Author: Chris Ashby

TOCA support package readies itself for Thruxton return

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.

Cadwell Park primed for bank holiday bonanza

Cadwell Park provides the latest stop on the calendar for the Classic Touring Car Racing Club on August 30 and if the season so far is anything to go by, those in attendance are set for a Bank Holiday Monday that will live long in the memory.

Showcasing the very best tin top and saloon cars that once took centre stage in the British Touring Car Championship, the CTCRC is the place to be if you want to take a spirited trip down memory lane.

Promoting affordable racing over countless decades, the racing on offer is divided by year of manufacture which reflects the relevant period. Within those championships, classes are formed depending on engine size.

Having reached the business end of the 2021 season now, every point is set to be crucial between now and the end of the year in the battle for title supremacy.

In the Poultec Pre ’66 Touring Cars, James Ibbotson has enjoyed a fine run of form to top the points however he has the likes of Alan Greenhalgh, Barry Sime, Patrick Harris and a host of others that are all keen to ascend the standings, both in their classes and overall.

Things are tight in the Shell Oils Pre ’83 Championship with a number of drivers in the hunt of the top prize. Mike Luck currently holds the advantage although Anton Martin, Mark Lucock, Simon Jeffs and David Howard are well within striking distance.

Ian Bower and Andrew Sheraton are split by just two points in the Laser Tools Pre ’93 Touring Cars whilst the Simply Serviced Pre ’03 Touring Cars has Gary Prebble in a commanding position atop the standings.

Throw into the mix action from both the Burton Power Blue Oval Saloon Series and Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder Championship, as well as the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club, and you begin to realise why edge-of-the-seat entertainment is all-but guaranteed.

The aforementioned names are just a handful of drivers that will be looking to make their mark at Cadwell Park, however the list is much greater and continues to grow as each race passes.

With the twists and turns of Cadwell Park’s much-loved layout set to spice up proceedings in the championship, all bets are off when it comes to picking a winner in the Classic Touring Car Racing Club.

To find out more information on this event at Cadwell Park, including links to live timing and the event timetable, CLICK HERE.

BTCC speeds back to Thruxton for second time this season

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship speeds back to Thruxton this weekend (August 28/29) for the latest chapter of what has already been a memorable season.

The super-fast Hampshire venue lifted the curtain on the 2021 campaign, albeit behind closed doors, back in May and since then the usual twists and turns the BTCC has become known for have had fans on the edge of their seats.

With lockdown restrictions having eased, this weekend will mark the first time in two years that spectators will be in attendance to watch the UK’s premier motor sport series do battle around the fastest circuit in the country, and a bumper crowd is expected to fill the grass bankings and grandstands.

Kicking off the second half of the season, reigning champion Ashley Sutton heads into the weekend as the man to beat – sitting atop the standings holding a 14-point advantage.

The Laser Tools Racing driver has been in superlative form this year and he already has three wins to his name, one of which came at Thruxton. Looking to extend his lead, the double champion will need to be at his best as a long list of contenders are hot on his heels.

Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com Tom Ingram leads the chase ahead of multiple champions Colin Turkington and Gordon Shedden – both of whom have began to hit their stride in recent rounds.

Next on the leaderboard are two drivers that will be eager to replicate their performances from May. Jake Hill piloted his Ford Focus to the podium in all three races whilst BTC Racing’s Josh Cook bagged a brace of race wins. If they can get close to that again it will be game on for their own title aspirations.

Beyond the top six, fellow Honda drivers Senna Proctor and Daniel Rowbottom, as well as Stephen Jelley, Aiden Moffat, Adam Morgan, Rory Butcher, Jason Plato and Jack Goff will all be worth keeping an eye on across Sunday’s trio of races.

Qualifying for the sixth event of the BTCC season will be streamed live on itv.com/btcc from 14:35 on Saturday before Sunday’s race day coverage kicks off at 11:10 on ITV4.

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.

Classic 2CV Racing Club set for spectacular 24-hour race showdown at Snetterton

Snetterton is the destination for the British Automobile Racing Club this weekend (August 27/28/29) as the Classic 2CV Racing Club takes centre stage for its annual Citroen 24-hour race.

