Author: Chris Ashby

Where to watch BARC LIVE from Brands Hatch this weekend

The British Automobile Racing Club heads to Brands Hatch this weekend (June 5/6) for a blockbuster two days of track action, headlined by the heavyweight behemoths of the British Truck Racing Championship.

In what is set to be a weekend to remember around the Indy layout of the Kent venue, spectators will be in attendance and our cameras will be there to broadcast live on Facebook and YouTube.

Those that have opted in for TV coverage and will feature on the broadcast over the course of the weekend include the British Truck Racing Championship, Pickup Truck Racing Championship, Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship, 2CV Championship, Kumho BMW Championship and Avon Tyres Intermarque Silhouettes.

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

Saturday Race Show – Starting from 11:25 – Facebook | YouTube

Sunday Race Show – Starting from 11:00 – Facebook | YouTube

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

Make sure you don’t miss any future BARC LIVE events by subscribing to our YouTube channel HERE.

BARC partners with The Lifestyle Card to launch new exclusive member benefit

The British Automobile Racing Club is delighted to announce that it has partnered with The Lifestyle Card to offer its members access to thousands of discounts which can be used locally, nationally and online.

Originally launched in Andover in 2018 to raise awareness of local businesses, The Lifestyle Card has evolved into a nationwide discount card that gives access to more than 5,000 discounts covering all aspects of your lifestyle such as hotels, food & drink, shopping, events, entertainment and many more.

All BARC members, including racing members and registered marshals, will now be able to enjoy these savings as part of their existing membership. Meanwhile, holders of The Lifestyle Card can benefit from discounts on race meeting tickets and driving experiences at the BARC’s three circuits – Croft, Pembrey and Thruxton.

The BARC will be contacting its members in the coming weeks with their individual Lifestyle Card membership numbers and instructions on how to register.

Ben Taylor, BARC Chief Executive, said: “We have followed the progress of The Lifestyle Card since their early days and are now delighted to formalise the relationship. Not only will it provide great added value to our members, but it will also showcase our exciting product range of race events, driving experiences and conference facilities to a whole new audience, both locally and across the country. We look forward to developing the partnership even further in the future.”

Sean & Fiona Caruana, Company Directors at The Lifestyle Card, added: “We are delighted to have formed this partnership with BARC and we’re positive that our members will enjoy receiving discounts at all BARC venues.

“We hope that visitors throughout the year will be more inclined to stay longer in the area and sample local restaurants, accommodation and the many fantastic days out and experiences that the Test Valley area has to offer.”

To find out more information on The Lifestyle Card and the discounts available, head to https://www.thelifestylecard.co.uk/.

Blockbuster weekend awaits the BARC at Brands Hatch

Brands Hatch beckons for the British Automobile Racing Club this weekend (June 5/6) for what should be an unmissable race meeting around the Indy circuit, headlined by no less than five races from the British Truck Racing Championship.

In what is one of the must-see events on the UK motorsport calendar, the titans of truck racing will lift the curtain on a brand-new season whilst a number of other championships will also take centre stage to continue their 2021 campaign.

Having not raced at the Kent venue since 2019, this weekend’s BTRC opener is a homecoming of sorts and the expectation that neither Division 1 or Division 2 is going to disappoint those in attendance and watching live online.

Boasting an ultra-competitive entry list throughout, many eyes will be on Ryan Smith in Division 1 as he bids to clinch a sixth consecutive title. Cementing his status as the driver to beat in the premier class over the past five years, Smith has his sights set on making more history however he faces stiff competition.

Former champions David Jenkins and Stuart Oliver are stalwarts of the championship and know what it takes to win. Having run Smith close in recent years, both will be confident that they can string together a season-long challenge to dethrone the current king.

In Division 2, Steven Powell will don the mantel of defending champion. Having narrowly missed out on the crown on a number of occasions, Powell made no mistake in 2020 as he stormed to the title in style.

Now aiming to clinch back-to-back crowns, Powell will be eager to pick up where he left off last year however he too faces competition from a raft of challengers. Former champion Adam Bint, Brad Smith, John Powell, John Bowler and Paul Rivett have all triumphed in the past and will be worth keeping an eye on.

The Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres has proven to be a fan favourite down the years and they will look to steal the show as always. Former champion Miles Rudman holds the early advantage as the pocket rockets descend on the Indy circuit however he will need to be in top form to remain there.

As always, the battle for supremacy is as fraught as ever and with the likes of John Mickel, Daniel Clark, Jack Parker, Steve Whitelegg and Nick Bridgeman, to name but a few, all racing, all bets are off.

Towards the end of the lunchbreak on Sunday there is to be a special two-lap parade in memory of late Legends racer Gerard McCosh. The popular competitor, who tragically lost his life in February after a battle with cancer, will be celebrated by all of his friends within the paddock.

After a year on the sidelines, the Pickup Truck Racing Championship made a popular return at Mallory Park last month and is now revved up to produce more edge-of-the-seat entertainment.

Two pulsating encounters around the Mallory Oval saw Reece Jones triumph to grab the early initiative and he will be hoping for more of the same at Brands. With two races scheduled to play out though, the likes of George Turiccki, Dale Gent, Michael Smith, Daniel Petters, Dean Tompkins and Mark Willis will all undoubtedly be in contention towards the front.

Vintage thrills will be offered up by the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship as they write the latest chapter in their season. Steve McDermid scored a sensational hat-trick at the MGOC curtain-raiser and he will be keen to continue his fine form.

Meanwhile, Simon Kendrick, Stephen Amphlett, Stuart Plotnek and Chris Millard have underlined their credentials towards the sharp end of the grid in the past and any one of them could stake their claim around the Indy circuit.

Also taking fans on a spirited trip down memory lane will be the 2CVParts.com Championship. Steeped in more than 30 years of history, the championship has established itself as one of the most exciting single-make categories that runs today.

Multiple champion Pete Sparrow has his sights set on regaining the crown he lost to Alec Graham last year and he made the perfect start by tallying a brace of wins around the undulating twists and turns of the Lincolnshire-based venue. Whether or not he can continue his fine form remains to be seen.

Fresh off the back of their Bank Holiday Monday showing at Donington Park, the Kumho BMW Championship has a quick turnaround to return to the action. Home to all models that run the iconic Bavarian brand logo, the series enjoyed a superlative start a few days ago and

Rounding out the weekend’s track action at Brands Hatch will be contests from the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy and Avon Tyres Intermarque Silhouettes.

To find out more information on this weekend’s two-day event at Brands Hatch, such as the Entry List and Timetable, CLICK HERE.

Donington Park delivers scorching BARC bank holiday spectacular

Donington Park played host to a blockbuster day of tin top thrills this past Bank Holiday Monday (May 31) as the Classic Touring Car Racing Club, Kumho BMW Championship and Mighty Minis Championship headlined the British Automobile Racing Club’s one-day meeting.

Bathed in bright sunshine and competing in front of spectators for the first time this year, the Leicestershire venue provided the perfect backdrop for an unmissable day of track action.

Taking centre stage as they rolled back the years under the flight path of East Midlands airport was the Classic Touring Car Racing Club, who produced no less than eight captivating contests.

Joe Ferguson and Tom Bell shared the spoils in the Pre ’66 Touring Cars category whilst the amalgamated Pre ‘8 Touring Cars and Jaguar Enthusiasts Club races saw James Ramm reign supreme, winning twice in his Jaguar XJS.

AJ Owen and Gary Prebble proved to be the class of the field in the Pre ’93 and Pre ’03 Touring Car bouts, going head-to-head in both. Prebble would get the better of Owen in the opening race before the latter struck back in race two, tallying his latest win of the season.

The Classic/Historic Thunder Saloons and Blue Oval Saloon Series brought the curtain down on the CTCRC action and like the others, they too enjoyed a pair of full-throttle races. Andrew Wilson piloted his Holden Monaro to victory in the opener before Matty Evans struck back in race two.

Renowned for producing close racing, the Mighty Minis Championship had fans on the edge of their seats as they delivered two enthralling contests. Dancing their way around the flowing 1.97-mile National circuit, the Mini contingent showcased what they are all about in front of an appreciative crowd.

