Category: Barc

Nathan Williams: Racing for a good cause

Wirral rising star racing driver Nathan Williams is in a campaign to sign up more stem cell donors, after his Dad’s shock leukaemia diagnosis. Nathan, 17, has won five races in the OT Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires series in a car promoting blood cancer charity DKMS and finished on the podium in every race.

On the surface, it seems that Nathan Williams, aged 17 from the Wirral, has been living the dream for the past couple of years. The sixth form student rose up the ranks in sim racing, winning several Perfect Acceleration Sim Racing (PASR) series which were streamed on YouTube. He then graduated to ‘real world’ driving, and remarkably he won his first ever race at Oulton Park in April, and then went on to win both races in the OT Coupe Cup at Thruxton in May.

But behind the scenes, Nathan’s father Andy has been having chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukaemia. Andy, who works in cyber security, first fell ill with flu-like symptoms whilst taking Nathan to a scholarship race in Doncaster, and was diagnosed in February 2024. He spent most of the year in hospital in Liverpool – where one comfort was being able to watch Nathan racing via YouTube.

“The leukaemia diagnosis was a nightmare – we are a close family and I had to tell the boys alone,” remembers Sarah, Nathan’s mum. With support from the racing community, the Williams family, which also includes Nathan’s 14 year old younger brother Zach, pulled together. Andy initially went into remission, but unfortunately relapsed earlier this year. Now, doctors have said that he needs a stem cell transplant, which is planned for September. Only a third of patients will find a stem cell donor within their family. Unfortunately, none of the Williams’ are a match, so Andy will need to rely on a stranger who has joined the stem cell register to give him a second chance. He had only one 100% match out of the 43 million people on the register.

Now the family are working with blood cancer charity, DKMS to encourage more people to join the stem cell register. By registering as a stem cell donor, you could potentially save the life of someone like Andy. Anyone aged 17-55 and in general good health can sign up with DKMS, it just requires a few quick mouth swabs.

The family hope this movement will act as a conversation-starter that will encourage people in the racing community and beyond to sign up as potential stem cell donors. Every year in the UK, approximately 2,000 people will be waiting for a stem cell transplant, just like Nathan’s dad.The family are also working with DKMS to hold a stem cell donor drive event on Sunday 10 August 2025 at Convoy in the Park, in Donington Park. Nathan will be racing in the next stage of the OT Coupe series, and DKMS will be on site helping people to join the stem cell register. From 9am-5pm, attendees can visit the DKMS stand to collect their swabs and join the register.

“I first heard about DKMS when my dad was having his initial treatment – my Mum had signed up to the register as she wanted to be able to support other people going through what we were as a family. Prior to this we never knew that 9 times out of 10 donating stem cells is a similar process to giving blood.” explains Nathan. “When I was given the chance to race in the OT Coupe Cup and was able to put my own design on the car we decided that we could use it as an opportunity to raise awareness of DKMS and encourage other people to sign up as potential stem cell donors. I hope that promoting DKMS on my car will help my dad and others who’ve been diagnosed with a blood cancer or other blood disorders, to find their stem cell match. This is my way of giving back for all the treatment and care that my dad, who is my biggest supporter, has received. Now that I’m 17, I’m finally eligible to join the stem cell register myself. I’ll be joining the register at Donington Park on 10 August, and I hope as many people as possible will do the same”.

DKMS will be on site at Convoy in the Park registering new potential lifesavers, and they will be available if you have any questions. If you aren’t able to attend on the day, you can also visit the DKMS website – www.dkms.org.uk/register – and order a swab kit in the post.”

Donington Park beckons for CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship

It’s another capacity entry as the CNC Heads Sports/Saloons head for Donington Park this weekend, with Paul Rotheroe’s Citroen Xsara VTS still leading the points table after seven rounds. But Rotheroe recorded his first non-finish in the last round at Oulton after losing power to his ECU with a suspected alternator issue.

