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James Dorlin overhauls points deficit to provisionally seal Renault UK Clio Cup title

The Renault UK Clio Cup title fight went down to the final lap of the season at Brands Hatch this past weekend (September 29/30) with James Dorlin eventually overhauling his rivals to provisionally be crowned champion in his second season in the series.

In what had been a pulsating season-long battle, four drivers descended on the Kent circuit in mathematical contention for the coveted title but when the dust settled on the weekend’s two races, the Westbourne Motorsport driver celebrated championship glory.

Having entered the weekend sitting third in the standings, the BRDC Superstar picked up silverware in race one before setting his sights on taking control of the championship battle in the final race of the year.

Launching from the outside of the front row, Dorlin overhauled Bradley Burns for the lead on the opening lap heading into Graham Hill Bend and soon made his escape. Behind, series leader Max Coates found himself in the thick of the action but could not make headway.

Despite having to deal with two safety car periods, the former Junior Saloon Car and Michelin Clio Cup Series champion held his nerve to take his sixth victory of the season and with it, the 2018 Renault UK Clio Cup title.

Dorlin’s title, though, is provisional, pending an appeal to the MSA National Court by Paul Rivett and his WDE Motorsport team.

Commenting on his title win, Dorlin said: “This is the biggest achievement of my career so far, without a doubt.

“To win at this level in front of the British Touring Car teams, crowds and ITV cameras and because of the very high level of competition that the Clio Cup attracts means it carries massive credibility.

“I had all sorts thrown at me during the race but I knew so long as I kept the lead and it wasn’t Max in second then it was coming my way. Any pressure actually helped me stay focused and winning was the only thing on my mind.

“It’s great to get it the title with a sixth win and I have to say a massive ‘thank you’ to my team Westbourne Motorsport who I’ve come through the system with and sponsors Vantage Motor Group and GardX. And of course my family who’ve been with me all the way since I first started racing.”

Daniel Rowbottom, who had been in contention at the start of the weekend, produced a superlative performance in the opening encounter to storm to his third victory of the year. Converting pole position into the race lead, Rowbottom served up a mesmerising performance as he fended off the charging duo of Burns and Jack Young.

Further down the order the trio of Dorlin, Rivett and Coates diced but it was to be the Westbourne Motorsport driver that held the advantage. As the laps ticked by Young soon found himself in trouble as he was hit with a ten-second penalty for a false start – promoting the title trio.

The race however would not reach its conclusion following a heavy crash for Nicholas Reeve and Brett Lidsey at Dingle Dell. Reeve came off worse as his machine hit the tyre wall hard and subsequently rolled, causing substantial damage to his Specialized Motorsport machine.

Due to severe damage to the barrier, the race was red-flagged with Rowbottom declared the winner with Burns and Dorlin rounding off the podium.

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

Colin Turkington writes his name into the history books after clinching third BTCC title

Colin Turkington wrote his name into the history books at Brands Hatch after clinching his third Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship title.

In the series’ 60th Anniversary season, the Team BMW driver kept his cool to join an illustrious list of three-time winners and with it, add his name to the trophy for a third time.

Turkington arrived at the Kent circuit with a 34-point advantage over Tom Ingram and outscored his rival by a handful of points in the opening encounter. Encountering issues in race two which saw him non-score, the Northern Irishman crossed the line with an unassailable lead.

BMW and West Surrey Racing enjoyed further success too as they successfully retained their BTCC Manufacturer/Constructor Championship and BTCC Teams’ Championship crowns.

Despite missing out on the overall title, Ingram still tasted championship glory as he successfully retained his Independent Driver’s crown. The Toyota Avensis driver wrapped up the championship with a race to spare, pipping season-long rival Tom Chilton.

Speedworks Motorsport also fended off Motorbase Performance to retain their Independent Teams’ Championship too.

Halfords Yuasa Racing’s signed off his maiden BTCC season in style around the iconic Grand Prix layout at Brands Hatch by storming to a breakthrough victory in race one. The Honda Civic Type R driver enjoyed further success later in the day as he scored a second lights-to-flag victory in race two, leading home a second Team Dynamics 1-2.

