Tag: Dunlop Endurance Championship

BARC heads back to Brands Hatch for latest two-day event

Brands Hatch will welcome back the British Automobile Racing Club to Kent this weekend (May 11/12) with six championship readying themselves for another pivotal event on their 2019 calendars respectively.

In what is the latest visit to the Indy circuit for the BARC, the two-day event is the latest chapter in what is proving to be another vintage of motorsport for the Club and its championships.

Topping the bill will be a pair of one-hour races from the Dunlop Endurance Championship. With two events at Silverstone in the books already for Britcar’s premier series, the 1.2 mile Brands Hatch layout will welcome an awe-inspiring line-up of illustrious supercars, all of which will be set to go wheel-to-wheel.

Ferrari 488 Challenge’s lockout the top two spots in the standings and they could well be the car to beat. Tim Gray’s Praga R1T will also be one to watch having been a force to be reckoned with already whilst several other car and driver combinations will be eyeing success.

The Michelin Clio Cup Series is back in action for the second time this year and all signs point to another pulsating event. Three races will be run across both days and both the third and fourth generation Clio will be

Ronan Pearson, James Colburn, Nic Harrison and Simon Freeman were just a few of the stars at the curtain-raiser and they will all, along with several others, be keen to mix it at the front of their respective classes.

It has been a lengthy wait for the second Lancaster Insurance MG Owner’s Club Championship meeting, having initially kicked off their season at Oulton Park in March. With some of the most iconic MG machinery from all eras battling it out for supremacy, the championship is not to be missed.

Notable names to keep an eye on across both days include multiple champion Jim Baynam, Stuart Plotnek, Fergus Campbell and Steve Darbey.

The Kumho BMW Championship has starred at Oulton Park and Castle Combe so far and that theme will likely continue this weekend. Pitting some of the best models from the German manufacturer against each other, the production-based series continues to be a smash-hit.

Garrie Whittacker has emerged as the man to beat so far however the likes of Lucky Khera, James Card and Trevor Ford are amongst several leading contenders out to halt his momentum.

Showcasing some of the best saloon cars competing today, the BARC Tin Tops Championship will be back in action at Brands Hatch for the second time this year. Having produced a mesmerising pair of races last month, another variety-filled grid is set to line up and duke it out for supremacy.

Capping off the weekend’s action will be several demonstration runs from the all-new SmarTrack Series Elite. Designed to appeal to both amateurs and more experienced racers aged 40 and above, the brand new series will hit the track with two Jaguar Project 8 cars.

Giving drivers the opportunity to fettle their cars as well as give the public its first taste of the category, Series Elite will hit the track on four occasions over the course of the weekend for further mileage to be clocked.

To find out more information, including a timetable and links to live timing, click here.

Silverstone plays host to memorable BARC race day

It wasn’t just the Distrigo Parts Distribution C1 Racing Series that competed at Silverstone this past weekend (April 27/28) as several other British Automobile Racing Club categories took centre stage to continue their 2019 campaigns.

Setting the scene for the history-making main event later in the day on Saturday, a variety of different championships tackled the infamous Grand Prix circuit to serve up a feast of thrills and spills.

Making their second appearance at the venue already this year, the Dunlop Endurance Championship staged a further two one-hour encounters. Race one proved to be a frenetic affair as the VR Motorsport duo of Tim Gray and Alastair Boulton piloted their Praga R1T to the chequered flag in commanding style, finishing ahead of their nearest challengers by more than 40 seconds.

Any hopes of repeating that success were extinguished in race two later in the day however as the pair were forced to retire after 15 laps. With the race one victors watching on from the sidelines, FF Corse’s Wayne Marrs and Charlie Hollings took full advantage to lead a Ferrari 488 Challenge 1-2-3.

Silverstone provided the starting point for the KW Automotive Classic VW Cup, BARC Saloon Series and TDi North Honda VTEC Challenge too, with the trio amalgamating together for two blockbuster races.

Bringing together a diverse range of saloon cars to go wheel-to-wheel with each other, all three categories were well represented. At the wheel of his Ford Escort RS2000 MkII, Craig Rainer proved to be the driver to beat as he stormed to victory in both races,

Rainer dominated proceedings in the opener but didn’t have things all his own way however as the Ford man was kept honest in the second encounter by the Honda Civic of Chris Sparks.

