Author: Chris Ashby

TOCA support package ready to return for Snetterton spectacular

It is not just the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship that returns this weekend at Snetterton (July 28/29), with all five TOCA support categories also resuming battle following the customary mid-season break.

In what has already been an action-packed campaign for the variety of one-make championships, the annual trip to Norfolk will spark the second half of the season for all five – and the intensity is set to increase.

Grabbing a lot of the headlines so far this season has been the Renault UK Clio Cup, and that theme could continue across the weekend’s two races. Max Coates arrives at Snetterton as the series leader but the Team Pyro driver has stiff competition hot on his heels.

Multiple champion Paul Rivett has proved to be a continuous threat so far whilst James Dorlin will be keen to get back in the mix after a tough Croft. The Westbourne Motorsport driver won five races in-a-row earlier in the year but came unstuck at his home event.

The likes of Daniel Rowbottom, Dan Zelos, Jade Edwards, Ben Colburn, Mike Epps and last year’s Renault UK Clio Cup Junior champion Jack Young, who makes his debut this weekend, will also be ones to look out for.

There is always an abundance of entertainment in the Ginetta Junior Championship and this year’s crop of 14 to 17-year-olds have showcased that once again. Former scholarship winner Adam Smalley currently leads the way after a strong Croft event and he will be keen to extend his advantage in the weekend’s two nine-lap encounters.

On his tail however are a host of youngsters that have been in the mix from the get-go. Louis Foster, Luke Browning, Fin Green, Ruben Del Sarte, and Gus Burton are just five drivers from a stacked entry list that can stop Smalley from further strengthening his position at the top of the points.

Further Ginetta action will be on display at Snetterton in the shape of the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup. A trio of races are set to be run around the challenging 300 circuit and the title race is set to hot up as Charlie Ladell looks to continue his run of being on the podium in every race so far.

Carl Boardley scored a hat-trick of wins at Croft last time out and closing the gap to series leader will be his main goal whilst Harry King, Tom Roche and Carl Shield will all also be eyeing that top step of the rostrum.

Racing for the first time since Oulton Park, the Porsche Carrera Cup GB will get back on track with two races during the weekend. In what has already been a tense battle at the top of the points, Tio Ellinas currently leads the way but Dino Zamparelli, Tom Wrigley, Lewis Plato, George Gamble and Dan Harper are all in the championship conversation.

Capping off the weekend’s blockbuster action is a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. Kiern Jewiss is currently the drive to beat in the single seaters series but the likes of Ayrton Simmons, Dennis Hauger, Sebastian Priaulx and Jack Doohan lead the fight into Snetterton.

Oulton Park to stage fitting finale for handful of BARC championships

Oulton Park will play host to the British Automobile Racing Club for the final time this season on Saturday (October 20) with six championships bringing the curtain down on their 2018 campaigns.

As the motorsport season reaches the business end of the year, the picturesque Cheshire venue will provide a fitting backdrop for champions to be crowned.

Topping the bill is what will likely be an enthralling three-way title showdown in the Junior Saloon Car Championship. In what has been another memorable year for the 14 to 17-year-old category, the JSCC crown will be settled over two pulsating 20-minute encounters.

Lewis Saunders, Joel Wren and Steven Chandler enter the series finale in mathematical contention for the title however it is likely set to be Saunders and Wren that will battle it out, as they have done for a majority of the season – the pair currently separated by a mere 11 points.

Things are similarly close in the Mighty Minis Championship, especially in the Mighty Mini class. Just five points is the difference between Stuart Combes and Lee Poolman and with two races to be run, edge-of-the-seat thrills are to be expected from the much-loved series as the top two duke it out for supremacy.

Elsewhere in the Super Mighty category, Connor O’Brien finds himself on the cusp of title glory although Jo Polley may yet still have something to say about that on-track. Nevan Kirkpatrick and Alex Comes also remain in contention however both will need to be in superlative form to halt O’Brien’s quest for glory.

