Tag: BTCC

Alan Gow delighted to present unrivalled 2019 BTCC campaign

British Touring Car Championship Chief Executive Alan Gow has shared his excitement surrounding what lies ahead for the series in 2019, with a capacity entry list topping the headlines leading into the opening round at Brands Hatch.

Once again underlining its status as the UK’s premier motor sport championship, the BTCC will once again stage ten events and 30 races across the length and breadth of the country, with a car 30-car grid primed and ready to duke it out for supremacy.

Whilst the action is set to keep fans captivated on-track, those who can’t make it trackside will benefit from unrivalled television coverage via ITV4, whilst Kwik Fit join the fray as title sponsor.

 “We are delighted to present our full field of drivers, manufacturers, teams and cars for the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, as we head into yet another thrillingly unpredictable campaign in the UK’s biggest and best motorsport series,” Gow said.

“We have a potent line-up of champions, race-winners and emerging young talent, with a wide variety of cars and body styles represented on the grid. The two newest models – the BMW 3 Series and Toyota Corolla – are sure to cause quite a stir, and the commitment demonstrated by those two manufacturers in introducing new cars is testament to the championship’s rude health and enduring appeal.

“That is further endorsed by the confirmation that the BTCC is the only major motorsport series to benefit from extensive live, free-to-air UK coverage in 2019, which means fans unable to follow trackside won’t have to miss a moment of the thrilling doorhandle-to-doorhandle action.

“We have a new title partner in Kwik Fit, who are already looking to maximise their involvement in the greatest show in British motorsport.

“That is just one fascinating thread of what looks sure to be another captivating, drama-fuelled campaign – so whether you are following on television, online or soaking in the smells, sights and sounds at close quarters, strap yourself in and get ready to enjoy the ride.”

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship kicks off the new season at Brands Hatch on April 6/7. For more information, click here.

BTCC launches 2019 season with capacity entry list confirmed

Britain’s biggest motor sport series, the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, is primed and ready for another memorable year with series organiser TOCA announcing a capacity 30-car entry list for 2019 at its Season Launch.

Following on from a record-breaking 60th Anniversary campaign last year, the BTCC is set to scale new heights as the best tin-top drivers in the country battle it out for the most coveted prize in UK motor sport.

Topping the entry this year are five manufacturer-backed teams with a host of Independent entries further adding to the strength-in-depth the championship consistently has year-on-year.

BMW and West Surrey Racing will bid to retain their three titles from last year by introducing the brand new 330i M Sport to the series, with reigning champion Colin Turkington, Tom Oliphant and Andrew Jordan all behind the wheel and hungry for silverware.

After several decades away, Toyota makes a long-awaited return to the championship as a fully-fledged manufacturer entrant by teaming up with Speedworks Motorsport. After narrowly missing out on the crown last year, Speedworks and Tom Ingram will bid to go one better in the all-new Toyota Corolla.

Power Maxed Racing have put their faith in experience this year with Jason Plato and Rob Collard teaming together to spearhead Vauxhall’s championship charge whilst Adrian Flux Subaru Racing retain 2017 champion Ashley Sutton and gained Senna Proctor.

Following a maiden year with the new Honda Civic Type R, Halfords Yuasa Racing are expected to issue an all-out challenge for the title with Matt Neal and Dan Cammish remaining at the championship-winning squad.

Whilst it is set to be all to play for in the manufacturers, championship campaigns are set to come from the Independent ranks too. Tom Chilton and Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher came close to the crown last year and will be keen to better their performance. Motorbase Performance have added Ollie Jackson and Nicolas Hamilton to their ranks too.

A trio of Mercedes Benz A-Class’ will be on-track once more with Aiden Moffat, Adam Morgan and Daniel Rowbottom all bidding for glory. Elsewhere AMD Tuning have continued to develop over the off-season and will aid Trade Price Cars Racing in running Mark Blundell and Jake Hill in the Audi S3’s, whilst also running Sam Tordoff and Rory Butcher in Honda Civic Type Rs.

First-time race winners last year, Chris Smiley, Josh Cook and Matt Simpson will all be eyeing more success too as they hit the track in Honda Civic Type R’s – Smiley and Cook in brand new FK8’s for BTC Racing.

Team HARD meanwhile will run four Volkswagen CC’s once more with Jack Goff joining Bobby Thompson, Michael Crees and Carl Boardley after securing a last-minute deal to remain on the grid.

