Barc – Page 86 – Welcome to the BARC

Pride of Yorkshire keen to steal the show in front of Croft faithful

Half-a-century on from the first Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race to be held at Croft – known then as the British Saloon Car Championship – the UK’s biggest motor sport series is speeding back to the popular North Yorkshire circuit next weekend (23/24 June), with a quartet of homegrown drivers all primed to shine.

Yorkshire is the most populous county on the current BTCC grid, with four of the 32 high-calibre protagonists hailing from there – and all of them potential race-winners next weekend.

Honda rookie Dan Cammish (Leeds) is the best-placed of the four in the championship standings approaching the midway stage of the season, having taken a brace of podium finishes from the opening 12 races as he adapts to the cut-and-thrust of what is arguably the world’s most fiercely-disputed tin-top series. The 29-year-old – a two-time Porsche Carrera Cup GB Champion – would love nothing more than to reach the top step for the first time on home soil.

“Racing a touring car around Croft is something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time,” Cammish acknowledged. “It’s great to finally be in the main show! I’ve driven round Croft a lot – it’s a fast circuit where you really get a sense of speed, and I’ve gone well there in the past – but I’ve never driven the Honda there before. Hopefully we can do a good job for the home crowd, and I see no reason why we can’t pick up some very solid points.

“Being in Yorkshire, I’m sure I’ll have a fair few supporters and I’m really looking forward to it. There’s definitely a bit of home advantage, and you do get a real kick out of knowing the crowd’s behind you – the Croft paddock is always a great place to be.

“This year is a very steep learning curve for me, but I’ve been in the mix at every race so let’s see what comes. I’ll give it absolutely everything to make sure that I get the best out of both myself and the car – and I hope everybody has a great day out.”

Right behind Cammish in the points table are Senna Proctor (Driffield) and Sam Tordoff (Bradford). The former – in his second season in the series – claimed his breakthrough BTCC victory in a dramatic wet/dry race at Brands Hatch earlier this year, while the latter is a former championship runner-up. Although plagued by ill-fortune since the start of the 2018 campaign, Tordoff has the best qualifying record of anybody in the field and both men are sure to be leading contenders next weekend.

“I’m looking forward to going to Croft,” enthused Vauxhall young gun Proctor. “I love the circuit and always receive a lot of home support there, and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be fighting up at the front. It is a rear wheel-drive track historically, but a front wheel-drive car won a race there last year – so that’s what we’re looking to do this year!

“It’s a real drivers’ circuit; you’ve got to push flat-out through the first two sectors and just hold your breath, before refining it all for the last sector, making sure you clip all the apexes and above all remaining patient. There’s obviously a bit more pressure than usual going to my home race meeting, but nothing I can’t handle and I’m feeling more confident than ever and working harder than ever to keep this dream going and keep the results coming.”

“I’ve got fond memories of Croft,” echoed Ford star Tordoff. “Last time I was there with BMW, we had a fabulous set of results. It’s always great when you finish on the podium at your home event, and I’m hoping to do so again this year in the Focus RS. I really think we can be up at the front. We’ve been blighted by bad luck so far this season but it’s slowly coming round our way, and in terms of one-lap qualifying pace, we are as quick as anybody.

“Croft is a circuit with a very tricky, technical section coupled with a really quick sequence of balls-out corners round the back, which makes it a tough lap to master and invariably generates exciting racing. It’s really abrasive as well, which means tyre management is key and it’s certainly an event I enjoy. The local support always helps, and with a lot of family coming, it just feels like home.”

The fourth Yorkshireman in the mix is Daniel Lloyd (Huddersfield), who only returned to the BTCC last weekend at Oulton Park following a year’s absence. The last time the 26-year-old competed at Croft, he put his Honda Civic Type R second on the grid – and now he is set to return in the same car, albeit fielded by a different team.

“I love going to Croft,” he asserted. “It’s my home track and I always get a warm welcome there. It’s where I made my BTCC debut back in 2010, and then to qualify on the front row two years ago was really special.

“It was disappointing not to be able to race at Croft last season, but it’s great to be back and with such a potent package as the Honda Civic Type R and no ballast on-board, I’m confident of being able to challenge right up at the sharp end again. Bring it on!”

