Tag: Junior Saloon Car Championship

Snetterton awaits quartet of BARC championships

As the 2021 season begins to gather momentum, the British Automobile Racing Club descends on Snetterton this weekend (May 8/9) for a blockbuster two days of track action that isn’t to be missed.

Despite current government guidelines meaning that spectators won’t be permitted to watch trackside, our Facebook and YouTube pages will be live streaming every lap to ensure that nobody misses a second of the enthralling entertainment that will undoubtedly be produced.

Having been one of the stars of the show at Silverstone last month, the Britcar Endurance Championship continues its season with two races apiece for its Endurance and Trophy classes.

Showcasing a wide variety of machinery, each category saw bumper entry lists as it lifted the curtain at the Home of British Motor Racing and that theme is set to continue in Norfolk. Cars from Lamborghini, Ferrari, Praga, Aston Martin and Porsche will all be in action, with stars such as Abbie Eaton, Jem Hepworth and YouTube ace Jimmy Broadbent being just a few of the names that are competing.

The Caterham Graduates Championship currently boasts one of the biggest grids in UK motorsport, underlining that the appetite to going racing has never been greater as it stands. Coming off the back of a sensational opener at Oulton Park, the one-make series will look to take centre stage with its four timetabled races.

Notable front-running contenders to look out for over the course of both days include Simon Shaw, Harry Senior, Jamie Ellwood, James McCall and Ben Winrow, to name but a few.

Another series that is renowned for producing full-throttle thrills is the Junior Saloon Car Championship. Home to the next generation of motorsport stars, the tin top series has been the ultimate proving ground for those starting out and this years grid looks to be as close as ever.

Charlie Hand came close to the title last year and he has made a flying start this time around to lead the points at this early stage. However, the competition is fierce and the likes of Aaron Walker, Ruben Hage and Deagan Fairclough, amongst many more, will be keen to close the gap during the weekend’s two races.

The Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires enjoyed a memorable start to the year at Cadwell Park and it looks set to serve up more thrills and spills around the challenging 2.99-mile 300 layout.

Providing a low-cost method of going motor racing, the one-make series has proven to be a smash-hit over recent seasons and 2021 looks to be no different. Alex Cursely and Alistair Dendy shared the spoils last time out and both will be keen to stand on the top step come the end of the single 30-minute encounter that is scheduled to play out.

Also on the billing during the weekend will be contests from the Mini 7 Racing Club and British Superkarts Racing Club.

You can watch all of the action across both days at Snetterton via our live streams on both YouTube and Facebook.

To find out more information on this weekend’s race meeting at Snetterton – including links to live timing, timetable and final instructions – CLICK HERE.

Blockbuster BARC action at Cadwell Park as six more championships blast into life

Six championships lifted the curtain on their 2021 seasons in spectacular fashion at Cadwell Park this past weekend (April 24/25) on what proved to be a memorable few days for the British Automobile Racing Club.

Basking in bright sunshine across both days, the Lincolnshire venue provided a fitting backdrop for each category to begin the new campaign, with edge-of-the-seat entertainment served up around almost every corner.

Boasting a bumper 32-car grid and with six races being played out over the course of the weekend, the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres emerged as one of the headlines acts.

Former champion Miles Rudman kicked off proceedings with a superlative win in the opening encounter before Jack Parker and Steve Whitelegg took a win apiece to round out day one.

Rudman would repeat his race-winning heroics on Sunday as he tallied his second victory before former champion John Mickel opened his account for the year. The categories’ sixth and final heat would see a first for the Legends as Nick Bridgeman wrote his name into the history books as the latest race winner to cap off a meeting that will live long in the memory.

The next generation of motorsport stars showcased what they could do as the Junior Saloon Car Championship delivered a pair of blockbuster races. Providing drivers aged 14 to 17 with the opportunity to take the first steps in their car racing careers, this years entry list was largely made up of rookie competitors, with a few second-year contenders thrown into the mix as well.

Experience ultimately came to the fore as Harvey Caton and Charlie Hand scored a win apiece to kick-start their campaigns off on the right foot.

