Author: Chris Ashby

Lydden Hill set for Bank Holiday British Rallycross blockbuster

The three-way title fight for the 2018 Toyo Tires MSA British Rallycross Championship is set to further intensify at Lydden Hill on August 27 as the series stages its traditional August Bank Holiday Monday meeting.

In what has been a pulsating campaign so far, just a single point separates the top three in the standings heading into the seventh event of the season.

Five-time champion Julian Godfrey currently holds that slender one-point advantage after scoring victory at Croft last time out. Having been on the pace at every round, the Mitsubishi Mirage driver will be keen to bridge the gap to his rivals at this home round.

Tied on points for second and hot on the heels of Godfrey is former champion Ollie O’Donovan and Albatec Racing’s Mark Higgins.

Three wins on the bounce had propelled O’Donovan to the summit of the points earlier in the season however a low-scoring round last time out as seen him drop to second in table.

Higgins meanwhile has been a revelation in his first full season of British Rallycross action, producing a string of eye-catching performances which have included a win at the corresponding Lydden Hill event earlier in the year.

Beyond the top three are a host of other drivers that will all be keen to get amongst the front runners and onto the podium. Former champion Kevin Proctor has endured a varied year whilst Steve Hill, Mad Mark, Andy Grant and Steve Mundy are all drivers to lookout for too.

Jake Harris will also make a welcome return to the series as he gets back behind the wheel of the LD Motorsport Citroen DS3.

In addition to the Supercar category, fans heading trackside for the day can expect to see plenty of high-octane thrills and spills from a stellar supporting cast too.

Action from the MSA Supernational Rallycross Championship, MSA Junior Rallycross Championship, Swift Sport Championship, BMW Mini Championship, Retro Rallycross Championship and the RX150 Championship will keep fans on the edge of their seats.

Eight round 2019 British Rallycross Championship schedule unveiled

The Toyo Tires MSA British Rallycross Championship will be contested across eight events over seven weekends in 2019 after series organisers unveiled the calendar for next year.

Coming off the back of a hugely successful 2018 campaign which saw Albatec Racing’s Mark Higgins crowned champion at the first attempt, the adrenaline-fuelled series is already looking ahead to another year of flat-out competition.

Silverstone will once again play host to the opening round of the season in late March before the championship heads to the spiritual home of rallycross, Lydden Hill, for its traditional Bank Holiday Monday meeting.

Pembrey will stage the only double-header of the year in June with rounds three and four taking place at the much-loved South Wales venue.

A second visit in August to Lydden Hill is then shortly followed up by the first of two trips to Croft. With the championship battle set to reach fever pitch, Pembrey will stage the penultimate round of the year before the curtain falls on the 2019 season at Croft.

Championship Manager, Tim Whittington, said: “I’m pleased to be able present a calendar that offers a full season of competition and makes use of the circuits available to us.

“Toyo Tires remains the title sponsor for the third year and the championship will continue to be covered by a mix of social media coverage and TV broadcasts.”

2019 Toyo Tires MSA British Rallycross Championship

Round 1 – Silverstone – March 24

Round 2 – Lydden Hill – April 22

Round 3 – Pembrey – June 22

Round 4 – Pembrey – June 23

Round 5 – Lydden Hill – August 26

Round 6 – Croft – September 8

Round 7 – Pembrey – September 22

Round 8 – Croft – October 27

Brian Roberts scores maiden Classic VW Cup podium finish

The Classic VW Cup saw a breakthrough podium fall the way of Brian Roberts last weekend (August 18/19) at Snetterton as the series’ 2018 campaign continued.

Having joined the Classic VW Cup this year, the disabled racer encountered a tough start to the season after being forced to sit out the opening rounds due to a delay in parts for his Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk5.

Making his debut at the Norfolk venue, the former Race of Remembrance racer finished third overall in the second race of the weekend – his highest finish in the series to-date.

Ian Fowler, Classic VW Cup Co-ordinator, said: “Brian has been getting faster all season. He is racing these circuits for the first time so its been a steep learning curve for him.”

