Category: Barc

Peter Riches set to retire as BTCC Technical Director

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship series organiser, TOCA, has confirmed that Technical Director Peter Riches will retire from the position at the end of the 2022 campaign. 

Having enjoyed an illustrious career in Britain’s premier motorsport series which has spanned four decades, Peter’s expertise have been paramount in relation to the technical developments the championship has made over the years. 

Come the end of the year, he will have worked at more than 320 race events, 820 races and 30 seasons. 

While throughout 2023 Peter will be retained as a consultant in order to assist the TOCA Technical team, his retirement will see Sam Riches step into the role, having also worked within the BTCC for more than 20 seasons himself, importantly providing a seamless transition moving forwards.

“This is something we’ve been preparing for, and I feel ready to retire, the world is so different now to where we started,” said Peter. “I had a set of scales in the pit lane and a boost control system and that was it basically, and now we’ve got a 40-foot trailer full of kit, the world has moved on!

“[As a consultant] next year, I’ll be in more of a guiding role, maintaining the things we’ve done in the past and ensuring the wheel doesn’t get reinvented and become square in order to have a smooth transition. What we don’t want to do is change the direction we’ve been going in, so my knowledge will still be there if required.”

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, added: “Peter’s retirement will mark a significant change for the championship but I’m confident that it will be a successful transition as Sam takes the reins. 

“Having been an integral part of the BTCC since 1993, Peter’s departure will be felt throughout the TOCA paddock, but we’re pleased to be retaining his services as a consultant throughout the 2023 season and wish him all the best in his retirement.”

BARC produces Thruxton thriller at Convoy on the Plain

The British Automobile Racing Club produced a blockbuster two days of entertainment at the now annual Convoy on the Plain at Thruxton Circuit this past weekend (July 9/10).

On what proved to be a scorcher both on and off the track at the Hampshire venue, thousands of fans flocked through the gates for what proved to be an event to remember.

Headlining the two-day schedule were five colossal contests from the British Truck Racing Championship. Returning to action after a two-month hiatus, the heavyweight behemoths whipped the crowd into a frenzy as they provided unmissable thrills and spills around the fastest circuit in the UK.

Reigning Division 1 champion Ryan Smith continued his march towards a seventh successive title by claiming two wins on Sunday before the trio of David Jenkins, Michael Oliver and Steven Powell shared the spoils on Sunday.

Division 2 saw home hero Luke Garrett strengthen his lead at the top of the standings by scoring an impressive hat-trick of wins. Adam Bint and Jock Borthwick – both winners at Pembrey – added to their win tallies with a victory apiece to round out proceedings.

Fans of touring cars were well-catered for across both days as the Classic Touring Car Racing Club took centre stage for no less than eight races to showcase some of the most iconic tin tops from down the years.

Stephen Primmet and Stephen Cripps scored a win apiece in the combined Pre ’66 and Pre ’83 races whilst Jason Davies piloted his Ford Sierra Cosworth to a brace of victories in the amalgamated Classic & Historic Thunder Saloons and Blue Oval Saloons Series bouts.

Anthony Reid and Richard Wheeler took those in attendance on a trip down memory lane as they guided their pair of 1998 Nissan Primera’s to the top step of the podium in the Pre ’93, Pre ’03 and Super Tourer races. Tom Robinson rounded out the CTCRC winners, triumphing twice in Jaguar Challenge. 

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship wrote the latest chapter of its 2022 campaign with two pulsating races. Competing at Thruxton for the first time in three years, the popular series brought a flavour of America to Andover with its bumper grid of two-litre multi-valve twin-cam machines.

Mark Willis came from the third row of the grid to claim victory in race one before Reece Jones prevented him from completing the double, winning race two by less than a second at the chequered flag.

Wayne Rockett was in top form in the Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires to take two wins, whilst Steve McDermid did exactly the same in the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship to continue his winning streak.

The Sports 2000 Championship made a guest appearance on the billing and it didn’t disappoint as a 32-car grid served up two enthralling races. Michael Gibbins was the driver to beat in the opening bout before Joshua Law triumphed in race two. 

Closing out the weekend’s on-track entertainment was a thrilling 40-minute race from the CALM All Porsche Trophy, which was won by Sam Callahan after pole-sitter James Harvey failed to take the start following a crash in qualifying.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Thruxton, CLICK HERE.

Caterham Graduates Racing Club and Kumho BMW Championship star at Snetterton

The Caterham Graduates Racing Club and Kumho BMW Championship headlined an entertaining two days of track action as the British Automobile Racing Club took centre stage at Snetterton this past weekend (July 9/10).

