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BTCC returns to Thruxton for second instalment of high-speed thrills in 2019

Thruxton is set to host the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship for the second time in 2019 as the series once again heads to Hampshire for Rounds 19, 20 and 21 next weekend (17/18 August).

This season has been as spectacular and unpredictable as ever, producing seven winners and 17 podium finishers with four events to come. Reigning champion Colin Turkington tops the table ahead of Andrew Jordan, with Rory Butcher and Josh Cook flying the flag for the independent teams in third and fourth respectively.

The BMW drivers at the head of the championship have collected five wins apiece so far with Turkington scoring two further podiums to Jordan’s three. Jordan has recovered manfully since a nightmare Donington weekend – three non-scores earlier in the year – with a dominant double victory at BTCC’s first visit to Hampshire in May, but the Pirtek sponsored driver remains some 36 points behind the Northern Irishman.

At a track where the Hondas are regularly quick, there are plenty of on-form Civic drivers who will be looking for a strong result with the marque’s UK base residing in nearby Swindon. Fresh off the back of a win at Snetterton, Rory Butcher can be hopeful of a good weekend at Thruxton, backed by a podium finish during the first visit of the year. Bath-based Josh Cook is another Type R driver to have enjoyed exceptional weekends at both Thruxton and Snetterton. Likewise, Dan Cammish scored two podiums at each of those meetings.

Ash Sutton is sure to be fired up in his Subaru Levorg after a thrilling wheel-to-wheel battle with ex-teammate Jason Plato at Snetterton, ultimately ending in disaster for the BMR driver. Sutton finished on the podium at Thruxton earlier in the year which bodes well in his bid to take to the top step in 2019. Team Toyota GB with Ginsters and Tom Ingram are another pairing to watch in the coming races after correcting a damping issue during the in-season test, followed by a lights-to-flag victory at Round 16.

Off-track, there will be something for everyone with a variety of activities around the venue including skid pan rides for all ages, an extensive display of Thruxton’s driving experience supercars and racing cars and a fantastic trade village to explore. There’s also evening entertainment in the Thruxton Centre on Friday and Saturday.

The fast and flowing ‘Hampshire Speedbowl’ is sure to provide even more spectacular racing up and down the field, with commitment and precision required at every corner – most notably ‘Church’ – to string together the perfect lap. The championship battle is primed to intensify at Thruxton next weekend.

“Snetterton went to plan for us,” commented championship leader Turkington. “It was always going to be a tough weekend given the official test day back in July, where everybody was able to get a feel of the circuit and get up to speed – we knew it was going to be ultra-competitive.

“It was great to win again, and win with a heavy car heading into the weekend as championship leader with the maximum complement of success ballast on-board. We were consistent over every session and we’re hoping for more of the same at Thruxton. We’ve a good knowledge of the circuit, this being our second visit of the year so it’ll make for a strong starting point.

“The BMW 330i M Sport was quick there earlier this season and looking back, we’d come out of the blocks fast. Now, as the season’s played out, people have closed that gap. The front-wheel drive cars went well at Snetterton last weekend and it’ll be even more difficult, for sure, this time around at Thruxton.

“The focus is firmly on myself at this stage of the season and maximising opportunities wherever I can. There’s a lot of competition from any number of drivers – not just the guys directly behind me. We’ve completed six of ten race weekends and there’s still a huge amount of racing left.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome BTCC for a second time in 2019,” enthused Pat Blakeney, Thruxton Group Operations Manager. “After such a successful event in May, we can’t wait for the return of the championship to the UK’s fastest circuit.

“As always, Thruxton produced some great racing earlier in the year and we’re hoping for more of the same next weekend, the nature of our track requires a lot of nerve from the drivers and I think the fans enjoy that. There’s also plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy away from the track!”

Tickets for the BTCC’s visit on 17/18 August can be purchased on the gate, starting at £17 for Saturday (qualifying) and £34 for Sunday (race day). Children aged 13-15 get in for £5 on Saturday and £10 on Sunday; accompanied children aged 12 and under will be admitted free of charge.

For further information or to buy tickets, visit thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc-aug or call 01264 882222.

For more information on Thruxton’s race meetings and driving experiences, visit www.thruxtonracing.co.uk

TOCA support championships shine at Snetterton

Four TOCA support championships served up an action-packed weekend of racing at Snetterton this past weekend (August 3/4) as the second half of the 2019 season kicked off in sensational style.

