Julian Godfrey scorches to British Rallycross Championship victory at Lydden Hill

Julian Godfrey took a step closer to clinching a sixth Toyo Tires Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship title this past Bank Holiday Monday (August 26) as the Ford Fiesta driver reigned supreme at Lydden Hill.

Battling searing temperatures at the Kent venue, Godfrey produced a scorching performance to take control of the overall standings with double-header events at Pembrey and Croft now only remaining on the 2019 calendar.

Heading into the fourth event of the season tied on points with chief title protagonist Derek Tohill, the battle for supremacy across both loose and tarmac surfaces reached fever pitch in front of a bumper trackside crowd.

Tohill would strike first on race day as he powered his Ford Fiesta to the fastest time in the first round of qualifying heats, before Godfrey then did the same in both Q2 and Q3.

Jack Thorne, who was making his first Supercar start in three years, underlined his credentials as one to watch as he got the launch as the lights went out for the final and leapt into an early lead from behind the wheel of his Ford Fiesta.

Despite the strong start from the front row Thorne was unable to hold off the charging Godfrey who retook the lead at the end of the opening lap. From there, the former champion was unstoppable and went on to score his third win of the season.

Tohill emerged from an almighty scrap for third place to claim the final spot on the podium, albeit narrowly ahead of the charging Steve Hill.

In the Motorsport UK Supernational Rallycross Championship, Tristan Ovenden continued his unbeaten run of form to score yet another victory, leading Peter McGarry and Darren Scott across the line in an ultra-competitive final.

Patrick O’Donovan, son of former British RX champion Ollie O’Donovan, moved to the summit of the Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross Championship standings as he claimed his first win of the season in impressive fashion.

Tom Constantine delivered a controlled drive in the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship whilst Drew Bellerby took a lights-to-flag victory in the BMW Mini Rallycross Championship.

Rounding out the list of winners at Lydden Hill was Gary Simpson, who reigned supreme in the Retro Rallycross Championship.

Trio of championships star at Donington Park

The British Automobile Racing Club served up an action-packed day of tin top thrills at Donington Park this past weekend (August 24) as three categories continued their journey towards crowning 2019 champions.

With the sun shining on the challenging Leicestershire venue and the business end of the season fast approaching, the need to succeed was as great as ever.

Ronan Pearson did just that in the Michelin Clio Cup Series as he closed the gap to Simon Freeman in the battle for Race Class honours, winning twice. Having been the benchmark drivers at the front of the field up until now, the pair continued their scrap under the flightpath of East Midlands airport.

In the Road Class, Nic Harrison produced another flawless performance to further extend his points lead after scoring another two wins – edging him closer to a third successive title triumph in the process.

The Classic Touring Car Championship meanwhile boasted plenty of variety as some of the most iconic saloon cars went wheel-to-wheel across six enthralling encounters.

Both the Burton Power Blue Oval Saloon Series and Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder Saloons Championship amalgamated together for an action-packed pair of races which saw spoils shared between Andrew Wilson and Mathew Evans.

Elsewhere, Stephen Primett and Mike Luck were the victors in the Paul Inch – Classic Race Engines Pre ’66 Touring Cars and CTCRC Group 1 Touring Car Championship races.

The Envirotec Hygiene Services Pre-93 Touring Cars, Simply Serviced Pre-2003 Touring Cars and Toyo Tyres Pre-2005 Production Touring Car Championship also came together for two races over the course of the day, with Ray West reigning supreme in both.

Garrie Whittaker capped off the day’s action with another superlative performance in the Kumho BMW Championship, extending his winning streak with another two lights-to-flag drives.

For the full classification of results from all sessions at Donington Park, click here.

Double-winning performances headline Mallory Park race day

Mallory Park played host to a blockbuster British Automobile Racing Club race day this past Bank Holiday Monday (August 26) as four championships continued their 2019 campaigns at the picturesque Leicestershire venue in scorching temperatures.

