Author: Chris Ashby

BARC wows the crowds at the Home of British Motor Racing

The British Automobile Racing Club enjoyed an action-packed visit to the Home of British Motor Racing, Silverstone, this past weekend (May 17/18) with several championships writing the latest chapter in their respective campaigns.

Headlining the action around the National layout were three captivating contests from the TCR UK Championship, each of which were largely dominated by two drivers – Steve Laidlaw and Callum Newsham.

In qualifying, just 0.042s was all that could separate the duo in the battle for pole position but it was Laidlaw that claimed the bragging rights of clinching top spot. That set him up for a superlative opening bout where he charged to victory ahead of Newsham and Sam Laidlaw.

Race two proved to be slightly more contentious as despite winning on the road, Steve Laidlaw was handed a post-race time penalty which originally gave the victory to Newsham. However, following a successful appeal the result was reversed and that handed the win back to Laidlaw.

Newsham didn’t have to wait too much longer to finally have his moment on the top step of the podium in the weekend’s finale as he streaked clear of the chasing pack to tally a pivotal victory ahead of Steve Laidlaw and Adam Shepherd.

Variety was the spice of life when it came to the Milltek Civic Cup – the official feeder series to the TCR UK Championship – as three different drivers stood on the summit of the world-famous Silverstone rostrum.

Former TCR UK title winner Lewis Kent maintained his strong start to the season by claiming victory in a frantic opener before Dave Marshall narrowly beat Liam McGill to overall honours in race two.

Rounding out the weekend’s action for the popular tin top category around the 1.640-mile Northamptonshire venue was a victory for Alistair Camp, who prevailed ahead of Wesley Swain and the aforementioned Kent.

Over in the Junior Saloon Car Championship, the next generation of racing talent demonstrated just how bright their futures look as they had everyone on the edge of their seats in every one of their four races.

Luca Masarati kicked off proceedings as he triumphed in the race that was originally postponed at Brands Hatch in April before his title rivals Wilf Butler and Oliver Kerr went on to also reign supreme – Butler doing so on two occasions.

William Di Claudio was perfection personified when it came to the Track Action Racing Club as he won twice in his Peugeot 106 GTI, a feat that was also achieved by Jordan Dempsey in the Heroes of FF1600 Series – which was making its first appearance of the year.

Completing the BARC action were three races from the MINI CHALLENGE Clubsport which, like the single-seater FF1600 category, was making its maiden outing for the new season.

Boasting another competitive entry list, Oliver Willmott wasted no time in underlining his status as one to watch as he piloted his MINI Cooper S to victory in all three races.

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

If you want to watch back any of the action from Silverstone, head to the official BARC YouTube channel, HERE.

BARC delivers all-out entertainment at Convoy Cymru

The British Automobile Racing Club enjoyed a scorching weekend both on and off the track at Pembrey Circuit in South Wales this past weekend (May 17/18) as a number of different championships took centre stage at Convoy Cymru.

On what is one of the biggest events on the calendar for the Carmarthenshire venue each year, a bumper crowd poured through the gates to soak up the sunshine and to see what Wales’ biggest and best truck show had to offer.

While the likes of show trucks, monster truck shows and rides, live music, trade stands and double-decker bus rides headlined the attractions off-track, the heavyweight behemoths of the British Truck Racing Championship were the undoubted stars of the show on it.

Delivering five action-packed races, the battle for supremacy across Division 1 and Division 2 rightfully had fans on the edge of their seats as the momentum of the 2025 campaign was kicked up a gear or two.

Reigning nine-time champion Ryan Smith endured a weekend of two halves, the first of which started positively as he snared pole position and two dominant race wins in his Daimler Freightliner on Saturday.

That would be as good as it would get for the Worldwide Truck Racing driver though as contact and mechanical misfortune would scupper his chances on Sunday. Instead, Adam Bint charged to a popular maiden win before Team Oliver Racing dominated the remaining two races.

Michael Oliver led home a historic 1-2-3 finish for the successful squad in the penultimate bout before ten-time champion Stuart Oliver came to the fore in the final race of the day to tally a third win of the season.

In Division 2, last year’s runner-up Simon Cole enjoyed a similar superlative Saturday to Smith as he too was wheel-perfect in his Iveco TGS. Clinching pole position in the closing stages of qualifying, Cole then made no mistakes out front to win races one and two.