Bathed in bright sunshine, the Norfolk venue played host to no less than 12 races in front of an enthusiastic crowd that had flocked trackside. 

Kicking off the second half of its season, the Caterham Graduates Racing Club wrote a majority of the headlines around the 2.96-mile circuit with five pulsating races getting those in attendance on the edge of their seats. 

Jamie Winrow continued his fine form by adding two more wins to his unbeaten streak in the Sigma 135 Class. Having been the driver to beat from the outset, Winrow was perfection personified as he charged to a commanding pair of victories. 

The two amalgamated Sigma 150 and Sigmax contests saw Harry Senior a produce similar level of dominance. After narrowly missing out on pole position in qualifying, Senior reigned supreme in style as he narrowly edged out Stephen Clark on both occasions. 

As a cherry on top for fans of the popular one-make series, Sunday saw the Caterham Graduates Racing Club stage the inaugural Yokohama Team Relay – a three-hour endurance. 

BB Racing charged to victory as the trio of Kevin Barrett, Neil Sturgess and Nigel Smith teamed up to claim the overall spoils.

The Kumho BMW Championship continued its 2022 campaign with a pair of breathtaking races. Series stalwart Russell Dack edged out Bryan Bansom in race one before Bansom struck back later on, securing the win in race two. 

Liam Morley was arguably the class of the field in the The Super Series by the British Superkart Racing Club. Running the 0 plate on his machine, Morley was in a league of his own as he stormed to a hat-trick of wins. 

Rounding out the weekend’s action at Snetterton was a 45-minute bout from the Uncle Luke’s Saloon Series, which saw a bumper grid of powerful tin tops go wheel-to-wheel.

The BMW M3 duo of Nigel Innes and Bansom proved to be the class of the field a they lapped all but one car in their battle for supremacy. Ultimately it was Innes that would clinch the win, taking the chequered flag by four seconds.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Snetterton, CLICK HERE.

JSCC to offer prize test in GT Cup Lamborghini

The Junior Saloon Car Championship has teamed up with leading GT Cup outfit TopCats Racing and Hex.com to offer one lucky competitor the chance to drive a Lamborghini Super Trofeo.

Open to drivers that are competing in their second or third year in the one-make series, the winner of the prize will be chosen by a select panel of judges and will be based on who is deemed to have shown the ‘Spirit of the JSCC’.

Powered by a monstrous V10 engine and producing in excess of 600bhp, the Lamborghini Super Trofeo is fitted with a huge aero package and paddle shift gearbox; making it a a true thoroughbred racer. 

The prize test will see the winner get behind the wheel of the Lamborghini alongside an instructor at a yet to be determined circuit. Once driving duties have been completed, the winner will jump into the passenger seat for some hot laps with one of the cars regular drivers.

More information on the JSCC and its ‘Spirit of the JSCC’ award can be found at https://www.juniorsaloons.co.uk/.

Caterham Motorsport to join BARC for the 2023 season

Caterham Motorsport, the UK’s largest factory-backed family of championships, will move to the British Automobile Racing Club for the 2023 season and beyond. 

Moving across from the BRSCC, the Kent-based sports and racing car manufacturer Caterham Cars Ltd has become a powerhouse on the national motorsport scene since its inception in 1995, operating five championships which currently boasts nearly 200 registered drivers. 

Furthermore, the hugely successful ‘Caterham Academy’ novice-exclusive series has seen more than 1,200 ordinary people become racing drivers.

Building on the foundation of the Academy, Caterham has assembled a ‘ladder’ of championships progressing through Roadsport, Seven 270R, and Seven 310R to its flagship series, the Caterham Seven Championship UK, a one-class series for the brand’s top Seven 420R race car which is on pace with GT4 cars.

Characterised by big grids, low running costs and exceptionally close racing; tightly controlled regulations ensure that Caterham Motorsport provides one of the most level playing fields in motor racing.

Simon Lambert, Chief Motorsport and Technical Officer for Caterham, said: “We have enjoyed a long and successful partnership with BRSCC for more than three decades and I could not be more grateful for the work that the dedicated HQ and regional teams have done to keep our customers racing. 

“Making the move to a new club has not been an easy decision, but as we continue to grow and step up our service, we feel the BARC are more closely aligned with our goals.” 

“We are thrilled that Caterham Cars have chosen to race with BARC,” added Ben Taylor, BARC Chief Executive. “This is really positive news and demonstrates the work that has gone into evolving our race organisation business over the last few years. 

“We have put a great focus on delivering for our Championships and Competitors, which has led to improved calendars, a commitment to quality live streaming and a financial model that returns a proportion of the revenue to successful Championships. We can’t wait to start racing with Caterham Motorsport.”