Paul Rose is another driver that sits within touching distance of a title having enjoyed a stellar year in the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship. At the wheel of his Sakar, Rose has been one of the stand out drivers in the multi-class championship however he will still need to be at the top of his game to lift the coveted title.

James Cryer trails Rose by a mere four points and could yet overhaul the series leader to walk away as champion.

The Classic VW Cup will also brings its season to a close with after flourishing on its own. Having broken off to run by itself in 2018, all manner of models of the German marque have competed this season and delivered breathtaking action along the way.

Rounding off the day’s BARC action will be a pair of races from the BARC Saloon Series and Dream Automotive Honda VTEC Challenge, both of whom share grids.

Showcasing some of the best saloon cars from a variety of manufacturers, both series have produced plenty of scintillating racing during the course of the year and that is only set to continue at Oulton Park.

For all of the important event information for Saturday’s Oulton Park meeting, click here.

Four-way Renault UK Clio Cup title showdown beckons at Brands Hatch

The Renault UK Clio Cup is set for an enthralling climax to its 2018 season at Brands Hatch this weekend (September 29/30) as four drivers go head-to-head for championship glory.

In what has been another vintage year for the one-make series on the TOCA support package, the quartet of Max Coates, Paul Rivett, James Dorlin and Daniel Rowbottom all arrive at the Kent circuit in mathematical contention.

Tackling the iconic Grand Prix layout, a maximum of 56 points will be on offer over the course of the weekend and further twists and turns are set to keep fans on the edge-of-their-seats in the two races that are set to be run.

Pyro Motorsport’s Coates heads into the season finale in the pound seat, leading the standings but by only a slender six points. Tipped as one of the favourites for the title in pre-season, Coates has underlined his title credentials with an impressive charge to the summit of the points.

Scoring four wins, one of which a popular home victory at Croft, the Yorkshireman will arrive at Brands Hatch keen to repeat the victory he scored at the 2018 curtain-raiser.

Leading the chase for Coates is WDE Motorsport’s Rivett, hungrier than ever to add his already impressive championship tally. Notching two wins and a further seven podiums, Rivett has been a constant thorn in the side of Coates and could yet walk away as champion.

A disqualification at Silverstone last time out for Rivett for an on-track incident however have had a bearing on the points as it stands. With the WDE Motorsport outfit having lodged an appeal against the decision – which will be heard by the MSA National Court at a later date – Rivett’s challenge for the title could yet be decided away from the track.

Trailing Rivett by a single point in third place is Westbourne Motorsport’s Dorlin. In just his second Clio Cup season, the BRDC Superstar has put his stamp on the series and a run of five wins in the early stages of the year have proven to be the cornerstone of his championship charge.

Whilst the top three are covered by a mere seven points, DRM’s Rowbottom sits as the outsider in the title battle, 49 markers behind Coates. A resurgent run of results has vaulted Rowbottom into the picture and the two-time race winner can’t be discounted from contention either.

As the top four get set to duke it out for the title, several other drivers will be looking to sign off their campaigns in style. Bradley Burns, Mike Epps, Lee Pattison, Jack McCarthy and Dan Zelos, amongst many others, will be ones to watch as the weekend unfolds.

Qualifying for the Renault UK Clio Cup weekend of the season is scheduled to take place at 10:55 on Saturday before race one beginning at 16:00 later that day. The final round of the season will be screened live on ITV4 on Sunday, with lights out set for 13:30.
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BARC produces all-out action at Anglesey

A trio of British Automobile Racing Club championships travelled to North Wales this past weekend (May 26/27) for what turned out to be a memorable two days of frenetic action at Anglesey Circuit.

Renowned for its picturesque views and the unique challenge it provides driver and car, Anglesey proved to be a fitting backdrop to the latest chapter of several categories.

As the BARC North Western Centre’s flagship series, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship was back on track and boasting another capacity entry list, this time fielding grids of more than 20 cars.

