Barc – Page 79 – Welcome to the BARC

TOCA support championship title fights set to go up another gear at Croft

Croft Circuit won’t just welcome the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this weekend (June 15/16) but also the hugely popular TOCA support package too, with a full complement of six championship all looking to take centre stage.

Following a pulsating third event of the season at Thruxton which saw just a handful of the customary categories compete, this weekend’s visit to North Yorkshire see’s the usual variety back on in action on a recently resurfaced track.

A home race for the manufacturer, Ginetta will be keen to put on a show and in the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup, a show will undoubtedly be produced. In what has been one of the most competitive starts to a season in recent history, the battle for supremacy is wide open with Reece Somerfield leading the way.

Enjoying his best run of results in the series, five podiums from six races, Somerfield has been a revelation but he will need to fight tooth and nail to remain at the summit. Harry King, Will Burns, Tom Hibbert and Mike Epps are just a few of the drivers with their sights set on the top of the points.

The Ginetta fun won’t stop there however as the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship will also be in action for two thrilling encounters. Showcasing the next generation of UK motorsport talent, the single-make category has had fans on the edge of their seats so far and that theme is likely to continue at Croft.

James Hedley finds himself in the pound seat heading into the weekend with three race wins proving to be the backbone of his championship challenge. The competition is tough however with the likes of Zak O’Sullivan, James Taylor and Douglas Motorsport duo Gus Burton and Lorcan Hanafin all hot on his heels.

Unpredictability is one of the biggest traits when it comes to the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship and the flowing curves of Croft are set to ensure that continues no doubt over Saturday and Sunday.

Making their first appearance at Croft since 2016 will be the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. A popular draw wherever they go, the Carrera Cup is one of the fastest one-make championships around and this year’s crop of drivers look set to take the title fight down to the wire.

Second year star Daniel Harper is the early pace-setter after notching two wins however the likes of Lewis Plato, George Gamble and Josh Webster will all be notable names to keep an eye on as they bid to close the gap to the reigning Scholarship winner.

Whilst the Porsche Carrera Cup GB will be returning to Croft, the Renault UK Clio Cup will be paying its final visit to the venue as it continues its final season. Boasting a bigger grid, a majority of the cheers over the course of the weekend are likely to fall the way of local hero Max Coates.

Firmly in the title hunt, Coates will be keen to repeat his victory from last year and topple the two in the standings, Jack Young and Brett Lidsey. Northern Irishman Young was the man to beat last time out at Donington Park and with a partnership with Eddie Stobart recently announced, he will be a hard man to beat with momentum on his side.

Also not to counted out of contention in the tin top series will be Jade Edwards, Ben Colburn, James Colburn and Aaron Thompson, amongst a handful more.

Capping off the weekend’s support action in the north-east will be three races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – Powered by Ford EcoBoost.

For more information on this weekend’s event, including links to live timing and the timetable, click here.

Six Renault UK Clio Cup drivers to compete on International stage at French Formula 1 Grand Prix

The Renault UK Clio Cup will be represented by six drivers in Renault Sport Racing’s International Clio Cup Open at this month’s French Formula 1 Grand Prix (June21/22/23).

Jack Young, Brett Lidsey, Aaron Thompson, Ben Colburn, James Colburn and Luke Warr will all fly the flag for the one-make series around the demanding Paul Ricard Circuit, going wheel-to-wheel against some of the fastest drivers in championships around the world.

Following this weekend’s latest rounds at Croft Circuit (June 22/23), drivers and their cars will make the trip across the channel.

Currently residing first and second in the standings, Young and Lidsey are no strangers to the International Open having contested the ‘Clio Cup World Final’ in November around the 3.6 mile layout.

Teenage sensation Young famously emerged as the outright winner from the race after beating no less than 90 drivers from six different countries.

Whilst Young and Lidsey have cut their teeth on the international stage, it will be a new experience for the Westbourne Motorsport Colburn brothers, Thompson and Warr.

Qualifying to determine their positions on the capacity 50-car grid will be on Saturday morning, followed by race one which follows later that day – straight after F1’s final third free practice session. Race two will then take place on Sunday morning as part of the warm-up act to the French Formula 1 Grand Prix.

As Renault are a major partner of the French Grand Prix, the event will effectively mark the 40th anniversary of the company’s first race victory in F1 (Dijon, 1 July 1979) when Jean-Pierre Jabouille crossed the line first in the team’s RS10.

