Author: Chris Ashby

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 ÂŁ22 for a Saturday ticket or ÂŁ35 for a Sunday ticket – with weekend options available from ÂŁ48.

Hillclimb fans can head to Harewood with tickets starting from ÂŁ12.50 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 ÂŁ50 + VAT (normally ÂŁ200 + 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

BARC Championships head home this weekend

This weekend, several British Automobile Racing Club championships and series’ will arrive at Thruxton – the fastest racing circuit in the UK and home to BARC. Andover will reverberate to the sound of several different series on Saturday and Sunday (3-4 May).

Race goers and online fans will experience wall to wall racing throughout the weekend with sports car and saloon car action across the two-days in the ‘Tops Down’ event at the Hampshire venue .

As well as the entertainment at Thruxton, the British Hillclimb Championship heads to Craigantlet in Northern Ireland for rounds three and four of the hotly contested title. The Craigantlet round can also be considered one of the homes of the BHC, as the just Belfast-based leg has been on the calendar since the championship inception in 1947.

When is the next BARC weekend?
The next events will be this weekend – 3-4 May

Where are the events being held?
Thruxton Circuit
Address: Thruxton Circuit, Andover SP11 8PN

Craigantlet Hillclimb
Address: Belmont Road, Belfast, BT4 2NH

What is racing this weekend?
At Thruxton, we have the Track Action Racing Club, moobob Caterham Academy, Bilstein Roadsport Championship, Junior Saloon Car Championship, Vertex Caterham Seven 310R and EDGE Caterham Seven 270R Championship as well as the OT Publishing Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires joining the action on Sunday. Supporting the BARC series of races will be the 116 Sprint and 120 Coupe Cup as well as the Gaz Shocks 116 Trophy at the end of the weekend.

In Northern Ireland we have the top drivers from the British Hillclimb Championship in action on Saturday 3rd May.

How can I watch?

Come and watch the action from the Tops Down event at Thruxton. Tickets are from ÂŁ17 with kids under 15 going free. Got a convertible? Enjoy VIP parking and an opportunity to take a parade lap around the infamous circuit as well!

Purchase your tickets from the Thruxton website here: https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/tops-down#tickets

The Thruxton BARC race weekend will also be broadcast live and for free on our YouTube channel. The uninterrupted coverage will feature all the on track drama with commentary, analysis and features throughout each day with coverage starting just ahead of the first race on Saturday at 12:25 and 10:25 on Sunday.

The Craigantlet event is free to attend for spectators. Sadly there will be no LIVE stream from this event.

What time are things happening on track?

Track action at Thruxton begins at 09:00 on Saturday and 10:15 on Sunday. Qualifying heads the order in the morning and just after 12:20 Saturday and 10:40 on Sunday, we go green with the first races of the day.

Do you have any more information?

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

Live Timing and Commentary: www.tsl-timing.com/event/251821
Timetable*: www.barc.net/event/barc-race-meeting-thruxton-may-3-4/
Tickets: www.thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/tops-down#tickets
Live Streams: www.youtube.com/@britishautomobileracingclub

* Subject to adjustments prior and during the race meeting

Enjoy the racing. We hope you enjoy the Bank Holiday racing action!

Czech Mate – the Skoda making moves

The British Automobile Racing Club season is well underway with the majority of championships having launched their season with at least the first round under the belt. The racing variety is obvious and clear to see and what we love is poking around the paddock to take a look at some of the more different projects and cars taking to the grid. On the first meeting at Brands Hatch on Sunday morning we spotted a fresh-looking Skoda in a racey livery – we just had to go and take a look!

The car in question is the Skoda Octavia raced and owned by Paul Roddison who is competing in Track Action this season. The large, roomy Czech saloon is a completely unusual, yet welcome sight in the championship – with the car making its competitive debut just a few weeks ago on Easter Sunday.

The paint was almost wet to the touch as the car was just about ready for the new season, with Paul now picking up the story .

“It was finished a couple of weeks before the start of the season at Brands Hatch,” said a relieved Roddison. “We made some adjustments to the back suspension as late as Friday morning before the first race on Sunday but we got it there. We started to build the car 12 months ago. Because there aren’t many Skodas out racing in the world, a lot of things took longer to make or took longer to find. Things like the polycarbonate windows – you couldn’t buy off the shelf so we had to send all the original glass away to get a template mate for the new windows. It’s the same with the brakes. We thought VW Scirocco ones would fit but they didn’t so that was another six weeks to have them made – everything has been a learning curve but we were delighted to get it racing.”

Running new cars is never easy – but Roddison and his team have plenty of experience in national racing and uphill challenges!

“I raced Mazdas for a long long time. Prior to that I raced go karts as a young lad. I was racing in the Mazda but after COVID they never came back in the same way and in terms of being the first – I built the first MK3 MX5 that raced in the UK and built the first MK4 MX5 that raced in the UK. I came to Track Action with the Mazda and found it could do well in qualifying but struggled in the races – so I bought a VW Scirocco and did well with that. I have driven front, rear – you name it. If it has steering wheels and pedals I will give it a go!”