Rounding out the action around the 3.67 mile circuit was the Sports Prototype Cup, which made its own piece of history by running for the first-ever time.

Aimed at providing a multi-marque racing environment for lightweight sports prototype cars to race in a premium race weekend package, the new series was home to both the Radical SR3 and brand-new Revolution machine.

Despite a small grid competing the action proved to be fast-paced with outright hours shared between Rob Wheldon and Bruce Crawley.

For the full classification of results, click here.

C1 Racing Series revved up for history-making Silverstone event

History is set to be made at Silverstone this weekend (April 26/27/28) as the Distrigo Parts Distribution C1 Racing Series headlines the latest British Automobile Racing Club meeting with a 98-car field competing in its first 24-hour race of the year.

Eclipsing the previous record for the biggest grid at a British motorsport event of 75, the one-make series will write its name into the history books on what should be an event to remember around the iconic 3.67 mile Grand Prix circuit.

Providing a low-cost method of going endurance racing, the Distrigo Parts Distribution C1 Racing Series has emerged as one of the fastest growing categories in the country since launching midway through 2017.

Making waves last year with two 24-hour races at Rockingham, the C1 contingent moves to Silverstone with a staggering 434 set the be behind the wheel at some stage over the course of the event.

Kicking things off at 17:30 on Saturday evening, the series will race into the darkness and into the night, with all-out entertainment set to be high on the agenda right the way through until the chequered flag falls the following day.

Prior to the C1 Racing Series roaring into action, the Dunlop Endurance Championship run their second consecutive event of the season at the Northamptonshire venue. Two one-hour encounters with a glittering array of supercars will provide a thrilling spectacle for those in attendance, and the action is likely to be as competitive as ever.

The VR Motorsport Praga R1T of Tim Gray and the JMH Lamborghini Huracan pairing of John Seale and Marcus Clutton ran out winners during the season-opener and both will be ones to watch again. However, with a bumper grid of more than 30 cars set to compete, front-running contenders are set to spring up from all angles.

Fans of all things tin tops will be well-catered for as well as the BARC Saloon Series, TDi North Honda VTEC Challenge and the KW Automotive Classic VW Cup amalgamate together to kick off their campaigns with two 20-minute races taking place.

Bringing together some of the most awe-inspiring saloons from a variety of eras, the action is set to be fast-paced from start to finish with the likes of Ken Lark, Alex Kite and Jeffrey Windsor set to take on starring roles.

Capping off the weekend’s BARC action will be the inaugural two races from the Sports Prototype Cup. Featuring the Radical SR3 Trophy and new Revolution Race Car, the championship is aimed at providing a multi-marque racing environment for lightweight sports prototype cars to race in a premium race weekend package.

Breaking cover for the first time, the season-opener showcases a depth of talent with former Radical Challenge victor Rob Wheldon, James Abbott, Morten Dons and Johan Boris Scheier all set to go wheel-to-wheel in the battle for supremacy.

With history set to be made, the BARC is set for a fever-filled three days of on-track action.

For more information on this weekend’s historic event, including links to live timing and the timetable, click here.

BARC serves up six-tastic Silverstone spectacle

The home of British motorsport, Silverstone, played host to a memorable two days of British Automobile Racing Club action this past weekend (March 30/31) as six more championships launched their 2019 campaigns.

In what is a traditional fixture on the Club’s early-season calendar, the International configuration of the Northamptonshire venue once again showcased a raft of wheel-to-wheel battles across all categories.

Headlining Saturday’s action was a pair of races from the Dunlop Endurance Championship, which boasted a record 36-car entry list. With a pair of one-hour encounters setting pulses racing, Tim Gray proved to be the man to beat in race one at the wheel of his VR Motorsport Praga R1T.

Gray took on the Lamborghini pairing of John Seale and Marcus Clutton, prevailing to narrowly take the chequered flag by little under two seconds. Seale and Clutton ensured they savoured victory too by dominating race two, lapping the entire field in their striking Huracan.

The Michelin Clio Cup Series saw the spoils shared as Luke Pinder and Simon Freeman took a win apiece. The pair were inseparable for a majority of the weekend as they vied for top spot in the Race Class with Ronan Pearson and Paul Bell rounding off the podium in each race respectively.