The Cole Trucksport driver maintained his front-running form into Sunday’s opening encounter as he again triumphed before title rival Jake Evans underlined his credentials as a serious contender by winning races four and five.

Those with a passion for tin tops were well catered for as the Classic Touring Car Racing Club descended on the Welsh countryside to write the latest chapter in what has already been a captivating 2025 season.

The Everard Pre-66 Touring Cars rolled back the years and it was local racer Endaf Owens that made home advantage count as he guided his Austin Cooper S to a commanding race win in the weekend’s curtain-raiser.

That performance set the tone for the remainder of the meeting too as Owens triumphed by more than 20 seconds in race two before he completed a clean sweep in race three, tallying a third win in equally impressive fashion.

Nic Grindrod showed similar levels of dominance in the Shell Oils Group 1 Touring Cars as he made the most of his Ford Escort to power his way to a pair of race wins. His hopes of claiming a hat-trick was ended in the finale by the hard-charging Jonathan Corker.

Rounding out the nostalgic touring car action were three races that amalgamated PRG Trailers Classic Thunder, Rikki Cann Historic Thunder Saloons, Trackhub.uk Pre-93 Touring Cars, Burty Pre-03 Touring Cars and Burton Power Blue Oval Saloon Series together.

William Davison – who traditionally cuts his teeth among the Pre-93 ranks – proved to be perfection personified in his BMW E36 M3 as he swept aside the opposition to secure all three wins that were on offer.

The Adrian Flux Insurance MG Owners Club Championship delivered a trio of enthralling races and it produced an exciting new battle for outright honours between James Cole and multiple title winner Steve McDermid.

McDermid entered the weekend as one of the form drivers however it was Cole that took the fight to him in races one and two, winning both contests in imperious fashion. Undeterred, McDermid fought back in race three to beat Cole by three tenths of a second.

Rounding out the weekend’s unmissable entertainment was the latest instalment of the Classic 2CV Racing Club, which staged two sprint races and a 90-minute endurance bout around the 1.456-mile circuit.

In the sprint races, the experienced Nick Crispin won a remarkable opening contest that saw the top five drivers covered by a little under seven tenths of a second at the chequered flag.

Sebastian White-Jones then triumphed in the weekend’s second race before doubling up the following day in the endurance bout, teaming up with Luca Proietti to give Podium MotorWorks the win.

To view the full classification of results from Pembrey Circuit, CLICK HERE.

You can also watch all the action back from Convoy Cymru by heading over to the official BARC YouTube channel HERE.

TCR and Trucks lead the timetables in England and Wales this weekend

This weekend is set to be one of the busiest yet for the British Automobile Racing Club. Organising teams will be spread across two UK favourites with the home of UK motorsport Silvestone and the home Welsh motorsport – Pembrey the host venues for a bursting to the brim timetable this weekend.

Pembrey in South Wales hosts its first BARC weekend, with the big hitting British Truck Racing Championship leading the charge, with five races across the two days. In support will be further bouts for the 2CV Racing Club, Classic Touring Car Racing Club and MG Owners Club.

Silverstone will welcome the BARC competitors to the National layout this weekend with TCR UK ready to put on a show in their three races. Adding to the Tin Top flavour is the Civic Cup, Track Action and Junior Saloon Car Championship with the MINI Challenge Clubsport making its 2025 bow. Also kicking off its season will be the Heroes of FF1600, who will take to the track for the first time this year.

When is the next BARC weekend?
The next events will be this weekend – 17th/18th May

Where are the events being held?
Pembrey Circuit
Address: Pembrey Circuit, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, SA16 0HZ

Silverstone Circuit
Address: Dadford Road, Silverstone, Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 8TN

What’s racing this weekend?

Pembrey
British Truck Racing Championship
CTCRC Thunder, BOSS, Pre ‘93, Pre ‘03
CTCRC Pre ‘83
CTCRC Pre ‘66
2CV Racing Club Championship
Adrian Flux MG Owners Club Championship

Silverstone
TCR UK
Miltek Civic Cup
Junior Saloon Car Championship
MINI Challenge Clubsport
Track Action
Equipe Sports Prototypes
CRCC Formula Libre

How can I watch?