Tickets to the event are available priced at just £15 for Saturday, 23 June (BTCC Qualifying), £30 for Sunday, 24 June (BTCC Race Day) or £38 for the full weekend. Accompanied children aged 15 and under are admitted free of charge. Pre-orders can be made online at www.croftcircuit.co.uk/racing/btcc or over the phone (01325 721815) up to and including Tuesday, 19 June. After this date, tickets can still be purchased on the gate.

Bank holiday blockbuster expected at Mallory Park

The British Automobile Racing Club is set for a bank holiday Monday (May 28) to remember as the Classic Touring Car Racing Club and Hyundai Coupe Cup head to Mallory Park for a flat-out day’s reaction.

Making it’s customary visit to the popular Leicestershire circuit, the two categories are set for a bumper day of action as they seek to dazzle those in attendance.

In what is the third meeting of the season for the championship, Classic Touring Cars will be once again out to steal the show as they stage a scheduled eight races in total.

Amalgamating different classes together, a diverse range of machinery will go wheel-to-wheel, all of which span countless decades.

With everything from iconic Mini Cooper’s and Ford Escort’s, all the way up to modern vehicles such as Renault Clio’s there will be something for everyone when the action gets underway.

Notable names to look out for during the day include multiple champion Stephen Primett, Dale Gent, Roger Stanford, James Wilson and Steve Barden, as well as a host more too.

Having continued to go from strength-to-strength in recent years, the Hyundai Coupe Cup is enjoying a period of rude health – and it appears that it is showing no signs of letting up either.

Coming from humble beginnings to benefitting from having its own grid, the series has become one of the most sought after within the BARC to compete in; with its low-cost, tin top thrills proving to be part of its charm.

Arriving at Mallory Park off the back of events at Silverstone, Pembrey and Snetterton, the Coupe Cup is set to shine on bank holiday Monday alongside the CTCRC.

So far this season the narrative has been Misty Racing’s Steve Kite asserting his dominance, winning countless races already. Whilst points are not on offer, bragging rights of who can score the most wins over the course of the season is high on the agenda of many, and Kite is establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with.

Whilst Kite will be looking to extend his winning run, the likes of Wayne Rockett, who is the only man to beat Kite to the top step this year, along with Alex Cursley, Neale Hurran and Nick Moore will all be eyeing silverware too.

Two 20-minute encounters from the Coupe Cup category will no doubt set pulses racing.

TOCA support package shines at Donington Park

All five TOCA support championships were in action at Donington Park this past weekend (April 28/29) with some new faces topping the podium.

Competing under the flightpath of East Midlands airport alongside the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, the customary edge-of-the-seat thrills were on display for the thousands in attendance.

James Dorlin emerged as the man to beat in the Renault UK Clio Cup as he stormed to a pair of race victories, spring boarding himself up the points table. Clinching pole position on Saturday, the Westbourne Motorsport driver took a commanding victory in race one as he streaked clear of his rivals.

Further back Paul Rivett left WDE Motorsport with a mountain of work after he exited the circuit heading down the Crane Curves, hitting the wall hard – thankfully he walked away unhurt and made it out for race two.

If race one had been memorable, the second encounter for the one-make tin top category was a different spectacle altogether. In what turned out to be a dramatic three-way fight for victory, Dorlin went wheel-to-wheel with Jack McCarthy and Bradley Burns, pipping the pair as he bounced through the gravel to take the chequered flag and make it a dream double.

The Ginetta Junior Championship saw Luke Browning come to the fore as he scored two wins, narrowly missing out on completing a memorable hat-trick. Establishing himself towards the top of the times from the outset, the Richardson Racing driver powered his way to victory in races one and two.

Browning then played his part in a race three that will live long in the memory, as he chased kept himself permanently on the bumper of Louis Foster, who held his nerve to score a maiden victory in the series.

Spoils were shared in the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup as Charlie Ladell, Tom Roche and Harry King took a win apiece. Underlining the depth in quality the championship once again boasts this year, Ladell strengthened his position at the helm of the standings.

His third victory of the year came in a fast-paced opener before Roche repeated his heroics from the corresponding event last year in race two. Capping off the action was youngster King, who on just his second outing since graduating from Juniors, took a popular win for Elite Motorsport.