Cammish lifted championship silverware at the end of the weekend as he was crowned the new Jack Sears Trophy champion. Open to drivers who started the season having not scored an outright BTCC podium, the Yorkshireman built up an unassailable lead at the penultimate event of the season at Silverstone to lift the coveted trophy.

For the final standings in all BTCC championships, click here.

Three drivers set to represent UK Clio Cup in International Final

Max Coates, Jack Young and Brett Lidsey are set to represent the Renault UK Clio Cup at Paul Ricard on November 3/4 as they take part in the International Renault Clio Cup Final.

Bringing together the leader competitors from all Clio Cup categories, the battle to be crowned the best driver in the series will take place around the circuits full-length Grand Prix layout in a 25-minute plus one lap race.

In addition to the UK Clio Cup, other championships being represented include France, Italy, Spain, Germany, ‘Central Europe’ and China – all of whom are putting some of their fastest drivers forward to duke it out for a brand new 280hp Mégane Renault Sport.

Winning four races on his way to narrowly missing out on the 2018 UK Clio Cup title, Pyro Motorsport’s Coates is raring to take on the competition and sign off his year in style with yet more silverware.

In an interview with the Arabic news outlet 7alal he said: “I’m just very excited to be going to Paul Ricard – what an awesome event! This will be my second race overseas in 2018 which started in a Clio Cup car in the 24 Hours of Dubai endurance event.

“It’s going to be a challenge against other drivers from mainland Europe who will already know the circuit, but I’m going to give it my best shot and hopefully I can come away with a shiny new Mégane R.S!”

MRM Racing duo Lidsey and Young both enjoyed strong campaigns over the past year, each scoring a best result of fifth place.

“It’ll be nice to race on the continent again after getting some strong results in the Benelux and Central Europe Clio Cup championships in the last few years,” Lidsey said.

“There are going to be a lot of good drivers going to Paul Ricard but I want to use the event to show what we are capable of – we were strong in the UK this year but results didn’t always go our way. This is a chance to end 2018 on a high before we look to 2019.”

Young added: “It’s going to be a very hard event to win – we don’t know the track whereas the Italian, Spanish and French drivers certainly do!

“However the UK championship I believe is the hardest of all the Clio Cups out there so, after being on the pace in the four events I did do, I’d like to think that we have the pace to be right at the sharp end at Paul Ricard.”

Clio Cup International Final spaces up for grabs at Brands Hatch

The Renault UK Clio Cup title won’t be the only prize up for grabs at this weekend’s (September 29/30) Brands Hatch season finale, with the top six drivers in the championship standings and the Graduates Cup champion set to secure entry to the prestigious International Renault Clio Cup Final event at Circuit Paul Ricard in France.

Taking place on November 3/4, the event will bring together the best drivers from Clio Cup championships France, Italy, Spain, Central Europe, the UK and China for a thrilling end of season winner-takes-all race run over 25 minutes plus one lap. The winner of the race will receive a brand new 280hp Mégane Renault Sport.

As it stands, the trio of Max Coates, Paul Rivett and James Dorlin have all secured their spots virtue of sitting inside the top three whilst Bradley Burns has also done the same after clinching the Graduates Cup at Silverstone.

Daniel Rowbottom, Michael Epps, Jack McCarthy, Lee Pattison, James Colburn and Dan Zelos could all still have their say on booking their spots too.

Renault Sport’s UK Motorsport Championship Manager, Will Fewkes, commented: “This is a fantastic opportunity for up to seven of our drivers to take on the best of the best in Clio Cup competition from across the world. Given the UK Clio Cup’s track record for producing the very best touring car stars of the future, we are confident we will be very well represented.

“This event rekindles the spirit of the famous Renault Finals of old and we very much look forward to discovering at Brands Hatch who will be going to Paul Ricard. We also have at our discretion the option to send an additional driver to represent the UK Clio Cup.”