But why a Skoda of all cars? To some, perhaps even the younger generation know the Fabia model as a hot-hatch and rallying icon – but the larger Octavia is better known to the older generation


“The last few years I have raced with Track Action, I have been trying to get to and race at the front. I love winding up and taking the mickey out of the young guys. I am 60-years-old and tell them, ‘when you go home, tell your friends – you got beaten by an old bloke with grey hair.’ Then at the end of last year when we wanted a new project – we wanted the wind-up to continue further. Now it’s ‘how do you feel being beaten by an old bloke with grey hair in a Skoda!’
“That’s how the car came about – as a bit of fun but the love for this car online and at Brands has been amazing. I have never seen so much interest in a race car. Anyone from five years of age to 85 came along to take pictures and ask questions. I even had guys walking up to me showing me their Skoda car keys telling me they have one – the passion for the brand is clear to see!”

Turning heads in the paddock wasn’t the only thing Paul and the Skoda did on its opening weekend. The grey missile rocketed to the top of the timesheets on several occasions in qualifying but had to settle for second behind the Honda Integra of Adam Shepherd. In the race – despite a small excursion and fuel pump woes, fourth place was a strong start to 2025. But Paul has eyes on the Hampshire speed bowl up next


“Brands was a good first weekend – We were quite surprised with how well it went and to be so quick out the box is pleasing. Brands was never going to be its favourite due to it being a little bigger than the more nimble cars. I am looking forward to Thruxton with the long wheelbase and slippery shape through. Church corner is something I am looking forward to!

The next round of the Track Action series is this weekend at Thruxton (3-4 May) and you can watch all the action LIVE on the BARC YouTube channel.

BTCC stages spectacular 2025 season-opener Donington Park

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship blasted back into life in spectacular style this past weekend (April 26/27) as four-time champion Ash Sutton and the experienced Tom Chilton made a winning start to the 2025 season.

Taking centre stage at the Leicestershire venue in front of a packed crowd, the UK’s premier motor racing series delivered three blockbuster contests to kick-start what promises to be another vintage year of tin top action.

After narrowly missing out on clinching pole position to his team-mate Dan Cammish on Saturday, NAPA Racing UK’s Sutton was wheel-perfect in races one and two as he claimed successive lights-to-flag wins ahead of his long-time rival Tom Ingram.

Bidding to become the first driver in BTCC history to win the title five times, Sutton didn’t have things his own way in either contest however as he was forced to provide a resolute defence as Ingram applied pressure throughout.

The pace of the NAPA Ford Focus ST was further bolstered as both Dan Rowbottom and Cammish snared silverware as they claimed a third-place finish apiece in the aforementioned opening two bouts.

Race three – the reverse grid contest – saw Team VERTU’s Chilton drawn onto pole position and with the soft tyre at this disposal, he showcased all of his experience as he streaked clear to claim a deserved victory.

While Chilton romped to a 17th career triumph, the battle for the remaining podium positions had everyone on the edge of their seats as Ingram and Sutton renewed their tussle on-track – although this time it was Ingram that held on to complete a hat-trick of second place finishes.

Leaving Donington Park, Sutton holds an early advantage in the Drivers’ Championship over Ingram while just one point separates EXCELR8/Hyundai and Alliance/Ford in the Manufacturers’ Championship.

There is nothing to separate Team VERTU and NAPA Racing UK in the Teams’ standings whilst Chris Smiley and Power Maxed Racing are the early pace-setters in the Independent rankings. Over in the Jack Sears Trophy, Ronan Pearson leads the way after three races.

It wasn’t just the BTCC that put on a show under the flight path of East Midlands airport either as the support championship that feature on the TOCA bill also kick-started their campaigns.

The single-seater stars of the future that make up the Wera Tools F4 British Championship, certified by FIA delivered a trio of captivating contests that resulted in three different winners from three races.

Argenti Motorsport’s August Raber was the first to strike as he reigned supreme in race one before Chase Fernandez won a shortened reverse grid bout. Rodin Motorsport’s James Piszcyk then came to the fore in the feature race as he won after the top two were hit with time penalties for exceeding track limits late on.

NAPA Racing UK’s Jamie Osborne was perfection personified in the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE JCW as he clinched a clean sweep of race wins. Despite missing out on pole position in qualifying, Osborne was unstoppable in race one as he charged to victory in commanding fashion.

Race two was arguably even more impressive as, starting ninth, he scythed his way to the front of the field to triumph by more than four seconds. Osborne capped off his weekend with another brilliant display in race three as he pipped Tom Ovenden to the chequered flag.

The Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain made a flying start to the new season with Will Martin and Andrew Rackstraw walking away with a share of the spoils that were on offer.

Tipped by many as one of the favourites for the title in the off-season, Martin produced an exemplary drive in race one as he held off Sid Smith to triumph – with Angus Whiteside completing the podium in third.

Race two saw Rackstraw then convert his pole position start into an impressive lights-to-flag victory as he headed Century Motorsport’s Whiteside and Porsche Junior Driver James Wallis.

Rounding out the weekend’s action were three races from the Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain which saw Toby Trice stake his claim as one to watch in the battle for supremacy as he chalked up a brace of wins.

Had it not been for some misfortune in the opening encounter Trice could well have scored a hat-trick of wins. Instead, the spoils of the opening bout went the way of Toro Verde GT’s Tom Bradshaw.

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