Cadwell Park is next on the calendar for the Classic VW Cup contingent on September 8/9.

BARC stars at inaugural MotorsportDays.LIVE event

The British Automobile Racing Club enjoyed a productive two days at Silverstone this past weekend (November 2/3) after attending the inaugural MotorsportDays.LIVE event.

Aimed at giving enthusiasts, amateurs and professional drivers the opportunity to get on track, as well as providing ample opportunity to begin preparation for 2019, the two-day spectacle proved to be an overwhelming success.

Situated in the exhibition hall, the BARC presented a striking stand and welcomed a raft of fans, drivers, teams, championship organisers and marshals across both days.

Downstairs in the pit garages and on-track around the International layout of the Northamptonshire-based venue were a host of BARC categories, all of whom were a popular draw for those in attendance.

Headlining the BARC contingent was the all new BARC UK Sports Prototype Cup which unveiled the jaw-dropping Revolution race car. Bringing LMP technology and safety to the masses for an affordable price, the lightweight sportscar garnered plenty of attention ahead of its 2019 debut.

Elsewhere the brand new Series Elite Jaguar XE SV Project 8 car also broke cover with two machines taking to the track. Set to launch next year, the unique over 50 championship has proven to be a popular concept and that was further cemented as it attracted plenty of eyes over both days.

The APL Caterham Graduates Championship, Trade Team Citroen C1 Challenge, Dunlop Endurance Championship and the Hyundai Coupe Cup were all also present at Silverstone, all of them enjoying a positive presence with several drivers keen to race with them next year.

MotorsportDays.LIVE is set to return to Silverstone in 2019 with an official date set to be announced in due course.

Motorsport to come to an end at Rockingham after 2018

Following the venue’s sale to an unnamed investor, Rockingham Motor Speedway have confirmed that motorsport events will cease at the end of the 2018 season.

Rumours surrounding the circuits future have intensified in recent months with news in mid-August confirming that the Corby-based site would be sold.

Opened by the Queen in 2001, Rockingham has staged all manner of championships down the years, all of them utilising the raft of circuit configurations on offer. In recent years the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship has been one of the popular draws, serving up a feast of entertainment upon every visit.

The British Automobile Racing Club has also been regular visitor to Rockingham too, with a raft of championships battling it out. The Pickup Truck Racing Championship remains the only series to use the oval layout of the circuit whilst the Trade Team Citroen C1 Challenge made history earlier this year by staging its inaugural 24hr race at the track.

Commenting on the news that motorsport will cease, Rockingham Motor Speedway CEO Peter Hardman told the Northamptonshire Telegraph: “The team at Rockingham have done a tremendous job running the circuit and the facility over the last five years.

“However, it has been reluctantly concluded that motorsport activities are unlikely to produce an economic return for the new owners when set against the acquisition cost of the land.

“All events to the end of 2018 will be run with the professionalism and enthusiasm that are the hallmark of Rockingham, but circuit activities will cease from the beginning of 2019.”

Ian Watson, BARC General Manager, added: “The BARC is hugely disappointed to lose Rockingham from the limited number of venues available for use within the UK.

“This is further compounded by the fact that the BARC was involved in the initial development of the track from its inception, through the build process and the running of the first event so feels directly linked to the venue in a number of ways.”

The BARC’s final two visits to Rockingham takes place on August 31/September 2 and September 22/23 respectively

Three-way British Rallycross Championship title fight to be decided at Silverstone

The destiny of the Toyo Tires MSA British Rallycross Championship will be decided at Silverstone this Sunday (November 4) with three drivers all in contention to lift the coveted crown.

Mark Higgins, Julian Godfrey and Ollie O’Donovan enter the final round of the season with a mathematical shot of being crowned champion, and the home of British motorsport is set to provide a fitting backdrop for the impending battle.

Making history by staging the inaugural rallycross at Silverstone on a sub-zero day in March, the championship has since travelled the length and breadth of the country, with twists and turns taking place along the way.