Stuart Coombs struck first as he converted his second row start into what can be deemed as a commanding victory in the series, crossing the line more than three seconds ahead of his nearest challenger.

Race two would see an almighty scrap for the win take place with the top four covered by less than a second at the flag. Underlining his credentials as defending Super Mighty Mini champion, Ian Slark held off the battling Coombs, Steven Rideout and Alex Comis to prevail.

Capping off the days action were two races from the Kumho BMW Championship, who were making their first appearance of 2021. Home to all manner of machinery that carries the iconic BMW badge, the single-manufacturer series lifted the curtain on a brand new season in sensational style.

Brad Sheeham proved to be the driver to beat in the opening encounter as he powered his M3 E46 from second on the grid to victory, narrowly pipping the charging Jason West.

Having been forced to retire from race one, Michael Pensavalle served up an overtaking masterclass in race two to win. Starting from 17th, the M3 E46 racer wasted no time in making progress and by lap ten found himself at the front of the field, where he would remain until the chequered flag was waved.

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

If you missed any of the action over the course of the day then you can watch it back on our YouTube channel HERE.

C1 Racing Club stars as the BARC basks in the Silverstone sun

The British Automobile Racing Club basked in the bright sunshine at Silverstone this past weekend (May 28/29/30) as the C1 Racing Club took centre stage around the legendary Grand Prix circuit for its hugely-popular 24-hour race.

In what proved to be another pulsating spectacle for the budget-conscious category, a bumper 58-car grid would hit the track however nobody ultimately could stop Hybrid Tune – Full Circle Racing from triumphing in emphatic fashion.

Hitting the front in the fourth hour after qualifying eighth, the four-man driver line-up of Stephen James, Sam Weller, David Meenan and Mark James would remain a constant presence towards the front of the field throughout before grabbing the initiative in the closing stages.

Completing a total of 431 laps and setting the fastest lap along the way, the quartet finished just under 50 seconds ahead of AB Motorsport’s Oliver Allwood, Brian Trott and Stuart Symonds.

Rounding off the podium, albeit two laps down on the leaders, was Fake-Shake n Bake-with Team Gaz Shocks. Behind the wheel of the #312 machine and in contention until the latter hours was Tommy Field, Max Maxted and Graham Coomes.

Before the C1 Racing Club embarked on its epic day-long contest, a number of other championships wrote the latest chapter in their 2021 campaigns around the 3.67-mile layout of the Northamptonshire venue.

Boasting a highly competitive entry list, the Caterham Graduates Racing Club was always going to serve up edge-of-the-seat entertainment and did just that with four races that will undoubtedly live long in the memory for many.

The Sigma 135 and Sigmax categories amalgamated together to create a mammoth 53-car grid, with wheel-to-wheel battles running throughout. At the front of the field, Harry Senior narrowly edged Ben Winrow, Stephen Clark and Simon Griffiths in race one to triumph before producing a repeat performance in race two.

In the Sigma 150 class, a slightly smaller entry of 33 cars took to the track but the battle for supremacy proved to be just as close. Jamie Ellwood and Jason McCormack proved to be the class of the field as they netted a win apiece.

The Max5 Racing Championship possessed a competitive entry list too but nobody was able to stop Paul Roddison from continuing his strong start to the new season. Running alongside the Sigma 150 class of the Caterham Graduates Racing Club, the one-make category delivered a memorable showing.

Starting at the back of the grid in race one, Roddison served up an overtaking masterclass as he scythed his way up the order to narrowly claim victory ahead of Jon Halliwell. The series stalwart then doubled his tally for the weekend with a superlative performance in the second encounter to extend his winning streak to four straight races.

Rounding out the weekend’s on-track entertainment were two races from the Sports Prototype Cup. Showcasing the very best of UK prototype racing, the ‘Silverstone Open’ saw a variety of machines go against each other around the Home of British Motor Racing. 

Whilst the likes of Sir Chris Hoy, Bradley Ellis and James Abbott all featured,  Bonamy Grimes underlined his class behind the wheel as he powered his Duqueine LMP3 to a brace of victories.

