Author: Chris Ashby

BARC championships set for final flourish at Silverstone

The British Automobile Racing Club heads to Silverstone this weekend (October 6/7) for what is being billed as a season finale for a majority of championships, with title battles set to go down to the wire.

In what is a traditional fixture on the BARC calendar, the annual trip to the Northamptonshire marks the end of another frenetic motorsport, with one final chapter of edge-of-the-seat thrills set to be written.

Whilst there will be title battles taking place in other categories, the Michelin Clio Cup Series will sign off the year having already decided its champions. Ben Palmer and Nic Harrison both obtained unassailable leads at Anglesey in their respective classes last time out but that won’t deter the action.

Both drivers have won every single race they have competed in this season and the pair will be out to extend their unbeaten runs with a further two victories this weekend.

Silverstone marks the penultimate event for the Junior Saloon Car Championship, which is back on track after only competing last weekend. At the top of the standings, Lewis Saunders and Joel Wren find themselves in a two-horse race for the coveted crown, the pair having shared the spoils in the last eight races.

With two races and a host of other drivers all eager to impress, the 14 to 17-year-old category could well steal the show over the two days.

The Dunlop Endurance Championship has grown in stature once again in 2018 and the series’ blend of iconic cars and professional drivers descend on Silverstone for a pivotal round of the season. A 50-minute sprint race will be followed up by a longer two-hour encounter with the pairings of Matt Greenwood & Sarah Moore and Jon Watt & Kristian Prosser out to maintain their leads.

In the BARC Clubmans Sports Prototypes Championship in association with King Henry’s Taverns, the trio of Clive Wood, Michelle Hayward and Pippa Tanner-Wood will all look to sign off their campaigns on the top step of the podium, having already enjoyed title success.

There is still plenty to play for in the Kumho BMW Championship and Lancaster Insurance MG Owner’s Club Championship too. With multiple classes and some of the most illustrious models from each manufacturer taking to the track to do battle.

Notable names to look out for in the BMW category include Colin Wells, Giuseppe Callari and Russell Dack whilst Jim Baynam, Martin Willis and Chris Millard will likely be at the forefront of the fight in MG’s.

On top of the BARC action there will also be a pair of races from the much-loved Mini Se7en Championship.

BTCC title race set for further twists and turns at Silverstone

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will continue its journey towards what is set to be an exciting climax to 2018 with a visit to Silverstone this weekend (September 15/16), the penultimate stop on the calendar.

In what has been a record-breaking campaign in the BTCC’s 60th year, with 14 different drivers taking victory, just six races remain to crown a champion in Britain’s premier race series.

Following on from a dramatic triple-header north of the border at Knockhill, the BTCC descends on the 1.64 mile National layout of Silverstone for the latest chapter in what has been another memorable year.

Colin Turkington heads into the weekend sitting pretty at the top of the standings holding a healthy 43-point lead over Speedworks Motorsport’s Tom Ingram, with reigning champion Ashley Sutton a further seven back.

Despite only having one win to his name, the West Surrey Racing driver has been the epitome of consistency this year and will be a tough man to topple as he hunts after a third drivers’ title.

Both Ingram and Sutton have proven to be the main challengers to Turkington in recent roundsnhowever the pair have ground to make up if they are to stop the BMW driver. Both were excluded from race two at Knockhill and can’t afford to slip up from now until the final chequered flag falls.

With the characteristics of Silverstone likely to further shake up the order between Turkington, Ingram and Sutton, all eyes will on the trio to see who can steal a march before the series descends on Brands Hatch for the 2018 finale.

Beyond the main championship protagonists is 2013 title winner Andrew Jordan, who’s maiden win of the season last time out has vaulted him up to fourth in the standings. The BMW Pirtek Racing driver is not to be counted out from lifting a second championship and is set to be one to watch over the course of the weekend.

Josh Cook, Tom Chilton and Adam Morgan have also taken on starring roles throughout the season whilst the Honda trio of Jack Goff, Matt Neal and Dan Cammish, who round out the top ten, will be keen to leave their mark at the sharp end of the grid over the course of the weekend too.