The Porsche Carrera Cup GB saw four different winners from four races as both Tio Ellinas and Lewis Plato joined the list of winners. Ellinas was measured in his race three win, holding his nerve off the start to take the chequered flag in a league of his own.

Plato meanwhile faced a stern test in the longer 33-lap encounter at the Leicestershire venue, fending off a trio of cars on the final tour to take his maiden victory.

Rounding off the support race action at Donington Park was the British F4 Championship, which once again took on a starring role. Johnathan Hoggard bagged a pair of wins whilst Kiern Jewiss also found his way to the to the top of the rostrum.

Convoy in the Park at Donington Park awaits five BARC championships

The British Automobile Racing Club heads to Donington Park this weekend (July 21/22) for one of the biggest events of the summer, Convoy in the Park, with five championships set to hit the track.

In front of what is expected to be a bumper crowd, the on-track action is just a flavour of the two-day event which will also encompass Show Trucks, a funfair, trade village, open-air cinema and much more.

Headlining the action are a colossal ten races from the British Truck Racing Association Championship. Boasting the biggest grids of the season in both Divisions, the heavyweight machines are likely to steal the show as they go wheel-to-wheel, with high drama never far away.

Division 1 currently sees reigning champion Ryan Smith sitting at the summit of the standing after bagging four wins at Thruxton. Currently in irresistible form at the moment, the MAN driver is likely to be the man to beat however there are a host of contenders all in the mix and hot on his heels.

David Jenkins, Jamie Anderson, Simon Reid, Stuart Oliver and the returning Mat Summerfield are all in the hunt for Smith, amongst others, so it will be intriguing to see who emerges victorious over the course of the weekend.

Luke Garrett has emerged as the leading star in Division 2 having scored a total of ten victories thus far and could well add to his tally under the flightpath of East Midlands airport. Garrett will have to be on top form however as he faces off against 15 other competitors – a season best for the category.

Leading the chase will be Brad Smith, Steve and John Powell, John Bowler and many more, all of whom are capable to shaking up the order at the sharp end of the championship standings.

The Dunlop Endurance Championship will take on a starring role on the Saturday of the event with a 50-minute and then two-hour race set to be staged. Bringing together an eclectic mix of jaw-dropping machinery and high-profile drivers, the series is enjoying a period of rude health and that is set to only get better after a recent five-year extension with Dunlop was announced.

Notable entries to look out for include Edward Moore and Marmaduke Hall in the Ginetta G50, David Mason and Ross Wylie in the Ferrari 458 GT3 and Chris Murphy in the Aston Martin Vantage GT4, along with a host of others.

It has been a thrilling season in the Pickup Truck Racing Championship and things are set to only intensify as the series rolls into Donington Park. After enjoying a strong start, Lea Wood’s pursuit of a maiden title has come under threat recently with the resurgent defending champion Scott Bourne coming to the fore.

Scoring a double at Thruxton, Bourne has closed the gap to Wood in recent rounds and their duel for the top spot is set to continue, providing an intriguing watch, whilst countless others also try to impose themselves on the sharp end of the field.

Whilst the British Truck Racing Association Championships machines are set to be the biggest at Donington Park, the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres can claim the title of being the smallest.

Never short of providing high-octane thrills, the 5/8 scale machines have dazzled crowds wherever they have visited this year, and it is reigning champion John Mickel who leads the way. Holding a commanding 700 point lead, Mickel will be keen to pick up where he left off before the annual summer break.

Miles Rudman, Steve Whitelegg and Jack Parker are currently Mickel’s closest challengers and the trio will be looking to close the gap to the experienced racer across the weekend’s six races.

Capping off the weekend’s BARC action will be a pair of races from the 2CV parts.com Classic Racing Championship. Running two separate encounters, with drivers sharing cars, this iconic series is set to take spectators down memory lane, with Lien Davies as defending champion.

Rockingham ready to race into the evening with trio of BARC championships

The British Automobile Racing Club is set to race into the evening at Rockingham this Saturday (June 16) in what is set to be another first.

