Author: Chris Ashby

Thruxton Retro leads the bustling BARC weekend

This weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the summer for the British Automobile Racing Club, with not one, not two, but three major events in the south and north of England, as well as Scotland.

It’s a seventies inspired throwback at the Thruxton Retro event in Hampshire. Superfunk takes over Thruxton with on track historic racing galore, F1 demos and so much to see and do off track for race goers of all ages!

Meanwhile its the best of British with the British Hillclimb championship making its trip to Doune for the high-speed and ultra-narrow course, while its a Party in the Park in Cheshire as the Kwik Fit British Touring Championship hits its biggest weekend of the year.

When is the next BARC weekend?
The next events will be this weekend – 21-22 June

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

Doune Hillclimb
Address: Doune Hillclimb. Buchany, Doune, FK16 6HG

Oulton Park
Address: Little Budworth, Tarporley, CW6 9BW

What is racing this weekend?
At Thruxton we go retro with an incredible line-up of cars. Exciting single-seaters in the form of the Jochen Rindt Trophy, Heroes of FF1600 and Formula Junior are weaved in with mouthwatering sports cars from the Ferrari Club Classic Series, GT and Sports Car Cup with AC Cobras, Austin Healeys Jaguar E Types and the like. Not forgetting the tin-top action from the MG Owners Club, Mighty Minis and Class K and Hawthorn Jaguar Challenge.

The fastest accelerating single-seaters in the country head to Doune in Scotland for the first of two visits this season. Two runoffs will count towards the championship which is led by reigning champ Matt Ryder. He will be chased hard by Will Hall, Trevor Willis and Wallace Menzies who will want to take the two wins on his home event.

Oulton Park is always a popular round for the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship and along with the Porsche Sprint Challenge, Wera Tools F4 British Championship and Vertu MINI Challenge – the bumper crowd will be treated to wall-to-wall close, enthralling racing.

How can I watch in person?

The place you need to be is the race track! Tickets are available for both days online www.thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/thruxton-retro or on the gate. Tickets are from ÂŁ35 for a day or ÂŁ60 for a weekend with children under 15 going free.

Doune welcomes spectators and you can turn up on the day to pay (cash only) and tickets are from ÂŁ7 for adults.

At Oulton Park tickets are ÂŁ25 for qualifying, ÂŁ40 for race day or ÂŁ60 for a weekend adult ticket – with discounts available for those who book online via the Oulton Park website.

How can I watch at home?

There is so much going on you can get your motorsport fix from the comfort of your own home too.

Thruxton Retro

247.tv the team behind the BARC broadcasts are looking after the coverage of Thruxton Retro this weekend and you can watch both days for ÂŁ19.99 or a single day for ÂŁ12.99. Stream passes can be purchased from https://www.247.tv/live/BARC

British Hillclimb Championship

Courtesy of Hillclimb.tv you can watch the awe inspiring runs from the British Hillclimb top category and supporting classes right here – https://www.youtube.com/live/K_Flo7G3_-E?si=4gbDNQMf9JtpTT7s

BTCC at Oulton Park

The TOCA Thruxton 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 11:35.

Thruxton Retro goes around the world

This weekend’s Thruxton Retro is one of the highlights of the historic motor racing calendar. On the bill for the ‘Superfunk’ weekend includes the Jochen Rindt Trophy Race for single-seater race cars from the sixties, seventies and eighties, classic Mini racing, Ferrari Club Classic Series, Formula Junior, FF1600, F1 Demos and so much more.

Those fans eager to soak up the seventies inspired meeting, but perhaps can’t get to Thruxton in Hampshire – you can join us from your own home wherever you are in the world.

Our BARC live broadcast partners 247.TV have organised a LIVE Stream service which can be purchased by the day or for the weekend. Day passes will be ÂŁ12.99 for a single day or ÂŁ19.99 for the full weekend coverage. This can be purchased directly through their website www.247.tv/live/BARC.

If you want to get trackside and rewind the clock in person – tickets can be purchased at www.thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/thruxton-retro. As well as the exciting on track action – fans can enjoy a nostalgic nod to the 70s with great music, attractions, displays and plenty of great food and drink options as well as on-site camping for those looking to stay over and join the summer solstice party.