Despite a variety of machines making up the grid, there was no change at the top of the timesheet as Paul Rose further asserted himself as the man to beat.

At the wheel of his Saker RAPX S1-400, Rose scored a sensational hat-trick whilst Steve Harris could only look on in awe, unable to stop the championship leader. David Harvey and Oliver Thomas were the other competitors to make their way to the rostrum, albeit they struggled to keep on terms with the unstoppable Rose.

There was no shortage of drama from the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres, with six races keeping fans on the edge of their seats.

Stephen Whitelegg and John Mickel shared the spoils in Saturday’s two races before multiple champion Mickel went on to win the final, further strengthening his position at the summit of the championship standings.

On Sunday, the day arguably belonged to Jordan O’Brien who hounded Miles Rudman in the opening race to finish second. From then on however, O’Brien couldn’t be stopped as he charged to victory in race two before replicating his performance in the final.

With the Scottish and Irish Legends also competing over the course of the weekend, the battle

Rounding off the BARC action was a pair of races from the Max5 Racing Championship. Having dominated every round that had been run so far, Paul Roddison took yet another race win in the opening 20-minute encounter before Jeremy Shipley stopped the latters run with a win of his own.

In addition to the BARC championships, there was also on-track action from the Scottish Mini Championship and Scottish Fiesta Championship.
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Dino Zamparelli leads Porsche Carrera Cup GB into season finale

Dino Zamparelli heads into the final weekend of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Brands Hatch this weekend (September 29/30) looking to avenge the heartache he suffered at the Kent circuit one year ago.

The Redline Racing driver scored the exact same amount of points as eventual champion Charlie Eastwood at the 2017 season finale but lost the title due to scoring one less win than the Northern Irishman over the course of the campaign.

Fast forward 12 months and Zamparelli descends on Brands Hatch sitting at the summit of the standings, holding an eight-point LEAD over his nearest challenger Tio Ellinas once dropped scores and penalties have been applied.

Having been tipped by many to be amongst the championship protagonists come the end of the season, the Nationwide-backed driver has been at the fore of the series since the opening round. Four victories, one of which was scored around the iconic Monza, have proven to be the cornerstone of Zamparelli’s challenge up to now.

Triumphing at Silverstone last time out, last year’s runner-up will need to be at the top of his game around the Grand Prix circuit this weekend to hold off the charging Ellinas however.

Spearheading the Slidesports Engineering squad, Ellinas has been the epitome of consistency in 2018 and is good value for where he sits in the championship standings. Despite his only race win coming in round three at Donington Park, the Cypriot has been a regular fixture on the rostrum – scoring a further ten podiums in total.

Needing to make up more than eight points on Zamparelli across both 17-lap encounters, Ellinas will be one to watch from the get-go.

Whilst many will be focused on the top two in the title battle, Tom Wrigley can’t be discounted from proceedings either. Sitting third in the points, the JTR driver is only 19 points off the summit once all dropped scores and penalties are taken into consideration.

Riding a crest of momentum having won last time out at Silverstone, the former Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup could yet add another TOCA title to his impressive racing CV if the top two encounter trouble.

Such has been the high level of competition in the Carrera Cup GB this season that the top three won’t be the only drivers challenging for victory at Brands Hatch. Scholarship winner Daniel Harper has been a tour-de-force at times in his maiden season whilst Lewis Plato and George Gamble have also taken on starring roles throughout the year too.

In the Pro-Am category, Seb Perez and Dan Vaughan are set to take their battle for title honours down to the wire with Peter Mangion and Peter Kyle-Henney doing the same in the Am class.

The Porsche Carrera Cup GB’s final qualifying session of the season takes place on Saturday at 13:35 before rounds 15 & 16 take place on Sunday at 10:40 and 16:20 respectively.

Thousands lap up vintage fun in the sun at Croft Nostalgia Festival

A bumper crowd numbering thousands of eager spectators headed to Croft Circuit this past weekend (4-5 August) to lap up the sunshine, an irresistible feast of 1940s-70s retro-themed entertainment and the highest quality historic racing at the ninth annual Croft Nostalgia Festival.