To find out more information on Caterham Motorsport, head to https://www.caterhamcars.com/en/motorsport. 

Where To Watch BARC LIVE: Thruxton – July 9/10

The British Automobile Racing Club takes centre stage on home turf this weekend as a host of championships take on the fastest circuit in the UK, Thruxton.

Headlining the weekend’s track action will be a number of races from the British Truck Racing Championship, where the battle for supremacy in both Division 1 and Division 2 is intensifying at every turn.

Also in action around the high-speed Hampshire speedbowl is the Classic Touring Car Racing Club, Pickup Truck Racing Championship, Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club and Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires.

Guest appearances from the CALM All Porsche Trophy and the Sports 2000 Championship, who are bound to set some of the fastest laps of the weekend, will also feature.

Make sure you don’t miss any of the on-track entertainment by using the key timings and links below:

Saturday Race Show – Starting from 12:30 – Facebook | YouTube 

Sunday Race Show – Starting from 10:30 – Facebook | YouTube

To find out more information on this weekend’s race meeting at Thruxton including the official entry lists and timetable, CLICK HERE.

Don’t miss any future BARC LIVE events either by subscribing to our YouTube channel HERE.

Home hero Daniel Lloyd does the double as the BTCC stars at Croft

Daniel Lloyd enjoyed a day to remember in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this past weekend (June 25/26) as the home hero produced a dominant double at Croft Circuit. 

Marking the halfway point in what has been an action-packed 2022 season so far, a bumper crowd flocked to the North Yorkshire venue to witness the Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com driver bounce back from his Oulton Park crash to win races one and two. 

Gordon Shedden signed off the weekend in style with victory in race three, with Lloyd’s team-mate Tom Ingram now leading the championship standings after scoring a trio of points finishes.

Saturday’s qualifying session saw a brand-new lap record set as the ‘King of Croft’ Colin Turkington lived up to his title to clinch pole position. 

The Team BMW driver – who was driving his 2019 title-winning 3 Series due to the amount of damage his latest car sustained in the aforementioned crash at Oulton Park – reigned supreme in commanding fashion.

Punching in a best time of 1:21.468 late in the session, the four-time champion headed Dan Rowbottom, Lloyd, Tom Ingram and Shedden to clinch a sixth pole at the circuit.

Race one saw Lloyd complete his fairytale turnaround of a crash to silverware as he charged to victory ahead of Turkington after producing a blistering opening lap. 

From third on the grid, the front-wheel-drive ace launched past Rowbottom into Clervaux for the first time and then passed Turkington heading into the Jim Clark Esses. 

Once out front, the Hyundai driver had to contend with two safety car periods and persistent pressure from Turkington but he didn’t put a wheel wrong to charge to a popular victory in front of a bumper home crowd. 

Turkington ultimately settled for second in his 330e M Sport whilst Rowbottom rounded out the podium positions in third. 

Lloyd’s dream day continued in race two as he doubled up with an emphatic lights-to-flag victory. Holding the lead off the line, the Yorkshireman soaked up an abundance of pressure to fend off team-mate Tom Ingram to clinch a third career win.

Despite his best efforts, Turkington found himself glued to the back of a Hyundai once again however he was unable to find a way past, leaving him to settle for third overall.

Halfords Racing with Cataclean’s Gordon Shedden brought the curtain down on the weekend’s action with a commanding victory in the reverse grid encounter, his second triumph of the current campaign. 

Launching his Honda Civic Type R off the front row, the three-time champion built a significant lead on the chasing pack on lap one and from there the Scotsman continued to pull clear to win by more than three seconds. 

The battle for second place had everyone on the edge of their seats as Josh Cook fended off both Rory Butcher and Stephen Jelley from start-to-finish. Cook would go on to clinch second – giving his championship challenge a much-needed boost – whilst Butcher netted third.

Heading into the annual summer break, Ingram holds a three-point advantage over Cook at the top of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship whilst Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com currently lead the way in the BTCC Teams’ Championship. 

Cook and Rich Energy BTC Racing top the standings in both the Independent Drivers’ and Independent Teams’ categories, with BMW setting the pace in the Manufacturer-Constructors’ leaderboard. Bobby Thompson is the driver to beat in the Jack Sears Trophy after five events. 

To view the full classification of results from all BTCC sessions at Croft, CLICK HERE.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship recommences on the weekend of July 30/31, where Rounds 16, 17 and 18 will take place north of the border around Knockhill. 

TOCA support championships serve up Croft cracker

Croft Circuit played host to a memorable two days of TOCA support championship action this past weekend (June 25/26) as the 2022 season reached the halfway point. 