George Turiccki staked his claim in the Pickup Truck Racing Championship as he powered his way to a dominant double around the challenging oval layout. Entering the event as one of several title protagonists, Turiccki enjoyed a near-perfect

Running as low as fourth in the opening encounter, Turiccki was soon on the move as the 25-lap race progressed and took the lead on the fifth tour, never looking back from there onwards to triumph.

Race two was almost a carbon-copy of the previous duel as Turiccki once again bided his times inside the top five before striking early and controlling proceedings right the way up to the chequered flag.

The BARC Super Silhouette Championship had a familiar feel to it once again as Malcolm Blackman continued his rich vein of form with another double-winning performance.

Having entered the event as the driver to beat, winning all but one of the races run, Blackman topped the times in qualifying before then producing a scintillating performance to top the podium in both races.

Alex Jay continued the theme of drivers scoring two wins at Mallory Park in the Junior Saloon Car Championship, as the teenage sensation enjoyed a breakthrough meeting. Having shown plenty of speed throughout the year, Jay came to the fore firstly by storming to the front row of the grid in qualifying.

From there, the #77 was peerless as he powered his way to a maiden victory in the opener before doubling his tally later in the day.

Rounding out the day’s action was a pair of races from the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship, where the spoils were shared between William Sharpe and Steve McDermid – both of whom took a step closer to title glory in their respective classes.

For the full classification of results from all sessions at Mallory Park, click here.

Donington Park awaits trio of championships for latest chapter of 2019 season

Donington Park is set to play host to a scintillating Saturday (August 24) of British Automobile Racing Club track action this weekend as three championships journey to the Leicestershire venue to continue their 2019 campaigns.

One of the headline acts will be the Michelin Clio Cup Series, where the pendulum looks likely to continue swinging back-and-forth this weekend as the popular one-make category gears up for its latest instalment.

The Race Class has proven to be highly entertaining with Simon Freeman and Ronan Pearson going wheel-to-wheel on a number of occasions already. Freeman holds the advantage however a breakthrough win for Pearson last time out will likely serve as added motivation to close the gap in the standings.

New-for-2019 has been the Sport Class, which has been open to the fourth generation Clio Cup car and Westbourne Motorsport’s James Colburn has emerged as the benchmark driver up to now, winning every race that has been run so far.

Capping off the Clio Cup Series grid is the Road Class, which is home to machines that are the closest to their road-going counterparts. Double champion Nic Harrison holds the initiative at the moment as he bids to record a third successive title however both Richard Colburn and Darren Geeraerts remain within touching distance.

Garrie Whittaker will look to continue his dominant winning streak at Donington Park this weekend as the Kumho BMW Championship resumes battle.

Open to any production BMW sold in the UK, the championship has proven to be a popular draw for fans and competitors alike with non-stop action all-but guaranteed at every event so far this year.

Triumphing at every event so far, the E36 M3 driver has been the cream of the crop so far, and is showing no signs of slowing down. Notable names to look out for as they aim to take the fight to Whittaker during the day include Lucky Khera, James Card, James West, Trevor Ford and Jas Sapra, amongst many more.

The Classic Touring Car Championship takes centre at Donington Park this weekend as the 2019 approaches its climax, with this stop in Leicestershire the penultimate event on the calendar.

Overall honours in the Paul Inch – Classic Race Engines Pre ’66 Touring Cars, CTCRC Group 1 Touring Car Championship, Envirotec Hygiene Services Pre-93 Touring Cars, Simply Serviced Pre-2003 Touring Cars, Toyo Tyres Pre-2005 Production Touring Car Championship, Burton Power Blue Oval Saloon Series and Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder Saloons Championship are what drivers have been fighting for this – and the battle line are drawn.

Boasting a glittering array of iconic tin top machinery, notable names too cast a watchful eye over as the day progresses include AJ Owen, Martin Reynolds, Piers Grange, Stephen Primett, Alan Wilshire, Patrick Harris and Paul Inch – to name but a few.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event at Donington Park, including links to live timing and timetables, click here.

