Category: Barc

BTCC ready to tackle Britain’s fastest race circuit

Britain’s premier motorsport series meets Britain’s fastest race circuit this weekend (May 18/19) as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship descends on Thruxton for Rounds 7, 8 & 9 of the 2019 season.

Providing a unique challenge like nothing else on the calendar, exhilarating high-speed thrills are set to take place at the home of the British Automobile Racing Club in front of a bumper crowd as it stages the first of two BTCC meetings in Hampshire – having gained a second event in August.

In what has already been another unpredictable and ultra-competitive start to the year, the opening six races of the new season has served up five different race winners.

Josh Cook, Andrew Jordan, Rory Butcher and Tom Ingram have all tallied one win whilst reigning champion Colin Turkington is the only man to score two victories following his Donington Park double last time out.

Despite the aforementioned winners it is 2017 champion Ashley Sutton who finds himself at the top of standings. Three podium finishes paired with a further three points scoring finishes leave the Adrian Flux Subaru Racing leading the way into the third event of the year.

Traditionally making a slow start, Sutton has come out the blocks fast this year but with his Subaru Levorg ladened with success ballast, the 25-year-old will likely look to play the long game in his bid of extending his advantage.

Whilst Sutton is the early leader, the battle for supremacy at the top of the standings however is fraught with the top five separated by just six points.

Cook, who is local to the circuit, leads the chase for Sutton with Turkington, Tom Chilton and Butcher all hot on his heels. Toyota GB-back Ingram rounds out the top six after his victory in the Corolla at Donington Park.

Down the years Thruxton has been a happy hunting ground for the Honda Civic Type R and whilst Cook will be one to watch in his BTC Racing machine, several others will be keen to come to the fore too.

Cook’s team-mate Chris Smiley was one to watch at the TOCA test last month whilst the Halfords Yuasa Racing pairing of Matt Neal and Dan Cammish can’t be discounted either. Throw into the mix the AMD Tuning duo of Butcher and Sam Tordoff and the Type R could well add to its impressive record this weekend.

Both the Mercedes Benz A-Class and Vauxhall Astra have enjoyed varying success down the years at Thruxton too so Adam Morgan, Aiden Moffat, Jason Plato and local man Rob Collard will be all worth keeping an eye on over the course of the weekend too.

Brands Hatch race winner Jordan found himself in the wars last time out and the 2013 champion will be battling hard to fight his way back into early contention around a circuit that he has always excelled at.

Throw into the hat a raft of other front-running contenders such as Jake Hill, Jack Goff, Stephen Jelley and more, and you begin to see why this weekend is set to be such a blockbuster event.

Tickets to Thruxton’s first BTCC race meeting of the season will be available to purchase on the gate. For more information on pricing head to http://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc.

To find out more information on the event such as the full timetable as well as links to live timing, click here.

TOCA support championships speed into ultra-fast Thruxton

Thruxton Circuit will welcome the TOCA package this weekend (May 18/19) where four championships will look to steal the show on the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship support bill.

Following on from two entertaining events at Brands Hatch and Donington Park, the supporting cast to the BTCC looks slightly different in Hampshire as two championships join the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship and F4 British Championship.

With the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup, Renault UK Clio Cup and Porsche Carrera Cup GB all set to fixture at Thruxton in August, the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge and the Mini Se7en Racing Club are set to join the fray

Producing relentless entertainment across the opening two events, the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship has once again underlined its pedigree for showcasing some of the brightest teenage talents in UK motorsport.

James Hedley arrives at the ultra-fast venue in control of the points although the two-time Donington Park winner has a host of challengers hot on his heels. James Taylor, Zak Sullivan, Roman Bilinski and Theo Edgerton are just four on a long list of names that are in the mix towards the sharp end of the grid.

The Ginetta fun won’t stop at the Juniors as the Protyre Motorsport GT5 Challenge features on the TOCA package for what will be the first of two events this season. Suitable for all ages and levels of experience, the GT5 Challenge uses the G40 machine as its car of choice and the racing is nothing short of spectacular.

Last year’s Junior champion Adam Smalley and Gordie Mutch were the winners at the season-opener however Geri Nicosia finds himself leading the way after three encounters. All three find themselves as the favourites this weekend although the likes of Katie Milner, Scott McKenna and Ruben del Sarte can’t be discounted either.

