Tag: BARC Speed

The British Automobile Racing Club Midlands Centre has put together an exciting collection of events for the 2025 BARC Speed Championship season with 24 rounds ready and waiting for entries across a plethora of iconic venues in England and Wales.

The BARC Speed Championship is designed for low-cost, easily accessible motorsport with the emphasis of inclusion for all, as the series is aimed at creating an enjoyable, engaging and truly competitive environment for seasoned drivers, as well those starting out on their motorsport journey.

The championship format is one car at a time, racing against the stopwatch rather than cars together, fighting for the same piece of track. Competitors can enter all 24 events, but they can pick and choose up to eight rounds to count towards the final award of which two must be sprint, two hillclimb and one organised event by the BARC Midlands Centre.

Scoring is based on established class records, thus providing the opportunity for all competitors to accumulate points. Whether you are in standard road cars or top-end single seaters, everyone has a fair chance of taking home a prize. Venues range from sprint courses, hillclimbs and circuit based events to provide a real variety for the drivers across the campaign.

Old favourites such as Cadwell Park, Prescott and Gurston Down are joined by some new or returning events in 2025. One of Britain’s oldest hillclimb venues Shelesely Walsh is on the billing twice, while a new location in the breath-taking Epynt Hillclimb joins the itinerary this year.

The 2025 season for the BARC Speed Championship gets underway at Cadwell Park on the 29 March – with full details available at the BARC Midlands Centre website – www.barc-midlands.co.uk

2025 BARC Speed Championship Championship Calendar
Round 1 – 29th March – Cadwell Park
Rounds 2-3 – 5th/6th April – Trac Mon Anglesey
Rounds 4-5 – 26th/27th April – Gurston Down
Rounds 6 – 3rd May – Shelsley Walsh
Rounds 7-8 – 17th/18th May – Loton Park
Rounds 9-10 – 7th/8th June – Pembrey
Rounds 11-12 – 14th/15th June – Epynt Hillclimb
Rounds 13-14 – 28th/29th June – Curborough
Rounds 15-16 – 5th/6th July – Harewood
Round 17 – 20th July – Prescott
Rounds 18-19 – 23rd/24th August – Snetterton
Round 20 – 7th September – Hethel
Round 21 – 13th September – Shelsley Walsh
Round 22 – 27th September – Goodwood
Rounds 23-24 – 27th-28th September – Blyton Park

The last few years have seen the BARC Connaught Speed Championship go from strength to strength, firmly establishing itself as one of the UK’s most popular speed series. After the planned departure of Bob Adams a few weeks ago, BARC Midlands Centre is truly delighted to announce that Lucy Hart has joined us as Championship Coordinator.

“I hadn’t expected to be running such a well-loved series again quite so soon. I’m really excited about collaborating with the BARC and I’m sure that together we can make this Championship even more enjoyable for competitors and everyone else involved.”

BARC Midlands previously supported Lucy during her time as Championship Coordinator for Caterham, where she was responsible for delivering the UK’s largest single make series. However, we’re sure many speed competitors will know Lucy best from her association with the Midland Automobile Club (MAC), working at Shelsley Walsh as Competition Secretary and Secretary of the Meeting. Lucy’s involvement with the MAC also allowed her to develop the Autocar-Shelsley Walsh Young Drivers’ Championship and she remains passionate about making motorsport accessible to a far wider and younger audience.

A true motorsports enthusiast, Lucy frequently spectated at Shelsley during her early years and marshalled from the age of sixteen. She’s also passionate about bikesport and regularly enjoys the thrills of the British Superbike Championship and MotoGP.

Lucy and BARC Midlands Centre share many common ideals and goals, so we’re delighted to be working together again. The knowledge and experience she brings, backed by her sheer enthusiasm, is sure to help realise many of the ideas discussed during recent years. We’re already planning the 2022 season together, with the aim of introducing new venues, further simplifying regulations, providing more opportunities for new competitors and delivering even more fun.

We hope everyone associated with the Championship and BARC will give Lucy a very warm welcome. Need to contact her? Then simply email lucy@barc-midlands.co.uk We’re sure she’ll be delighted to hear from you.

Words: BARC Midlands

The BARC Connaught Speed Championship is set for its biggest ever season this year after unveiling a bumper 33-round calendar, of which the ten best scores will decide who walks away as champion.

Having been one of several championships that elected to take a sabbatical from competition in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the series is currently gearing up for what will be a record-breaking campaign.

Boasting the biggest ever calendar it has produced, this year’s schedule has been split, with 50% of the venues at hillclimbs such as Shelsley Walsh, Barbon, Prescott, Harewood and Gurston, and the other 50% taking place at sprints including Curborough, MIRA, Snetterton and Anglesey.

New-for-2021 is the introduction of the ‘Studio5009 – Classic Cup’, which is a bonus award designed for cars built prior to January 2001. With a handicap system in place to favour old, standard saloon machines, a balance throughout the field should ensure close results from the get-go.

In addition, Connaught Competition Engines have continued as the categories primary sponsor for the third successive year whilst a further four other sponsors will continue to fund a variety of awards too.

Those interested in competing in the 2021 BARC Connaught Speed Championship should contact Championship Coordinator Bob Adams via bob@barc-midlands.com or by heading to the website where the entry fee is just £35.00.

To view the full 2021 calendar, CLICK HERE.

The BARC Connaught Speed Championship is setting its sights on hitting the ground running in 2021 after confirming that it has postponed its 2020 season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Organised and run by the Club’s Midlands Centre, the popular series was hoping to hit new heights after enjoying a stellar 2019 season.

With the first 13 rounds of the 2020 campaign postponed due to the suspension of motorsport in the UK from the end of March, the Midlands Centre kept in close contact with venues and competitors, discussing a range of scenarios and outlining possible contingency plans accordingly.

Unfortunately, based on the availability of dates needed to secure sufficient rounds and create a viable series, the Midlands Centre has elected to cancel the 2020 season with immediate effect.

A club statement said: “We fully appreciate the resultant disappointment amongst our competitors. After the considerable amount of work already invested by Bob Adams, our Championship Coordinator, and other members of the Midlands Centre Competitions Team, this decision has not been taken lightly and is a significant disappointment to us all.

“Based upon conversations with some of our long-standing competitors, we have decided to provide three options regarding the 2020 Championship Registration Fee.

“Those options are as follows: A roll over to the 2021 BARC Speed Championship, a donation to Mind, the championship’s 2020 charity, or a full refund. Bob will be contacting competitors individually regarding their preference.”

The BARC Midlands Centre may not be staging the 2020 BARC Connaught Speed Championship however it is working on potentially running a ‘Grand Finale Sprint’ at Curborough on October 17.