MG machinery has changed hands over the winter with new team Excelr8 Motorsport taking on the running of the cars. Series newcomers Sam Osborne and Rob Smith will take to the wheel as they bid to find their feet in the series.

Capping off the bumper entry list is Team Parker Racing, who have retained Stephen Jelley for a third successive season as they bid to move further up the grid with their BMW 125i M Sport.

With tweaks to the rules such as success ballast, an unprecedented 18 race winners, five champions and five rookies, as well as much more, the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is set for another vintage year of competition.

2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Entry List

Car No. Driver Team Car Team / Driver Status
1 Colin Turkington Team BMW BMW 330i M Sport Manufacturer
3 Tom Chilton Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher Ford Focus RS Independent
4 Sam Osborne Excelr8 Motorsport MG6 Independent / Jack Sears Trophy
6 Rory Butcher Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Honda Civic Type R Independent / Jack Sears Trophy
8 Mark Blundell TradePriceCars.com Audi S3 Independent / Jack Sears Trophy
9 Rob Collard Stirling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra Manufacturer
11 Jason Plato Stirling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra Manufacturer
12 Stephen Jelley Team Parker Racing BMW 125i M Sport Independent
15 Tom Oliphant Team BMW BMW 330i M Sport Manufacturer
16 Aiden Moffat Laser Tools Racing Mercedes Benz A-Class Independent
18 Senna Proctor Adrian Flux Subaru Racing Subaru Levorg Manufacturer
19 Bobby Thompson GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct Volkswagen CC Independent / Jack Sears Trophy
22 Chris Smiley BTC Racing Honda Civic Type R Independent
24 Jake Hill TradePriceCars.com Audi S3 Independent
25 Matt Neal Halfords Yuasa Racing Honda Civic Type R Manufacturer
27 Dan Cammish Halfords Yuasa Racing Honda Civic Type R Manufacturer
28 Nicolas Hamilton ROKiT Racing with Motorbase Ford Focus RS Independent / Jack Sears Trophy
31 Jack Goff RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport Volkswagen CC Independent
32 Daniel Rowbottom Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport Mercedes Benz A-Class Independent / Jack Sears Trophy
33 Adam Morgan MAC Tools Mercedes Benz A-Class Independent
37 Rob Smith Excelr8 Motorsport MG6 Independent / Jack Sears Trophy
41 Carl Boardley Team HARD. Brisky Racing Volkswagen CC Independent / Jack Sears Trophy
48 Ollie Jackson Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher Ford Focus RS Independent
66 Josh Cook BTC Racing Honda Civic Type R Independent
77 Andrew Jordan BMW Pirtek Racing BMW 330i M Sport Manufacturer
80 Tom Ingram Team Toyota GB with Ginsters Toyota Corolla Manufacturer
116 Ashley Sutton Adrian Flux Subaru Racing Subaru Levorg Manufacturer
303 Matt Simpson Simpson Racing Honda Civic Type R Independent
600 Sam Tordoff Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Honda Civic Type R Independent
777 Michael Crees GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct Volkswagen CC Independent / Jack Sears Trophy

The opening round of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship takes place around the Brands Hatch Indy circuit on April 6/7. For more information, click here.

Ciceley Motorsport adds reigning JSCC champion to driver development scheme

Race-winning British Touring Car Championship outfit Ciceley Motorsport have set about finding the next generation of motorsport talent by launching a driver development scheme, with reigning Junior Saloon Car Champion Lewis Saunders its first signing.

Becoming a force to be reckoned with in the BTCC with Adam Morgan in recent years, the Lancashire-based squad will help Saunders in all aspects of racing during the forthcoming campaign.

Stepping into the JSCC last year, Saunders was a tour-de-force as he swept the competition away, clinching five victories and a total of 14 podiums – leading him to becoming the youngest ever JSCC champion.

In addition Saunders was also awarded The Peter Collins Trophy, bestowed upon the most successful newcomer, by the British Automobile Racing Club for his performances during 2018.

Commenting on the addition of Saunders, Morgan said: “I am really looking forward to working with Lewis, he is clearly already very talented and an accomplished race car driver, he will be joining me at as many British Touring Car Rounds as he is able to attend and I will begin teaching him how to interpret data, watching how I work with my engineer Marco Calovolo which will be invaluable to Lewis later in his career.

