Category: Barc

Paul Rose wins prestigious Dave Simpson Trophy

At the Oulton Park meeting on the 12th June competitors in the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Championship competed for the prestigious Dave Simpson Memorial Trophy. This must be one of the most sought after trophies in club motorsport and is eagerly competed for each year.

The trophy was presented to the Centre by Margaret Simpson in honour of her husband Dave. Back in the early days of the series, as it was then, Dave was instrumental with Ken Mitchell and myself in setting up the championship. With grids of perhaps 10/12 cars back then it did not look too good for the success of the Championship. However with Dave’s encouragement and enthusiasm the Championship grew from strength to strength and within a few years we saw grids of over 30 regularly. Unfortunately Dave has not seen how strong the Championship has become in recent years. There cannot be many Championships this strong in their 38th season. 

The Trophy was decided by the driver who wins his or her class and has the greatest speed differential to the driver coming second. This basically translates to the driver who is most dominant in their class. The only proviso is that there must be at least three starters (and of course at least two finishers!).

This year the outcome was incredibly close, perhaps the closest ever! Unfortunately for four of the classes the battles at the head of the classes was very close so they were not in the running for the award. Paul Rose in his Saker often wins his class by a country mile but this time he was pegged back by a slightly tardy start and it was several laps before he took the lead. Graeme Smith in his scrapyard engined Mazda MX5, helped perhaps by the retirement of David Bird took class F by a tidy margin. These two were in the running for the award, when the results were scrutinised it was found that Paul Rose took the award by the tiniest of margins.

Margaret Simpson was on hand to present the trophy to Paul who was very pleased to receive it for the second time.

TOCA support package serves up spectacular entertainment at Snetterton

Snetterton played host to the latest rounds across the TOCA support championship this past weekend (June 12/13) and there was action across the board.

On a weekend where spectators made a triumphant return in scorching temperatures, the supporting cast of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship took centre stage around the popular Norfolk venue.

One of the most highly-anticipated spectacles over the course of the weekend was two races from the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, which featured former champions Dan Cammish and Harry King, as well as a number of others.

Lorcan Hanafin looked as though he had spoiled the party after qualifying on pole and winning on the road in race one, however a time penalty for being out of position on the start saw Cammish mark his return to the series with a win.

Reigning champion King then came to the fore in race two as he surged into the lead and looked on course to open his account for the year. It wasn’t to be though as a time penalty for exceeding track limits saw the Team Parker Racing drive drop down the order, with Kiern Jewiss triumphing instead.

The battle for supremacy in the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship intensified during both days as the next generation of motorsport stars delivered three breathtaking contests.

Despite the safety car bringing proceedings to an early close in race one, Callum Voisin was declared the winner ahead of Will Jenkins and Liam McNeilly. Race two would then see McNeilly go on to score a breakthrough win in the series as he edged out the rapid Tom Edgar.

Having come close during the two earlier races, Edgar finally scored victory in the third and final race as he fended off the advances of Jenkins and McNeilly – each of whom had sensational weekends as they picked up silverware in all three encounters.

Kicking off its 10th Anniversary season, the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup provided further one-make thrills as they too delivered a trio of memorable races.

Tipped by many as a credible title contender, Elite Motorsport’s Adam Smalley wasted no time in hitting the ground running as he scored victory in races one and two. The former Ginetta Junior champion had looked on course to make it a hat-trick until contact, whilst in contention for the lead, forced him to retire.

As Smalley was left to watch on from the sidelines, Josh Rattican took full advantage to cap off an impressive debut in the category to score victory.

The MINI CHALLENGE JCW Championship also lifted the curtain on its 2021 season at Snetterton, and it too made its mark around the challenging 2.97-mile circuit.

After narrowly missing out on pole position by little over two tenths of a second, Lewis Brown made the perfect start to the new campaign as he triumphed ahead of Max Bird and Sam Weller in race one.

Brown doubled his tally for the weekend in race two before Brad Hutchinson came to the fore in race three to triumph for MotorsportApps.com with MPHR.

Rounding out the weekend’s action were a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. Showcasing the latest crop of single seater stars, a bumper grid went wheel-to-wheel with Matthew Rees and Georgi Dimitrov sharing the spoils.

