Category: Barc

Oulton Park to play host to blockbuster TOCA support package action

Oulton Park will bring the curtain down on the first half of the season for all five TOCA support championships this weekend (June 29/30) as the Cheshire venue stages the latest Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship event.

Taking centre stage alongside Britian’s premier race series, all five support categories will be looking to put on a show in front of an expected packed-out crowd before heading into the annual summer mid-season break.

Coming off the back of a double-winning performance on home turf, Max Coates will be looking to further close the gap to Jack Young in the Renault UK Clio Cup across the weekend’s two races.

Having shared the spoils up to now, both Young and Coates are set to continue their battle at the summit of the points as they each fight to gain the upper hand. However, the ultra-competitive nature of the tin top category will mean they will have to look over their shoulders too.

Ethan Hammerton, Brett Lidsey, Ben Colburn, Jade Edwards and Jamie Bond, among several others, will all been keen to throw themselves into race-winning contention and get on the podium.

Harry King heads to Oulton Park in control of the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup standings and the Elite Motorsport driver looks set to be a hard man to displace from the summit as the series continues with two races scheduled to take place.

Scoring a brace of wins at Croft, King rocketed to the top of the points and will be focused on extending his advantage around the Island layout. Reece Somerfield, Tom Hibbert and Mike Epps are just three drivers that can threaten King’s hopes of succeeding.

In the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship, James Hedley will be looking to protect his healthy points advantage in the latest double-header of the season. Having triumphed three times already, the former Winter Series champion is in the pound seat as it stands but will need to keep the points ticking over.

Behind, the likes of Zak O’Sullivan, James Taylor, Gus Burton and Will Martin will all have their sights on closing the gap to the Elite Motorsport pace-setter.

Two more races from the jaw-dropping Porsche Carrera Cup GB will also take place over the weekend, with Daniel Harper currently residing as the man to beat. Victory at Croft last time out helped the Northern Irishman’s quest for the title but he will need to maintain his momentum.

Former champion Josh Webster along with George Gamble and Lewis Plato are just some of the protagonists with theirs sights set on Harper’s position at the Carrera Cup GB summit.

Rounding out the TOCA support action, as ever, will be a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford Ecoboost. Zane Maloney is the form man in the single seater category arriving at Oulton, riding high after winning the past four races in-a-row.

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

Thruxton revved up for blockbuster BARC race weekend

The home of the British Automobile Racing Club, Thruxton Circuit, will play host to a blockbuster two days of track action this weekend (June 29/30) as the MV Commercial BTRA Championship descends on Hampshire with a bumper supporting cast.

In what is one of the highlights of the season for the fastest track in the UK, a total of seven championships will go wheel-to-wheel around the much-loved venue as they each write the latest chapter in their 2019 campaigns.

Headlining the weekend’s action will be no less than seven races from the MV Commercial BTRA Championship. Weighing in at more than five tonnes and producing in excess of 1000bhp, the heavyweight behemoths have delivered all-out action so far this year, and it’s only set to continue.

Division 1 currently sees three-time champion Ryan Smith in control of the points after making a flying start to the year. Aiming to become a four-time title winner, Smith has a wave of momentum behind him however fierce rival David Jenkins will be keen to halt his progress and close the gap.

Luke Garrett meanwhile has taken on the role of defending champion in Division 2 with relative ease, leading the way in the points after two events. Notching four wins so far, Garrett will be one to watch as he bids to extend his advantage over the chasing pack – made up of Paul Rivett, Steve Powell, Brad Smith and more.

Whilst Division 1 and Division 2 will compete in three races each, the fourth and final encounter will see both grids combine – bringing the curtain down on the weekend in sensational style.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship has kicked off the year in ultra-competitive fashion with six different winners from the first seven races. George Turiccki leads the pack into the weekend’s two races however staying there may prove difficult, with the competition being as fierce as it is.

Dale Gent, David O’Regan, Reece Jones, Paul Tompkins and Michael Smith are the other victors so far and any one of them could top the podium over the course of the two days.