Taking centre stage alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at the Norfolk venue, edge of the seat entertainment took place across each and every race over the course of the weekend – keeping fans captivated.

The Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship enjoyed an exciting two days as it played host to a staggering four encounters. Adding the postponed Croft race to the timetable, this years crop of teenage racers had plenty of opportunity to shine.

Saturday’s two races belonged to in-form driver Will Martin as he powered his Richardson Racing machine to victory on both occasions, the second win being the rescheduled Croft race.

Whilst Martin was the driver to beat on Saturday, Sunday belonged to Zak O’Sullivan who scored a breakthrough Ginetta Junior victory, and then subsequently backed it up with a second later in the day.

There was high-drama in the Renault UK Clio Cup as the battle for supremacy in the championship reached fever-pitch as Jamie Bond and Max Coates scored victory.

Bond’s maiden win in the one-make series came after Jack Young was handed a time-penalty for contact with Coates during the opening encounter of the weekend. As the pair scrapped for the lead, contact from Young dropped Coates down the order and the Northern Irishman was subsequently penalised.

Race two would see Bond take the chequered flag on the road however he would find himself in trouble with officials too as he was adjudged to have made a false start, picking up a ten-second penalty and dropping him to fourth.

Young therefore inherited the victory afterwards but he once again was hit with another post-race penalty after making further contact with Coates, thus handing the latter a crucial victory in the overall title battle.

The Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge made its second appearance on the TOCA support bill this season and with the business end of the year approaching, a frenetic battle between the main protagonists took place.

Scott McKenna reigned supreme in the opener after starting on pole position whilst Geri Niscosia left it until the very last lap before snatching victory in race two ahead of Josh Malin and Gordie Mutch.

Rounding out the weekend action were three pulsating races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. Sebastian Alvarez enjoyed a return to form with a double-winning performance whilst Tommy Foster had a share of the spoils as he claimed his maiden victory in the single-seater category.

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

The Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship, Renault UK Clio Cup and returning Porsche Carrera Cup GB and Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup, along with the F4 British Championship, will all be in action in less than two weeks as the TOCA package returns to Thruxton on August 17/18.

Advance tickets to the seventh TOCA event of the season are available to purchase by heading to https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc-aug or by calling 01264 882200 (Option 1).

Tom Ingram, Colin Turkington & Rory Butcher share action-packed BTCC spoils at Snetterton

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship roared back into life after its annual six-week summer break in sensational style this past weekend (August 3/4) at Snetterton with Tom Ingram, Colin Turkington and Rory Butcher sharing the spoils.

Kicking off the second half of the 2019 campaign at the Norfolk venue, Britain’s premier race series served up an action-packed two days of track action which culminated in a edge of the seat third encounter.

For the first time in BTCC history, all three tyre compounds (soft, medium and hard) were available to be used by teams and drivers on race day. Nominations were made just before the pit lane opened prior to each race, adding further intrigue and strategy to the spectacle.

Qualifying on Saturday proved to be a record-breaking affair as Ingram claimed the first pole position for Speedworks Motorsport’s new Toyota Corolla. Storming to the top of the times with a 1:54.737, last years runner-up edged out Halfords Yuasa Racing’s Dan Cammish by a slender 0.002.

Starting on the front row of the grid, Ingram converted his pole position into a commanding lights-to-flag victory on the soft tyre. Withstanding an early challenge from Cammish, Ingram soon began to stretch his legs out front an cantered to his second win of the season.

Cammish continued his rich vein of form with yet another podium whilst Sam Tordoff rounded out the rostrum in third.

Race two would see championship leader Turkington come to the fore as he powered to a fifth victory of the season ahead of Cammish and team-mate Andrew Jordan.

Launching into second place on the opening lap, the three-time champion took the lead away from Ingram at the halfway marker – with the Toyota driver suffering an engine issue. Once out front, the BMW 330i M Sport racer clinched a comfortable victory, a record tenth in a single season for West Surrey Racing.

The third and final race of the weekend from the Norfolk venue will likely go down as being one of the races of the season as Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance’s Butcher scored his second win of the season – albeit his first on the road.

BTC Racing’s Chris Smiley started on pole position virtue of the reverse grid draw but his lead was short-lived as Jason Plato and Ashley Sutton got the better of him on the opening tour.