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

The TOCA support package will join the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch in a little under two weeks’ time on June 26/27, for the next chapter of the 2021 campaign.

Colin Turkington, Ashley Sutton & Tom Ingram share BTCC spoils at Snetterton scorcher

Colin Turkington, Ashley Sutton and Tom Ingram claimed a win apiece in front of returning spectators at Snetterton this past weekend (June 12/13) to move into the top three places of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship standings.

Welcoming back its loyal fanbase for the first time in more than a year, Britain’s premier motorsport series produced three thrilling contests in scorching temperatures, with defending champion Sutton moving to the summit of the points come the end of race day.

Basking in the bright sunshine, qualifying on Saturday served up plenty of drama as the Top Ten Showdown format made the first of three appearances scheduled for this season.

With a marginally reduced window to record their lap times, the top ten fastest competitors at the end of the 25-minute session were rewarded with the opportunity to clinch their final position on the grid during a ten-minute pole position showdown.

At the end of a frenetic battle, Halfords Racing with Cataclean’s Gordon Shedden looked to have secured top spot after a sensational last-gasp lap in his Honda Civic Type R. However, following post-session scrutineering checks the Scotsman was disqualified due to a technical infringement, meaning Team BMW’s Turkington inherited pole position.

Race one would prove to be a relatively tame affair as Turkington converted his front row start into a commanding lights-to-flag victory. Opting to run the option soft tyre, the Northern Irishman withstood early pressure from the rapid Ingram before pulling clear to open his account for the new season.

Behind, Ingram enjoyed a relatively trouble-free run to secure second whilst Rory Butcher ran unchallenged in third place to net his first podium for Toyota Gazoo Racing UK.

After finishing a lowly 11th in the opening bout, Sutton came to the fore in race two as he sliced his way up the order to claim victory. Free of success ballast and with the soft tyre bolted on, the reigning champion made pass after pass before hitting the front in the latter stages.

In what has now become a familiar sight, Sutton’s charge from outside the top ten completed a turnaround which had seen him undergone an engine change after qualifying.

Turkington’s strong day around the 2.97-mile circuit continued as he bagged second place whilst the MB Motorsport with Blue Square Ford Focus of Ollie Jackson rounded out the podium, having made up a number of places at the start.

The third and final race at Snetterton saw a small piece of BTCC history made as Tom Ingram scored the first-ever win for a Hyundai in the championship.

In what was only his sixth race for new team Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com, the fan favourite muscled his way past pole-sitter Stephen Jelley shortly after mid-distance before pulling clear of the chasing pack.

Despite carrying 75kgs of success ballast, Sutton fought his way into second place at the halfway stage too and then produced a masterful defensive drive to fend of the charging Shedden, who claimed his first podium since returning to the series.

Further down the field, other notable performances included a pair of top ten finishes for Jack Goff, a charging drive for Josh Cook in race three and a maiden point for Jade Edwards – making her the first female driver in the championship to score a point since Fiona Leggate in 2006.

With the dust having settled on a frenetic second event of the season, Sutton leads the way by two points over Ingram, with Turkington a further three markers behind.

BMW have scaled to to the top of the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ leaderboard whilst Laser Tools Racing heads the Teams’ category.

Ingram and Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com are top of the table in both Independents’ Championships. Dan Rowbottom meanwhile picked up his first piece of silverware of the year having triumphed in the Jack Sears Trophy.

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

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns to action in two weeks’ time (June 26/27) at Brands Hatch.

Fans soak up retro-themed thrills at Thruxton Historic

Thruxton Circuit produced an action-packed two days of nostalgia this past weekend (June 12/13) courtesy of the ‘Thruxton Historic’, which saw a mouth-watering array of sensational sportscars, flame-spitting saloons and evocative racing cars take centre stage.

Basked in glorious sunshine, the Hampshire venue opened its doors for the first time this year to welcome a limited number of spectators, all of which soaked up the variety of attractions both on and off the track.

Retro-themed thrills were the order of both days on-track, with a number of pulsating contests by the Motor Racing Legends and HRDC being produced for those in attendance.

