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BARC closes out 2024 season with blockbuster Brands Hatch title-decider

The British Automobile Racing Club brought the curtain down on its 2024 season in spectacular style at Brands Hatch this past weekend (November 2/3) as the final batch of champions were crowned in front of a sell-out crowd.

Concluding what has been a year to remember for the Club’s championships, series, centres and venues; two days of blockbuster racing provided the backdrop to a fitting finale around the Indy layout.

Headlining the action was the British Truck Racing Championship, where Ryan Smith continues to re-write the history books in his Daimler Freightliner as he claimed a remarkable ninth consecutive Division 1 title.

Arriving at the Kent venue with one hand on the coveted crown, Smith was wheel-perfect as he blitzed the opposition to claim pole position in qualifying and then swept his way to all five race wins that were up for grabs.

Behind him, former title winner David Jenkins edged out Steven Powell to clinch second overall whilst Michael Oliver and Stuart Oliver also stood on the podium over the course of what was a frenetic weekend.

In Division 2, John Powell made his dreams a reality as he finally savoured championship glory after edging out Simon Cole to top spot. The pair were virtually inseparable throughout the meeting however a non-finish for Cole in the finale allowed Powell to reign supreme.

At the front of Division 2, the spoils of victory went to former champions Adam Bint and Paul Rivett – with the latter closing out his reign as defending champion with four superlative victories in his NAPA Racing UK MAN.

The battle for supremacy in the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy went down to the wire with Westbourne Motorsport’s Harry Hickton ultimately doing enough to beat his team-mate Sam Gornall to the title by just two points.

Hickton went into the final meeting of the season sitting second in standings, 31 points adrift of the top of the table. Bagging pole position in qualifying, Hickton then outscored Gornall to close the gap in race one while James Black triumphed up ahead.

The Hampshire racer then claimed a critical fifth win of the season in race two to take the lead in the points before shadowing Gornall all the way to the chequered flag in the finale, which in-turn ensured he clinched the Drivers’ Championship.

Remarkably, the difference between the top two in the Junior Saloon Car Championship was even closer than in the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, with the bonus point for setting the fastest lap in the final race being the deciding factor.

Concluding its 10th Anniversary season with six drivers in contention, it boiled down to a straight shootout between Harry Smith and Jonathan Moore – and as always the one-make series had everyone on the edge of their seats as the pair scrapped for the right to call themselves champion.

James Sherrington scored victory in race one but with Moore finishing ahead of Smith it set up a tantalising title showdown. In a final contest that was truncated with red flags, Moore finished first on the road however confirmation of a champion remains to be decided virtue of how many laps were completed.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship was another category that crowned a new champion as Dale Gent finally climbed to the top of the mountain after just coming up short during the past few years.

Going into the weekend at the top of the standings, Gent held his nerve to score the points that he required while Ryan Hadfield and Matt Simpson enjoyed a share of the spoils at the front of the field.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action was the Mini 7 Racing Club’s O-Plate Winter Shootout. Aaron Smith and Rupert Deeth were undoubtedly the cream of the crop as they dominated all three races, with Smith narrowly beating Deeth on each occasion.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Brands Hatch, CLICK HERE.

BARC TV: What’s On This Weekend – November 2/3

The British Automobile Racing Club brings the curtain down on its 2024 season at Brands Hatch with a title decider that is guaranteed to provide fireworks – both on and off the track.

Headlining the action will be five colossal contests from the British Truck Racing Championship as the destiny of the Division 1 and Division 2 crowns are settled in what promises to be a heavyweight showdown.

They aren’t the only titles to be decided either as champions will be crowned in the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Pickup Truck Racing Championship, Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy and Mini 7 Racing Club Winter O-Plate Shootout.

Make sure you don’t miss any of the on-track entertainment by using the key timings and links below:

Saturday 2nd November | 12:05 | WATCH HERE
Sunday 3rd November | 09:45 | WATCH HERE

To find out more information on this weekend’s race meeting at Brands Hatch, including the official entry lists and timetable, CLICK HERE.

Don’t miss any of the action from a BARC LIVE event by subscribing to our YouTube channel HERE.

