct) | Fax: 01264 882233 | Email: mcurley@barc.net

A limited number of rooms have been allocated at Chesford Grange Hotel on a Bed & Breakfast basis at Double £109 per room and Single £95. Once allocation has gone, the full rate may be charged. To book and pre pay for your accommodation with the hotel’s central reservations line, contact 0845 074 0060 and quote ‘BARC event’.

BARC set to bring the curtain down on 2018 season at Brands Hatch

Starting the year on a chilly Saturday at Oulton Park in March, the British Automobile Racing Club will bring the 2018 season to an end this weekend (November 17/18) as a host of championships compete at Brands Hatch.

In what has been another memorable year across all BARC categories, the Indy layout of the Kent venue will provide the backdrop for the final set of champions to be officially crowned.

Topping the bill will be the Dunlop Endurance Championship, which will race into the night during the weekend. Home to some of the most illustrious and jaw-dropping cars from around the world, Britcar has once again delivered another spellbinding year of racing.

With a brace of 50-minute encounters as well as the customary longer two-hour race closing the show, there will be plenty of track time over the course of the weekend for the likes of Matt Greenwood & Sarah Moore and Jon Watt & Kristian Prosser – both of whom sit at the summit of the individual standings.

The Ginetta Junior Winter Series will make a triumphant return as the familiar and new faces duke it out for the final title that is awarded by the Yorkshire manufacturer in 2018.

Amongst the bumper entry list includes Ruben Del Sarte, James Hedley, Harry Dyson Lorcan Hanafen and Gus Burton, all of whom competed during the main Ginetta championship this past year.

With a total of two races per day taking place, the battle for supremacy is set to keep fans on the edge-of-their-seats all the way to the final lap of the weekend.

Following a lengthy break, the Hyundai Coupe Cup will bring the curtain down on their season, which has been an overwhelming success, with another feast of entertainment for spectators.

This season has seen Steve Kite at times be in a league of his own in the one-make series and the Misty Racing driver will be keen to add to his already impressive winning tally, whilst Alex Cursley and Wayne Rockett lead the chasing pack.

Capping off a blockbuster two days of action will be races from the BARC South East Modified Saloon Car Championship, BARC South East Tin Tops Championship and Scrapco Metal Recycling / Avon Tyres Intermarque Championship.

All part of the Club’s South East Centre, titles are up for grabs in all three with Adrian Bradley, Rikki Taylor and Lewis Smith in the pound seats in their respective categories.

However, with an array of talented drivers hot on their heels, nothing is set to be guaranteed at Brands Hatch until the checkered flag is waved for the final time in 2018.

2019 BTCC tickets for Thruxton and Croft now on sale

Tickets for the Thruxton and Croft rounds of the 2019 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship are now on sale, with discounted prices confirmed in the run up to Christmas.

With the festive period rapidly approaching, BTCC tickets at British Automobile Racing Club circuits are set to be the perfect present for the petrolhead in your life.

Coming off the back of a pulsating and successful 2018 season, Britain’s premier race series will once again travel the length and breadth of the country, with an expected capacity entry list battling it out across 30 races.

Thruxton, the fastest circuit in the UK, will stage two stops on calendar in 2019 having picked up a round following the demise of Rockingham. The additional date means Thruxton will now stage two rounds of the championship in a single season for the first time since 2007.

The BTCC will first visit the high-speed Hampshire venue on May 18/19 before returning later in the year as the title race gathers momentum during the second half of the season on August 17/18.

Croft meanwhile has an earlier spot on the calendar for next year as it plays host to the fourth event of the 2019 campaign, taking place on June 15/16.

Thruxton – May 18/19 2019

Visit http://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc to view full ticket offers

Croft – June 15/16 2019

Visit http://croftcircuit.co.uk/racing/btcc to view full ticket offers

Thruxton – August 17/18 2019 

Visit http://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc-aug to view full ticket offers

BTCC rule changes ratified for 2019 season

British Touring Car Championship organisers TOCA have ratified a number of minor amendments to its regulations following an end-of-season consultation with the championship’s teams.