Slipstreaming will be on full display in the Mighty Minis Championship as a bumper entry list of the iconic car duke it out for supremacy. Renowned for producing edge-of-the-seat thrills, both the Mighty Mini and Super Mighty Mini classes will be in attendance for a pair of thrilling races.

Notable names to keep an eye on over the course of the event include Alex Comis, Owen Edgley and Neven Kirkpatrick, amongst many more.

Speaking of cars from a bygone era, fans of single seaters will be well catered for in the shape of the Luna Logistics Classic Formula Ford 1600 Championship. Rick Morris and Tim Harvey have emerged as the form men early on, the pair separated by just a point, however a whole host of contenders could come to the fore and challenge their status. 

Open-wheeled action will also be served up in the shape of the BARC Clubmans Sports Prototype Championship in association with King Henry’s Taverns. Unique in every manner, the championship has packed grid and delivers non-stop entertainment, with the likes of Peter Richings, Barry Webb and Pippa Tanner-Wood just some of the stars of the show.

Tin top thrills will come in the shape of the Kumho BMW Championship, where Garrie Whittaker will be aiming to extend his winning streak. Showcasing some of the most awe-inspiring models from the Bavarian brand, the Kumho BMW contingent have become a haven for doorhandle-to-doorhandle thrills and spills, with Thruxton set to be no different.

Rounding out the weekend’s action will be a pair of races from the Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup. Continuing to grow in stature as each year passes, the Coupe Cup contingent have raised the bar each year and the 2019 crop of racers are in demand by fans.

Wayne Rockett has won every race run so far and you’d not bet against him from being amongst the front-runners, alongside Alex Cursley and Nick Moore, either.

Tickets are available to purchase on the gate from £15 on Saturday and £20 on Sunday. Further information regarding ticketing can be found at http://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/trucks.

For more information on this weekend’s event at Thruxton, such as links to timetables and live timing, click here.

British Schools Karting Championship set to crown 2019 champions at Whilton Mill

In what has been another fierce year of competition, the British Schools Karting Championship is set to bring the curtain down on its 2019 campaign in style with what should be a memorable National Final at the end of June.

Representing schools from across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom, 25 teams are set to descend on the popular Northamptonshire venue to battle it out for the coveted crown of BSKC champions.

Over recent months Local Finals around the country have whittled down the competition, with reigning three-time title winners Brentwood School topping the bill. Emerging from the London & South East finals, Brentwood School will look to score an unprecedented fourth successive crown.

Joining them from that block of regional finals was Chigwell School, Ethan College, Gordons School and Caterham School. From the North West, Grange School will field two teams in their bid to scale the karting mountain.

Scotland will be represented by Lesmahagow High School and Williamwood High School, whilst Northern Ireland sees two Bangor Grammar School entries as well as Belfast Royal Academy joining the fray too.

Silverstone UTC have the most teams entered into the Grand Final with three after they progressed from the Midlands & East Regional competition with Thomas Gainsborough and Wymondham College.

Rounding out this year’s list of finalists is Aspire Academy and two East Hull Wheels entrants from the North East, whilst the South West & South are represented by Kingdown School, Hanley Castle High School, Sidcot School and two teams from Peter Symonds.

As has been the case in years gone by, a host of prizes will be on offer for those competing in the National Final. The winning team will, plus one representing adult, will have the opportunity to attend a Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship round of their choice (calendar dependent).

In addition, the winners will gain access to the Renault UK Clio Cup Hospitality Centre and be given a behind-the-scenes tour of race-winning Clio outfit Westbourne Motorsport.

The highest placed competition licence holder will once again be entered into the 2019 Ginetta Junior Championship, with the chance to then go on and win a place on the 2020 Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship grid.

Finally, the driver who sets the fastest lap at the National Final will be awarded two tickets to a Michelin Clio Cup Series race meeting – with a date and venue to be determined by the BARC.

With a rich history spanning little over a decade now, the next generation of motorsport talent could well spring up from the British Schools Karting Championship this year – with Whilton Mill the perfect setting to find out just that.