O’Donovan heads to the home of British motorsport in the pound seat, sitting atop the drivers standings. At the wheel of his striking Ford Focus and at times Ford Fiesta, the Irishman has been a force to be reckoned with throughout the year, scoring three wins during the mid-point of the campaign.

Whilst O’Donovan finds himself as the leader of the pack, his advantage is a slim one with five-time champion Godfrey just five points back. Having switched to the Spencer Sport Mitsubishi Mirage for the season, the renowned racer has endured his own fair share of bad luck on his way to also notching a trio of triumphs.

Albatec Racing’s Higgins is the final contender in with a shout of lifting the title at Silverstone, and if he were to do so it would cap off a brilliant maiden season for him. Jumping across to the world of rallycross, Higgins has been a regular fixture towards the front of the field and sits just six points behind O’Donovan having scored two wins.

With a titanic three-way fight for supremacy brewing in the Supercar category, all eyes are set to be on O’Donovan, Godfrey and Higgins to see who walks away as 2018 champion come Sunday night.

Beyond the top three are a host of drivers that can all leave their mark on the title battle too. Dan Rooke, champion of 2016, makes a triumphant return to the series in the RX Racing Ford Fiesta – his first appearance since winning the title at Croft two years ago.

Series stalwarts Pat Doran, Mad Mark, Kevin Proctor, Steve Hill, Steve Mundy and a handful more will also be in action over the course of the day; all keen to sign off their season’s in style.

In addition to the Supercar category, spectators will also witness edge-of-the-seat thrills from the MSA Junior Rallycross Championship, MSA Supernational Rallycross Championship, Swift Sport Championship, BMW Mini Championship, Retro Rallycross and RX150 – all adding up to make it a day to remember.

Rebellion Racing inherit 6 Hours of Silverstone victory following Toyota Gazoo Racing exclusion

The FIA World Endurance Championship’s annual visit to British shores wasn’t without its drama this past weekend (August 17/18/19) as Rebellion Racing scored a famous one-two finish at the 6 Hours of Silverstone, following the exclusion of both Toyota Gazoo Racing machines.

Marking the third stop on the calendar of the 2018-2019 Super Season, the series returned from a short break to produce an entertaining spectacle around the Northamptonshire venue in front of more than 60,000 spectators.

Having led the way since the opening practice session of the weekend, the two Toyota TS050 HYBRID machines appeared to be in a league of their own, and that was further cemented as they locked out the front row in qualifying.

As racing began around the flowing curves of Silverstone the #7 Toyota of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez stormed into an early lead whilst the sister #8 Toyota of Fernando Alonso, Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima gave chase.

With the hours ticking by, the battle for the lead went back-and-forth as both squads endured their own tribulations alongside some shining moments.

The decisive move for victory came in the final hour as Kobayashi and Buemi went wheel-to-wheel for the lead. Upon entry into Abbey corner, Kobayashi made a mistake and damaged the floor of his Toyota TS050, giving Buemi the lead and ultimately victory – their third in succession to maintain their unbeaten record for 2018.

Celebrations however were cut short in the Toyota Gazoo Racing camp as both cars were disqualified from the racing following the post-race technical checks. Found to have not conformed to the regulations regarding the deflection of the skid block, both cars were thrown of the result although a formal appeal has been lodged meaning the final classification remains currently provisional.

Following Toyota’s disqualification, Rebellion Racing – who had finished third – were promoted to the top step of the podium. The R13 Gibson of Gustavo Menezes, Thomas Laurent and Mathias Beche were declared the outright winners ahead of the No.1 sister Rebellion of Neel Jani and André Lotterer, who finished second.

Rounding out the podium was the SMP Racing BR Engineering BR1-AER duo of Stéphane Sarrazin and Egor Orudzhev.

In LMP2, Jackie Chan DC Racing also stormed to a dominant one-two finish as the #38 Oreca 07 Gibson shared by Ho-Pin Tung, Gabriel Aubry and Stephane Richelmi beat Nabil Jeffri, Weiron Tan and Jazeman Jaafar in the sister #37 Oreca.