At the Track

Pembrey
Wanting to soak up the on-track action in person? Tickets are available on the day at Pembrey or via the website – with tickets starting from £18 for adults – with children under 16 free of charge – https://pembreycircuit.co.uk/racing/british-truck-racing-championship

Silverstone
For all the action in Northamptonshire – tickets start at £19 per person or £32 for a weekend pass. Children under 16 are also free of charge https://www.silverstone.co.uk/events/barc-tcr-uk-touring-car-championship

At Home

If you can’t get to the circuits, all of the action will be broadcast LIVE on the BARC YouTube channel – with all the racing from both venues housed on our channel – you won’t miss a thing! Stream start times do vary – please check our channel for the anticipated start times and relevant stream link.

What time are things happening on track?

At Pembrey, qualifying starts at 09:00 with the first race at 11:55 on Saturday, while on Sunday racing begins at 09:00 and runs all the way through to 17:15 – with a 2CV enduro ending the proceedings.

At Silverstone on Saturday – qualifying starts at 09:25 with the first race billed for 12:30. On Sunday, track action begins with a single qualifying season at 09:00 with racing starting at 09:25 going through to early evening.

Do you have any more information?

We have a few other handy links that might be useful to help you enjoy your weekend.

Pembrey
Live Timing and Commentary: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/252021
Tickets: https://pembreycircuit.co.uk/racing/british-truck-racing-championship
*Event Information: https://www.barc.net/event/barc-race-meeting-pembrey-may-17-18/
Saturday LIVE Stream: https://www.youtube.com/live/-EDftiHCjfY?si=XZ02JHOAr55_SPeT
Sunday Live Stream: https://www.youtube.com/live/vi6EcdCnvQY?si=XVC0Y6_czKwWxRCz

Silverstone
Live Timing and Commentary: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/252024
*Event Information: https://www.barc.net/event/barc-race-meeting-silverstone-national-may-17-18/
Tickets: https://www.silverstone.co.uk/events/barc-tcr-uk-touring-car-championship
Saturday LIVE Stream: https://www.youtube.com/live/rDP6oDIZIpE?si=ZUkKMLG7mVZmTZDI
Sunday Live Stream: https://www.youtube.com/live/pFurVwsv9VY?si=p8CIr36mFUfsH5dF

* Subject to adjustments prior and during the race meeting

So much action – so much to follow! Be sure to get yourself trackside or follow the action from the comfort of your own home via YouTube and our social media channels.

It’s going to be a good one!

British F4 to race at 2025 Formula 1 British Grand Prix

The Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA has announced that it will make history this summer by making a guest appearance at the 2025 Formula 1 Qatar Airways British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

In what is guaranteed to be a ground-breaking moment at the Home of British Motorsport on July 3-6, Britain’s Formula 4 category will underline its status as the first step on the single-seater pathway in front of an expected 480,000 fans over the course of the weekend.

To further underpin the magnitude of British F4 being included on the schedule, the British Grand Prix will mark the first time in history that Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3 and Formula 4 have all competed at the same event.

As Formula 1 celebrates its 75th Anniversary this year, British F4’s debut at the British Grand Prix is even more befitting given the volume of drivers that have honed their skills in the category over the last decade – including current Formula 1 stars Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Poised to be an unforgettable experience, the British Grand Prix event has already received a high level of interest from drivers and is open only to teams that are competing in the 2025 Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA.

The appearance at the Silverstone Formula 1 event will be a non-points scoring round for the championship and will consist of two 25-minute plus one-lap races, with track action taking place across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Eve Lake-Grange, British F4 Championship Manager: “It goes without saying that this is a real milestone moment for everyone that is involved with the Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA.

“To have the opportunity to compete on the support bill of Formula 1 at the British Grand Prix is something that we’ve been working towards for a long time, so we are delighted to have been able to now make it happen.

“We pride ourselves on being the first step on the pathway to Formula 1 and for our drivers to be able to see the potential career roadmap that is ahead of them – on the same weekend that they are competing – will be both special and inspiring.

“The level of interest that we’ve had for this non-championship event has been incredible so far and we’re shaping up to confirm a bumper, ultra-competitive grid. There is no bigger stage than Formula 1 and we’re all incredibly excited to put on a show for the hundreds of thousands of fans that will be in attendance at Silverstone in July.”

Further details surrounding the Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA’s appearance at the Formula 1 British Grand Prix weekend will be available via our website over the coming weeks and months.

