Cadwell Park serves up blockbuster action on season-opening BARC weekend

Cadwell Park provided a fitting backdrop for the British Automobile Racing Club’s long-awaited 2020 season-opener this past weekend (July 4/5); with plenty of edge-of-the-seat, blockbuster action being served up by each championship over the course of both days.

With motorsport having been suspended since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, racing finally roared back into life and in style too as new protocols were introduced whilst spectators were unfortunately not permitted.

Lewis Saunders’ quest to make history in the Junior Saloon Car Championship got off to the perfect start as he took a pair of race wins around the tight, twisty Lincolnshire venue.

Aiming to become the first two-time champion in the teenage series, the 2018 title winner powered his way to victory in race one ahead of Charlie Hand and Benjamin Greenhill. Saunders replicated his superlative performance in race two, leading home Hand and Alex Solley.

In the 2CV Parts.com Classic Racing Championship, a 15-car grid kicked off what is set to be another memorable year of on-track action with two entertaining encounters.

Alec Graham narrowly beat Sandro Proietti in race one to take the spoils before Luca Proietti turned the tables on Graham in race two, taking the chequered flag by just under a second.

The Classic Touring Car Championship boasted big grids and a wide variety of machinery across its eight scheduled races – with several drivers taking centre stage as well.

Guy Smith was the driver to beat in the Poultec – Classic Race Engines Pre ’66 Touring Cars, powering his Ford Lotus Cortina to a brace of race wins – with Roger Stanford and Peter Smith hot on his heels on both occasions.

The Shell Oil Pre 83′ Touring Car Championship saw a familiar name at the helm across both days as Stephen Primett notched two wins. Setting his sights on yet another CTCRC crown, the Ford Escort MK1 driver proved unstoppable all weekend.

In the amalgamated Laser Tools Pre-93 Touring Cars Championship and Simply Serviced Pre-2003 Touring Cars Championship races, Alexander Owen and his trusty Honda Civic Type R proved too hot to handle as he also claimed a pair of wins.

Rounding out the CTCRC action was the combined Burton Power Products Blue Oval Saloon Series and Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder Saloons Championship. Andy Robinson and Michael Pensaville took a win apiece following two frantic encounters.

Representing the Club’s North West Centre, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship had those in attendance on the edge of their seats as Paul Rose and Paul Dobson topped the rostrum after two pulsating races.

Bringing the curtain down on the weekend’s entertainment were races from the British Superkarts Championship, where Liam Morley clinched a sensational hat-trick of wins.

To view the full classification of results from all championships competing at Cadwell Park, click here.

The British Automobile Racing Club will be back in action this coming weekend (July 11/12) at Croft as several other championships kick off their 2020 campaigns.