Tarik Ait Said, Sporting Manager, Renault Sport Racing said: “Gathering all the Clio Cup championships that Renault holds worldwide, the Clio Cup International Final will not only be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the enduring success of Clio but also a stage where the cream of the crop of each national Cup will be pitched against each other to crown the best among the best.

“Given the level of competitiveness that the UK Clio Cup has shown over the years, we expect the British contingent to be on the pace straight away. And don’t forget, a brand new Mégane R.S. awaits the winner at the end of the weekend for the taking!”

Qualifying for the Renault UK Clio Cup weekend of the season is scheduled to take place at 10:55 on Saturday before race one beginning at 16:00 later that day. The final round of the season will be screened live on ITV4 on Sunday, with lights out set for 13:30.

Championship protagonists ready for BTCC title showdown

The 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship title is set to go down to the wire at Brands Hatch this weekend (September 29/30) with Colin Turkington, Tom Ingram and Tom Chilton left in the running battle it out for the biggest prize in British motorsport.

Celebrating its 60 Anniversary this year, the BTCC has served up a record-breaking season which has been headlined by 16 different drivers winning a race. Now, three races and a maximum of 67 points remain before the curtain falls and it is still all to play for.

With the title pendulum having swung back and forth, Team BMW’s Turkington heads to Brands Hatch as the man to beat, holding a 34-point advantage over Speedworks Motorsport’s Ingram.

Despite only scoring a solitary victory at Oulton Park, the double champion has been consistent throughout, picking up a further nine podiums along the way. Admitting that the pressure is on his main title rival, the BMW 125i M-Sport driver is looking forward to the prospect of what is to come.

“I’m really looking forward to Brands Hatch,” Turkington said. “It has been a happy hunting ground for us in the past and I’m confident that we will have a strong car going there. We were in the thick of the battle at Silverstone last time out so it was pleasing to come away from there with a podium.

“I don’t see myself as the one who is under pressure. I much prefer to be in the position that I am in because I’ve got the points in the bag. Last year the pressure was on straightaway because I was the driver chasing and trying to claw back points wherever I could.

“I’ve already got the points and that won’t change, I go into Brands Hatch ready to do my own thing. I have a lot of reasons why I want to win this title and I’m hungrier than ever to clinch a third BTCC championship.”

Continuing to go from strength-to-strength as each year has passed, Ingram finds himself in the hunt for a maiden BTCC title for the first time. At the wheel of his Toyota Avensis, the reigning Independent champion has been a force to be reckoned with all season and is up for the challenge of overhauling a 34-point deficit.

Ingram stated: “With the lead that he has, the pressure is on Colin because the title is his to lose. I’m going into Brands Hatch with no pressure and I’ll be on maximum attack; we’re the hunters and Colin is the hunted.

“We need to beat Colin every single time we go out on track to stand a race of winning and I’ll be bringing the fight to him. Everyone at Speedworks has done a mega job this season and we are going to be in good shape around the Grand Prix circuit, the Toyota should work well around there.

“Yes 34 points is a big ask but it isn’t impossible; I don’t think it’s been won from that far back….yet!”

Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher’s Chilton is the third driver that finds himself in mathematical contention for the championship, albeit 64 points off the summit. Realistic of his chances, Chilton has his own aspirations heading to Motorbase Performance’s home circuit.

“Although mathematically we are still in contention, realistically the overall title is out of reach for me,” Chilton said. “My championship is focused on Ingram to try to overhaul him for second in the standings and win the Independents title.

“Myself and Motorbase have clawed our way up the during the year and we’re not done yet!”

With one final race day left to play out in the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Brands Hatch looks set to once again play host to another pulsating and thrilling season finale – with further twists and turns set to come.

All event information such as links to live timing, commentary and timetable can be found by clicking here.

Champions crowned at Oulton Park as the curtain falls on further BARC categories

The British Automobile Racing Club crowned more champions this past Saturday (October 20) as Oulton Park played host to a pulsating final day of the 2018 season for six championships.