Thruxton Circuit opens new Woodham Hill viewing area

Spectators will have even more choice on where to watch the full-throttle action at Thruxton Circuit this year following the opening of a new viewing area that runs up Woodham Hill and into the Club Chicane.

Providing a fresh, elevated vantage point of the fastest circuit in the UK that fans haven’t enjoyed before, the opening of the Woodham Hill Bank is the latest in a series of exciting developments at the home of the British Automobile Racing Club.

The spectacular new viewing area will allow race goers to witness cars and bikes exit the famous Church Corner before running up Woodham Hill and then into the Club Chicane.

In addition to the spectacular views, the Woodham Hill Bank will also boast food and drink stalls, a craft beer tent and space for an entertainment area at selected events; details on this will be announced on an event-by-event basis.

The first time that visitors will be able to experience the Woodham Hill Bank will be at the upcoming Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship meeting on June 7-8.

Tickets for the annual visit of the UK’s premier motorsport series are on sale now: https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc.

Smith eyeing a decade of dominance in British Truck racing

Reigning British Truck Racing Champion Ryan Smith is eyeing an unmatched milestone in 2025. The Englishman is setting out on the quest to lift ten, back-to-back titles in the British Truck Racing Championship – a feat never been done before. With one race meeting completed at Brands Hatch, the series heads to Pembrey in south Wales for Convoy Cymru this weekend (17-18 May) with another five blockbuster races lined-up.

The British Automobile Racing Club caught up with the man carrying the number one on the doors, as he spoke about his 2025 hopes, the new regulations, growth of the sport and his long lasting legacy.

Ryan, it’s good to be back racing – are you happy to get going again for a new challenge?

“After the winter, it’s always good to get going – with the new regs and restrictors from Trucksport and BARC we had a chance to test pre-season and have a good build-up and feeling – it’s great to be back.”

The restrictor in which Smith is referring to, are new air restrictors fitted to the truck turbos in 2025. Reducing air flow into the spooling turbo – this creates less power and these are bestowed to the three fastest trucks after every weekend. They come in three different sizes – 63mm, 65mm and 67mm and are fitted to the top-tier Division One trucks based on performance. The top three in the standings in 2024 received them ahead of round one and ahead of Pembrey – the top three in the standings after Brands Hatch will carry them in Wales – creating an exciting moveable feast that gets played out over the course of the season to keep the racing action nice and close.

“We all got together – Motorsport UK, BARC, Trucksport and all the drivers to talk about it. We have won the title nine-times on the bounce which is an amazing feat, but BARC and Trucksport have a duty of care to all competitors and spectators and the fans to make it more interesting. Do we feel hard done by, yes, but we respect the regulation and we will rise to the challenge and get on with it and at Brands Hatch it didn’t hold us back too much.”

And that it didn’t, as Ryan and his Worldwide Truck Racing team haul their way to Pembrey with an 11 point lead at the top of the standings. But, putting it into real terms – what does the restrictor mean for the series – now it’s had a weekend in action.

“The power difference is big from the rolling start – once we get rolling and seems to be better – but we are between 200-300 horsepower which does hurt a lot. Out of the slower corners at Pembrey – it will be hard – but nothing in life worth having is easy. Spectators want to see different winners and they want to see good racing and I hope we can provide that for them with this. I do get it and I understand it, as the championship is heading in the right direction. Does it hurt us, yes – but it will probably even out over the year, and I hope by the time the championship comes back to Brands Hatch in November it will be close. Ideally with us ahead!

One thing that is clear and evident to see is the close racing and accessibility of the championship, with fans, families and first time spectators all getting close to the machines and gladiators with everyone welcomed with open arms into a very friendly paddock. Ryan is one of the most popular figures with fans young and old in search of the elusive selfie or signature.

“When Ben Taylor came into BARC, and got working closer with Trucksport – the sport has gone from strength to strength. BARC are trying to make it as fair and exciting as possible and that’s great as the sport is growing – the crowds are growing. The amount of people that came onto the grid at Brands Hatch and said ‘wow this is the first time i’ve been truck racing – I love it – i’ll be back’ is mega.I think that’s what truck racing has. It is a unique motorsport – it’s the biggest billboard in motorsport – it has an opportunity to grow at a rate of touring cars and so on in this country and we feel we are in the right hands with BARC.”

