Tag: BARC

Thruxton Circuit has announced a blockbuster events schedule for 2023, where visits from both the Kwik British Touring Car Championship and Bennetts British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli are set to headline once again.

Coming off the back of an action-packed 2022 campaign, the fastest circuit in the UK is set to play host to the some of the biggest championships and clubs over the course of the season, staging a total of six race meetings from early May through to mid-August. 

The Hampshire venue will hold an exclusive test day for the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA and Porsche Carrera Cup GB on April 12 before the Classic Sports Car Club kicks off the race schedule less than a month later on May 6/7.

Following that, the UK’s premier motorsport series – the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – will make its one and only visit of the year to Thruxton at the slightly later date of June 3/4. 

Spectators will step back in time for the Thruxton Historic in mid-June before the heavyweight behemoths of the British Truck Racing Championship rumble into town for Convoy on the Plain.

The British Automobile Racing Club will run an additional meeting at its home track in 2023, with a Summer Festival scheduled to take centre stage on July 29/30.

Bringing the curtain down on the full-throttle thrills at the circuit is the Bennetts British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli, where the best riders in the world will battle it out for outright honours at speeds of more than 190mph. 

Thruxton Circuit – 2023 Calendar

April 12 – Test Day | British F4 & Porsche 

May 6/7 – Classic Sports Car Club

June 3/4 – Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship

June 17/18 – Thruxton Historic

July 8/9 – Convoy on the Plain 

July 29/30 – British Automobile Racing Club 

August 11/12/13 – Bennetts British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli

Tickets for all 2023 race meetings are now available to purchase from https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing.

The British Automobile Racing Club can confirm that it will run a a total of six marshal training days prior to the start of the 2023 motorsport season.

Gurston Down, Croft, Pembrey and Thruxton will host the aforementioned training days across the months of January, February and March next year.

Every event organised and run by the BARC needs marshals and all marshals, whatever they are doing, are contributing to the success and smooth running of the meeting.

With training provided to cover a wide range of topics such as fire safety to pit lane operation and teamwork; marshal training covers a wide variety of key attributes in preparing those that are heading trackside for the forthcoming season.

2023 BARC MARSHAL TRAINING DATES

Saturday 21st January – Gurston Down – Speed = THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL

Sunday 22nd January – Thruxton – BOOK HERE = Trainees/New Marshals [If you have marshalled 10 days or more, please attend either of the March training days]

Saturday 11th February – Croft – BOOK HERE = Trainee/Registered; Specialists/Off Track; Track/Grade 1; Experienced & Flag/Grade 2; IO & Post Chief/Grade 3; Examining PC/Marshal Assessor

Sunday 19th February – Pembrey – BOOK HERE = Trainee/Registered; Specialists/Off Track; Track/Grade 1; Experienced & Flag/Grade 2; IO & Post Chief/Grade 3; Examining PC/Marshal Assessor

Saturday 11th March – Thruxton – BOOK HERE = Track/Grade 1; Experienced & Flag/Grade 2

Sunday 12th March – Thruxton – BOOK HERE = Specialists/Off Track; IO & Post Chief/Grade 3; Examining PC/Marshal Assessor

Further information on all training days will be published in due course.

To find out more about marshalling with the BARC and how to get involved, CLICK HERE.

Issue 3 of the British Automobile Racing Club magazine is available to read for all members, with copies now hitting doorsteps.

Packed with the latest news and centre reports, as well as Bruce’s Blog, Martin Hunt’s Marshal Matters and Driving Destinations, the 60-page issue also includes a number of must-read features too.

This latest issue sees us look back on the top ten moments from this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, we speak to Josh Cook on his BTCC success around Thruxton, recap the latest Hillclimb action and discuss Mile Rudman’s ever-growing business venture – plus much more.

To become a member of the BARC and to receive a copy of the magazine, head to https://www.barc.net/membership/.

The British Automobile Racing Club and all its venues will be closed on Monday 19^th September for the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This includes all activity at Thruxton including the circuit, kart centre, skid pan and 4×4 course, as well as the circuits at Pembrey and Croft.