As the sun shone over the Cheshire venue, those in attendance were treated to a feast of edge-of-the-seat thrills.

Lewis Saunders held his nerve in the Junior Saloon Car Championship to convert his points lead into title glory, narrowly pipping Joel Wren and Steven Chandler. Entering the event with an 11-point advantage, Saunders scored a fourth and a third place finish respectively to lift the coveted crown.

The 14 to 17-year-old series welcomed a new winner too as Scholarship winner Scott McIntyre capped off his maiden season with a pole position and first race win.

Ben Kasperczak then rounded out the year as the final victor of 2018 in the JSCC ranks, however it came following a red flag where a mere two laps were completed.

In the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, Paul Rose was at his brilliant best to wrap up the title at the wheel of his Saker. Having been a tour-de-force throughout the year, Rose arrived at Oulton Park with a slender lead in the multi-class series over Jamie Cryer.

Notching two lights-to-flag wins, Rose put himself out of touch to be crowned champion once again.

There were celebrations in the Mighty Minis Championship too as a pair of champions were decided in both the Mighty Mini and Super Mighty Mini classes. Whilst former BTCC driver Jeff Smith stormed to overall victory in both races, all eyes were on the main title protagonists.

Despite Lee Poolman’s best efforts as he scored two wins in the Mighty Mini class, Stuart Coombs emerged as champion of the category – albeit by a single point. Elsewhere in the Super Mighty Mini category, Connor O’Brien produced a measured drive to be crowned champion.

The Classic VW Cup also brought the curtain down on their season with Ken Lark once again underlining his credentials as the man to beat by sealing two wins in his Volkswagen Corrado.

Rounding out the action at Oulton Park were a pair of races from the BARC Saloon Series and Dream Automotive Honda VTEC Challenge. Alexander Owen and Ben Rushworth were ultimately too much for the competition in their Honda Civic Type R and Honda Integra machines, taking two wins apiece.

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

Brands Hatch braced for unmissable BTCC finale

After nine events and 27 races, the destiny of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will be decided around the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit this weekend (September 29/30) – and the fight is still very much on.

Since roaring into life at the Kent venue in early April the BTCC’s Diamond Jubilee year has been one to remember, with records tumbling on a consistent basis. Boasting an impressive 16 different race winners, the series has hit new heights and that is set to continue as the final chapter of the current campaign is written.

Colin Turkington heads to Brands Hatch as the man to beat holding a 34-point advantage over Tom Ingram at the top of the standings. Chasing a third BTCC crown, the Team BMW driver has once again underlined his class with a consistent season to-date.

A single victory, taken at Oulton Park, has been backed up by an additional nine podiums to leave the Northern Irishman with a clear road to the biggest prize in British motorsport.

Standing in the way of Turkington however is reigning Independents champion Ingram, who at the wheel of his Speedworks Toyota Avensis has pieced together a mesmerising championship challenge thus far.

Producing standout performance after standout performance, Ingram descends on Brands Hatch as the hunter and focused on overhauling the 34-point deficit he has to make up over the double champion. Renowned for his overtaking prowess and ability to rise to the occasion, the 25-year-old is expected to be on maximum attack from the get-go.

Tom Chilton also enters the final weekend of the year in mathematical contention for the title but with a gap of 64 markers to make up over Turkington, the Motorbase Performance driver’s chance of overall glory looks to be an unrealistic one.

Whilst the battle for the title will take centre stage, several other drivers will be keen to sign off their season’s in style. Having seen his aspirations of his retaining crown slip away, outgoing champion Ashley Sutton will be on the march for silverware and bidding to finish in the top three.

In addition, the likes of Andrew Jordan, Jack Goff, Adam Morgan, Josh Cook, Matt Neal, Aiden Moffat and Sam Tordoff, to name just a few, are also likely to be in the mix for silverware over the course of the weekend too.

Dan Cammish’s quest for a breakthrough BTCC victory will continue however the Halfords Yuasa Racing driver won’t need to worry about the Jack Sears Trophy after building up an unassailable lead at Silverstone last time out.