Small in stature but packing a real punch is the Dunlop National Mini Miglia and Mini Se7en Championships supported by Mini Spares. Making a welcome visit to the BTCC support bill, Mini racing is nothing short of entertaining and the flat-out sweepers of Thruxton is set to promote plenty of wheel-to-wheel action and overtaking.

With a total of four races taking place across both days from the Mini contingent, notable names to look out for include Aaron Smith, Lee Deegan, Joe Thompson and Rupert Deeth – amongst many more.

Rounding out the weekend’s support race action as always will be three races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost, which sees Louis Foster in control of proceedings having scored three wins from the first six races.

Tickets to Thruxton’s first BTCC race meeting of the season will be available to purchase on the gate. For more information on pricing, head to http://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc.

To find out further information on the event such as the full timetable as well as links to live timing, click here.

Thruxton primed and ready for BTCC – Part One

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship arrives at Thruxton this weekend (May 18/19) for the first of its 2019 appearances at the high-speed Hampshire track, with the hugely popular series returning in the summer (August 17/18) for another bite of the cherry.

Thirty top-tier drivers have battled it out in the opening six rounds, producing five different winners from the Brands Hatch Indy and Donington Park race weekends. Reigning champion Colin Turkington is the only driver to win more than a single race so far in 2019, and his victories last time out were enough to propel him to third in the overall Drivers’ standings behind BTC Racing’s Josh Cook and Subaru’s Ashley Sutton. The latter currently leads the championship having not yet taken to the top step, though he has notched three podium finishes.

Closer than ever

The 2019 BTCC is as close as ever with the top eight drivers in the standings separated by fewer than 25 points, while a total of 13 different drivers have already visited the podium. The first two meetings have been full of surprises, with Cook taking the honours in the season opener, followed by victory for BMW Pirtek Racing’s Andrew Jordan in the second encounter of the year – just days after the new 3 Series’ build had been completed by West Surrey Racing. Donington Park wasn’t so kind to Jordan, though, with his participation in the weekend curtailed following a spectacular collision.

Rory Butcher and Tom Ingram took popular victories in the final races at Brands Hatch and Donington Park respectively, the latter in front of 4,500 Toyota employees and their families all there to cheer on Ingram in the new Corolla with the Japanese marque making its BTCC manufacturer return this season. This fantastic result for the Cheshire-based team, coupled with consistent top-ten results in the previous five races, catapulted the reigning Independents’ champion to sixth in the overall standings, just 12 points shy of the summit.

A whole host of other drivers have shown the pace and potential to win so far this season, and as is the norm in BTCC, they are queueing up to take to the top step at Thruxton. The most noteworthy has been championship leader Ash Sutton, who is yet to win a race despite his pole position at Brands Hatch and a flurry of podium finishes. Another driver to have reached the rostrum already this year is Hampshire’s own Rob Collard. Tom Oliphant is also one to watch after his third place at Donington Park, while a win-double for Turkington highlighted the BMW’s prowess throughout that weekend.

Testing, testing

A host of Honda Civic Type Rs showed their intent at Thruxton’s official BTCC Test Day back in April. As the grid looked to prepare for two 2019 visits to Hampshire, the top three positions were locked out by Hondas. Dan Cammish – who is yet to find himself at the sharp end so far this season – led the way for the Halfords Yuasa Racing works team, two tenths clear of anyone else. Chris Smiley (second) and Rory Butcher (third) joined Cammish at the top of timesheets closely followed by Sutton’s Subaru Levorg.

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class runners seemed to be there or thereabouts with Aiden Moffat in fifth and Adam Morgan in eighth. Turkington and Jordan in the BMWs also showed strong pace after posting the sixth and 11th fastest times respectively.

The top 11 drivers were less than a second apart, giving high hopes of some close racing and plenty of opportunities to capitalise at the Hampshire speedbowl for Rounds 7, 8 and 9.

“It’s a huge deal that we have two BTCC meetings at Thruxton this year,” enthused Thruxton Group Director, Bill Coombs. “It’s the biggest event of the year for us and to be able to have two of those over the course of the year is just fantastic.

“It’s a stunning weekend out, a real family event. There are plenty of trade shows and children’s activities to keep everyone entertained throughout the weekend. Due to the high-speed nature of Thruxton, the racing is probably the closest you will see in the UK, there’s always plenty of slipstreaming and overtaking so it’s very hard to pick a winner.”