Outfits are optional, the fashion is questionable – but the fun is guaranteed!

BARC entertains the masses on full-throttle weekend at Croft

The British Automobile Racing Club took centre stage at Croft Circuit this past weekend (June 14/15) for two action-packed days of full-throttle entertainment, headlined by the TCR UK Championship.

Making the first of two Club visits in three weeks to the North Yorkshire venue, an enthusiastic crowd flocked through the gates to witness an abundance of thrills and spills from a host of different categories.

Topping the bill was the TCR UK Championship and it was a meeting that arguably belonged to title contender Adam Shepherd in his Cupra Leon VZ TCR machine, for both the right and the wrong reasons.

From the moment he hit the track, Shepherd was the driver to beat and he duly romped to pole position in qualifying before then converting his front row start into a flawless lights-to-flag victory in race one.

Shepherd also took the chequered flag first in the reverse grid second race however he would be excluded post-race after being deemed to be at fault for contact with Steve Laidlaw at Tower Bend. His exclusion thus promoted Callum Newsham up to top spot.

Not to be deterred, Shepherd bounced back in style in the final contest of the weekend as he came out on top of a chaotic finale to triumph for a second time and with it, strengthen his challenge for the coveted crown.

Over in the Milltek Civic Cup, which is a touted as a one-make feeder series to TCR UK, Liam McGill and Alistair Camp walked away from Croft with a share of the spoils.

McGill struck first as he translated pole position into a peerless victory in race one however Camp was quick to strike back in race two as he guided his Honda Civic Type R to the chequered flag, albeit just seven tenths of a second ahead of Josh Bromley.

Race one victor McGill had to settle for third as Camp triumphed although it wasn’t long before he was back on the top step of the podium as he dominated proceedings in race three, beating Jake Hewlett and Camp by more than five seconds.

Elsewhere, the P4 Emergency Lighting Caterham Graduates Championship wrote the latest chapter in its 2025 campaign as both the Sigma 135 Class and Sigma 150 Class staged three races apiece.

Despite both grids being stacked with race-winning drivers, both categories saw clean sweeps recorded as David Rooke charged to a hat-trick of race wins in the Sigma 135 ranks while reigning Sigma 150 champion Jamie Ellwood also tallied three wins out of three.

There were more twists and turns in the Junior Saloon Car Championship as Oliver Kerr threw his name into the ring as a title contender as the talented teenager claimed an impressive brace of race wins.

Having scored his first win of the season last time out at Silverstone, Kerr continued his rich vein of form of Croft as he snared pole position in an ultra-competitive qualifying session before being the star of the show in races one and two.

Kerr’s dominance came to an end in a captivating third and final encounter as championship leader Wilf Butler reminded everyone why he remains the driver to beat by charging to a commanding victory, with rivals Josh Selvadorai and Kerr finishing in his wheel tracks.

Rounding out the weekend’s action at the BARC-operated venue were two races from the Track Action Racing Club, which boasted another ultra-competitive grid of eclectic cars that went wheel-to-wheel.

Despite the diverse range of drivers and machines, three names ultimately stood head and shoulders above the rest; Shaun Goverd in his Citroen AX, Paul Roddison in his Skoda Octavia and Shaun Deacon in his Peugeot 106.

Goverd proved to be the cream of the crop as he produced a flawless performance as he first powered his AX to pole position before then getting the better of Roddison and Deacon in both races to triumph twice.

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

You can also watch all of the action back via the BARC’s official YouTube channel, HERE.

BARC heads north to Croft this weekend

This weekend, several British Automobile Racing Club championships and series will travel north. Last weekend, the BARC spiritual home in the south – Thruxton hosted the action and this weekend our northern outpost Croft in Yorkshire welcomes the BARC family for a blockbuster schedule on Saturday and Sunday.

Race goers and online fans will experience wall to wall racing throughout the weekend with saloon car and sports car action across the two-days on one of the most thrilling, rewarding circuits to drive in British motorsport.