From there, a back-and-forth battle between the former team-mates ensued as they diced for the lead, leaving those in attendance on the edge of their seats. Going side-by-side on lap five, Sutton was unable to find a way past the Vauxhall driver but continued to press.

Two laps later, a daring move around the outside of turns one and two allowed Sutton to complete the move and take the lead at turn three. However, contact from Plato into the rear of the Subaru driver at Agostini forced him wide and back down to second.

By this stage a whole host of drivers had joined the fray for victory, many of them charging through the pack on soft tyres. The exciting climax to the battle came on lap eight as Plato, Sutton and Butcher ran three-abreast down the back straight and into Brundle.

Scything his way down the inside, Butcher took both Plato and Sutton and powered into the lead as they both made contact once more; this time leaving Sutton spinning onto the grass and dropping to 20th.

Once the melee had finished, it was Butcher that stormed to victory whilst the BTC Racing pairing of Josh Cook and Smiley were second and third respectively.

Come the end of the weekend, Turkington had extended his advantage at the summit of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship to 36 points, with Jordan in second and Butcher jumping back up into third place.

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

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is back in action in under two weeks’ time on August 17/18 when it makes it second visit of the year to the fastest circuit in the UK and the home of the British Automobile Racing Club, Thruxton Circuit.

Advance tickets to the seventh event of the season are available to purchase by heading to https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc-aug or by calling 01264 882200 (Option 1).

Two-wheeled thrills bring fans to their feet on dramatic day at Thruxton

The Bennetts British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli delivered a double dose of drama-fuelled entertainment at Thruxton today (4 August), as the country’s finest two-wheeled warriors put on a sensational show for an appreciative crowd.

The UK’s premier motorcycling series always draws in the fans, and when Bennetts BSB visits the fastest track in Britain, excitement is guaranteed. Maintaining that trend, the first of the day’s two headlining contests was a non-stop thrill ride from lights-out to chequered flag, as the leading protagonists kept spectators guessing right the way to the very last corner.

Peter Hickman grabbed the early lead from the outside of the front row of the grid as pole-sitter and championship leader Scott Redding initially slipped to sixth, just behind fellow local hero Tommy Bridewell.

Andrew Irwin, Christian Iddon and Jason O’Halloran soon joined Hickman to make it a four-way fight at the front, but behind them, after biding his time in the opening laps, Redding was increasingly turning up the wick and by mid-distance had latched onto their tail. As the Be Wiser Ducati man moved forward, however – dragging team-mate Josh Brookes with him – his Oxford Racing rival Bridewell found himself being shuffled backwards.

In evidence of the superb slipstreaming spectacle – delighting the hordes of fans filling the grandstands and packing the circuit banks – the top nine were blanketed by less than 1.4 seconds with four laps to go, but all eyes were fixed firmly on the very front of the field.

The scrap for supremacy eventually settled down to the quartet of O’Halloran, Irwin, Brookes and Redding, before Irwin survived a wiggle under braking into the chicane to snatch the advantage on lap 18. With the Ducatis hunting as a pack, Redding then set about picking his competitors off one-by-one and looked primed to grab the lead on the final lap, but Irwin proved to be a step too far for the former MotoGP podium-finisher, as a last corner attempt around the outside failed to come off.

Irwin duly took the chequered flag to register his breakthrough Bennetts BSB victory, just two tenths-of-a-second ahead of Redding, with Brookes – the most successful of the current crop at Thruxton – completing the rostrum in third, the Australian coming on increasingly strong as the race progressed. Bridewell wound up a frustrated eighth on home soil.

“This is crazy – it’s so hard to put into words what I’m feeling,” reflected an emotional Irwin, after securing Honda’s first win at Thruxton in seven years. “I really didn’t expect it – I don’t think anybody expected it from me! My first thought after taking the chequered flag was, ‘I’m earning some money for the first time in my life!’ It was said before the weekend that you don’t have to be the fastest rider here to win, but that you do have to be the smartest – well we managed to be both in that race! I’m so happy!”

Race two was a three-part thriller. Brookes and Hickman focussed on making a break early on, pulling more than two-and-a-half seconds clear of the chasing pack before the action was red-flagged on lap nine due to intensifying rain – just as Hickman was looking set to mount an attack.