“Thruxton is a very unique circuit, it’s not like any other on the calendar,” said Bath-based racer Josh Cook, who regards the Hampshire track as his home circuit. “We are coming here twice this season so that means it’s even more important to get the right setup during testing and practice, anything we can learn will benefit us at two race meetings.

“There’s really only two braking points on the whole circuit and then around the back section you’re at full power for the majority of the time. It is tricky – Church Corner is famed for its high-speed nature. It’s certainly a circuit that I love coming to.”

Tickets for the BTCC’s visit on 18/19 May 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, see https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc or call 01264 882222.

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

Thruxton Circuit gearing up for a fabulous fortnight

After the success of Thruxton’s 50th Anniversary Celebration last summer, the retro-themed extravaganza will return to the popular Hampshire circuit on 1/2 June as part of a ‘fabulous fortnight’ of high-octane action.

There will be something for everyone at the Thruxton Motorsport Celebration, powered by Motor Sport Magazine – the family-friendly festival’s new media partner. A huge variety of motorsport disciplines – spanning historics and the modern era – will take to the track for evocative races and high-speed demos throughout the weekend, featuring iconic four-wheeled and two-wheeled machinery.

Local Bennetts British Superbike Championship star Tommy Bridewell (Devizes) – currently tied for the top of the BSB title standings – will make an appearance on his Oxford Racing Ducati in what is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleasing run. Not only that, but one of the most successful Formula 5000 cars ever produced – the thunderous V8 Lola T332 – will rewind the clock as it returns to the circuit along with a Lola T70, arguably the British manufacturer’s most recognisable car. A 1989 Formula 3000 Reynard will add to the ‘memory lane’ appeal.

A number of car clubs from across the UK are also set to attend, from the Porsche Club GB to the MX-5 Owners Club – celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2019 – the Alfa Romeo Owners Club, Lotus Seven Club, Overton Classic Revival and GT40 Enthusiasts Club.

Off-track, there will be no shortage of activities for spectators to enjoy. ‘Battle of Britain’ flypasts on both days will pique the interest of aviation fanatics, featuring one of six Hawker Hurricanes remaining in the UK and the legendary Douglas C-47 Dakota transport aircraft. Not forgetting, of course, Thruxton’s impressive supercar display, circuit coach rides, sideways skid pan experiences and – for the more adventurous – axe-throwing, all topped off by local classic rock tribute band ‘The Cellarats’ performing live on the Saturday evening.

The Thruxton Motorsport Celebration will conclude Thruxton’s ‘fabulous fortnight’, which will kick off this coming weekend (18/19 May) when the high-profile Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship speeds into the country’s fastest circuit for the first of two visits on its 2019 calendar (returning again for ‘seconds’ on 17/18 August).

Judging by the action so far this season, racegoers will be in for a real treat – Britain’s biggest motor racing series never fails to produce first-class doorhandle-to-doorhandle action, and with five winners from the opening six races of the year, unpredictability is very much the name of the game.

Children aged 12 and under get in free of charge when accompanied by an adult, making this a great day out for the whole family. Not only will there be three drama-fuelled BTCC races to enjoy, but also a full schedule of support series showcasing the Formula 1, touring car and GT stars of the future – remember, you saw them here first!

“We have a very exciting couple of weeks coming up at Thruxton,” enthused Bill Coombs, Thruxton Director. “We are thrilled to have been able to turn the Thruxton Motorsport Celebration – initially planned as a one-off to mark our half-century – into an annual event after it was so well-received last year, and an amazing selection of cars, races, demos and off-track activities will make it a great weekend out for the whole family. The Battle of Britain flypast will be a particular highlight.

“Prior to that, of course, we have the first of two BTCC visits to look forward to. We are proud to have been a regular fixture on the series’ calendar since its inception more than 60 years ago, and to have secured a double helping of touring car action in 2019 means double the fun for everybody coming along. As a circuit, Thruxton always produces spectacular action – and as a championship, the BTCC never fails to entertain.”

