Phil Cooper leads list of special award winners at BARC Championship Awards Evening

Legends Cars National Championship Co-ordinator Phil Cooper was the headline recipient of the special awards that were handed out at the BARC’s annual Championship Awards Evening this past Saturday (February 8th). 

Whilst champions of 2019 took centre stage during the evening, a handful of secret awards were presented to unsuspecting winners at the end of the night.

Cooper emerged as one of those victors as he was honoured for his role in the Legends Cars National Championship over the past 25 years. After ending a career in the music business, Cooper brought the series to the UK and has been at the helm whilst it has flourished ever since.

Picking up The Gerry Marshall Trophy, Cooper fitted the bill in sharing the same eagerness and philosophy for motorsport that Gerry once did.

“That was quite the surprise, I had no idea,” Cooper said. “I’ve been invited to this event for a number of years and don’t always attend but the team at the BARC were rather quite insistent I attend as Miles was coming and his car was on display as well.

“I thought I would be handing over Miles’ award so when that didn’t happen I thought that was it. Then Alan Hyde read my name out and it was just complete shock. I’m very grateful and thankful for receiving this accolade.

“Last year was the 25th Anniversary of the Legends Cars National Championship and I’m very proud of what we have been able to achieve. When I finished working in the music business I thought that I might potter around in motor racing for a little while but here we still are.”

After powering his way to the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship crown last year, James Hedley was a worthy winner of The Peter Collins Trophy.

Awarded to the most promising newcomer competing in a BARC championship, the teenage sensation produced a superlative performance to become the latest champion of the much-loved TOCA series.

Commenting on accolade, Hedley said: “I was quite shocked when Alan Hyde read out my name, I didn’t know too much about the award. Now that I’ve been able to look through all of the names on the trophy and all of the previous winners I’m truly honoured.

“I’ve been up against some really tough, naturally talented drivers so it is nice to see that people are recognising all of the hard work that is being put together. This whole evening has been fantastic and this award will be one I’ll treasure for a long time.”

Garrie Whittaker’s unbeaten season in the Kumho BMW Championship didn’t go unnoticed either as he scooped The Presidents Cup.

Bestowed upon the most successful driver competing under international level within the BARC, Whittaker added his name to the famous trophy once again after previously winning it. His 20-race clean sweep made him the standout contender for the coveted trophy.

“I’m not usually lost for words but winning The Presidents Cup for a third time has pretty much left me speechless,” Whittaker said following the prize giving.

“I’ve won it twice before and I knew that I had had a good year but you never really expect to be awarded, not least for a third time. Picking up my championship trophy from Colin [Turkington] was really great however this accolade is something I’m really proud of.

“To be handed an award that people have decided you deserve based on your performances over the course of the season is just the icing on the cake.”

Elsewhere, Pam and Steve Green were handed the Sir Clive Bossom Trophy after completing the most volunteering days over the course of the season.

Nick Allison meanwhile picked up the BARC Marshal of the Year for a second time.

BARC honours 2019 champions at annual Championship Awards Evening

The British Automobile Racing Club rolled out the red carpet at the Chesford Grange Hotel this past Saturday (February 8th) for the annual Championship Awards Evening, honouring the champions of 2019.

In what has become one of the highlights events on the Club’s calendar every year, more than 200 guests descended on Kenilworth grounds for a momentous night of celebrations.

Swapping race suits and overalls and dinner jackets and ball gowns; drivers, marshals, officials and leading BARC figures were all in attendance.

Hosted by the superlative Alan Hyde, guests not only had the opportunity to look back on the year that was but also hear from BARC Chairman Tony Scott Andrews, BARC Group Chief Executive Ben Taylor and Motorsport UK Chief Executive Hugh Chambers.

Four-time British Touring Car Championship title-winner Colin Turkington headed the list of illustrious winners as he collected yet more silverware. The Northern Irishman’s all-conquering West Surrey Racing BMW 330i M Sport was also in attendance, taking pride of place next to the main stage.

Turkington’s machine wasn’t the only head-turner during the evening however as several other championship-winning vehicles were situated around the venue as well.

After clinching a maiden Legends Cars National Championship crown in the categories 25th Anniversary campaign, Miles Rudman showcased the car that powered him to glory. Neven Kirkpatrick did the same with his Super Mighty Minis Championship championship-winner.

Samuel Wilson’s Caterham Graduates car garnered plenty of attention throughout the night as well, whilst the Junior Saloon Car Championship once again rolled out an immaculate machine for their 2019 champion Scott McIntyre.