Visitors were treated to Nostalgia’s time-honoured combination of top-tier historic motor racing from the Historic Sports Car Club, alongside an irresistible blend of off-track attractions from classic cars to military displays, aero-acrobatics, evocative music and period dress – as well as a selection of showcase track parades and vintage stalls, for those looking to bestow themselves with period regalia.

The venue’s outfield was bulging at the seams with rows upon rows of pristine classic cars, with everything from BMWs and Bristols to Volkswagens and Vauxhalls – and, this year, a celebratory display marking the 50thanniversary of the Mk1 Ford Escort.

Crowds lapped up the vintage shopping opportunities surrounding the showpiece classics on display, while the festival’s centrepiece marquee jived to the tune of The Daisy Belles, The Evernotes and George Formby (aka Colin Bourdiec). Afternoon tea and its accompanying dance is a popular staple at Nostalgia, and this year was no exception, with lessons for those less confident of their footwork when it comes to Swing ensuring no willing participant was left behind.

Wartime spirit and camaraderie was in evidence across the event – and not only in the music and entertainment on offer. An ever-increasing and comprehensive range of militaria and military machinery was showcased from tanks to personnel carriers and jeeps of all shapes, forms and functions. An unmistakable Supermarine Spitfire took up pride of place, and there is no more iconic and evocative silhouette than that of the famed World War II fighter.

A fully-functioning 14-cylinder Bristol Hercules aero engine, the like seen in Avro’s iconic Lancaster Bomber, as well as the unmistakable Merlin from the aforementioned and equally unmistakable fighter plane fired up regularly over the course of the weekend – the former airfield reverberating once more with the sound of World War II aero engines..

Further aero interest came in the shape of the Twister Aerobatics team, which drew eyes to the skies at lunchtime on both days with a dazzling pair of displays, while the on-track action either side of lunch was every bit as exciting – with no fewer than 18 races over the course of a packed weekend schedule.

Saturday set the scene on-track with practice and qualifying preceding an afternoon of racing action, but Sunday provided a packed timetable of the highest order.

The single-seaters never fail to provide spectacular racing and plenty of heroics and the Historic Formula Fords comprised the biggest field of the weekend split over three action-packed encounters, with Cameron Jackson securing a stunning win double in his Lola.

Recognisable classics from TVR to Triumph and Austin to Alfa Romeo lined up on the grid in the HSCC’s enthralling 70s Road Sports & Historic Road Sports races. Charles Barter strode to a pair of victories in the former in his Datsun 240z while John Davison sealed both encounters in the latter, wielding a Lotus Elan S1.

The prized HSCC Guards Trophy was taken by Charles Allison in his Chevron B8, while another ever-competitive centrepiece, in the Historic Touring Cars, proved, as usual, no less competitive in the battle than its modern-day counterpart. The Ford Lotus Cortina transpired as the throwback tourer to beat ahead of the Hillman Imps, Austin A40s and Morris Minis, with Richard Belcher winning races one and two.

“It’s been a fantastic weekend at the Croft Nostalgia Festival,” said Circuit Manager Tracey Morley. “I’d like to thank everyone involved in making the event the success it was, and of course to the thousands of spectators we were delighted to welcome through the gates here at Croft.

“Each year we enjoy some of the best historic racing you’re likely to see in Britain, and it’s always accompanied by a super atmosphere away from the track itself – with the Festival offering so much to see and do for families and people of all ages.

“With its tenth anniversary next year, plans are afoot to go one better still and celebrate in style. We really want to push on for 2019 and we feel sure that it’ll be even bigger and better still than the weekend we’ve just enjoyed.”

BARC delivers blockbuster two days of racing at Donington Park

Five British Automobile Racing Club championships served up a feast of high-octane entertainment and drama at Donington Park this past weekend (July 21/22), as a bumper crowd soaked up the sun at Convoy in the Park.