Advance tickets for the two Thruxton BTCC race meetings are available from just ÂŁ13 for Saturday entry and ÂŁ29 for Sunday. All those purchasing an advance race day, weekend or family ticket will be entered into a draw for a chance to wave the chequered flag at the end of the first race. Tickets for the Thruxton Motorsport Celebration start at only ÂŁ12 for Saturday entry and ÂŁ20 for Sunday.

For further information or to buy tickets, visit thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc(BTCC) /  thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/celebration (Motorsport Celebration) or call 01264 882222.

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

Sun shines on memorable weekend at Pembrey for Spring Truckfest

Pembrey Circuit served up a captivating two days of track action this past weekend (May 11/12) as several British Automobile Racing Club championships continued their 2019 campaigns.

Basking in bright sunshine throughout both days, a bumper crowd descended on the picturesque Welsh venue for one of the biggest events of the year – Spring Truckfest.

Making the first of two visits to South Wales to headline the action was the MV Commercial BTRA Championship, and all seven races didn’t disappoint. Division 1 saw the ongoing duel between reigning champion Ryan Smith and David Jenkins take another turn, as the pair squabbled for supremacy.

Smith struck first with victory in the opening encounter before Jenkins bounced back with a win of his own in race two, albeit narrowly ahead of the three-time title winner.

A stunning last lap overtake in the third encounter handed the advantage back to Smith before the three-time title winner capped off his weekend in style by completing his hat-trick in the combined finale.

In Division 2, Luke Garrett continued his march towards securing back-to-back titles with another superlative performance. Storming to pole position, the MAN driver clinched a lights-to-flag victory in the opener before doing the same in race three.

Paul Rivett scored a hugely popular first win in the series also whilst Steve Powell also tasted success by powering towards the top step of the podium in the final race of the weekend.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship served up plenty of unpredictability once more as a trio of races were played out around the 1.49 mile layout. Paul Tompkins edged out a nail-biting battle for victory in the opening race ahead of Michael Smith and Mark Willis before Reece Jones came to the fore in race two to prevail.

The third and final race from the Pickup Trucks saw Dale Gent charge towards the summit to become the third different race winner in the series.

Malcolm Blackman continued his dominant start to the year in the BARC Super Silhouette Championship with a further three wins at Pembrey. Having topped the podium twice at the Brands Hatch season-opener, Blackman extended his unbeaten start to the season with a commanding performance.

As Blackman starred Chris Brockenhurst, Steve Burrows and Danny Hunn all also picked up podium finishes.

There was further dominance in the Max5 Racing Championship as well as Paul Roddison notched two wins to extend his perfect start to the 2019 campaign. Coming off the back of claiming a sensational hat-trick of wins at Croft, Roddison underlined his credentials as the man to beat in superlative circumstances.

Roddison battled back from fourth to head Ian Loversidge and Andrew Pretorius in race one before then doing the same in race two, this time doing so from lights-to-flag.

The BARC Saloons Series, TDi North Honda VTEC Challenge and KW Automotive Classic VW Cup amalgamated together once again to give fans of all things tin tops plenty to get excited about.

William Casswell piloted his Honda Civic to the top of the rostrum in race one before the eye-catching Ford Sierra XR4i of Ashley Shelswell triumphed later on.

Rounding out the weekend’s action were a pair of races from the Welsh Sports & Saloon Car Championship which were both won by Keith Butcher.

For the full classification of results from Pembrey across the weekend, click here.

BARC battles changeable conditions at breathtaking Brands Hatch meeting

The British Automobile Racing Club battled changeable conditions to serve up a spectacular two days of track action this past weekend (May 11/12) at Brands Hatch, with a host of championships taking centre stage.

Marking the latest visit to the Kent venue by the Club, the Indy circuit saw treacherous rain and bright sunshine play its part over the course of both days, further spicing up the on-track action.

Following two events at Silverstone, the a bumper entry list in the Dunlop Endurance Championship produced two pulsating one-hour races. SB Race Engineering emerged as the team to beat during Saturday with the Ferrari 488 Challenge duo of Paul Bailey and Andy Schultz triumphing on both occasions.

Bailey and Schultz got the best of the conditions in race one to triumph more than half a minute ahead of Paul Rose, who ended the race as their nearest challengers. With the weather taking a turn for the better later in the day, the Ferrari pairing produced a similar level of dominance in race two.

Hitting the front early on, the duo made their escape out front and were ultimately never challenged, ultimately crossing the line by more than 40 seconds ahead of Lee Frost in his Ginetta G55.