Peter Sparrow produced a masterful performance in the 2CVParts.com Championship, scoring a brace of wins to establish an early lead in the standings. Bidding to regain the title he lost last year, Sparrow powered his way to pole position for both races and duly converted them into commanding, albeit narrow, victories.

The Max5 Racing Championship saw similar levels of dominance as Paul Roddison laid down a marker to his rivals for the forthcoming season by bagging a pair of wins. One of the series’ most successful drivers, Roddison fended off the charging Andrew Pretorious on both occasions whilst Jeremy Shipley rounded out the podium positions.

There was nothing to separate Alex Cursley and Alistair Dendy in the Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires as the pair shared the spoils. Cursley got the better of Dendy in the season-opener before the roles were reversed and Dendy exacted his revenge with a win of his own, leaving the pair level on achievements heading into the next event.

Rounding off the action during the weekend was a pair of full-throttle encounters from the Mighty Minis Championship. Renowned for produced close-quarter wheel-to-wheel action, the one-make series had a familiar feel to it in the Super Mighty Mini class as last years protagonists reignited their battle for supremacy.

Neven Kirkpatrick and reigning champion Ian Slark underlined their credentials as the drivers to beat as they each scored a win apiece. Elsewhere in the Mighty Mini category, Dan Heywood impressed with a brace of wins.

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

Cadwell Park awaits multiple championships ahead of spectacular weekend

More championships are set to begin their 2021 race seasons this weekend (April 24/25) as the British Automobile Racing Club heads to Lincolnshire to take on the picturesque challenges of Cadwell Park.

Renowned for producing close-quarter wheel-to-wheel action, the undulating 2.19-mile venue is a fitting backdrop for a host of full-throttle categories to begin on the road to title glory in the forthcoming months.

In what is being tipped as one of the most hotly anticipated campaigns in the series’ illustrious 27-year history, the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres has a sensational 32-car grid set to face six blockbuster races.

Defending champion Daniel Clark heads the bumper entry list but with the likes of former title winners John Mickel and Miles Rudman, as well as Jack Parker, Sean Smith, Will Gibson and Steve Whitelegg all vying for top spot – it’s set to be another memorable year for the ‘pocket rockets’.

Fresh off the back of their exploits on BBC One’s Top Gear, the Junior Saloon Car Championship is set to embark on another season with a stacked grid of aspiring 14 to 17-year-old’s aiming to kick-start their careers.

With double title-winner Lewis Saunders moving onto pastures new, the battle to crown a new champion is up for grabs and there is a long list of contenders who are keen to set their stalls out as the early pace-setter. Charlie Hand, Harry Rice, Ruben Hage, Deagan Fairclough and Scholarship winner Chloe Grant are just a few notable entries to keep an eye on.

The 2CVParts.com Championship will begin another short, sharp season at the weekend with a healthy grid of the iconic machines primed and ready to blast into life.

Two 20-minute encounters are scheduled to take place around the flowing layout of Cadwell Park with a number of familiar names eyeing the too step of the podium including reigning champion Alec Graham, Pete Sparrow and Lien Davies.

Further nostalgic action is set to be produced by the much-loved Mighty Minis Championship. Based on the iconic Mini, the one-make series has forged a reputation for producing bumper-to-bumper action and this year looks to be no different with a competitive grid all set to do battle.

Split into the Mighty Mini and Super Mighty Mini classes, stalwarts Neven Kirkpatrick, Paul Ogborn, Ian Slark, Greg Jenkins and Stuart Coombs will all be in the mix for silverware.

Another category that will lift the curtain on its 2021 season is the Max5 Racing Championship. Run on the principle of exciting racing at an affordable price, the Max5 Racing category has yet another ultra-competitive entry list which is headed by series stalwarts Paul Roddison and Jon Halliwell.

Rounding out the weekend’s action will be a pair of races from the Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires. Billed as a budget conscious, single-make series, the Coupe Cup has served up a feast of entertainment down the years and the twists and turns of Cadwell look set to throw up even more with a healthy grid confirmed for the curtain-raiser.

To find out more information on this weekend’s Cadwell Park race meeting – including links to live timing, timetable and final instructions – click here.

Please note that this event is being run in accordance with government guidelines and will therefore take place behind closed doors, without spectators being permitted.