In the RAC Woodcote Trophy & Stirling Moss Trophy for Pre ’61 Sportcars, the Lister Knobbly duo of Rob Smith and Chris Ward showcased their class by taking victory in emphatic fashion, doing so by more than 30 seconds.

James Cottingham and Harvey Stanley were the ones to beat in the Pre ’63 GT encounter, narrowly pipping Jack Minshaw at the end of an hours’ racing in their Jaguar E-Type.

There was high drama in the HRDC Liqui Moly Jack Sears Trophy as Tiff Needell looked to have victory in the bag before a mechanical issue befell him at the final corner on the last lap, costing him victory.

Roy Alderslade would benefit in his Lotus Ford Cortina to claim outright spoils whilst the duo of Needell and John Spiers could only hobble their Cortina across the line to claim second place.

James Colburn was the cream of the crop in the HRDC ‘Classic Alfa Challenge’ whilst Spiers piloted his Lister Knobbly to the top step of the podium in the HRDC ‘Dunlop Allstars’ for Pre-66 Sports, GT and Touring Cars encounter.

Spiers then partnered Needell again to reign supreme in the MRL Jaguar Classic Challenge, sharing driving duties in the sensational Jaguar E-Type Lightweight.

In the Historic Touring Car Challenge, just five seconds separated the top two at the end of a blockbuster opening 40-minute contest. At wheel of their Ford GA Capri, Adrian Willmott and Mark Farmer were the victors ahead of Andy Middlehurst and Jonathan Bailey.

Ric Wood would demonstrate his abilities in his Nissan Skyline GTR in race two as he got the better of Farmer and Willmott to score victory.

The Pre-War Sports Cars made their presence known too as the pairing of Gareth Burnett and Michael Birch navigated their Talbot AV105 Brooklands to the chequered flag first.

Capping off the track action were two races for the coveted Jochen Rindt Trophy. Celebrating the best single-seater race cars from the 60s, 70s & 80s, outright honours on the Saturday went the way of Matthew Wrigley in his March 79B.

Peter Williams came to the fore in race two to lift the famous trophy. At the wheel of the mighty Ralt RT1, Williams pipped Greg Roberston to victory and due to Wrigley being one of many unfortunate retirements, he wrapped up the Jochen Rindt Trophy as well.

Away from the racing there was plenty to see and do around the venue with parades, car clubs adorning spectators bankings and a trade village. One of the star attractions was situated on the Skid Pan in the shape of the Land Rover Legends.

To view the full classification of results from the Thruxton Historic, CLICK HERE.

North West Centre delivers memorable Oulton Park race day

The British Automobile Racing Club’s North West Centre staged an unmissable day of track action at Oulton Park this past Saturday (June 12) as a trio of championships continued their 2021 campaigns.

Basked in glorious sunshine, the one-day meeting saw the Britcar Endurance Championship, Mighty Minis Championship and CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship take on a starring role around the picturesque Cheshire venue in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

Edge-of-the-seat entertainment was served up by the Britcar Endurance Championship, who held the latest two rounds of what is shaping up to be an ultra-competitive Endurance season.

Coming off the back of a rapid qualifying session which saw the top of the timesheets dominated by the Praga Class, each one-hour race had its fair share of drama and safety car periods however that didn’t stop the team of Praga Race Academy from dominating proceedings.

The duo of Angus Fender and Jay Morton had missed out on pole position for both bouts but as soon as the lights went out, they marched their way to the front to comfortably win both races.

Paul Rose reigned supreme in the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, claiming the spoils in what was the only race for North West Centre’s flagship category. Boasting a bumper 34-car grid, the multi-class series put on a show for those in attendance, with Rose leading the way.

Starting third, the Sakar RAPX S1-500 driver found his way to the front early on and from there on he didn’t look back as he romped to victory by more than ten seconds ahead of Jon Woolfitt and Danny Bird.

In addition to his race win, the former CNC Heads champion also was awarded the Dave Simpson Trophy – which is bestowed upon the class winner who wins their class by the greatest speed differential.

Bumper-to-bumper entertainment was the order of the day in the Mighty Minis Championship, which served up a pair of mesmerising races. David Kirkpatrick triumphed in what proved to be a breathless opening bout, beating defending champion Ian Slark to victory by little over a tenth of a second.