Following on from the venue’s inaugural 24hr race last month, the popular Corby track will now race into the sunset with the Pickup Truck Racing Championship, Junior Saloon Car Championship and Classic Touring Car Championship.

Kicking off the action with qualifying sessions at 09:00, fans will be treated to a feast of on-track entertainment as the categories race through the day and into the night, with the final chequered flag set to fall at 21:30.

Headlining proceedings on the iconic oval circuit, the Pickup Truck Racing Championship makes its second visit to Rockingham this year – having already competed on the infield section of the track for the first time in its history.

Establishing himself as the dominant force early on, Lea Wood heads into the weekend as the championship leader. Now in his third full season, the former BTCC racer has strung together an impressive run of results which has seen countless victories.

Reigning champion Scott Bourne is hot on the heels of Wood and although he may not have won as many races as the points leader, Bourne has been the epitome of consistency. Also in the mix this weekend will likely be David O’Regan, Michael Smith, Mark Willis and Paul Tompkins.

Two high-speed, adrenaline-fuelled 30 lap races around the banked oval are set to be as enthralling as ever.

There will be plenty of variety in the Classic Touring Car Championship during the day too, with no less than eight races being run. Bringing together some of the most iconic tin top and saloon machines from yesteryear, championship will be amalgamated

Notable names to look for during the day include Stephen Primett in his Ford Escort, Dale Gent in his Subaru Impreza and also Mark Cholerton, Mark Osborne and David Howard, amongst others.

The Junior Saloon Car Championship reaches the halfway point in the season with the next generation of racers all set to serve up further thrills and spills.

Events at Silverstone, Rockingham and Brands Hatch so far have proved fruitful with three drivers taking two wins a piece, Frankie Taylor the latest of those. Entering the weekend as the championship leader, Taylor will be keen to extend his advantage across both races whilst fellow winners Joel Wren and Ben Kasperczak will be nipping at his heels.

BTCC battle speeds into ultra-fast Thruxton

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship descends on the home of the British Automobile Racing Club, Thruxton Circuit, for the third event of what is shaping up to be a season to remember this weekend (May 19/20).

Celebrating the BTCC’s 60th anniversary this year, the championship has produced six blockbuster races across Brands Hatch and Donington Park, with somewhat of a changing of the guard taking place as a host of young drivers have come to the fore.

It isn’t just the series that is celebrating a milestone year, Thruxton is too as it marks its 50th year in 2018 too. The beloved circuit is set to open parts of its brand-new, industry-leading £2 million hospitality facility – The Thruxton Centre – ahead of a full official opening on Sunday 3 June amid a weekend of 50th Anniversary celebrations.

Speeding into rounds seven, eight and nine, the drivers’ standings has a distinctly familiar feel to those of last year, with Tom Ingram sitting at the summit. Two wins paired with consistent points finishes has handed the Speedworks Motorsport driver a seven-point advantage and he will be keen to extend that at a circuit where the Toyota Avensis has gone well at in the past.

Leading the chase for Ingram and top spot is Donington Park race winner Adam Morgan. Enjoying a solid start to the year, the Ciceley Motorsport driver has been a force to be reckoned and has a prove package around Thruxton, making him a clear contender.

Josh Cook scored a breakthrough win at Donington Park and the local driver will be keen to add further silverware to his collection. The Power Maxed TAG Racing competitor is one of several emerging talents in the BTCC this year and it is hard to discount any of them.

Jack Goff, race winner in round one, and reigning champion Ashley Sutton have been in the thick of the action and round out the top five whilst Aiden Moffat has impressed with two podiums. Factor in his strong pace at Thruxton and the Scotsman can’t be discounted from podium contention either.

Dan Cammish and Chris Smiley will be ones to watch as well, piloting their respective Honda Civic Type R’s. Both picked up their maiden podium finishes last time out and given the track record of the Honda at Thruxton in the past, both will be confident of what they can achieve.

Duo Motorsport with HMS Racing’s Rob Austin is another home hero for fans to cheer on and he, along with Colin Turkington, round out the top ten.

Beyond that, a whole host of race-winning drivers sit on the fringe of spring boarding themselves into front-running contention. Andrew Jordan and Matt Neal have both thrived around the high-speed layout in the past and will be keen to ignite their championship challengers; as will local man Rob Collard, Jason Plato, Motorbase Performance – to name just a few.