Smith hailing from Mansfield might have nine titles to his name, but has only been racing the big behemoths for 11 years. Truck racing isn’t necessarily something you just wake up and decide to do. Or is it?

“I did drifting previously and my Dad was an engineer for a team called Translitre for Barry Lee and Paul Mac in trucks. He was the chief mechanic and in the nineties, I used to come and watch the racing as a child and the owner – Ken Howard was someone I looked up to. I forgot about truck racing for many years until my brother rang me out of the blue one day and said – ‘have a guess where I am…watching truck racing at Brands Hatch.’ Three days later I had a race truck and the rest is history.

With nine titles under the belt – you would think the Daimler Freightliner driver would be packing-up, being quite content with his laurels, but think again, with another six race weekends still to play out – the target has been set for Smith and he is like a bull ready to charge.

“The fire is still there for me – the quest for 10 pumps me up even more – I want the 10th title – I really want to be the best British guy of all time to have raced a truck and to try and leave a legacy in a sport that’s growing and growing and going places. Will somebody come along and knock me off – of course they will… just not today.”

You will be able to see Ryan Smith continue his title defence and his strive to become a ten-time British Truck Racing champion at Pembrey this weekend. Those who can’t be trackside can also enjoy a ringside seat with all five races broadcast on the BARC and British Truck Racing YouTube channels across Saturday and Sunday.

WSR enjoys record-breaking BTCC day at Brands Hatch

WSR and BMW enjoyed a record-breaking weekend in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch as they scored a trio of wins to become the most successful team in BTCC history.

After enduring a lack lustre curtain raiser at Donington Park last month, the Surrey-based squad bounced back in style at its home track as reigning champion Jake Hill triumphed in race one before Daryl Deleon and Charles Rainford both claimed a maiden victory apiece.

Milestones began to tumble on Saturday as Hill obliterated the qualifying lap record by more than a second to clinch pole position and set up what would ultimately be a race day to remember in front of a bumper crowd.

The Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport driver converted pole position into a relatively straight-forward victory in the opening encounter as he led every lap, while his rookie stablemate Rainford kept him honest behind.

That victory would be the 133rd in the BTCC for WSR and ensured that they were now clear at the top of the all-time leaderboard. Behind Hill and Rainford, 2022 champion Tom Ingram continued his fine start to the season with a third place finish.

Race two delivered more captivating action as Deleon scored his first-ever win. Hill fended off a number of challengers early doors but following two safety car periods, there was no stopping the teenager as he utilised the faster soft tyre to hit the front and streak clear of the opposition.

Hill’s resilient defence allowed Deleon to build up a substantial advantage over the rest of the field and by the time Adam Morgan and Ash Sutton moved into second and third respectively, they could do nothing to catch the BMW ace.

Not to be outdone, Rainford then completed a historic day for WSR as he claimed a commanding victory in just his sixth BTCC race. Charging past Hill and pole sitter Dan Rowbottom in the early exchanges, Rainford was wheel-perfect until the end to claim a sensational win.

Many fans were perched on the edge of their seats as Hill and Ingram – who had surged from 11th on the grid – became embroiled in a fascinating back-and-forth battle for second place. Hill in the held firm in the end to clinch the position.

Leaving Brands Hatch, Sutton remains in the lead of the Drivers’ Championship ahead of Ingram and Hill whilst EXCLER8 Motorsport/Hyundai remain in control of the Manufacturers/Constructors Championship.

Team VERTU lead the Teams’ Championship while Chris Smiley and Restart Racing head the early going in the Independents’ category. In the Jack Sears Trophy, Deleon has hit the front virtue of his near flawless weekend.

Of course, it wasn’t just the BTCC that starred at Brands Hatch as a number of championships that make up the TOCA support bill also made their mark around the 1.208-mile Indy circuit.

Toby Trice continued his fine start to the season in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain as he guided his Clean Racing machine to a brace of race wins.

Trice had to play second fiddle to Tom Bradshaw in the weekend’s opening contest but come Sunday he was unstoppable as he charged to a pair of lights-to-flag victories, strengthening his advantage at the top of the Drivers’ Championship in the process.

The Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy made its first appearance of the season on the BTCC support programme and as expected it didn’t disappoint with a trio of hard-fought races leaving fans wanting more.