The Smiths Racing man duly sped into the lead at the re-start, but it didn’t take Brookes long to redress the balance, with earlier winner Irwin next in line while Redding – who had been climbing the order prior to the stoppage – fell to the foot of the top ten. The flying Irwin subsequently moved up to second and closed right onto Brookes’ tail for the lead, with Dan Linfoot posting fastest lap as he scythed through into third. The race was developing into a six-way scrap when it was halted again after Glenn Irwin’s crashed BMW caught fire on the exit of the chicane.

When it resumed, Brookes rapidly checked out as all the fun happened behind, with pretty much everybody else disputing second. ‘Mr. Thruxton’ ultimately took the chequered flag more than four seconds ahead of the enthralling battle for the runner-up spoils, which included multiple passes and even gesticulations at close to 200mph!

Redding crossed the line second, but had 15 seconds added to his finishing time for not completing a long lap penalty issued for cutting the chicane. That dropped the Be Wiser Ducati rider well outside the points, meaning Irwin and Hickman rounded out the rostrum, the pair separated by the narrowest of margins of just 12 thousandths-of-a-second.

“Ordinarily, you need to ride pretty conservatively round here due to tyre wear, but when the race was reduced to 13 laps at the first re-start, I knew I could just go for it and when it was subsequently shortened again at the second re-start, there was no need to worry about the tyres anymore so I gave it everything I had,” explained Brookes. “From that point on, it was game on – and I had a lot of fun!”

In the support series, there were podium celebrations for Stalbridge’s Brad Jones with second place in Dickies British Supersport – repeating his Saturday success – while Puriton’s TJ Toms came within a whisker of taking his first Superstock 600 win of the season after charging from sixth on the grid into the race lead, only missing out by 0.174 seconds following a dazzling duel for glory.

For a full rundown of today’s Bennetts BSB results, click here

Next up during Thruxton’s summer of high-octane entertainment will be the return of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship in just a fortnight’s time (16-18 August). Advance tickets are on sale from £13 for Saturday (qualifying) and £29 for Sunday (race day).

Accompanied children aged 12 and under will be admitted free of charge, and all those purchasing (or who have already purchased) advance race day, advance weekend or advance family tickets will be in with a chance of waving the chequered flag at the end of the first race.

For further information or to buy tickets, visit thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc-aug or call 01264 882222.

BTCC battle heads to Snetterton as second half of the season kicks into life

Britain’s premier motorsport series the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns to action this weekend (August 3/4), with Snetterton playing host to Rounds 16, 17 & 18 and reigning champion Colin Turkington holding the initiative at the standings summit.

Following the traditional six-week summer break, the battle for supremacy in the BTCC is set to ramp up as the second half of the 2019 campaign kicks into life around the ultra-challenging Norfolk venue – and it is all to play for.

Such is the competitive nature of the championship this year, seven different drivers representing six different marques have triumphed with five events in the books whilst a further 19 drivers have stood on the podium.

Four wins have gone the way of three-time and defending champion Turkington, who holds a 33-point advantage as it stands. Armed with the new BMW 330i M Sport, the Northern Irishman has been on top form and is good value for his lead, however given that things can change quickly in the BTCC Turkington will be wary of maintaining his points buffer.

West Surrey Racing’s new car has been the machine to beat this year with BMW Pirtek Racing’s Andrew Jordan sitting second, having tallied five wins himself. Gunning for a second title, Jordan has been a tour-de-force since Donington Park and will likely be in the mix once again at Snetterton.

Beyond the top two sit a wealth of contenders all focused on closing the gap as the series heads to the business end of the season. Josh Cook, Rory Butcher, Ashley Sutton (winner at Snetterton last year) and Dan Cammish have all been regular front-runners and will have their sights set on wrestling back control from the rear-wheel-drive pace-setters.

Matt Neal – winner of the Diamond Double at Snetterton last year – has been in the thick of the action too and he, Tom Chilton, Tom Ingram and Jason Plato round out the top ten in the overall championship at the half-way marker.

Chilton will be one to watch over the course of the weekend after setting the pace during the two-day tyre test at Snetterton last month.

Renowned for producing unpredictable twists and turns on a regular basis, several drivers outside of the top ten could well make their mark in East Anglia. Tom Oliphant, Jake Hill, Sam Tordoff, Stephen Jelley and Adam Morgan, amongst many more, have all enjoyed varied success this year and will have the target of adding to it across Sunday’s three encounters.