With five different winners from six races and a total of 14 drivers have graced the podium so far, the landscape of the BTCC is as unpredictable as it ever has been and that trait is set to continue around Thruxton’s famed 2.356 mile track.

Tickets for the BTCC’s visit on 19-20 May can be purchased on the gate, priced at £16 for Saturday (qualifying) and £33 for Sunday (race day). Saturday grandstand seats are an additional £5. Accompanied children aged 15 and under will be admitted free of charge.

Spoils shared as BTCC young guns come to the fore at Donington Park

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship saw another three frenetic races at Donington Park serve up three different race winners this past weekend (April 28/29) – with the series’ young guns coming further to the fore.

Coming off the back of a memorable curtain-raiser at Brands Hatch, the capacity 32-car grid descended on the Leicestershire venue with it all to play at the top of the standings.

Qualifying proved to be a dramatic affair with times tumbling right until the end of the session. As the clock ticked to zero, Power Maxed Racing’s Josh Cook displaced Chris Smiley to score his first BTCC pole position.

Cook’s Saturday dominance translated to race day as he converted pole position into a commanding first victory – becoming the 19th different driver to have scaled to the top step of the podium.

Launching his Vauxhall Astra off the front row, Cook held off the advances of Smiley on the opening tour before stretching his advantage over Dan Cammish and Aiden Moffat, who moved themselves into the remaining rostrum places.

Race two went the way of championship leader Tom Ingram, who became the first driver to win two races this year. Having scored a handful of points with maximum weight and the hard tyre in race one, the Speedworks Motorsport racer scythed his way through the field from P13 in the second encounter.

Picking his way through the top ten, Ingram shuffled BTC Norlin Racing’s Smiley to second on lap ten and was never challenged thereon after. WIX Racing with Eurotech’s Jack Goff rounded off the podium after also charging through the pack.

Goff had been hot on the heels of Ingram at one stage but a valiant defence from Cammish, who had led early on, saw the Honda Civic Type R driver lose ground to the leaders.

One of the star performers in race two however was the Ciceley Motorsport Mercedes Benz A-Class of Adam Morgan, who crossed the line fifth having started 25th.

With the top nine reversed for race three, Rory Butcher lined up on pole position with reigning champion Ashley Sutton lining up alongside him. As the lights went out, five cars fell victim to the close-quarter racing down the Crater Curves, with James Cole, Josh Price and Sam Tordoff all out on the spot.

At the front, Sutton propelled himself into the lead but soon fell into the clutches of the chasing pack, with Morgan leading the way. Making his move on lap eight, Morgan held his nerve, withstanding a late charge from Cook to score his first win since Thruxton 2016.

Laser Tools Racing’s Moffat made it two Mercedes on the podium as he scored his second third place finish of the day. Standout performances from Rob Collard and Andrew Jordan saw them round out the top five, piloting their West Surrey Racing BMW’s through the field.

Following on from another exciting day’s racing, Ingram extended his advantage in the drivers standings with Morgan and Cook filling the top three spots.

For the full classification of results, click here.

The 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship returns on May 19/20 with rounds seven, eight and nine taking place at Thruxton.

BARC championships shine in Oulton Park thriller

Oulton Park played host to an unmissable day’s track action this past Saturday (June 23) as four British Automobile Racing Club championships resumed battle.

In sweltering conditions, the picturesque Cheshire venue provided the perfect backdrop for a frenetic day’s racing which was organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre.

Heading up the action was Britcar’s Dunlop Endurance Championship, which saw a 50-minute and two-encounter run. Bringing together a raft of eye-catching and mesmerising machines onto one grid, both races proved to ha

In the shorter 50-minute Sprint race, Richard Neary piloted his Mercedes Benz AMG GT GT3 to victory – more 25 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger after completing 28 laps.

Neary continued that form into the day’s longer race, which had a 50-minute sprint incorporated into it too. Once again starring in his Mercedes, Neary romped to clinch the chequered flag to make it a dream double and uphold his position as being in a league of his own.