All-out action at Anglesey as BARC delights fans in North Wales

The British Automobile Racing Club made its one and only trip of the year to North Wales this past weekend (September 7/8) as a number of championships took centre stage at Anglesey Circuit.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, the two-day meeting produced an unmissable spectacle of blockbuster wheel-to-wheel action – with a number of drivers ramping up their pursuits of being crowned champion in their respective categories.

In the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Harry Smith strengthened his title charge with a virtuoso performance as he reigned supreme in style. Pacing the opposition to claim pole position in qualifying, Smith was perfection personified across the opening two races.

Despite coming under pressure at times, the second-year racer didn’t put a wheel wrong and cruised to a pair of lights-to-flag wins whilst his championship rivals filled the remaining spots on the podium.

Smith was also in the fight for overall honours in the weekend’s final contest however the trio of Josh Selvadorai, James Sherrington and Jonathan Moore proved difficult to beat – with Selvadorai ultimately coming out on top.

The North West Centre’s flagship category, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship wrote the latest chapter of its 2024 story with a trio of races to entertain those that were in attendance.

Showcasing a variety of different cars across multiple classes, Jim Hutchinson proved to be the toast of the field as he dominated the meeting in his Ford Escort RSR, scoring a hat-trick of race wins.

No less than seven races were staged by the SIM Motorsport Caterham Graduates Championship over the course of the weekend, four of which were for the Sigma 135s while the remaining three were for the Sigma 150s.

Variety proved to be the spice of life when it came to the Sigma 135 class as three different drivers stood on the top step of the podium. Paul Goldstein kicked off proceedings with a hard-fought victory in race one before Theo Theato and Adam Kene came to the fore, the latter winning twice.

Things were somewhat more dominant when it came to the Sigma 150 class as Jamie Ellwood served up a clinical display to win all three races. Will Stillwell, Max Haynes and Matthew Willoughby were his closest challengers as they featured on the remaining podium spots.

The Track Action Racing Club concluded the weekend’s entertainment around the picturesque with Paul Roddison – a previous winner of the coveted BARC President’s Cup – triumphing twice in his Volkswagen Scirocco.

Roddison was the benchmark from the get-go however he did have to withstand pressure from the hard-charging Tim Evans in his Audi TT at times.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Anglesey, CLICK HERE.

BARC battles the elements to deliver Thruxton thriller

The British Automobile Racing Club served up two days of blockbuster entertainment on home turf this past weekend (July 6/7) as a number of championships battled the elements around the fastest circuit in the country, Thruxton.

Welcoming a bumper crowd for the 2024 edition of Convoy on the Plain, the high-speed Hampshire venue played host to a feast of exciting wheel-to-wheel battles across two full-throttle days – with the British Truck Racing Championship topping the bill.

Returning to action after an almost two-month hiatus, the titans of truck racing had everyone on the edge of their seats as they produced five blockbuster contests around the flowing 2.356-mile layout.

In Division 1, reigning eight-time champion Ryan Smith was untouchable out front as he bolstered his quest for a ninth consecutive title by delivering a five-star performance in his Daimler Freightliner.

Smith converted pole position in races one and two into comfortable lights-to-flag victories before he then showcased his overtaking prowess in the remaining three reverse grid contests, coming from the back of the grid to complete a clean sweep of race wins.

Division 2 saw John Powell and the returning Paul Rivett renew their rivalry as they enjoyed a share of the spoils that were on offer. Powell struck first with victory across the first three races before Rivett – who was returning from injury – tallied a double of his own.

The Junior Saloon Car Championship made a welcome return to Thruxton and the next generation of UK racers didn’t disappoint either as they delivered a trio of captivating races that were packed with action.

Harry Smith scored his fifth win of the season in the weekend’s opening bout, although this only came after on-the-road winner Jonathan Moore was given a one-place penalty after the chequered flag had fallen.

Neither Smith or Moore would be able to do anything about Josh Selvadorai in the remaining two bouts, with Selvadorai underlining his credentials as one to watch in the title battle by scoring back-to-back wins.

Matt Simpson’s absence from the Pickup Truck Racing Championship opened the door for the chasing pack to close in, and that’s exactly what they did as three different drivers stood on the top step of the podium.