James Colburn bagged a brace of victories in the new-for-2019 Sport Class, whilst double Road Class champion Nic Harrison also enjoyed a double-winning performance as well.

Having reigned supreme in the 2CV Parts.com Classic Racing Championship last year, Pete Sparrow began the defence of his title in fine style as he romped his way to a pair of victories – setting his stall out as the man to beat once more.

Rick Morris also enjoyed a stellar weekend as he too scored a pair of wins, this time in the Luna Logistics Classic Formula Ford 1600 Championship. Heading what was a stellar entry list of experienced single seater racers, Morris was a tour-de-force in the opening encounter to fend off Mark Armstrong and John Village.

In race two, Morris then prevailed from a nail-biting 17-lap affair ahead of 1992 BTCC champion Tim Harvey – who was making a popular return to the series – whilst Armstrong picked up another rostrum finish.

Spoils were shared in the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship races as William Sharpe and Steve Darbey won overall. Never short of entertainment, the multi-class series is home to some of the most iconic machines from the MG brand however it was to be the MG ZR that reigned supreme – a car that Sharpe and Darbey both piloted.

Capping off the weekend’s action in Northamptonshire was a raft of races from the Caterham Graduates Championship. Another category which has forged a name for itself in recent years, amalgamated grids ensured there was plenty of action throughout each class.

The combined Mega/Classic/135/125 races came down to Luke Tzourou and Kevin Barrett, with the pair nip-and-tuck with each other and ultimately taking a win apiece. Elsewhere Samuel Wilson emerged as the man to beat in the Sigmax and 150 races as he romped to a brace of wins ahead of Jamie Ellwood.

To view the full classification of results across all championships from Silverstone, click here.

Silverstone beckons for six action-packed BARC championships

Silverstone awaits the arrival of the British Automobile Racing Club this weekend (March 30/31) with six championships kicking off their 2019 campaigns.

As the new season begins to gather momentum, the BARC descends on the home of British motorsport once more to tackle the International layout, with enthralling entertainment expected to keep fans on the edge of their seats throughout both days.

Topping the bill for the weekend is the Dunlop Endurance Championship which has attracted a record entry for the second year running. Boasting a grid of 36 jaw-dropping machines, Britcar is enjoying a period of rude health and that is only set to continue with tweaks having been made to the race format.

This weekend’s opening event sees the introduction of two one-hour races instead of the previous 50-minute and two-hour encounters, thus further enticing more iconic machinery to the grid. In addition the class structure has also been altered however that won’t wave from the likes of Ferrari, BMW, Porsche, Lamborghini, Mercedes and more going wheel-to-wheel.

Nostalgia single seater thrills will come in the shape of the Luna Logistics Classic Formula Ford 1600 Championship this weekend with two races scheduled to take place. Harking back to the days when the category was a feeder series to Formula 1, the racing remains the same

Experienced racers such as Stuart Kestnbaum, Mark Armstrong and Rick Morris are amongst the favourites to shine whilst attention will also be paid to former BTCC champion turned presenter Tim Harvey, who is back behind the wheel of a Van Dieman.

It’s a new chapter for the Michelin Clio Cup Series this year too as they introduce the fourth generation car into the newly formed ‘Sport Class’. Having been a haven for tin top thrills down the years, the Clio Cup Series is set to scale new heights with as it looks to the future.

Both the Race and Road Class categories boast bumper grids too, with a new champion set to be crowned in 2019 following Ben Palmer moving onto new pastures. Nic Harrison meanwhile remains the man to beat in the Road Class as he bids to become a three-time title winner.

The Caterham Graduates Championship has become synonymous for close-quarter action down the years and that theme is set to continue this weekend. Four classes will duke it out in amalgamated grids with more than 40 cars confirmed to kick off the season in style.

Jamie Ellwood, Robin Webb, Mark Carter, Ben Winrow and Jon Curry are just a few of the drivers that have flourished in the past and could be potent threats over the course of both days.

Small in stature but never short of entertainment, the 2CV Parts.com Classic Racing Championship is back for another year and with another healthy entry list. Following on from a frenetic 2018 campaign which saw Pete Sparrow clinch the title, the series is back for another year – kicking off the season this weekend before a raft of events between now and August.