Title contender Joshua Wilby narrowly beat Ronnie Smith and Gabe Fairbrother to top spot in race one before Alex Keens was declared the victor of race two after on-the-road winner Rhys Hurd was handed a post-race ten second time penalty.

Hurd’s Westbourne Motorsport wasted no time in putting that disappointment behind them though as Olivier Algieri claimed his first win of the season in style, beating Fairbrother and Wilby to the chequered flag in a frenetic finale.

Rounding out the weekend’s action was a one-off guest appearance from the Dutch Barn Caterham Seven Championship UK and as predicted – the racing couldn’t have been any closer around the short, sharp layout.

Matthew Armstrong kicked off proceedings with a measured drive to win race one however he could do nothing to stop Harry Senior from reigning supreme in the weekend’s remaining two bouts as he triumphed twice.

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

BTCC headlines British battles this weekend

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, organised by the British Automobile Racing Club is ready for the Battle of Brands this weekend as the packed grid will get even closer, as the tin-top field is shoe-horned onto the tight Indy circuit.

Ash Sutton leads the way in the title race after two wins from three races at Donington last time out. Can Sutton lay another stepping stone towards his fifth and record breaking title?

Supporting the BTCC will be packed grids on a busy timetable across Saturday and Sunday. The Vertu MINI Challenge Trophy, Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain rejoin the action while the Caterham Seven Championship UK drivers prepare to do battle under the spotlight of the ITV cameras this weekend.

Elsewhere on the BARC schedule is the third event of the British Hillclimb Championship Presented by Nova Motorsport. Single-seaters with up to 700bhp will be unleashed onto the long and flowing Harewood hill in Yorkshire. Defending Champion Matt Ryder has won three of the four run-offs this year but is being chased hard by Will Hall and Wallace Menzies.

When is the next BARC weekend?
The next events will be this weekend – 10th/11th May

Where are the events being held?
Brands Hatch – Indy
Address: London Rd, West Kingsdown, Sevenoaks TN15 6FS

Harewood Hillclimb
Address: Harewood Ave, Harewood, Leeds LS17 9LA

What is racing this weekend?
Brands Hatch – Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Vertu MINI Challenge Trophy, Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain and Caterham Seven Championship UK

Harewood – British Hillclimb Championship

How can I watch?

At Home
The TOCA Brands Hatch race weekend package will be broadcast live and for free on ITV4 and ITVX on Saturday and Sunday in the UK.

Qualifying will be available to all on ITVX on Saturday while race day will move to ITV4 in the UK, with International audiences able to watch the action on YouTube with races live on the RACER network in the US and Canada.

The uninterrupted coverage will feature all the on track drama with commentary, analysis and features throughout Sunday with coverage starting just ahead of the first BTCC race at 10:40

The British Hillclimb Championship action sadly won’t be live streamed this weekend.

At the Track
Wanting to soak up the on-track action in person? Tickets are available on the day or on the Brands Hatch website from £22 for a Saturday ticket or £35 for a Sunday ticket – with weekend options available from £48.

Hillclimb fans can head to Harewood with tickets starting from £12.50 for each day from the Harewood Hill website (www.harewoodhill.com) or you can pay on the gate.

What time are things happening on track?

Track action begins at 09:30 on Saturday and 09:00 on Sunday at Brands Hatch, with BTCC races at 11:30, 14:05 and 17:10 on Sunday. Over at Harewood, the course opens for practice early morning until early evening on Saturday with official timed runs to be held on the Sunday.

Do you have any more information?

We have a few other handy links that might be useful to help you enjoy your weekend.

Donington
Live Timing and Commentary: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/251941
Timetable*: www.barc.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025-BTCC-Timetable_BrandsIndy_V6.pdf
Watch Link: www.itv.com/btcc

Harewood
Live Timing: https://www.hwtiming.co.uk/
Event Information: https://www.britishhillclimb.co.uk/

* Subject to adjustments prior and during the race meeting

Have a fantastic weekend of racing!

BARC delivers all-out action at Thruxton Tops Down Weekender

The British Automobile Racing Club kicked off what promises to be another action-packed year of racing around the fastest circuit in the UK, Thruxton, this past weekend (May 3-4) as several championships and series’ headlined the ‘Tops Down Weekender’ at the Hampshire venue.

With sports cars and saloon cars providing wall-to-wall entertainment around the sweeping high-speed track, a bumper trackside crowd flocked through the gates to see some of the BARC’s best compete on home turf.