The Michelin Clio Cup Series returned to action in style with three exciting races playing out around the 1.2 mile layout. Showcasing two generations of Clio machinery, the one-make category had those in attendance on the edge of their seats.

Simon Freeman, James Colburn and Nic Harrison claimed individual honours in their respective classes in the opening race before the trio did the same later in the day.

Amalgamating with the BARC Tin Tops Championship, the final race of the day – which wasn’t eligible for championship points – saw Tyler Lidsey end the weekend on the top step of the podium.

Garrie Whittaker continued to reign supreme in the Kumho BMW Championship as he extended his advantage at the summit of the multi-class standings. Having been the man to beat at both Oulton Park and Castle Combe, the E36 M3 driver showed no signs of letting up as adding to his silverware collection.

Lapping up to sixth place, Whittaker was unstoppable in race one as he scored his fifth win of the year, and he dually added to his tally later in the afternoon with another imperious drive. Whittaker then extended his winning streak with another dominant performance later in the day, scoring victory once more.

The Lancaster Insurance MG Owner’s Club Championship boasted a bumper 24-car grid and it too provided unmissable track action. Race one ended in dramatic fashion as leader Lee Sullivan saw his hopes of triumphing diminish following an engine failure, gifting William Sharpe and his MG ZR victory.

Simon Kendrick was the man to beat in the MGOC’s second race as he got the better of Steve Darbey and Mark Baker in his MG F VVC.

In the BARC Tin Tops Championship, Chris Whiteman and Terry Stephens claimed outright honours to top the rostrum.

Capping off the weekend’s action were several demonstration sessions from the SmarTrack Series Elite contingent. Two Jaguar Project 8 cars took to the circuit to give fans and potential competitors a flavour of what is come to from the series over the course of the forthcoming year.

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

Pembrey revved up and ready for two-day Spring Truckfest meeting

Pembrey Circuit is gearing up for one of the biggest events of the season in South Wales this weekend (May 11/12) as a host of British Automobile Racing Club championships descend on the popular venue for Spring Truckfest.

In what has become a marque two-day event in recent years, a bumper crowd is set to line the spectator bankings over the course of the weekend to soak up all of the on and off track entertainment, of which there is plenty for the whole family.

Headlining the on-track action will be several races from the MV Commercial BTlRA Championship. Roaring into life at Brands Hatch in style, the heavyweight behemoths head to Pembrey for the second event of the 2019 campaign and with it all to play for in both Divisions.

Ryan Smith and David Jenkins find themselves locked in a battle at the top of the points in Division 1 currently after emerging as the early pace-setters from the round one.

After ruling the roost at the season-opener, Ryan Smith and David Jenkins enter round two with nothing between them in the points. Sharing the spoils along with Stuart Oliver last time out, the pair are set to renew their rivalry further as they bid to gain the upper-hand. John Newell, Richard Collett and Simon Reid will all likely be in the mix too.

Division 2 currently sees a familiar face at the summit of the standings with Luke Garrett getting the defence of his title off to a strong start. Winning twice last time out, Garrett will be keen to continue his momentum however the likes of Steve Powell, Paul Rivett and Erik Forsstrom will be worth keeping a keen eye on too.

More truck racing action will be on offer at Pembrey in the shape of the Pickup Truck Racing Championship, which also resumes after a pulsating season-opener at Brands Hatch. Two more races from the much-loved series will likely get those in attendance on the edge of their seats from the get-go.

Those with a keen interest in all things tin tops will be well-catered for as the KW Automotive Classic VW Cup, BARC Saloon Series and TDi North Honda VTEC Challenge continue their campaigns.

All roaring into life at Silverstone a couple of weeks back, the very best in saloon car machinery will be on display over the course of the weekend with a raft of notable names to keep an eye on.

The Max5 Racing Championship will be back in action with Paul Roddison aiming to maintain his scintillating start to the year. Roddison scored a sensational hat-trick at Croft and will be eyeing further success across the weekend.

Fans will also be able to get behind a host of local drivers too as the Welsh Racing Drivers Association Championship takes centre stage. With a variety of cars set to duke it out for supremacy, the WRDA is one not to be missed.

For more information on this weekend’s event at Pembrey Circuit, click here.

