The BARC’s North Western Centre is set to mark the 40th Anniversary on its own Sports/Saloon Championship later this year with a celebrate as its Oulton Park race meeting on Saturday 14th October.

It was at Oulton Park on the 31^st March 1984 that the championship, then a Special GT Challenge, held its first round with a small grid of 10 cars starting the race and Bob Trotter cruising to victory in his Ford Escort RS2000.

The Challenge became a Championship the following year and within a few years the average grid had increased to over 30 cars. Over the 40 years of friendly but competitive racing, the Centre has run over 460 races, in which over 700 drivers have competed.

Chris Maries currently holds the record for starting the most races at 222 in no less than 25 or so different cars. Ric Wood, owner of CNC Heads – the championship’s current sponsor – has across a staggering 35 years of the category.

The strength of the championship has been built on stability of the regulations, firm but fair application of the regulations and cost effective, non-contact competition.

There is no registration fee, entry fees are kept as low as possible, which has resulted in increased grids that allow for the low level of fees. In addition competitors only pay for their time on track as refunds are given for sessions missed for valid reasons.

These principles plus the family atmosphere in the Paddock should allow for the continued health of the championship.

The North Western Centre thanks all of its current sponsors, CNC Heads and CSP Car Service Packs, for their continued support.