Following on from a record-breaking 60th Anniversary season that saw Colin Turkington crowned champion for a third time, the series is set to scale new heights in 2019 under the same ten-event, 30-race format.

In addition to the revised changes (listed below) it has also been decided that the introduction of hybrid power – initially outlined for introduction from the 2022 season – may be brought forward to 2021 if all key parameters relating to the supply, engineering, costs, performance and testing of the hybrid units can be achieved in good time for an earlier launch.

One of the biggest changes to be implemented will be to success ballast, which has been reduced due to the incredibly closely matched performance of the current cars.

For 2019, the maximum amount of success ballast will see the championship leader or race winner gaining 54 kilograms of additional weight and the increments thereafter being adjusted downwards slights.

Success ballast for next year in the top ten is as follows: 54kgs – 48kgs – 42kgs – 36kgs – 30kgs – 24kgs – 18kgs – 12kgs -6kgs – 6kgs.

As has been the case in recent years, some on-track driving offences will continue to receive ‘reprimands’ and in 2019 three reprimands will now constitute a ‘strike’.

Strikes will continued to be automatically applied for more serious offences, an example being if a driver is found to be wholly to blame in an incident that causes another driver to be unable to finish the race. In this case the recipient of the Strike will also receive the additional  penalty of a minimum 20 seconds added to their race time.

Having been introduced last year, the strike system will remain as it is with a third strike resulting in a driver being demoted to the back of the grid, a fourth resulting in a race ban and so on. A reprimand or strike will continue to remain recorded against a driver for 12 months.

Qualifying will see a tweak too with drivers causing a red flag losing their fastest lap time to that point and taking no further part in the session.

Option tyres will continue to be selected prior to Saturday’s qualifying session with teams still limited to how many times they can run a certain compound in a race.

Brands Hatch Indy, Oulton Park, Silverstone and Brands Hatch GP will see drivers run the ‘soft’ tyre as an option, Donington Park and Croft the ‘hard’ tyre and Knockhill the ‘medium’ compound (with the ‘soft’ tyre being the standard tyre). Snetterton meanwhile will run each compound once.

All six races that are staged at Thruxton next year will see all drivers run the ‘hard’ tyre.

Finally, following an extensive testing programme an entirely new wet tyre will be introduced for the 2019 season by Dunlop.

All regulation changes will take effect from the opening round of the 2019 campaign which takes place at Brands Hatch Indy on April 6/7.

Legends vice-champion Steve Whitelegg left ‘speechless’ following BTCC prize test

Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres runner-up Steve Whitelegg was left speechless at Silverstone on Monday (November 12) after getting behind the wheel of Rob Austin’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship HMS Racing Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

Having a topped a special prize table which runs separately to the overall championship throughout the 2018 campaign, the Bury-based racer experienced a once in a lifetime opportunity and impressed those in attendance.

Tackling the Northamptonshire venues Grand Prix layout for the first time, Whitelegg also got his first taste of a front-wheel-drive race car by firstly experiencing a number of passenger laps with BTCC race-winner Austin before being unleashed behind the wheel himself.

“This test has been, in a word, awesome!” Whitelegg said. “In every sense of the word the whole experience was awesome, absolutely brilliant. I’m lost for words to be honest, everything was better than I could have even imagined. The braking of the car, the acceleration, the handling and balance, everything was superb.

“I had a spin on my first lap, at The Loop, but I got going again without any problems and then just continued to build and build every lap. Rob [Austin] had told me the left-rear tyre would be cold and, sure enough, it was! I just played myself into it steadily, built up the speed, and by the end I really felt I was on it. The Alfa was handling superbly, the HMS Racing guys have done an amazing job.

“The Becketts sequence is unbelievable in a top-line touring car, I’ve no idea how the F1 drivers go through there like they do. I’d never driven the GP track before, so the experience was incredible – I had visions of Mansell passing Piquet!

“I’m so grateful to Simon [Belcher – DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing team principal], Rob [Austin] and the entire team who were fantastic all day, plus Phil Cooper at Legends of course, for an amazing day I’ll always remember.”