Chloe Grant crowned 2021 Junior Saloon Car Championship Scholarship winner

Chloe Grant has been crowned this year’s winner of the Junior Saloon Car Championship Scholarship, winning a fully-funded season in the popular one-make category for 2021.

In what proved to be a closely fought competition from start-to-finish at the Stafford Driving Centre, Grant beat no less than 24 other aspiring teenagers to win the career-starting prize worth more than £30,000.

Over the course of the day, the 2020 Junior Rotax Rowrah Club Champion emerged as one of the leading lights from the series of fitness, media and driving tests that were put on by the championship – eventually being selected as the victor by organisers.

Following in the footsteps of former Scholarship winners Scott McIntyre, Harry Rice and Deagan Fairclough, the British Women Racing Drivers Club Gold Medal recipient will now embark on her first full season of car racing having showcased plenty of talent in karting.

Grant will take her place on the grid for the opening rounds of the 2021 Junior Saloon Car Championship on the weekend of April 24/25 at Cadwell Park.

Junior Saloon Car Championship stars on Top Gear

The Junior Saloon Car Championship took on a starring role in the latest episode of Top Gear this past Sunday (April 4) as a number of drivers went head-to-head with presenters Paddy McGuiness, Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris.

Bringing Series 30 of the hit television show to a close on BBC1, past and present drivers from the popular one-make category showcased what they and the championship is all about as they went wheel-to-wheel with the presenting trio at Castle Combe.

Tasked with selecting a ‘second-hand, mid-life crisis/opportunity car’ for £8,000 before embarking on a number of different challenges, Freddie, Chris and Paddy diced with the next generation of motorsport stars in varying vehicles.

Freddie’s choice saw him get behind the wheel of a TVR Chimaera whilst Chris opted for a Vauxhall Monaro. Paddy meanwhile chose a distinctive Ferrari F355/Toyota MR2 kit car.

Heading to the Wiltshire venue for their challenge, each presenter would complete a handful of laps around the 1.85-mile circuit with the aim of being overtaken by the least amount of JSCC competitors.

Whilst we won’t give any spoilers away, former two-time champion Lewis Saunders, Harry Rice, Alex Solley, Charlie Hand, Olivia Martin, Ben Kasperczak, Matthew Cripps and James Black were just some of the drivers that raced Freddie, Chris and Paddy.

Speaking on the experience of being part of Too Gear, Saunders said: “I was really excited about the day and that it was a once in a lifetime opportunity that will never come round again. I was proud to be representing the JSCC.”

Former Scholarship winner Rice added: “It was a very enjoyable experience being part of the filming process, seeing everything behind the scenes and how they organise such a high class show. But, the most enjoyable part was when we got to race the presenters and show them what young drivers can do.”

Black concluded: “Filming with Top Gear was such a surreal experience! After watching it on TV for so many years it was great to be a part of the show and it gave great exposure to JSCC and all the young, upcoming drivers in the UK.”

To watch the episode on demand, head to https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000ty91/top-gear-series-30-episode-4.

New venue and date for JSCC Scholarship

The Junior Saloon Car Championship has confirmed that its 2021 Scholarship will now take place at Pembrey Circuit on Tuesday 13th April.

Originally scheduled to take place at Croft Circuit on Monday 5th April, the home of Welsh motorsport will play host to the competition that will see one aspiring racer win a fully-funded season in the 2021 Junior Saloon Car Championship, amongst other prizes, for the very first time.

In what is undoubtedly the opportunity of a lifetime for one lucky youngster, the ever-growing list of Scholarship participants are set to be in for a challenging day made up of a variety of tests.

Over the course of the day, drivers will face the media, partake in a fitness test and then showcase their attributes behind the wheel on-track. A judging panel made up of championship’s organisers and partners will then whittle down the competition before selecting a winner.

Previous winners of the coveted accolade include 2019 overall champion Scott McIntyre, Harry Rice and last year’s victor Deagan Fairclough.

To find out more information on the Junior Saloon Car Championship, it’s Scholarship programme and the full list of prizes on offer, head to https://www.juniorsaloons.co.uk/.