Simon Allaway’s Lotus Esprit V8 is proving almost unbeatable overall though. Second in the points, he has won every race apart from round three at Anglesey, when he damaged a wheel at the start after contact with Ric Wood’s Volvo. Carl Bennett’s BMW M3 E46 currently lies third and heads Class B, by just two points from Chris Roberts’ BMW M4. Bennett and Rotheroe have both played their double points joker too. Roberts won both races at Oulton at the start of the season, but has had some ongoing issues developing his new car, but his rivalry with Bennett is likely to be just as intense at Donington this weekend.

Fifth in the Championship and second in Class A behind Allaway is Garry Wardle. His TCR Audi A3 had it’s best overall finish at Oulton in the last round, finishing fourth overall. But Garry can often be seen playing catch up, as his car is not suited to standing starts. The closest rivals to Allaway and Wardle in Class A are Ryan Nelson and Ric Wood. Nelson switched from a JCW Mini to a Ginetta G56 GTA this season and was third overall in round six at Oulton. Championship sponsor Wood is due out in his Holden Commodore, but that could end up as any one of his fleet of cars on race day.

Thomas Frankland is due out again in his Renault 5GT Turbo, along with Phil White’s BMW 325 and Jason Hennefer’s Ford Fiesta ST180, while Billy Blockley takes over the family Ginetta G56 GTA from his Dad Richard and Zack Booth’s Renault Megane complete the Class line-up.

With Class B frontrunners Bod Buckby and Ben Roberts both absent this weekend, it gives former Champion Jamie Cryer and opportunity to close up in his Ginetta G20, after problems at Anglesey with broken suspension. But Cryer will have a stern challenge from two further returnees. Paul Masters returns with his Westfield after engine issues at the Oulton opener and former Champion Ian Bamber is back with his Ginetta G20 having missed the whole of last season. Andrew Armiger also becomes the fourth member of his family to race their Vauxhall Tigra in the Championship, while Mark Primett will hopefully have solved the plethora of issues that have plagued his Banks Lotus Europa.

Alek Modro’s Westfield Aero finally came good at Oulton too, finishing second to Allaway in round seven and could be on for another overall podium this weekend. Simon Hutt is in his Silhouette BMW Z4 and James Owen is in another Tigra, along with three Escort RSR’s for Daz Owen, Dave Owen and former BTCC and Pickup racer Lea Wood, while Baz Johnson’s Pontiac Coupe rounds off the Class.

There is just the one taker in Class C again, as John Edwards-Parton brings his Ford Fiesta XR2 out. But in Class D reigning Champion Steven Parker’s Fiesta will have a tough call to challenge the BMW’s of

Bennett and Roberts. Marshall Groves’ Vauxhall Vectra heads the rest, from Simon Graveley’s Golf Gti, Paul Goodlad’s Scirocco hopefully making its seasonal debut, Riccy Walker’s JCW Mini and John Madoc-Jones’ BMW E4 330.David Jones reclaims his Ford Focus Turbo from son Matthew after he raced it at Oulton, David Lawrence is due to debut in a Seat Leon Cupra and veterans Bob Claxton and Ralph Underwood are bringing their respective VW Golf GTi and TR7 V8.

Matthew Jones is re-united with his Ford Focus in Class E and as well as Championship leader Rotheroe, he will have Cavan Taylor’s Renault Clio, Louie Dobson’s Fiesta ST150 and Stuart Connolly’s Honda Civic to challenge him.

Three out of the four Class F entries have taken a win this season. Robert Wakelin won all three races at Anglesey before blowing up at Oulton, but Helen Allen’s Fiesta Zetec currently heads the way, with double Oulton winner Jonjo Lee’s Mini Cooper now back on the pace. Errol Taylor’s Toyota Yaris completes their class.

Finally 2022 Champion Jon Woolfitt is due to make a return too with his Spire GTR.

Qualifying is on Saturday morning at 11.05 for 20 minutes, with race one at 16.15. Sundays race is at 13.25 and both are over 20 minutes too.