Headlining the weekend were ten races from the British Truck Racing Association Championship, all of which left fans on the edge of their seats. Division 1 had a familiar feel to it as reigning champion Ryan Smith underlined his excellence with a trio of victories.

Storming to pole position in qualifying, Smith dominated proceedings in race one to take a lights-to-flag victory. He backed it up with a pair of wins from the back of the grid soon after before seeing his winning run come to an end.

Jamie Anderson and David Jenkins then came to the fore in races four and five as they notched a win apiece, rounding off an exhilarating weekend of Division 1 race.

In Division 2, Luke Garrett was in a league of his own as he powered his way to an unprecedented clean sweep. Setting the pace from the opening session on Saturday morning, the MAN driver was not to be denied as he scored five wins from five races, extending his championship lead in the process too.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship saw two frenetic encounters deliver plenty of heart stopping moments right up until the chequered flag. As they have done for a majority of the season, Scott Bourne and Lea Wood continued their duel by scoring a win apiece under the flightpath of East Midlands airport.

Race one saw reigning champion Bourne emerge as the victor following a tense battle. Duking it out from lights-to-flag, Bourne pipped Wood to the chequered flag by a mere 0.025 to win. The roles were reversed in race two as Wood led Bourne, this time by more than seven seconds. David O’Reagan and Michael Smith bagged a podium each as the top two squabbled.

Six races from the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres delivered some memorable moments too, as the title battle intensified. Miles Rudman, Ben Power and Sam Smith scored a win apiece on Saturday, each encounter bettering the one that went before it.

Sunday’s trio of races from the 5/8 scale machines saw Power come out swinging in heat one as he stormed to the front to win. Reigning champion John Mickel showcased he has lost none of his guile in race two as he stormed through the field to take another win.

The third and final race from the weekend proved to be an all-time classic from the Legends as Paul Simmons claimed his maiden victory in the series, with the top three being covered by just 0.081 seconds.

In the Britcar Endurance Championship, Jonny MacGregor piloted his MacG Racing Taranis to victory in the 50-minute sprint race before doing the same in the sprint section of the longer two-hour race too.

As MacGregor celebrated his Donington double, race two of the weekend continued and ended with the Team HARD duo of Simon Rudd and Sam Randon driving their Ginetta G55 GT4 to the top step of the podium.

Rounding out the action from Convoy in the Park was two races from the 2CV Parts,com Classic Racing Championship. Spoils were shared as Pete Sparrow and Simon Clarke took a win each, whilst there were podiums for Matthew Hollis, Nick Crispin, Tom Perry and Brian Heerey.

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

BARC championships battle Storm Callum on memorable Pembrey weekend

The British Automobile Racing Club faced rain, wind and bright sunshine at Pembrey this past weekend (October 13/14) as Storm Callum made its presence felt at the venue’s Autumn Truckfest meeting.

On what is one of the standout events for the Welsh venue, not even torrential rain and high speed winds on Saturday could stop a hearty crowd from flocking trackside to witness a flat-out two days of track action.

Circuit staff, officials and marshals met be credited b their determination and hard work at the start of the weekend as they battled the treacherous conditions to ensure racing could go ahead, albeit later than originally scheduled.

When the action did get underway the British Truck Racing Association Championship lived up to its billing by taking centre stage. With the battle for supremacy in Division 1 and Division 2 approaching an exciting climax, the penultimate event of the season served up a feast of entertainment.

Reigning champion Ryan Smith proved to be the benchmark driver in Division 1 once again as he scored a pair of victories however the MAN driver didn’t have things all his own way. Chief title rival David Jenkins scored a win of his own in the premier class whilst Simon Reid also added his name to the winners list in the final race of the weekend.

In Division 2, spoils were shared between three drivers as the title battle heated up. Series leader Luke Garrett kicked off the weekend with victory but that was to be as good as it got for the multiple race-winner as he endured a rough ride from then on.