When is the next BARC weekend?
The next events will be this weekend – 14-15 June

Where are the events being held?
Croft Circuit
Address: West Lane, Dalton-on-Tees, Darlington, DL2 2PL

What is racing this weekend?
At Croft we have a wide range of racing action waiting to be unleashed. The TCR UK series headlines the order with three races, while the Milltek Civic Cup, Track Action Racing Club, Junior Saloon Car Championship and P4 Emergency Lighting Caterham Grads RC – Sigma 135 and 150 grids will bolster the on track action.

How can I watch?

Come and watch the BARC action at Croft. Tickets are from ÂŁ17 with kids under 15 going free. Tickets can be purchased right here – https://croftcircuit.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/barc-tcr

The Croft 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 13:45 and 11:45 on Sunday.

What time are things happening on track?

The on track action at Croft begins at 09:30 on Saturday and 12:00 on Sunday. Qualifying heads the order in the morning on Saturday and just after 14:00 Saturday and 12:00 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: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/252424
Timetable*: https://www.barc.net/event/barc-race-meeting-croft-june-14-15/
Tickets: https://croftcircuit.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/barc-tcr
Live Streams: www.youtube.com/@britishautomobileracingclub

* Subject to adjustments prior and during the race meeting

What a weekend we have in store. Counting down the hours!

Sky Sports to broadcast British F4 races at Formula 1 British Grand Prix

The Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by the FIA can today announce that an agreement has been reached that will see Sky Sports broadcast both Formula 4 races at next month’s FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS BRITISH GRAND PRIX 2025.

In what is poised to be a groundbreaking event at Silverstone on July 3-6, the UK’s premier single-seater series will benefit from unprecedented television coverage as Sky Sports airs every historic moment around the Home of British Motor Racing on the Saturday and Sunday of the race weekend.

Furthermore, fans of Britain’s Formula 4 category will also have the opportunity to tune in and watch both rounds via the championship’s official YouTube channel.

Seismic for a number of reasons, British F4’s debut at 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.

Teams and drivers will hit the track for the first time on Friday 4th July at 17:45 for a single practice session before qualifying sets the grid at 07:55 on Saturday 5th July.

Following Formula 1 qualifying later that afternoon, the first 25-minute + one lap race of the weekend will begin at 16:45 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Mix – which brings some of the world’s biggest sporting events to Sky TV customers in the UK and Ireland at no extra cost.

British F4 will then have the honour of kicking off the final day of action at Silverstone on Sunday 6th July with race two scheduled to commence at 08:20. This second unmissable contest will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.

“To have our races at Silverstone broadcast across Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Mix – in addition to our own YouTube channel – is just the cherry on top of what is going to be an event to remember,” said Eve Lake-Grange, British F4 Championship Manager.

“The response we have had from teams, drivers and supporters since we announced that we will be competing on the support bill of Formula 1 at the British Grand Prix has been incredible and I’ve no doubt that this news will be welcomed by everyone. Already there’s a terrific entry list building and with Sky’s coverage, I’m sure we’ll see even more interest.

“Having the opportunity to compete in front of an expected 480,000 fans at the track is one thing but to now be racing in front of millions more on Sky Sports underpins just how much of a huge opportunity and experience this will be for our teams and drivers”.

For more details surrounding the Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA’s upcoming appearance at the Formula 1 British Grand Prix, visit https://fiaformula4.com/

Finn Leslie lapping up TCR UK switch with Power Maxed Racing

The TCR UK series for 2025 is making its British Automobile Racing Club bow – with the tin-top series working alongside the BARC in a new era for the championship. One man also making his debut in 2025 is 17-year-old Finn Leslie – who is one of the youngest drivers on any of our grids – driving his Hyundai i30 in TCR UK.

Leslie – despite his tender age, has plenty of pedigree behind the wheel in his short career so far. We let Finn pick up the story from here


“It started about eight or nine years ago – I used to go karting once a week at my local track and it evolved from there. I did the British Kart Championships and things like that. I won the Kartmasters Grand Prix that happens every year and when the time was right I wanted to switch to car racing which was the natural progression from karting, and that was at the end of 2023.”

When speaking to the Motorsport UK Academy member – it was clear to see his incredible focus and drive, and from a young age he knew where he wanted to take his racing ambition.