Caterham Graduates Racing Club to leave BARC at the end of season

The British Automobile Racing Club can today (August 4) confirm that the Caterham Graduates Racing Club will move onto new pastures at the end of the 2025 season.

Ben Taylor, BARC Chief Executive, said: “We are naturally disappointed that Caterham Graduates have decided to leave BARC for next season.

“It has been a long and successful partnership between us and it seems a shame to bring that to an end when things are currently going really well.

“Nonetheless we wish the club every success in the future and look forward to ending this season on a high.”

BTCC battle resumes in spectacular fashion at Croft

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship resumed at Croft Circuit this past weekend (August 2/3) and it proved to be an event that will live long in the memory as Tom Ingram, Ash Sutton and Dan Rowbottom all triumphed.

Returning to action following its annual summer break, the UK’s premier motorsport series took centre stage in front of a capacity crowd in North Yorkshire – where the battle for title supremacy swung one way and then the other.

Saturday’s track action at the British Automobile Racing Club venue was dominated by Team VERTU’s Ingram as he topped the times in both practice sessions and then snared pole position in qualifying, smashing the existing lap record in the process.

Ingram led from start-to-finish in race one as he kept home heroes Dan Cammish and Senna Proctor at arm’s length throughout. Crucially, four-time champion Sutton encountered problems which resulted in him not scoring – handing Ingram the lead in the standings.

Race two saw NAPA Racing UK’s Rowbottom clinch his third win of the season as he made use of being the highest-placed soft tyre car on the starting grid. The Ford Focus ST driver went from fourth to first in a matter of laps and from that point on he didn’t look back.

Tom Chilton followed Rowbottom in the opening exchanges but was unable to mount a challenge. Instead, he settled for second place while the West Surrey Racing BMW of Daryl Deleon completed the podium in third.

Further back, many eyes were fixed on Sutton as he worked his way from the back of the field to finish fifth; crucially out-scoring Ingram by a handful of points.

One of the most captivating races in recent memory then closed out proceedings at Croft and the end result saw Sutton standing tall ahead of Ingram; with the pair having fought their way to the front to finish first and second.

Pole sitter Aiden Moffat defended valiantly in the opening exchanges however things soon kicked off, starting with Moffat’s team-mate Charles Rainford making contact with Cammish at the Complex which sent him skating into the side of Deleon and Chris Smiley.

Following a lengthy safety car period, the action resumed with Ingram and Sutton going side-by-side for second at the chicane. Ingram came out on top and then went after Moffat – however the Scotsman’s defence was resolute.

The defining – scarcely believable moment – at the front came later on that lap as Sutton went from third to first at the hairpin. Diving underneath the scrapping Moffat and Ingram, the NAPA Racing UK driver survived contact from Gordon Shedden and to come out in the lead and from there he went on to reign supreme.

Ingram would ultimately cross the line in second while Yorkshireman Proctor delivered one of the standout performances of the day as he went from the rear of the field to third. Remarkably the Hyundai driver made up 12 positions on the opening two laps alone.

Leaving Croft, Ingram holds an eight-point advantage over Sutton in the BTCC Drivers’ Championship whilst Rowbottom is a further 70 points in arrears back in third place.

It wasn’t just the BTCC that starred at Croft either as adding to the excitement were a host of races from the VERTU MINI CHALLENGE JCW, Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain and the Legends Cars Elite Cup.

Tom Ovenden and Nathan Edwards claimed a win apiece in the VERTU MINI CHALLENGE JCW while Will Martin and defending champion George Gamble did the same in the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain.

In the Legends Cars Elite Cup, Tyler Read was provisionally crowned champion as he blasted his way to four wins from six races. Will Gibson and American ace Trevor Krouse picked up the remaining victories that were on offer.

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

How to Watch: Croft crucial to BTCC title fighting return

After a short summer break, the circuit racing calendar for the British Automobile Racing Club is alive and kicking. Last week we were in Zandvoort for our annual away day – now we restart the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship with our very own jewel of the north – Croft – hosting Britain’s premier racing series.