First-time racers of the moobob Caterham Academy Championship continued their motorsport education as they put everything they’ve learnt into practice with one thrilling single encounter, which was ultimately won by George Hawkins ahead of Max Richardson and Nick Tomadakis.

The Bilstein Caterham Roadsport Championship – which is the next step up from the Academy on the Caterham Motorsport ladder – saw Scott Helme produce a flawless performance as he charged to an impressive brace of race wins.

Over in the EDGE Caterham Seven 270R Championship, some captivating battles resulted in the spoils being shared between Paul Oggelsby and Louis Darling. The weekend’s opener saw Oggelsby beat Nick Sampson to top spot before Darling did the double in the remaining bouts.

Rounding out the Caterham Motorsport action were three races from the Vertex Caterham Seven 310R Championship, where Taylor O’Flanagan and Lars Alexander Hoffman proved to be the cream of the crop.

After snaring pole position in qualifying, O’Flanagan pipped Alexander Hoffman to victory in a frenetic opener before the latter turned the tables to tally a win of his own in race two. The weekend’s finale ultimately went the way of O’Flanagan after he came out on top of a fierce battle with Phillip Bianchi.

The stars of tomorrow made it a weekend to remember in the Junior Saloon Car Championship as the battle for supremacy – which is shaping up to be one of the closest in recent memory – intensified with three of the lead protagonists each scoring a win apiece.

Josh Selvadorai kicked off proceedings with a clinical lights-to-flag victory in race one before Luca Masarati triumphed in race two after pole sitter Wilf Butler was handed a two-place penalty for gaining an unfair advantage.

Butler’s race two disappointment would fuel a redemption drive in the weekend’s third and final contest as he made no mistake from the front row, this time converting pole into a peerless win ahead of Masarati and Selvadorai.

Nathan Williams continued his rich vein of form in the OT Publishing Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires as he charged to a dominant double; in race one he wasted no time in breaking clear of the pack to beat Wayne Rockett and Adam Jones by more than five seconds.

Things were somewhat closer in race two however as Jones provided a looming presence throughout the contest, although Williams ultimately had enough in hand to triumph for a second consecutive race.

Rounding out the Club action at the Tops Down Weekender were a trio of contests from the Track Action Racing Club – one of which had been carried over from Brands Hatch after it was cancelled due to barrier repairs being carried out.

Boasting a variety of budget-conscious tin tops, the Track Action contingent had everyone on the edge of their seats as former Classic Touring Car Racing Club champion and Thruxton Instructor Gary Prebble swept his way to all three wins in his Honda Civic.

If you missed any of the action from Thruxton then you can watch it back on the Club’s official YouTube channel HERE.

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

British F4, Britcar Endurance and Caterham Graduates star at Silverstone

Silverstone provided the setting for a trio of British Automobile Racing Club categories to continue their 2025 campaigns this past bank holiday weekend (May 2-3) – delivering an abundance of entertainment in the process.

Hot on the heels of a captivating season-opener at Donington Park, the Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA was back in action as the single-seater series took centre stage at the Home of British Motor Racing for Rounds 4, 5 and 6.

Rodin Motorsport’s James Piszcyk smashed his own lap record in qualifying to clinch pole position and he duly converted it into a lights-to-flag victory in race one ahead of Hitech TGR’s Fionn McLaughlin and Virtuosi Racing’s Martin Molnár.

Race two saw Adam Al Azhari then write his name into the history books as he emerged victorious in the championship’s 300th race. Making an opportune move at Vale to slip past the top-two on the opening lap, Al Azhari was perfection personified once out front and went on to triumph in style.

The weekend’s third and final contest then saw Piszcyk return to the summit of the podium as he made it three wins from three races for Rodin Motorsport; delivering a near carbon-copy performance to that he delivered the day previous.

Elsewhere, the Britcar Endurance Championship made its second appearance of the season at Silverstone with a scintillating 90-minute contest that had battles running right the way through its 32-car field.

Like they did at the start of April, the Toro Verde GT duo of Steve Gambrell and Dan Lloyd proved too much for the opposition as they piloted their Porsche 991.2 to the chequered flag by almost half a minute.