“We looked at all the junior series and chose the Fiesta Juniors which at the time was a support series to TCR UK. We did two rounds at the end of 2023 and that’s when I took my first win in car racing. I won the title last year and it’s now great to see someone else getting the joy out of the car now.

“It was always a dream of mine to race in touring cars from the very beginning and to have the opportunity to step into TCR UK and do it at such a young age was an opportunity I just couldn’t turn down. I used to watch touring cars on ITV every Sunday and it’s the racing I enjoy – the close wheel-to-wheel battles you get in tin-top racing is second to none.”

With the realisation that the Wakefield driver would be achieving a living room dream – getting to take a top-flight touring car around some of Britain’s best circuits was certainly the dawning of reality for the youngster.

“It’s not just the speed, it’s the fact the car is on big slick tyres, better brakes – the whole package was just different when I first drove it. It was a shock to the system, and I did one test day before the start of the season and was really thrown into the unknown.”

Leslie has had to acclimatise at the start of the year – and acclimatise he most certainly did, with the Hyundai star looking right at home against the series regulars. So far this season the Power Maxed Racing driver has notched up a podium at Donington and currently sits in sixth in the standings heading to Croft.

“Our target for this year was to get a podium and we did that in the first round so now we are pushing for even more. There was no real expectation when we arrived – it was all about taking it race by race. The new Cupras have an advantage in a straight line – no two ways about that. There isn’t much we can do about that so we have to get our heads down and make the most out of the package under us – which will be good at certain circuits this year once we get the package refined. I can’t wait for Croft.”

It’s not just a podium on his wishlist – Finn is focused on more this season. Can we begin to dream of the top step?

“I would love to win a race – that’s now the goal, it has to be for any driver. We are getting there now with the car to make me feel comfortable. I think we need things to go our way as well – but anything is possible in this championship.”

See how Finn gets on at Croft this weekend as three more TCR UK rounds await!
Tickets are from ÂŁ17 with kids under 15 going free. Tickets can be purchased right here – https://croftcircuit.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/barc-tcr

The Croft BARC race weekend will also be broadcast live and for free on our YouTube channel – www.youtube.com/@britishautomobileracingclub

Tom Ingram, Ash Sutton and Dan Rowbottom share Thruxton BTCC spoils

Tom Ingram, Ash Sutton and Dan Rowbottom emerged as the big winners on a weekend to remember at Thruxton Circuit as a bumper crowd flocked through the gates for the annual visit of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

In what is one of the standout events of the year at the high-speed Hampshire venue, the UK’s premier motorsport series delivered three blockbuster contests that were ultimately won by the top three in the overall standings.

Despite the contrasting weather conditions – which saw heavy rain on Saturday make way for bright sunshine on Sunday – those in attendance had the opportunity to experience the brand-new Woodham Hill spectator banking, which provided stunning new views of the action.

In addition to the wheel-to-wheel racing that was served up, fans also had an abundance of off-track activities such as live music, a dedicated kids’ zone, an array of food stalls, a supercar display, the Crazy Cart Championship and camping facilities to enjoy.

Four-time champion Sutton was the driver to beat in qualifying as he mastered the soaking wet conditions in his NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus to clinch pole position ahead of title rivals Tom Ingram and Dan Cammish.

Race one on Sunday would then see Team VERTU’s Ingram make it nine different winners from ten races of the season as he found a way past pole sitter Sutton and before streaking clear to triumph ahead of Cammish and One Motorsport’s Josh Cook.

For Cook, his charge from 14th to third was all the more remarkable after his car had to be rebuilt overnight following a sizeable crash in qualifying – one which resulted in the circuit’s most successful BTCC driver needing to go to hospital for precautionary checks.

After missing out on victory in race one, Sutton produced one of the finest opening laps in recent memory in race two to charge to a third victory of the season, with Ingram and Rowbottom trailing behind in second and third.

Rowbottom then capped off another strong weekend in his own Ford Focus ST by getting the better of reigning champion Jake Hill to secure his second win of the season in the reverse grid finale.

Contact with Sutton at the high-speed Noble Corner brought Hill’s charge to a premature end and in-turn allowed Ingram and Cammish to fight their way onto the remaining two steps of the rostrum.