BARC bank holiday blockbuster expected to take centre stage at Mallory Park

The British Automobile Racing Club is gearing up for a spectacular Bank Holiday Monday (August 26) next week as Mallory Park plays host to what is set to be an action-packed race day which will be made up of four championships.

Having taken centre stage at the Leicestershire venue in treacherous conditions in late July, the Club will descend on the challenging circuit for what is set to be a pivotal stop on the 2019 calendar for all involved.

Featuring at that July event was the Pickup Truck Racing Championship; and they are back for more this time around with two races scheduled to be run on the infamous oval layout.

Michael Smith currently tops the standings and the championship leader will be one to watch having triumphed here earlier in the year. Chasing his first title since 2014, Smith will have to starve off the challenge of the chasing pack, where there are plenty of contenders.

Leading the fight is the ultra-consistent George Turiccki whilst Dale Gent, another to triumph at Mallory Park, is hot on his heels in third place. Reece Jones, Mark Willis, Paul Tompkins, Dean Tompkins and Daniel Petters are all also expected to be in the mix too.

The BARC Super Silhouette Championship was another category to feature at Mallory Park last month and the spaceframe coupe and saloon cars series returns for a second bite of the cherry.

This year has largely belonged to Malcolm Blackman who has proven to be a dominant force and two more wins to add to his already impressive 2019 tally could put him within touching distance of lifting the coveted crown.

Chris Brockenhurst has been the only driver to stand on the top step of the podium other than Blackman and along with the likes of title rivals Keith White and Steve Burrows, he’ll be aiming to repeat the feat.

Wheel-to-wheel action is all-but expected in the Junior Saloon Car Championship as the latest crop of teenage racers bid to make a name for themselves. Approaching the business end of the 2019 campaign,

Scott McIntyre and reigning champion Lewis Saunders have proven to be the cream of the crop so far with the two locked in a back-and-forth battle for overall honours. Jemma Moore and Alex Jay also remain on the fringe of the front-running fight too and shouldn’t be discounted.

Rounding off the day’s racing will be action from the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship; which has been rolling back the years to showcase some of the most jaw-dropping machines from the world-renowned manufacturer.

With multiple classes and all manner of different models sharing the same piece of tarmac, the on-track entertainment has been fast and frenetic so far.

Notable names to look out for include David Amphlett, Jim Baynam, Sarah Sullivan, Stuart Plotnek and Stephen McDermid – to name but a few.

To find out more information on this coming Monday’s event at Mallory Park, including links to live timing and timetables, click here.

British Rallycross Championship gearing up for return to Lydden Hill

The Toyo Tires Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship will roar back into life after its mid-season break at Lydden Hill this coming Bank Holiday Monday (August 26) with Derek Tohill and Julian Godfrey tied on points at the summit of the standings.

With three events already in the books, the adrenaline-fuelled series returns to the spiritual home of the sport in Kent for what is set to be a blockbuster race day of sideways thrills and spills.

Since the Silverstone season-opener, nothing has been able to separate Tohill and Godfrey towards the sharp end of the field – with neither of them able to break away from the other at the summit of the standings.

Tallying two wins apiece, the Ford Fiesta duo have been the cream of the crop so far and will undoubtedly be in the mix for outright honours at Lydden Hill.

Beyond the top two however are a host of front-running contenders that are all aiming to challenge for the top step of the podium as well. Former champion Ollie O’Donovan has endured a frustrating campaign to-date but the the Irishman can never be discounted.

Roger Thomas debuted his new Ford Fiesta last time out and will look to further improve whilst the likes of Steve Hill, Andy Grant and Simon Horton are all chasing silverware in their respective machines too.

Although the Toyo Tires Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship will take centre stage at the home of rallycross, a bumper supporting bill will also be in action over the course of the day to set the pulses of those in attendance racing.

The Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross Championship, Motorsport UK Supernational Rallycross Championship, BMW Mini Rallycross Championship, Swift Sport Rallycross Championship, RX150 Championship and Retro Rallycross Championship will all feature in entertaining fashion.

To find out more information on the Bank Holiday Monday spectacular, click here.

Pete Sparrow crowned champion as 2CV Championship stars at Snetterton

The 2CV Parts.com Classic Racing Championship brought the curtain down on its 2019 campaign in sensational style at Snetterton this past weekend (August 16/17/18) as Pete Sparrow was crowned champion for the second year in succession at the Liqui Moly 24-hour season finale.

Taking centre stage at the Norfolk venue following another vintage year of on-track action at some of the UK’s top circuits, the iconic one-make series marked its 30th anniversary with a pulsating race.

Following a staggering 758 laps being completed, the European entry of BNLL 2 recorded a memorable victory as they ran out winners following 24 gruelling hours of racing. Having started the race on the outside of the front row, the outfit powered their way past stablemates BNLL 1 and cantered to victory by four laps at the chequered flag.

Team Gadget Racing proved to be the best of the British contingent as Tom Perry, Lien Davies, Simon Clarke and Ainslie Bousfield teamed up to finish fourth overall.

Sparrow, who was part of 2CV Team Lion 1, held his nerve to finish seventh overall and crucially ahead of title protagonist Nick Crispin – gifting him a second title in as many years.

There was plenty of action during the weekend’s two Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup races too as Wayne Rockett once again exerted his dominance in the single-make series. Having been the form driver so far this year, Rockett continued his rich vein of form with another unstoppable performance as he romped to a brace of victories.

Spoils were shared in the weekend’s two Uncle Luke’s BARC Saloon Series races, which showcased a wide variety of tin top machinery. Mark De Ath triumphed in the opening encounter in his Subaru Impreza before Steve Rothery reigned supreme in his Peugeot 308 later in the day.

Rounding out the weekend’s British Automobile Racing Club entertainment were two races from the KW Automotive Classic VW Cup and TDi North Honda VTEC Challenge, which had amalgamated together once again.

Luke Schlewitz emerged as the driver to beat across the weekend’s two race as he piloted his Honda Civic to victory in both encounters, by more than 40 seconds in each too.

Those wanting to look back on some of the best bits from the 2CV Parts.com Classic Racing Championship 24-hour race can do so by heading to www.barctv.net/

To view the full classification of results from all categories that competed over the course of the weekend in East Anglia, click here.

Thruxton hosts spectacular second BTCC visit as Tordoff, Cook and Cammish triumph

Thruxton Circuit was the stage for another full-throttle weekend of motorsport action as the Hampshire speedbowl played host to the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship for the second time this season.

Sam Tordoff, Josh Cook and Dan Cammish all stood on the top step of the podium after a thrilling day of racing that saw reigning champion Colin Turkington have his lead in the Drivers’ standings cut to just 30 points.

A full programme of support series also put on a feast of wheel-to-wheel entertainment for the spectators, who packed onto the famous banking around the WWII airfield, while a host of off-track activities kept families occupied throughout the weekend.

In total, fans enjoyed 16 outstanding races with the BTCC backed up by British F4, Porsche Carrera Supercup GB, Renault UK Clio Cup, Michelin Ginetta Juniors and the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup as Thruxton made the most of a second visit from the TOCA package following a hugely successful event in May.

Tordoff enjoyed an excellent getaway from pole in the first BTCC race of the day, having produced a blistering lap to put his Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Honda Civic Type R (FK2) top of the timesheets on Saturday.

The same can’t be said for fan-favourite Jason Plato who overshot his front-row grid slot, triggering a drive-through penalty for the Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing ace which dropped him to the back.

The veteran proceeded to carve his way through the field, much to the delight of his celebrity guest James Martin, but Plato’s charge was eventually halted just outside the points in 17th.