The remaining championships see Ingram and Chilton as well as Speedworks and Motorbase locked in a battle for both Independent titles whilst Team BMW will look to successfully retain their BTCC Manufacturer/Constructor and BTCC Teams Championship crowns too.

With a maximum 67 points up for grabs and three high-octane BTCC encounters set to take place around the 2.43 mile circuit, the final chapter of the Britain’s premier race series’ Diamond Jubilee is set to be an enthralling one – and it is not to be missed.

The all-important final qualifying session of the season will take place on Saturday at 15:20 before rounds 28, 29 & 30 take place on Sunday at 11:35, 14:25 & 17:15 respectively.

For more information in the event including links to the full timetable and live timing, click here.

BARC descends on Donington Park

It’s crunch time for three championships this Saturday (September 29) as the British Automobile Racing Club makes its final visit of 2018 to Donington Park.

As the motorsport season heads towards the business end of the year, every lap and point is set to count in the race for title supremacy with a total of 12 races scheduled to take place under the flightpath of East Midlands airport.

Open to drivers aged 14 to 17, the Junior Saloon Car Championship has once again underlined why it is a hotbed for the next generation of UK racers. In what has been another vintage season for the Citroen Saxo category, the title battle remains wide open with six races still to be run.

Lewis Saunders enters rounds 13 and 14 as the teenager to beat, albeit holding a slender seven-point advantage at the summit of the standings. Joel Wren, a six-time race winner in 2018, remains Saunders closest challenger as it stands and he will be keen to continue his momentum having won the past three races in a row.

With the likes of Steven Chandler, Scott McIntyre, Frankie Taylor also in the mix, Saturday’s double-header is set add further twists and turns to the JSCC plot.

Saloon cars from all eras will duke it out around Donington Park in the Classic Touring Car Championship, with six races being staged in total. With everything from Pre ’66 tin tops right the way through to modern machinery, there is something for everyone in the CTCRC and that will be on display across the day’s amalgamated races.

Notable names to look out for include Steve Barden, Stephen Primett, Mark Osbourne, Luc Wilson and Ian Bower – to name but a few.

Capping off the BARC action will be a pair of races from the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship. Enjoying what has been another stellar year of competition in the series with bumper grids throughout, variety has always been the spice of life in the CNC Heads – with all manner of cars competing.

Following on from an impressive hat-trick at Anglesey last time out, Paul Rose will bid to further extend his championship lead at the wheel of his Saker, edging him closer to what will another championship crown. The quartet of Jamie Cryer, Oliver Thomas, Dave Harvey and Clive Dix will be out to ensure that doesn’t happen however.

Joining the BARC’s three categories will be a pair of 15-minute encounters from the Track Attack Racing Club.

UK Sports Prototype Cup to launch in 2019

A brand new series is set to launch in 2019 titled the UK Sports Prototype Cup, aimed at providing a multi-marque racing environment for lightweight sports prototype cars to race in a premium race weekend package.

In partnership with the British Automobile Racing Club, Dunlop and Sunoco, the UK Sports Prototype Cup is set to break new ground next year with James Bailey of Pitbox 91 heading up the project.

The inaugural calendar for the Cup is still to be announced however events alongside the Britcar-promoted Dunlop Endurance Championships at UK circuit’s such as Brands Hatch, Snetterton and Silverstone are all being formulated.

A visit to mainland Europe on the support package of the European Le Mans Series at the Autudromo International Algarve is also set to feature on the provisional calendar.

Sprint races of an estimated 25 minutes will be blended with longer endurance style encounters, featuring a compulsory pit-stop and billed to be between 45 minutes and one hour, is set to formulate the race format of the Cup.

One of the leading lights to come from the UK Sports Prototype Cup will be the exciting new V6-powered Revolution, which is set to be unveiled at Motorsport Days Live on November 2nd.

Having been under development for over a year, the Revolution is set to be one of the cornerstones of the Cup as the LMP inspired, carbon tubbed, high downforce prototype will have its own dedicated class following a multi-year agreement being confirmed.