Of course it wasn’t just the BTCC that had fans on the edge of their seats though as an action-packed support bill saw three other categories tackle the fastest circuit in the country.

The Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA showcased potential single-seater stars of the future and it was the trio of Martin Molnar, Leo Robinson and impressive debutant Salim Hanna that claimed a win apiece.

Will Martin and Sid Smith proved to be the cream of the crop when it came to the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain as they starred in the monstrous 911 category, snaring one win each to bolster their own championship challenges.

Closing out the action were three unmissable races from the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy. EXCELR8 Motorsport’s Gabe Fairbrother prevailed in a wet opening bout before rookie Jenson Mason delivered a defensive masterclass to triumph in race two.

Westbourne Motorsport’s Olivier Algieri then got the better of team-mate Rhys Hurd to win an instant classic in the finale.

Thruxton’s next race event takes place in less than a fortnights’ time as the Thruxton Retro takes centre stage. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/thruxton-retro.

Could we see a future Formula 1 driver at Thruxton?

The Wera Tools F4 British Championship, certified by FIA is one of the first steps from karting and onto the car racing ladder. For aspiring young drivers aged 15 and over making the transition into single seaters – this is the place to be and the slicks and wings formula heads to the fastest circuit in the country this weekend.

The young hot shots all use identical Tatuus chassis and Abarth engines which produce a level playing field for the stars of tomorrow. Close racing, a challenging race calendar featuring some of the best circuits in the UK – the Championship has been a breeding ground for talented young drivers who have climbed the ranks and are now driving in the higher echelons of the sport.

British F4 alumni from recent seasons include current Formula 1 stars Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, IndyCar winner Colten Herta and F2 drivers Alex Dunne and Luke Browning to name but a few.

This season it’s been very close at the top, with four drivers providing a real international flavour in the fight for supremacy. – all of whom are separated by only 14 points in the standings coming into the Hampshire round. Red Bull-backed Irish driver Fionn McLaughlin leads the way in his Hitech machine from Hungarian Virtuosi Racing star Martin MolnĂĄr who is nine points back. Australian James Piszcyk is third for Rodin Motorsport, while Swede August Raber sits fourth just two points behind the Aussie in his Argenti Motorsport prepared car.

British hopes will be carried by Tommy Harfield who is fifth in the standings while Henry Joslyn, Ethan Jeff-Hall, Brown Campbell-Pilling and Thomas Bearman – brother to Haas F1 Driver Ollie, will all need your home support this weekend.

Organised and promoted by Motorsport UK, the governing body for four-wheel motorsport in the United Kingdom, the series is certified by the FIA meaning that 12 Super Licence points will be awarded to the overall champion to aid their progression through the single seater ranks.

In 2025, eight teams are battling for supremacy – to put their drivers on the top step. Over 25 drivers are taking to the grid at circuits across the country and all of them will be aiming to add their names into the illustrious history books.
Taking place across nine weekends, a total of 30 races are run during the season with the grid all vying for supremacy – and wheel-to-wheel action is guaranteed as the title battle traditionally goes down to the final few rounds.

Motorsport fans will be able to watch all the action from the three Wera Tools F4 British Championship races this weekend at Thruxton as it supports the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

Tickets can be purchased from: https://thruxtonracing.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/btcc with children 13 and under going free! Every person who purchases a ticket will be entered into a competition draw, with the winner having the honour of waving the chequered flag at the end of the first touring car race.

This might be one of those ‘do you remember when’ stories when you watched on the Thruxton banks a future F1 star cut their teeth at Thruxton. You heard it here first!

Speed, Grit, and Glory: Celebrating the BTCC’s fabled history at Thruxton

Thruxton Circuit – the most southerly stop on the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship and TOCA package calendar. Since it first hosted the BTCC or its precursor the British Saloon Car Championship in 1968 – Thruxton has been the scene for many iconic moments in British tin-top racing. We take a look back down memory lane at just some of those important milestones.

It all began in Hampshire in 1968. The quiet and quaint former RAF aerodrome had gone through a significant upgrade, and the fastest circuit was ready to host its first saloon car meeting. A new venue – brought great excitement as crowds watched Brian Muir guide his Ford Falcon Sprint to the overall win with Chris Craft, Graham Janzen and Frank Gardner taking the class wins.