“Lewis smoked them all last year and he drives with a maturity well beyond his years, he starts this year’s campaign as red hot favourite, his car, like ours, has been immaculately prepared by his dad and that’s the same way I started out, they absolutely love their racing.”

Norman Burgess, Ciceley Commercial Director, continued: “Lewis is exactly what we have been looking for rapid, driven, committed, focused and passionate. Adam will help take care of any help he might need on track and my job will be to raise his profile and help to secure sponsorship and further opportunities, it’s been a pleasure to get to know both Lewis and his dad Ralph and he fits into our team dynamic perfectly.

“We at Ciceley Motorsport are on the rev limiter this season with our BTCC, TCR and GT commitments but when the chance of signing Lewis came up, it was too good an opportunity for us to miss, we are as excited about our association with him as we are any of our other projects.”

“I am incredibly grateful to Adam, Norman, Russell and the team at Ciceley Motorsport, for the opportunity they are giving me,” added Saunders. “I will work hard to repay their faith in me.”

Saunders begins the defence of his Junior Saloon Car Championship title at Oulton Park this Saturday (March 23).

BTCC grid continues to take shape following flurry of Autosport Show announcements

The countdown to the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship has further intensified following a flurry of announcements at the Autosport Show International.

Serving as the annual launch for the new motorsport season at the NEC Arena in Birmingham, ASI 19 has seen a raft of unveilings and launches take place for Britain’s premier race series – all of which have further shaped the forthcoming campaigns entry list.

Motorbase Performance led the announcements by confirming Tom Chilton will remain with the Ford Focus RS squad for a second successive season after finishing third overall in 2018, and he will be joined by Ollie Jackson.

Jackson makes the switch to the Kent-based squad after several years at AMD Tuning. Coming off the back of a maiden BTCC podium at Brands Hatch last year, Jackson returns to the Motorbase fold focused on scoring a maiden win in 2019.

The covers have come off a variety of cars too with Jake Hill unveiling the striking colours of his Trade Price Cars Racing Audi S3 whilst Daniel Rowbottom has done the same on his Ciceley Motorsport Mercedes Benz A-Class as he prepares to make his BTCC bow this year.

Plenty of heads turned when the striking AMD Tuning Honda Civic Type R of Sam Tordoff and Rory Butcher was unveiled whilst Power Maxed Racing’s Vauxhall Astra also showcased its revised colour scheme for the forthcoming campaign as well.

Prior to the Autosport Show reigning champions West Surrey Racing confirmed that Colin Turkington will defend his title at the wheel of a BMW, partnering new team-mate Tom Oliphant. Former champion Andrew Jordan has also re-signed with WSR as he bids to capture another crown.

Toyota will make a triumphant return to the championship as a fully-fledged manufacturer in 2019 too with confirmation that they will join Speedworks Motorsport in bringing the new Corolla to the grid, with last years runner-up Tom Ingram at the wheel.

Team HARD will field four Volkswagen CC’s once more with Mike Bushell, Bobby Thompson, Michael Crees and Carl Boardley behind the wheel whilst new outfit Excelr8 Motorsport have taken on the running the MG6 GT’s, with former MINI Challenge competitor Rob Smith the first driver confirmed for them.

More announcements are set to be made in the coming weeks and months before the 2019 season officially roars into life with rounds one, two and three taking place around the Indy layout of Brands Hatch on April 6/7.

For more BTCC content, head to www.btcc.net.

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship to raise funds for Children with Cancer UK

Kwik Fit and the British Touring Car Championship will team together in 2019 to raise funds for Children with Cancer UK.

Announced on the opening day of the Autosport Show International, the first public for the BTCC under its new title sponsorship with Kwik Fit, the two will aim to harness the support of race teams and spectators to fundraise for the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people.

A wide range of fundraising initiatives will be run over the course of the season, including many ‘money-can’t buy’ opportunities for BTCC fans such as winning a lap ride in the BTCC safety car, wave the chequered flag for a BTCC race, walk the track prior to the start of racing, win VIP tickets to the final race weekend, and to meet a driver and be part of a BTCC team for a day.

Children with Cancer UK’s mission is to improve survival rates and the quality of survival in young cancer patients and to find ways to prevent cancer in the future.  It funds research, works to raise awareness and also provides practical support for young cancer patients and their families.