BARC heads back to Brands Hatch for latest two-day event

Brands Hatch will welcome back the British Automobile Racing Club to Kent this weekend (May 11/12) with six championship readying themselves for another pivotal event on their 2019 calendars respectively.

In what is the latest visit to the Indy circuit for the BARC, the two-day event is the latest chapter in what is proving to be another vintage of motorsport for the Club and its championships.

Topping the bill will be a pair of one-hour races from the Dunlop Endurance Championship. With two events at Silverstone in the books already for Britcar’s premier series, the 1.2 mile Brands Hatch layout will welcome an awe-inspiring line-up of illustrious supercars, all of which will be set to go wheel-to-wheel.

Ferrari 488 Challenge’s lockout the top two spots in the standings and they could well be the car to beat. Tim Gray’s Praga R1T will also be one to watch having been a force to be reckoned with already whilst several other car and driver combinations will be eyeing success.

The Michelin Clio Cup Series is back in action for the second time this year and all signs point to another pulsating event. Three races will be run across both days and both the third and fourth generation Clio will be

Ronan Pearson, James Colburn, Nic Harrison and Simon Freeman were just a few of the stars at the curtain-raiser and they will all, along with several others, be keen to mix it at the front of their respective classes.

It has been a lengthy wait for the second Lancaster Insurance MG Owner’s Club Championship meeting, having initially kicked off their season at Oulton Park in March. With some of the most iconic MG machinery from all eras battling it out for supremacy, the championship is not to be missed.

Notable names to keep an eye on across both days include multiple champion Jim Baynam, Stuart Plotnek, Fergus Campbell and Steve Darbey.

The Kumho BMW Championship has starred at Oulton Park and Castle Combe so far and that theme will likely continue this weekend. Pitting some of the best models from the German manufacturer against each other, the production-based series continues to be a smash-hit.

Garrie Whittacker has emerged as the man to beat so far however the likes of Lucky Khera, James Card and Trevor Ford are amongst several leading contenders out to halt his momentum.

Showcasing some of the best saloon cars competing today, the BARC Tin Tops Championship will be back in action at Brands Hatch for the second time this year. Having produced a mesmerising pair of races last month, another variety-filled grid is set to line up and duke it out for supremacy.

Capping off the weekend’s action will be several demonstration runs from the all-new SmarTrack Series Elite. Designed to appeal to both amateurs and more experienced racers aged 40 and above, the brand new series will hit the track with two Jaguar Project 8 cars.

Giving drivers the opportunity to fettle their cars as well as give the public its first taste of the category, Series Elite will hit the track on four occasions over the course of the weekend for further mileage to be clocked.

To find out more information, including a timetable and links to live timing, click here.

BARC championships serve up Snetterton spectacular

Snetterton played host to a memorable two days of British Automobile Racing Club action this past weekend (May 5/6) as five championships continued their 2019 campaigns around the Norfolk venue.

In what proved to be a bank holiday to remember, edge of the seat entertainment was served up from start-to-finish as a variety of categories tackled the challenging 2.99 circuit layout.

The Junior Saloon Car Championship saw spoils shared as Thomas Ward and Scott McIntyre took a win apiece. Having entered the weekend sitting atop of the standings, McIntyre was keen to extend his advantage at the summit and set about doing so by storming to pole position in qualifying.

McIntyre was unable to convert it into victory however as Ward stormed into the lead and ultimately powered his way to a first win of the season as he led McIntyre and reigning champion Lewis Saunders across the line.

Race two would see McIntyre and Saunders in a league of their own as they pulled away from the chasing gap to lead by more than ten seconds. With little separating the pair as the laps ticked by, former Scholarship winner McIntyre managed to pull away to win once again, with Saunders and Jemma Moore rounding out the rostrum.

The BARC Clubmans Sports Prototype Championship in association with King Henry’s Taverns was back in action for its second event of the year, and it didn’t disappoint.

Three races yielded a dominant day in each class as three drivers produced stunning hat-trick performances, although they didn’t always have things their own way. On a bank holiday weekend which saw fierce competition, Clive Wood led the way with a scintillating display in class CSP1, winning all three races.

Elsewhere, CSP2 honours went the way of Mike Evans whilst Brian Hunter completed the trio of hat-tricks by triumphing in the CSP3 category.