Whilst a majority of the awards saw drivers take centre stage, the BARC also played homage to its marshals. Virtue of completing the most volunteering days, Pam and Steve Green were awarded the coveted Sir Clive Bossom Trophy.

Elsewhere, Nick Allison picked up the BARC Marshal of the Year award for a second time. In addition, a total of ÂŁ1610.00 was raised on the night for the BARC Marshals and Rescue Fund.

Alongside the customary awards, three secret accolades were also presented to unsuspecting winners.

James Hedley, Ginetta Junior victor, scooped The Peter Collins Trophy, which is awarded to the most promising newcomer competing in a BARC championship whilst Garry Whittaker claimed The Presidents Cup after producing an unbeatable season in the Kumho BMW Championship.

Legends Cars National Championship founder Phil Cooper was the final secret award recipient, handed The Gerry Marshall Trophy for epitomising the philosophy of motorsport over the past quarter of a century that Gerry once demonstrated.

Michael Groves: 1931-2020

It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that the British Automobile Racing Club announces the passing of former Council Member and Chairman, Michael Groves.

Born on April 9th 1931 in Richmond, Michael originally made a name for himself in business as a Chartered Surveyor; working across a spectrum of properties which included commercial and residential buildings, factories and offices.

In the realm of motorsport, Michael was a household name and is best known for his role as Chairman of the BARC for 30 years.

His love affair with motorsport began at an early age and he attended his first race meeting in September 1948 at Goodwood. Four years later he became a member of the Club, prompting him to further integrate himself within the sport by starting out as a flag marshal on the banks of Thruxton.

Marshalling and observing at both the Hampshire venue as well as Goodwood led to Michael being co-opted onto the BARC Council by Sidney Offord and Bill Paul, who were Chief Executive and Chairman respectively at the time.

Four years later he was appointed Chairman of the Club in 1979 after having previously served as Vice-Chairman for two years. Michael would go on to remain at the helm of the BARC for 30 years.

In addition, Michael was elected Chairman of the Thruxton Board in January 1979 and the Pembrey Board in June 1989. At the time of his passing, Michael was one of the Club’s last two remaining Vice-Presidents.

In 2009, he was awarded the prestigious BARC Gold Medal at the annual Championship Awards Evening for his unstinting contribution to the Club, which spanned more than three decades and ultimately ended in May of that year.

Everyone at the British Automobile Racing Club wishes to pass on its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Michael, of which there were many, as well as pay tribute to his efforts to help further the club for more than half a century.

Pembrey Circuit set to mark milestone anniversary by building for the future

Pembrey Circuit is set for a milestone year in 2020 as it celebrates its 30th Anniversary; and it will mark the occasion by underlining its commitment to the future with the build of a brand new garage complex.

Opening its doors in 1990, the British Automobile Racing Club’s Welsh venue has become a popular track for spectators and competitors alike amidst the UK racing landscape – continuing to go from strength-to-strength over the past three decades.

With several important track developments such as the implementation of a new circuit layout, revised rallycross configuration and improved spectator banking having taken place during the past three years, the addition of this latest infrastructure is likely to bolster Pembrey’s appeal even further.

Set to be situated down the pit lane next to the circuit’s control tower, the new complex will comprise 12 double garages with capacity for 24 cars and will benefit from a vast paddock space behind.

Work on the garages is set to begin in the coming weeks and is currently scheduled to be completed by April; finishing in time to kick off what is set to be a spectacular summer of motorsport around the picturesque circuit.

In addition to the new garage complex, Pembrey’s facilities around the venue have also been refurbished to further enhance the customer and competitor experience moving forward.

As part of the venue’s celebrations for its Pearl Anniversary this year, a new commemorative logo – based around the original design from the circuit’s inaugural year – has also been unveiled and will be used throughout 2020.

Boasting another bumper events calendar, the dawn of a new decade will see the likes of the British Truck Racing Championship, British Rallycross Championship and many more categories take centre stage over the coming months.

Providing the backdrop for a spirited trip down memory lane in late June and forming the centrepiece of Pembrey’s milestone year, the Historic Sports Car Club will make a welcome return to South Wales. Bringing the past back to life, a glittering array of sensational sportscars, flame-spitting saloons and evocative racing cars will thrill those in attendance whilst there will be plenty to see off track as well.

Phil Davies, Pembrey Circuit Manager, said: “Having been here since the very beginning, it fills me with immense pride that Pembrey is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year – and we couldn’t mark the milestone any better than by delivering another memorable year of racing, as well as building for the next 30 years.