A key objective of the fundraising is to help fund new family accommodation at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital to keep families together while children from across the UK receive cancer treatment.

Andy Lane, Kwik Fit Marketing Director, said: “We are really excited to be sponsoring the BTCC and are very grateful to the championship for joining us in supporting Children with Cancer UK.

“We know that BTCC fans are not only passionate about the sport but have also been very supportive of good causes over many seasons.  We hope that children with cancer will benefit from their support this season.”

BTCC Series Director Alan Gow continued: “Our new sponsorship agreement with Kwik Fit is bringing a new look to the championship this year, and we have lots of new initiatives to add to fans’ enjoyment of the race weekends and the overall programme in general.

“While we live and breathe our racing, we hope that by supporting Children with Cancer UK the championship can provide a benefit to those families facing a much bigger challenge than getting a podium position.”

In addition to the fundraising taking place at BTCC events, Kwik Fit employees around the country will also carry out their own activities to support the charity too.

The 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will begin at Brands Hatch on April 6/7 before travelling the length and breadth of the country, with 30 pulsating races taking place.

BTCC organisers reveal 30 car entry list for 2019 season

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Series Organisers TOCA have revealed that an entry of 30 cars has been confirmed for the 2019 season.

Following the entry approval deadline, the maximum number of TOCA BTCC Licences (TBLs) held by teams have all been confirmed to have been entered for the forthcoming campaign.

Each team must hold a TBL for each car entered, with there being 30 TBLs controlled by teams in total and two further licences retained by TOCA for its own use.

In keeping with the aim reducing the size of the BTCC grid, TOCA have confirmed they will not be allocating its two TBLs to additional entrants, despite receiving serious applications from no fewer than three new teams wishing to participate in 2019.

Amongst the regular outfits, Excelr8 Motorsport will join the BTCC ranks for next year having firmed up their plans to take on the running of the two MG’s.

HMS Racing, the Independent squad responsible for bringing the Alfa Romeo name back to the series in 2018, has announced that it will take a year out. Motorbase Performance have subsequently taken on the running of their TBL to remain a three-car outfit.

Teams will announce driver line-ups and details of their cars and sponsorship agreements for 2019 over the coming weeks, prior to the release of the finalised entry list, set to be distributed by TOCA in March.

Confirmed entries for the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship:

Aiden Moffat Racing – 1

AMD / Cobra Exhausts – 2

AMD / Trade Price Cars – 2

BTC Racing – 2

Ciceley Motorsport – 2

Excelr8 Motorsport – 2

Motorbase Performance – 3

Power Maxed Racing – 2

Simpson Racing – 1

Speedworks Motorsport – 1

Team BMR – 2

Team Dynamics – 2

Team HARD – 4

Team Parker Racing – 1

West Surrey Racing – 3

Kwik Fit announced as new BTCC title sponsor

TOCA has confirmed that the UK’s leading automotive servicing and repair company, Kwik Fit, is to become the title sponsor of the British Touring Car Championship for the 2019 season.

Goodyear Dunlop will remain as the sole tyre supplier to the BTCC under its current contract until at least 2022 however the championship will now be known as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

In what is a collaborative effort between TOCA, Goodyear Dunlop and Kwik Fit, the introduction of a new title sponsor is aimed towards introducing the BTCC to more fans across the UK.

Alan Gow, BTCC Series Director, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Kwik Fit into the fold of the BTCC. This will undoubtedly enable us to introduce the BTCC to hundreds of thousands more motorists across the UK.

“It also gives Kwik Fit the ideal opportunity to further increase their brand awareness via the UK’s largest motorsport championship.”

Andy Lane, Marketing Director at Kwik Fit, added: “We are looking forward to becoming the title sponsor of the championship. It is a fantastic competition with a strong heritage which will significantly add to our marketing activities.

“We are very excited about connecting with the fans and teams during the season ahead as well as helping raise the profile of the championship with our customers across the country.”

Andy Marfleet, Goodyear Dunlop Marketing Director, concluded: “We have been supplying motorists with Goodyear and Dunlop tyres through the Kwik Fit network for decades and we are delighted to continue our connection as they take on the sponsorship of this fantastic championship.

“We will continue to be tyre supplier and an integral supporter of the BTCC; our association with TOCA has run continuously since 2003 and is stronger than ever before.”