Billed as one of the biggest events on the national motorsport calendar each year, the coveted race is renowned for producing blockbuster entertainment and the 31st running should be no different around the challenging Norfolk venue.

Marking the penultimate round of the 2021 season, this weekend is set to be crucial in deciding who will be crowned champion this year too.

Former champion Pete Sparrow finds himself in the box seat as it stands having been perfection personified so far. Winning every race he has started, the series veteran is eager to reclaim the title he lost last year but he will need to be on top of his game if he is to wrap things up with one event to spare.

Leading the chase for Sparrow is Sandro Proietti, Kris Tovey and Luca Proietti – all of whom are covered by just five points. Throw into the mix the likes of Nick Crispin, David O’Keeffe, Matthew Hollis, Martin Roman, Aubrey Brocklebank and Marc Grasby and you begin to see that ultra-competitive right the way through the field.

With a number of competitors from mainland Europe set to make the journey to race as well, the battle for supremacy is set to be wide open this year.

Replacing Liqui Moly as title sponsors of the coveted season finale, Citroen’s presence at the event will see it stretch to a ‘Citroen Classics Gathering’ that will take place on the infield of the circuit.

Before the Classic 2CV Racing Club, the Max5 Racing Championship will be in action with two races. Paul Roddison has once again established himself as the driver to beat and he is hard to bet against from continuing his fine run of form.

Jeremy Shipley, Ben Taylor, Kimberley Nolan and Jon Halliwell have all been at the sharp end of the grid and any one of them could take the fight to Roddison.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action will be wheel-to-wheel thrills ’n’ spills from the Snetterton Saloons.

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

Silverstone serves up BARC thriller in ever-changing conditions

The British Automobile Racing Club battled the elements to produce two days of scintillating action at Silverstone this past weekend (August 21/22).

With the battle for supremacy reaching a critical point in the season, this latest visit to the Home of British Motor Racing proved to be crucial in deciding who would end the year as champion.

The Britcar Endurance Championship’s Trophy Class saw a dominant showing from Woodrow Motorsport as the duo of Simon Baker and Kevin Clarke charged to a commanding pair victories.

It proved to be a big weekend in the Junior Saloon Car Championship as the single-make series not only fielded a 30-car grid, but also staged three races for the first time this season.

Entering the event as the driver to beat, Charlie Hand took a big step towards being crowned champion as he powered his striking orange Citroen Saxo to a clean sweep of race wins – extending his advantage in the standings at the same time.

Spoils were shared in the Kumho BMW Championship as Michael Vitulli and James Card scored a win apiece. Vitulli powered his way to an emphatic win in the opener to take the chequered flag by nearly 15 seconds before Card faced a sterner test in race two, winning by a little over three seconds.

The Carbon8 Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires broke new ground by hosting a longer 45-minute race and it proved to be a smash-hit. Boasting a bumper entry list, just five second separated the top three come the end of the race with Mark Jones emerging victorious.

Steve McDermid was perfection personified in the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship. At the wheel of his MG ZR, McDermid didn’t put a wheel wrong as he held off William Sharpe to take the chequered flag on both occasions.

Alongside the BARC billing of championships, those in attendance also saw the Avon Tyres Intermarque Silhouettes, CMMC Super Saloons & Tin Tops and the British Superkart Racing Club Super Series.

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

Action all the way as BARC championships star at Convoy in the Park

Donington Park provided the backdrop for a spectacular two days of track action this past weekend (August 21/22) as the British Automobile Racing Club took centre stage at Convoy of the Park.

Making a triumphant return after a pandemic-enforced hiatus last year, the festival of all things trucking was back and better than ever, with a bumper trackside crowd soaking up the variety of attractions situated around the Leicestershire venue.

Whilst the likes of a stunt arena and a glittering array of Show Trucks garnered plenty of attention away from the track, on it saw non-stop edge-of-the-seat entertainment in mixed weather conditions.