BTCC stars to raise vital funds for charity with online auction and track walk at Croft

Stars from the UK’s premier motorsport series will put their best foot forward at Croft Circuit this weekend (15/16 June) for a public track walk jointly in aid of Children with Cancer and the Alzheimer’s Society – and many have also donated signed merchandise and exclusive experiences to an online auction that launched last night.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Croft, presented by Tarmac is the blue riband event on the popular North Yorkshire circuit’s calendar, as 30 of the finest racing drivers in the country get set to go doorhandle-to-doorhandle for glory in front of capacity crowds.

Last year, an impromptu track walk on the Saturday evening raised more than £550 for nearby Butterwick House Children’s Hospice, inspiring an even bigger push 12 months on, with BTCC title partner Kwik Fit’s dedicated charity Children with Cancer and Croft’s own chosen charity for 2019, the Alzheimer’s Society both set to benefit from the money collected.

The track walk will begin as soon as racing finishes on Saturday (c.18:15), with drivers and fans invited to gather at the end of the pit garages near to the pit-lane exit. Drivers currently confirmed to take part include joint championship leader Rory Butcher, Yorkshire’s own Dan Cammish and Senna Proctor, two-time Independents’ Champion Tom Ingram, race-winners Stephen Jelley and Matt Simpson and Team HARD rookie Michael Crees. Fans are asked to donate what they can to join the stars of the show on a lap of the circuit on foot.

Additionally, a variety of BTCC-related items and experiences are going ‘under the hammer’ to add to the fundraising total. All of them can be viewed and bid for on the Croft Circuit Facebook page (www.facebook.com/croftcircuit/), with the following all on offer to the highest bidders:

A Tom Ingram T-shirt, hoodie and cap bundle
Three opportunities to join Tom and the Team Toyota GB with Ginsters crew for afternoon tea and a garage tour at Croft on Sunday*
Signed PopbangColour prints of Rory Butcher and Dan Cammish
The race boots set to be worn at Croft this weekend by Dan Cammish (autographed)
Michael Crees-signed caps
A meet-and-greet plus grid walk with Ciceley Motorsport*
Five limited-edition commemorative 60^th anniversary BTCC posters (only 100 ever produced)
Two 2018 BTCC season review DVDs (signed by defending champion Colin Turkington)
Saturday garage tour and Sunday grid walk for two with Power Maxed Racing at Croft this weekend*

The auction will end at 8pm on Monday, 17 June, with the two starred items above ending earlier at 8pm this Thursday (13 June). The Team Toyota GB with Ginsters and Ciceley Motorsport lots do not include circuit entry.

Tickets to the BTCC’s only north-eastern event of the year are still available to purchase on the gate, priced at just £15 for Saturday entry (BTCC Qualifying), £30 for Sunday (BTCC Race Day) or £39 for the full weekend. Accompanied children aged 12 and under are admitted free of charge, with tickets for 13-to-15-year-olds beginning at £5. Further details can be seen at: www.croftcircuit.co.uk/racing/btcc

More information on all of Croft’s driving experiences and racing events can be found at www.croftcircuit.co.uk

Spoils shared as Citroen C1 Series stars at Pembrey

Spoils were shared at Pembrey Circuit this past weekend (June 8/9) as the Distrigo Parts Distribution Citroen C1 Series served up two pulsating six-hour endurance races.

In what was the latest visit to South Wales by the British Automobile Racing Club, the C1 contingent served up another memorable weekend of competition as a total of 36 cars vied for supremacy across the weekend’s races.

Following a frenetic qualifying session, the opening six-hour race proved to be a memorable affair as Spy Motorsport triumphed. Leaving it until the final 60-minutes to make their way to the front, the trio of Scott Parkin, Joshua Potter and Peter Keen ran out as the winners.

Clocking a staggering 238 laps around the Welsh track, Spy Motorsport lapped their way all the way up to fourth by the end, taking the chequered flag by just under 50 seconds.

Race two would see the Spy Motorsport outfit unable to repeat their heroics of the day before, however they came close. Bidding to make it back-to-back victories, Saturday’s victors produced a battling performance to finish third.

Having stormed their way to pole position in qualifying, Viking duo Richard Grindrod and Jonathan Hoggarth proved to be in a league of their own as they clinched victory ahead of Amigo Motorsport.