Slark was not to be denied in the second Mini race however as he charged from fifth to claim victory ahead of Greg Jenkins and Kirkpatrick, further strengthening his position at the summit of the Super Mighty Minis standings.

Alongside the trio of BARC championships was a guest appearance from the Radical Summer Cup, which staged a two pulsating encounters. Elliott Goodman won a frenetic opening contest which ended early after a number of incidents in the latter stages.

Having seen victory slip away in race one after a mechanical issue dropped him out of the lead, Michael Clark emerged as the driver to beat in race two, taking the chequered a little under five seconds ahead of Goodman.

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

If you missed any of the day’s action then watch all of it back on our YouTube channel, HERE.

Mission Motorsport sets new hypermiling world record at Thruxton

Thruxton Circuit can add the title of being one of the most efficient race tracks in the UK alongside being the fastest after Mission Motorsport set a new hypermiling world record in a Renault ZOE.

Aiming to beat the previous benchmark of 351 miles for the longest distance driven in a Renault ZOE on a single charge, the Forces’ Motorsport Charity raised the bar in emphatic fashion around the Hampshire venue this past week.

Driving day and night, for more than 24 hours, at the optimum average speed of 19mph, the Renault ZOE – which was equipped with ENSO’s EV tyres – reached a world beating 475.4 miles on a single charge, smashing the French record by 124.4 miles.

Equipped with ENSO’s pioneering range extending EV tyres, a team of British veterans, the spouse of a serving soldier and a hypermiling expert came together to share driving duties around the 2.36-mile circuit.

James Cameron, Mission Motorsport CEO, said: “Thruxton was the obvious choice for this record attempt, but despite being the UK’s fastest track, the key to hitting 475.4 miles was finding the optimum speed and smooth consistent driving.

“Backed by ENSO’s unique EV tyre technology we were certain we could break the record, but what we couldn’t have foreseen was the incredible difference in efficiency, distance and feel with the ENSO tyres.”

During the world record attempt Mission Motorsport used two different sets of tyres on two identical Renault ZOEs. One vehicle was fitted with OEM tyres, clocking an impressive 424.7 miles whilst the second was fitted with ENSO tyres, eclipsing the old record and sister car with an astonishing 475.4 miles.

To find out more information on Mission Motorsport and the world record they have broken, click here.

Where to watch BARC LIVE from Oulton Park this Saturday

The British Automobile Racing Club makes its second trip of the season to Oulton Park this Saturday (June 12) and we’re in for quite the show.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, this one-day race meeting will undoubtedly set pulses racing as a trio of championships battle it out around the picturesque Cheshire venue, and our cameras will be there to broadcast live on Facebook and YouTube.

Those that have opted in for TV coverage and will feature on the broadcast over the course of the weekend include the Britcar Endurance Championship, CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship and the Radical Summer Cup.

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 11:20 – Facebook | YouTube

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

Make sure you don’t miss any future BARC LIVE events by subscribing to our YouTube channel HERE.

TOCA support championships revved up for Snetterton scorcher

After a five week break, the TOCA support package blasts back into life at Snetterton this weekend (June 12/13) with two championships looking to pick up where they left off last time out at Thruxton and a further three lifting the curtain on their 2021 campaigns.

Taking centre stage alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at the Norfolk venue, the weekend will also see spectators make a triumphant return trackside for the first time in more than 18 months.

Undoubtedly set to entertain those in attendance will be the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship, with three races scheduled to play out around the 2.99-mile circuit. At Thruxton, the next generation of motorsport stars arguably stole the show and you’d be hard pressed for them not to do the same again.

Tom Edgar and Callum Voisin shared the spoils at the high-speed Hampshire venue however they were just two of several standout performers. Seb Hopkins, Aston Millar, Freddie Tomlinson and Will Jenkins all featured at the front and each one of them, along with many more, will be keen to become the latest race winner.

The 10th Anniversary season of the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup begins this weekend and it fields a bumper grid of Pro and Pro-Am competitors that are ready to embark on what will be a frenetic battle for supremacy.

Some of the headline names to line up on the grid include 2020 title contenders Tom Hibbert and Adam Smalley; whilst the likes of Tom Emson, Josh Rattican and Carlito Miracco will all be expected to be in the mix for outright honours too.