Capping off the weekend’s BARC action are a pair of races from the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship. Showcasing some of the most iconic machines from the iconic manufacturer, all eras of MG are fielded in this multi-class category, with battles raging throughout the grid.

Jim Baynam, Steve McDermid and Simon Kendrick are just three drivers to look out for as they all bid to kick their campaigns off on the right foot.

To find out more information regarding this weekend’s event at Silverstone, click here.

Britcar boom continues as Silverstone opener gets record entry

Once again the Silverstone International circuit has proved to be popular with competitors in the Dunlop Britcar Endurance Championship, attracting a record entry for the second year running.

But it’s not just the attraction of racing on an iconic circuit, it’s as much as – or more  – to do with the innovative tweaking of the race format and category structure by the Britcar management that has drawn in some serious race machinery, in what looks to be an ultra-competitive season ahead.

Gone are the Sprint and Endurance categories, and gone are the split 50-minute and two-hour races, all competitors are now in the same pair of one-hour races. This reflects the appetite for racing specialised racing machines over a slightly shorter distance, to which Britcar has reacted, whilst broadly retaining the five-class structure, with some adjustments to the top and bottom ends of Classes 1, 2 and 3, ensuring fairer equalisation.

This new format has changed the complexion of the entry somewhat, too. The Ginetta G55s, mainstay of Class 3 over the last few years and a serious overall title contender, are missing, at least from this opening round, and in their place will be a phalanx of Porsches, whilst previously thin-on-the-ground Classes 1 and 2 are now awash with array of 13 Supercars, with BMW,  Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Praga, Saker and Taranis represented.

But it’s not all about the Supercars – the competition is just as intense amongst the lower-powered contingent; indeed last year’s overall champions, Sarah Moore and Matt Greenwood, in a Tockwith Motorsport Ginetta G50, came out of Class 4. Seventeen year-old Matt has moved on for 2019, and this year Sarah will coach and nurture the precocious teenage talent of Moh Ritson.

A raft of hot hatches and Touring Cars make up Classes 4 and 5, many to the internationally recognised Touring car regulations, with the Team Brit Aston Martin being an interloper, enabling the driving and engineering squad of disabled former UK servicemen and women to realise their dream of eventually taking on the Le Mans 24hrs.

So, Britcar has moved with the current flavour of the market, as reflected by the unprecedented 36-car entry for this opening round, and there’s no make-weights here; experienced amateurs complemented by seasoned professionals, all in superbly prepared cars.

This is going to be so competitive, and is promising to be potentially Britcar’s best-ever season.

Blockbuster Brands Hatch weekend brings BARC year to a close

Brands Hatch provided the backdrop for a thrilling final race meeting of the 2018 season for the British Automobile Racing Club this past weekend (November 17/18) as six championships brought the curtain down on their campaigns.

Despite there being a chill in the air, the BARC basked under the Kent sunshine throughout both days as those in attendance were treated to a feast on-track entertainment.

Racing into the darkness on both nights, the Dunlop Endurance Championship lit up the Indy circuit with a spellbinding array of machines. Honours fell the way of Alan Purbrick and David Brise in the first 50-minute encounter as they piloted their Saker RAPX to victory.

In the longer two-hour endurance race, Ferrari 458 duo Ross Wylie and David Mason were the winners of the Sprint category before the Team HARD duo of Simon Rudd and Tom Barley went on to score victory in the Endurance class.

With the final races being decided, Sarah Moore and Matt Greenwood were declared Endurance champions whilst Jon Watt and Kristian Prosser claimed the Sprint title.

James Hedley wrote his name into the history books as he lifted the coveted Ginetta Junior Winter Series crown. With familiar and new faces duking it out for the final championship on offer from the Yorkshire manufacturer, Hedley made his mark in style.

Ruben del Sarte scored victory in race one however nobody could stop Hedley on day two as he stormerd to a pair of wins from behind the wheel of his G40 to scoop the title and follow in the footsteps of Adam Smalley.

Wayne Rockett and Steve Kite signed off the Hyundai Coupe Cup season in dominant fashion as they powered their way to a race win, the latter adding cementing his status as the man to beat throughout the year.

