The British Automobile Racing Club brought the curtain down on its 2022 season in style at Brands Hatch this past weekend (November 12/13) with an action-packed 15 races serving up a feast of entertainment.
Concluding what has been a year to remember for the Club’s championships, series, centres and venues; two days of full-throttle thrills and spills around the famous Kent circuit – as well as a poignant moment of Remembrance – proved to be a fitting finale.
In the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Maximus Hall completed a late-season turnaround to be crowned champion. Closing the gap to long-time points leader Harry Hickton during the second half of the season, Hall arrived at the Indy layout within touching distance of the standings summit.
With double points on offer across all three of the weekend’s races, Hall – who has been the series’ standout rookie driver – didn’t put a wheel wrong as he charged to victory in races one and two, which moved him into the lead of the championship.
Holding a 36-point advantage heading into the final race of the season, Hall was perfection personified as he completed a clean sweep of victories and with it, capped off a sensational maiden campaign to clinch the title in the one-make category.
Freddie Slater wrapped up the 2022 Michelin Ginetta Junior Winter Series in association with ATL Ltd title with a dominant display, scoring a hat-trick of wins. The R Racing driver entered the weekend as one of the favourites for the crown and he duly lived up to the hype.
Sharing the spoils with Luke Watts on Saturday, Slater – who finished 15th overall in the main championship this year – was in a league of his own on Sunday as he cantered to a brace of wins to capture the big prize.
Having crowned its champions at Donington Park late last month, the Classic Touring Car Racing Club enjoyed one final blast with a memorable 40-minute all comers race which was ultimately won at a canter by Anton Martin, who finished more than two laps clear of his nearest rival.
One of the undoubted highlights of the weekend was set to be the inaugural 110-minute endurance race, which celebrated 110 Years of the BARC. Open to closed-wheel production cars, a bumper entry list put on a show before thick fog unfortunately brought play to a close early on Sunday.
At the time of the stoppage – which came just 30 minutes into the bout – the BMW duo of Bryan Bransom and Kevin Clarke held an advantage of almost five seconds ahead of pole sitters Lucky Khera and Jasver Sapra.
Bragging rights in the Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires this year went the way of Wayne Rockett after he scored a pivotal victory in the penultimate race of the season.
Tied with Adam Jones on four wins apiece prior to the weekend, Rockett went from third on the grid to the top step of the podium in the opening encounter to secure overall honours. In the series finale, Jones came oh-so close to winning as he trailed Mark Ridout by little under half a second.
Rounding out the weekend’s track action was four ultra-competitive races from the Classic & Modern Motorsport Club Southern. In the Avon Tyres Intermarque Silhouette Series, Lewis Smith emerged as the driver to beat as he charged to pole position and two flawless wins.
The combined Super Saloon Series & Southern Tin Top Series contests meanwhile saw Michael Eustace guide his BMW E46 M3 to a brace of victories ahead of consistent front-runner Rod Birley, who was behind the wheel of his Ford Escort WRC.
To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Brands Hatch, CLICK HERE.