AF Corse sprung a surprise in the GTE-Pro class as Pier Guidi and James Calado blended front-running pace and strategy at the wheel of their Ferrari 488 GTE Evo to score victory.

LMGTE Am saw a second consecutive victory for Dempsey-Proton Racing Porsche as Christian Ried, Julien Andlauer and Matt Campbell took the spoils.

Alongside the FIA World Endurance Championship was the European Le Mans Series, which also took on a starring role over the course of the weekend at Silverstone.

The series’ 4 Hours of Silverstone proved to be a tense affair with the G-Drive Racing Oreca-Gibson of Roman Rusinov, Andrea Pizzitola and Jean-Eric Vergne scoring victory, one lap ahead of Dragonspeed Oreca of Nico Lapierre and the IDEC Sport Oreca of Paul Lafargue.

Rounding out the action from Silverstone were a trio of races from the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, with spoils were shared between home hero Dan Ticktum, Mick Schumacher and Juri Vips.

Fireworks set to fly at Brands Hatch spectacular

Fireworks are set to fly both on and off the track at Brands Hatch this weekend (November 3/4) as the British Automobile Racing Club descends on the Indy circuit for a blockbuster season finale for four categories.

Billed as one of the standout events on the 2018 calendar, the Kent venue will played host to a titanic two days of track action before lighting up the sky for fans with a spectacular firework display like no other.

Headlining the weekend’s action are eight races from the British Truck Racing Association Championship which has an entry list of 30+ machines. Returning to the scene of where their year began, the heavyweight behemoths have been in mesmerising form throughout the season, with titles in both Division 1 and Division 2 still to be decided.

Sitting on the cusp of a third consecutive crown in the top tier, Ryan Smith has at times been in a league of his own in Division 1 and could well be crowned champion in race one of the weekend. With David Jenkins being the only man to stop Smith, all eyes will be on the top two to see if Smith can write his name into the history books or whether Jenkins can produce a comeback for the ages.

Division 2 will also see a two-horse race for the title unfold with Luke Garrett and Brad Smith set to go head-to-head. Garrett has been the leading figure to emerge from the more production-based class this year with countless victories placing him at the summit of points.

Smith meanwhile has been somewhat under the radar, keeping his head down to tally the points week-by-week. With the pair set to be joined by a host of race-winning contenders, this weekend’s battle for the Division 2 is not to be missed at all.

The theme of two drivers battling it out for title supremacy continues in the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres, with John Mickel and Steve Whitelegg bidding to walk away as the victor.

Aiming to clinch his fourth successive Legends title, Mickel has been in superlative form – notching 13 wins along the way. Sitting in the box seat, Mickel heads into the finale as the favourite although with 1200 points on offer and Whitelegg a man on a mission, anything could happen.

In addition to the title battle, Legends will write a notable piece in their own history at Brands Hatch with the opening heat on Sunday being the championship’s 250th in its near 25-year lineage.

Scott Bourne and Lea Wood will bring the curtain down on their season-long battle by fighting it out for the Pickup Truck Racing Championship. Bidding to defend the title he won last year, Bourne has been at his brilliant best throughout the season but has come under constant threat from Wood.

With the two having sharing top spot as each round has passed, the culmination of a years racing will come down to the boil across three high-octane races around the 1.2 mile Indy layout.

Capping off the weekend will be a pair of races from the Junior Saloon Car Championship as it stages its inaugural Winter Cup. Just a few weeks ago the curtain fell on the 2018 season for the 14 to 17-year-old category with Lewis Saunders being crowned champion, and he makes up the 15-car entry list.

Running as a standalone one-off event, the highest points scorer over the two races will be declared the maiden victor in the JSCC Winter Cup.

Snetterton delivers blockbuster BARC weekend

The British Automobile Racing Club underlined that variety is the spice of life at Snetterton this past weekend (August 18/19) as a raft of categories battled it out around its shorter 1.98 mile circuit.