HMS Racing’s Belcher added: “The day went really well and everyone had a great time. Obviously, Steve has been in Legends for a long time and he’s continued to up his game every year, he’s done a great job and really deserved this prize. There were a couple of runs at the start as a passenger, to get a feel for everything and take advice from Rob, and then he had his run.

“He doesn’t have any front-wheel drive experience at all, so to get behind the wheel of a podium-finishing BTCC car for the first time Steve had a lot to learn but got up to speed quickly and did a very good job. He did everything we could have asked, brought the car back in one piece and had a huge smile on his face!”

Also joining Whitelegg at Silverstone to experience a handful of passenger laps with Austin were fellow Legends competitors Sean Smith, Jack Parker and Nathan Anthony who finished second, fourth and fifth in the prize table respectively.

Newly crowned five-time champion John Mickel, who ended the year third in the BTCC prize test table, was unable to attend the event due to work commitments.

Ginetta reveals 2019 championship calendars

Ginetta has revealed a bumper events calendar for 2019 with all five of its categories once again returning to the track to crown the latest set of champions.

Consisting of 92 individual races and participating at nine different venues around the UK and mainland Europe, the forthcoming 2019 campaign is set to be the biggest yet for the manufacturer.

Both the Ginetta Junior Championship and Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup will fly the flag for the Yorkshire brand as they take their place on the TOCA support package.

Supporting the British Touring Car Championship, both categories flourished in 2018 with Adam Smalley and Charlie Ladell savouring title glory and the two championships will crown new victors next year.

Juniors will feature at all ten BTCC events whilst the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup will miss two events, the first of two visits to Thruxton in May and then later in the season at Snetterton as the second half of the campaign roars into life.

The Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge will also make fleeting visits on the TOCA support package too, filling in the gaps of the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup. The remaining rounds of the GT5 Challenge will be played out on the British GT support package

Alongside the GT5 Challenge on the SRO package is the road-based Ginetta G40 Cup, which in recent years has continued to flourish.

Capping off what is shaping up to be a blockbuster year of track action for Ginetta will see a grid of complete novices begin their journey towards becoming fully-fledged racing drivers, taking the plunge as part of the Ginetta Racing Drivers Club (GRDC).

Ashley Gallagher, Ginetta Championship Manager, said: “2018 was a brilliant year for Ginetta Championships, with over 130 drivers racing with us across the five grids, and with the announcement of another exciting calendar of events coupled with the current high level of interest already for next season, there is no doubt that 2019 will see an even busier season across all the grids!”

To view the full 2019 championship calendar for each Ginetta category, click here.

MSA launches new identity to become Motorsport UK

A new phase for motorsport in UK has begun with the Motor Sports Association (MSA) launching a new identity, Motorsport UK.

Transitioning from a traditional governance-led association to a modern membership-focused organisation, the rebrand signals a shift in the governing body’s emphasis, putting the promotion of the sport and customer service at the forefront of its mission.

Boasting a new striking logo, in-keeping with the new identity, Motorsport UK will look to build a stronger and more vibrant community across the motorsport spectrum, creating a sustainable future for the UK motor racing scene as well.

The launch of a member benefits package, further promotion of disciplines are all part of Motorsport UK’s new vision as well.

One of the cornerstones of the transition from the MSA to Motorsport UK has and will remain to be its governance. The organisation will work to recruit and retain members through a more transparent and customer-focused approach to regulations.

In addition the governing body will also maintain its track record of outstanding management of safe and fair sport; while lowering barriers to entry and enhancing its customers’ ability to enjoy their passion for four-wheel competition.

David Richards CBE, Chairman of Motorsport UK, said: “When I took over as Chairman in January, I outlined my vision of a sustainable future for motorsport in the UK. It’s been a year of hard work behind the scenes as we’ve begun moving towards this goal, and I’m delighted that the first real changes can now be revealed in the shape of our new identity, Motorsport UK.