Back at the front, Tordoff kept his cool to lead home Cammish and Adam Morgan, notching his first win of the 2019 season after a campaign plagued by bad luck.

Meanwhile, the crowd on the banking were treated to a thrilling race-long duel between championship leader Colin Turkington and his closest title rival, BMW stablemate Andrew Jordan – with the Pirtek Racing ace eventually gaining the upper hand to finish 12th and nibble away at the Northern Irishman’s points advantage.

Tordoff picked up where he left off in race two, flying off the line and blasting through turn one below fans eagerly watching on from the balcony of the Thruxton Centre. Cammish, meanwhile, bogged down in his Halfords Yuasa Racing Honda Civic, allowing Morgan and Josh Cook past on the run to the complex.

However, the Yorkshireman’s lead was short-lived as he was passed by both Cook and Morgan on the way into the chicane before tumbling further down the order when he lost out to Tom Oliphant.

Cook showed the field a clean pair of heels at the front to pick up his third win of the campaign while Morgan secured another comfortable second place ahead of Matt Neal, who sent the crowd wild with a superb last-lap move on Oliphant.

Hampshire hero Rob Collard was drawn on pole for the reverse grid race and shot away when the lights went out as Oliphant jumped Cammish while battles raged behind.

The Halfords Yuasa Racing ace soon muscled his way back past Oliphant on lap three but all eyes were fixed on an enthralling battle between Jordan, Tom Ingram, Ash Sutton and Cook.

Points-leader Turkington then lost out to Plato and Tordoff further down the field as the BTCC served up its usual dose of close-quarter squabbling while back at the front, Cammish capitalised on a mistake by Collard at Church to take the lead on lap 10.

The Honda star kept his cool despite a late downpour to take his ninth podium of the campaign and the team’s first victory of the season while Neal capped an excellent day for Team Dynamics with third behind Collard.

Ingram and Sutton clashed further back, allowing Cook and Plato to capitalise while the rear-wheel drive cars struggled for grip in the closing stages, creating even more excitement for the packed crowd.

The Carrera Cup field had been the first to take to the track in changeable conditions on Sunday morning, with Dan Harper initially struggling on slick tyres before carving his way back to the front and taking the spoils.

Harper doubled up in the second race later in the afternoon, holding off Josh Webster and Lewis Plato as the single-make series produced plenty of thrills and spills for the watching crowd.

Meanwhile, Will Burns built on his Saturday success in the Ginetta GT4 Supercup, taking his second win of the weekend ahead of Tom Hibbert and Reece Somerfield before Harry King bounced back from a tough few rounds with victory in race three.

Elsewhere, Will Martin and Zak O’Sullivan went toe-to-toe in a titanic duel to the flag in the Ginetta Junior race, with the former eventually prevailing after James Hedley’s early retirement, while Carter Williams completed a clean sweep in British F4 with back-to-back victories for JHR Developments.

Finally, the Renault UK Clio Cup also threw up a stormer of a race which culminated in controversial contact between Jack Young and Max Coates at the final chicane, with the former taking the chequered flag but being penalised post-race and the latter ending up stranded on the grass and furious in parc ferme. The race win eventually went to Ethan Hammerton.

As well as all the on-track action, this weekend was also notable for long-standing Thruxton Circuit Director Bill Coombs stepping away from the limelight as he takes more of a back seat role at the track.

“It’s 40 years since I did the racing school here, so it’s an appropriate time to back out,” he said.

“I’ve had some wonderful times here, particularly running the racing school, and more recently with the circuit. We’ve had this development plan which we have put into action and hopefully everybody has seen the changes that we’ve made over the past seven years, culminating in the Thruxton Centre.

“It is the only place that you can get so close to the action and it’s great that it’s situated on such a fast corner. The crowds love it here, and the hospitality has sold really well. Racing is always great here at Thruxton. It’s good racing on a super-fast, old-school circuit which we love.