Sharing the bill with the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship in North Yorkshire, five one-make categories served up a feast of entertainment for the bumper crowd that was in attendance. 

After missing Oulton Park, the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship made a triumphant return, delivering a pair of exciting contests. Race one saw Sonny Smith come out on top of a spectacular multi-car battle for the lead before Will Macintyre claimed his second win of the season in a calmer second race.

Alex Dunne continued his dominance in the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA by chalking up a seventh win of the season to cement his position at the top of the standings.

Saturday’s two races saw Aiden Neate – who was celebrating his 16th birthday – score a commanding pole-to-flag victory in race one before Dunne came to the fore in the second contest, storming to victory in style after grabbing the lead off the line. 

Williams F1 Junior Oliver Gray then made it three different winners from three races as he triumphed in a shortened final race, his first of the season.

Tin top thrills and spills were in full force in the Quaife MINI CHALLENGE Trophy as a capacity grid went wheel-to-wheel in two frenetic encounters. Championship leader Nelson King reigned supreme in Saturday’s bout before then going onto double his account for the weekend on Sunday.

The Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge made its final appearance of the season on the TOCA package and true to form it didn’t disappoint, with two pulsating contests getting fans on the edge of their seats. 

Entering the business end of the title battle, Harley Haughton continued his scintillating form of recent rounds by storming to a pole position double and then backed it up with a pair of commanding race wins. That clean sweep has now moved the Elite Motorsport driver to the summit of the drivers’ standings with two events to go. 

Bringing the curtain down on the support race action over the course of the weekend was two races from the Porsche Visit Cayman Islands Sprint Challenge GB. Boasting an ultra-competitive grid, Matthew Armstrong emerged as the driver to beat, winning both races.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Croft Circuit, CLICK HERE. 

Knockhill provides the next stop on the calendar for the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship and TOCA support categories, with the annual trip north of the border for the sixth event of the season taking place on July 30/31.

Goodwood Festival of Speed delivers unforgettable four-day spectacle

The Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard proved to be as spectacular as ever this year as more than 200,000 spectators flocked to West Sussex for what is always one of the biggest events on the British motoring calendar. 

Bringing together legendary drivers and riders, iconic racing machines and global manufacturers, the four-day spectacle in West Sussex had something for everyone, with the 2022 theme acknowledging those that have been dedicated to innovation in motoring and motorsport. 

As always, a stunning Central Feature took pride of place outside Goodwood House and this year it celebrated the 50th anniversary of the birth of one of motoring’s most iconic brands: BMW M. The incredible sculpture paid homage to five decades BMW’s M cars with several iconic models taking centre stage.

Whilst the Central Feature stood tall for all to see, jaw-dropping cars were around almost every turn with a wave of new cars launched, the Michelin Supercar Paddock showcasing exotic machines and the Electric Avenue offering a glimpse into the present and future for the automotive industry. 

Down the years the Festival of Speed has always attracted the great and good of two and four wheels and this year was no different as the likes of Nigel Mansell, Sir Jackie Stewart, George Russell and Wayne Rainey – who was back in the saddle of his 1992-championship-winning Yamaha YZR500, nearly three decades after a terrifying incident left him paralysed from the chest down – along with many others were all in attendance.

One of the standout elements of the Festival of Speed has always been the coveted Hillclimb Shootout and this year saw the McMurtry Speirling EV smashing the existing lap record. 

The tiny electric rocket ship – which uses an innovative underbody fan to maximise downforce and was driven by Max Chilton – set a blistering time of 39.08 seconds on the 1.1-mile course to take the bragging rights. 

With an abundance of trade stands, live entertainment and aerial displays from the Red Arrows in the skies above, the 2022 edition of the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by MasterCard proved to be one of the best yet.

You can watch back all the action from the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard HERE. 

To view the full classification of results from the Hillclimb Shootout, CLICK HERE.

Issue 2 of 2022 BARC Magazine lands on members’ doorsteps

Issue 2 of the British Automobile Racing Club magazine is available to read for all members, with copies now hitting doorsteps.

Packed with the latest news and centre reports, as well as Bruce’s Blog, Martin Hunt’s Marshal Matters and Driving Destinations, the 60-page issue also includes a number of must-read features too.

This latest issue sees us look into the introduction of hybrid power into the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, we recap the inaugural Convoy Cymru event, interview Legends racer James Newbury and much more.

To become a member of the BARC and to receive a copy of the magazine, head to https://www.barc.net/membership/.

British Truck Racing Championship stars on BBC Top Gear

The British Truck Racing Championship took on a starring role in the latest episode of BBC’s hit show Top Gear this past Sunday (June 19) as a number of drivers went wheel-to-wheel with presenters Paddy McGuiness, Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris.