Dale Gent held off a number of drivers to claim a hard-fought victory in race one before the experienced Mark Willis battled his way to the front to clinch a commanding victory in race two. Ryan Hadfield then capped off proceedings with a superlative victory in the weekend’s finale.

Ross Alexander was perfection personified in the MINI CHALLENGE Clubsport with Airtec Motorsport series as he powered his way to a hat-trick of wins – the second time this season he has achieved the feat.

Alexander entered the meeting as one of the favourites to triumph and he duly lived up to all expectations as he got the better of Stephen Berry and Freddy Hewitt in his Mini Cooper S on each occasion.

The Adrian Flux Insurance MG Owners Club Championship saw high-drama as Steve McDermid and Fergus Campbell clashed exiting Noble Corner in race one which resulted in substantial damage that ruled them out of both contests.

With two of the favourites to fight for victory watching on from the sidelines, Jonathan Candler stepped up to triumph in race one before Robb Addison then edged out Maninder Golhar to emerge victorious in race two.

Over in the OT Publishing Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires, slip-streaming was at a premium as the tin top category delivered incredible racing which often saw three or more cars going side-by-side on the run up Woodham Hill.

Daniel Munro and Mark Ridout proved to be the stars of the show as they each claimed a win apiece. Munro held off Ridout for his crowning glory in race one before the latter struck back in devastating fashion in race two, winning by more than ten seconds.

Rounding out the weekend were two races from the ever-entertaining Track Action contingent, with victories going the way of Paul Roddison and Charlotte Birch – the pair being the cream of the crop throughout.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Thruxton, CLICK HERE.

BARC TV: What’s On This Weekend – July 6/7

The British Automobile Racing Club takes centre stage with on home turf this weekend (July 6/7) as the British Truck Racing Championship headlines Convoy on the Plain at Thruxton Circuit.

On what promises to be a full-throttle feast of entertainment around the fastest circuit in the country, five colossal contests from the titans of truck racing are guaranteed to have everyone on the edge of their seats.

Making up the all-action support bill is the likes of the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Pickup Truck Racing Championship, MGOC Championship, Hyundai Coupe Cup and Track Action.

Make sure you don’t miss any of the on-track entertainment by using the key timings and links below:

To find out more information on this weekend’s race meetings at Thruxton, including the official entry lists and timetable, CLICK HERE.

Don’t miss any future BARC LIVE events by subscribing to our YouTube channel HERE.

Blockbuster BARC action headlines Convoy Cymru at Pembrey

The British Automobile Racing Club took centre stage at Pembrey Circuit this past weekend (May 18/19) for an unforgettable two days of blockbuster track action, all of which acted as the headline acts for Convoy Cymru.

On what proved to be a weekend to remember in South Wales, a bumper crowd flocked to the popular venue for a festival of all things trucking – which included an eye-catching show truck display, live music, monster truck rides, electric motocross and much more.

Whilst there was plenty to see and do off-track, edge-of-the-seat entertainment was the order of business on it as a number of categories continued their 2024 campaigns in superlative style.

Topping the bill were five heavyweight contests from the British Truck Racing Championship, which – just like Brands Hatch for the season-opener – delivered an abundance of drama across both Division’s 1 and 2.

As expected, reigning Division 1 champion Ryan Smith was a force to be reckoned as he romped to a brace of wins however the Daimler Freightliner driver didn’t have things his own way. Fellow former champion David Jenkins would tally a double of his own while Steven Powell also stood on the top step of the podium.

In Division 2, with defending champion Paul Rivett forced to watch on from the sideline due to sustaining a broken ankle, John Powell set about closing the gap to the early points leader by sharing the spoils with Rivett’s NAPA Racing UK replacement, BTCC star Sam Osborne.

Powell laid down his marker with pole position and a lights-to-flag victory in the opening contest however mechanical issues prevented him from starting races two and four, which provided Osborne with the opportunity triumph. Powell would however win the remaining races in his DAF.

Westbourne Motorsport’s Harry Hickton maintained his lead in the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy standings following three frenetic races of the popular tin top series in the Welsh countryside.