Aiden Moffat will garner plenty of attention too as he has his first race from behind the wheel of his Laser Tools Racing Infiniti Q50 after electing to move away from his Mercedes Benz A-Class during the summer break.

One of the highlights of the BTCC calendar each season, the annual trip to Snetterton always serves up a feast of entertainment and this weekend is set to be no different.

For more information on this weekend’s event, including links to timetables and live timing, head to https://www.barc.net/event/btcc-snetterton/

TOCA support bill set to roar back into life at Snetterton

Snetterton will not only play host to the return of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this weekend (August 3/4) but also the TOCA support package, with five one-make categories primed and ready to take centre stage.

Never short of delivering edge-of-the-seat entertainment, each championship will continue their 2019 campaigns at the Norfolk venue in front of what is expected to be a bumper trackside crowd.

The Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship will enjoy an exciting start to the second half of the season as it stage four races over the course of the weekend. Adding the postponed race at Croft to the timetable, the championship for 14 to 17-year-olds is likely to set pulses racing across all four encounters.

James Hedley holds a healthy advantage at the top of the standings after scoring nine podium finishes across the first 11 races of the season, and the Elite Motorsport driver will be looking to extend his lead further in East Anglia.

Four races give the chasing pack behind Hedley every opportunity to close the gap in the points and leading the hunt will be four-time race winner Will Martin and Zak O’Sullivan, both of whom make up the top three. Throw into the mix Casper Stevenson, James Taylor and Tom Emson, among others, and all bets could be off in the Junior category.

The captivating battle for supremacy in the Renault UK Clio Cup is set to continue too as Max Coates and Jack Young gear up for the latest two rounds of the season. Virtually nothing has separated the pair so far

Jamie Bond enjoyed a star performance at Oulton Park last time out and could well be one to watch, as too will usual protagonists Jade Edwards, Ethan Hammerton, Ben Colburn and Brett Lidsey.

Following on from their appearance at Thruxton earlier in the season, the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge will makes its second outing of the year on the TOCA support bill at Snetterton.

Scott McKenna heads into the weekend as the championship leader after enjoying a stellar outing at Zandvoort and holds a 49-point lead. Challengers come thick and fast in the series however with former Ginetta Junior champion Adam Smalley, Gordie Mutch, Josh Malin and Geri Nicosia all firmly in contention.

Capping off the weekend’s action will be a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost; the country’s leading single-seater series.

To find out more information ahead of this weekend’s event, including links to live timing, timetable and entry lists, head to https://www.barc.net/event/btcc-snetterton/.

Local hero Bridewell relishing David vs. Goliath challenge on home soil

Tommy Bridewell will arrive at his home circuit of Thruxton this weekend (2-4 August) right in the thick of the title battle in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli, as the Wiltshireman continues to take the fight to two of the sport’s biggest names for the most prestigious prize in two-wheeled UK motorsport.

In the form of his life, Bridewell has been the master of consistency so far this season, with 12 top five finishes to his credit from 13 starts to-date. That means he heads to Thruxton sitting second in the championship standings, sandwiched between former MotoGP podium-finisher Scott Redding – from just up the road in Gloucester – and 2015 BSB title-winner Josh Brookes.

“The season has started well for us,” acknowledged 30-year-old Bridewell, who hails from nearby Devizes. “We have been really strong and I have had a very good feeling with the new Ducati. We have been to a real mix of circuits and been quick at every one. I am looking forward now to mine and the team’s home round at Thruxton and seeing what we can do. Thruxton is a track I enjoy a lot and I think it will be a good one for us.

“Being my home event, I have a lot of support from fans which is always nice and the goal is to try and get some race wins. We will see what we can do, but we had a good run when we visited earlier in the year for the Motorsport Celebration so we have some solid information to start with. I’m looking forward to the weekend; tyre management is always important at Thruxton so we need to take that into consideration, but I think we should be strong and we want to be fighting for wins.”

Another local in the field will be Danny Kent, who returned to the fray with MV Agusta last time out. The 2015 Moto3 World Champion is hoping for a smooth run to allow him to climb the grid on home soil, on what will be his race debut at the high-speed Hampshire circuit.