“This is the just the start; there are lots of new initiatives in the pipeline, all designed to grow the sport and better meet the needs of our customers and stakeholders. We’re moving forward with a renewed confidence for the future of UK motorsport, and that future starts here.”

Hugh Chambers, the new Chief Executive of Motorsport UK, said: “Becoming Motorsport UK means so much more than a new name and logo. It signals a new chapter in the history of the governing body, marking a clear step change in approach, putting a real focus on our members and the promotion of grassroots motorsport to new audiences.

“We’re confident that by strengthening our customer service, adopting a more commercial approach and enhancing our marketing capabilities, we can ensure the UK’s world-leading motorsport success story continues well into the future.”

To learn more about the switch to Motorsport UK, click here.

For more information on Motorsport UK, visit https://www.motorsportuk.org

Race of Remembrance delivers Anglesey spectacular

Race of Remembrance proved to be bigger and better than ever before this past weekend (November 9/10/11) as Anglesey Circuit played host to a memorable three days of racing and commemoration.

Run by the Forces’ charity Mission Motorsport and the BARC, Race of Remembrance has established itself as one of the marquee events on the UK motorsport calendar – with this past year being the fifth edition of the meeting.

With all manner of machinery going wheel-to-wheel around the picturesque Welsh track, the event itself has always been about much more than just racing, and 2018 was a prime example of that.

Commemorating the sacrifices made by all service personnel and their families, the event again provided the perfect backdrop for a social gathering like no other, with a ‘Heroes Dinner’ serving as a reminder of what the weekend is all about.

This year’s Race of Remembrance took on added significance too as it fell on the 100th Anniversary of the First World War coming to an end.

At 10:45 on the Sunday morning of the event, racing was paused and Anglesey Circuit fell silent as a very special service of remembrance took place in the pit lane, with all drivers, teams, officials, marshals, service personnel and families in attendance.

The battle for victory in the 2018 Race of Remembrance was hard-fought however as 50 teams duked it out in the coveted 12-hour endurance race. Racing into the night and then throughout the next day, the action was fast and frenetic as the laps ticked by.

In the end reigning champions Sofa King Fast made it back-to-back victories at Race of Remembrance as the quartet of Carolie Everett, Jay McCormack, Russ Olivant and James Beardwell took the chequered flag in their Caterham 310R.

Completing a staggering 348 laps around the Welsh circuit, the race winners not only led the way overall but also emerged as the team to beat in Class E too, picking up an impressive haul of Heroes Trophies.

Elsewhere, Class A honours went the way of TrackScotland1 whilst Team Slowa did the same in Class B, home to the popular Citroen 1 contingent.

There was glory for Datum Motorsport who were the winners in Class C. Since the inception of Race of Remembrance half a decade ago the Lotus Elise trio of Lee Brooks, Ben Brooks and Phil Grayson has made the annual pilgrimage to Anglesey every year to compete, with a class victory proving to be a fitting reward.

In Class D, British Touring Car Championship race winner Rob Austin joined forces with former BTCC racer Dan Welch and Max5 Racing title winner Paul Roddison to clinch victory. The trio missed out on overall victory by just four laps in Roddison’s trust MX5 but did enough to see off the competition in their own category.

Claire Smith’s 360 MRC Absolute Dogs Danglies squad underlined what the event was all about as they competed a storybook comeback to win Class F. At the 2017 event the team were forced to watch on and unable to make the finish following a mechanical failure.

Twelve months on and armed with their BMW Mini R56, Smith along with Duncan Rogers and Chris Knox put on a near-perfect performance to triumph by seven laps.

Rounding out the list of winners was GPW Racing as Peter Reynolds, Geoff Price and Pete Walters that walked away as the victors of Class R in their Caterham 7 X3.

For the full classification of results, click here.

C1 Challenge stars with 24-hour spectacle at Rockingham

The Trade Team Citroen C1 Challenge signed off from Rockingham Motor Speedway in fine style this past weekend (August 31 – September 2) as it headlined a blockbuster three days with an enthralling 24-hour race.

Following on from its history-making inaugural 24-hour event at the Corby venue in May, the one-make series returned to produce another spectacle that will live long in the memory.