Hickton tallied a podium and a fourth place finish in races one and two before then coming to the fore in the finale, as he powered his way from third on the grid to claim a hard-fought victory – his third of the season so far.

Prior to Hickton reigning supreme, Jamie Keates splashed his way to the top of the rostrum in a wet’n wild opener before Alex Solley opened his account for the new campaign with a commanding win in race two.

Former BTCC race winner Matt Simpson enjoyed a near-perfect weekend in the Pickup Truck Racing Championship as he strengthened his early stranglehold on proceedings at the summit of the leaderboard.

Simpson was arguably untouchable out front for a majority of the event as he blasted his way to pole position in qualifying before then converting it into a brace of superlative wins in races one and two.

Dale Gent ultimately prevented Simpson from claiming what would have been a memorable hat-trick in the weekend’s finale as he underlined his credentials as a contender for the crown with a masterful defensive drive to hold off his rival and Mark Willis.

Like Simpson, Josh Selvadorai was another driver that narrowly missed out on clinching a clean sweep of wins as he laid down his marker as one to watch in the ever-exciting Junior Saloon Car Championship.

Series leader Harry Smith narrowly pipped Selvadorai to outright honours in a damp race one but from that point on the meeting belonged to the Citroen Saxo of Selvadorai as he piloted his way to a dominant double.

Behind him, Smith continued his fine start to the year by adding two more podium finishes to his tally while there was also silverware for Jonathan Moore and Kieran Roberts.

Paul Roddison was another driver that enjoyed a weekend to remember at Pembrey as he, like many others already mentioned, produced a double-winning performance – this time in the fledgling Track Action.

Roddison – who is a previous winner of the coveted BARC President’s Cup – guided his Volkswagen Scirocco to the chequered flag in races one and two before Dan Earl triumphed in his Vauxhall Astra VXR in the finale.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action were a pair of races from the Welsh Sports & Saloon Car Championship on Sunday, both of which were won by Deri Davies in his Darrian T90 and Damien Longotano in his Westfield SE.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Pembrey, CLICK HERE.

You can also re-watch all of the action from Saturday and Sunday by heading to the British Automobile Racing Club YouTube channel HERE.

BARC TV: What’s On This Weekend // May 18-19

The British Automobile Racing Club sets course for South Wales this weekend (May 18-19) for what promises to be a blockbuster two days of action-packed entertainment from Pembrey Circuit.

Headlining the on-track thrills at Convoy Cymru will be the titans of the British Truck Racing Championship while the likes of the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, Junior Saloon Car Championship and Pickup Truck Racing Championship are guaranteed to star.

Also joining them on the billing will be Track Action and the Welsh Sports & Saloon Car Championship.

Make sure you don’t miss any of the on-track entertainment by using the key timings and links below:

Saturday 18th May – Pembrey – 12:25 – WATCH HERE
Sunday 19th May – Pembrey – 09:15 – WATCH HERE

To find out more information on this weekend’s race meetings at Pembrey, including the official entry lists and timetable, CLICK HERE.

Don’t miss any future BARC LIVE events by subscribing to our YouTube channel HERE.

BARC stars on wet’n wild weekend at Cadwell Park

The British Automobile Racing Club starred at Cadwell Park this past weekend (April 27-28) with a total of 11 different championships serving up a feast of entertainment as they continued their 2024 campaigns.

Marking what is to be the one and only visit to the Lincolnshire circuit this year by the Club, a blockbuster timetable saw all manner of thrills and spills served up for the bumper crowd that had flocked trackside.

While conditions allowed for Saturday to run as planned, heavy rainfall battered the circuit on the Sunday which led to each category being given just one race to take place during the afternoon after track crews had worked to clear standing water all morning.

Hot on the heels of delivering a pulsating season-opener during the Easter bank holiday weekend at Donington Park, the Classic Touring Car Racing Club was back in action – and this time double points were on offer.

Ian Thompson was in a league on his own in his Lotus Cortina as he claimed bragging rights in the Pre-66 Touring Cars while reigning champion Stephen Primett and Nick Williamson scored a win apiece in the Pre-83 Touring Cars.