“I’m looking forward to the Thruxton race weekend and getting some more laps in,” enthused the Chippenham-born rider. “I’ve only ever done eight laps around the track, but I’m excited to get going – it’s fast-and-flowing, which I normally like and it should suit my style. Hopefully the Bikedevil Insurance MV Agusta will have fewer problems than we experienced first time out and we can complete more laps so I can learn the best way to ride a Superbike.”

The spectacle of almost 30 Superbikes going wheel-to-wheel and fairing-to-fairing around the country’s quickest circuit – tackling Thruxton’s legendary curves and slipstreaming one another at speeds approaching 200mph – is always an awe-inspiring sight. Success here is a delicate balancing act, requiring supreme skill, maximum commitment, absolute focus, inch-perfect precision, razor-sharp reactions and nerves of steel – to say nothing of a willingness to push the limits without overstepping them.

Underscoring Bennetts BSB’s international appeal, alongside the UK’s fastest and most fearless riders are a cluster of stars from further afield, including Australia’s Brookes – six times a winner here in the past five years – and Spain’s HĂ©ctor BarberĂĄ, a man with 139 MotoGP starts to his name.

Local interest, meanwhile, is enhanced by the presence of Bridewell’s Oxford Racing Ducati team (Winchester), Salisbury-based Gearlink Kawasaki and south coast outfit Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki (Bournemouth) – while a jam-packed schedule of scintillating support series will ensure the action remains red-hot from the moment the first lights go out to the final chequered flag.

Friday (free practice) and Saturday (qualifying and support races) tickets can be purchased on the gate for ÂŁ5 and ÂŁ17 respectively, while advance Sunday (main race day) tickets are still available from ÂŁ29 until 1pm on Wednesday, 31 July. After that, they will be on sale on the gate from ÂŁ34. Accompanied children aged 12 and under will be admitted free of charge.

All those purchasing (or who have already purchased) advance race day, advance weekend or advance family tickets will be automatically entered into a free prize draw to win a unique and exclusive pillion ride around the track on race day. Terms and conditions apply.

For further information or to buy tickets, visit thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/bsb or call 01264 882222.

For more information on Thruxton’s race meetings and driving experiences, visit www.thruxtonracing.co.uk

Toomas Heikkinen and Kevin Hansen share TitansRX spoils at Lydden Hill

Toomas Heikkinen and Kevin Hansen reigned supreme to share the spoils at Lydden Hill this past weekend (July 27/28) as TitansRX made a memorable maiden visit to Great Britain.

In what was the first international rallycross event to be staged at the Kent-based venue since the FIA World Rallycross Championship last visited in 2017, Lydden Hill welcomed a bumper crowd to witness two action-packed days of sideways thrills and spills.

As has been the case with a raft of global events down the years, the British Automobile Racing Club undertook an organisational role for the event, ensuring that marshals and officials were appointed, as well as the smooth-running of the two-day spectacle.

Boasting an ultra-competitive entry list, all of which were in Pantera RX6s that had been developed by MJP Racing, TitansRX arrived at Lydden Hill coming off the back of a pulsating 2019 curtain-raiser in France.

Saturday would see Heikkinen triumph for the second time this season as he powered his way to victory in the final for round three. Mastering the torrential conditions, Heikkinen took the lead off the start and was then never headed as he took the chequered flag by more than two seconds.

FIA World Rallycross stars and brothers Timmy Hansen and Kevin Hansen finished second and third respectively, the latter after coming out on top of a frenetic battle with wildcard home hero Oliver Webb.

Fellow wildcard driver and former British Rallycross champion Dan Rooke was fifth Tamara Molinaro rounded out the classification in sixth.

Nelson Piquet Jnr had dominated much of the day but a crash in his semi-final forced him out of contention whilst contact for Abbie Eaton also saw her chances of advancing halted on the spot.

There was to be frustration for 2013 BTCC champion Andrew Jordan as he failed to make the grid for his semi-final. Jordan fortunately would bounce back in sensational style on day two of the event.

Kevin Hansen put on a masterful performance to claim his maiden win in TitansRX on the Sunday of the event, taking the lead in the overall standings at the same time.

Coming off the back of winning his semi-final, Hansen led every lap of the final to comfortably beat his brother Timmy. Whilst Kevin enjoyed a relatively trouble-free run, Timmy found himself in the thick of the action as he came under pressure from Heikkinen, Jordan and Ronny C’Rock.