Knockhill event on May 29/30 cancelled

The British Automobile Racing Club can confirm that, due to the date changes of other events and the knock-on impact that has had to the scheduled calendars of key BARC championships, its race meeting at Knockhill on May 29/30 has been cancelled.

Working closely with Knockhill – who have been exemplary in their handling of the situation – the Club has found time at other race meetings at the picturesque Scottish venue for three of the categories that were originally due to race in May.

Both the Junior Saloon Car Championship and the Pickup Truck Racing Championship will now visit Knockhill on June 19/20, benefitting from one of Knockhill Motor Sports Club’s trademark events that will see drivers race on the circuit in both directions.

The CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Championship meanwhile will visit the challenging Fife track on September 18/19, also at a Knockhill Motor Sports Club event that uses the dual direction format.

Mark Turner, BARC Sporting Manager, said: “The domino effects of changes to the early part of the race season meant that several of our Championships wanted to look at rescheduling the Knockhill event. Knockhill have been incredibly understanding about the situation and we are delighted to have found time at other events for those Championships that wanted to make the trip to Scotland.”

Stuart Gray of Knockhill added: “We have been working with BARC for sometime to have their own standalone meeting and we were all eagerly looking forward to the great championships they were sending north.

“We totally understood the domino effect on all championships and we are delighted still to be hosting three championships within our KMSC Super Lap Scotland events. With things hopefully returning to normal during the summer, we can all begin to plan with some certainty and hope to see a full BARC meeting in 2022.”

This decision has been carefully considered, taking into consideration the easing of lockdown restrictions and the subsequent ongoing changes that are being made to the Club’s 2021 race calendar.

We appreciate the inconvenience and disruption that this will cause to existing plans, but we are grateful for everyone’s understanding at this challenging time.

JSCC set to begin search for latest Scholarship star

The Junior Saloon Car Championship is set to once again begin its search for the next teenage sensation and provide the opportunity of a lifetime as it stages its Scholarship programme for the 2021 season.

Scheduled to take place at Croft Circuit on Monday 5th April, a number of aspiring racers will all battle it out for a chance to win a fully-funded season in the 2021 Junior Saloon Car Championship as well as several other prizes.

Drivers will face a series of tests which include facing the media, showcasing their fitness and getting behind the wheel to underline their racing prowess. A judging panel made up of championship’s organisers and partners will then whittle down the competition before selecting a winner.

Previous winners of the award include former champion Scott McIntyre, Harry Rice and last year’s victor Deagan Fairclough, who enjoyed a sensational maiden campaign.

Commenting on winning the Scholarship, Fairclough said: “Winning the Scholarship has totally changed my life. I entered it at just 13-years-old as my parents had planned to enter me the following year, however Dave (Beecroft) told my Dad to enter me anyway as I could gain the experience.

“The day was so surreal, I got to drive a car for the first time and I was buzzing all day. After making it into the top three, me and my parents were convinced that one of the older guys had got it and that they wouldn’t pick someone so young but here I am.

“The JSCC has really built me as a person as I’ve had some amazing results and bad luck, the usual highs and lows that everyone has in racing. The experiences has better mentally prepared me for my future career and things to look out for. Everyone in the series has been great and supports each other, that’s what it is all about.

“I’ve made friends for life in the JSCC and it’s been an experience I’ll never forget. I can’t wait to see where this great start to my car racing journey is going to take me.”

To find out more information on the Junior Saloon Car Championship and it’s Scholarship programme, head to https://www.juniorsaloons.co.uk/.

2020 Season Review: Junior Saloon Car Championship

History was made in the Junior Saloon Car Championship in 2020 as Lewis Saunders cemented his legacy as one of the series’ most successful competitors by becoming the first-ever double champion.

Lifting the coveted crown in 2018 before narrowly missing out on retaining it the following year, the 16-year-old entered his third season as the hot favourite for the title and he duly lived up to the hype by producing a virtuoso performance from start-to-finish.

Providing the first steps on the motorsport ladder for 14 to 17-year-old’s and bridging the gap between karting and cars, the one-make category has become the perfect platform for teenagers to forge a career behind the wheel at an affordable price.