“I’m still staying on the main BARC board so you will still see me around, but not doing the day-to-day operational stuff. I’m very pleased to hand that over to our team. We’ve got a fantastic team at Thruxton, and Pat Blakeney will head that up. I am sure he will do a fantastic job.”

Next up for Thruxton is the Classic Sports Car Club meeting on September 21/22 where motoring enthusiasts will be treated to a spectacular display of stunning vehicles and white-knuckle racing.

Tickets start from ÂŁ11 while Children 15 and under go free. Grandstand seats and paddock access are included with admission.

For more information on Thruxton’s race meetings and driving experiences, visit www.thruxtonracing.co.uk

Sam Tordoff tops the times at Thruxton as BTCC bonanza begins

Sam Tordoff will start on pole for Round 19 of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship after a blistering lap around Thruxton’s famous sweepers as Britain’s premier motorsport series rolled into town once again.

The Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance star topped the times at the Hampshire speedbowl for the second occasion this season, having blitzed the field with a new lap record on the BTCC’s first visit to the track earlier in the campaign.

This time around, Tordoff posted an impressive 1:15.876s to pip the Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall of Jason Plato by just 0.014s while Dan Cammish will line up third on the grid after an impressive effort in his Halfords Yuasa Racing Honda.

There was also a feast of on-track action served up by the rest of the TOCA package as fans were treated to six thrilling support races around the 2.4-mile circuit, whetting the appetite for a packed 10-race programme on Sunday.

Tordoff struggled in the first practice session at the famous WWII airfield but gradually got to grips with his Civic Type R at a circuit that has often favoured Honda machinery in the past, with the Yorkshireman pulling out all the stops to seal pole.

“It’s quickly becoming my favourite track and we’ve given ourselves such a good chance for tomorrow,” said Tordoff.

“I should have won here in May and would have were it not for power steering failure. I’ll be looking to put that right tomorrow.”

Fan-favourite Plato ran Tordoff close, having caught the eye last time out at Snetterton when tussling with former team-mate Ash Sutton, and the 51-year-old is sure to give as good as he gets when the lights go out tomorrow.

With Cammish third and the Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport Mercedes of Adam Morgan fourth, just ahead of Bath-born Josh Cook in his BTC Racing Honda, spectators are sure to see some fireworks on lap one.

Hampshire local Rob Collard will line up tenth in his Vauxhall, one place ahead of championship leader Colin Turkington while the Northern Irishman’s closest rival Andrew Jordan will start 13th in his BMW 330i M Sport.

Elsewhere, Carter Williams became the eighth different winner in British F4 this season during the series’ first race of the weekend, while Sebastian Alvarez strengthened his title challenge with a solid runners-up finish.

Josh Skelton received maximum points in the single-seaters’ second outing of the day ahead of Tommy Foster while Alvarez banked another podium with third.

James Hedley took the honours in the opening Ginetta Junior race – his fourth victory of the campaign – ahead of Zak O’Sullivan and Lorcan Hanafin while it was O’Sullivan’s turn to triumph in the second race ahead of Will Martin and Hedley.

Max Coates held off Jack Young to win in the Renault UK Clio Cup and Will Burns profited from Harry King’s last-lap puncture to pinch the first Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup Championship race of the weekend.

The weather stayed fair throughout Saturday and a positive forecast is set to see another bumper crowd descend on the famous Thruxton banking for BTCC race day.

Fans will be able to get a first-hand look at the field with the ever-popular paddock walkabout on Sunday morning while there will be something for everyone off-track with a variety of activities around the venue including skid pan rides for all ages, an extensive display of driving experience supercars and racing cars and a fantastic trade village to explore.

Tickets are available on the gate, starting at ÂŁ34. Teen tickets (13 to 15 years old) are ÂŁ10, while Under-12s go free.

For further information, visit thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc or call 01264 882222.