The British Truck Racing Championship served up five blockbuster contests and there was to be action aplenty across both Division’s 1 & 2. In Division 1, former champion David Jenkins ignited his title charge with a strong showing as he scored a brace of wins, as did Martin Gibson, whilst John Newell was the other winner.

In Division 2, Michael Oliver enjoyed a weekend to remember as he marked his return to the series with a hat-trick of wins. Jock Borthwick and Craig Reid also tasted success as they topped the podium in the remaining two bouts.

Miles Rudman staked his claim to being the driver of the weekend as he produced a sensational performance in the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres.

Looking to extend his advantage at the summit of the standings, the former champion scored five wins from six races to put himself in the box seat to regain his crown. Jack Parker prevented Rudman from a clean sweep as he claimed the remaining win.

Spoils were shared in the Pickup Truck Racing Championship as Paul Tompkins charged to victory in the opening encounter before former BTCC race-winner Matt Simpson scored his maiden win the series.

Elsewhere, Paul Rose was at his brilliant best in the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship as he netted an impressive brace. At the wheel of his Saker RAPX S1-500, the past champion dominated proceedings to add to his silverware collection.

Big grids were the order of the weekend when it came to the Caterham Graduates Championship, with all classes boasting bumper numbers. In the Sigma 135 category, David Read and Ben Buckley snagged a win apiece whilst Stephen Clark and Harry Senior did the same in the amalgamated Sigmax / Sigma 150 races.

Rounding out the weekend’s action under the flight path of East Midlands airport was a scheduled three-hour race from the Silverlake C1 Racing Series. Whilst the contest finished 30 minutes early, the competition was as fraught as ever – with the CSC Racing duo of Patrick Scharfegger and Simon Kilham triumphing.

To view the full classifications of results from all sessions, CLICK HERE.

Where to watch BARC LIVE at Donington Park this weekend

Donington Park is the destination for the British Automobile Racing Club this weekend (August 21/22) for one of the biggest events of the summer, Convoy in the Park.

In front of what is expected to be a bumper crowd, the on-track action is just one part of the two-day meeting, which will also encompass Show Trucks, a fun fair, trade village and much more.

Viewers will be able to see the British Truck Racing Championship, Caterham Graduates Championship, CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, Silverlake C1 Racing Series and the Pickup Truck Racing Championship all take centre stage under the flight path of East Midlands airport.

Coverage across both days will also include some of the eye-catching attractions that make up the Convoy in the Park spectacle too.

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 13:10 – Facebook | YouTube 

Sunday Race Show – Starting from 09:20 – Facebook | YouTube 

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

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

Where to watch BARC LIVE at Silverstone this weekend

The British Automobile Racing Club returns to the Home of British Motor Racing this weekend (August 21/22) with no less than nine championships taking centre stage at Silverstone – and our cameras will be there to broadcast it all live on YouTube.

With the second half of the 2021 season now in full swing, every point up for grabs across each action-packed day is set to be crucial in deciding who will finish the year crowned champion.

Viewers will be able to see the likes of the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Kumho BMW Championship, Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship, Carbon8 Coupe Cup and the Trophy class of the Britcar Endurance Championship in action.

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 11:20 | YouTube

Sunday Race Show – Starting from 09:20 | YouTube

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

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

Silverstone revved up for BARC bonanza

Silverstone is preparing for a British Automobile Racing Club bonanza this weekend (August 21/22) as a number of championships continue their 2021 campaigns around the Home of British Motor Racing.

Taking centre stage on the National layout of the Northamptonshire venue, the battle for supremacy will undoubtedly have those in attendance on the edge of their seats as those competing head into the business end of the season.

One of the headline acts over the course of the weekend will be the Britcar Endurance Championship. Whilst the Endurance class won’t be in action, the Trophy contingent will and they have a pair of 50-minute contests on Saturday to work through.

In what has been another memorable year for the series, every point is set to be crucial in the chase for championship glory. Front-running contenders Simon Baker, Kevin Clarke, Richard Higgins, Steve Thompson and Aaron Thompson will all be worth keeping an eye on.