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

If you missed any of the action over the course of the weekend then you can watch it back on our YouTube channel HERE.

Where to watch BARC LIVE from Donington Park this Bank Holiday Monday

The British Automobile Racing Club is set to serve up a blockbuster Bank Holiday Monday of thrills ‘n’ spill from Donington Park on May 31 and whilst fans can now watch trackside, they will also be able to watch the action unfold live on our dedicated Facebook and YouTube pages.

Taking centre stage over the course of the day from the Leicestershire venue will be races from both the Classic Touring Car Racing Club and Kumho BMW Championship.

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

Qualifying Show – Starting from 09:00 – Facebook | YouTube

Race Show – Starting from 13:30 – Facebook | YouTube

As always, Dave Goddard will be on commentary to provide the soundtrack to this latest chapter of what is already proving to be a sensational 2021 season.

To find out more information on this Monday’s race meeting, including links to the official entry list and timetable, CLICK HERE.

Make sure you don’t miss any future BARC LIVE events by subscribing to our YouTube channel HERE.

BARC revved up for bank holiday tin top thriller at Donington Park

The British Automobile Racing Club is gearing up for a bank holiday race day that should set pulses racing this coming Monday (May 31) as a trio of championships head to Donington Park.

In what is set to be the first of several visits to the Leicestershire venue over the course of the 2021 season by the Club, Monday’s meeting will not only see spectators make a welcome return but will also see TV cameras in attendance for our latest live stream spectacle.

Headlining the day will be no less than eight races from the Classic Touring Car Racing Club. Serving up a feast of entertainment at Silverstone last month, the tin tops from yesteryear will write the latest chapter in their campaign as they showcase some of the most iconic saloons from past decades.

Taking centre stage under the flightpath of East Midlands airport will be from the Pre ’66 Classic Saloon & Historic Touring Cars, Shell Oils Pre ’83 Touring Cars, Laser Tools Pre ’93 Touring Cars, Simply Serviced Pre ’03 Touring Cars, Blue Oval Saloon Series, Edmundson Electrical Classic/Historic Thunder Saloons and Jaguar Enthusiasts Club Saloon & GT Championship.

Notable names to look over the course of the day include Peter Smith, Richard Wood, AJ Owen, Ashley Shelswell, Ray West, Tom Robinson and David Howard, to name but a few.

The Mighty Minis Championship is renowned for producing blockbuster wheel-to-wheel entertainment and Monday should be no different as the pocket rockets continue their season.

Kicking their season off at Cadwell Park last month with two pulsating encounters, the Super Mighty Mini class saw old foes Neven Kirkpatrick and reigning champion Ian Slark renew their battle for supremacy as they each tallied a win apiece.

Both Kirkpatrick and Slark will undoubtedly be favourites to be in the mix for supremacy however they won’t be the only drivers to keep an eye on. David Kirkpatrick, Steve Rideout, Stuart Coombs, Greg Jenkins and Alex Comis are just a number of contenders that have experience of running at the sharp end of the grid and none of them can be discounted from making their mark.

Elsewhere, the opener of the Mighty Mini class at Cadwell Park saw Dan Heywood turn heads as he notched an impressive brace of race wins. Having set his stall out as the driver to beat, Heywood will undoubtedly be one to watch although the competition at the top is set to be fierce.

Rounding out the track action will be a pair of races from the Kumho BMW Championship. Home to all manner of machinery that carries the iconic BMW badge, the single-manufacturer series lifts the curtain on a brand new season boasting a bumper multi-class grid.

Having seen a closely-fought 2020 campaign unfold, this year looks to have the makings of another great tussle with regular front runners James Card, Jas Sapra and Darren Morgan-Owen taking on a number of very quick newcomers, including Brad Sheehan, Mike Pensavalle and Bryan Bransom in the fight to be crowned champions.

To find out more information on this Monday’s race meeting, including links to the entry list and timetable, CLICK HERE.

Make sure you don’t miss a single lap of the action by subscribing to the BARC’s official YouTube channel and watching live, CLICK HERE.