“Over the past three decades we have hosted all sorts of events such as the British Touring Car Championship, British Superbike Championship and British Formula 3 – to name but a few – and all of them have played a pivotal role in our continual growth.

“With a new garage complex and some of the marque events we have, I’m confident that 2020 is going to be a special year for the venue and I’m looking forward to welcoming spectators and competitors alike in joining us as we celebrate.”

Ben Taylor, BARC Group Chief Executive, added: “Pembrey is a really important part of the UK motorsport scene and Phil and his team have provided excellent racing and a warm Welsh welcome for 30 years.

“There is still a huge amount of potential there and these new garages are the next stage in realising that. They will significantly improve the experience for people racing and testing at Pembrey this year.”

Pembrey Circuit will kick off its 2020 motorsport season in late-March. To view the full events calendar for the forthcoming campaign, click here.

BARC shows support for Racing Pride movement

The British Automobile Racing Club is delighted to announce its support of the Racing Pride movement.

Established in the summer of 2019 and developed in association with Stonewall UK, Britain’s leading lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality charity, the movement aims to positively promote LGBTQ+ inclusivity within motorsport.

Before the initiative was launched,  no real focused effort had been made to raise visibility for LGBTQ+ participants within motor racing; be it drivers, mechanics, engineers, marshals, officials and any other roles.

By creating a network of driving ambassadors, commercial partners and supporters from across the motorsport and automotive industries, Racing Pride has brought changes to the sport across all levels – and the BARC now intends to help promote their values.

Racing Pride stickers will be made available to competitors at all BARC meetings who wish to show their personal support, whether as LGBTQ+ people themselves or as allies.

In addition, the BARC will also lend its backing to Racing Pride initiatives on social media, via the website and through its other communications channels.

Ben Taylor, BARC Group Chief Executive, said: “Motorsport is regularly held up as one of the most inclusive activities around, but the sport has perhaps become a bit complacent in that regard.

“No one should have to hide who they are and we are proud to reaffirm that the BARC welcomes everyone to its motorsport family, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, religion or other discriminatory reasons.

“It does us all good to take a step back and ensure that we are doing everything we can to make a positive difference in this respect.”

Christopher Sharp, Racing Pride Co-Founder and Media Ambassador, continued: “I am very proud of our new partnership with the BARC, which arks another significant step for Racing Pride.

“We will now reach over 80 championships across UK motorsport in 2020 and it is fantastic to see an increasing number of organisations wishing to work with us and be part of our cause of LGBTQ+ inclusivity within the motorsport community.”

Josh Bennett, BARC Clerk of the Course and Racing Pride Industry Ambassador, added: “It is great to see two organisations which I am so passionate about coming together to promote inclusivity in motorsport and to see more organisations working with Racing Pride.”

Richard Morris, Racing Pride Co-Founder and Driver Ambassador, concluded: “It’s wonderful to see Britain’s most prestigious Clubs, such as the BARC, supporting the Racing Pride initiative and reaffirming their belief that motorsport can, and should, be for everyone.

“I really hope the BARC’s members will get behind this too and add their own support by running the stickers and helping to spread Racing Pride’s message. It makes all the difference for LGBTQ+ people within the sport, and in society more broadly, to have such visible support from allies as well as within the LGBTQ+ community itself.”

To find out more information about Racing Pride, head to http://racingpride.com/.

BARC & BTRA reaches commercial agreement with Truck Sport UK

The British Automobile Racing Club and British Truck Racing Association are delighted to announce that it has secured an agreement with Truck Sport UK for the promotion and marketing of the 2020 BTRA British Truck Racing Championship.

Maintaining its role as the official organiser of the championship, the BARC will work with Truck Sport UK and Road Transport Media to develop the commercial side of the series; including sponsorship, PR, media relations and promotion.

The new arrangement between all parties has been negotiated with the support of the British Truck Racing Association.

Commenting on the new agreement, BARC Group Chief Executive Ben Taylor said: “There has been a lot of uncertainty around the BTRA Championship in recent months, but I am delighted that we have been able to secure this agreement which is great news for British Truck Racing.

“We believe that Truck Sport are ideally placed to help the BARC and the BTRA take this championship forward and we look forward to getting started immediately.”

The seven-round 2020 season will kick off at Brands Hatch in April before going on to visit Pembrey (twice), Thruxton, Donington Park and Snetterton, before concluding back at Brands Hatch in November for the annual fireworks finale.