Two races from the Welsh Sports & Saloon Car Championship also gave locals plenty to cheer about as well, with no one driver setting their stall out as the man to beat during Sunday’s pair of j pulsating encounters.

Keith Butcher, at the wheel of his Audi R8 ALMS, claimed overall honours in race one in commanding style before Mike Moss piloted his Caterham 7 to victory in the second race of the day later on.

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

Father’s Day fun at Croft as Britain’s biggest motorsport series races north

Father’s Day this year is set to be extra-special in the north-east of the country, as the UK’s premier motorsport series – the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) – speeds into Croft Circuit for a weekend of high-octane entertainment (June 15/16).

What better way to treat dad than with tickets – still discounted until Monday morning (June 10) – to see 30 of the finest drivers in Britain duelling doorhandle-to-doorhandle around a track that has always proven popular amongst competitors and fans alike?

If the action so far this season is any indicator, spectators are in for a superb weekend’s racing at the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Croft, presented by Tarmac. The circuit – situated just down the road from Darlington in North Yorkshire – invariably delivers thrills ‘n’ spills by the bucketload, and with five different winners and 15 podium-finishers from the opening nine races, unpredictability is very much the name of the game.

Just five points separate the leading four drivers in the standings at this stage, with the top two – defending champion Colin Turkington and Honda rival Rory Butcher – tied at the top of the table.

The former has earned the sobriquet ‘King of Croft’ for his spectacular success in North Yorkshire – racing to 12 wins at the track since 2005 – while for the latter, it is almost a second ‘home circuit’ hailing as he does from Kirkcaldy just north of the border. Both are eager to maintain their early-season momentum next weekend.

“I’m always excited about going to Croft,” enthused Turkington, who is chasing a fourth BTCC drivers crown in 2019. “It’s my favourite circuit on the calendar with a lot of happy memories, and I think we’re in good shape. The track has been resurfaced for this year and we’re bringing the new BMW 3 Series there for the first time so there will obviously be some learning to do, but we know what’s made us fast at Croft in the past so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be strong again.

“The first complex is the place to watch from – that’s where the action is. Actually, Turn One is probably my favourite corner because it’s much faster than you think it should be, so you’ve really got to commit through there. There’s always a lively enthusiastic crowd at Croft, and I definitely feed off that.”

“Croft is just ace – heading up through the Jim Clark Esses into Sunny In and Out is an absolute buzz and a thrill,” echoed Butcherm who broke his BTCC duck in the Brands Hatch curtain-raiser back in April. “It’s also a bit closer to home for me than most track, so we should get some Scottish fans crossing the border to support me.

“We’ve got a new surface there that’s just been re-laid, and whilst the Honda struggled last year on the old track, that should hopefully allow us to be a bit further up the field. All the teams are effectively going to be making a fresh start, so it’s going to be interesting. It’s all to play for…”

It’s not just the headlining BTCC that will thrills the crowds at Croft, with a fast-and-furious feast of support series adding to the appeal. The Formula 1 superstars of the future will go wheel-to-wheel in the F4 British Championship, with the next-generation touring car heroes earning their spurs in the Renault UK Clio Cup. Croft shares its race date with the 87th edition of the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours, and you may just spot a future winner of the race in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, Ginetta Junior Championship and Ginetta GT4 Supercup.

Tickets to the BTCC’s only north-eastern event of the year can be purchased in advance priced at just £12 for Saturday entry (BTCC Qualifying), £24 for Sunday (BTCC Race Day) or £35 for the full weekend. Accompanied children aged £12 and under are admitted free of charge, with tickets for 13-to-15-year-olds beginning at £3. Further details can be found at: http://croftcircuit.co.uk/racing/btcc

More information on all of Croft’s driving experiences and racing events can be found at http://croftcircuit.co.uk/

BARC heads to Pembrey for Citroen C1 Series enduros

The British Automobile Racing Club will descend on Pembrey Circuit this weekend (June 8/9) as the Distrigo Parts Distribution Citroen C1 Series takes centre stage for two six-hour endurance races.

Providing a low-cost method of going endurance racing, the Citroen C1 Series has become a smash-hit since its inaugural events in 2017, and now it heads to the home of Welsh motorsport for what should be a pulsating two days.