John Powell notched his first win since the season-opener at Brands Hatch and swiftly followed it up with a second victory not long after. Former champion Adam Bint meanwhile rounded off the Division 2 victors as he produced a defensive masterclass to score his maiden win of 2018.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship is set to go down to the wire following an enthralling triple-header at Pembrey, with Lea Wood vaulting himself into title contention.

Bidding to chase down reigning champion Scott Bourne, former BTCC ace Wood did his championship charge no harm at all as he scored a pair of impressive victories around the 1.49 mile circuit.

Having triumphed twice, Wood capped off his weekend with a third place finish in race three as Dale Gent showcased what he has become known for in the Classic Touring Car Championship by clinching a narrow victory ahead of Bourne.

In the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres, four drivers scored victory across the weekend as the series delivered a wealth of twists and turns. On Saturday, Sy Harraway wrote his name into the history books with a maiden win before Jack Parker and John Mickel each topped the rostrum too.

Harraway and Mickel would score a win apiece on Sunday too before Steve Whitelegg brought the curtain down on proceedings by taking the chequered flag in race six.

Joining the three BARC championships at Pembrey was also the Welsh Racing Drivers Association and the MSA Superkarts Championship.

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

Charlie Ladell on the cusp of title glory as Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup heads to Brands Hatch

Brands Hatch will provide the backdrop to the final three rounds of the 2018 Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup this weekend (September 29/30), with Charlie Ladell sitting on the cusp of being crowned champion.

In what has been another competitive season in the TOCA support series, the battle for supremacy will be decided with Ladell and Carl Boardley set to go head-to-head around the iconic 2.43 mile Grand Prix layout.

Returning to the scene of the 2018 curtain-raiser, Ladell has proven to be the benchmark driver in the GT4 Supercup this year – leading the championship standings throughout.

At the wheel of his Rob Boston Racing machine, the 22-year-old has been the epitome of consistency, scoring eight wins, six second place finishes and a further four third place finishes along the way.

Underlining his title credentials throughout, Ladell descends on Brands Hatch with a 42-point lead, a comfortable gap but one that he can’t let slip across the weekend’s three races if he is to follow in the footsteps of Callum Pointon, Tom Wrigley and Tom Oliphant by lifting the coveted championship trophy.

Series veteran Boardley remains the only man to stop Ladell from clinching the title and he’ll be using all of his experience to overhaul the series leader. Remaining hot on the heels of Ladell since the opening weekend of the season, Boardley’s focus is likely to add to the six wins he has already notched in 2018 if he is to stand any chance of topping the points come Sunday evening.

Harry King and Tom Roche may yet have their say on the outcome of the title too depending on how their weekend’s play out. The pair have been regular front runners throughout the season and have showcased that they can dice with Ladell and Boardley on multiple occasions.

The trio of Jac Constable, Angus Fender and Reece Somerfield will also be drivers to keep a keen eye on too as the weekend progresses.

In the Amateur class, Michael Crees will bid to convert his charge to the summit of the points into championship celebrations, however Jack Minshaw and Colin White can still stop the popular racer.

Qualifying for the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup kicks off the weekend’s track action at 09:00 on Saturday before races one and two follow later that day at 14:15 and 17:10 respectively. The third and final encounter is scheduled to begin at 15:05 on Sunday, screened live on ITV4.

BARC races into the sunset in style at Rockingham

The British Automobile Racing Club raced into the sunset on Saturday (June 16) this past weekend as a host of championships duked it out at Rockingham.

In what was another first for the Corby circuit, a sizeable crowd turned out in force to witness a flat-out day’s racing which started at 09:00 and ended more than 12 hours later at 21:30.

Taking to the oval of Rockingham for the first time this year, the Pickup Truck Racing Championship was in fine form. Going wheel-to-wheel on the steep bankings, providing plenty of jaw-dropping moments along the way, the championship saw a maiden win for George Turiccki in race one.