There is a titanic clash between Ash Sutton and Tom Ingram brewing at the top of the table, but Croft is always one to help shake-up the race to the title. Can the chasing pack of Dan Cammish, Dan Rowbottom, Jake Hill and Adam Morgan slingshot their way up the order after the three rounds in Yorkshire?

Joining us in the trip up north will be fellow BARC championships – Vertu MINI Challenge, Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain and a guest series in the shape of the rapid Legends. Plenty for all tastes and interests!

When is the next BARC weekend?
This weekend – 2-3 August

Where are the events being held?

Croft Circuit
Address: West Ln, Dalton-on-Tees, Darlington DL2 2PL

What is racing this weekend?

Out on track this weekend: Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Vertu MINI Challenge, Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain and guest series – Legends Cars Elite Cup.

How can I watch?

Wanting to soak up the on-track action in person at Croft? As well as the racing there is lots to do for the whole family. Tickets are available on the day or on the Croft website from ÂŁ21 for a Saturday ticket or ÂŁ38 for a Sunday ticket – with weekend options available from ÂŁ57. Children under 12 go free with discounts or teens.

Tickets can be purchased here: https://croftcircuit.co.uk/racing/btcc

If I can’t get to Croft or I am outside of the UK?

The TOCA Croft 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. 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 11:30. This will be the first race in recent memory without Steve Rider anchoring the coverage.

International audiences will be able to watch the action on YouTube with races live on the RACER network in the US and Canada.

What time are things happening on track?

Free Practice and Qualifying head the order on Saturday with on track action from 09:30 with the first race at 11:30. On Sunday we begin with the pit lane walkabout, with the first race beginning at 12:10.

Do you have any more information?

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

Live Timing and Commentary: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/253103
Timetable*: https://www.barc.net/event/toca-race-meeting-croft-august-2-3/
Live Coverage: https://www.itv.com/btcc

* Subject to adjustments prior and during the race meeting

Look Back: Croft welcomes the BTCC

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns to action after the summer break – with drivers ready to ignite the title tilting battle. Will it be Ash Sutton for a record-breaking fifth, or is Tom Ingram hoping to double-up his own crown count.

With plenty of points on offer, expect a whole host of drivers to claw their way into the fight and be in with a shout at the finale too. Croft always helps to shape BTCC the season. But why is it a special place? Let’s take a look back.

Croft is nestled in North Yorkshire – just a stone’s throw from Darlington. The former airfield is relatively flat – but does provide close, hard-fought racing on the technical circuit. The 2.127 mile venue first hosted the British Saloon Car Championship back in 1968 with the likes of Gordon Spice, John Fitzpatrick, Roy Pierpoint and eventual champion Frank Gardner doing battle.

That initial stint lasted until 1971, with a major Croft regeneration for competitors and spectators following in the seventies and eighties. To bring it in line with other venues, the circuit went through extensive work including investment in the pits paddock and circuit itself. With a deprived north of England tin-top following chomping for saloon car action – the return of the BTCC in 1997 was a hugely popular move.

Welcome Back

In the height of the Super Touring era – with eight manufacturers locking horns with each other, the championship made its way to Croft. Current ITV4 pundit Tim Harvey, who was driving for Peugeot in the 1997 season remembers the first meeting back fondly, talking to BARC a few years ago.

“It was certainly an interesting one. The one thing no venue can control is the weather, and Croft didn’t drain well back in those days – it’s much, much better now – but it’s testament to the circuit’s strength-of-character that the race meeting went ahead and went well, and Croft has remained a favourite on the BTCC calendar ever since.”

But why is it so popular with the drivers and spectators? “Croft always generates great action, with plenty of opportunities for overtaking and, dare I say it, incidents! It’s a difficult circuit to master; the first half of the lap is a high-speed challenge, before you get to the Complex, where you need to slow it all down. There’s a bit of everything, which is what the drivers really appreciate.”

That first meeting for the BTCC in 1997 saw a dominant display from Alain Menu – driving for the Williams Renault team. The Swiss ace put it on pole twice and won both races, oh
 and captured the fastest lap in the second race. It was some performance from the Laguna driver, with only Gabriele Tarquini able to stop the clean sweep as the Italian punched in the fastest lap in race one for Honda.