2019 BTCC tickets for Thruxton and Croft now on sale

Tickets for the Thruxton and Croft rounds of the 2019 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship are now on sale, with discounted prices confirmed in the run up to Christmas.

With the festive period rapidly approaching, BTCC tickets at British Automobile Racing Club circuits are set to be the perfect present for the petrolhead in your life.

Coming off the back of a pulsating and successful 2018 season, Britain’s premier race series will once again travel the length and breadth of the country, with an expected capacity entry list battling it out across 30 races.

Thruxton, the fastest circuit in the UK, will stage two stops on calendar in 2019 having picked up a round following the demise of Rockingham. The additional date means Thruxton will now stage two rounds of the championship in a single season for the first time since 2007.

The BTCC will first visit the high-speed Hampshire venue on May 18/19 before returning later in the year as the title race gathers momentum during the second half of the season on August 17/18.

Croft meanwhile has an earlier spot on the calendar for next year as it plays host to the fourth event of the 2019 campaign, taking place on June 15/16.

Thruxton – May 18/19 2019

Visit http://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc to view full ticket offers

Croft – June 15/16 2019

Visit http://croftcircuit.co.uk/racing/btcc to view full ticket offers

Thruxton – August 17/18 2019 

Visit http://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc-aug to view full ticket offers

BTCC rule changes ratified for 2019 season

British Touring Car Championship organisers TOCA have ratified a number of minor amendments to its regulations following an end-of-season consultation with the championship’s teams.

Following on from a record-breaking 60th Anniversary season that saw Colin Turkington crowned champion for a third time, the series is set to scale new heights in 2019 under the same ten-event, 30-race format.

In addition to the revised changes (listed below) it has also been decided that the introduction of hybrid power – initially outlined for introduction from the 2022 season – may be brought forward to 2021 if all key parameters relating to the supply, engineering, costs, performance and testing of the hybrid units can be achieved in good time for an earlier launch.

One of the biggest changes to be implemented will be to success ballast, which has been reduced due to the incredibly closely matched performance of the current cars.

For 2019, the maximum amount of success ballast will see the championship leader or race winner gaining 54 kilograms of additional weight and the increments thereafter being adjusted downwards slights.

Success ballast for next year in the top ten is as follows: 54kgs – 48kgs – 42kgs – 36kgs – 30kgs – 24kgs – 18kgs – 12kgs -6kgs – 6kgs.

As has been the case in recent years, some on-track driving offences will continue to receive ‘reprimands’ and in 2019 three reprimands will now constitute a ‘strike’.

Strikes will continued to be automatically applied for more serious offences, an example being if a driver is found to be wholly to blame in an incident that causes another driver to be unable to finish the race. In this case the recipient of the Strike will also receive the additional  penalty of a minimum 20 seconds added to their race time.

Having been introduced last year, the strike system will remain as it is with a third strike resulting in a driver being demoted to the back of the grid, a fourth resulting in a race ban and so on. A reprimand or strike will continue to remain recorded against a driver for 12 months.

Qualifying will see a tweak too with drivers causing a red flag losing their fastest lap time to that point and taking no further part in the session.

Option tyres will continue to be selected prior to Saturday’s qualifying session with teams still limited to how many times they can run a certain compound in a race.

Brands Hatch Indy, Oulton Park, Silverstone and Brands Hatch GP will see drivers run the ‘soft’ tyre as an option, Donington Park and Croft the ‘hard’ tyre and Knockhill the ‘medium’ compound (with the ‘soft’ tyre being the standard tyre). Snetterton meanwhile will run each compound once.

All six races that are staged at Thruxton next year will see all drivers run the ‘hard’ tyre.

Finally, following an extensive testing programme an entirely new wet tyre will be introduced for the 2019 season by Dunlop.

All regulation changes will take effect from the opening round of the 2019 campaign which takes place at Brands Hatch Indy on April 6/7.

Legends vice-champion Steve Whitelegg left ‘speechless’ following BTCC prize test

Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres runner-up Steve Whitelegg was left speechless at Silverstone on Monday (November 12) after getting behind the wheel of Rob Austin’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship HMS Racing Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

Having a topped a special prize table which runs separately to the overall championship throughout the 2018 campaign, the Bury-based racer experienced a once in a lifetime opportunity and impressed those in attendance.

