Category: Barc

Caterhams and Croft poised to provide the perfect combination

The Caterham racing ladder is due to take over Croft Circuit this weekend as a swarm of sports cars descend on North Yorkshire. Backing up the Caterham roster will be the hugely entertaining Vertu MINI Challenge Trophy which brings plenty of door-to-door action.

When is the next BARC weekend?
The next events will be this weekend – 28-29 June

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

What is racing this weekend?
The Vertu MINI Challenge will be joined by the Caterham brand – who will be bringing the full spectrum of light-weight sports cars. The Moobob Caterham Academy drivers will experience the rewarding Croft venue for the first time while the more seasoned classes including the Bilstein Caterham Roadsport Championship, Edge Caterham Seven 270R Championship, Vertex Caterham Seven 310R Championship and Dutch Barn Vodka Caterham Seven Championship UK – will all look to use Croft to mount their championship attack.

Can I watch in person?

Absolutely! Tickets are available to soak up the sunshine and the scintillating racing! Head to https://croftcircuit.co.uk/racing/caterham-weekend for more information.

Tickets are ÂŁ17 for each day with Children under 15 going free!

How can I watch at home?

The BARC LIVE stream returns this weekend – covering every square inch of the racing action. There will be over nine hours of coverage across the two days on the BARC YouTube channel with the racing action supplemented with commentary, timing, interviews and features.

What time are things happening on track?

Saturday – Qualifying begins at 09:30 with Racing starting at 13:55
Sunday – Racing starts at 12:00

Do you have any more information?

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

Croft Circuit

Live Timing and Commentary: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/252621
Timetable*: https://www.barc.net/event/barc-race-meeting-croft-june-28-29/
Tickets: www.croftcircuit.co.uk/racing/caterham-weekend
Live Stream: www.youtube.com/@britishautomobileracingclub

* Subject to adjustments prior and during the race meeting

Are you ready for the ‘snake’, ‘train’ and ‘breakaways’ – all the important lingo for close-quarter Caterham and MINI racing. Enjoy!

Keeping it in the family for Williams

The Everard Pre-66 Touring Car Championship, along with a fine roster for British Automobile Club supported Classic Touring Car Racing Club series’ will take over at Brands Hatch this weekend.

The Pre-66 grid is one of the most talked about tin-top classes wherever it goes – with its fantastic door-to-door racing, cult cars and brilliant drivers behind the wheel. One of the drivers to always get the crowd going is Grant Williams. If you haven’t seen this man behind the wheel. Where have you been! Google or YouTube Grant Williams, Jaguar and fall down the well full of drifts, burnouts, donuts and overtakes in big cat saloons!

But that’s what we see now. But where did the love affair with the Jaguar brand come from? We have to wind the clock back to when the Mk1 and Mk2 Jags were new in period – as Grant Williams himself explains.

“It started in about 1947 or 1948. Grandad wanted to start racing and did bits and pieces in the late forties and then in the fifties starting racing the Jaguar Mk1s. This is a story now
 my grandfather, two uncles and my Dad would all go racing at Silverstone on one race licence! They would turn up and sign on under one race licence and all race the same car. You couldn’t do that now!

“They used the Mk1 and back in those days the cars had drum brakes so they would have buckets of water waiting, and every time they would come into the pits, they would throw on some water and go out again. It all started from that for us!”

From the sharing of a race licence – the Williams family cattery was to grow over time and this is where we find out about one of the most iconic cars in British motorsport.

“They would go on to have their own cars. The car known as ‘BUY 1’ came up for sale in 1962 and Grandad trotted up to the factory, bought it and started to race it. The original reg on the car was ‘287 JPK’, and that was a famous registration in its day as well. The factory only made seven of the MK1s and they came with aluminium doors, straight port head, lightened bonnet, lightened chassis, triple carburetors and disc brakes which were only on C and D Types, and that was perceived as mega at the time. The continuation from that car was ‘JAG 400’ which I am racing this season.

The iconic grey ‘BUY 1’ can now be seen at BARC events such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed or Revival – but in recent times, the dark blue Mk2 Jaguar with ‘JAG 400’ can be seen fighting at the very front of Historic saloon car races.

“We have had it since 1975 – it had been rolled and the deal was that we could never sell it and it was to be a family car, and we started to race it a couple of years ago for the Goodwood Revival. We started rebuilding it years and years ago, but we stopped because of the rules for the Revival, and with the car being quite big wouldn’t have been competitive – but they changed the rules which meant we could keep building it which is great as we now have a home for the car there and at BARC events.

Any other projects on the go then Grant?

“We’re not done yet in the Williams family. My brother has started racing – and he is using a red MK1 and that was my father’s first car which we have recently resurrected.”

One of the things we discussed with Grant was the perception perhaps that historic racing was old cars for for old boys – something which he is seeing a big shift from – with the younger generation engaging with a bygone era.

“People come along and see these cars racing and we are respectful. Also having the current generation of drivers get behind the wheel perhaps helps with the profile. Our aim of the game is to have fun, enjoy ourselves and put on a show with a straight car at the end of the day. People can relate to cars immensely – they are motoring icons.

“With the BARC paddocks, it’s very open and people come and have a chat. I have been signing Hot Wheels and Scalextric Cars the last couple of years and it’s from the younger generation having seen stuff on YouTube or Instagram or what have you. I am an old dinosaur in that sense and I thank my wife for helping me with that. Social Media has really helped connect historic racing, by bringing the older and younger generations together. Everyone has a story with these cars and racing is about making memories, enjoying hearing the stories and everyone will remember these classic cars and family moments forever.