Running as low as seventh at one stage, Turiccki scythed his way up the order to narrowly pip Mark Willis and Scott Bourne to victory. Reigning champion Bourne struck back in race two as he underlined his credentials of still being the man to beat in the championship.

Despite losing the lead from pole position in the early stages, Bourne produced a superlative driver to muscle his way back to the helm of proceedings and then onto victory, with Willis and Mel Collins close behind.

Spoils were shared in the Junior Saloon Car Championship, which served up two lively races. On what was their second visit to Rockingham this year, the current crop of 14 to 17-year-old racers were in fine form as they went wheel-to-wheel for victory.

Joel Wren, who won both races on the championship’s first visit to the venue, led the way in race one to notch his third victory of the season. Starting fourth, Wren threaded his way to the front of the field and once there, stretched his legs to take the chequered flag by more than six seconds ahead of Thomas Ward and Lewis Saunders.

Race two was to be a closer affair as Saunders took his breakthrough victory of 2018, becoming the fourth different winner. In a tense battle that saw the top five covered by little over two seconds at the flag, Saunders held his nerve to control proceedings and pip Ward to the win, whilst Jemma Moore rounded off the podium.

There was action aplenty in the Classic Touring Car Championship too; with no less than six races being run as a variety of classes were amalgamated together.

In the pair of Classic Thunder and Blue Oval Saloon Series encounters, Dale Gent and Dave Cockell scored a win apiece. Gent was the man to beat in race one at the wheel of his Subaru Impreza, finishing ahead of Cockell before the latter than took control in race two, piloting his Ford Escort Cosworth to the top of the podium.

Steve Barden proved to be an irresistible force in the two Pre 93 Touring Cars, Pre 03 Touring Cars and Pre 05 Production Touring Cars races. Behind the wheel of his trusty Honda Civic Type R, Barden narrowly triumphed in race one, finishing ahead of Ian Bower and Luke Allen by just a couple of seconds.

Race two was more clear cut for the championship front runner as he powered his Type R to victory, once again ahead of Bower and Allen, but this time by more than eight seconds.

Stephen Primett showcased similar levels of dominance in the Pre 83 Group 1 Touring Cars, Paul Inch Race Engines Pre 66 Classic Saloon and Historic Touring Cars races. Having been the benchmark over the past couple of years, the Ford Escort Mk1 driver powered his way to two wins. Mark Osbourne and Stephen Cripps bagged a pair of podiums.

The Scrapco Avon Intermarque Championship rounded off the day’s racing with a bumper grid producing a brace of frenetic encounters. Having largely been dominated by Malcolm Blackman thus far, the series was calling out for some fresh faces to grace the top step of the podium – and that’s what it got at Rockingham.

Lewis Smith led home Steve Burrows and Richard Smith in the opener before doubling up in race two, triumphing in a chaotic second race.

For the full classification of results across all categories, click here.

Johan Kristoffersson wins inaugural FIA World Rallycross Championship event at Silverstone

The FIA World Rallycross Championship served up a memorable maiden event at Silverstone this past weekend (May 25/26/27) as Johan Kristoffersson clinched victory in front of thousands of adrenaline-fuelled British fans.

Having previously competed at Lydden Hill when the championship hit UK soil in recent years, the fourth event of the season for the series was the first to be staged at the Northamptonshire-based venue – and it didn’t disappoint.

Taking centre stage as part of the Speedmachine Festival, the FIA World Rallycross Championship provided unmissable viewing as fans soaked up the on and off track action.

Away from the racing, street food and drink gave plenty the opportunity to refuel whilst live music performances from Dizzee Rascal and Razorlight, to name just a few, further added to the spectacle in the evening.

In addition; manufacturer test drives, markets stalls, eSports, demonstrations, passenger laps in drift cars and pit stop challenges were all there too.

On Saturday, searing temperatures saw a host of high-octane encounters wow the bumper crowd. The first round of qualifying heats saw wins go the way of Kristoffersson, Andreas Bakkerud, Petter Solberg, Kevin Hansen and Mattias Ekstrom; however Solberg emerged as the man to beat after setting the fastest time overall in his Volkswagen Polo.