Having already written themselves into the history books after fielding the biggest grid in UK motorsport, 99 at Silverstone, the C1 contingent are set to make their mark once more with a pair of six-hour encounters around the flowing curves of Pembrey.

Another bumper entry list has been confirmed for the weekend with a raft of drivers all set to get behind the wheel of their Citroen C1 machines at some stage over the course of the weekend.

With a qualifying session set to decide the grid for the races, fans in attendance can look forward to plenty of thrills and spills as the C1 Series serves up a total of 12 hours worth of racing.

Fans will have plenty of local stars to cheer on as well as the Welsh Racing Drivers Association Sports & Saloon Championship joins in on the action on Sunday.

Boasting a diverse grid of cars that are all set to go wheel-to-wheel in the battle for supremacy, two races from the WRDA will likely be the cherry on top of what will be a memorable weekend of racing in South Wales.

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

Thousands lap up an automotive extravaganza at Power Maxed MotoFest Coventry

Power Maxed MotoFest Coventry served up a memorable two days this past weekend (June 1/2) as thousands turned out for the annual automotive extravaganza that celebrates Coventry’s heritage as Britain’s ‘motor city’.

Growing in size and stature as each year passes, the 2019 edition of the city centre spectacle proved to be the biggest and best yet for the ultimate summer party.

The centrepiece of the weekend proved to be the city’s road network transforming into a race track, titled the GT Radical Sprint Circuit. With major parts of Coventry’s ring road closing to form the 1.13 mile layout, all eyes were on the diverse range of machinery that was set to pit itself against the clock to see who would claim the spoils of being fastest.

Rounds 9 & 10 of the BARC Connaught Sprint Championship proved to be the main focus on the GT Radical Sprint Circuit as the category wrote the latest chapter in what has already been a memorable campaign.

Saturday would see Clive Woodster as the man to beat as he set the fastest time in his Radical SR4. On a slightly damper Sunday, Chris Edwards came to the fore at the wheel of his Mazda 323 GTX to walk away with the bragging rights.

Double BTCC champion Jason Plato was also on hand to meet fans and put on a show from behind the wheel of his Sterling Insurance Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra.

Other machinery to wow crowds around the ring road circuit included various entrants from the MV Commercial BTRA Championship following a three-year absence and Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup.

Supercars, car clubs and motorcycles also joined in on the ring road shenanigans as they too took to the tarmac to turn a wheel.

On Sunday, the ring road provided a fitting backdrop as a spectacular parade of 1,000 classic Citroens convoyed together to mark the French manufacturers centenary celebrations.

Away from the time trial course, the Skydome Fueltopia Arena saw plenty of thrills and spills take place across both days with modern classic, modified and custom cars both in action and on display, setting pulses racing.

In addition, the Formula G Championship had fans on the edge-of-their-seats too whilst there were also drift demos from Michelle Westby, stunt bikes and more.

Away from the circuit and arena, spectators also lapped up hundreds of classic motorbikes and cars that were on display, family fun area, fairground rides and attractions, food stalls and plenty of entertainment – including three music stages.

For more information on the 2019 Power Maxed MotoFest Coventry, head to https://www.coventrymotofest.com/.

To view the full classification of results from the BARC Connaught Sprint Championship, click here.

Donington Park plays host to memorable BARC weekend

Donington Park welcomed the British Automobile Racing Club this past weekend (June 1/2) for an entertaining two days of racing which saw a total of six championships in action.

Descending on the Leicestershire venue with the Motorsport UK British Superkart GP headlining the weekend’s action, those in attendance were treated to a mouth-watering array of wheel-to-wheel action from start to finish.

Providing a slip-streaming masterclass, the British Superkart Championship offered up huge grids and plenty of thrills along the way too. In the combined F250, F450 & Division 1 races; Liam Morley and Peter Elkmann tasted victory whilst the F125 class saw Kirk Cattermole and Morley triumph.

The coveted Motorsport UK British Superkart GP served up plenty of entertainment as the weekends centrepiece with Elkmann winning the Division 1 race, Paul Platt the F250/F450 National and Morley the F125 Open category.

On Saturday, the Dunlop Endurance Championship took to the spotlight as it staged its latest two one-hour races under the flight path of East Midlands airport. Following a pulsating qualifying session, race one spoils fell the way of the MacG Racing Taranis, driven by Jonny MacGregor.