Having endured a luckless year, Sam Tordoff sits on the cusp of the top ten in 11th and having come close to his first podium of the season on countless occasions, the Ford Focus RS driver will be looking to finally take a maiden rostrum finish.

Elsewhere, the likes of Jason Plato, Brett Smith, James Cole, Rob Austin and Brett Smith are just a handful of drivers that are also drivers to keep a keen eye on around the high-speed straights of Silverstone.

With a total of 67 points up for grabs at the Northamptonshire venue and three races to shape the title picture heading into the final round of the season.

For all of the event information for Silverstone, including an event timetable and links to live timing, click here.

Ashley Sutton ignites BTCC title defence with Croft double

Defending Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion Ashley Sutton ignited his title defence at Croft this past weekend (June 23/24) with two wins, whilst Daniel Lloyd scored his and BTC Norlin Racing’s maiden victory in race three at the Yorkshire venue.

On what was a scorching weekend which saw a bumper crowd soak up the sun trackside, Sutton underlined his credentials as the reigning champion by vaulting up the championship standings.

After a frustrating first half of the season up to Croft, the Adrian Flux Subaru Racing driver came out of the block flying on Saturday as he charged to pole position, leading a Team BMR 1-2 in the process as Jason Plato ended the session second.

Sutton’s charge to the chequered flag in race one was relatively straight forward as he held position as the lights went out and then dually began to stretch his advantage. Behind, Plato diced with the BMW of Andrew Jordan for much of the contest, getting the better of him in the end and then going on to chase down Sutton.

Struggling with tyre degradation, Jordan’s hopes of a podium slipped away as he ran wide at Clervaux, which allowed the impressive Tom Ingram to take the final podium spot in his Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Avensis.

The start of the second race saw Ingram make a flying start as he emerged from the first sequence of corners in the lead having gone three wide with Sutton and Plato.

Further behind Josh Cook found himself in strife as he suffered brake failure at the wheel of his Power Maxed TAG Racing Vauxhall Astra. Heading down the back straight and into Tower Bend, the two-time race winner experienced a heart-stopping moment as he narrowly missed those ahead of him and went sideways into the field. Cook was thankfully okay and managed to return to the pits.

Back at the front and despite being ladened with 75kgs of success ballast, Sutton wasted no time in wrestling the lead back off of Ingram, making his move at the final hairpin on lap two to reclaim control. Plato meanwhile was adjudged to have jumped the start and was forced to serve a drive through penalty, ruling him out of contention.

Almost flying under the radar in race one, points leader Colin Turkington was firmly in the mix in the second, halving the amount of ballast he was carrying on his BMW and hot on the heels of Ingram. Drawing on all of his experience around the challenging layout, the ‘King of Croft, couldn’t find a way past Ingram, who had put up a resolute defence, for second place. Sam Tordoff meanwhile notched his sixth fourth place finish of the season.

Back at the front, Sutton proved to be a in a league of his own and romped to his second win of the day, becoming the first driver to win two races on the same weekend and with 75kgs on-board this season thus far.

The reverse grid draw was made by double champion John Cleland and the Scotsman pulled number nine out of the bowl – promoting local star Daniel Lloyd onto pole position.

Joined on the front row by fellow Yorkshireman Senna Proctor, the BTC Norlin Racing driver launched his Honda Civic Type R off the line and into a lead that he would never lose. Tom Chilton fired his way from fourth to second off the start but couldn’t challenge Lloyd, who ultimately crossed the line little under six seconds ahead of the Motorbase driver.

Further behind Proctor gave the Croft crowd plenty to smile about as he ensured to Yorkshire drivers would end the day on the podium, finishing third. Matt Neal starved off a raft of drivers to take fourth whilst Sutton ended the day with a seventh place finish.

Virtue of the weekend’s results, Turkington leads the championship standings heading into the annual summer break, 19 points ahead of his nearest challenger Ingram.

In the BTCC Teams Championship, Team BMW sit at the summit of the standings whilst BMW also lead the BTCC Manufacturer/Constructors Championship. The Independents category sees Ingram and Speedworks Motorsport lead the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championship’s. Rounding off the list of points leader is Dan Cammish, who controls the Jack Sears Trophy at the half-way stage.