The amalgamated Pre-93 Touring Cars, Pre-03 Touring Cars and Blue Oval Saloon Series races garnered plenty of attention with an ultra-competitive grid and that shone through in the results as Piers Grange and Stuart Waite shared the spoils.

Capping off the CTCRC action was the monstrous machines of the Classic Thunder which yielded a victory for Josh Lawton in the opener before defending champion Nick Vaughan tallied his first triumph of the year in race two in his Audi A3.

The Junior Saloon Car Championship continued its tenth anniversary season with Harry Smith maintaining his fine start by adding another race win to the two that he claimed at Brands Hatch earlier in the month.

Smith found himself in the right place at the right time in race one as he inherited victory from Josh Selvadorai, who was hit with a time penalty for gaining an unfair advantage. The youngster couldn’t maintain his winning streak in race two however as Jonathan Moore opened his account with a superlative drive to the top step of the podium.

Multiple Adrian Flux Insurance MG Owners Club Championship title Steve McDermid was another to open his account for the season in style as he carved his way from seventh on the grid to claim a hard-fought victory.

The MG ZR driver underlined all of the credentials that have made him a standout performer in the series in recent years by producing a number of jaw-dropping overtakes on his way to taking the chequered flag ahead of Luke Boniface and Henry Sharpe.

Mark Ridout made the perfect start to the new OT Publishing Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires season as he claimed a clean sweep of results, tallying pole position in qualifying before then following it up with two wins.

Ridout came out on top of a captivating battle between himself, Darren Banks and Luca Staccini Anzanello in the opening contest before stamping his authority on race two with a commanding victory ahead of Daniel Munro and Staccini Anzanello.

The 2CV Parts.com Championship meanwhile saw Kristopher Tovey enjoy the perfect start to his title defence as he comfortably reigned supreme. Tovey pulled clear of the chasing pack in commanding fashion to triumph by more than ten seconds come the end of the contest.

Brian Heerey would finish as his nearest challenger, with he himself ended up finishing more than six seconds ahead of Nick Crispin, who was a title contender last year.

In the Dunlop Mini Miglia Challenge, Jeff Smith beat Ben Colburn to outright honours in its only race of the weekend. Unfortunately, the Dunlop Mini Se7en Championship was unable to run any of its races to completion for a result to be declared.

Concluding the weekend’s track action were three races from the high-speed British Superkart Racing Club. Lee Harpham was a convincing winner in race one before repeating the feat in the finale.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Cadwell Park, CLICK HERE.

BARC delivers Brands Hatch blockbuster on Easter Sunday and Monday

The British Automobile Racing Club concluded its blockbuster Easter bank holiday weekend at Brands Hatch on Sunday and Monday (March 31/April 1) with seven more championships bursting into life to kick-start their 2024 campaigns in action-packed style.

Taking centre stage in front of a bumper crowd at the Kent venue, no less than 21 races played out around the challenging 1.2-mile Indy circuit – each of which were packed with the traditional thrills (and occasional spills) that fans have become accustomed to.

Headlining the action were five heavyweight contests from the British Truck Racing Championship, which this year again boasted another ultra-competitive grid across both of its classes.

In Division 1, reigning eight-time champion and title favourite Ryan Smith dominated proceedings on the first day of running as he powered his Daimler Freightliner to pole position and back-to-back race wins in commanding fashion.

Unfortunately Smith was unable to repeat the feat on Easter Monday as windscreen issues plagued him in a handful of races. Instead, local driver Steven Powell would score a brace of his own whilst David Jenkins also opened his account for the year with a win in the finale.

Division 2 was ultimately all about one driver; defending champion Paul Rivett. Returning with NAPA Racing UK for a second successive season, Rivett enjoyed a dream weekend as he scooped all five Division 2 wins and even scored the overall victory in race four.

The Junior Saloon Car Championship launched its 10th Anniversary season in superlative style with second-year racer Harry Smith showing his class by taking a clean sweep of pole positions and race wins.

Continuing to serve as a launchpad for drivers aged 14 to 17, the one-make series demonstrated why it remains on the UK’s premier junior championships with two entertaining bouts.

Smith, who was one of the leading lights last year, underlined his credentials as being a star for the future as he charged to victory ahead of Jonathan Moore and James Sherrington, who each claimed a brace of podiums.