Having finished as runners-up earlier in the day, VR Motorsport bounced back in the second Britcar encounter to score victory in race two. Tim Gray and Alastair Boulton shared driving duties of the impressive Praga R1T to finish nearly half a minute of their nearest challengers.

The BARC Clubmans Sports Prototype Championship in association with King Henry’s Taverns was back in action with another pulsating triple-header. Peter Richings claimed overall honours in the opening race of the weekend as he added to his already impressive 2019 win tally.

Races two and three saw Clive Wood and Steve Dickens come to the fore as they made it three different winners from three races.

Elsewhere, the Caterham Graduates Championship welcomed one of the biggest grids of its already successful season with more 50 cars battling it out over the course of the two days.

Stephen Clark and Samuel Wilson were the victors in the combined Sigmax, Mega & Classic races whilst Luke Balmforth and Jason McCormack did the same in the amalgamated Sigma 125, 135 & 150 class encounters.

The Lancaster Insurance MG Owner’s Club Championship saw honours even between William Sharpe and Steve McDermid as they each took a win apiece at the wheel of their MG ZR’s.

Following on from a ground-breaking inaugural event at Silverstone in April, the UK Sports Prototype Cup was back in action. Encompassing both the Radical and Revolution classes, a healthy grid of 12 competitors battled it out for supremacy.

Rob Wheldon set his stall out as the driver to beat in races one and two as he romped to victory however his chances of competing a sensational hat-trick were halted by James Abbott, who ended the weekend topping the podium.

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

Thruxton Motorsport Celebration revives the past with spectacular inaugural festival

The inaugural Thruxton Motorsport Celebration – powered by Motorsport Magazine – was a resounding success as thousands of fans enjoyed two days of historic racing, high-speed demonstrations and spectacular flypasts at the famous Hampshire venue.

Thruxton Circuit played host to a stunning display of classic cars as the UK’s fastest racetrack built on the success of last year’s hugely-popular 50th anniversary meeting, and supporters weren’t disappointed as the 15-race schedule served up a fantastic weekend of wheel-to-wheel racing.

Fans also had the opportunity to get up close and personal with priceless legendary machines in a family-friendly paddock on the iconic airfield and were treated to a number of thrilling demonstrations – both on-track and in the air.

Thruxton was bathed in glorious sunshine for much of the weekend, while a brief summer shower on Sunday did little to dampen the spirits of the motorsport enthusiasts looking to enjoy a bevy of retro races.

Motor Racing Legends’ colourful Historic Touring Car Challenge with Tony Dron Trophy grid was a firm favourite while their U2TC for pre-66 under two-litre Touring Cars also provided plenty of spills and sideways moments.

Meanwhile, their RAC Woodcote Trophy/Stirling Moss Trophy pitched the beautiful Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar XK120 and the spell-binding Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica against each other for the first time since the 1952 British Empire Trophy race on the Isle of Man, triggering memories of a by-gone era.

Elsewhere, the Sports 2000 Championship field provided the fastest cars on show this weekend with a pair of white-knuckle races culminating in Paul Streat lifting the Ian Taylor Trophy for topping the Pinto class in his Lola T87/90.

The FJHRA/HSCC ‘Silverline’ Formula Junior Championship put on four hotly-contested events – two for front-engined and two for rear-engined cars – before the Historic Racing Drivers Club completed the package with three evocative rounds – the ‘Coys 100 Trophy’ for Touring Cars 1958-66 (including an appearance from musician Chris Rea in a Morris Minor), the ‘Alfa Challenge’ for Alfa Romeo Sports, GT and Touring Cars and the ‘Allstars’ for pre-66 Sports, GT and Touring Cars.

In-between all the racing, Thruxton provided the perfect platform to showcase the skills of British Superbike Championship star Tommy Bridewell and 2015 Moto3 Champion Danny Kent as the pair scorched around the high-speed superbowl on their gravity-defying machines.

There were also runs from the iconic Lola T70 Mk38 and the thunderous V8 Lola T332 as well as a Chevrolet-powered Cooper Monaco T61, a Formula Atlantic Chevron B49 and the Reynard 89D which had been piloted by ex-Jordan F1 driver Marco Apicella during the 1989 Formula 3000 season.