The halcyon days of the eighties brought plenty of variety and the star names. Gordon Spice opened the decade with two wins from two meetings in his legendary Ford Capri while the likes of fan favourites Andy Rouse and Steve Soper roared to victories in cars such as the Rover Vitesse and Ford Sierra Cosworth.

The Super Touring era is one that conjures up much excitement. Thruxton was the scene for the season opener in 1994 – with the entry of Alfa Romeo raising the stakes in competition and raising the eyebrows, with its high profile ‘bolt on’ rear wing. As others reached for the rulebook – the scarlet red machines reached the top of the timesheets with pole, fastest lap and a race win for Gabriele Tarquini. Another manufacturer to make their bow at Thruxton in ‘94 was Volvo with the infamous 850 estate car – a wonderful eclectic addition to the grid – making its competitive debut at Thruxton.

2005 marks twenty – yes twenty years since TOCA’s answer to ‘mission impossible’ was completed at Thruxton. Team Dynamics and Halfords had switched to the Honda Integra Type R with Matt Neal and Dan Eaves leading the line. Eaves used the car’s slippery shape to good effect to win not one, not two but all three races – becoming the first driver to win all three rounds in a weekend! Elsewhere, who can not forget that magnificent save from Yvan Muller in the Vauxhall Astra as well after a brief love tap from Jason Plato coming into the final chicane!

Eaves’ trio of wins helped to pave the way for the Japanese marque in the BTCC. With the UK spiritual home for Honda just 30 odd miles north in Swindon – Thruxton has been a happy hunting ground – with the Civic and Integra helping Honda racking up more wins than any other manufacturer in the modern era.

Current BTCC star Josh Cook who hails from Somerset – classes the Andover-based venue as his ‘home’ circuit and that can be clearly seen in his win tally – with half of his touring car race wins coming here. The King of Thruxton has 10 wins around the Hampshire Speedbowl, with all but one of them aboard a Honda Civic – albeit in slightly different models and evolutions. His first win came in 2018 with the last in 2022 – the last time Thruxton played host to the BTCC in one calendar year. Cook sealed three out of the six races that season and with a return to a Honda in 2025 – the home crowd will be hoping for another win or two to add to his already impressive collection.

And finally – who can forget an exciting contest last year! Three different race winners in three different cars, with Jake Hill winning in a BMW in race one, Tom Ingram in a Hyundai in race two and Ash Sutton in a Ford in race three. Ironically – they also finished in this order in the final championship standings at the end of the year.

2025 – what can we hope for. Well
 plenty of close, exciting racing, history being made and maybe a new race winner? Is that asking for too much? Or is it? Only time will tell!

Tickets can be purchased from: https://thruxtonracing.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/btcc with children 13 and under going free! Every person who purchases a ticket will be entered into a competition draw, with the winner having the honour of waving the chequered flag at the end of the first touring car race.

BARC welcomes the BTCC and TOCA package to Thruxton

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, organised by the British Automobile Racing Club is about to kick it up a gear this weekend as Britain’s premier racing series heads to Thruxton – the fastest race circuit in the UK.

Fans will be treated to spectacular action from breathtaking views – including the new Woodham Hill spectator area – giving race goers a new angle to see the wheel-to-wheel racing from.

Ash Sutton leads the way in the title race from a chasing Tom Ingram and Jake Hill and Thruxton could well shape the championship fight. Thruxton can be classed as the home circuit for the likes of Josh Cook, Sam Hall, Nick Halstead and recent race winner Mikey Doble – who will all be looking for some strong results in front of a home crowd this weekend.

Supporting the BTCC will be packed grids on a busy timetable across Saturday and Sunday. The Wera Tools F4 British Championship, Vertu MINI Challenge Trophy and Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain join the roster and prepare to do battle under the spotlight of crowd and the ITV cameras this weekend.

Elsewhere on the BARC schedule is the fifth event of the British Hillclimb Championship Presented by Nova Motorsport. The championship heads to the iconic Shelsely Walsh in Worcestershire. The flat out blast is one of the quickest and most difficult to master and provides a real test and thrill for the drivers. Defending Champion Matt Ryder leads the way in the points, but has a hard charging Wallace Menzies and Will Hall are hot on his heels.