Tackling the Northamptonshire venues Grand Prix layout for the first time, Whitelegg also got his first taste of a front-wheel-drive race car by firstly experiencing a number of passenger laps with BTCC race-winner Austin before being unleashed behind the wheel himself.

“This test has been, in a word, awesome!” Whitelegg said. “In every sense of the word the whole experience was awesome, absolutely brilliant. I’m lost for words to be honest, everything was better than I could have even imagined. The braking of the car, the acceleration, the handling and balance, everything was superb.

“I had a spin on my first lap, at The Loop, but I got going again without any problems and then just continued to build and build every lap. Rob [Austin] had told me the left-rear tyre would be cold and, sure enough, it was! I just played myself into it steadily, built up the speed, and by the end I really felt I was on it. The Alfa was handling superbly, the HMS Racing guys have done an amazing job.

“The Becketts sequence is unbelievable in a top-line touring car, I’ve no idea how the F1 drivers go through there like they do. I’d never driven the GP track before, so the experience was incredible – I had visions of Mansell passing Piquet!

“I’m so grateful to Simon [Belcher – DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing team principal], Rob [Austin] and the entire team who were fantastic all day, plus Phil Cooper at Legends of course, for an amazing day I’ll always remember.”

HMS Racing’s Belcher added: “The day went really well and everyone had a great time. Obviously, Steve has been in Legends for a long time and he’s continued to up his game every year, he’s done a great job and really deserved this prize. There were a couple of runs at the start as a passenger, to get a feel for everything and take advice from Rob, and then he had his run.

“He doesn’t have any front-wheel drive experience at all, so to get behind the wheel of a podium-finishing BTCC car for the first time Steve had a lot to learn but got up to speed quickly and did a very good job. He did everything we could have asked, brought the car back in one piece and had a huge smile on his face!”

Also joining Whitelegg at Silverstone to experience a handful of passenger laps with Austin were fellow Legends competitors Sean Smith, Jack Parker and Nathan Anthony who finished second, fourth and fifth in the prize table respectively.

Newly crowned five-time champion John Mickel, who ended the year third in the BTCC prize test table, was unable to attend the event due to work commitments.

Thruxton revs up for 2019 with launch of new Motorsport summer showcase

Summers are about to get louder, faster and even more exciting at Thruxton Circuit with the launch of a fantastic new event on 1-2 June 2019 celebrating all things motorsport and automotive.

In a year of fabulous festivities to mark the venue’s Golden Jubilee, which was crowned by June’s 50th Anniversary Celebration centrepiece, the event’s success and the immensely positive feedback from visitors has been the driving force behind making the Thruxton Motorsport Celebration an annual highlight of its schedule.

Over two days visitors will be treated to a wealth of on-track racing action with glorious machinery from across the decades courtesy of Historic Promotions.

Visitors will also be able to admire exquisite exhibitions from a number of attending car clubs and absorb the sights, sounds and smells of high-octane motorsport around the UK’s fastest motor racing circuit.

With a host of activities taking place both on and off track, including kids’ activities, Supercar Displays, Skid-Pan demonstrations and much more, the Thruxton Motorsport Celebration will be the perfect summer day out for the whole family.

Bill Coombs, Thruxton Group Managing Director, commented: “It’s been a year to remember for Thruxton Circuit with a host of immensely popular events to mark our Golden Jubilee prompting overwhelmingly positive feedback from visitors. It is by reminiscing about our illustrious history that we became inspired for the future with the launch of the Thruxton Motorsport Celebration.

“A high-octane weekend of exhilarating sights and sounds and thrilling racing action, whether you’re a petrolhead or not, there will be something for everyone to enjoy. We’re certain the Thruxton Motorsport Celebration will become a huge regional summer highlight for years to come.”

Duncan Wiltshire, Chairman of Historic Promotions, added: “The 2018 Thruxton 50th Anniversary Celebration weekend was a huge success and we were delighted to be taking part with our historic grids from Motor Racing Legends.

“Historic Promotions is now very much looking forward to working with Thruxton to launch and develop its exciting new Thruxton Motorsport Celebration, which is certain to be a highlight of the summer schedule with even better racing, more clubs, and a variety of other attractions for all the family.

“We’re aiming to bring all our experience and enthusiasm to this exciting new event at one of the most important and historic circuits in the country.”