Claiming runners-up spoils was AMSPEED’s Ash Muldoon and James Kellett in a Porsche 991 Cup while Bonamy Grimes and Johnny Mowlem finished third in their FF Corse with Red River Sport Ferrari 488 Challenge EVO.

Rounding out the weekend’s action around the 3.66-mile Grand Prix circuit were two races from the P4 Emergency Lighting Caterham Graduates Championship – which boasted a staggering 60-car entry list.

Renowned for producing races that are decided by the smallest of margins, the opening encounter saw reigning champion Jamie Ellwood manage to break clear of the chasing pack late on to beat Ben Winrow and Paul Goldstein by more than a second.

Race two proved to be much closer however as Max Haynes beat Ben Winrow to top spot by a staggering 0.043s. Stephen Clark finished a further two tenths of a second back in third place whilst Ellwood and Harry Cramer completed the top-five.

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

Dore & Rees Auction added to Thruxton Retro

The Thruxton Retro is expanding even further with the addition of a Car and Motorbike Auction, hosted by renowned auctioneers Dore & Rees.

Taking place during the Thruxton Retro event, the auction will feature an exclusive selection of competition cars, fast road vehicles, classic cars, and motorcycles, bringing yet another highlight to an action-packed weekend.

Consignments Now Open
Dore & Rees are now taking consignments for the auction and are offering an outstanding package for sellers:

Entry into the live auction and inclusion in both online and printed catalogues for just £50 + VAT (normally £200 + VAT)
5% + VAT seller’s commission
An agreed guaranteed pre-sale reserve
At least 2 full pages in the printed catalogue for your vehicle
Professional catalogue descriptions, written and researched by Dore & Rees
Comprehensive promotion, advertising, and marketing—at no extra cost
Personal handling of client interest and bidder registration

Dore & Rees will advertise all consigned vehicles across their website, client databases, and major automotive platforms including eBay Motors, Car and Classic, Classic & Sports Car, PistonHeads, and RacecarsDirect, as well as social media channels and special interest groups.

If you have a car or motorcycle you’re considering selling, this is a fantastic opportunity to showcase it at a major new motoring event, backed by one of the most respected names in automotive auctions.

more information or to submit your vehicle for auction, visit www.doreandrees.com or contact Nick Wells at nick.wells@doreandrees.com or 07920 500091

BTCC locks in calendar for 2026 season

Series organisers of the British Touring Car Championship, TOCA, have today (May 2) announced its calendar for the 2026 season.

Confirmed almost a year in advance and hot on the heels of last weekend’s 2025 season-opener, the opening three rounds of next year’s campaign will mirror the same format as this season with visits to Donington Park (National), Brands Hatch (Indy) and Snetterton 300 kicking off proceedings.

Oulton Park will then follow in early June before the BTCC brings forward its annual summer break. Due to ITV’s commitments at the football World Cup in June and July, the annual summer break has been forward to avoid any potential clashes, whilst also providing teams with a less frenetic start to the BTCC season.

Action will resume at the fastest circuit in the UK, Thruxton, before visits to Knockhill, Donington Park (Grand Prix) and Croft follow. The penultimate round of the season will again take place at Silverstone before champions are crowned on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit in October.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “The 2026 British Touring Car Championship calendar enjoys the tried and tested format from previous seasons, but with a slightly different flow of events to look forward to.

“It is a very busy summer in the sporting calendar, particularly with the football World Cup, which presents ITV with some clashing commitments. However, it also gave us an opportunity to make some tweaks to the schedule, which includes the shift in dates to the likes of Thruxton and Croft.

“Once again, releasing the calendar to our teams, support races, stakeholders and the public this early is advantageous for all in forward-planning, whilst it also benefits the rest of the motorsport pyramid in the UK as they can also schedule their events with these dates in mind.”

2026 British Touring Car Championship Calendar

Rounds 1-3 / Donington Park National / April 18-19
Rounds 4-6 / Brands Hatch Indy / May 9-10
Rounds 7-9 / Snetterton 300 / May 24-25
Rounds 10-12 / Oulton Park / June 6-7
Rounds 13-15 / Thruxton / July 25-26
Rounds 16-18 / Knockhill / August 8-9
Rounds 19-21 / Donington Park GP / August 22-23
Rounds 22-24 / Croft / September 5-6
Rounds 25-27 / Silverstone / September 26-27
Rounds 28-30 / Brands Hatch GP / October 10-11