Trio of BARC categories produce scorching displays at Oulton Park

The British Automobile Racing Club produced a scorching race day at Oulton Park this past Saturday (June 22) as three championships continued their 2019 seasons around the demanding International layout.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, the Cheshire venue welcomed the Dunlop Endurance Championship, CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship and the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship for a summer spectacular.

Boasting a bumper grid of jaw-dropping machines, the Dunlop Endurance Championship wrote a familiar chapter in its season storybook as two teams reigned supreme across the pair of one-hour races that took place.

Entering the weekend sitting at the summit of the standings, the SB Race Engineering Ferrari 488 duo of Paul Bailey and Andy Schultz dominated qualifying as they stormed to pole position by little under a second.

The duo then converted their front row start into yet another race win as they took the chequered flag by more than 40 seconds ahead of their nearest challengers.

Valluga Racing came to the fore later in the day in race two as Ian Humphries drove his Porsche 991 GT3 Cup car to victory.

Just one race from the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship was run in the end as the multi-class series reached the halfway point in its campaign. With a bumper grid all setting their sights on the infamous Dave Simpson Trophy, the battle for supremacy was a fierce as ever.

In the end, nobody was able to stop Danny Winstanley as he piloted his Caterham Superlight to an emphatic victory, crossing the line 41 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger. David Harvey and Paul Dobson round out the podium positions in second and third respectively.

The 13-lap encounter also saw Chris Maries reach a special milestone as he competed in his 200th race in the championship. He capped off the moment by powering his Honda Integra to a tenth place finish.

Spoils were shared in the two Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship races as Adam Jackson and Simon Kendrick both took a win apiece.

Starting from pole position, Jackson was served up a lights-to-flag performance in the opening encounter as he powered his MG ZR to a dominant victory ahead of Kendrick and Steve McDermid.

Jackson’s aspirations of making it two from two later in the day however were halted after a couple of laps as he was forced to retire. That left Kendrick to take advantage and narrowly edge out McDermid by little over half a second in his MG F VVC, whilst Steve Darbey rounded out the rostrum in third.

The view the full classification of results from all sessions on Saturday, click here.

Oulton Park will host to more BARC action this coming weekend (June 29/30) as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship and supporting TOCA categories take on the infamous Island circuit.

BARC takes centre stage at Brands Hatch

Brands Hatch played a host to a memorable two days of British Automobile Racing Club action this past weekend (June 22/23) as the sun shone on the Kent venue and the five categories in action.

Celebrating 30th Anniversary of the production of the Mazda MX-5 and 25 years since the inception of the MX-5 Owners Club, the MAX5 Racing Championship had plenty to celebrate around the Indy circuit over the course of the weekend.

Whilst there was plenty to see away from the track in the paddock, on it there was a familiar feel to things as Paul Roddison continued his dominance. Entering the weekend having won every race to date in 2019, Roddison enjoyed another a perfect performance as he scored another victory double.

Race one proved to be a frenetic affair as Roddison held off a charging Ian Loversidge to win by a mere tenth of a second whilst Andrew Pretorius rounded out the podium in the third. Race two proved to be a carbon copy results as Roddison led the same two drivers to the chequered flag.

The penultimate round of the 2CV Parts.com Classic Racing Championship had its own fair share of drama as drivers battled for supremacy. Alec Graham served up a storming drive in race one to record his first win of the season after narrowly edging out former multiple champion Lien Davies.

Keen to bounce back from failing to finish the opener, reigning title holder and points leader Pete Sparrow underlined his credentials as the man to beat as he powered his way to yet another win, little under a second ahead of Graham.

In the Caterham Graduates Championship, some familiar names found themselves at the summit of the leaderboards once again. Firstly, spoils were spilt between Samuel Wilson and Stephen Clark in the Sigmax races whilst the combined 135/150/Mega/Classic encounters saw Barry White dominate.

Capping off the weekend was an abundance of tin top thrills from the KW Automotive Classic VW Cup, TDi North Honda VTEC Challenge and Uncle Luke’s BARC Saloon Series.