For aviation fanatics, the state-of-the-art Thruxton Centre was an ideal vantage point to see the spectacular flypasts put on by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – with a pair of legendary Spitfires catching the eye on Saturday and a majestic Dakota C-47 sweeping over the circuit on Sunday.

Throughout the festival the bustling trade village gave families a chance to refuel at food vendors and shop for merchandise, while several car clubs including the Porsche Club GB, the GT40 Enthusiasts Club and the Mazda MX-5 Owners Club pitched up with impressive collections on the famous banking.

Thruxton Circuit Director Bill Coombs said: “It’s been a fabulous weekend and we’re delighted with the meeting as a whole. I think it’s lovely to see all these demonstrations, and it’s brilliant to have such a variety of classic supercars and the superbikes here as well.

“For me, this meeting is the highlight of the year. The Bennetts British Superbike and Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship events are stand-out dates in our calendar, but with so many classic cars on show from different decades this event holds such personal interest!

“The cars are just wonderful to watch, and they generally have more power than grip so they slide around a lot and are great fun. It’s been a wonderful meeting, with a real family atmosphere, and we hope it’s been a brilliant weekend out for everybody.

“And we’ve got a lot of big meetings to come with British Truck Racing, the second visit of the BTCC and the BSB. We’ve still got plenty of action at Thruxton for fans to enjoy!”

Tickets for the British Trucks Race Meeting on June 29-30 start at just £12 while advance tickets for both the Bennetts British Superbike Championship and the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship are available from just £13 for Saturday entry and £29 for Sunday.

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

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

BARC championships serve up scintillating Silverstone showing

Five championships from the British Automobile Racing Club tackled the iconic sweeping curves of Silverstone this past weekend (June 1/2) as each campaign continued on their 2019 journeys.

Topping the bill were no less than eight races from the Classic Touring Car Racing Club, which showcased that variety really is the spice of life from a wide range of eras.

Alan Greenhalgh was perfection personified in the Pre 66’ Touring Cars races as he scored a brace of wins in his Ford Falcon. Elsewhere, Stephen Primett and Mike Luck shared the spoils in the Pre 83’ Group 1 Touring Cars.

In the amalgamated Pre 93’, Pre 03’ and Pre 05’ races, David Griffin and AJ Owen scored victories whilst Andrew Wilson and Lucky Khera did the same in the combined Thunder Saloons & Blue Oval Saloons races.

The Junior Saloon Car Championship saw reigning champion Lewis Saunders get himself back into the win bracket as he made a triumphant return to the top step of the podium. Saunders however could do nothing about his main title protagonist and series leader Scott McIntyre from firing back in race two as he picked up the win.

Garrie Whittaker continued his superlative start to the Kumho BMW Championship by enjoying yet more success, scoring a pair of wins. Having won every race heading into the weekend, the E36 M3 driver extended his winning streak in sensational style.

Whittaker beat Darren Fielding and Jasver Sapra in the opener before then getting the better of Khera and Fielding in race two.

Fans enjoyed a slipstreaming extravaganza over the course of the weekend thanks to the Mighty Minis Championship. Marking the second event on the calendar for the iconic machines, Silverstone’s National layout proved to be the perfect backdrop for two frenetic races.

Alex Comis was the man to beat in the opening encounter as he led narrowly edged out Greg Jenkins and Neven Kirkpatrick. Jenkins would bounce back in race two as he edged out Kirkpatrick and Comis, the trio covered by less than half a second at the chequered flag.

Rounding out the weekend’s action at the Northamptonshire venue were the first-ever races from the SmarTrack Series Elite. Vic Lee wrote his name into the history books as the inaugural race winner before then doubling up his win tally later in the day.

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

Legends UK, Pickup Truck Racing & Super Silhouettes star at American Speedfest

Brands Hatch brought a flavour of the USA to Kent in the shape of American Speedfest this past weekend (June 1/2), and three British Automobile Racing Club championships took centre stage to put on a star-studded performance.

In what is billed as the biggest celebration of American-fuelled motoring, music and racing this side of the Atlantic, the two-day event welcomed a bumper crowd – all of whom got the full stars and stripes treatment.

Alongside the likes of Euro NASCAR and Bernie V8s that all took to the track, the BARC trio of the Legends UK National Championship with MRF Tyres, Pickup Truck Racing Championship and the BARC Super Silhouettes Championship were also in action.

