The 2024 CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship kicks off this weekend, with a double header at Donington Park. Defending Champion Ian Bamber is an absentee from the opener, but runner up Roddie Paterson heads the entry in his Caterham C400.

There are three strong entries in Class A, where having raced a Seat TCR last season, Garry Wardle is due out in an Audi A3 TCR. He will be up against long time sponsor Ric Wood, who is in his Ford Capri GAA. Completing the Class line-up and a possible outright winner is Andrew Southcott, who took a number of victories last season too.

Paterson heads Class B, with no less than 13 entries. Tim Foxlow and Daz Owen are both out in their Escort Mk1 RSR’s, Owen has already been out in Modified Ford’s this season. Mark Primett is back again with his quick Banks Lotus Europa, along with former Champion Jamie Cryer in his Ginetta G20. Bod Buckby has moved up to a beefier Caterham, hence his change of class from Class C and local driver Tom Frankland will be looking for a good result in his Renault 5GT Turbo.

Richard Hall has changed his Caterham to a CSR, while having previously raced a Ginetta G40, Connor Modro is out in a Westfield Aero. Occasional visitor Tim Moll has entered his VW Golf and newcomers Paul Masters, Tom Church and Gareth John are bringing their respective Westfield, MGF and Ginetta G40.

There are no Class C cars, but Class D has an excellent nine car line-up, led by Oliver Thomas’ Subaru Impreza. Having missed some of the latter rounds in 2023, Marshall Groves returns in his Vauxhall Vectra, while Clive Dix will be planning to maximise the development work from last years success in his Mazda RX7.

Ric Walker’s Mini JCW will seeking to move up the order, while Paul Goodlad’s VW Scirocco is expected to challenge too. Watch out also for the Ford Focus of David Jones.

Having raced his BMW Compact in various guises, Steven Parker has entered a Ford Fiesta 1.6 Turbo. Cliff Butler is another occasional visitor to the Championship and joins us again with his Vauxhall Carlton, while CNC legends Ralph Underwood and Bob Claxton are back in their TR7 V8 and VW Golf.

Julian Wood has stepped down from his Kia Optima to a Class E BMW Compact, where he is joined by Championship regular Peter Koukoulas’ Toyota MR2. They are joined by Cavan Taylor, who debuted his Renault Clio part way through last season, and newcomer Wayne Spiller in his Mazda RX8. Son of David Jones, Matthew is entered in his Class E Ford Focus

There are no takers for Class F, but hopefully there will be before the next rounds.

All the action is on Saturday, with qualifying 11.35 to 11.55, Race 1 at 2.20 and race 2 at 6.16, both of 20 minutes duration.