All scheduled activities over the coming weekend will continue as previously planned. This includes the British Truck Racing Championship meeting at Snetterton, the BTRDA Clubmans RallyX at Pembrey, the BRSCC meeting at Croft and the two days of hillclimbing at Harewood Hill. Two minutes silence will be respected within the proceedings as appropriate.

The BARC continues to send its thoughts and best wishes to His Majesty King Charles III and all members of the Royal Family at this difficult time.

On behalf of everyone connected with the British Automobile Racing Club, we are saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Her dedication to public service has been an inspiration to the country and the world for more than 70 years.

We remember her and the values she espoused, as we send our deepest condolences to the Royal Family.

The British Automobile Racing Club and Club24Hour regret to announce that the inaugural endurance race, scheduled to debut at Anglesey Circuit on September 23-25, has been postponed. 

A number of operational factors led to the decision, but plans are already in place for the new event to debut in 2023.

Mark Turner, BARC Sporting Manager, said: “It is a shame that we have had to push this event back a year. On the operational side there are a number of factors that have brought the event into question so we have made the early decision to cancel for 2022 and look again in 2023.

Dave Beecroft, Club 24 Director, added: “We are obviously disappointed but we had a number of obstacles that couldn’t be overcome and that would mean we couldn’t deliver the event to the highest quality.

“We have had plenty of interest and entries for the race prior to this announcement and I’m confident that with even more time to work on things we will be able to deliver a race to remember next year.

“I’d personally like to thank Anglesey for their understanding on this matter and for being so accommodating. We’ve always enjoyed running there and we’re looking forward to visiting once again soon.”

The Club’s race meeting at Anglesey on September 3-4 is unaffected by this decision and will proceed as planned with Caterham Graduates Racing Club, Junior Saloon Car Championship, CNC Heads Sports/Saloons Championship, Mini 7 Racing Club and British Superkart Racing Club all on track. 

For more information on how to enter, head to www.barc.net or contact the Competitions Department via competitions@barc.net. 

The British Automobile Racing Club is poised to sign off its 2022 season in style later this year with the introduction of a brand-new 110-minute endurance race to celebrate the BARC reaching its 110th year of operating as one of the UK’s biggest and best motor racing organisations.

Taking place at Brands Hatch on November 12/13, the ‘110 years of the BARC’ race will be open to closed-wheel production cars, with teams able to have a minimum of two and a maximum of three drivers. 

Entry fees are being kept low with a two-driver team costing £500 and only an extra £50 for a third driver. Classes for the inaugural event will be dictated by engine size, with further clarification to be provided nearer to the race taking place.

Comprising of a 20-minute qualifying session and 110-minute race around the Indy layout of the Kent venue, members of clubs other than the BARC will be able to complete, maximising the opportunity for a big, competitive entry list. 

Mark Turner, BARC Sporting Manager, said: “We’re delighted to be able to announce this special race to mark 110 years of the BARC. For more than a century the Club has been renowned for being the go-to place for national and international motor racing and we feel this is a nice way to tip our hat to reaching such a marvellous milestone.

“We’ve always prided ourselves on listening to our competitors and it is from discussions with them that this has been made possible. Competitors have expressed their interest in having an end of season race where they can get together, have some fun and round off the year. The low entry fee for the track time is a big plus point as well. 

“The race is about getting everyone together at the end of the year but it’s also about giving everyone someone to race with so the multi-class environment is the natural way of achieving this. We’ve had encouraging conversations with a number of clubs that will support the race and I’m sure this is only going to continue now that we have formally announced everything.”

As it stands, the 110 years of the BARC contest will join the Classic Touring Car Racing Club, Junior Saloon Car Championship, Ginetta Junior Winter Series, Carbon8 Coupe Cup series and more in action at Brands Hatch over the aforementioned weekend in November. 

For more information on how to enter, head to www.barc.net or contact the Competitions Department via competitions@barc.net. 

Issue 2 of the British Automobile Racing Club magazine is available to read for all members, with copies now hitting doorsteps.

Packed with the latest news and centre reports, as well as Bruce’s Blog, Martin Hunt’s Marshal Matters and Driving Destinations, the 60-page issue also includes a number of must-read features too.