Finally, it’s also the BARC Wales Summer Sprint Weekend at Pembrey. Lots of motorsport to enjoy as we kick off June.

When is the next BARC weekend?
The next events will be this weekend – 7th/8th June

Where are the events being held?

Thruxton Circuit
Address: Thruxton Circuit, Andover SP11 8PN

Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb
Address: Shelsley Walsh, Worcester WR6 6RP

Pembrey Circuit
Address: Pembrey, Llanelli SA16 0HZ

What is racing this weekend?

Thruxton – Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Wera Tools F4 British Championship, Vertu MINI Challenge Trophy, and Porsche Carrera Cup GB

Shelsley Walsh – British Hillclimb Championship

Pembrey – BARC Wales Summer Sprint

How can I watch?

At the Track

Wanting to soak up the on-track action in person at Thruxton? As well as the racing there is lots to do for the whole family. Tickets are available on the day or on the Thruxton website from ÂŁ22 for a Saturday ticket or ÂŁ38 for a Sunday ticket – with weekend options available from ÂŁ55. Children under 13 go free with discounts or teens.

Tickets can be purchased here: https://thruxtonracing.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/btcc

Hillclimb fans can head to Shelsley Walsh with tickets from ÂŁ13 for Saturday and ÂŁ18 for Sunday online now – or you can pay on the gate from ÂŁ15 for Saturday or ÂŁ20 for Sunday.

At Home
The TOCA Thruxton 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 11:00

The British Hillclimb Championship action from the home of hillclimbing in the UK will be streamed on the Hillclimb.tv YouTube Channel on Sunday. It’s well worth a watch!

What time are things happening on track?

Track action at Thruxton begins at 09:00 on Saturday and 10:50 on Sunday, with BTCC races at 11:45, 14:35 and 17:05 on Sunday. Over at Shelsley Walsh, 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 handy links that might be useful to help you enjoy your weekend.

Thruxton
Tickets: https://thruxtonracing.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/btcc
Live Timing and Commentary: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/252303
Timetable*: https://www.barc.net/event/toca-race-meeting-thruxton-june-7-8/

Shelsley Walsh
Watch Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/xmy7mI6vYic?si=w5l7y4TRuxh3Ezta
Event Information and Tickets: https://www.shelsleywalsh.com/
Championship Information: https://www.britishhillclimb.co.uk/

* Subject to adjustments prior and during the race meeting

Such amazing variety on display this weekend! Enjoy!

Need For Speed: BTCC sets course for Thruxton

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) is poised to speed into Hampshire this weekend (June 7-8) as Thruxton Circuit prepares to host Rounds 10, 11 & 12 of the 2025 season.

Renowned for producing edge-of-the-seat entertainment around the the fastest circuit in the country, the UK’s premier motorsport series will headline what promises to be a weekend to remember at the home of the British Automobile Racing Club with three colossal tin top contests.

Despite there having only been three events, this season is already shaping up to be an instant class with the opening nine races producing eight different race winners – three of which were first-time winners.

NAPA Racing UK’s Ash Sutton has been at his brilliant best so far and he arrives sitting atop the Drivers’ Championship – although circling behind him are a number of heavy hitters that are all ready to pounce if given the chance.

Seven podium finishes have provided the backbone to Tom Ingram’s charge so far however it is the top step that the 2022 title winner would love to scale this weekend – especially given Team VERTU have never won around Thruxton.

Reigning champion Jake Hill has endured a rollercoaster campaign to-date but the BMW driver can never be counted out and after all, he was twice a winner at this event last year.

Elsewhere, Dan Rowbottom and Dan Cammish both triumphed last time out at Snetterton while the Hyundai pairing of Adam Morgan and Tom Chilton have shown relentless speed and consistency.

Other names to look out for include the newest additions to the BTCC winners’ club – Mikey Doble, Daryl Deleon and Charles Rainford – as well as three-time champion Gordon Shedden, who is back in the series with Speedworks Motorsport.

Of course, one driver that can never be discounted from being in the mix towards the sharp end of the grid is the undisputed ‘King of Thruxton’ Josh Cook. The One Motorsport driver has a record 10 wins around his home circuit and he’ll be hungry for more in his Honda Civic Type R.