The amalgamated VW Cup and VTEC Challenge races saw Ben Rushworth rule the roost as he scored a pair of wins in his Honda Integra whilst Craig Rainer did the same in the BARC Saloon Series, notching a double of his own in his Ford Escort RS2000.

The view the full classification of results from all sessions at Brands Hatch from the weekend, click here.

Julian Godfrey and Derek Tohill share British Rallycross Championship spoils at Pembrey

The Toyo Tires Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship delivered a blockbuster two days of action at Pembrey Circuit this past weekend (June 22/23) as Julian Godfrey and Derek Tohill shared the spoils.

Descending on South Wales for the first of two visits to the British Automobile Racing Club-run venue this year, the action-packed series served up plenty of thrills and spills – keeping those in attendance on the edge-of-their-seats.

Bright sunshine greeted championship and an enthusiastic crowd on Saturday, with multiple champion Godfrey wasting no time at all in establishing himself as the man to beat. Powering his way to the fastest times in heats one and two, the Ford Fiesta driver was edged out by Ollie O’Donovan in the final block of heats.

Lining up on the front row of the grid for the final, Godfrey enjoyed a strong start and ultimately went on to record a lights-to-flag victory around the challenging Pembrey layout, moving into the points lead at the same time.

Whilst Godfrey made his escape out front, Lydden Hill winner Tohill and O’Donovan became embroiled in an almighty scrap for second place. Tohill would take the chequered flag in second place however a time penalty for contact with the former championship dropped him to third.

Sunday saw racing run in the reverse direction however that didn’t have any effect on the non-stop entertainment that was being produced.

Dominating the day previously, Godfrey showed all the hallmarks of someone who was on his way to repeat his heroics on day two at the Welsh venue, sweeping his way to lead all three qualifying heats.

However, FIA European Rallycross champion Tohill made it two wins apiece between himself and Godfrey as he scored victory. O’Donovan had finished third on the road but a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits saw him to drop to fourth, with Roger Thomas benefitting.

In the Motorsport UK Supernational Rallycross Championship, Tristan Ovenden continued his rich vein of form with victory on the Saturday before then doubling his tally on Sunday at the wheel of his Renault Clio V6.

Meanwhile, the next generation of rallycross stars took centre stage in the Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross Championship with Roberts Vitols claiming overall honours on both days.

Meanwhile David Bell, Max Weatherly, Jon Armstrong and Gary Simpson were victorious in the BMW Mini Rallycross Championship, Swift Sport Rallycross Championship, RX150 Rallycross Championship and Retro Rallycross Championship races respectively.

On day two, the quartet of Drew Bellerby, Will Layton, Chrissy Palmer and Simpson topped the rostrum.

The Toyo Tires Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship is next in action at Lydden Hill on August 26.

Jack Young dominates Renault Clio Cup International Open at Paul Ricard

Jack Young served up a dominant performance in France this past weekend (June 22/23) as he proved to be in a league of his own in the Renault Clio Cup International Open, winning both races in emphatic style.

Flying the flag for the Renault UK Clio Cup alongside five other British drivers at Paul Ricard on the support bill of the Formula 1 French Grand Prix, the Northern Irishman underlined his credentials on the global stage in devastating fashion.

Having contested and triumphed in last year’s ‘world final’ around the 3.6-mile circuit, the 17-year-old had been tipped to be in the mix for victory across the weekend amidst the 44-car entry list.

Topping the times in practice, the Eddie Stobart Racing driver carried his front-running momentum into qualifying where he lit up the time-sheets once more as he powered to pole position for both races.

There was plenty for UK fans to celebrate too as Young’s MRM Racing team-mate Brett Lidsey put in a scintillating lap to join him on the front row of the grid for race one.

Dropping the clutch as the lights went out, Young made a perfect start in the searing French heat and was soon putting distance between himself and the chasing pack in the opening encounter. Building a gap as he each lap ticked by, the former UK Clio Cup Junior champion ultimately took the chequered flag to win by a staggering 22 seconds.