As part of Truck Sport UK’s aim to assist with the growth and recognition of the series, the successful ‘Convoy in the Park’ event will return to Donington Park in August, with two additional meetings also planned. ‘Convoy on the Plain’ will be held at Thruxton in late June whilst ‘Convoy Cymru’ will take centre stage at Pembrey in October.

JSCC partners with MINI CHALLENGE and Goodyear for new Driver Development Programme

The Junior Saloon Car Championship has announced that it will join forces with the MINI CHALLENGE and Goodyear to create a Driver Development Programme aimed at helping young drivers reach the pinnacle of British motor racing.

Currently bridging the gap between karting and cars, the JSCC offers aspiring racers aged between the ages of 14 to 17 with the opportunity to get behind the wheel and compete.

With several drivers having coming through the championship’s ranks already, the one-make series is aiming to continue that trend by creating a driver development ladder which will provide an opportunity for youngsters to move up into the MINI CHALLENGE and then possibly one day on into the British Touring Car Championship.

Dave Beecroft, Junior Saloon Car Championship Co-ordinator, said: ”JSCC has been going from strength to strength, year on year and it’s exciting to be able to offer this opportunity to our junior drivers.

“The MINI CHALLENGE is a great championship to progress to after JSCC and its brilliant to be a part of this development programme to aid young drivers to progress all the way through to BTCC.

“We’re very happy to be continuing our partnership with Dunlop/Goodyear who have consistently shown their investment in young drivers and we strongly believe this is the best opportunity on the market for juniors looking to achieve their dream at the top of British car racing.”

Mickey Butler, UK Event Manager for Goodyear and Dunlop, continued: ”We are proud to build a ladder into BTCC through Goodyear’s support of the MINI CHALLENGE and Dunlop’s investment in the teenage racers of the JSCC.

“By building a bridge from one of the UK’s strongest Junior series into the UK’s highest profile one-make touring car feeder series, we are supporting young talent in their goal of getting to the pinnacle of British racing, racing on the touring car weekends in either the MINI CHALLENGE or BTCC.”

Finally; MINI CHALLENGE Championship Director, Antony Williams, added: “I am delighted that the MINI CHALLENGE, Junior Saloon Car Championship and Goodyear have come together to create the all new Goodyear Academy.

“By working together with JSCC and Goodyear, we will provide young drivers with a clear route from Karting into their first steps in car racing with JSCC, on to the TOCA support package with the MINI CHALLENGE and then on to the BTCC.

“Goodyear and the MINI CHALLENGE are also delighted to offer the JSCC winner a prize consisting of a fully funded test in a MINI CHALLENGE Cooper Class car and free tyres for their first MINI CHALLENGE season worth ÂŁ3,000. Lastly we will be making a further exciting announcement regarding the academy in due course.”

Caterham Graduates Championship set for blockbuster year after exceeding membership expectations

The Caterham Graduates Racing Club has confirmed that it has already closed its membership for the forthcoming 2020 race season, with more than 90 drivers signed up across its four classes.

Steeped in a rich history that stretches back more than two decades, the popular single-make championship has been one of the cornerstones of the British Automobile Racing Club and has continued to flourish.

Coming off the back of a memorable 2019, the category has seen membership grow by over a third this year, prompting the Club to close membership two months ahead of the seven-round campaign that lies ahead.

Andrew Outterside, Club Director, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the interest in racing with us in 2020 and have taken the unusual decision to close membership this early, to ensure that our members will have the opportunity to race at as many meetings as possible.

“We think our success in retaining existing members and attracting new members is due to a number of reasons. Firstly, our continued focus on having fun in a sociable environment for racers and their families. Safety and driving standards are taken very seriously, with a dedicated Driving Standards Team (DST), made up of experienced and respected members. The DST act on inconsiderate or poor driving and educate drivers on avoiding incidents.

“We have a tried and tested formula which provides a cost-effective ‘level playing field’ approach, where it’s the driver that makes the difference. This is achieved by strictly controlled specifications and a limit of three sets of tyres per season.

“In addition, this season we’ve introduced two new types of membership, which have proved popular. They cater for those drivers that are short on time but would still like to compete in a limited number of rounds (the CGRC Trophy) or just have the occasional outing with the Club during the year.

“Our calendar this year also has a great blend of circuits, including an overseas round at the  recently undated Zandvoort GP circuit, and I’m sure that is only going to add to the spectacle.

“Along with the British Automobile Racing Club, we are shaping up to have a busy year ahead and we’re looking forward to the continued growth of the CGRC into 2021.”