Local favourite Collard predicts BTCC blockbuster at ‘old-school’ Thruxton

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns to Thruxton Circuit this weekend (17/18 August) for its second high-speed visit of 2019, and local star Rob Collard has his sights set on podium celebrations at what he predicts to be another BTCC blockbuster show.

Collard might be one of the BTCC’s elder statesmen at 50 now, but the Hampshireman shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. That much was clear from his fourth-place finish amongst the 30 high-calibre contenders – some of the fastest drivers in the country – at Snetterton two weeks ago.

Indeed, Collard has 15 race wins to his name in the UK’s premier motorsport series – one of which came at Thruxton two years ago – and he sped to a top ten double on home soil earlier this season. Buoyed by his strong form last time out behind the wheel of his Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra, the Eversley man is aiming to keep the ball rolling in front of family and friends this weekend.

“Thruxton is just a great circuit – one at which practically every driver looks forward to competing – and it’s fantastic that we have the opportunity to race there twice this year,” he enthused. “It’s probably actually the track I’ve driven the least in the UK due to limited testing opportunities, which makes it even more of a pleasure when we do get to drive there.

“It’s an undiluted challenge full of old-school charm – a really fast, flowing circuit that truly stretches drivers’ commitment and bravery to the limit, which ultimately is why we all do this. You also need to use your head as much as your right foot at Thruxton; its unique nature means that if you push too hard, too soon you will destroy your tyres in the first few laps – tyre preservation is equally as important as out-and-out speed. As we’ve seen in previous years at Thruxton, it really is never over until it’s over.

“It’s great having the local support behind me for the weekend, and Thruxton always generates exciting racing, with plenty of action at the Complex and Chicane in particular and fantastic viewing from the banking and on the big screens.

“We’ve struggled a bit for consistency this season and circumstances have conspired against us on occasion, but Snetterton offered more of a reflection of our true pace so hopefully we can keep that momentum going and score some good points. We were fast at Thruxton earlier in the year, and obviously it would be brilliant to reach the podium again on home soil.”

Alongside the headline-grabbing BTCC, a jam-packed schedule of high-octane support series – comprising the F4 British Championship, Ginetta Junior Championship, Renault UK Clio Cup, Ginetta GT4 SuperCup and Porsche Carrera Cup GB, the latter appearing at Thruxton for the first time in five years – will ensure the action remains red-hot from lights-out to chequered flag.

Off-track, there will also be a variety of activities around the venue including skid pan rides for all ages, an extensive display of Thruxton’s driving experience supercars and racing cars and a comprehensive trade village to explore. There will additionally be evening entertainment in the Thruxton Centre on both Friday and Saturday.

Tickets for the BTCC’s visit on 17/18 August can be purchased on the gate, starting at £17 for Saturday (qualifying) and £34 for Sunday (race day). Children aged 13-15 get in for £5 on Saturday and £10 on Sunday; accompanied children aged 12 and under will be admitted free of charge.

For further information or to buy tickets, visit thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc-aug or call 01264 882222.

For more information on Thruxton’s race meetings and driving experiences, visit www.thruxtonracing.co.uk

2CV Championship to headline Snetterton weekend with 24-hour title showdown race

The destiny of the 2CV Parts.com Classic Racing Championship will be decided at Snetterton this weekend (August 16/17/18) with reigning champion Pete Sparrow and Nick Crispin set for a final showdown to see who will lift the coveted title for 2019.

In what is the 29th edition of the much-loved event, the Liqui Moly 2CV 24-Hour race will bring the curtain down on what has been another vintage year of on-track action for the iconic category.

This year in particular has been one of celebration for the championship with 2019 seeing the 100th anniversary of Citroen, the 70th anniversary of the 2CV and the 30th anniversary since the inaugural 2CV race taking place.

Touring the UK – stopping off at Silverstone, Cadwell Park, Mallory Park and Brands Hatch along the way – the destiny of the title has boiled down to just two drivers.