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

The 2018 Dunlop MSA Touring Car Championship returns on July 28/29 for rounds 16, 17 and 18 at Snetterton. As part of the series’ 60th anniversary celebrations, the third encounter at the Norfolk circuit will be contested over 60 miles, equating to 20 laps.

Britain’s biggest motor sport series braced for colossal Croft challenge

Croft Circuit is preparing to welcome the UK’s leading motor sport series later this month, as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship speeds into North Yorkshire on 23/24 June – with local stars to the fore.

The BTCC is the biggest deal on the national racing scene, with 32 of the most talented drivers in the country taking to the wheel of cars that would not look out-of-place doing the weekly supermarket shop – albeit with a few more galloping horses underneath the bonnet.

These flame-spitting, 160mph monsters produce spectacular action wherever they go, and you can be assured that when the BTCC rolls into town, drama, entertainment and thrills ‘n’ spills are never far behind, particularly in a season as close and competitive as 2018 is turning out to be.

As the flagship event on Croft’s annual sporting calendar, the BTCC always draws a huge and enthusiastic crowd to the popular venue located just outside of Darlington, and they are richly rewarded with head-turning doorhandle-to-doorhandle duels from lights-out to chequered flag.

The Pride of Yorkshire will be well-represented on the grid, with four locally-born chargers all firmly in contention at the sharp end of the field. Vauxhall young gun Senna Proctor (Driffield) claimed his breakthrough victory in the 2018 curtain-raiser at Brands Hatch, while Honda new boy Dan Cammish (Leeds) arrived in the BTCC with an impressive reputation and has thus far lived up to that billing and then some.

Former championship runner-up Sam Tordoff (Bradford) has rejoined the fray this season in a Ford Focus RS, and a front row start and three consecutive fourth-place finishes at Thruxton suggest he will be a force to be reckoned with on home turf. An even more recent returnee is Daniel Lloyd (Huddersfield), who qualified second the last time he raced at Croft so will certainly be one to watch as he takes to the track in the potent Honda Civic Type R.

Indeed, with one-eighth of the field hailing from ‘God’s Own County’, Yorkshire currently boasts more BTCC drivers than any other area of the country – all the more reason to come along to Croft on 23/24 June to cheer the locals on.

A raft of support series will add to the appeal, from the Ginetta Junior Championship for precociously gifted 14-to-17-years-olds to the Renault UK Clio Cup for tomorrow’s touring car heroes, the Michelin Ginetta GT4 SuperCup and the F4 British Championship, where fans may just spot a future Formula 1 driver or two.

Better still, Croft’s popular open-paddock policy means spectators can get up close and personal with the stars of the show, while Sunday morning’s traditional Pit-Lane Walkabout offers the opportunity to snap some selfies and add to autograph books.

“The BTCC is a major draw wherever it goes, and the series’ annual visit to Croft is the only chance for fans in this part of the country to enjoy a taste of its high-octane thrills, so this really is an event not to be missed,” enthused Circuit Manager, Tracey Morley. “Better still, with such a high chance of ‘home’ success, our four-strong local contingent are sure to receive rapturous support.

“The drivers are unanimous in their appreciation for the challenge that Croft presents, as one of the most technically demanding circuits on the calendar – and it is that same layout that generates fantastic racing and irresistible action. It really is a fantastic event for the whole family to enjoy.”

Advance tickets are available until 14 June, priced at just ÂŁ11 for Saturday, 23 June (BTCC Qualifying), ÂŁ24 for Sunday, 24 June (BTCC Race Day) or ÂŁ33 for the full weekend. Tickets purchased after 14 June or on the gate will cost slightly more. Accompanied children aged 15 and under are admitted free of charge.

For further information or to book tickets, please visit www.croftcircuit.co.uk/racing/btcc or call 01325 721815.

TOCA support championships shine bright at Thruxton

The fastest circuit in the UK, Thruxton, provided a fitting venue for the latest rounds of four championships on the TOCA support package this past weekend (May19/20) – with a bumper crowd being treated to plenty of on-track entertainment.