As always, it won’t just be the BTCC that takes centre stage though this weekend as a bumper supporting cast of categories is also revved up to put on a show for the expected bumper trackside crowd.

Expect full-throttle thrills from the Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA, Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain and Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy – all of whom make up the support bill.

Away from the on-track entertainment there will be plenty to see and do around the venue with a bustling trade village, supercar display, food stalls, mini karts, bouncy castle, bungee trampolining and face painting.

There will also be live entertainment on Friday 6th June and Saturday 7th June in the paddock, while the Crazy Cart Championship, which features a mix of drivers and special guests, is always a must-watch attraction.

The Thruxton Centre will be open all weekend to visitors, with food and drink being served across both days. Programmes will also be available to purchase from locations around the venue from ÂŁ7.00.

Tickets for the weekend can be purchased via https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc.

BARC makes its mark on first visit of the season to Anglesey

The British Automobile Racing Club made its first visit of the 2025 season to Anglesey Circuit this past weekend (May 31/June 1) and it didn’t disappoint as racers from Caterham Motorsport and the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship put on a show.

Organised and run by the Club’s North Western Centre, the two-day event on the coast of North Wales saw a number of contests decided by the smallest of margins as the battle for supremacy well and truly ramped up.

In the moobob Caterham Academy Championship – which is for drivers that are embarking on their maiden year of car racing – nobody could stop Matt Fox from charging to back-to-back victories.

Snaring pole position by just 0.064 seconds, Fox narrowly fended off Max Richardson and Nick Tomadakis to triumph in race one before he stamped his authority to win in a more comfortable fashion in race two, again ahead of Richardson.

The Bilstein Caterham Roadsport Championship is the next step up on the Caterham Motorsport ladder and it produced a stunning opening encounter which culminated in the top three drivers being separated by just a tenth of a second.

Craig Evans, William Harris and Scott Helme were the cream of the crop in race one as they pulled clear of the chasing pack to scrap amongst themselves. In the end it would be Evans that held on to reign supreme; Helme though would have his moment of glory later on as he won race two.

Over in the EDGE Caterham Seven 270R Championship, Ben Wheatley – who has previously cut his teeth in the Caterham Graduates Championship – was perfection personified as he powered his way to a dominant hat-trick of race wins.

The likes of Louis Darling, Henry Speeks, Nick Highton and Paul Oggelsby could only watch on as Wheatley drove off into the distance but they did all manage to fill the remaining podium spots that were available.

Taylor O’Flanagan and Lars Alexander Hoffman continued their duel at the summit of the Vertex Caterham Seven 310R Championship standings, taking home a share of the spoils from the picturesque 2.1-mile International layout.

Both drivers have been the stars of the season so far and they continued their rich vein of form at Anglesey. O’Flanagan emerged victorious following an almighty scrap with Philip Bianchi in race one before Alexander Hoffman was triumphant in race two.

O’Flanagan returned to the top step of the podium in the weekend’s third and final race as he once again went wheel-to-wheel with Bianchi, beating him for a second time and in-turn, bolstering his title chances in the process.

Matthew Armstrong and Harry Senior showed their class in the Dutch Barn Vodka Caterham Seven UK Championship, Caterham’s premier category, as they remained the drivers to beat at the front of the field.

Picking up where they left off when they competed on the British Touring Car Championship support bill at Brands Hatch last month, Armstrong sped his way to the chequered flag in races one and three while Senior was victorious in race two.

Rounding out the weekend’s action were a trio of enthralling races from the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, the North Western Centre’s premier category where variety is well and truly the spice of life.

Boasting a bumper grid, Ben Roberts produced a remarkable drive in race one as he went from the back row of the grid to the top step of the podium in his Locost 7 RR, winning by a sensational 15 seconds by the time the chequered flag was waved.

Roberts was unable to add to his win tally in races two and the however as Simon Allaway came to the fore in his Lotus Esprit V8, beating Bod Buckby and Roberts to top spot in relatively commanding fashion.

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

You can also re-watch all the action from the North Wales track via the official BARC YouTube channel HERE.