Matt Simpson began his pursuit of the Pickup Truck Racing Championship on the right foot as he claimed two of the three race wins that were up for grabs, while Allen Cooper scored the remaining victory.

Following the news that two-time champion Reece Jones will not be competing this year, the battle for supremacy in the series is set to be wide open, and Simpson wasted no time in establishing himself as the lead contender to possibly capture the crown.

Near capacity grids and close-quarter racing was the story of the SIM Motorsport Caterham Graduates Championship, which served up no less than four races during the weekend – each of which proved to be as captivating as the previous one.

Tom McEwing and Paul Goldstein claimed a win apiece in the two Sigma 135 races whilst Jamie Ellwood and reigning double champion Harry Senior emerged victorious from the remaining two thrilling Sigma 150 contests.

Andy Preece made a flying start to life in the Adrian Flux Insurance MG Owners Club Championship – which was boasting one of its most competitive entries in recent years – as he opened his 2024 account with two narrow victories.

At the wheel of his MG ZR, Preece fended off Mark Baker and Martin Willis in a pulsating opening encounter before then repeating the feat in race two, this time with Steve McDermid and Ryley Price as his main protagonists.

Elsewhere, Ross Alexander was wheel-perfect in the MINI CHALLENGE Clubsport with Airtec Motorsport as he claimed a clean sweep of race wins.

Looking to build on an encouraging 2023 campaign, the MINI Cooper S driver had the measure of last year’s overall victor Stephen Berry and the rest of the field to comfortably romp to a hat-trick of victories, laying his marker down as the one to beat in the process.

Rounding out the bank holiday action at Brands Hatch were two races from Track Action, which is previously went by the name of the Track Attack Race Club. Gareth Porter and Paul Roddison proved to be the cream of the crop from the budget-conscious category as they each snared a win apiece.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Brands Hatch, click here.

Will Crewdson wins 2024 Junior Saloon Car Championship Scholarship

Will Crewdson has been crowned this year’s winner of the Junior Saloon Car Championship Scholarship, winning a fully-funded season in the popular one-make series for 2024.

Taking place at Croft on Saturday 17th February, Crewdson emerged victorious from an ultra-competitive competition that saw a number of teenage hopefuls all battling to clinch a career-starting prize worth more than £30,000.

Over the course of the day at the North Yorkshire venue, budding competitors took part in a pitstop challenge, fitness challenge, autotest challenge, media presentation and driving assessment; all while an esteemed judging panel whittled down the contenders.

As the competition entered into its final stages, Crewdson emerged as one of the leading lights and was subsequently declared the winner to follow in the footsteps of previous victors such as Will Fallon, Jack James, Chloe Grant, Harry Rice and Scott McIntyre.

“It’s great to able to give the trophy to a well-deserved winner in Will in what is set to be our tenth year,” said Dave Beecroft, Junior Saloon Car Championship Coordinator. “We’re looking forward to working with this young man in 2024; a super scholarship winner!”

The opening rounds of the 2024 Junior Saloon Car Championship are scheduled to take place across the Easter bank holiday weekend of March 31/April 1 at Brands Hatch.

Dan Zelos, Louis Sharp & Steve Bemrose top list of special accolade winners at BARC Awards

The British Automobile Racing Club’s annual Awards Evening didn’t just see the championship winners of 2023 celebrated on Saturday (February 3) as a number of other special accolades were bestowed upon hugely deserving winners too.

Leading the list of prestigious recipients was newly-crowned double MINI CHALLENGE JCW champion Dan Zelos who claimed The President’s Cup; which is awarded to the most successful BARC member competing under international level.

Becoming the first driver in the modern era of the ultra-competitive tin top series to clinch the coveted crown for a second time, Zelos chalked up an impressive ten victories and a further two podiums on his way to championship superstardom.

Zelos lauded: “It was totally unexpected and a complete honour to pick it up. We had an amazing year in 2023 and sometimes when your in the middle of getting deals together in the off season you forgot how much you may have achieved – so to be rewarded with a trophy like this has left me lost for words.