“We believe the 440bhp per tonne performance coupled with the quality, design and technology of the Revolution will quickly establish it as one of the leading premium prototype cars on the market,” Bailey explained.

“It’s important for drivers and teams investing in the Revolution to know that they have strong race events to compete in together. We are delighted to promote the Revolution UK Trophy as a feature category with a commitment until at least 2023.”

In addition to the Revolution UK Trophy, the UK Sports Prototype Cup will also feature of a promoted category for the one of the world’s best-selling race cars, the Radical SR3.

Bailey added: “When we started planning the UK Sports Prototype Cup, we had considerable interest from teams and drivers who own Radical SR3 cars. They told us that the service level of Dunlop’s experienced Le Mans technical team and the welcoming ‘family atmosphere’ we aim to create were attractive selling points for them.”

There will be further emphasis for those competing in the 2019 season of the series too as the Cup will also be a qualifying event for the Sunoco 240 Challenge.

Drivers meeting the Sunoco 240 Challenge criteria and that enter for the full season will have the opportunity to compete for a place in a GT4 car in 240-minute endurance race which takes place the Friday before the coveted Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Further information is set to be announced at the upcoming Motorsport Days Live event, held at Silverstone on November 2/3.

For more information on the UK Sports Prototype Cup, head to their website https://www.sportsprototypecup.com/.

Ginetta Junior trio set for championship crescendo

The destiny of the Ginetta Junior Championship will be decided at Brands Hatch this weekend (September 29/30) with three drivers set to duke it out across what is expected to be a trio of high-octane races.

This year’s crop of youngsters aged 14 to 17 have served up a feast of entertainment so far, with 23 races of blockbuster action already in the books.

Heading south to tackle the Grand Prix layout of the popular Kent venue, the trio of Louis Foster, Adam Smalley and Luke Browning look set to continue their season-long fight for supremacy.

Once penalty points are applied, Elite Motorsport’s Foster heads into the title showdown holding a 21-point advantage. On the cusp of writing his name into the history books by the winning the series at the first attempt, Foster will be keen to continue the impressive run of results that has seen him move to the top of the standings.

Having enjoyed a consistent first half of the year, six victories from the past seven races has seen the teenage sensation topple his rivals and take the lead of the championship with just three races to spare.

Former Ginetta Scholarship winner Smalley is Foster’s main protagonist in the title battle as it stands and he had been leading the standings for a majority of the season before Silverstone.

With a total of 15 podiums to his name, including six wins, Smalley has been a revelation in his second season in the championship and the Elite Motorsport driver could yet walk away as champion.

Richardson Racing’s Browning sits third on the leaderboard, albeit 48 points off the summit. Seven victories have been the peak of his season however a handful of low scoring rounds is the reason why the #11 machine will enter the weekend needing to do the most if he is to steal the title from under the noses of Foster and Smalley.

Whilst all eyes will be focused on the top three in the standings as they duke it out for the championship crown, several other drivers will be keen to end their 2018 campaigns on a high.

Patrick Kibble, James Taylor, Ruben Del Sarte, James Hedley and Greg Johnson are just a handful of drivers that have been in the mix for podium finishes this year and all of them, plus a host of others, could play a pivotal role in the outcome of the title if they throw themselves into the mix at the sharp end of the grid over the course of the weekend.

Qualifying for the Ginetta Junior Championship takes place on Saturday at 10:30 before races one and two at 14:45 and 17:45 later that day. The final round of the season takes place on Sunday at 12:55.

Oulton Park to stage fitting finale for handful of BARC championships

Oulton Park will play host to the British Automobile Racing Club for the final time this season on Saturday (October 20) with six championships bringing the curtain down on their 2018 campaigns.

As the motorsport season reaches the business end of the year, the picturesque Cheshire venue will provide a fitting backdrop for champions to be crowned.

Topping the bill is what will likely be an enthralling three-way title showdown in the Junior Saloon Car Championship. In what has been another memorable year for the 14 to 17-year-old category, the JSCC crown will be settled over two pulsating 20-minute encounters.