Boasting a bumper entry list of more than 30 cars and 100 drivers, the battle for supremacy in the day-long C1 Challenge race proved to jam-packed with drama, with several teams making their way to the lead of the race, be in under sunshine or darkness.

Come the end of the race, Citron D’Equipe emerged as the winners to take the chequered flag and stand on the top step of the podium. Clocking a total of 571 laps around the 2.44 mile layout, the team of Mike Combar, Simon Fleet and Nick Dougill got their heads down and hit the front in the closing stages to pip Team Rockingham by 1:26.328.

Team Rockingham’s driver line-up of Peter Hardman, Michael Galjaardt, Will Thomas, James Guess and Stuart Wright ended the race in second place whilst the Team Green Racing quartet of Paul Rowland, Charles Corner, Carl Hawkins and Alec Graham capped off the podium.

A staggering 19,008 laps were completed over the course of the 24 hours too, with just the top two finishing on the lead lap.

Earlier in the weekend the Trade Team Citroen C1 Challenge also staged a shorter three-hour endurance race, with no less than 37 cars taking the start. After 180 minutes, Dijon Racing clinched victory ahead of Old Hat Motorsport and Scuderia Pollo Rosso.

Elsewhere, the BARC South East Tin Tops Championship was in action at Rockingham with Daniel Fisher producing a dominant display to clinch a pair of race wins.

There was also edge-of-the-seat thrills from the BARC South East Modified Saloon Car Championship where Alex Sidwell bagged two wins of his own.

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

Thruxton revs up for 2019 with launch of new Motorsport summer showcase

Summers are about to get louder, faster and even more exciting at Thruxton Circuit with the launch of a fantastic new event on 1-2 June 2019 celebrating all things motorsport and automotive.

In a year of fabulous festivities to mark the venue’s Golden Jubilee, which was crowned by June’s 50th Anniversary Celebration centrepiece, the event’s success and the immensely positive feedback from visitors has been the driving force behind making the Thruxton Motorsport Celebration an annual highlight of its schedule.

Over two days visitors will be treated to a wealth of on-track racing action with glorious machinery from across the decades courtesy of Historic Promotions.

Visitors will also be able to admire exquisite exhibitions from a number of attending car clubs and absorb the sights, sounds and smells of high-octane motorsport around the UK’s fastest motor racing circuit.

With a host of activities taking place both on and off track, including kids’ activities, Supercar Displays, Skid-Pan demonstrations and much more, the Thruxton Motorsport Celebration will be the perfect summer day out for the whole family.

Bill Coombs, Thruxton Group Managing Director, commented: “It’s been a year to remember for Thruxton Circuit with a host of immensely popular events to mark our Golden Jubilee prompting overwhelmingly positive feedback from visitors. It is by reminiscing about our illustrious history that we became inspired for the future with the launch of the Thruxton Motorsport Celebration.

“A high-octane weekend of exhilarating sights and sounds and thrilling racing action, whether you’re a petrolhead or not, there will be something for everyone to enjoy. We’re certain the Thruxton Motorsport Celebration will become a huge regional summer highlight for years to come.”

Duncan Wiltshire, Chairman of Historic Promotions, added: “The 2018 Thruxton 50th Anniversary Celebration weekend was a huge success and we were delighted to be taking part with our historic grids from Motor Racing Legends.

“Historic Promotions is now very much looking forward to working with Thruxton to launch and develop its exciting new Thruxton Motorsport Celebration, which is certain to be a highlight of the summer schedule with even better racing, more clubs, and a variety of other attractions for all the family.

“We’re aiming to bring all our experience and enthusiasm to this exciting new event at one of the most important and historic circuits in the country.”

In addition to the Thruxton Motorsport Celebration, the venue is already gearing up for a packed programme of motorsport action in 2019.

Highlights include two rounds of the immensely popular British Touring Car Championship, the first taking place on 18-19 May before the series returns on 17-18 August 2019 for more world famous wheel-to-wheel action.