This latest issue sees us look into the introduction of hybrid power into the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, we recap the inaugural Convoy Cymru event, interview Legends racer James Newbury and much more.

To become a member of the BARC and to receive a copy of the magazine, head to https://www.barc.net/membership/.

The British Automobile Racing Club has made a flying start to the 2022 season, in particular online where it has already racked up more than 350,000 views on its race meetings that were streamed live across Facebook and YouTube.

Renewing its partnership with 247.TV for a second year, the BARC is once again putting its championships in front of a global audience by amassing staggering viewing figures for the domestic motorsport scene.

Silverstone’s famous Grand Prix circuit provided the backdrop for the new season to begin with 110,000 viewers tuning in to watch the opening rounds of the British Endurance Championship, Praga Cup and Britcar Trophy over the course of two days in mid-March.

A return to Silverstone at the end of March saw the Classic Touring Car Racing Club take centre stage in front of more than 65,000 viewers whilst a single Oulton Park race day in early April brought in another 65,000 people.

Most recently, the British Truck Racing Championship blasted into life at Brands Hatch on a full-throttle Easter weekend which included a number of other categories and saw 100,000 fans soak up the highly entertaining action.

The BARC’s YouTube channel has grown over the past month with almost 4,000 new subscribers, taking the total number to more than 23,000.

Three events in May will enable fans to enjoy more of the best national motorsport action in the country at Pembrey on May 7/8, Snetterton on May 14/15 and Oulton Park on May 28 all being broadcast live.

The British Automobile Racing Club has extended its partnership with Hendy Group – the UK’s premier family motor group – with the supply of the Club’s new Safety Car for the 2022 season.

Adorned with a spectacular livery to complement the sleek bodywork, the all-new Kia ProCeed GT-line will be in action at all BARC race meetings this year. The Safety Car will play an essential role at the start of races, and will also be deployed should the officials decide that a Safety Car intervention is required to neutralise the action temporarily.

BARC’s relationship with Hendy Performance has been led to date by Thruxton Circuit which has a number of Hendy cars on its prestigious driving experience fleet. It is a natural fit for the South’s premier race circuit to join forces with one of Southern England’s most successful companies – the Hendy Group turned over almost £1 billion in 2021.

On 24th July, Thruxton will host the Hendy Performance Open Day for the second time, a family-friendly celebration of all things fun and the Hampshire venue. The day is free to attend and tickets can be obtained from the Thruxton website: thruxtonracing.co.uk.

Ben Taylor, BARC Chief Executive, said: “We very much value the relationship that has been created with Hendy Group and the success of the Hendy Performance Open Day last year was a clear indication that the fit between the two organisations is very effective.

“We have extended that involvement for this year and the new Safety Car will be up and down the UK’s motorway to all our race meetings, at the head of the racing pack on the track, and in front of hundreds of thousands of viewers in the course of the season. It should be a great promotional asset for both parties.”

The latest issue – the first of 2022 – of the British Automobile Racing Club magazine has landed, exclusive to all members.

Alongside rounding up the latest news, checking in with our centres and Martin Hunt’s latest Marshal Matters blog, we have a number of must-read features too.

We recap what was a momentous BARC Awards Evening back in February, unearth what is set to be a new era for the ROKiT F4 British Championship and delve into the archives to look back on years gone by, plus much more.

To become a member of the BARC and to receive a copy of the magazine, head to https://www.barc.net/membership/.

The British Automobile Racing Club is supporting the relief efforts in Ukraine by donating medical supplies to the country. The first shipment left the United Kingdom on Monday 21st March, bound for Poland where it was then transferred by Ukrainian medics to the city of Lviv. 

The items sent to Eastern Europe included IV fluids, trauma and burns dressings, torniquets and airway management equipment that had been donated by the club, its rescue units and marshals. A second delivery of medical supplies which will include stretchers, defibrillators and splints is due to be sent soon.

Ben Taylor, BARC Chief Executive, said: “The outpouring of support for the Ukrainian struggle has been extraordinary. People all over the UK are looking at what they can do to support the country and it is only right that we as an organisation donate what we can to the cause. I’d like to thank Martin Hunt and his team for taking the lead in this and making it happen.”