In scorching conditions, the home of the British Automobile Racing Club once again served up the perfect blend of high-speed thrills ’n’ spills that many have become accustomed to.

James Dorlin was once again the benchmark in the Renault UK Clio Cup, extending his run of wins to four with another double at Thruxton. Starting on the front row alongside Max Coates for race one, the Westbourne Motorsport driver was one of three drivers to lead the opening encounter, with Coates and Daniel Rowbottom the other pace-setters.

Producing a daring move at more than 110mph on Rowbottom, the youngster went on to take the win whilst Coates and Rowbottom scrapped for the remaining podium positions.

Dorlin further cemented his status as the man to beat in the series at the moment as he romped to a commanding victory in race two. Jumping pole sitter Paul Rivett off the line, Dorlin was never headed as he took his fourth win of the year and with it, the championship lead.

Spoils were shared in the Ginetta Junior Championship as Patrick Kibble and Adam Smalley took a win apiece. Never short of producing entertainment, the teenage racers tackled Thruxton in fine style. with Kibble taking his maiden win after Smalley was handed a time penalty.

The Elite Motorsport drive ensured he wasn’t to be denied in the second frenetic 12-lap race after battling with James Hedley to take the win and with it, the points lead.

Joining the TOCA package for the first time this season, the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge proved to be a smash-hit. Two pulsating races saw Geri Nicosia and Max Bird each take a win whilst James Kellett and Alex Toth-Jones also scored podiums.

In the F4 British Championship, the action proved to be enthralling from the get-go, with a lively opening race seeing Kiern Jewiss score victory. Applying pressure to Dennis Hauger throughout the race, Jewiss snatched the lead in dramatic fashion at the final chicane, making contact along the way.

Race two of the popular single seater category saw Jewiss take victory again, setting him up to be in with a chance of winning ÂŁ10,000 if he completed a sensational hat-trick. Unfortunately, the Double R Racing driver was to fall short of the big prize as Jack Doohan bagged his first win of the year.

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

The TOCA package returns, along with the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup, on June 9/10 at Oulton Park.

Trio of BARC championships descend on Croft

The British Automobile Racing Club makes its first visit of the season to Croft Circuit this weekend (April 21/22) with a trio of championships set to entertain fans trackside.

Scorching weather is set to match the on-track action, which is made up of a diverse variety of categories and machines.

Making their first visit to North Yorkshire since 2007, the Pickup Truck Racing Championship returns to Croft for the second chapter of their season.

Former British Touring Car Championship racer Lea Wood leads the pack into weekend after scoring a dominant pair of victories at Brands Hatch at the start of the month. Defending champion Scott Bourne however is hot on his heels and will be keen to strike back

Add into the mix a host of wily veterans and fresh faces that make up this year’s grid and it is set to be a frenetic weekend of racing from the iconic line-up of trucks.

Iconic is a word that can be strongly linked to the Classic Touring Car Racing Club, with multiple classes and a raft of diverse cars set to take to the track during both days too.

Grids for Pre-93, Pre-96, Pre-03 and Pre-05 as well as the Pre-83, Thunder and BOSS make up the grid for this championship, ensuring that there is something for everyone no matter the age.

A total of eight races will be run over the course of both days with notable names such as Stephen Primett in his Ford Escort Mk1, Richard Askham in his Jaguar XJR and Dale Gent in his Subaru Impreza, to name just a few, to keep an eye on.

Rounding out the BARC flavour is the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres. In what is their third event of the 2018 campaign, the action from the 5/8 scale has once again produced edge-of-the-seat thrills up to now, and that theme is set to continue this weekend.

Five races and a grid in excess of 30 cars will do battle around the Darlington-based venue. Two wins at Brands Hatch, paired with his consistency so far, sees Miles Rudman lead the series however he has a host of contenders hot on his heels.

Multiple and reigning champion John Mickel, Ben Power, Steve Whitelegg and Jack Parker are just a few drivers that will be in contention for outright honours.

Darlington and District Motor Club’s capacity-entry Northern Sports and Saloon Car Championship will also feature at their local track with a majority of the grid made up of local drivers to Croft in a host of different cars, ranging from historic sports cars to modern-day Touring Cars.