Where to watch BARC LIVE from Silverstone this weekend

The British Automobile Racing Club takes to the legendary Silverstone Grand Prix circuit this weekend (May 28/29/30) for one of the most eagerly-anticipated events on the UK motorsport calendar – the Citroen C1 24-hour race.

Taking centre stage at the Home of British Motor Racing, more than 50 teams are poised to battle it out around the iconic 3.64-mile layout over the course of a full day.

Before the lights turn green on the C1’s 24-hour contest though, unmissable entertainment is guaranteed to be produced by the Caterham Graduates Racing Club and Sports Prototype Cup – both of which will be in action during Saturday afternoon.

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

Saturday Qualifying Show – Starting from 09:25 – Facebook | YouTube

Saturday Race Show – Starting from 13:20 – Facebook | YouTube

C1 24-Hour Race – Starting from 17:15 on May 29 – Facebook Pt 1 | Facebook Pt 2 | YouTube

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

Make sure you don’t miss any future BARC LIVE events by subscribing to our YouTube channel HERE.

Citroen C1 24-hour race set to take centre stage around Silverstone Grand Prix circuit

Silverstone’s legendary Grand Prix circuit will provide the backdrop for the British Automobile Racing Club’s latest race meeting this weekend (May 28/29/30) which will be headlined by the C1 Racing Club’s annual 24-hour race.

In what is now billed as one of the most highly-anticipated events on the UK national motorsport calendar, the one-make series will see a bumper grid tackle the Home of British Motor Racing in front of a trackside audience and thousands online.

Before the C1’s take centre stage however there will be action from the Caterham Graduates Racing Club, Sports Prototype Cup and Max5 Racing Championship.

The last time the C1 contingent competed at Silverstone – in 2019 – they re-wrote the record books by fielding the biggest grid in UK motorsport history. Boasting a mammoth 99-car grid, the category eclipsed the previous record of 75 cars which was held by the Britcar Endurance Championship.

To top things off the race saw one of the greatest comebacks in recent memory too as McAttack Racing came from the back of the grid to win the entire race. This year will undoubtedly see similar levels of drama as a grid of more than 50 cars get set to tackle the challenging 3.67-mile layout.

Notable team names to look out for during the race include Mellow Yellow Motorsport, JW Bird Motorsport, Preptech UK with CEX, Amigo Motorsport with Gala Performance, Silverlake Racing and SVG Motorsport, amongst many more.

Elsewhere, the weekend is also set to showcase the very best of UK prototype racing, as the inaugural ‘Silverstone Open’ takes place. Featuring the Sports Prototype Cup’s centrepiece category, the Revolution A-One Trophy, the format will see a bumper grid of prototype machines from a variety of categories battle it out across two 30-minute encounters.

Boasting an ultra-competitive entry list for this weekend’s first event of 2021, more than 20 drivers representing manufacturers such as Duqueine, Ligier, Radical, Gunn, MCR, CTR, as well as the Revolution A-One Trophy, will battle for outright honours.

Sir Chris Hoy, Bradley Ellis, Johnny Mowlem, Bonamy Grimes, Steven Lake and Martin Verrity are just a few of the names that will be in contention towards the sharp end of the field.

Coming off the back of two blockbuster events at Oulton Park and Snetterton, the Caterham Graduates Racing Club is back in action and with another capacity entry list.

Renowned for serving up frenetic wheel-to-wheel entertainment, the category has underlined why it has proven to be so popular this year with a host of unmissable races from its Sigmax, Sigma 135 and Sigma 150 classes.

Jamie Ellwood, Jamie Winrow, Harry Senior, Simon Grffiths, David Read and James McCall are just a handful of competitors that have enjoyed strong starts to the season, and each of them will be keen to keep the momentum going.

Capping off the weekend’s schedule at Silverstone will be an appearance from the Max5 Racing Championship, which will run on the back of one of the Caterham grids.

Around the challenging twists and turns of Cadwell last month the Max5 contingent delivered a feast of action which culminated in series stalwart Paul Roddison tallying a brace of victories ahead of Andrew Pretorius.