Entering the year donning the mantel of defending champion, Sparrow has proven himself to be a tour-de-force. Scoring five wins, including braces at the first two events, Sparrow heads to East Anglia with a 66-point advantage over Crispin and on the cusp of becoming a back-to-back champion.

Whilst Sparrow has visited the top step of the podium, Crispin is yet to do so as it stands. Putting together an ultra-competitive run of results, the lead protagonist has tallied the points as the year has progressed – placing him within touching distance heading into the finale.

Brian Heerey, Lien Davies, Alec Graham, David O’Keefe and Tom Perry have all scored victories at one stage during the season and they too will be one’s to watch as they bid to triumph one more time before the season is out.

The 2CV Parts.com Classic Racing Championship may be the headline act over the course of the weekend in Norfolk but there will be plenty more British Automobile Racing Club action taking place as well.

Fans of all things tin tops will be well-catered for virtue of the Uncle Luke’s BARC Saloon Series, KW Automotive Classic VW Cup and the TDi North Honda VTEC Challenge, all of which will duke it out for the latest honours around the 2.97-mile circuit.

Further thrills and spills are expected to come in the shape of the Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup. Having enjoyed bumper grids throughout the year already, the popular one-make series is set to write another illustrious chapter in its history with two more pulsating encounters.

Full coverage of the Liqui Moly 2CV 24-Hour race from Snetterton will be screened live on www.barctv.net.

To find out more information about the event, including the full timetable and links to live timing, click here.

Blockbuster BARC track action headlines Convoy in the Park at Donington Park

The British Automobile Racing Club took centre stage at Donington Park’s Convoy in the Park this past weekend (August 10/11) as six championships hit the track to write the latest exciting chapters of their 2019 campaigns.

In what proved to be a blockbuster two days of on-track action, a bumper crowd descended on the Leicestershire venue to not only soak up the BARC championship action, but also the off-track entertainment too.

Headlining the weekend’s race schedule was eight encounters from the high-octane MV Commercial BTRA Championship. Boasting the biggest grids of the season for both classes, the second half of the season for the heavyweight behemoths proved to be nothing short of dramatic.

Division 1 saw reigning three-time champion Ryan Smith tighten his grip on the title as he scored a brace of victories whilst there were also first wins of the year for both Simon Reid and the returning Jamie Anderson.

Spoils were shared between current title holder Luke Garrett and Paul Rivett in Division 2, the pair both scooping two wins apiece whilst Steven Powell enjoyed an ultra-consistent weekend, netting four second place finishes.

The Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres saw plenty of wheel-to-wheel battles take place across the weekend’s six heats, producing no less than five different winners.

Will Gibson led the way as he visited the top step of the podium twice whilst there were also wins for reigning champion John Mickel, Paul Simmons, Sy Harraway and new championship leader Miles Rudman.

It proved to be another nail-biting event for the Pickup Truck Racing Championship as the battle for supremacy continued to intensify under the flightpath of East Midlands airport; with championship protagonists Michael Smith and George Turiccki both triumphing.

Malcolm Blackman meanwhile continued to exert his dominance in the Super Silhouette Championship as he bagged another two victories. Having seen his unbeaten run come to an end last time out, Blackman bounced back in style with a commanding performance to emerge as the victor.

Slipstreaming shenanigans came in the shape of the Mighty Minis Championship around the 1.97-mile circuit, to the delight of the crowd. Neven Kirkpatrick and Greg Jenkins were the winners both overall and in the Super Mighty Mini class whilst further back, Greg Daw and David Burns shared the spoils in the Mighty Mini category.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action at Donington Park were a pair of races from the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship – the Club’s North West Centre’s flagship series.

Boasting a healthy 38-car entry list for the weekend, the multi-class championship is home to all manner of machinery and Convoy in the Park saw Danny Winstanley and Luke Armiger run out the winners.

To view the full classification of results from each session of each championship, click here.