Having last been action just a week previous at Anglesey, the 5/8 scale Legends contingent wrote the latest chapter in what has already been storybook season for them.

Saturday saw three different winners come to the fore across the day’s three races, with a popular winner triumphing in the final. Storming to pole position in qualifying, Marcus Pett scored victory in race one before Sean Smith triumphed in race two.

Donning the mantel of defending champion and teamed up with a special level for Legends’ 25th Anniversary, John Mickel finally notched a first win of the season in race three of the weekend.

Another trio of races followed on Sunday at Brands Hatch for the Legends with Pett, Smith and Tom Grainger topping the rostrum.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship saw two pulsating encounters played out around the Indy circuit of Brands Hatch, and both of them will likely be crucial on the outcome of who walks away as champion.

George Turiccki struck first around the 1.20 mile layout as he piloted his machine to pole position for both races. Turiccki was unable to convert his front row start into victory however as Reece Jones emerged as the man to beat in the opening race, taking victory by seven seconds ahead of Turiccki.

Race two saw Turiccki make amends however as he stole a march on his rivals to canter to victory ahead of David O’Regan and Jones.

Rounding out the action for the BARC representatives was the ever-growing BARC Super Silhouette Championship. Already reaping the benefits of a rebrand this year, the space frame category served up a mesmerising performance for those in attendance.

Qualifying saw Chris Brockhurst lay down the gauntlet to his rivals as he topped the timesheets in qualifying from behind the wheel of his Vauxhall Tigra. However, as he has done on many occasions this year already, Malcolm Blackman was the man to beat in race one as he scored yet another victory – before then repeating the feat in race two.

For the full classification of results from American Speedfest, click here.

BARC championships descend on Donington Park

The British Automobile Racing Club heads to Leicestershire this weekend (June 1/2) to tackle the sweeping curves of Donington Park as six championships continue their 2019 campaigns.

In what is the beginning of a busy summer of track action for the Club, the challenging demands of Donington Park are set to provide a stern test as many categories begin to edge towards the second half of their seasons.

Topping the bill and likely to set pulses racing under the flightpath of East Midlands airport will be the British Superkart Championship. Headlining the weekend’s action with its Superkart GP races, edge-of-the-seat entertainment is guaranteed when it comes to Superkarts.

Small in stature but able to clock eye-watering speeds, the very best karting drivers in the country will be going wheel-to-wheel in a bid to top the podium – and it is not to be missed.

From the extremes of superkarts to supercars, and the Dunlop Endurance Championship – which will hit the track once again for another two one-hour encounters. Marking the fourth event of the season for Britcar, an eclectic mix of machinery will again do battle for outright honours.

The Ferrari 488 Challenge pairing of Paul Bailey and Andy Schultz were the team to beat last time out at Brands Hatch, winning both races, and they enter the weekend at the summit of the standings. However, hot on the heels of the duo are a raft of front-running contenders all capable of throwing themselves into the fight at the front.

Another bumper entry list has been confirmed for the Caterham Graduates Championship with four races scheduled to be run over the course of the weekend. Renowned for producing close wheel-to-wheel action, the multi-class series will undoubtedly be one to watch.

Notable names to keep an eye on to challenge towards the sharp end include Samuel Wilson, Mark Carter, Jamie Ellwood, Kevin Barnett and Luke Balmforth, amongst many more.

The BARC Clubmans Sports Prototype Championship in association with King Henry’s Taverns have been hugely entertaining so far this year and that theme is set to continue at Donington.

In cars that boast a rich history, Clubmans are prototype front-engined sports racing cars that are not only easy to drive but are also affectionately known as ‘slicks and wings’ machines.

Peter Richings, Morris Hart, Clive Wood and Barry Webb are just four of the drivers to keep an eye on over the course of the weekend having already starred.

All eras of MG will be showcased at the weekend too as the Lancaster Insurance MG Owner’s Club Championship takes centre stage for the third time this year. Spanning several decades, some of the most iconic tin top machines from the manufacturer will be out on track.

With events at Silverstone and Brands Hatch already in the books, the battle for supremacy is set to rage on even further within the multi-class category.

Rounding out the weekend’s action at Donington Park will be a pair of races from the UK Sports Prototype Cup. Breaking cover at Silverstone in late April, the series – which encompasses both the Radical and Revolution classes – will be keen to write another chapter in its ever-developing story.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event including the timetable, click here.