In addition to the Thruxton Motorsport Celebration, the venue is already gearing up for a packed programme of motorsport action in 2019.

Highlights include two rounds of the immensely popular British Touring Car Championship, the first taking place on 18-19 May before the series returns on 17-18 August 2019 for more world famous wheel-to-wheel action.

The adrenaline-pumping British Superbike Championship will also take up its traditional summer spot with three days of full throttle two-wheel racing taking place on 2-4 August 2019.

2019 Thruxton Meeting Dates

18th – 19th May: British Touring Car Championship (BTCC)

1st – 2nd June: Thruxton Motorsport Celebration

29th – 30th June: British Truck Racing Association Championship

2nd – 4th August: British Superbike Championship (BSB)

17th – 18th August: British Touring Car Championship (BTCC)

21st – 22nd September: – Classic Sportscar Club (CSCC)

BTCC signs off 2018 season in spectacular style at Brands Hatch

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship brought the curtain down on its Diamond Jubilee season in style at Brands Hatch this weekend with three dramatic races and champions being crowned.

Having already proven to be a record-breaking campaign, the BTCC’s 60th Anniversary was signed off in typically thrilling fashion as Colin Turkington beat season-long rival Tom Ingram to lift the coveted title for a third time.

Turkington’s championship triumph was just half the story however on a weekend that saw the series showcase why it is one of the leading categories in the world.

Qualifying kicked off proceedings with the all-important battle for pole position set to be critical in the title battle. Following a frenetic session, Brett Smith topped the timesheet as the clock ticked to zero, handing him his maiden BTCC pole position.

Behind the Eurotech Racing driver were a further four Honda Civic Type R’s as the underlined their superiority around the Grand Prix layout. Of the championship protagonists, Turkington could only manage 17th whilst Ingram languished in 19th.

Halfords Yuasa Racing wild prove to be the dominant force on race day however as they stormed to a pair of 1-2 finishes, with Dan Cammish finally scoring a breakthrough victory and with it becoming the 17th different race winner of the season.

As the lights went out for race one, Smith held the lead off the start but soon found himself at the mercy of Cammish who made his move at Clearways. Triple champion Neal followed soon after and that was to be how it finished at the chequered flag.

Drama was to follow afterwards though as Cammish was handed a 30-second time penalty after being adjudged to have made a false start. Following an appeal by the team, Cammish was later reinstated as the race winner meaning the original result stood.

For Turkington and Ingram, a handful of points for both saw the Team BMW driver extend his advantage and put him on the cusp of championship glory heading into race two.

Cammish produced a carbon copy performance in race two, despite being ladened with 75kgs of success ballast as he led home Neal for another Honda 1-2. Things were far less comfortable for Neal however as he fended off Andrew Jordan for a majority of the race.

In the title battle, Turkington found himself in the thick of the action and contact with Dan Lloyd at Paddock Hill Bend was shortly followed by a trip through the gravel trap sent him tumbling down the order.

As that happened, Ingram’s target became clear – he had to finish on the podium to keep the championship alive. Hustling his Speedworks Motorsport Toyota into fourth, Ingram tried everything he could to muscle his way past Jordan in the closing laps but was unable to do so, meaning Turkington secured an unassailable lead and was crowned champion.

The final race of the weekend and the season proved to be a fitting end to the BTCC’s Diamond Jubilee as outgoing champion Ashley Sutton and Josh Cook engaged in a ding-dong battle for the honours.

Going bumper-to-bumper for a majority of the race and dicing for the lead, the pair kept fans on the edge of their seats and they were soon out of them as Sutton drew alongside Cook on the run to the line – snatching victory by a mere 0.032 of a second.

Rob Austin rounded out the final podium of the season as he finished third in his HMS Racing Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

As Turkington celebrated becoming a three-time BTCC champion, BMW and West Surrey Racing also successfully retained their BTCC Manufacturer/Constructor Championship and BTCC Teams Championship respectively.

Ingram and Speedworks Motorsport did the same in the Independents’ categories whilst the Toyota Avensis driver was also the winner of the Dunlop Forever Forward award for the most overtakes over the course of the season.

Capping off the list of title winners was two-time race winner Cammish who lifted the Jack Sears Trophy.

For the final championship standings as well as the full classification of results from the weekend, click here.