The Junior Saloon Car Championship reaches a pivotal point in its season with three races scheduled to play out. Kicking off the first of two consecutive triple-headers – the second of which comes at Pembrey in October – the next six races will be crucial in deciding who enters the final few events of the season in credible contention to be crowned champion.

Charlie Hand finds himself in the box seat as it stands however he will be keen to extend his 26-point lead as the likes of Harvey Caton, Ruben Hage and Alfie Jeakins will be giving it everything they have to make in-roads.

It’s been an ultra-competitive season for the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship with David Amphlett, Anthony Bate, Mark Baker and Steve McDermid starring as the respective class leaders.

All four of them will be eager to strengthen their position at the summit of the standings however they won’t have things all their own way, with several rapid drivers setting their sights on the top step of the podium.

Multi-class thrills ’n’ spills will be served up in the shape of the Kumho BMW Championship at Silverstone too, as the single-manufacturer series hits the track for he latest chapter of its season.

Elsewhere, Alex Cursley will be looking to continue his rich vein of form in the Carbon8 Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires – which once again boasts a bumper entry list of 33 drivers and 27 cars for Sunday’s qualifying session and 45-minute endurance race.

Rounding off the weekend’s busy program of track action will be races from the British Superkarts Championship, Avon Tyres Intermarques Championship, Biddenden Motor Racing Super Saloons and CMMCS Tin Tops.

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

Convoy in the Park gears up for return at Donington Park with unmissable race schedule

Donington Park will rumble to the sounds of horsepower this weekend (August 21/22) as the British Automobile Racing Club speeds into Leicestershire for a titanic two days of track action.

After being postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, Convoy in the Park makes a triumphant return. Showcasing more than 1000 Show Trucks, driving experiences, stunt arena, trade village and much more, the two-day event is a festival of all things trucking that is fun for all the family.

Whilst there is set to be plenty to see off-track over the course of the weekend, on it will see a number of championships continue their 2021 campaigns.

Heavyweight thrills ’n’ spills will be provided by the British Truck Racing Championship, with bumper entry lists in Division’s 1 & 2 confirmed for its five scheduled contests.

Reigning champion Ryan Smith is in the box seat of Division 1 as it stands after making a lightening start and he will be hard to beat once again. In Division 2, just a couple of points separate Craig Evans and Steven Powell heading into the weekend.

Miles Rudman occupies top spot in the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres standings and the former champion looks in good form as he seeks to retain the title he lost last year.

With no less than six races set to play out under the flight path of East Midlands airport during the weekend, Rudman will need to be at his best as the likes of John Mickel, Jack Parker and Sean Smith, amongst many more, will all be hot on his heels.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship has been home to a number of edge-of-the-seat moments this year and more are expected to come, whilst there have also been plenty of entertaining battles in the Caterham Graduates Championship.

Notable names to look out for during the weekend amongst the Caterham contingent include Harry Senior, Ben Winrow, Jamie Ellwood, James McCall and several more.

Saturday afternoon will see the Silverlake C1 Racing Series take centre stage as they hold what should be an enthralling 180-minute endurance race around Donington’s flowing curves. 

Rounding off the weekend will be a regular appearance from the BARC North West Centre’s flagship series, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship. Renowned for producing close-quarter racing, the multi-class series isn’t to be missed.

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

Colin Turkington, Ashley Sutton and Tom Ingram share BTCC wins at Knockhill

Colin Turkington, Ashley Sutton and Tom Ingram scored a win apiece at Knockhill as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship took centre stage in front of a bumper crowd at the Scottish venue this past weekend (August 14/15).

On what proved to be a critical fifth event of the season, three of the most experienced drivers on the grid came to the fore to triumph, with Sutton extending his lead in the battle for the biggest prize in UK motorsport.

As predicted, qualifying proved to be an ultra-competitive affair around the undulating 1.27-mile circuit with less than a second covering 26 of the 29-car grid. Having endured a barren couple of events, Team BMW’s Turkington delivered when he needed it the most.