“My passion is racing. I love racing and will do it as long as I can. I would race a wheelbarrow – anything with wheels and a story to tell and I am there!”

That’s something we would pay to see in the future! In the meantime
 Grant Williams and ‘JAG 400’ are set to join the Everard Pre-66 Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch this weekend as it supports the Super Touring Power 3 event.

Inaugural edition of Thruxton Retro proves to be a smash-hit

Thruxton Circuit is revelling in the success of a weekend to remember following the completion of the inaugural Thruxton Retro presents Superfunk festival.

Proving to be an instant smash-hit, the three-day event saw fans pour through the gates in their droves to soak up live music, historic racing, full-throttle demonstrations, eye-catching displays and much more.

From an entertainment perspective, the Hampshire venue saw its paddock transformed to guarantee fun for all the family and on the main stage, that was delivered as Australian ABBA tribute act Björn Again headlined proceedings on Saturday.

Earth Wind for Hire supported them beforehand and come Sunday it was over to the 9 to 5 Show, a Dolly Parton tribute, as well as the Show Ponies and Weird Science, to bring the house down and more importantly, bring the noise.

If the soundtrack away from the circuit was good then the one on it was simply phenomenal, with the weekend beginning with the Chris Harris Trackday attracting an eclectic mix of multi-million pound machines.

Come Saturday and Sunday it was classic machines from Formula 1 that echoed around the fastest circuit in the country as they took part in a number of high-speed demonstrations – a rare sight that is always great to see at Thruxton.

From a racing perspective, the coveted Jochen Rindt Trophy was a fan favourite as the iconic single-seater machines rolled back the years. Chris Porritt and Rory Smith proved to be the cream of the crop as they tallied a win apiece.

The British Automobile Racing Club’s very own Adrian Flux Insurance MG Owners Club Championship was also in action, with James Cole and Jake McDermid claiming a hard-fought victory apiece.

Adding to the allure of the event was also a Kids Paddock, where an interactive whirlwind of circus skills, workshops, live performances and wacky inflatables, kept the kids entertained courtesy of Big Top Mania.

Elsewhere, a number of car clubs showcased their prides of joy, helicopter rides gave spectators a new perspective of Thruxton, a classic car auction took place and much more made the first-ever Thruxton Retro a huge success.

BTCC closes out first half of the season in style at Oulton Park

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship signed off the first half of the 2025 season in typical action-packed style at Oulton Park this past weekend (June 21/22) with four-time champion Ash Sutton sitting atop the standings going into the summer break.

Taking centre stage in Cheshire for the fifth meeting of the campaign, a huge crowd descended on the scenic Cheshire venue to witness three captivating contests from the UK’s premier motorsport series.

Scorching temperatures were combined with on and off rain showers however that didn’t deter the racing as NAPA Racing UK’s Sutton managed to extend his lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship to 11 points.

Team VERTU’s Tom Ingram dominated qualifying on Saturday as he obliterated his own lap record to snare pole position, and he duly converted that into a commanding lights-to-flag victory in a frenetic opening encounter.

Sutton had been on course for a podium finish in race one but a strategic call to drop to fourth – thus giving him free choice on what tyres to run for race two – saw Dan Cammish and Chris Smiley ultimately complete the podium.

Lining up on the second row but on the faster soft tyre, Sutton maximised his decision as he surged into the lead by lap two and then cruised to the chequered flag to clinch his fourth win of the season ahead of Adam Morgan and Tom Chilton.

Gordon Shedden then became the tenth different winner from 15 races as he delivered a masterful defensive drive to claim a maiden win of the season for both himself and Speedworks Motorsport.

On a damp track, the three-time title winner started from pole position and was wheel-perfect throughout the 18-lap contest as he fended off challenges from the likes of Sutton, Dan Rowbottom, Jake Hill and Josh Cook to triumph for the first time since returning to the BTCC.

Sutton and Ingram remain the top two in the standings while Cammish leads the chasing pack, albeit someway off. Elsewhere, Alliance / Ford top the Manufacturers’ whilst NAPA Racing UK remain on course to defend their Teams’ Championship crown.

Over in the Independents’, Chris Smiley and Restart Racing maintained their advantage at the top of their respective leaderboards, with BMW’s Daryl Deleon stretching out his lead in the coveted Jack Sears Trophy battle.

If the action on-track wasn’t enough, the Oulton Park weekend also saw an emotional send-off for broadcasting legend Steve Rider, who brought the curtain down on an incredible career spanning nearly 50 years.

Having been the face of the BTCC across four decades, Rider’s phenomenal career was celebrated throughout the event as everyone involved in the BTCC honoured Steve for his unwavering support, service, professionalism and brilliance.

Thrills and spills also played out on the TOCA support package as well with the Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA dazzling those in attendance with a trio of enthralling single-seater races.

Hitech TGR’s Fionn McLaughlin reigned supreme in the opening bout however he could do nothing to stop his team-mate Thomas Bearman and Rodin Motorsport’s James Pizscyk from sharing the remaining spoils that were on offer.

The Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain also served up three blockbuster races that in-turn shook up the battle for supremacy in the championship standings.

Joe Marshall delivered a masterful drive in the weekend’s opening race however it was then over to the flawless Tom Bradshaw as he charged to a dominant double and with it, claimed the lead in the standings in the process.

Rounding out the weekend’s action were two full-throttle races from the VERTU MINI CHALLENGE JCW. Max Edmundson reigned supreme to secure his maiden win in the series in race one before Lewis Selby fended off his team-mate Jamie Osborne to triumph in race two

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

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!