With an even spread between the quartet, the final lap of the race proved pivotal as Heikkinen and Hansen went wheel-to-wheel for second and third. Contact between the pair handed Hansen the advantage whilst Heikkinen lost out to an opportunistic Jordan who snuck past to clinch third place.

Alongside the TitansRX centrepiece was support race action from the Toyo Tires Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship, Retro Rallycross and Swift Sport Rallycross.

Jack Young scores victory in Clio Cup Open at Hockenheim

Jack Young made it three wins from four races on the international stage in 2019 this past weekend (July 27/28) as he took centre stage at the Formula 1 German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, triumphing in both Clio Cup Open races.

One of seven drivers to represent the Renault UK Clio Cup, the Northern Irishman continued his rich vein of form overseas to add another win to his two victories picked up at Paul Ricard in June.

In sweltering conditions, the Eddie Stobart Racing teenager was the driver to beat in qualifying as he swept his way to pole position for both races. The grid for the opening encounter had plenty for UK fans to cheer about as James Ross and Ben Colburn made it a Great Britain 1-2-3.

Lining up on pole position, Young converted his front row start into a lead that he would ultimately never lose in race one. Powering off the line, the #1 machine controlled proceedings at the head of the field for all 12 laps, despite soaking up race-long pressure from Ross.

Taking the chequered flag by little over two seconds, Young recorded his fourth Clio Cup Open win in just under a year whilst Ross picked up his maiden podium in the competition.

Westbourne Motorsport’s Ben Colburn had ran as high as third but lost out to Tomas Pekar and ultimately crossed the line in fourth.

MRM Racing’s Brett Lidsey was sixth, James Colburn was 13th, Tyler Lidsey 15th, Aaron Thompson 16th and Luke Warr, who rounded out the British competitors, was 21st.

Starting on pole position for the second race of the weekend, Young came within touching distance of making it another dream performance before being hit by the stewards. Replicating his performance on Saturday with another lights-to-flag victory, celebrations were short-lived as he was hit with a 30-second time penalty for exceeding track limits.

Young therefore dropped from first to tenth, ending his hopes of clinching another clean sweep. Among the beneficiaries of Young’s penalty was Ben Colburn, who was promoted into third place to claim his second Open podium of the year.

James Colburn served up a battling performance as he scythed his way through the field, starting 12th and bringing his Westbourne Motorsport machine home to a sixth place finish.

Thompson and both Lidsey brothers endured a torrid time as they all failed to finish whilst Warr just missed out on a top 15 finish, bringing his machine home in 16th place.

All seven drivers will now return to the UK to prepare for the latest rounds of the Renault UK Clio Cup, which take place at Snetterton this coming weekend (August 3/4).

Four BARC categories make a splash at Mallory Park

The British Automobile Racing Club battled treacherous conditions at Mallory Park this past Sunday (July 28) to serve up a plethora of on-track entertainment, with four categories taking centre stage.

Having basked in scorching temperatures leading up to the one-day event, the Leicestershire-based venue saw heavy rain fall throughout the meeting, adding further spice to what was set to be an action-packed meeting.

Tackling the iconic oval layout of Mallory Park for the first time this season, the Pickup Truck Racing Championship didn’t disappoint as it continued its 2019 campaign in sensational style.

Dale Gent produced a storming drive in the opening encounter to power his machine from seventh place on the first lap onto a second victory of the season – by more than five seconds as well. Daniel Petters and George Turiccki rounded out the podium in second and third.

Race two saw championship leader Michael Smith come to the fore as he narrowly edged out Reece Jones to win by little over half a second, strengthening his position as one of the main title protagonists this year. Mark Willis headed Gent by the smallest of margins to claim a distant third.

Spoils were shared in the Max5 Racing Championship as Paul Roddison finally saw his winning streak come to an end, with Ian Loversidge getting the better of the reigning champion in race two.

Standing on the top step of the podium at every opportunity this season, Roddison’s victory-run looked set to continue as the Class A ace powered his way to victory in race one ahead of Loversidge and Jeremy Shipley.

Loversidge then produced a commanding performance in the afternoon’s later race to lead from lights-to-flag, notching his first win of the season whilst Shipley and Roddison followed close behind to round out the rostrum.

