Category: Barc

For Team BRIT’s Asha Silva, the 2025 season has been one to remember – a year spent fighting in the British Automobile Racing Club supported Britcar Endurance Championship, sharing the BMW M240i with teammate Bobby Trundley – learning the nuances of endurance racing and creating a competitive fighting spirit in the partnership.

The season has gone so well in fact the pairing lead the standings coming into the season finale at Brands Hatch this weekend (8 November).
That competitive spirit has defined their season. Every round – from Silverstone, Thruxton, Donington Park, to Oulton Park and Snetterton – they have all presented new challenges and have tested her racecraft, adaptability, and composure. Diagnosed with Adult Autism and ADHD, Asha has to work twice as hard to get the best out of a race weekend and balance the busy, hectic one-day race timetable.

“It’s been such an enjoyable year,” Asha reflects. “Compared to last season, it’s been a lot busier on track which actually in a weird way I enjoy! The grid has grown, the structure’s changed, and it’s made a huge difference. I much prefer it this way — there’s always something going on and someone to race with.”

That “something going on” sums up Britcar’s multi-class endurance format perfectly. With faster GT machinery mixing it with closer to production-based entries, it’s a constant dance of awareness, strategy, and determination. For Asha in the Cup class BMW M240i, it’s about keeping momentum and staying in the fight — even if their class car is one of the slower ones on the grid – Asha and teammate Bobby have gelled and their consistency and hard work is paying off as they lead the amalgamated standings with two races to go.

“It’s probably the slowest class in the entirety of the grid,” she admits with a smile. “But that doesn’t mean it’s a slow car. The BMW is seriously quick — in a straight line, it’ll be keeping up with the Team BRIT GT cars. It’s just built differently and not as good in the corners. So you’re dicing with faster cars around you, but you still defend your position. A blue flag doesn’t mean ‘pull over,’ it means ‘be aware someone is going to pass you.’ You don’t give up your place or drop your pace, because that time matters. A couple of seconds lost here and there, especially with pit stops, can change everything.”
So where has the magic happened this year? Which venue has helped Asha put together a strong performance?

“Snetterton’s always been a favourite of mine in Britcar,” she says. “I’ve just grown better and better there over time. But overall, I’d still say Silverstone GP is my favourite track. Most people find it flat and boring, but I love it. I did a 24-hour race there in the Citroën C1s once, and it changed everything for me. I learned the rhythm of endurance, lap after lap, being consistent and racing through the night. It taught me how to race in the dark.

As the Britcar season draws to its dramatic conclusion at Brands Hatch, darkness becomes part of the challenge. The clocks have gone back. Race one will take place in daylight while the second one will see the drivers face the unique art of night racing – something not seen too often in the BARC calendar.
“Night racing is completely different,” Asha explains. “Your reference points change completely. You can’t rely on what you see in the day. I try and get a lot of sim time in at home – I’ll load up Brands Hatch, drop it into a night scenario and just look for visual cues. It’s not perfect, but it helps as a really good starting point.”

For Asha, preparing for racing after dark takes more than just practice – it’s a personal adjustment as well. “I had Cataract surgery about a year and a half ago, and ever since then I’ve had glare issues at night,” she says. “I have to wear glasses now to cut the glare. It’s frustrating, because I never liked wearing glasses! I remember the first time I drove after the operation, I had to pull over and ask my wife to drive – the glare was that bad. It’s much, much better now, but it means I have to prepare a bit differently.”

Despite that, Asha is relishing the chance to test herself again under the blanket of darkness. “I’m not exactly looking forward to the glare,” she laughs, “but I am looking forward to the challenge. You just have to get out there, test, be a sponge, take everything in. That’s the key.”

The other thing that is completely different for most BARC championships is the act of sharing a car – which adds another dimension entirely – one that’s central to Britcar’s ethos. In endurance racing, success depends not only on speed but on teamwork, trust, and precision.

“Sharing a car means communication is everything,” Asha explains. “You have to understand each other’s driving styles, how the car behaves for each of you, and adapt. Bobby and I work really well together – it’s about mutual respect and giving each other the best possible platform and support.”

The driver changes, the pit stop timing, even how you hand the car back – it all matters. “You’re not racing just for yourself,” she adds. “You’re racing for your teammate, your engineers, the crew – everyone. When you step out of the car, your job’s not done. You’re still part of that effort.”

As the 2025 season nears its finale at Brands Hatch, Asha and Team BRIT remain very much in the fight for the championship – a testament to consistency, strategy, and resilience.

“It’s been a brilliant year,” she reflects. “Every race has taught me something new about traffic management, about preparation, about focus. Whether we’re at the front, the middle, or the back, there’s always someone to race. That’s what makes Britcar so special. You’re never alone out there.”

And as the lights go out for one last time this year, Asha Silva will once again take her place behind the wheel with Team BRIT, ready to battle through the darkness – and for the championship itself. The final round of the Britcar Endurance Championship will be held on Saturday 8th November – where the 2025 champions will be crowned.