Hustling his BMW 330i M Sport to the top of the times, the Northern Irishman netted his second pole position of the season by little over a tenth of a second ahead of BTC Racing’s Senna Proctor and countryman Chris Smiley.

Turkington cruised to a commanding lights-to-flag victory in the opening contest around the Fife track, taking a historic 100th BTCC win for West Surrey Racing in the process.

Blasting away from the front row, the four-time champion duly pulled clear of the chasing pack before a safety car halted his charge. When the action resumed, nobody could stop the rear-wheel-drive ace from stretching his legs on his way to the chequered flag.

Behind, Proctor and team-mate Josh Cook rounded out the podium, the latter having got the better of Smiley after a hard-fought battle in the closing stages.

Reigning champion Sutton secured a famous victory to extend his championship lead in race two after passing Turkington on the last lap. Ladened with 75kgs of success ballast, Turkington led 26 of the 27 laps before making a small mistake during the final tour.

Piling on the pressure throughout the bout, Sutton’s constant presence in Turkington’s mirrors paid off when the BMW ace took too much kerb through the chicane which forced him wide and allowed the Infiniti to drive past and clinch his third win of the 2021 campaign.

MB Motorsport’s Jake Hill completed the podium after passing the BTC Racing duo of Cook and Proctor during what was a fraught race.

Steadily chipping away throughout Sunday, Ginsters with TradePriceCars.com’s Ingram came to the fore in race three as he scored a crucial victory to remain within striking distance of Sutton in the fight for the championship.

Charging from fourth to the front following a string of sensational overtakes, the Hyundai pilot was never challenged once in first and powered his way to a commanding win.

Behind, Proctor capped off a memorable day with his second podium whilst Stephen Jelley ensured there was more silverware for BMW in third place.

Leaving Knockhill, Sutton has extended his lead at the top of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship to 14 points ahead of Ingram. He has also stretched his advantage in the BTCC Independent Drivers’ table too.

Laser Tools Racing continue to have a stranglehold on both the BTCC Teams’ and BTCC Independent Teams’ categories whilst BMW have cemented their status at the helm of the Manufacturer/Constructors’ leaderboard. Daniel Rowbottom remans out front in the Jack Sears Trophy.

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

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship now heads back to the fastest circuit in the UK, Thruxton, for Rounds 16, 17 & 18 of the 2021 season on August 28/29.

Tickets are available to purchase online from https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc-august at discounted prices.

MINI CHALLENGE UK extends TOCA support package deal until end of 2026

The Quaife MINI CHALLENGE will continue to feature on the support package of the British Touring Car Championship until the end of 2026 after signing a new five-year agreement.

Renowned for producing blockbuster wheel-to-wheel entertainment, this new deal cements the one-make series as one of the leading categories in the UK.

As has been the case across the last two seasons, the JCW class will race solely on the TOCA package, although the calendar for 2022 has yet to be confirmed. The remaining dates will be taken up by the Quaife MINI CHALLENGE Trophy,

Antony Williams, MINI CHALLENGE Promoter, said: “When we announced that we had secured a slot on the prestigious and high profile TOCA package back in 2019, I was incredibly proud of how the MINI CHALLENGE had come of age, and was just as proud of my team, our partners and our drivers for helping us to achieve our aim. 

“To have been able to sufficiently impress the TOCA team despite the difficult times we have all faced, and now be in a position where we can announce that we will be supporting the BTCC – with its incredible ITV coverage – for another full five years, is even more satisfying. 

“This news enables us, our drivers and our teams to plan for the future, knowing the investment we all make can be rewarded for the longer term.

“Finally, I would like to thank Alan Gow and his team for the faith they have in us, and the support and guidance they have provided.”

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, added: “Since joining the BTCC support package, MINI CHALLENGE has provided our trackside spectators and TV audiences with some great and very entertaining racing.

“As well, the management team behind MINI CHALLENGE are incredibly efficient, committed and enthusiastic, so it was a very easy decision for me to reward their efforts by extending their current agreement through to the end of 2026.”