One of the most eagerly-anticipated categories to get underway this year is the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. Boasting an ultra-competitive grid, many eyes will be focused on the battle between defending champion Harry King and returning double champion Dan Cammish.

Having been left without a BTCC drive this season, Cammish has returned to the series he once dominated and is set to take the fight to King, who reigned supreme in dominant fashion last year. It won’t just be about Cammish and King though, with a host of renowned names eager to make their mark.

James Dorlin, Kiern Jewiss, Lewis Plato, Lorcan Hanafin and Jamie Orton are just a handful of drivers that could stake their claim to what is already being billed as one of the closest Carrera Cup GB seasons in recent memory.

Another championship that is set to blast into life will be the MINI CHALLENGE JCW. The one-make series proved to be a smash-hit last year on the TOCA package and more edge-of-the-seat thrills are expected once again this year.

With a blend of experienced and rookie drivers making up this year’s grid, all bets look to be off as the chase to follow in the footsteps of 2020 champion Nathan Harrison kicks off.

Rounding out the weekend’s action will be a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. Home to the latest crop of single-seater stars, James Hedley holds the early advantage after claiming a pair of wins at Thruxton.

To find out more information on this weekend’s second event of the BTCC season, including links to live timing and the timetable, CLICK HERE.

Don’t forget that LIVE race day coverage will begin at 11:00 on ITV4 this Sunday.

BTCC ready to blast back into action at Snetterton

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will continue its 2021 season at Snetterton this coming weekend (June 12/13) with spectators set to make a welcome return trackside for the first time in more than 18 months.

Running behind closed doors throughout 2020 and for last month’s curtain-raiser at Thruxton, Britain’s premier motorsport series is preparing for the return of its loyal fanbase over the coming weeks and months, as lockdown restrictions continue to ease.

Attendance levels at the Norfolk venue will be capped at 4,000 spectators per day, and those heading trackside – as well as the many more watching live on ITV4 – are set for a blockbuster trio of races.

Heading into the second event of the season sitting atop of the standings is MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square’s Jake Hill. The Ford Focus driver was one of the stars of the show at Thruxton five weeks ago as he claimed a hat-trick of podium finishes and he will be keen to extend his advantage over the course of the weekend.

One point behind Hill is Josh Cook, another driver that starred at Thruxton. Cook kicked off his championship challenge in style around his local circuit with two wins and three fastest laps to put himself within striking distance of top spot. 

After a year away from the series, Adrian Flux with Power Maxed Racing’s Jason Plato showed that he has lost none of his speed as he scored a podium of his own at Thruxton, vaulting him up to third in points as the series rolls into Snetterton.

Not far behind him is reigning champion Ashley Sutton, winner of the Thruxton reverse grid encounter. Sutton was in the thick of the action, producing two monumental comeback drives before finally standing on the top step of the podium to sit ten points off the summit.

Dan Cammish rounds out the top five in the standings however his one-off return to the BTCC was exactly that, and he has since been replaced by Senna Proctor at BTC Racing for the remainder of the season.

Tom Ingram, Daniel Rowbottom, Colin Turkington, Tom Oliphant and Jack Goff occupy the remaining spots inside the top ten at the moment, having all experienced varying degrees of success in Hampshire last time out.

Beyond that are a number of drivers who will be hoping for better fortune at Snetterton, including former champion Gordon Shedden and his brother-in-law Rory Butcher. Both have been tipped for title challenges this year and will be gunning for glory as they bid to ignite their seasons.

Other notable names to look out for over the course of the weekend include Adam Morgan, Stephen Jelley, Daniel Lloyd, Aiden Moffat and Aron Taylor-Smith, to name but a few.

The weekend will also see two female BTCC drivers on the grid for the first time since 2001. Jade Edwards will be joined by Jessica Hawkins, who is stepping in for Andy Neate at Motorbase Performance for one event. Hawkins is no stranger to the series having made her touring car bow at Snetterton last year in a Vauxhall Astra.

One change to the weekend format will see the return of the exciting Qualifying Top Ten Showdown. The top ten fastest competitors at the end of the 25-minute session, will be rewarded with the opportunity to clinch first on the grid during a ten-minute pole position showdown.