With a blend of experienced and rookie drivers making up the bumper entry list for this year’s revised seven-round schedule, the usual edge-of-the-seat entertainment that has become customary in the championship took centre stage once more – with Saunders emerging as the benchmark.

Retaining the support from British Touring Car Championship outfit Ciceley Motorsport, the cornerstone of Saunders’ title charge began as soon as the lights went out in July as he embarked on an impressive winning streak that would stretch across ten races.

Double wins at Cadwell Park, Croft, Brands Hatch, Knockhill and Mallory Park built up a commanding lead at the summit of the standings, however he didn’t always have things his own way.

Alex Solley, Charlie Hand, Ruben Hage, Benjamin Greenhill and Scholarship victor Deagen Fairclough were just some of the regular challengers towards the sharp end of the field, all of whom constantly remained within striking distance of Saunders as each round passed.

Solley would come to the fore towards the end of the season as he scored a brace of wins at both Silverstone and Oulton Park, however by then it had proved too late in the day to overhaul points leader Saunders.

Finishing hot on the heels of the youngster in the remaining four races of the campaign, Saunders bagged valuable points to put one hand on the championship trophy heading into the series finale at Brands Hatch.

Unfortunately, due to a second national lockdown being implemented in the days leading up to the final two rounds of the year, the annual visit to Kent was cancelled and that subsequently meant Saunders was crowned as champion for the second time in his career, rewriting the history books at the same time.

Statement: Cancellation of this weekend’s British Truck meeting at Brands Hatch

This weekend’s concluding round of the BTRA British Truck Racing Championship has been cancelled. Although DCMS and Motorsport UK had designated the event as an Elite fixture, detailed discussions have been required with Kent County Council this week following the new lockdown decision.

Given the short timescales now available to competitors, officials and suppliers to make the necessary preparations at this late stage, BARC and MSV have decided to cancel the event in the best interests of the Club and its competitors.

All parties would like to make clear that this decision has no impact on next weekend’s BTCC championship finale at Brands Hatch.

Green light given to November 7/8 BARC race meeting at Brands Hatch

The British Automobile Racing Club is delighted to confirm that the green light has been given for this weekend’s (November 7/8) British Truck Championship race meeting at Brands Hatch to take place as originally planned.

Having consulted with the Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for guidance, governing body Motorsport UK has confirmed that elite motorsport events will be able to continue over the coming weeks, which includes both this weekend’s British Truck Championship and next week’s British Touring Car Championship finale.

Brands Hatch will therefore host the final rounds of the BTRA British Truck Racing Championship on Saturday and Sunday, with three former champions – Ryan Smith, David Jenkins and Stuart Oliver – all in contention for the coveted 2020 Division 1 title.

BARC produces plenty of thrills during Halloween race day at Oulton Park

The British Automobile Racing Club made it a Halloween to remember at Oulton Park this past Saturday (October 31) as it served up a thrilling day of racing.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, four championships descended on the Cheshire venue to battle challenging weather conditions as they capped off their 2020 campaigns.

In the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Alex Solley prevented Lewis Saunders from wrapping up the title after he produced a virtuoso performance by taking two wins. Saunders will now have to wait until this coming weekend (November 7/8) at Brands Hatch before getting a chance to make history.

Coming off the back of a sensational double-winning drive at Silverstone, Solley took centre stage and subsequently had an answer for every question that was asked of him across both races to close the gap in the standings and set up an intriguing title showdown.

The CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship – the flagship series of the Club’s North West Centre – didn’t disappoint either as a mighty 36-car grid went wheel-to-wheel across two pulsating contests.

Former champion Paul Rose underlined his credentials in the multi-class series in the opening encounter as he powered his Saker RAPX S1-500 to victory by less than a second over Paul Woolfitt.

Woolfitt and his trusty Lotus Exige would then come to the fore in race two as he stretched his legs on the opposition to build up a 15-second margin at the chequered flag, as well as lapping all the way up to fifth place.

Mark Dicken was the driver to beat in the Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup, dominating the categories only race at the picturesque track to beat Alex Cursley by more than ten seconds.

Rounding out the Saturday action were three breathtaking contests from the British Superkarts Championship. Liam Morley, Lee Harpham and Tom Rushforth reigned supreme over the course of the day to share the spoils.

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