The second block of qualifying heats saw Anton Marklund, Robin Larsson, Jerome Grosset-Janin, Timmy Hansen and Ekstrom take the wins on track, with Hansen setting the fastest time. That therefore left former champion Solberg as the overnight points leader.

Thunderstorms overnight ensured that track conditions were dramatically different from the day before, subsequently improving as each session passed.

Kicking off the third round of qualifying saw British fans treated to some home hero glory as Albatec Racing’s Mark Higgins powered his Peugeot 208 to victory. There were more cheers in the second race of the day as Andrew Jordan made it two British wins on the bounce, piloting his Ford Fiesta to the chequered flag.

Larsson, Kristoffersson and Timmy Hansen won the remaining races in the qualifying block, with reigning champion Kristoffersson notching the fastest time.

In truth, the rest of the day belonged to Kristoffersson as he was in irresistible form, winning his race in the final set of qualifying races and again topping the timesheets.

Kristoffersson was the victor of his semi-final, bringing Bakkerud and Kevin Hansen along with him. The second semi-final saw Loeb, Ekstrom and Niclas Gronholm make their way to the final which Kristoffersson dually dominated to take his third win of the season, extending his lead in the overall standings as well. Bakkerud and Loeb rounded off the podium.

In the RX2 class, Sweden’s Oliver Eriksson was the winner whilst Tanner Foust took the spoils in the opening round of the Americas Rallycross Championship.

Ollie O’Donovan scores British Rallycross victory at Croft

Ollie O’Donovan made it three different winners from three events as the Toyo Tires MSA British Rallycross Championship entertained a bumper crowd at Croft Circuit this past Sunday (May 6).

In what is the first of two visits that the mixed surface series will make to the North Yorkshire venue this year, searing temperatures meant that it proved to be a scorching day both on and off the track.

Having qualified second on the grid for the Supercar final, 2007 champion O’Donovan found himself with an easier task of taking the lead after two restarts. Firstly Steve Hill retired from the first running with engine problems before pole sitter Andy Scott jumped the start of the restart, leaving the Irishman the sole occupant of the front row.

Leading from lights-to-flag, the Ford Focus driver withstood late pressure from round two winner Mark Higgins to clinch victory by 0.061 – the closest finish the championship has seen in recent memory.

Virtue of his second place finish, Albatec Racing’s Higgins has now vaulted himself to the summit of the points standings, whilst team-mate Scott made it a day to remember for the squad as he rounded out the rostrum by finishing third.

Fourth place in the final went the way of Croft local Mad Mark Watson in his Citroen Xsara whilst Hill was classified fifth overall, despite not completing the race distance.

Julian Godfrey found himself ins serious strife in the final too as he became embroiled in Hill’s exit from the final. Entering the weekend as the points leader, Godfrey glanced the side of Hill’s Mitsubishi, sending him into a series of rolls – the five-time champion walked away from the incident unharmed.

In the MSA Supernational Rallycross Championship, Renault Clio V6 racer Tristan Ovenden made the most of the conditions to dominate proceedings – setting the fastest time in each of the three qualifiers before then winning his semi-final and the overall final.

Tom Constantine made it back-to-back victories in the MSA Junior Rallycross Championship whilst Morgan Bailey did the same in the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship.

Elsewhere, David Bell was the winner of the BMW Mini Rallycross Championship encounter whilst RX150 Rallycross Championship points leader Chrissy Palmer further cemented his status as the man to beat with another victory.

Rounding off the action was the Retro Rallycross Championship, where Barry Stewart piloted his Porsche 911 to the chequered flag, narrowly pipping former title winner Ray Morgan.

For the full classification of results, click here.

The next round of the Toyo Tires MSA British Rallycross Championship will see the series descend on South Wales for rounds four and five at Pembrey, on June 23/24.