Whilst Neary and many others peeled off at the end of their race, the endurance contingent continued to tackle Oulton Park and come the end of the two hours, the pairing of Sean Cooper and McCollum drove their Track Focused KTM X-Bow to the top of the podium.

The solitary CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship race had a familiar feel to it as Paul Rose further cemented himself as the man to beat in 2018. Having produced countless race-winning performances already this season, Rose was in his usual superlative form at Oulton.

At the wheel of his Saker RAPX S1-400, Rose converted pole position into a dominant win as he streaked clear, winning by more than 55 seconds. Despite their best efforts, the duo of Danny Bird and Luke Arminger could do nothing about Rose’s charge and settled for second and third respectively.

Garrie Whittaker emerged as a one-man juggernaut in the Kumho BMW Championship, picking up two overall race wins. Home to some of the most iconic models from the German manufacturer, a grid of more than 20 cars went wheel-to-wheel for supremacy, with Whittaker prevailing. Race one saw Whittaker edge out a close affair with Piers Reid and Colin Wells in close proximity, ultimately filling the rostrum. Whittaker’s performance in race two was to be more dominant, triumphing by more than 12 seconds ahead of Wells and James Card.

In the Classic 2CV parts.com Championship staged the latest two rounds of their popular one-make category, with experience coming to the fore. Race one saw reigning champion Lien Davies bag a win before Pete Sparrow did the same in the second.

For the full classification of results from all championship sessions over the weekend, click here.

Thruxton gains second event as 2019 BTCC calendar is unveiled

Series organisers, TOCA, have confirmed the official calendar for the 2019 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – boasting a fresh look.

Comprising of 30 races spanning ten weekend’s across the length and breadth of the UK, Britain’s premier race series will once again dazzle thousands throughout the year.

The most notable change to the 2019 calendar sees Rockingham not included due to the impending sale of the facility not providing TOCA with sufficient clarity at the time of finalising the calendar.

In its place instead is a second event at Thruxton, which will add an August summer visit to its regular May date. Croft and Oulton Park have also changed berths in the order of events, the latter now following the annual trip to North Yorkshire.

Brands Hatch Indy will once again play host to the curtain-raiser on April 6/7 before the series moves on to Donington Park, Thruxton, Croft and Oulton Park. Following the traditional mid-season break, the action will resume at Snetterton before once again returning to Thruxton.

Knockhill, Silverstone and the iconic Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit cap off the season, where a champion will be crowned.

2019 BTCC Calendar:

Rounds 1, 2 & 3 – Brands Hatch Indy – April 6/7

Rounds 4, 5 & 6 – Donington Park – April 27/28

Rounds 7, 8 & 9 – Thruxton – May 18/19

Rounds 10, 11 & 12 – Croft – June 15/16

Rounds 13, 14 & 15 – Oulton Park – June 29/30

Rounds 16, 17 & 18 – Snetterton – August 3/4

Rounds 19, 20 & 21 – Thruxton – August 17/18

Rounds 22, 23 & 24 – Knockhill – September 14/15

Rounds 25, 26 & 27 – Silverstone – September 28/29

Rounds 28, 29 & 30 – Brands Hatch GP – October 12/13

Last of the Formula 1 six-wheelers set for Thruxton’s 50th Anniversary Celebration

Thruxton Circuit will welcome a cavalcade of stand-out motor racing machinery from the worlds of Formula 1, GT and Sportscars, top-tier motorcycling and endurance to its 50th Anniversary Celebration next weekend (2/3 June), with Williams’ unique FW08B the latest star to join the fold.

The ground-breaking six-wheeler, designed by Patrick Head and Frank Dernie, was created by Frank Williams’ outfit with the intention of running during the 1983 Formula 1 campaign, as it chased a longer wheelbase and greater ‘ground effect’ as well as increased traction out of corners with four-wheel drive.

In testing, the car showed promise, breaking a lap record at Paul Ricard and development continued through 1982 until the FW08B surfaced at Donington Park, producing a ream of head-turning lap-times. Subsequently, the FIA issued its regulations for ’83 and included a clause outlawing both six-wheelers and four-wheel drive and the FW08B would never see competitive action as a result.