Scotsman Andrew Morrison leads the series after Oulton Park in his Seat Leon TCR just ahead of former champion Mike Cutt from York in his rapid BMW M3.

Practice gets underway at 9.30 on Saturday with ten races starting at 12.10. Sunday’s action commences at 12.00 with another nine races to round off a bumper weekend of action.

Adult admission is just ÂŁ11.00 on both days in advance or ÂŁ15.00 on the day with accompanied children aged 15 and under admitted FREE on both days. A weekend ticket costs ÂŁ15 in advance or ÂŁ25 on the gate. There is also FREE car parking and FREE paddock access.

TOCA support package returns to full strength ahead of pivotal Silverstone weekend

The TOCA support package returns to full strength at Silverstone this weekend (September 15/16) with five championship gearing up for what will be the penultimate event of the 2018 season.

Taking on a starring role alongside the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship throughout the year, the TOCA package has once again proved entertaining, with twists and turns coming around every corner almost.

Those twists and turns are likely set to continue in the Renault UK Clio Cup, which returns to action after missing the annual trip north of the border to Knockhill. With four races remaining, two of them around the National layout of Silverstone, it is still all to play for in the battle for supremacy.

Max Coates leads the way currently but his advantage is a slender one with just seven points separating himself and former champion Paul Rivett. Westbourne Motorsport’s James Dorlin is also still in contention, albeit 30 points behind, and can’t be discounted from pushing his bid for a maiden Clio Cup crown up a notch.

On top of the main protagonists, the likes of Daniel Rowbottom, Mike Epps, Bradley Burns and Jack McCarthy have all shown that they too can mix it at the front on a consistent basis.

Adam Smalley sits at the summit of the Ginetta Junior Championship with two events to run and the Elite Motorsport drivers looks good value for his lead. Despite having not won a race since Snetterton, the former Scholarship victor has been the epitome of consistency and will be keen to further extend his advantage at Silverstone.

Hot on the heels of Smalley is Louis Foster, the form driver in the series as it stands. Four wins from five races have vaulted him into second in the standings, whilst Luke Browning isn’t too far back either. All three drivers stand a mathematical chance of walking away with the title although the question still remains who it will be.

In the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup, Charlie Ladell will bid to take a step closer to championship glory with another solid points haul over the course of the weekend. Having led the standings since the opening round, Ladell has been a force to be reckoned with throughout the year.

Ladell’s chief title rival is Carl Boardley and fresh off the back of his foray into the BTCC, the series veteran will be eager to eat into the 20-point deficit that he has to make up on the Rob Boston Racing driver.

Dino Zamparelli meanwhile will be looking to put a bit more daylight between himself and Tio Ellinas in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. Just four points separate the top two as it stands and the Redline Racing entrant will be keen to bridge that gap as he bids to clinch the crown he narrowly missed out on in 2017.

The title fight remains wide open in the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost with Kiern Jewiss leading the pack. The Double R Racing driver has been top of the tree since Oulton Park but his advantage has slowly been cut, with Ayrton Simmons giving chase.

Dennis Hauger, Jack Doohan and Patrik Pasma are just three more drivers that have made their presence known this year and all three could still stake their claim, starting this weekend in the three scheduled races that are set to be run.

With title aspirations set to further strengthen as well as some diminishing, the battle for supremacy around the home of British motorsport is set to be an enthralling one.

For all of the event information for Silverstone, including an event timetable and links to live timing, click here.

Max5’s and Classic Formula Ford primed for Mallory Park

The Luna Logistics Classic Formula Ford 1600 Championship and the Max5 Racing Championship are gearing up for a flat-out days racing at Mallory Park this Sunday (August 5), where title battles will resume.

Welcoming two British Automobile Racing Club championships to tackles its challenging layout, the Leicestershire venue is set to play a pivotal role in the outcome of both categories come the end of the season.

Boasting the biggest grid on the day, the Luna Logistics Classic Formula Ford 1600 Championship will undoubtedly provide plenty of edge-of-the-seat thrills with two race set to be run.

