Tag: BTRC

The British Automobile Racing Club soaked up the sun to produce two days of unmissable, edge-of-the-seat entertainment this past weekend ( June 5/6) at Brands Hatch.

Making the first of several visits to the Kent venue over the course of the 2021 season, a total of eight championships took to the Indy circuit and turned on the style for the enthusiastic crowd that was in attendance.

One of the headline acts during the weekend was the British Truck Racing Championship. Lifting the curtain on a brand new season, the heavyweight behemoths wasted no time in making their presence known as they served up five bruising encounters.

Division 1 saw reigning five-time champion Ryan Smith begin the pursuit of a sixth crown on the right foot as he powered his way to a hat-trick of wins. Martin Gibson and Mark Taylor would go on to end Smith’s winning streak on Sunday as they tallied a win apiece.

In Division 2, defending champion Steven Powell enjoyed an equally impressive start to the season as he, like Smith, scored a trio of victories. Such is the competitiveness throughout the field, Powell was unable to claim a clean sweep as former champion Adam Bint and Craig Reid also stood on the top step of the podium.

It proved to be an emotional weekend for the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres as they paid tribute to Gerard McCosh, a stalwart of the series who passed away earlier this year. A poignant two-lap parade on Sunday saw the entire 34-car grid follow Gerard’s infamous car for the final time before it is retired.

Aside from the tribute, the Legends as ever delivered six pulsating encounters that will live long in the memory. John Mickel, Will Gibson and Steve Whitelegg reigned supreme on the Saturday before Mickel and Gibson added to their tallies on Sunday. Paul Simmons would emerge as the other race winner.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship made its first appearance at Brands Hatch since 2019 and didn’t disappoint with two frenetic races taking centre stage. Current title holder George Turiccki opened his account for the season with a win in race one before Michael Smith did the same in race two.

Hot off the heels of starring at Donington Park on Bank Holiday Monday, the Kumho BMW Championship was back in action with another two races. Brad Sheehan proved to be the driver to beat in his E46 M3, winning both bouts narrowly ahead of James Card.

Pete Sparrow continued his fine start to the 2CVParts.com Championship as he bagged another brace of wins. Having won at their Cadwell Park season opener, the former multiple champion arrived at Brands Hatch keen to extend his advantage in the points – and he did just that.

Storming to pole position for both races, Sparrow didn’t put a wheel wrong in either contest to stretch his legs out front and take the chequered flag comfortably.

The Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship boasted a bumper entry list however Steve McDermid wasn’t to be denied from claiming his fourth straight win of the year in race one. William Sharpe finally halted his momentum however in race two, as he claimed a win of his own to cap off a memorable second event for the magnificent MGs.

Steve Burrows and Ray Harris were victorious in the CMMCS Avon Tyres Intermarque Silhouettes whilst the Quaife MINI CHALLENGE Trophy rounded out the weekend’s action, with wins going the way of Matt Hammond and Joe Wiggin.

To view the full classification of results from Brands Hatch this past weekend, CLICK HERE.

You can watch all the action back too by heading to our YouTube channel HERE.

Brands Hatch beckons for the British Automobile Racing Club this weekend (June 5/6) for what should be an unmissable race meeting around the Indy circuit, headlined by no less than five races from the British Truck Racing Championship.

In what is one of the must-see events on the UK motorsport calendar, the titans of truck racing will lift the curtain on a brand-new season whilst a number of other championships will also take centre stage to continue their 2021 campaign.

Having not raced at the Kent venue since 2019, this weekend’s BTRC opener is a homecoming of sorts and the expectation that neither Division 1 or Division 2 is going to disappoint those in attendance and watching live online.

Boasting an ultra-competitive entry list throughout, many eyes will be on Ryan Smith in Division 1 as he bids to clinch a sixth consecutive title. Cementing his status as the driver to beat in the premier class over the past five years, Smith has his sights set on making more history however he faces stiff competition.

Former champions David Jenkins and Stuart Oliver are stalwarts of the championship and know what it takes to win. Having run Smith close in recent years, both will be confident that they can string together a season-long challenge to dethrone the current king.

In Division 2, Steven Powell will don the mantel of defending champion. Having narrowly missed out on the crown on a number of occasions, Powell made no mistake in 2020 as he stormed to the title in style.

Now aiming to clinch back-to-back crowns, Powell will be eager to pick up where he left off last year however he too faces competition from a raft of challengers. Former champion Adam Bint, Brad Smith, John Powell, John Bowler and Paul Rivett have all triumphed in the past and will be worth keeping an eye on.

The Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres has proven to be a fan favourite down the years and they will look to steal the show as always. Former champion Miles Rudman holds the early advantage as the pocket rockets descend on the Indy circuit however he will need to be in top form to remain there.

As always, the battle for supremacy is as fraught as ever and with the likes of John Mickel, Daniel Clark, Jack Parker, Steve Whitelegg and Nick Bridgeman, to name but a few, all racing, all bets are off.

Towards the end of the lunchbreak on Sunday there is to be a special two-lap parade in memory of late Legends racer Gerard McCosh. The popular competitor, who tragically lost his life in February after a battle with cancer, will be celebrated by all of his friends within the paddock.

After a year on the sidelines, the Pickup Truck Racing Championship made a popular return at Mallory Park last month and is now revved up to produce more edge-of-the-seat entertainment.

Two pulsating encounters around the Mallory Oval saw Reece Jones triumph to grab the early initiative and he will be hoping for more of the same at Brands. With two races scheduled to play out though, the likes of George Turiccki, Dale Gent, Michael Smith, Daniel Petters, Dean Tompkins and Mark Willis will all undoubtedly be in contention towards the front.

Vintage thrills will be offered up by the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship as they write the latest chapter in their season. Steve McDermid scored a sensational hat-trick at the MGOC curtain-raiser and he will be keen to continue his fine form.

Meanwhile, Simon Kendrick, Stephen Amphlett, Stuart Plotnek and Chris Millard have underlined their credentials towards the sharp end of the grid in the past and any one of them could stake their claim around the Indy circuit.

Also taking fans on a spirited trip down memory lane will be the 2CVParts.com Championship. Steeped in more than 30 years of history, the championship has established itself as one of the most exciting single-make categories that runs today.

Multiple champion Pete Sparrow has his sights set on regaining the crown he lost to Alec Graham last year and he made the perfect start by tallying a brace of wins around the undulating twists and turns of the Lincolnshire-based venue. Whether or not he can continue his fine form remains to be seen.

Fresh off the back of their Bank Holiday Monday showing at Donington Park, the Kumho BMW Championship has a quick turnaround to return to the action. Home to all models that run the iconic Bavarian brand logo, the series enjoyed a superlative start a few days ago and

Rounding out the weekend’s track action at Brands Hatch will be contests from the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy and Avon Tyres Intermarque Silhouettes.

To find out more information on this weekend’s two-day event at Brands Hatch, such as the Entry List and Timetable, CLICK HERE.