The ingenious one-off will be displayed alongside Nigel Mansell’s championship-winning FW14B which stormed to nine of 16 race wins in the Formula 1 World Championship in 1992 in his hands and Williams’ 2016 charger – the FW38B. The Grove squad will be represented on-track too, with Karun Chandhok set to steer Keke Rosberg’s 1983 530bhp Ford Cosworth DFV-powered FW08C around the Hampshire speedbowl.

Further Formula 1 iconography in the form of the Lotus 87B will also be on display and will be joined by the likes of Ford’s legendary GT40 – the pioneering Le Mans-winning GT hero of the 60s – and a modern GT counterpart in the shape of an Aston Martin Vantage GTE.

Fans will also be able to get up-close and personal with Porsche’s last hurrah in the World Endurance Championship – the stunning technical marvel that is 919 Hybrid Sports Prototype. In the hands of decorated racers such as Mark Webber and Nico Hulkenberg, the 919 flew to three consecutive Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles in the flagship endurance series between 2015 and 2017, which included a hat-trick of victories at the world renowned Le Mans 24 Hours during the same period.

The weekend’s first-class competitive action comes courtesy of 13 races from the Historic Sports Car Club with the Historic Touring Car Challenge, the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy, HSCC Guards Trophy and Historic Formula Ford all highlights. More spectacular historic racing you will not see.

Adding to the circumstance on-track will be high-speed demonstrations throughout the weekend from Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) heroes Rob Austin and Rob Collard in the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta and multi-title-winning BMW 125i M Sport respectively. The pair lapped Thruxton in competitive trim a week or so ago and will be on-hand to wow crowds once again.

BMW’s monstrous M4 GT4 will also demo, alongside MINI Challenge cars, muscle machinery such as the Chevrolet Camaro and a Ducati double – the 1199 Panigale R and V4 Panigale. A full list of demonstration runners and riders is available here.

In addition over the 50th Anniversary Celebration weekend, The Thruxton Centre – Thruxton Circuit’s new, £2 million state-of-the-art hospitality facility – will be officially opened at 12:00 noon on Sunday, 3 June by 31-time Grand Prix-winner and 1992 Formula 1 World Champion, Nigel Mansell CBE alongside his lifelong friend – legendary motorsport commentator and journalist, Murray Walker OBE.

Away from the racing and on-track action, static displays and car club reunions, as well as a funfair, live music, overnight camping and a fireworks display ensuring the festival’s family-friendly appeal.

“We are delighted to add the world famous Williams FW08B to our ever-growing list of cars and stars that will be attending our 50th celebrations on 2-3 June,” enthused Thruxton Group Managing Director, Bill Coombs. “The list of cars present will span the full five decades of the circuit’s existence and include some of the most memorable machinery that motorsport has to offer.

“It’s sure to be an amazing spectacle on-track, as well as off it. We will have a host of motorsport royalty in attendance, plus family entertainment and the official opening of our £2 million Thruxton Centre by legends Nigel Mansell CBE and Murray Walker OBE. Everyone at Thruxton is looking forward to the weekend immensely and we can’t wait to get started!”

Advance tickets for Thruxton’s 50th Anniversary Celebration on 2/3 June are available from just £12 for Saturday entry and £15 for Sunday – or £24 for both days. These are available until Tuesday evening. Sunday grandstand seats are an additional £5. Accompanied children aged 15 and under will be admitted free of charge. For details on ticketing for Thruxton’s 50th Anniversary meeting, head to https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/50th-anniversary. For more information call 01264 882200 and select Option 1.

Karun Chandhok to steer Williams’ FW08C on Formula 1’s return to Thruxton

Formula 1 will return to Thruxton for the first time since 1993 at the circuit’s 50th Anniversary Celebration weekend (2/3 June), with former F1 racer Karun Chandhok set to take the reins of the flame-spitting Williams FW08C as it blasts around Britain’s fastest racetrack.

Damon Hill was the last man to round Thruxton’s flat-out sweeping bends in F1 machinery, then in a title-winning Williams FW15C, averaging a stunning 147.25mph. Chandhok – wielding Keke Rosberg’s 540kg, 530bhp Ford Cosworth DFV V8 powered FW08C from 1983 – admits he feels like a kid in a sweet shop ahead of what is sure to be quite the spectacle when he takes to the Hampshire speedbowl in June. Notably, it is the first F1 car that Ayrton Senna tested ahead of an illustrious career at the pinnacle of motorsport.