Jordan joins the winners circle

Fast forward now to 2010. Manufacturers were still present in the BTCC with Chevrolet, Honda dominating the order, but a thorn in their side was a young Andrew Jordan who was constantly hounding the top spots in his Triple Eight run Vauxhall Vectra. The 2013 BTCC Champion took his first ever championship win in 2010 and backed that up with another win in 2014.

Subaru drivers simmer

In 2016, who can forget the clash between the two Subarus of Jason Plato and Colin Turkington. More on Colin shortly.The two character extremes came to blows after a coming together on track. A late lunge from Plato into Tower on Turkington held them both up, allowing the BMW of Rob Collard to nip up the inside and benefit from two position gains. It took a while for things to melt after that icy encounter between the Levorg drivers!
Sutton takes to the top step

Also in 2016 a star was born. In the MG6, a young Ash Sutton in his debut season got his elbows out in a rain soaked final race of the day to seal his first win in the demanding touring car championship. He has since gone on to win a further six races at the northern England circuit with further wins coming in the Subaru Levorg and more recently the NAPA Ford Focus.

‘King of Croft’ – Colin Turkington

Colin Turkington the undisputed King of Croft. The Northern Irishman has an incredible 15 wins with the first coming at the wheel of a front-wheel-drive Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch in 2005. Infact his first ever BTCC podium was at Croft in 2002 in the Atomic Kitten-backed MG. The Yorkshire circuit really does hold a special place for Colin, with the remainder of those victories coming in rear-wheel-drive machines – a drivetrain suited to the start-stop nature of the more technical sections.

A further 14 wins in Subarus and BMWs propelled him to the top of the all time winners list at the Yorkshire venue. His most recent coming only last year. Will Turkington return in 2026 or is that marker ready to be reeled in by Ash Sutton? If Sutton was to win all three races in a weekend it would take him another two and a bit seasons to pass another four-time champion! We will wait and see!

Who will be the King of Croft this weekend? Tickets are available on the gate or online at https://croftcircuit.co.uk/racing/btcc – you don’t want to miss out!

TOCA ends association with Junior Championship organisers

TOCA has today (July 31) confirmed it has set aside its contract with the organisers of the previously proposed TOCA Junior Championship.

David Beecroft and his organisation were appointed to produce, regulate and manage the new series, with an initial competition start date set for 2025. The championship was later postponed by a further year.

Subsequently TOCA has taken this decision to terminate the contract.

TOCA will now be reviewing expressions of interest for a potential Junior Championship for 2026 onwards.

Gurston Down hits the 400 barrier this weekend

Milestones should always be celebrated, especially ones of such magnitude. The British Automobile Racing Club South West Centre is holding its 400th meeting at the Gurston Down hillclimb this weekend (2nd August) – a tremendous achievement by the team based at the Salisbury venue.

Gurston Down is a unique venue on the hillclimbing calendar. As well as being known for its Karousel corner and Deer Leep yump – its one of only a few hills in the country that goes down before it starts to climb – a thrilling experience for the thousands of drivers and riders who have lined up for a timed run since its first event in 1967.

Gurston Down’s Press Officer, Tony Record picks up the story. “Tony Marsh, a multiple British Hillclimb Champion, was the inspiration and driving force behind the creation of Gurston Down. He managed to persuade the Hitchings family to allow him to design and build a course on Gurston Farm.”

“Our first event was held in July ‘67. The course is set at 1057 yards or 957 metres in length. It is narrow and fast at the beginning, before getting twistier at the top. The hill record has tumbled over the years as machinery and tyres have developed – with the current hill record being held by Alex Summers in his DJ Firestorm – stopping the clock at an eye watering 25.00 dead. That’s an average of over 85 miles per hour from a standing start!”

“The hill has become a firm favourite destination for many drivers across the country. Gurston has featured on the British Hillclimb Championship since 1971 and held 129 rounds of the British Championship and features once, sometimes twice in a typical calendar year.