The BARC Super Silhouette Championship also saw an unbeaten run come to an end too as Chris Brockenhurst scored his inaugural victory of 2019, ending Malcolm Blackman’s unbeaten run.

The 11-lap race was to be the only one for the silhouette category as the second encounter was cancelled.

Capping off the day’s action at Mallory Park was a trio of races from the Distrigo Parts Distribution Citroen C1 Series. Staging sprint races instead of its traditional history-making endurance races, the much-loved one-make series put on a show for those in attendance.

Spy Motorsport’s Joshua Potter scored victory in races one and three whilst Texense driver Stephen James ensured that Potter couldn’t take a clean sweep in race two.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Mallory Park, click here.

BARC set to produce Mallory Park magic on Sunday

The British Automobile Racing Club’s sensational summer of club motorsport is set to continue at Mallory Park this Sunday (July 28) as four categories descend on the Leicestershire circuit for what should be an action-packed race day.

In what has proven to be a captivating Pickup Truck Racing Championship campaign to-date, the infamous oval layout of Mallory Park will play host to the latest two rounds of much-loved championship.

Four events have already been put into the books, producing seven different winners however all eyes will be on Michael Smith as he bids to extend his lead in the standings. Hitting the front last time out at Thruxton, Smith enters the weekend as leader of the pack and will be keen to extend his advantage over George Turiccki.

Other notable names to look out for across both encounters include Dale Gent, David O’Regan, Mark Willis, Reece Jones and Paul Tompkins, all of whom have won races.

The Max5 Racing Championship will reach the halfway marker of its own 2019 season and if the previous three events are anything to go by then those in attendance will be in for a feast of on-track entertainment.

It has proven to be another ultra-competitive season for the multi-class championship and it is expected that the likes of serial race-winner Paul Roddison, Ian Loversidge, Andrew Pretorius and Jeremy Shipley will all be in the mix for overall honours.

A history-making Distrigo Parts Distribution Citroen C1 Series campaign will continue too during race day as the one-make series makes its maiden visit to Mallory Park for an exhilarating trio of 20-minute races.

Running under a sprint format as opposed to its traditional endurance spectacles, the single-make category has flourished in recent years, growing in stature along the way. With entertainment only around the corner in the C1’s, it will be a case of blink and you’ll miss the action on Sunday.

Capping off the day’s action from the infamous circuit will be a pair of races from the BARC Super Silhouette Championship. Home to spaceframe coupe and saloon cars, the category is designed to encourage close competition and keep costs down – something that has taken place in spades already this year.

With two trips to Brands Hatch and one to Pembrey ticked off, the day’s two races will likely be centred around whether Malcolm Blackman can continue his rich vein of form. Winning every race so far, Blackman leads the standings but will likely come under threat from the likes of Steve Burrows, Keith White and Chris Brockenhurst.

To find out more information on this Sunday’s event, including links to the timetable and live timing, click here.

Seven Renault UK Clio Cup drivers revved up for Clio Cup Open at F1 German Grand Prix

Seven drivers from the Renault UK Clio Cup will look to take centre stage at this weekend’s (July 27/28) Formula 1 German Grand Prix at Hockenheim as they contest the second Clio Cup Open event of the season.

With a grid of more than 30 drivers, all of which will be representing Clio Cup championships from across Europe, the battle for supremacy is set to be fierce across the weekend’s two encounters.

Leading the entry list of UK drivers is MRM Racing’s Jack Young, who will be a firm favourite amongst many heading into the weekend. In June, the Northern Irishman dominated both races at the Formula 1 French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard, winning both races by more than 20 seconds.

Having also triumphed at last year’s International Clio Cup event, the teenager will be eyeing further success as bids to continue his reign over the high-profile event.

Joining Young will be his MRM Racing team-mates, brothers Brett and Tyler Lidsey, as well as Westbourne Motorsport’s own team-mate and brother pairing of Ben and James Colburn.

Westbourne Motorsport will also field a third car for Aaron Thompson once again whilst Specialized Motorsport’s Luke Warr rounds out the list of UK competitors making the journey to mainland Europe.

Just as they had to do in France, once racing has drawn to a close all three teams will hit the road to head home and make final preparations before then heading to Snetterton for the latest event of the Renault UK Clio Cup.

Action from over the course of the weekend can be viewed by heading to https://www.youtube.com/user/renaultsport.