Taking a spirited trip down memory lane to a bygone era of open-wheeled racing, the championship is split into two classes. Class A is open to those competing in cars built between 1st January 1974 and 31st December 1981 whilst Class B is for those competing cars built before 1st January 1974.

Five different drivers have scored wins in Class A so far but it is Mike Gardner who leads the way, holding a slender two-point advantage over Mark Armstrong. The pair have taken a win apiece but missed the last round at Donington, allowing Ben Tinkler to score a double of his own.

Throw into the mix the likes of Kevin Mansell, Adriano Medeiros, Scott Mansell, Jordan Harrison, Steve Pearce and a host of others and you begin to see why the championship is as competitive as it currently is.

In Class B, Benn Tilley is currently the man to beat as he holds a 16-point advantage virtue of his four victories so far. At the wheel of his Merlyn Mk20, Tilley has momentum on his side and he will be keen to stretch his legs ahead of Stuart Kestenbaum, Ian Jeary and Simon Hadfield in the race for the title.

The Max5 Racing Championship will head into the second of its season look to pick up where it left off at Donington Park last month, delivering high-octane entertainment.

Open to different marks of the popular Mazda MX5 machine, the championship has enjoyed a fruitful campaign to-date, with numbers remaining strong as each round has passed.

Despite not winning a race yet in Class A, Andrew Pretorius will be looking to extend his ten-point lead over Josh Malin in the day’s two races. Malin has been the form man, winning every race he has finished – with a single non-finish being his only downfall and the reason why he trails Pretorius.

Other names to keep an eye on in the top tier include Matthew Tidmarsh and Lee Hollin, both of whom are capable of winning on their day.

Richard Smith has underlined that consistency is key in Class B as he sits atop the standings, despite being another driver to have not won yet. Picking up solid points in every race, Smith has slowly chipped away whilst watching Jordan Johnson, Adrian Johnson, Bryan Bursey, Nicholas Bailey and Phil Little all pick up victories.

All eyes will arguably be on the scrapping pair in Class C, Paul Roddison and Jeremy Shipley. Both have been the benchmark drivers in the races this season, battling it out towards the front of the field, and the pair will resume their duel for honours around the challenging Mallory layout.

Also joining the action this weekend will be a pair of races from the Racing Ford Series.

BARC championships set for Thruxton Summer Truckfest scorcher

The British Automobile Racing Club is gearing up for a scorching weekend (July 7/8) on and off the track at Thruxton as seven championships resume battle in Hampshire.

As the UK revels in World Cup fever and the summer heat, the fastest circuit in the country will play host to a diverse range of categories, all of which are ready to set pulses racing.

Headlining the weekend is the British Truck Racing Association Championship, in association with Truck & Driver. Back on UK soil after starring at the Nurburgring last weekend, the heavyweight series will likely provide unmissable viewing with eight races scheduled to be run.

In Division 1, defending champion Ryan Smith leads the way having won ten races thus far. Firmly focused on lifting the title for a third successive year, Smith will be one to watch, as will the chasing pack that will be keen to reel him in. David Jenkins, Stuart Oliver and Jamie Anderson are all firmly in the hunt and will be ones to watch.

Luke Garrett has established himself as the man to beat in Division 2 and he will also be looking to extend his championship lead at Thruxton. Four wins at Nurburgring underlined his credentials however John Powell, Steve Powell, Simon Cole, Brad Smith and many more can’t be discounted from closing the gap to Garrett.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship makes its annual visit to Thruxton with the title battle delicately poised. Lea Wood bagged the lions share of success early on in the season but a resurgent run of results from reigning champion Scott Bourne sees the pair enter the weekend split by a handful of points, with David O’Reagan and Michael Smith also on the fringe of entering the fray.

Two races from the Michelin Clio Cup Series will give tin top fans plenty to smile about, with one-make series undoubtedly set to dazzle. Home to the third generation Clio Cup car, the series has seen unrivalled dominance from defending champion Ben Palmer, winning every race staged thus far. With a long list of contenders all nipping at his heels, Palmer could either further extend his run or see it come to an end in Hampshire. Nic Harrison meanwhile will be looking to get back to winning ways in the road class.