Behind, Lidsey found himself in the thick of the action and ultimately had to serve a drive-through penalty for causing a collision, ultimately going on to end up 21st. David Pouget would finish second whilst Westbourne Motorsport’s Ben Colburn ensured the British flag would fly twice on the podium as he finished third.

James Colburn had ran as high as sixth at one stage before being forced to pit for a mechanical issue. Luke Warr meanwhile finished 24th whilst Aaron Thompson was 31st.

Race two mirrored the first race at Le Castellet as Young once again exerted his dominance to show the chasing pack a clean set of heels. Nailing the start from pole position, the teenager got his head down and began to pull away, just like he had done the day before.

Streaking clear of the field, Young crossed the line to secure his third International career win by 21 seconds this time – with Benoit Castagne and Felice Jelmini rounding out the podium.

Ben Colburn and Lidsey capped off the top ten in ninth and tenth whilst Thompson made solid progress to finish 17th. Warr was 31st, with James Colburn unforuntately a retirement after nine laps.

The Renault UK Clio Cup will continue this weekend (June 29/30) with the fourth event of the season taking place at Oulton Park, with Young narrowly leading the way in the championship standings ahead of Max Coates.

Brands Hatch geared to host blockbuster BARC weekend

Brands Hatch will play host to a blockbuster two days of British Automobile Racing Club action this coming weekend (June 22/23) as several categories write the latest chapter of their 2019 campaigns around the Indy circuit.

In what is latest visit to the Kent venue by the Club, the 1.2 mile configuration is set to play host to  a frenetic 12 races.

The Max5 Racing Championship is set for a milestone weekend as a bumper grid will play its part in some special anniversary celebrations. This year marks 30 years of production of the iconic Mazda MX5 whilst it is also 25 years of the MX5 Owners Club, and both will be recognised over the course of the weekend.

On track, Max5 racers from a variety of different championships have been invited to join in on the celebrations, further adding to the exhilarating racing that is usually produced by the championship anyway.

Notable names to look out for during the weekend’s two races include Paul Roddison – who has won every race so far this season – Matthew Tidmarsh, Jeremy Shipley and Ian Loversidge.

The Caterham Graduates Championship will also be in action with its multi-class grid brimming with scintillating talent. Having starred at several events already this year the one-make series is expected to take on a starring role across its four scheduled encounters.

This year has seen Samuel Wilson, Mark Carter, Robin Webb, Kevin Barrett and Luke Balmforth all star so expect the usual protagonists to be in the mix.

Fans of all things saloon car racing will be well catered for too across both days as the KW Automotive Classic VW Cup, TDi North Honda VTEC Challenge and Uncle Luke’s BARC Saloon Series take to the track for a series of races.

Showcasing all manner of tin top machines, all three categories boast a wealth of drivers and different models of car – all of which trade place at nearly every turn.

This weekend will see the KW Automotive Classic VW Cup and TDi North Honda VTEC Challenge amalgamated together whilst the Uncle Luke’s BARC Saloon Series will run on its own.

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

Oulton Park beckons for trio of BARC championships

The British Automobile Racing Club returns to Oulton Park this Saturday (June 22) for what should be a pulsating race day of acton, headlined by no less than three championships.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, the Cheshire venue is set to play host to the latest chapter of each categories campaigns and the traditional thrills and spills are expected to play out around the challenging 2.39 International layout.

Topping the bill will be the Dunlop Endurance Championship with two one-hour encounters. Showcasing the very best in supercar machinery, a glittering array of drivers will share driving duties as they duke it out for the latest pair of race wins that are up for grabs.

The Ferrari 488 Challenge duo of Paul Bailey and Andy Schultz lead the way as it stand but as Britcar has proved on countless occasions this year already, anything can happen and anyone can emerge victorious.

The CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, the BARC NW Centre’s flagship series, will also be in action as it makes its second visit to Oulton Park this year. Boasting another bumper entry list, a 30-car grid will duke it out for the Dave Simpson Memorial Trophy.