A jaw-dropping 40-car grid in the Caterham Graduates Championship was a sight to behold and the on-track action ensured those in attendance were gripped. Samuel Wilson continued his strong start to the year with victory in race one, heading the duelling duo of Jamie Winrow and Jamie Ellwood by more than eight seconds.

Wilson’s winning streak came to an end in race two however as an ultra-close battle between Winrow, Ellwood and Stephen Clark covered by just three tenths of a second as the chequered flag flew – with Winrow coming out on top.

The Classic Touring Car Championship was back in action for the third time this year and its block of races didn’t disappoint. James Burrows and Martin Reynolds were the victors in the Pre ’66 Touring Car Championship encounters whilst Mark Osborne was at the double in the Pre ’83 Touring Car Championship.

Stephen Pearson meanwhile swept his to victory in the amalgamated Pre ’93 / Pre ’03 / Pre ’05 Touring Car Championships. Capping off the CTCRC winners was James Janicki and Andrew Wilson, each of whom triumphed in the combined Classic Thunder Touring Car Championship & Blue Oval Touring Car Championship.

Rounding out the weekend’s action were a handful of races from the British Superkart Championship, with Liam Morley, Sam Moss, Andy Bird and Jason Dredge all standing on the top step of the podium at one stage.

For the full results from all of the weekend’s sessions across each championship, click here.

SmarTrack Series Elite to run demonstration sessions at Brands Hatch

With extensive taster testing and overall refinements taking place in recent months on the production line, the first of the SmarTrack Series Elite Jaguar Project 8 cars will break cover at Brands Hatch this weekend (May 11/12).

As part of the British Automobile Racing Club’s race meeting, two race prepared cars will take part in four demonstration sessions of 15-20 minutes each, around the Indy circuit, over the course of the weekend.

Giving drivers an opportunity to fine tune their cars, the demonstrations will also allow for the public to witness the potential of the extraordinary 600bhp, 200mph all-wheel-drive machines in the flesh.

The ground-breaking one-make series roars into life at the Kent venue before then moving on to Silverstone, where a six-car, fully competitive grid will fight out the first ever races, before returning to Brands Hatch, and subsequently on to Donington Park, Snetterton and the Algarve. Jaguar Land Rover SVO will ultimately produce 20 cars for the series, meaning grids will increase throughout the year.

On revealing the plans for the weekend, Series Founder, Graeme Glew said: “We are delighted to be able to show off the cars this weekend, and can think of few better places to do so than Brands Hatch.

“Despite some delays outside of our control which have meant we are not quite ready to start competitive racing, I wanted to ensure that the public got at least a taste of things to come, so I am grateful to the BARC for providing time in a busy schedule to get out on track and introduce the cars.

“We have more cars arriving every day, and a growing roster of engaged drivers, so we look forward to returning again in June to show the Brands Hatch public Series Elite in full competitive action”.

Designed to appeal to both amateurs and more experienced racers aged 40 and above, Series Elite’s cars are available to purchase or to rent on an arrive-and-drive basis providing the drivers that are interested possess the minimum of a National A Licence.

For more information, head to www.serieselite.com

BARC bank holiday bonanza ready to be played out at Snetterton

The British Automobile Racing Club is gearing up for another bank holiday bonanza of on-track action this coming weekend (May 5/6) as five championships travel Norfolk to take on the challenges of Snetterton.

With the 2019 season now in full swing, events are coming thick and fast for the Club with this weekend’s meeting set to be an enthralling affair.

The battle for supremacy will rumble on in the Junior Saloon Car Championship this weekend, with Snetterton providing the stage for the third event of what has already been an enthralling season.

Offering aspiring racers aged between the ages of 14 to 17 to make the transition from karts to cars, the JSCC has become the perfect platform for teenagers to forge a career in motorsport at an affordable price, and this year has already seen events at Oulton Park and Croft.

Scott McIntyre finds himself in the lead of the championship standings virtue of three consecutive wins however his advantage is a slender one over reigning champion Lewis Saunders.

Beyond the top two, Thomas Ward has enjoyed a strong start to the year to sit third whilst the likes of Jemma Moore, Owen Hizzey, Alex Jay, Leo Panayiotu and TJ Rodriguez, among many more, will all be keen to close the gap to the leaders.

The BARC Clubmans Sports Prototype Championship in association with King Henry’s Taverns is back in action with another trio of races after roaring into life at Brands Hatch a few weeks ago.