In what was the third visit to the Norfolk venue in the past month, spectators were treated to all-out action across both days as the 2CV Parts.com Classic Racing Championship took centre stage as it drew its 2018 campaign to a close.

As has become a tradition in recent years, the Liqui Moly 24-hour race provided the footnote to five-event campaign that was with plenty of high-octane drama taking place along the way.

After a full day’s racing, BNLL 1/GT Racing emerged as the victors after completing a mind-boggling 788 laps around the Snetterton 200 circuit. The team of Thierry de Bonhome, Laurent Jossiaux, Rudy Coppieters and Philippe Courtois proved to be in a league of their own as they underlined their domiance, finishing 24 laps ahead of their nearest challengers.

Second place went the way of Bernard Crispin, Claude Crispin, Andre Blaise and Jean-Marc Louys in the BNLL 2 – BMR whilst Team Misfits rounded off the podium with Steve Rideout, Dave Rees, Connor O’Brien and Paul Ogborn all sharing driving duties.

There was to be another twist in the tail of the Junior Saloon Car Championship at the weekend too as Lewis Saunders and Joel Wren shared the spoils.

Despite rolling his car in practice and having to get behind the wheel of a spare, Saunders took a lights-to-flag victory in the opener – despite coming under constant pressure from Ben Kasperczak and Thomas Ward.

In race two, Wren bounced back from narrowly missing out on the podium earlier in the day to score his latest triumph, little under five seconds ahead of Scott McIntyre whilst Saunders made it a day to remember with a third place finish to add to his race one win.

Benn Tilley was at the double in the Luna Logistics Classic Formula Ford 1600 Championship, however he didn’t have things his own way. Having entered the weekend as the form driver, Tilley showcased his front-running credentials to narrowly pip Rick Morris by little under two seconds in the opening encounter.

Things were to get even closer between the pair in race two as Tilley fended off the advances of Morris all the way to line, emerging as the winner by just 0.047. Mark Armstrong and Stuart Kestenbaum each notched a podium finish apiece too.

Ken Lark proved to be a tour-de-force in the Classic VW Cup as he powered his Volkswagen Corrado to a pair of wins. Elsewhere, Steve Sawley and Robert Burkinshaw scored a victory each in the amalgamated BARC Saloon Series and Dream Automotive Honda VTEC Challenge duels.

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

CTCRC & Max’s shine at Brands Hatch

There were further title celebrations for a host of drivers at Brands Hatch this past weekend (October 27/28) as the British Automobile Racing Club brought the curtain down on more championships.

As the 2018 motorsport season continues to draw to a close, the first of several visits to the Kent circuit by the BARC served up a feast of entertainment, with the Classic Touring Car Championship and Max5 Racing Championship taking centre stage.

The combined Class & Historic Thunder and Burton Power Blue Oval Saloon Series races showcased what the CTCRC is all about as Dave Cockell reigned supreme, taking a pair of wins in his striking Ford Escort Cosworth.

Spoils were shared between Mini drivers Barry Sime and Paul Inch in the Pre 66 Classic Saloon and Historic Touring Cars encounters whilst David Howard and Stephen Primett did the same in the Pre 83 Touring Cars category.

Fans of more modern machinery would have been glued to the amalgamated Pre 93 Touring Cars, Pre 2003 Touring Cars and Pre 05 Production Saloon Cars, both of which delivered unrelenting thrills and spills throughout. Come the end of the weekend, Ray West and Alexander Own took a win apiece.

With Brands Hatch proving to be the footnote of the Classic Touring Car Championship season, it also meant that champions would be crowned; Stephen Primett, Steve Barden and Anna Barden just some of them.

In the Max5 Racing Championship, two wins for Paul Roddison meant that he asserted himself as the man to beat in the series whilst also wrapping up the title in Class C. Roddison was at his brilliant best around the Indy circuit and couldn’t be matched, despite the best efforts of Ian Loversidge.