Spoils were shared in the BARC South East Tin Tops Championship as Alfie Brooker and Kamran Tunio took a win apiece. Elsewhere Rod Birley was back to his brilliant best as he wrapped up victory in the two BARC South East Modified Saloon Car Championship races.

Capping off the weekend’s action was two races from the Scrapco Metal Recycling / Avon Tyres Intermarque Championship, with Chris Brockenhurst and Steve Burrows each topping the podium.

For the full classification of results, click here.

BARC set to bring the curtain down on 2018 season at Brands Hatch

Starting the year on a chilly Saturday at Oulton Park in March, the British Automobile Racing Club will bring the 2018 season to an end this weekend (November 17/18) as a host of championships compete at Brands Hatch.

In what has been another memorable year across all BARC categories, the Indy layout of the Kent venue will provide the backdrop for the final set of champions to be officially crowned.

Topping the bill will be the Dunlop Endurance Championship, which will race into the night during the weekend. Home to some of the most illustrious and jaw-dropping cars from around the world, Britcar has once again delivered another spellbinding year of racing.

With a brace of 50-minute encounters as well as the customary longer two-hour race closing the show, there will be plenty of track time over the course of the weekend for the likes of Matt Greenwood & Sarah Moore and Jon Watt & Kristian Prosser – both of whom sit at the summit of the individual standings.

The Ginetta Junior Winter Series will make a triumphant return as the familiar and new faces duke it out for the final title that is awarded by the Yorkshire manufacturer in 2018.

Amongst the bumper entry list includes Ruben Del Sarte, James Hedley, Harry Dyson Lorcan Hanafen and Gus Burton, all of whom competed during the main Ginetta championship this past year.

With a total of two races per day taking place, the battle for supremacy is set to keep fans on the edge-of-their-seats all the way to the final lap of the weekend.

Following a lengthy break, the Hyundai Coupe Cup will bring the curtain down on their season, which has been an overwhelming success, with another feast of entertainment for spectators.

This season has seen Steve Kite at times be in a league of his own in the one-make series and the Misty Racing driver will be keen to add to his already impressive winning tally, whilst Alex Cursley and Wayne Rockett lead the chasing pack.

Capping off a blockbuster two days of action will be races from the BARC South East Modified Saloon Car Championship, BARC South East Tin Tops Championship and Scrapco Metal Recycling / Avon Tyres Intermarque Championship.

All part of the Club’s South East Centre, titles are up for grabs in all three with Adrian Bradley, Rikki Taylor and Lewis Smith in the pound seats in their respective categories.

However, with an array of talented drivers hot on their heels, nothing is set to be guaranteed at Brands Hatch until the checkered flag is waved for the final time in 2018.

BARC delivers blockbuster two days of racing at Donington Park

Five British Automobile Racing Club championships served up a feast of high-octane entertainment and drama at Donington Park this past weekend (July 21/22), as a bumper crowd soaked up the sun at Convoy in the Park.

Headlining the weekend were ten races from the British Truck Racing Association Championship, all of which left fans on the edge of their seats. Division 1 had a familiar feel to it as reigning champion Ryan Smith underlined his excellence with a trio of victories.

Storming to pole position in qualifying, Smith dominated proceedings in race one to take a lights-to-flag victory. He backed it up with a pair of wins from the back of the grid soon after before seeing his winning run come to an end.

Jamie Anderson and David Jenkins then came to the fore in races four and five as they notched a win apiece, rounding off an exhilarating weekend of Division 1 race.

In Division 2, Luke Garrett was in a league of his own as he powered his way to an unprecedented clean sweep. Setting the pace from the opening session on Saturday morning, the MAN driver was not to be denied as he scored five wins from five races, extending his championship lead in the process too.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship saw two frenetic encounters deliver plenty of heart stopping moments right up until the chequered flag. As they have done for a majority of the season, Scott Bourne and Lea Wood continued their duel by scoring a win apiece under the flightpath of East Midlands airport.

Race one saw reigning champion Bourne emerge as the victor following a tense battle. Duking it out from lights-to-flag, Bourne pipped Wood to the chequered flag by a mere 0.025 to win. The roles were reversed in race two as Wood led Bourne, this time by more than seven seconds. David O’Reagan and Michael Smith bagged a podium each as the top two squabbled.