“Me, my Dad and the rest of the family have and continue to work incredibly hard to go racing and this is a fantastic accolade to receive. I think I’ve been part of the BARC for more than a decade now too.”

One of the biggest raptures of applause deservedly went the way of this year’s BARC Marshal of the Year, Steve Bemrose. In memory of Dennis Harris and designed to recognise the dedication and special efforts of the Club’s marshals, Bemrose was worthy winner after being selected by the Marshals Core Group.

Attending a multitude of race meetings over the course of last year, his actions in particular at the BTCC season-opener at Donington Park played their part in saving the life of a driver following a high-speed accident.

“It is a complete shock I must admit,” he said. “I’ve always been a fan of motorsport and I remember reading a review about being a marshal, what it entails and I never really comprehended how close you could get to the action, etc.

“After I had done my taster day my love for it grew and I’ve never looked back. The marshal community is incredibly tight-knit and if there is anyone out thinking about getting involved then do it, because it is just fantastic.”

Elsewhere, Junior Saloon Car Championship and Track Action Coordinator Dave Beecroft saw his diverse and distinguished motorsport career be celebrated as he scooped The Gerry Marshall Trophy, having epitomised the philosophy for motorsport that Gerry once had.

He said: “This award really means a lot to me because Gerry Marshall was a childhood hero of mine; I remember watching him at Oulton Park and was fortunate enough to meet him several times – so it was touching to be this year’s recipient.

“I love everything about this industry and its nice to be kicking off the year like this; especially because we’ll be celebrating our 10th anniversary in the Junior Saloon Car Championship, which is an incredible achievement.”

For the second year in succession, The Densley Trophy – which is bestowed upon the female in the Club that has been deemed to have a successful year – was handed out, with the Classic Touring Car Racing Club’s Sonia Gibbons claiming the prize.

“I never ever expected to be given this award,” she admitted. “I didn’t even think I would be up for it so I am extremely proud to have won. At the Classic Touring Car Racing Club we are all volunteers but it is a real family. It’s a wonderful Club and I’m honoured to be a part of it.”

Louis Sharp’s charge to the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA title didn’t go unnoticed as he was honoured with The Peter Collins Trophy, which is awarded to the most promising junior drive competing in a BARC championship.

After enjoying a hugely encouraging debut campaign in 2022, the New Zealander lived up to the mantel of being a title favourite by edging out Will Macintyre to the single-seater crown in the final race of the season.

“It came as a complete surprise to me and it’s a massive privilege to receive it so thank you to the BARC for recognising me – it was a nice end to a really special night,” he said. “This award is a fantastic reward for everyone that has supported me.

“My ambition is to one day get to Formula 1 and while it has been a good start to that journey I’m well aware that there is a long way to go and that it will continue to get more competitive. I’m loving the challenge though and can’t wait to see what is next!”

Rounding out the list of special award winners was Adam Weeden, who completed the most volunteering days to lift The Sir Clive Bossom Trophy, and Zena Wooller who was named BARC Trainee Marshal of the Year.

“I’m delighted,” said Weeden. “This award goes to show how much marshals are appreciated because we give our time, which is very precious to us, to show support to the drivers and the championship.”

Laura Payne appointed JSCC Race Meeting Coordinator

The Junior Saloon Car Championship has announced that Laura Payne will take on the role of Race Meeting Coordinator for the 2024 season and beyond.

Payne joins the popular one-make series for teenage drivers having previously been Coordinator for both the BRSCC Fiesta Junior Championship and Airtec Motorsport Fiesta ST240 Championship.

The forthcoming campaign is set to be a milestone one for the JSCC as it celebrates its 10th Anniversary; with a bumper grid already expected to embark on a nine-meeting schedule.

“I’m excited for a new challenge and grateful that the JSCC have put their trust in me,” commented Payne.

“There’s no denying that 2024 and beyond will be big years for the championship and I can’t wait to play my part in it all.”

Championship Manager, Beecroft, added: “Laura brings a wealth of experience to us and will no doubt bolster the existing team we already have in place.

“We’re very fortunate that Laura has chosen to be a part of our growing team.”

The 2024 Junior Saloon Car Championship season commences at Brands Hatch on March 31-April 1.