Lap times will be reset ahead of the showdown as all ten cars head out on-track and complete an unlimited number of laps during the ten minutes.

To find out more information on this weekend’s second BTCC meeting of the season, including links to live timing and the timetable, CLICK HERE.

Britcar, Mighty Minis & CNC Heads set to headline Oulton Park race day

The British Automobile Racing Club heads to Oulton Park this coming Saturday (June 12) for an action-packed race day which is set to be headlined by a trio of championships.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, the one-day meeting marks the second visit to the Cheshire venue by the BARC this year – the first having lifted the curtain on the 2021 season back in April.

With the current campaign continuing to gather momentum and summer now in full force, the return of spectators is set to provide even more excitement and atmosphere too, whilst our live TV cameras will be in attendance as well.

Having starred at Silverstone and Snetterton in varying weather conditions, the Britcar Endurance Championship arrives at Oulton Park ready to take centre stage with a pair of one-hour races from its Endurance category.

So far it has been a blockbuster campaign for the series with a number of standout performances, no less from current points leaders Jamie Stanley and John Seale in the JMH Lamborghini Huracan. Keen to extend their advantage this weekend, the pairing enter the event as the favourites however the competition is set to be fierce.

Elsewhere, the Praga class has proven to be a smash-hit so far and it too will continue on Saturday with the likes of Richard Morris, Abbie Eaton, Gordie Mutch, Charlie Martin, Jem Hepworth and Jimmy Broadbent all in the mix towards the front of the field.

The CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, the North West Centre’s flagship category, kicked off its season at Oulton Park a few months ago and it proved that the appetite to go racing is greater than ever.

Boasting an ultra-competitive entry list, the multi-class series returns this weekend for a single content. Notable names to keep a close eye on include former champion Paul Rose, current title holder Jamie Cryer and the likes of Paul Woolfitt, Paul Dobson, Ric Wood, Graeme Smith and Gary Warburton.

Renowned for serving up enthralling wheel-to-wheel entertainment, the Mighty Minis Championship are back in action – with its two classes revved up for a pair of pulsating encounters.

In the Super Mighty Minis category, variety has been the spice of life at the sharp end of the field with three different winners from four races. Neven Kirkpatrick, Stuart Coombs and Ian Slark have all stood on the top step of the podium, the latter twice, and all three will be keen to do so once again here.

With the smallest of margins more often than not deciding the podiums positions, the aforementioned trio will need to be on top form as there are a host of contenders all hot on their heels and itching to claim silverware of their own.

Elsewhere, the less powerful Mighty Mini class has been equally as frenetic so far this year. Growing in number as each round passes, the category has delivered plenty of head-turning performances already – not least from Dan Heywood who is unbeaten so far.

Rounding out the day’s track action and not to be upstaged will be a pair of races from the hugely popular Radical Summer Cup.

To find out more information on this Saturday’s event at Oulton Park, including links to live timing and entry list, CLICK HERE.

Make sure you don’t miss a single lap of the action by subscribing to the BARC’s official YouTube channel and watching live, CLICK HERE.

Spectators to make welcome return to Thruxton for Historic meeting

Thruxton Circuit is set to welcome back spectators for the first time in 2021 this coming weekend (June 12/13), with those in attendance set to take a spirited trip down memory lane as part of the now annual ‘Thruxton Historic’.

Debuting in 2018 as part of the venues 50th Anniversary celebrations, the now-titled Thruxton Historic brings together legendary machines and racers to the fastest circuit in the UK for an adrenaline rush like no other.

As UK government restrictions continue to ease, a limited number of fans will head to the Hampshire venue across both days to witness a mouth-watering array of sensational sportscars, flame-spitting saloons and evocative racing cars go wheel-to-wheel.

On-track, one of the standout races over the course of the weekend will undoubtedly be the Jochen Rindt Trophy. Celebrating the best single-seater race cars from the 60s, 70 & 80s, the

Fans of touring cars from yesteryear will be well-catered for as well with the Historic Touring Car Challenge with Tony Dron Trophy, Sixties Touring Car Challenge with U2TC and HRDC Liqui Moly Jack Sears Trophy all in action.