“It looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun and I’m really excited for the event,” said Chandhok – himself a fiend for everything historic when it comes to motor racing.

“I’ve driven the Williams FW08C a few times before. It’s a very special car with its manual gearbox and Ford DFV engine, which is probably the most important engine ever produced in Formula 1 and it still sounds as good as it did all those years ago. It’s a truly iconic piece of kit, and there aren’t many opportunities to see these legendary cars in action anymore.

“I’ll be giving it a blast at the Monaco Historic Grand Prix before Thruxton’s 50th, which will serve as a nice warm-up. I’d obviously love to open it up properly, but at the same time, I’m very conscious that this car is being wheeled out of a museum for me. That said, as a racing driver, you’re never inclined to take it particularly easy, and I’ll certainly do my utmost to put on a real show for everybody watching.”

It’s been some 15 years since Chandhok was last on-track at Thruxton, but it’s a circuit he holds in high esteem, citing it as a true one-off and a must for spectators – even more the case given the visual and auditory feast the Williams is sure to imbue.

“I’ve not driven at Thruxton since 2003, back in my British F3 days, so it’s been a little while but I always loved racing there. The action is never anything less than spectacular, with plenty of fantastic, high-speed slipstreaming battles. It’s a unique challenge with its bumps and big kerbs – a proper old-school track.

“I love coming to Thruxton to spectate, too – it’s every bit as enjoyable for fans as it is competitors. Watching at the approach to the chicane at the end of the lap and seeing the cars roaring up the hill towards you is quite a sight to behold – I thoroughly recommend it.”

There will be 15 enthralling races and high-speed demonstrations not just by the FW08C, but a host of iconic two and four-wheeled motor racing machinery, while Mansell’s 1992 Formula 1 World Championship-winning Williams FW14B is also set to be displayed. Penned by Sir Patrick Head and legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey OBE, the FW14B was a pioneer of the sport’s game-changing active suspension technology – with ten Grand Prix wins on the way to the Constructors’ title as Mansell sealed the Drivers’ crown.

Goodwood celebrates 25 years of Festival of Speed in style

Basking in the Sussex sunshine, hundreds of thousands of spectators descended on the Duke of Richmond’s grounds last week for another memorable Goodwood Festival of Speed event.

Showcasing hundreds of jaw-dropping cars and bikes from the automotive world, both from on the road and on the track, the four-day spectacle once again proved to be a fitting celebration of all things horsepower.

The event also celebrated its own personal milestone as it marked 25 years since the inaugural Festival of Speed was held back in 1993. Then a one-day event, Festival of Speed has since continued to grow in stature with each year that has passed, becoming the four-day extravaganza that it currently is.

As ever, visitors were greeted to this years event by an impressive central feature situated in front of Goodwood House. Commemorating Porsche’s 70th anniversary, the 52 metre tall structure showcased some of the German manufacturers most iconic machines – all of which looked impressive as the sun shined off them.

Back on the ground, vehicles from the past, present and the future were on display for fans to get up close and personal with, whilst many also tackled the infamous 1.16 mile hillclimb across all four days too.

Records tumbled on the hillclimb course during the event too with the eagerly anticipated shootout on Sunday seeing Pikes Peak conquering Volkswagen I.D.R winning the main event with a time of 43.86, a record for an electric car.

In a sign of the times, an electric car finished second too with the NextEV NIO EP9 setting a best time of 44.32 whilst Joerg Weidinger’s V8-powered BMW E36 M3 claimed third.

As major manufacturers and championships showcased themselves, a feast of stars turned out to tackle the hill and meet those that had flocked to the event. The likes of Jenson Button, Billy Monger, Valtteri Bottas, Sir Jackie Stewart and many more were all in attendance and ready to put on a show.

Once again delivering an event like no other in the world, the Goodwood Festival of Speed will live long in the memory and with 25 years already completed, the next 25 are set to be even more exciting.

Goodwood’s next event takes place on September 7/8/9 as the years get rolled back for three-days of classic racing.

For more content on this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, click here.