Variety was the spice of life in the BARC South East Tin Tops Championship where Rod Birley and Bradley Lane scored one win each. Birley was in superlative form across the weekend as he also scored victory in the BARC South East Modified Saloon Car Championship too, with Andy Thompson also triumphing.

Lewis Smith meanwhile wrapped up the weekend’s BARC action in the Scrapco Avon Intermarque Championship as he romped to a pair of race wins.

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

FIA World Endurance Championship returns to UK soil for 6 hours of Silverstone

The FIA World Endurance Championship continues is 2018-2019 Super Season this weekend (August 17/18/19), hitting British shores for the third round of the season – the 6 Hours of Silverstone.

Having not been in action since Le Mans in late June, the series is set to burst back into action with 34 competitors primed and ready to duke it out around the iconic Northamptonshire venue.

For the second season in succession the British Automobile Racing Club will play a pivotal role in the organisational side of the event, appointing officials and marshals, as well as ensuring the three-day meeting runs as smoothly as possible.

Leading the entry list are two Formula 1 World Champions in the shape of Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button. Only recently confirming that he will step away from F1 next year, Alonso is set to be the talk of the town as he bids to score another victory for Toyota Gazoo Racing.

Alongside team-mate’s Sebastian Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima, the Spaniard has enjoyed a stellar start to his endurance career after scoring two wins from two races, and he will have his sights set on making it a hat-trick at Silverstone.

The immediate fight will be taken to them by the sister Toyota TS050 Hybrid squad of Britain’s Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez, all of whom should provide stiff competition for the series leaders.

Button heads up the privateer SMP Racing squad and as he prepares to compete at his home race for the first time since 2016, the Somerset-born driver is set to receive a rousing reception from the thousands of British fans that are set to pour through the gates.

Oliver Webb will also be one to watch in the LMP1 class as he pilots the ENSO CLM P1/01 Nismo with Rene Binder.

There will also be a welcome return for fellow Brit and former champion Anthony Davidson, as he joins the LMP2 ranks to partner Roberto Gonzalez and Pastor Maldonado in the No. 31 DragonSpeed ORECA 07 Gibson.

Andy Priaulx, Harry Tincknell, James Calado, Sam Bird and Alex Lynn will all fly the flag on home soil in the LMGTE Pro category whilst the star-studded entry list continues in the remaining classes too.

On top of the FIA World Endurance Championship 6 Hours of Silverstone race there will also be action from the European Le Mans Series and FIA F3, both of which are bursting with driver talent and expected to deliver edge-of-the-seat thrills.

MotorsportDays.LIVE awaits the BARC in early November

The British Automobile Racing Club will have a presence at the inaugural MotorsportDays.LIVE event which takes place at Silverstone Circuit on November 2/3.

Offering a fresh opportunity for genuine track day enthusiasts, amateur and professional race drivers, championship co-ordinators, engineers, industry progressional, motorsport investors and more, MSD Live is set to be a smash-hit.

Based at Stand H2-108, the BARC will be on hand to discuss everything from championships to compete in, 2019 race meetings, membership, marshalling and much more.

In addition, a handful of cars from BARC categories – situated in the garages underneath the trade area – will be on-site for prospective drivers to sample around the ‘International layout’ as they evaluate their options for next season.

Having gone from strength-to-strength in recent years, the Hyundai Coupe Cup will be present with four cars whilst two machines from the ever-growing Trade Team Citroen C1 Challenge will also be in attendance.

Set to launch in 2019, Series Elite will be on hand to discuss what they are bringing to the UK motorsport scene with a pair of eye-catching Jaguar’s ready to turn a wheel.

The APL Health Caterham Graduates Championship are also confirmed to take to the track in their high-octane machines too.

With the overall objective of making ‘getting on track’ easier, MSD Live will also provide a panelled conference, giving attendees the opportunity to gain expert advice and interact with some of motorsport’s established names. Areas of the sport such as technical set-ups, attracting sponsorship, marketing, media engagement and legal guidance are just some subjects up for discussion.

For more information on MotorsportDays.LIVE and how to purchase tickets, visit www.motorsportdays.live