The multi-class category has become a cornerstone of British motorsport down the years and the 2019 edition has already served up plenty of talking points.

Clive Wood and Peter Richings shared the outright spoils last time out and the pair will be keen to carry their momentum forward. The likes of Morris Hart, Barry Webb, Mike Evans, Pippa Tanner-Wood and Brian Hunter however will all be looking to enjoy success too.

Snetterton will mark the third weekend of the year for the Caterham Graduates Championship, with another sizeable entry list revved up for a high-octane two days of racing. With varying classes ensuring parity remains throughout, the championship has been a stable for thrilling wheel-to-wheel racing down the years.

Samuel Wilson has emerged as the head figure in the series and has been perfection personified thus far, leading the way in the SigMax category. Throughout the grid, drivers to keep an eye on over the course of the weekend as well as Wilson include Jamie Ellwood, Robin Webb, Paul Hawker and many more.

The very best saloon cars from down the years will be in action in the Classic Touring Car Championship, which will continue its 2019 campaign at Snetterton after an impressive opening two events at Oulton Park and Brands Hatch.

As always, the Paul Inch – Classic Race Engines Pre ’66 Touring Cars, CTCRC Group 1 Touring Car Championship, Envirotec Hygiene Services Pre-93 Touring Cars, Simply Serviced Pre-2003 Touring Cars, Toyo Tyres Pre-2005 Production Touring Car Championship, Burton Power Blue Oval Saloon Series and Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder Saloons Championship will respectively amalgamate.

Drivers to keep a close eye on include AJ Owen, Stephen Primett, Don Hughes, Richard Wood, Mike Luck, Johnathan Lewis and many more.

Rounding out the action will be a handful of races from the jaw-dropping British Superkart Championship, which resumes after an eventful season-opener at Cadwell Park last month.

For more information on this weekend’s event at Snetterton, including links to timetables and live timing, click here.

TOCA support championships take on starring role at Donington Park

Donington Park delivered a breathtaking two days of TOCA support race action this past weekend (April 27/28) as title battles continued to intensify across all five championships.

All aiming to take on a starring role alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at the Leicestershire venue, action

Jack Young asserted himself as the man to beat in the Renault UK Clio Cup as he enjoyed a near-perfect weekend to rocket to the summit of the standings. Scorching his way to pole position on Saturday, the MRM Racing wrote his name into the history books the following day by becoming the youngest driver to win a race in the series.

Brett Lidsey and Ben Colburn proved to be Young’s closest challengers over the course of the race but neither could stop the Northern Irishman. Brands Hatch race winner Max Coates meanwhile battled back from a pit lane start before retiring with a mechanical issue.

Young underlined his supremacy once again later in the day as he scored a second successive win to the tune of nine seconds ahead of Lidsey and the charging Coates.

Spoils were shared in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB as Daniel Harper and the returning Josh Webster claimed a win apiece. Having secured a last-minute deal to join the grid with Team Parker Racing, former champion Webster was on the pace from the get-go and marked his return with a podium in race one.

Harper however was the one to beat in the opener as he produced a mesmerising performance to fend off George Gamble and score his second victory of the year already. Webster would show

James Hedley made his mark on the Michelin Ginetta Junior championship as notched an impressive brace of wins and a second place finish in an exciting trio of races. Hedley produced a battling display in race one to catch pole sitter Roman Bilinski but was unable to make a move.

Having settled for second, post-race checks led to Bilinski being disqualified and thus promoting the teenager to the top step of the podium. James Taylor then came to the fore in the second race of the weekend as he scored his second win of the year before Hedley added to his tally with an impressive drive to cap off the event with more silverware.

Elsewhere the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup proved to be ultra-competitive once more with three drivers topping the podium over the course of the event. Harry King continued his impressive start to the year with victory in race one before Will Burns and Tom Hibbert each enjoyed success.

Capping off the TOCA support action was a trio of races from the F4 British Championship with Louis Foster and Bart Horsten triumphing.

Both the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship and F4 B will be joined by the Ginetta GT5 Challenge and Mini Se7en Championship at Thruxton for the third event of the 2019 season on May 18/19.

The remaining three championships will return to action on June 15/16 in North Yorkshire at Croft.

For the full classification of results, click here.