Additional retro-themed thrills and spills will be provided by the HRDC Allstars’, HRDC Classic Alfa Challenge, Jaguar Classic Challenge, Pre ’63 GT, Pre-War Sports Cars and the RAC Woodcote Trophy & Stirling Moss Trophy for Pre ’61 Sportscars.

It won’t just be the racing that makes up the spectacle at the Thruxton Historic this weekend though, with plenty of things to see and do off-track as well.

Ensuring that there is fun to be had by the whole family, those in attendance will be able to see a number of different car displays and parades, wander around the trade village and take advantage of free camping.

Over at the Skid Pan, fans will find the Land Rover Legends. In what is the ultimate show for Land Rover enthusiasts, the Land Rover Legends will showcase the very best examples of the marque including several rare and unusual vehicles from the Dunsfold Collection, a founding partner of the event.

This year includes unique feature displays, the leading Land Rover clubs, an exclusive Land Rover parade around the circuit, specialist exhibitors and traders and the National Land Rover Awards.

Tickets for this weekend’s Thruxton Historic are on-sale now. To find out more information head to https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/historic.

Information on the venues COVID-19 guidelines can be found via https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/covid-19-information. 

BARC championships deliver action-packed weekend to remember at Brands Hatch

The British Automobile Racing Club soaked up the sun to produce two days of unmissable, edge-of-the-seat entertainment this past weekend ( June 5/6) at Brands Hatch.

Making the first of several visits to the Kent venue over the course of the 2021 season, a total of eight championships took to the Indy circuit and turned on the style for the enthusiastic crowd that was in attendance.

One of the headline acts during the weekend was the British Truck Racing Championship. Lifting the curtain on a brand new season, the heavyweight behemoths wasted no time in making their presence known as they served up five bruising encounters.

Division 1 saw reigning five-time champion Ryan Smith begin the pursuit of a sixth crown on the right foot as he powered his way to a hat-trick of wins. Martin Gibson and Mark Taylor would go on to end Smith’s winning streak on Sunday as they tallied a win apiece.

In Division 2, defending champion Steven Powell enjoyed an equally impressive start to the season as he, like Smith, scored a trio of victories. Such is the competitiveness throughout the field, Powell was unable to claim a clean sweep as former champion Adam Bint and Craig Reid also stood on the top step of the podium.

It proved to be an emotional weekend for the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres as they paid tribute to Gerard McCosh, a stalwart of the series who passed away earlier this year. A poignant two-lap parade on Sunday saw the entire 34-car grid follow Gerard’s infamous car for the final time before it is retired.

Aside from the tribute, the Legends as ever delivered six pulsating encounters that will live long in the memory. John Mickel, Will Gibson and Steve Whitelegg reigned supreme on the Saturday before Mickel and Gibson added to their tallies on Sunday. Paul Simmons would emerge as the other race winner.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship made its first appearance at Brands Hatch since 2019 and didn’t disappoint with two frenetic races taking centre stage. Current title holder George Turiccki opened his account for the season with a win in race one before Michael Smith did the same in race two.

Hot off the heels of starring at Donington Park on Bank Holiday Monday, the Kumho BMW Championship was back in action with another two races. Brad Sheehan proved to be the driver to beat in his E46 M3, winning both bouts narrowly ahead of James Card.

Pete Sparrow continued his fine start to the 2CVParts.com Championship as he bagged another brace of wins. Having won at their Cadwell Park season opener, the former multiple champion arrived at Brands Hatch keen to extend his advantage in the points – and he did just that.

Storming to pole position for both races, Sparrow didn’t put a wheel wrong in either contest to stretch his legs out front and take the chequered flag comfortably.

The Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship boasted a bumper entry list however Steve McDermid wasn’t to be denied from claiming his fourth straight win of the year in race one. William Sharpe finally halted his momentum however in race two, as he claimed a win of his own to cap off a memorable second event for the magnificent MGs.

Steve Burrows and Ray Harris were victorious in the CMMCS Avon Tyres Intermarque Silhouettes whilst the Quaife MINI CHALLENGE Trophy rounded out the weekend’s action, with wins going the way of Matt Hammond and Joe Wiggin.

To view the full classification of results from Brands Hatch this past weekend, CLICK HERE.

You can watch all the action back too by heading to our YouTube channel HERE.