Small in stature but packing plenty of power under the bonnet, the Mighty Minis Championship is never short of entertainment and that theme will likely continue at Thruxton. Sometimes at least four abreast on track, the Minis will be on top form, as will the leading contenders. Stuart Coombes and Lee Polman find themselves in a straight forward battle for the Mighty Mini class while Jo Polley currently leads the way in the Super Mighty Mini class.

The APL Health Caterham Graduates Championship has served up plenty of memorable moments so far and this weekend should be no different. Split into five different classes depending on model, the series has continued to thrive this year, boasting bumper grids throughout. Graeme Smith, Robert Winrow, Jonathan Curry, Declan Dolan and Mark Johnson lead their respective classes into the weekend.

Elsewhere, the Kumho BMW Championship will showcase the very best of the German manufacturer with a great mix of models from down the years. The action has been fast and furious up to now and the flat-out thrills ’n’ spills show no signs of letting up as the series descend on Andover.

Rounding off the action will be the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship, which brings the best models of iconic brand onto the sam tarmac to go wheel-to-wheel. Notable names to keep a watchful eye over include Jim Baynam, Martin Willis and Stephen McDermid.

Pembrey beckons for BARC categories

The British Automobile Racing Club heads to Pembrey this weekend (June 9/10) with the Trade Team Citroen C1 Challenge, BARC Saloons, Classic VW Cup and Dream Automotive Honda VTEC Challenge all looking to take centre stage.

Descending on the popular Welsh venue for a blockbuster two days, some of the best racing the Club has to offer is set to wow those in attendance.

Topping the bill will be more than eight hours of track action from the ever-growing Trade Team Citroen C1 Challenge. Marking the second stop on the calendar for the low cost endurance series, the C1 Challenge heads to Pembrey looking to build on the success of its 2018 curtain-raiser, a first-ever 24hr race at Rockingham.

With more than 50 cars and 200 drivers competing at the event, the season-opener was a significant step forward from the 15 car entry that took to the track for its maiden meeting the year previous.

For this weekend, another bumper entry list has been confirmed and Saturday will see a bulk of the action take place. Kicking things off with a 60-minute qualifying session, a five hour endurance race will then round out the days track action.

Sunday will also see a feast of C1 competition too with a 50-minute shootout for pole position followed up by a shorter two hour race.

The Classic VW Cup has been another category to benefit from going from strength-to-strength this year, with a 20-car entry list competing last time out at Brands Hatch.

Bringing together some of the most iconic models of the Volkswagen brand onto one track, all manner of machines compete in the series – all of them proving to be highly competitive too.

With two events in the books already, the likes of Ken Lark, Daniel Rose, Brad Kaylor and Scott Fletcher are the notable drivers to keep a watchful eye on.

The BARC Saloon Series and Dream Automotive Honda VTEC Challenge will also share a grid for the third time this year and will undoubtedly serve up plenty of high-octane thrills.

Open to drivers wanting to compete in the saloon car of their choice, BARC Saloons is the newest addition to the Club’s championship portfolio and it has been a smash-hit thus far. Boasting a diver range of cars that compete, Craig Rainer in his Ford Escort RS2000, Matt Ellis in his Citroen Saxo VTR and Paul Foreman in his Volkswagen Golf are just a handful of entrants to look out for.

Elsewhere in the VTEC Challenge, fans of the popular Japanese marque are in for a treat as some of the most iconic models from the brand go wheel-to-wheel. Double Brands Hatch race winner Ben Rushworth, as well as nearest challengers Robert Burkinshaw and Benjamin Griffiths have bene the benchmark drivers this year and could well shine once again, this time in South Wales.

In addition to the BARC action, a pair of races from the Welsh Racing Drivers Association is also set to keep fans on the edge of their seats.

Porsche Carrera Cup GB stars at Monza

The Porsche Carrera Cup GB headed to Italy this past weekend (May 12/13) for rounds five and six of the season, with Dino Zamparelli and George Gamble sharing the spoils, taking a win apiece.

Taking to the iconic Autodromo Nazionale Monza, the 22-car field picked up where they left off at Donington Park late last month, producing a brace of breathtaking races.