In what will be the halfway mark in the season for the championship, the battle for supremacy is set to be an intriguing one with Jon Woolfitt, Andrew Southcott and Danny Bird, all race winners this year, headlining the entry.

There will be plenty of high-octane entertainment from the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship too as it takes fans on a spirited trip down memory lane as machines from a variety of eras go wheel-to-wheel.

Running under a multi-class format, the single manufacturer championship has wowed crowds at Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Donington Park so far, with Oulton Park set to be no different.

Two races are sure to set pulses racing with the likes of Jim Baynam, James Pryor, Sarah Sullivan, Stuart Plotnek, Simon Kendrick and Steve Darbey, amongst others, being in contention for outright and individual class honours.

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

British Rallycross Championship revved up for Pembrey Circuit double-header

Pembrey Circuit will welcome the Toyo Tires Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship to South Wales this weekend (June 22/23) as the series gets ready to continue its 2019 with the annual double-header event.

In what is the first of two visits to the British Automobile Racing Club-run venue this year, the UK’s premier rallycross championship will tackle the challenging Pembrey track in both directions across rounds three and four.

With events at Silverstone and Lydden Hill already in the books, two-time FIA European Rallycross champion Derek Tohill finds himself at the top of the points standings following victory last time out.

At the wheel of his Ford Fiesta, Tohill will be one to watch as he bids to build up an advantage over his nearest challenger, five-time British champion Julian Godfrey.

Having scored victory at the Silverstone season-opener, Godfrey has switched back to his trust Ford Fiesta and remains behind the wheel of it this weekend as he aims to regain control at the standings summit.

Ollie O’Donovan, another former champion, has endured a character-building start to the campaign and will be keen to put the opening two events behind him and bounce back in sensational style.

Mike Manning, Roger Thomas, Steve Hill, Nigel Burke, Andy Grant and Simon Horton are all also set to take to the grid in the Supercar class and any one of them could spring a surprise at the sharp end of the grid too.

It won’t just be the Toyo Tires Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship taking centre stage over the course of the weekend however as a bumper supporting cast will equally set pulses racing across Saturday and Sunday as well.

The Motorsport UK Supernational Championship, Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross Championship, Swift Sport Championship, BMW Mini Championship, Retro Rallycross Championship and RX150 Championship will all be in action too.

Tickets for the event will be available to purchase on the gate on both days, priced at £15.00. To find out more information regarding terms of entry and more, head to https://pembreycircuit.co.uk/racing/british-rallycross-june.

For more information on the event as a whole, click here.

Andrew Jordan and Tom Chilton triumph in action-packed BTCC encounters at Croft

Croft Circuit played host to an action-packed Rounds 10, 11 & 12 of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this past weekend (June 15/16) as thousands flocked to the North Yorkshire venue to see Andrew Jordan and Tom Chilton share the spoils.

Faced with challenging weather conditions on both Saturday and Sunday, Britain’s premier race series served up a feast of entertainment as records tumbled around the newly resurfaced 2.12 mile circuit.

In qualifying, BMW Pirtek Racing’s Jordan set a new lap record to score his first pole position since 2014, despite plenty of disruption throughout the session. No less than five red flag stoppages, the last of which was caused by Jordan himself, truncated the session.

Launching off the line, the 2013 champion continued his rich vein of form as he took a lights-to-flag victory. Dealing with race-long attention from BTC Racing’s Chris Smiley, as well as a lengthy safety car period, the 30-year-old proved to be in a league of his own as he powered his way to the chequered flag.

The battle for the final spot on the podium fell the way of Tom Chilton after he held off the advances of Colin Turkington and Tom Oliphant for the entirety of the 18-lap encounter.

Race two proved to be a similar story for Jordan as he converted pole position into his fifth win of the season, replicating his double-winning performance at Croft last time out.

Making a good getaway, Jordan pulled out a comfortable gap in the opening stages as the chasing pack battled with second place Smiley. Turkington finally got the better of his Northern Irish counterpart but by that time the gap to Jordan was too big.