“The team at Gurston Down are proud of their venue and the experience they offer. So much so, the BHC has awarded Gurston nine Norrie Galbraith Awards over the years – the honour bestowed to the best run and organised event in the British Hill Climb Championship each season. No other hill has achieved that many accolades.

The Marsh family, who were so instrumental at the beginning of the journey are still actively involved today with Tony’s sons, Peter and Simon – both hands on with the hill. Peter’s company Turbo Dynamics is the hill and championship sponsor at Gurston, while Simon is a tutor at our hillclimb drivers school.”

The 400th meeting on the 2nd of August is a full and packed affair with variety at every turn in the paddock. Over 130 cars will be present and 30 motorbikes will line-up for the latest round of the ACU Hillclimb championship.

“Reaching the 400th Hillclimb event at Gurston Down is a remarkable achievement and is testament to the dedication and passion of everyone involved at BARC South West,” enthused Ben Taylor, CEO British Automobile Racing Club.

“Gurston holds a unique place in BARC and British motorsport history, not just for its challenging course and picturesque setting, but for the community that has grown around it over nearly six decades. We’re incredibly proud of the team and what they’ve built, and we look forward to celebrating this milestone with competitors, volunteers and spectators this weekend.”

Gates open to spectators on Saturday at 08:15 with practice runs starting at 08:30. Competitive runs will then follow at around 13:00. Tickets are available on the gate. We look forward to welcoming you to the big 400 at Gurston Down this weekend.

Dutch delight as BARC delivers weekend to remember at Zandvoort

The British Automobile Racing Club kicked off the second half of the 2025 season in style this past weekend (July 26/27) as a number of championships made their mark at Zandvoort in the Netherlands.

Making a second visit in as many years to the home of the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix, a number of single-make categories not only took centre stage but also delivered a blockbuster show – with plenty of thrilling wheel-to-wheel moments putting fans on the edge of their seats.

Spoils were shared in the Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA however it was Fionn McLaughlin that ultimately ended up as the big winner as he managed to extend his advantage at the top of the standings.

The Hitech TGR driver’s chief title rival Martin Molnár was victorious in a frenetic opener however McLaughlin went on to crucially outscore the Virtuosi Racing driver in the remaining two, somewhat chaotic, contests.

Fortec Motorsport’s Ary Bansal became the tenth different winner of the season as he reigned supreme in race two before Red Bull Junior McLaughlin came to the fore in a frenetic finale, winning for the third time this year whilst Molnár failed to finish.

Caterham Motorsport had a significant presence at the Dutch track and it proved to be a family affair in the Bilstein Caterham Roadsport Championship as Charlie Harris and William Harris each claimed a hard-fought win apiece.

Over in the Edge Caterham Seven 270R Championship, Louis Darling staked his claim as a force to be reckoned with as he marched towards a brace of race wins. Darling had to play second fiddle to Ben Wheatley in race one but after that he wasn’t to be stopped in races two and three.

Remarkably, Darling’s first win in race two came after a breathtaking run to the chequered flag which resulted in him pipping Nick Sampson to top spot by just 0.003 seconds.

Taylor O’Flanagan underlined why he remains the driver to beat in the Vertex Caterham Seven 310R Championship as he produced a flawless performance to snare pole position in qualifying and then go on to win all three races.

Rounding out the Caterham Motorsport action were a trio of races from the Dutch Barn Vodka Caterham Seven Championship UK – all of which were staggeringly decided by less than a tenth of a second.

Race one saw Matthew Armstrong get the better of Aaron Head by 0.030 seconds before Harry Senior came out on top of a back-and-forth battle with Harry Cook to win race two by 0.041 seconds. Armstrong then beat Senior to first place by 0.092 seconds in race three.

Also in action over the course of the weekend was the P4 Emergency Lighting Caterham Graduates Championship. Amalgamating the Sigma 135 and Sigma 150 classes together, those watching at the track and online were able to savour a bumper 39-car grid battle it out for supremacy.