Episode 3 of the current series saw Paddy, Freddie and Chris attempt to qualify as lorry drivers before embarking on a stormy HGV road trip across Britain – which ultimately culminated at Pembrey Circuit.

Arriving at the home of Welsh motorsport after battling Storm Eunice, the trio joined the stars of the BTRC for an epic race with Paddy getting behind the wheel of Michael Oliver’s MAN Truck, Freddie in Steven Powell’s MAN TGS and Chris in Tom O’Rourke’s MAN TGS. 

Lining up alongside the likes of David Jenkins, John Newell, Adam Bint, Mark Taylor and Craig Reid, along with many more, all three presenters got the full truck racing experience as they battled for outright honours in some style – however you’ll have to watch the episode to see who emerged victorious.

Speaking on the experience of being part of BBC’s hit television show, multiple champion Oliver said: “To play a major part in the planning and preparation ahead of the various filming days and then to work with the presenters and film crew during the production was a great and unforgettable experience.

“Having the opportunity to showcase what the British Truck Racing Championship is all about is fantastic too. Hopefully the success of being on the show will see more fans flock trackside and also see more people wanting to get involved in the sport on the whole.”

To watch the episode on demand, head to https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0018kjp/top-gear-series-32-episode-3. 

The British Truck Racing Championship continues its 2022 season at Thruxton Circuit on July 9/10.

Tom Ingram and Stephen Jelley score BTCC wins at Oulton Park

Tom Ingram and Stephen Jelley shared the spoils on what was an action-packed weekend (June 11/12) in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park. 

Ingram was perfection personified as he scored victory in races one and two before Jelley came to the fore in a blockbuster reverse grid contest around the Cheshire venue; however it is Josh Cook that remains at the top of the points. 

One of the most exciting qualifying sessions of the season built towards a breathtaking climax on Saturday, as a number of the BTCC’s big hitters battled for the right to start at the head of the field the following day. 

Despite there being a brief red flag stoppage, nobody could stop Ingram from claiming pole position. At the wheel of his Hyundai i30N, the Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com driver set a best time of 1:25.468 to not only claim top spot but also set a brand new lap record around the 2.22-mile circuit. 

Rory Butcher emerged as the closest challenger to Ingram as he guided his Toyota Corolla to the outside of the front row, whilst Dan Lloyd, Adam Morgan and Ash Sutton rounded out the top five. 

Despite being one of the most successful drivers on the grid, Ingram had never previously scored a podium at Oulton Park; that was until Sunday’s first race where he broke his duck in style.

Defending his lead off the line and through turn one, Ingram soon pulled clear of the chasing pack to score a commanding victory. Behind, Sutton produced a string of sensational overtakes to claim second, with Butcher following him to round out the podium. 

Ingram doubled his win tally for the day as he produced a carbon copy drive in race two. Holding the lead as the lights went out, the Hyundai ace didn’t put a wheel wrong as he chalked up his third win of the year ahead of the ever-consistent Sutton, who finished in second once again.

The battle for the final step on the podium had plenty on the edge of their seats with Butcher initially fending off the charging Colin Turkington. As the laps ticked by, the WSR driver ramped up the pressure on the Scotsman and finally took third at mid-distance.

Team BMW’s Stephen Jelley then scored his first win of the season in an action-packed reverse grid race, delivering a measured drive whilst it all kicked off behind him.

Contact between Lloyd and Ricky Collard sent the former spinning on the run towards Hislops and when he re-entered the track he was collected by Turkington, with a number of others including Ingram and Sutton getting caught up in the incident. Thankfully both Lloyd and Turkington walked away from the incident without injury, just soreness and bruising. 

After a number of laps behind the safety car the race restarted with Jelley breaking clear of Aiden Moffat and Collard, who had been hit with a five-second time penalty for a false start. Cook would become the main beneficiary of Collard’s demise in the end, inheriting third to maintain his series lead.

Approaching the halfway point in the season, Cook holds a 15-point advantage at the summit of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship whilst he and Rich Energy BTC Racing continue to lead the way in the Independent Drivers’ and Teams’ categories.

Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com remain in control of the Teams’ standings, with Motorbase/Ford having now moved into the lead of the Manufacturers’ battle.

Jade Edwards was the winner of the Jack Sears Trophy for the weekend however it is Bobby Thompson that continues to head the standings. 

To view the full classification of results from all BTCC sessions at Oulton Park, CLICK HERE.

Rounds 13, 14 and 15 of the 2022 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will take place at Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire on June 25/26, with tickets currently available to purchase online HERE.