In addition to the healthy grid size, the Club has also confirmed that it has selected Mission Motorsport and Purple 4 Polio as its two charities that it will be supporting throughout the coming season.

The 2020 Caterham Graduates Championship kicks off its season around the Silverstone National circuit with its annual pre-season track day on February 29 before returning on March 21/22 for the season-opener.

To find out more information on the Club and championship, visit www.cgrc.co.uk.

BARC North West Centre rescue team hones skills with SYNETIQ

The British Automobile Racing Club’s North West Centre has been preparing its Rescue Team for the forthcoming 2020 motorsport season, with a training day in conjunction with SYNETIQ allowing them to hone their skills.

Forming the technical rescue unit of the Club’s North West Centre, which supports major events such as the Formula 1 British Grand Prix and Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship in addition to BARC events, the one-day course proved to be pivotal.

Staged at SYNETIQ’s site at Winsford, the day provided an opportunity for the team to practice rapid extraction methods against the clock, making it as realistic as possible.

In addition, the day also allowed team members to get to grips with the latest incline cutter tool; aimed at improving capabilities even further.

SYNENTIQ’s relationship with the BARC North West Rescue outfit can be traced back to Car Transplants Ltd, which previously host training days before becoming part of the SYNETIQ in March 2019.

Ginetta unveil championship changes ahead of new season

Ginetta have unveiled a handful of changes to two of its leading championships ahead of the 2020 motorsport season.

Taking centre stage on the British Touring Car Championship support bill, the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup is set to expand to house three classes moving forward.

Having operated a two-tier structure since 2014, a new Pro/Am class will be introduced with the aim of continuing to bridge the gap and cater for drivers wanting to work their way through the ranks.

The Am class will return to its original purpose as a home for gentlemen drivers wanting to compete in a more relaxed fashion, with Pro/Am designed to cater for young, less experienced drivers a class to race in before going on to compete with the front-running Pro competitors.

Elsewhere, the Ginetta Racing Drivers Club has also undergone a format change with the introduction if a two-class structure taking place.

Serving as a platform for drivers to make their car-racing debuts in a welcoming, competitive and cost-effective environment, the series has proven to be a smash-hit in recent years.

From 2020 onwards, the main GRDC class will be open to drivers of any experience level; thus providing existing competitors the opportunity to continue their driver development in the series whilst also opening the door for a raft of new faces.

The series will also continue to cater for novice competitors by introducing a Rookie Class. Entrants will continue to benefit from an all-inclusive package, with a first class service seeing their cars prepared and run by the experienced team at want2race.

The GRDC will be amalgamated onto the back of the G40 Cup grid at all five of the UK based events in support of the British GT Championship, with the drivers nominating four rounds to count towards their final championship points.

To find out more information on the variety of different championships that Ginetta have available, head to https://www.ginetta.com/.

BARC championships kick-start 2020 season at Autosport Show International

As the 2020 season continues to draw ever closer, the Autosport Show International served as the perfect place to kick-start the new year for the British Automobile Racing Club and a host of its championships last week.

Bringing together some of the biggest names in motorsport under the roof of the NEC Arena in Birmingham, the four-day (January 9-12) event saw thousands of enthusiastic fans descend on the venue.

Among those that race under the BARC banner, the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship once again had a major presence as it served up plenty of announcements during the course of the show.

The Dunlop Endurance Championship also enjoyed a productive show as they welcomed a raft of drivers and teams signing up to their Endurance and Trophy classes for the forthcoming campaign.

Coming off the back of their milestone 25th Anniversary season, the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres made their mark.

Not only showcasing what they have to offer in the main exhibition hall, a host of drivers including 2019 champion Miles Rudman put on a show in the Live Action Arena.

Elsewhere, cars representing the Junior Saloon Car Championship, C1 Racing Series, Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup, Kumho BMW Championship, Porsche GB Motorsport, CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, MINI CHALLENGE and Clio Cup UK were also in attendance.

British Automobile Racing Club releases 2020 events schedule

The British Automobile Racing Club has released its full events schedule for the forthcoming 2020 motorsport season; kicking off in March and running right the way through until mid-November.

Whilst some of Britain’s best-loved categories will serve up edge-of-the-seat entertainment throughout the year, the Club will also play an organisational role in a host of high-profile events as well.

Spectacles such as the UK round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, Power Maxed Motofest Coventry and all three Goodwood events will see the BARC assist in the operation and organisation of each race meeting.

To view the full list of 2020 British Automobile Racing Club race meetings, click HERE.

In addition, click HERE to see where your favourite BARC championship is racing in 2020 too.