Tag: Porsche Sprint Challenge GB

After providing the backdrop for the start of what has gone on to be a captivating 2021 season back in May, the championships that make up the TOCA support package are all set for a return to Thruxton this weekend (August 28/29).

Taking centre stage alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, the expected bumper crowd that is set to flock to the fastest circuit in the UK is in for two days of full-throttle entertainment from the five championships that join the BTCC.

Just six points separate the top two in the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship as the second half of the season kicks into life. After a fraught few events, Aston Millar holds the advantage at the standings summit having finished every race inside the top six so far – with a breakthrough two wins at Knockhill last time out being the highlight.

Liam McNeilly is the closest challenge to Millar with three wins of his own and he’ll be keen to return to the top of points. Meanwhile, the likes of Seb Hopkins, Josh Miller, Callum Voisin and Will Jenkins will all be worth keeping an eye on during the weekend’s three races as they aim to close the gap to the top two.

An impressive 10 podiums from 11 races sees Tom Hibbert head to Hampshire in the lead of the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup. The Rob Boston Racing driver has his sights set on the title and with the form he has been showing you’d be hard pressed to bet against him.

Hibbert’s chief rival – both in the championship and over the course of the weekend’s three contests – is Adam Smalley. Closing the gap to Hibbert after a double win at Knockhill, the Elite Motorsport ace will be confident of success having won at Thruxton in both Ginetta Juniors and GT5 Challenge down the years.

The Porsche Visit Cayman Islands Sprint Challenge GB returns to the BTCC support bill for the penultimate event of their 2021 campaign. Starring back in May, the one-make series has dazzled fans at every turn this year and more are expected at Thruxton.

Theo Edgerton leads the Pro category fight from Jack Bartholomew, but a strong weekend for Bartholomew could set the scene for a nail-biting title showdown between the pair at the season finale.

Another series that will undoubtedly take on a starring role is the Quaife MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, where things couldn’t be tighter in the battle for title supremacy. Dominic Wheatley has moved into the lead of the points however when dropped scores are applied, he holds a slender single point advantage over Matt Hammond.

Reigning champion Harry Nunn is not to be discounted either having brought himself into contention following a brace of podiums at Croft earlier in the month. With three races and plenty of points up for grabs, it’s set to be an intriguing weekend for the tin top racers.

Rounding out the weekend, as always, will be a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. Matthew Rees is the new points leader following a nightmare Knockhill for James Hedley, however the latter has enjoyed great success at Thruxton in the past, making it the perfect place for him to try and get things back on track.

Tickets for Thruxton’s second dose of touring car thrills ’n’ spills will be available to purchase on the gate across the weekend. Head to https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc-august for the full list of admission prices.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event, including links to live timing and the event timetable, CLICK HERE.

Croft Circuit played host to a quite spectacular two days of TOCA support championship track action this past weekend (October 10/11), with the North Yorkshire venue proving pivotal in deciding who will eventually be crowned champions.

The complexion of the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship turned upside down once again as Josh Rattican and Tom Lebbon shared the spoils. Bailey Voisin had entered the weekend with a comfortable points lead but a nightmare two races for the youngster has meant his rivals have closed up.

Rattican’s third victory of the campaign put his title rivals on notice but it was Lebbon’s race two drive that really turned heads, clinching a dominant lights-to-flag win by more than six seconds.

There were further twists and turns in the battle for supremacy in the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup over the course of the weekend, with a trio of contests setting pulses racing.

Will Burns converted pole position into a commanding lights-to-flag victory in race one and then repeated the feat in race two as he soaked up race-long pressure from Adam Smalley and Gus Burton. Race three honours fell the way of Smalley.

The Cayman Islands Porsche Sprint Challenge GB made its debut on the TOCA package and it didn’t disappoint, delivering two breathless encounters around the challenging 2.13-mile circuit.

Former Renault UK Clio Cup vice champion James Dorlin reigned supreme ahead of Theo Edgerton in race one amidst the fading light on Saturday and then proved unbeatable during Sunday’s action-packed race, clinching victory and extending his championship lead at the same time.

Elsewhere, the Quaife MINI CHALLENGE Trophy made its final appearance of the season on the TOCA package and served up a feast of entertainment as a bumper grid went wheel-to-wheel around the challenging BARC operated track.

Harry Nunn proved to be in a league of his own as he stormed to victory in race one ahead of Josh Porter before Andrew Langley triumphed in a truncated second bout.

Two contests from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost rounded off the weekend’s track action at Croft, with Zak O’Sullivan and Casper Stevenson taking a win apiece.

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

Snetterton plays host to the penultimate event of the 2020 season for the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship and TOCA support categories on October 24/25.

It’s not just the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship that is reaching the business end of the 2020 season at Croft this weekend (October 10/11) as championships on the TOCA support package also reach a pivotal point in the year.

Bailey Voisin is back to being the driver to beat in the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship after scoring a brace of wins at Silverstone last time out. On a weekend which saw his rivals endure their own misfortunes, the R Racing driver is now in the box seat heading to Croft.

However, as has been demonstrated on countless occasions this season, the title picture can change in a flash in Ginetta Juniors and you can bet that the likes of Josh Rattican, Tom Lebbon and Georgi Dimitrov, amongst others, will be keen to turn the tables across the weekend’s two races.

Throw into the mix front-runners such as Zak Taylor, Tom Edgar and Aston Miller, you begin to see how competitive the series for drivers aged between 14 to 17 really is this year.

The Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup returns to the track with an equally intriguing battle for supremacy brewing as well. Seven points currently separate the top three in the standings and Croft’s challenging layout could write another enthralling chapter in what has been a storybook campaign so far.

Over the course of the season so far, the championship lead has been shared between Tom Hibbert, Will Burns and Gus Burton, with Hibbert currently the man to beat after recording a third win of the season last time out at Thruxton.

Hibbert will be aiming to increase his points advantage at a circuit he won at last season, however it won’t be easy. Burton has been a revelation in his maiden campaign, while Burns is a consistent podium finisher with a wealth of experience in the series.

After starring at Thruxton, the Quaife MINI CHALLENGE Trophy makes its final appearance on the TOCA package and if previous outings are anything to go by, fireworks are set to fly on-track.

Notable names to look out for across the weekend’s two encounters include Ben Kasperczak, Archie O’Brien, Lydia Walmsley and Dominic Wheatley.

Making its debut at Croft on the TOCA support bill will be the Cayman Islands Porsche Sprint Challenge GB. New-for-2020, the Cayman GT4 series has been a smash-hit since launching and has boasted a bumper Pro/Am entry list at each round.

Tom Jackson enters the weekend at the summit of the standings however former Renault UK Clio Cup race winner James Dorlin is hot on his heels and fully focused on closing the five-point deficit that currently sits between them.

Rounding out what is set to be a blockbuster weekend of racing at Croft will be two contests from the all-action F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost.

As has been the case at all BTCC race meetings this season, Croft will not be permitting any spectators to the event and it will be run behind closed doors. Live coverage of Sunday’s races will be broadcast on ITV4, starting from 11:30.

To view more information on this weekend’s event, including links to the live timing and the BTCC Online Programme, click here.