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.