James Emson and Max Haynes emerged as the class of the field as they both took a win apiece, doing so in some fashion too as they both broke clear of the chasing pack and scrapped amongst themselves for outright honours.

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

Watch all of the action back on the official BARC YouTube channel HERE.

Going Dutch – BARC heads overseas for second half of 2025

After a short summer break, the circuit racing calendar for the British Automobile Racing Club kick-starts this weekend for the second half of the 2025 calendar. Restarting the racing action will be a trip to the Netherlands for an overseas holiday weekend at the coastal Zandvoort Circuit.

British F4 head from one Grand Prix circuit in the form of Silverstone to another in Zandvoort. The upcoming experience will help prepare the young-guns as they climb the single-seater ladder. The Dutch round will also provide a learning opportunity for the Caterham Motorsport classes and the Caterham Graduates Racing Championship to experience the thrill of competition on European soil.

When is the next BARC weekend?
This weekend – 26-27 July

Where are the events being held?

Zandvoort Circuit
Address: Burgemeester van Alphenstraat 108, 2041 JA Zandvoort, Netherlands

What is racing this weekend?

Out on track this weekend are the Wera Tools F4 British Championship, Vertex Caterham Seven 310R, Dutch Barn Vodka Caterham Seven Championship, EDGE Caterham Seven 270R Championship, Blistein Caterham Roadsport Championship and P4 Emergency Lighting Caterham Graduates Racing Championship

How can I watch from the UK?

We have you covered. Both days from the Dutch adventure will be live streamed so you won’t miss a second of the racing action across all the classes. Make sure you subscribe to the BARC YouTube Channel – www.youtube.com/@britishautomobileracingclub

What time are things happening on track?

Qualifying begins on track at 09:00 local time on Saturday with racing beginning at 12:55. On Sunday we get off to an early start with racing beginning at 09:00 local time and running throughout 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. Wherever you are!

Live Timing: https://livetiming.getraceresults.com/zandvoort#screen-results
Timetable*: https://www.barc.net/event/barc-race-meeting-zandvoort-july-26-27/
Live Stream: www.youtube.com/@britishautomobileracingclub

* Subject to adjustments prior and during the race meeting

British F4 title run-in set to begin at Zandvoort

The 2025 British Automobile Racing Club supported Wera Tools F4 British Championship is now on its final approach. The ten event, thirty round calendar is about to tip into the second half of the season, as the championship heads overseas for only the second time, with a return to Zandvoort in the Netherlands next up.

Last time out the young, upcoming drivers climbing the single-seater ladder got to experience the thrill of driving at Silverstone during the British Grand Prix weekend – in front of big crowds, a busy race schedule and the watchful eyes of F3, F2 and F1 team owners. Although a non championship, invitational weekend, the title protagonists now return to the business in hand – the fight for important points as the British F4 series heads from one Grand Prix venue to another, with the home of the Dutch Grand Prix next on the billing.

Leading the charge and one of the revelations of the season has been rookie Fionn McLaughlin from Ireland. With two wins to his name so far, McLaughlin leads the standings by five and half points thanks in part to a further four podiums in the opening chapter of the season. The Red Bull-backed driver is being chased hard by the consistent Martin MolnĂĄr. The Hungarian may only have a Thruxton win to his tally in 2025, but the 2024 Rookie Cup winner is setting his sights on the big prize this year and his methodical approach has put him right in the hunt for the number one spot come Brands Hatch in October.

Australian James Piszcyk is hanging onto the coattails of the two in front. The Rodin Motorsport driver has the same amount of wins as the front two combined, but the man from the land down under has two retirements to his name – hampering his overall leaderboard position. With plenty of points on offer, he could well pull himself into the slipstream and make a move for top spot before the year is out.

Top British driver, Henry Joslyn has yet to stand on the top spot, but six podiums has earned the Fortec driver a solid fourth in the standings. Nestled just behind him is August Raber. Despite the Swede clinching victories at Snetterton and a Donington double, the Argenti star has had a yo-yo season with retirements and outside of points finishes preventing him to challenge the drivers at the summit. With plenty of points on offer, the speed is there, if the consistency can follow – he will be a threat for the title.