Roddison and Pretorius are set to renew their on-track battle this weekend and they won’t be the only drivers hoping to be in contention for the spoils on offer. Jeremy Shipley, Lee Hollin and Kimberley Nolan were all in the mix last time out and there should be no reason why they won’t be again.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event at Silverstone, such as entry lists and the timetable, CLICK HERE.

Make sure you don’t miss a single lap of the action by subscribing to the BARC’s official YouTube channel and watching live, CLICK HERE.

Pembrey confirms British Truck Racing Championship event cancellation

Pembrey Circuit regrets to announce that the two race meetings scheduled for June – the British Truck Racing Championship and the Classic Racing Motorcycle Club – have had to be cancelled as a result of the on-going restrictions imposed by the Welsh Government.

The current regulations place a limit of just 50 people on organised outdoor activities, even those that take place on a 200-acre site such as Pembrey Circuit and which have already been designated as Covid-secure.

The circuit has been working closely with the Local Authority to try to understand what is possible, but despite the assistance of Carmarthenshire County Council, it is clear that there is no sign of movement from the Welsh Government at this point. This left no option but to abandon these two meetings in order to provide people as much notice as possible to alter their plans.

The British Truck Racing Championship is set to race at Pembrey later this year on the weekend of October 9/10 and we very much hope that spectators will be able to attend. More information on this, and the remaining events due to be held in 2021, will be communicated in due course.

We share in the frustrations of our customers and supporters, and very much appreciate the inconvenience and disruption that this will cause to existing plans, but we are grateful for everyone’s continued understanding at this challenging time.

Thruxton thanks volunteers with Driving Experience days

Thruxton Circuit has been showing its thanks to dedicated volunteers helping with the COVID Helpline and Vaccination Clinics in the local area by offering a driving experience day for a select few from Unity.

Unity’s loyal and hard-working team of volunteers have worked tirelessly at the Vaccination Clinics in Andover and Romsey, sometimes seven days a week, as well as helping residents with prescriptions, shopping and other essential errands.

The Unity team handpicked four volunteers – Julian Pease, Tim Edmonds, Sally Baker and Steve Langdon – all of whom had gone above and beyond.

Becoming familiar with the fastest circuit in the UK with a race instructor, each volunteer turned their first laps of the Hampshire venue behind the wheel of a Porsche Cayman before then having the option to choose which car to drive next: either the Ford Mustang, Jaguar F-TYPE SVR or a Ferrari 458 Spider.

Following that, the adrenaline rush continued as they each drove a single-seater race car before one lucky volunteer received the ultimate surprise; three high-speed, sideways laps with former F1 driver and Top Gear presenter Tiff Needell in a brand new BMW M4.

Do you know a key worker, volunteer or organisation who has made a difference throughout the pandemic? Thruxton is dedicating a number of spaces on our driving experience days to help say thank you. Get in contact and tell us who and why you think deserves an extra special treat.

BARC highlights show ‘Full Throttle’ set to debut on Freesports

The British Automobile Racing Club can announce that its brand new TV highlights show – Full Throttle – is set to debut this coming Sunday (May 16) on Freesports.

As part of the Club’s live stream partnership with 247.TV, which has already proven to be an overwhelming success, the weekly highlights show will showcase the best of national motorsport on the only free-to-air sports channel in the UK.

Airing the best bits from each race meeting, Episode 1 and 2 will feature the Britcar Endurance Championship’s season-opener at Silverstone from late April whilst Episode 3 will see the all-action Mini 7 Racing Club take centre stage.

Episode 1 – Sunday 16th May – 16:45

Episode 2 – Tuesday 18th May – 17:00

Episode 3 – Sunday 30th May – 17:00

Shows will be repeated following their first transmission date; view TV listings for the full schedule.

Viewers can watch FreeSports on Freeview/BT/TalkTalk channel 64, Sky channel 422 and Virgin Media channel 553.

After each episode is aired, viewers will be able to watch the action on the BARC’s YouTube channel whenever they like at the click the button. To subscribe to the Club’s YouTube channel, CLICK HERE.