Six races from the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres delivered some memorable moments too, as the title battle intensified. Miles Rudman, Ben Power and Sam Smith scored a win apiece on Saturday, each encounter bettering the one that went before it.

Sunday’s trio of races from the 5/8 scale machines saw Power come out swinging in heat one as he stormed to the front to win. Reigning champion John Mickel showcased he has lost none of his guile in race two as he stormed through the field to take another win.

The third and final race from the weekend proved to be an all-time classic from the Legends as Paul Simmons claimed his maiden victory in the series, with the top three being covered by just 0.081 seconds.

In the Britcar Endurance Championship, Jonny MacGregor piloted his MacG Racing Taranis to victory in the 50-minute sprint race before doing the same in the sprint section of the longer two-hour race too.

As MacGregor celebrated his Donington double, race two of the weekend continued and ended with the Team HARD duo of Simon Rudd and Sam Randon driving their Ginetta G55 GT4 to the top step of the podium.

Rounding out the action from Convoy in the Park was two races from the 2CV Parts,com Classic Racing Championship. Spoils were shared as Pete Sparrow and Simon Clarke took a win each, whilst there were podiums for Matthew Hollis, Nick Crispin, Tom Perry and Brian Heerey.

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

Britcar Endurance Championship extends partnership with Dunlop Tyres

The Britcar Endurance Championship has confirmed that it has extended its partnership with Dunlop Tyres for a further five years.

Coming into effect from 2019 and running through till 2023, the new agreement will see tyre supply, paddock services and promotion continue to grow further.

The Dunlop Endurance Championship is currently enjoying a period of rude health, growing in stature over the past few years with grids now exceeding 30 cars at each meeting.

With an diverse class structure in place, the series has welcomed GTE, GT3, GT4 TCR and BTCC this season already. Extending its deal with Dunlop tyres is set to only further strengthen the championship’s position moving forward for the remainder of the 2018 campaign and beyond.

“Dunlop has supported Britcar since its inception two decades ago,” Dunlop Motorsport Sales Manager Mathias Kipp stated. “It’s a vital part of the UK racing scene and it’s growing grid are a testimony to the vision and ambition of the Britcar management team.

“Last year, Dunlop had a hugely successful year in international endurance racing, winning the Le Man and Nurburgring 24-hour races, as well as the GTE-AM FIA World Championship.

“Britcar’s loyal competitors will benefit from globally winning tyre technology. To sign such a long term partnership shows our confidence in the future of Britcar and the Dunlop UK Endurance Championship.”

Claire Hedley, Britcar Endurance Championship Co-ordinator, said: “For nearly 20 years the Britcar Endurance Championship has been at the forefront of promoting affordable and realistic multi-class endurance racing.

“Dunlop has been part of our success story, providing great promotional support as well as world-class endurance tyres. I’m delighted that we can work together on building a five-year growth plan for the championship.”

Convoy in the Park at Donington Park awaits five BARC championships

The British Automobile Racing Club heads to Donington Park this weekend (July 21/22) for one of the biggest events of the summer, Convoy in the Park, with five championships set to hit the track.

In front of what is expected to be a bumper crowd, the on-track action is just a flavour of the two-day event which will also encompass Show Trucks, a funfair, trade village, open-air cinema and much more.

Headlining the action are a colossal ten races from the British Truck Racing Association Championship. Boasting the biggest grids of the season in both Divisions, the heavyweight machines are likely to steal the show as they go wheel-to-wheel, with high drama never far away.

Division 1 currently sees reigning champion Ryan Smith sitting at the summit of the standing after bagging four wins at Thruxton. Currently in irresistible form at the moment, the MAN driver is likely to be the man to beat however there are a host of contenders all in the mix and hot on his heels.

David Jenkins, Jamie Anderson, Simon Reid, Stuart Oliver and the returning Mat Summerfield are all in the hunt for Smith, amongst others, so it will be intriguing to see who emerges victorious over the course of the weekend.

Luke Garrett has emerged as the leading star in Division 2 having scored a total of ten victories thus far and could well add to his tally under the flightpath of East Midlands airport. Garrett will have to be on top form however as he faces off against 15 other competitors – a season best for the category.