Daniel Harper emerged as the man to beat in qualifying as he stormed to the top of the timesheets, ultimately never being beaten to score his maiden pole position.

Starting on the front row at the iconic venue, Harper was unable to convert his pole position into the lead as he dropped back to third at the start. Heading into the first gear chicane looking to regain second place, the Scholarship winner locked the wheels of his JTR machine and made contact with Lewis Plato.

With both cars strewn across the circuit, the incident inevitably triggered a multi-car pile-up, bringing out the safety car. Will Bratt and James Orton also found themselves in strife as they struggled to escarp the carnage.

Profiting from the first corner incident, Redline Racing’s Zamparelli resisted the challenges of Gamble and Tio Ellinas during the mid-point of the race. Beginning to stretch his advantage, Zamparelli was able to pull away from the chasing pack to become the first double winner of the 2018 campaign.

Further back, Ellinas finally broke Gamble’s resolute defence after the latter of the duo locked up heading into the final corner, handing the former second position on a plate. Tom Wrigley also benefited from Gamble’s mistake, securing the final step of the podium.

Despite missing out on the rostrum in race one, Gamble made no mistake in the second encounter of the weekend, taking a memorable victory.

In what was another enthralling battle for supremacy, the Team Parker Racing driver vaulted from third on the grid into the lead, ahead of team-mate Seb Perez and pole-sitter Esmee Hawkey.

Another early pile-up saw the safety car make another appearance but once the debris was clear, fans were treated to a frenetic spectacle.

Holding his lead over Perez at the restart, all eyes were on Ellinas and Zamparelli as they made their move on Hawkey, demoting her down the order. Zamparelli’s charge wasn’t done however as he soon slipped past Ellinas and Perez, moving into second place.

Being caught by the race one winner as the laps ticked by, Gamble ensured he hit his marks, making no mistakes, to go and clinch what was his second win of the season too.

For the full classification of results, click here.

Spring Truckfest awaits BARC categories at Pembrey

Pembrey Circuit is gearing up for a blockbuster two days April 21/22) of on-track action as the British Automobile Racing Club descends on South Wales.

In what is the first of several visits the Club and its championships will make to the venue over the course of the season, a bumper crowd is expected to witness a diverse range of machines battle it out in what is set be a scorching weekend.

Topping the bill is the BTRA Truck Racing Championship, which hits the track for the second time this year. Producing a memorable opening event at Brands Hatch at the start of the month, a bumper entry list in both Divisions 1 and 2 is set to

Division 1 sees a host of former champions all vying for early supremacy as they chase down reigning champion Ryan Smith. Submitting a late entry to the season-opener, Smith claimed a hat-trick of victories to springboard himself to the summit of the points and will be keen to build on that this weekend.

Stuart Oliver, David Jenkins and Mat Summerfield lead the charge to dethrone Smith and all are more than capable of doing so.

In Division 2, five podiums – three of them being victories, sees Luke Garrett as the early pace-setter however he too will have his work cut out as challenges come from all angles. John Powell, Steve Powell and Simon Cole are just a few of the drivers that be keen to topple Garrett from the summit.

Continuing to grow in stature year-on-year, the Hyundai Coupe Cup will looking to build on its burgeoning success as they also hit the track for the second time this season.

Billed as one of the cheapest and easiest ways to go motor racing, the saloon-based series once again boasts another bumper entry list this weekend with the likes of Steve Kite, Alex Cursley and Michael Evans as notable names to look out for.

The Max5 Racing Championship roars into life after a lengthy off-season. Split into three classes, the championship is once again is open to Mk1, Mk3 and Mk4 Mazda MX5’s and all at a cost effective price, making it easier than ever to go racing in the UK these days.

Mathew Tidmarsh, Josh Malin, Andrew Pretorius, Lee Hollin and Paul Roddison were just a few of the drivers that shined last year and are back to do it all over again this season to keep an eye on.

Fans will be able to also see racing from the Welsh Racing Drivers Association and Mini Se7en/Miglia Championship as well.

Tickets are available to purchase on the gate from ÂŁ15 per day with children 14 and under going free when accompanied by a paying adult. For more information, head to www.pembreycircuit.co.uk or call 01554 891042.