The adrenaline-pumping British Superbike Championship will also take up its traditional summer spot with three days of full throttle two-wheel racing taking place on 2-4 August 2019.

2019 Thruxton Meeting Dates

18th – 19th May: British Touring Car Championship (BTCC)

1st – 2nd June: Thruxton Motorsport Celebration

29th – 30th June: British Truck Racing Association Championship

2nd – 4th August: British Superbike Championship (BSB)

17th – 18th August: British Touring Car Championship (BTCC)

21st – 22nd September: – Classic Sportscar Club (CSCC)

All-out Anglesey action as BARC championships shine in North Wales

The British Automobile Racing Club’s latest visit to Anglesey Circuit had it all this past weekend (September 1/2) as championship battles intensified and some drivers put themselves out of sight of their title rivals.

Descending on the picturesque Welsh venue for the second time this season, the Club’s North West Centre delivered a blockbuster two days of track action.

In the Michelin Clio Cup Series, Ben Palmer made it back-to-back title wins as he produced another mesmerising performance to secure an unassailable lead in the point’s standings. Maintaining his unbeaten run by adding another three victories to his 2018 tally, Palmer dominated proceedings to provisionally retain his crown.

Nic Harrison mirrored Palmer’s performance at Anglesey with a hat-trick of his own in the Race Class to also continue his impressive run of victories to successfully defend his title too.

Joel Wren was perfection personified in the Junior Saloon Car Championship as he bagged a pair of race wins. Storming to pole position in qualifying, the teenage sensation proved to be in a league of his own as he vaulted himself further into title contention.

Paul Rose continued the run of dominant performances across each series as he bagged a sensational hat-trick in the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship. Entering the weekend as the form driver, Rose underlined his front-running credentials with a scintillating display from the wheel of his Saker RAPX S1-400.

Spoils were shared in the BARC Clubmans Sports Prototype Championship in association with King Henry’s Taverns as Clive Wood and Michelle Hayward topped the podium.

Wood struck first over the course of the weekend as he beat Hayward to honours in race one before the roles were reversed for the second encounter. With one win apiece, the third and final race of the weekend proved to be an exciting one, with Wood ultimately coming out on top.

Capping off the weekend’s action from the BARC was a selection of races from the APL Health Caterham Graduates Championship. Amalgamating classes together, high-octane thrills were the order of the day from the Caterham contingent as they wowed those in attendance.

Samuel Wilson and Jamie Ellwood each scored a win in the Sigmax duels whilst Ben Winrow was at the double for the combined Classic, Sigma and Mega races.

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

Poignant and special weekend lined up at Anglesey for Race of Remembrance

One of the highlights of the UK motorsport calendar, Race of Remembrance, will take place for the fifth time this weekend (November 9/10/11) in North Wales at the picturesque Anglesey Circuit – and the event is set to be bigger and better than ever.

Run by the Forces’ charity Mission Motorsport, the thee-day meeting has proven to be a smash-hit in recent years with the focus on commemorating the sacrifices made by all service personnel and their families.

This year’s event will be even more poignant too as its falls on the 100th anniversary since the end of the First World War.

Battling it out around the challenging Anglesey Circuit, a total of 50 teams will compete in the 12-hour race with all manner of machinery set to go wheel-to-wheel.

What makes Race of Remembrance unique is that the race itself will be paused at points, meaning that although it will be a 12-hour endurance race the time it takes to start and finish it will be much longer.

The most notable pause will come at 10:45 on Sunday morning when the racing will stop and the circuit will fall silent for a special service of remembrance, which will take place in the pit lane.

Boasting a glittering entry list of high-profile racing drivers and ex-serviceman, a special ‘Heroes Dinner’ and much more, the 2018 edition of Race of Remembrance is set to scale new heights.

James Cameron, CEO of Mission Motorsport, said: “Race of Remembrance is always a special event and one that is eagerly anticipated by a growing number of people from across the charity, racing industry and further afield.

“This year will be especially poignant, falling as it does on the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, and we will be commemorating the sacrifices made by service men and women in a very special way”.
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