As will British drivers Tommy Harfield and Thomas Bearman who are beginning to turn the screw and light up the show with recent performances. The pair sit sixth and seventh in the standings respectively and with a podium for both in the Silverstone showpiece earlier this month they will be on a high coming into part two of the championship.

Other drivers who have turned on the performance this year include Adam Al Azhari who has taken wins at Silverstone and Snetterton, Leo Robinson at Thruxton and Chase Fernandez at Donington. All know how to win and lead from the front and will be battling to add more silverware to their trophy cabinets.

One driver to keep an eye on for the future is 15-year-old Salim Hanna who parachuted into the series at Thruxton and scored points in all three races on his debut and won the final round at Britain’s fastest circuit. He did the double at the British Grand Prix supporting event at Silverstone. Remember the name. Those results could well give him the confidence for more glory if he returns for future rounds. We will have to wait and see


So what can we look forward to on track? Well, close single-seater racing with the next generation of talent at the wheel – it reminds us of the Formula Ford days of old. There are rounds at Zandvoort, Knockhill, Donington Park GP, Silverstone National and Brands Hatch GP still to come. How competitive is the series? Very! 30 drivers have registered for the championship with half of those standing on the podium at some point this year. We have also had nine different winners from five different teams and we aren’t done yet!

Next up is Zandvoort in the Netherlands for the BARC circuit racing away day (26-27 July). You can follow all the F4 racing action along with the best from Caterham Motorsport and Caterham Graduates racing series live on YouTube channel with dedicated LIVE streams on both days.

BTCC reveals updated technical regulations from 2027

The British Touring Car Championship has announced its technical regulations for the next five-year cycle, with this latest evolution set to commence at the start of the 2027 campaign.

This season marks the 15th year since the NGTC regulations were first introduced, with the aim of them being to reduce costs and promote greater parity among competitors. 

Despite there being one remaining year of the existing specifications, series organisers TOCA has put together an evolution of these successful regulations for a further five years – running up until at least the end of 2031.

The goal of the new regulation cycle was to protect the assets of teams by maintaining eligibility for existing machinery, whilst introducing additional car and engine options, thereby expanding opportunities.

From 2027, providing that the vehicle brand is sold within the UK, then any model from that brand can be entered – as long as the car is originally equipped with an internal combustion engine as its primary means of motive power and, of course, conforms to the size and body regulations as per currently.
 
This change will allow a wider variety of cars to enter the BTCC, thus providing teams with greater flexibility and availability in choosing models that fit their goals, as well as giving spectators the experience of seeing cars compete that they may not have seen before.

In addition to that, TOCA has unlinked the engine requirements to each respective car, meaning that any BTCC-homologated engine can be used – not necessarily that from the original manufacturer of that specific car. 

Registered BTCC engine builders will also be bound to supply its engine to any interested team(s) if requested, although no engine supplier can provide more than 50% of the entered cars – with the exception of the TOCA engine, which is always made available to all teams.

Opening up engine availability and supply will enable teams and engine builders to more easily select their optimum base engine and share development costs.

A number of other technical regulations have received modest amendments with the full document due to be released over the coming weeks.

“We’re pleased to announce the BTCC’s technical regulations for the next five-year cycle, to commence in 2027, and I thank all our teams for their invaluable input over the last two years to bring them to fruition,” said Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive.

“Every team wanted the BTCC to continue with the evolution of our great technical regulations
 that was unquestioned. Therefore, our current stakeholders now have the assurance that their major components and capital investment will remain valid through 2031. 
 
“This evolution of the regulations also provides teams with more options, through opening the door to a host of new models and engines that can now be eligible for the BTCC.
 
“We value these successful regulations, which will have largely been in place for almost 20 years at the conclusion of this next cycle. The BTCC technical regulations, like the BTCC itself, is a true British success story.”