Lewis Saunders, Joel Wren and Steven Chandler enter the series finale in mathematical contention for the title however it is likely set to be Saunders and Wren that will battle it out, as they have done for a majority of the season – the pair currently separated by a mere 11 points.

Things are similarly close in the Mighty Minis Championship, especially in the Mighty Mini class. Just five points is the difference between Stuart Combes and Lee Poolman and with two races to be run, edge-of-the-seat thrills are to be expected from the much-loved series as the top two duke it out for supremacy.

Elsewhere in the Super Mighty category, Connor O’Brien finds himself on the cusp of title glory although Jo Polley may yet still have something to say about that on-track. Nevan Kirkpatrick and Alex Comes also remain in contention however both will need to be in superlative form to halt O’Brien’s quest for glory.

Paul Rose is another driver that sits within touching distance of a title having enjoyed a stellar year in the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship. At the wheel of his Sakar, Rose has been one of the stand out drivers in the multi-class championship however he will still need to be at the top of his game to lift the coveted title.

James Cryer trails Rose by a mere four points and could yet overhaul the series leader to walk away as champion.

The Classic VW Cup will also brings its season to a close with after flourishing on its own. Having broken off to run by itself in 2018, all manner of models of the German marque have competed this season and delivered breathtaking action along the way.

Rounding off the day’s BARC action will be a pair of races from the BARC Saloon Series and Dream Automotive Honda VTEC Challenge, both of whom share grids.

Showcasing some of the best saloon cars from a variety of manufacturers, both series have produced plenty of scintillating racing during the course of the year and that is only set to continue at Oulton Park.

For all of the important event information for Saturday’s Oulton Park meeting, click here.

Four-way Renault UK Clio Cup title showdown beckons at Brands Hatch

The Renault UK Clio Cup is set for an enthralling climax to its 2018 season at Brands Hatch this weekend (September 29/30) as four drivers go head-to-head for championship glory.

In what has been another vintage year for the one-make series on the TOCA support package, the quartet of Max Coates, Paul Rivett, James Dorlin and Daniel Rowbottom all arrive at the Kent circuit in mathematical contention.

Tackling the iconic Grand Prix layout, a maximum of 56 points will be on offer over the course of the weekend and further twists and turns are set to keep fans on the edge-of-their-seats in the two races that are set to be run.

Pyro Motorsport’s Coates heads into the season finale in the pound seat, leading the standings but by only a slender six points. Tipped as one of the favourites for the title in pre-season, Coates has underlined his title credentials with an impressive charge to the summit of the points.

Scoring four wins, one of which a popular home victory at Croft, the Yorkshireman will arrive at Brands Hatch keen to repeat the victory he scored at the 2018 curtain-raiser.

Leading the chase for Coates is WDE Motorsport’s Rivett, hungrier than ever to add his already impressive championship tally. Notching two wins and a further seven podiums, Rivett has been a constant thorn in the side of Coates and could yet walk away as champion.

A disqualification at Silverstone last time out for Rivett for an on-track incident however have had a bearing on the points as it stands. With the WDE Motorsport outfit having lodged an appeal against the decision – which will be heard by the MSA National Court at a later date – Rivett’s challenge for the title could yet be decided away from the track.

Trailing Rivett by a single point in third place is Westbourne Motorsport’s Dorlin. In just his second Clio Cup season, the BRDC Superstar has put his stamp on the series and a run of five wins in the early stages of the year have proven to be the cornerstone of his championship charge.

Whilst the top three are covered by a mere seven points, DRM’s Rowbottom sits as the outsider in the title battle, 49 markers behind Coates. A resurgent run of results has vaulted Rowbottom into the picture and the two-time race winner can’t be discounted from contention either.

As the top four get set to duke it out for the title, several other drivers will be looking to sign off their campaigns in style. Bradley Burns, Mike Epps, Lee Pattison, Jack McCarthy and Dan Zelos, amongst many others, will be ones to watch as the weekend unfolds.