Leading the chase will be Brad Smith, Steve and John Powell, John Bowler and many more, all of whom are capable to shaking up the order at the sharp end of the championship standings.

The Dunlop Endurance Championship will take on a starring role on the Saturday of the event with a 50-minute and then two-hour race set to be staged. Bringing together an eclectic mix of jaw-dropping machinery and high-profile drivers, the series is enjoying a period of rude health and that is set to only get better after a recent five-year extension with Dunlop was announced.

Notable entries to look out for include Edward Moore and Marmaduke Hall in the Ginetta G50, David Mason and Ross Wylie in the Ferrari 458 GT3 and Chris Murphy in the Aston Martin Vantage GT4, along with a host of others.

It has been a thrilling season in the Pickup Truck Racing Championship and things are set to only intensify as the series rolls into Donington Park. After enjoying a strong start, Lea Wood’s pursuit of a maiden title has come under threat recently with the resurgent defending champion Scott Bourne coming to the fore.

Scoring a double at Thruxton, Bourne has closed the gap to Wood in recent rounds and their duel for the top spot is set to continue, providing an intriguing watch, whilst countless others also try to impose themselves on the sharp end of the field.

Whilst the British Truck Racing Association Championships machines are set to be the biggest at Donington Park, the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres can claim the title of being the smallest.

Never short of providing high-octane thrills, the 5/8 scale machines have dazzled crowds wherever they have visited this year, and it is reigning champion John Mickel who leads the way. Holding a commanding 700 point lead, Mickel will be keen to pick up where he left off before the annual summer break.

Miles Rudman, Steve Whitelegg and Jack Parker are currently Mickel’s closest challengers and the trio will be looking to close the gap to the experienced racer across the weekend’s six races.

Capping off the weekend’s BARC action will be a pair of races from the 2CV parts.com Classic Racing Championship. Running two separate encounters, with drivers sharing cars, this iconic series is set to take spectators down memory lane, with Lien Davies as defending champion.

BARC championships shine in Oulton Park thriller

Oulton Park played host to an unmissable day’s track action this past Saturday (June 23) as four British Automobile Racing Club championships resumed battle.

In sweltering conditions, the picturesque Cheshire venue provided the perfect backdrop for a frenetic day’s racing which was organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre.

Heading up the action was Britcar’s Dunlop Endurance Championship, which saw a 50-minute and two-encounter run. Bringing together a raft of eye-catching and mesmerising machines onto one grid, both races proved to ha

In the shorter 50-minute Sprint race, Richard Neary piloted his Mercedes Benz AMG GT GT3 to victory – more 25 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger after completing 28 laps.

Neary continued that form into the day’s longer race, which had a 50-minute sprint incorporated into it too. Once again starring in his Mercedes, Neary romped to clinch the chequered flag to make it a dream double and uphold his position as being in a league of his own.

Whilst Neary and many others peeled off at the end of their race, the endurance contingent continued to tackle Oulton Park and come the end of the two hours, the pairing of Sean Cooper and McCollum drove their Track Focused KTM X-Bow to the top of the podium.

The solitary CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship race had a familiar feel to it as Paul Rose further cemented himself as the man to beat in 2018. Having produced countless race-winning performances already this season, Rose was in his usual superlative form at Oulton.

At the wheel of his Saker RAPX S1-400, Rose converted pole position into a dominant win as he streaked clear, winning by more than 55 seconds. Despite their best efforts, the duo of Danny Bird and Luke Arminger could do nothing about Rose’s charge and settled for second and third respectively.

Garrie Whittaker emerged as a one-man juggernaut in the Kumho BMW Championship, picking up two overall race wins. Home to some of the most iconic models from the German manufacturer, a grid of more than 20 cars went wheel-to-wheel for supremacy, with Whittaker prevailing. Race one saw Whittaker edge out a close affair with Piers Reid and Colin Wells in close proximity, ultimately filling the rostrum. Whittaker’s performance in race two was to be more dominant, triumphing by more than 12 seconds ahead of Wells and James Card.

In the Classic 2CV parts.com Championship staged the latest two rounds of their popular one-make category, with experience coming to the fore. Race one saw reigning champion Lien Davies bag a win before Pete Sparrow did the same in the second.

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