Reeling him in over the course of a handful of laps, the West Surrey Racing duo held station to record their latest 1-2 finish of the season. Yorkshireman Dan Cammish gave locals plenty to cheer about as he continued his recent run of form with a podium on home turf.

BARC Chief Executive Ben Taylor carried out the reverse grid draw live on ITV4 and pulled number nine out of the bowl, promoting Chilton onto pole position.

With heavy rain falling before the race the question on everybody’s lips was what tyres to go for – wets or slicks. As the sun broke through the clouds, a majority of the field opted for wet tyres with Tom Ingram, who was starting third, rolling the dice and gambling with slicks.

As the lights went out, Ingram tumbled down the order as those on wets got the best of the conditions. At the front, Chilton held the lead and fended off the advances of Josh Cook whilst Jason Plato joined remained with touching distance of the pair too.

Laps ticked by however Ingram’s progress didn’t come into effect until the final stages of the race, by which time he was too far back to challenge those in the points. Chilton meanwhile held on to record his first win of the season whilst Cook kept his championship challenge going with a second place finish.

Double champion Plato was back on the rostrum after a year-long drought, getting a big cheer as he made it onto the podium. Ashley Sutton and Matt Neal rounded out the top five with Sutton producing a string of mesmerising overtakes heading into the hairpin.

Leaving Croft, Turkington is now the sole leader in the standings – holding an 11-point advantage over Cook whilst Sutton remains a further two points back.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship now heads to Oulton Park at the end of the month on June 29/30 for Rounds 13, 14 & 15, before then heading into the annual summer break.

TOCA support championships put on a show at Croft

Challenging conditions only added to the edge-of-the-seat entertainment at Croft Circuit this past weekend (June 15/16) as all five TOCA support championships took centre stage alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

Virtue of the recent resurfacing that has taken place at the North Yorkshire venue, lap times tumbled across each series – making it a record-breaking weekend for the TOCA support package.

Arguably taking centre stage over the course of the weekend was home hero Max Coates who produced a near-perfect performance in the Renault UK Clio Cup. Hailing from nearby Scorton, Coates gave those in attendance plenty to cheer about as he scored two wins in the one-make series.

Coates led from start-to-finish in treacherously wet conditions to win Saturday’s opening race before then coming out on top in an epic showdown with Jack Young on Sunday. Dicing for the lead, Coates would finish second on the road however a time-penalty for on-the-road winner Young promoted the local man to the top of the podium once more.

Whilst Coates revelled in the euphoria of winning on home soil, Brett Lidsey and Jamie Bond also picked up podiums across both races too.

Based in Yorkshire, Croft also proved to be a home event for Ginetta, showcasing action from both the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship and Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup.

Unsafe weather conditions meant that the opening Junior encounter had to be cancelled, however the second race did take place. Coming off the back of a breakthrough win at Thruxton last time out, Will Martin was bag in the winners circle as he produced an assured drive to triumph.

The GT4 Supercup meanwhile saw all three of its races take place, with Harry King further establishing himself as a main threat for the title with two wins. Tom Hibbert, who had been the man to beat in qualifying, opened his winning account for the season too.

History was made in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB too as the first-ever Pro-Am overall victory was taken by Team Parker Racing’s Karl Leonard. Race one of the series saw Daniel Harper continue his rich vein of form as he bagged a win in race one, despite suffering a late spin which almost saw him drop to second place.

Race two however was the history-making encounter as the heavens opened as the field completed their formation lap. All but three cars opted to dart into the pit-lane and bolt on wet tyres, setting up a titanic cat-and-mouse race.

As those on slicks battled the conditions, the wet runners began to claw their way into contention and following a safety car and late inside, Leonard emerged victorious to write his name into Carrera Cup GB folklore.

Heavy rainfall meant that only two F4 British Championship races took place, both of which were won by Carlin’s Zane Maloney.

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

All five championships from the TOCA support package will join the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park on June 29/30 for the latest event of the 2019 season.