The British Hillclimb Championship presented by Nova Motorsport is the ultimate competition for drivers and their machines as they go up against each other and more importantly, the stopwatch, at some of the UK’s best venues.
Boasting an illustrious history that has spanned almost eight decades, the championship is synonymous for competing at iconic venues such as Shelsley Walsh, Harewood, Loton Park, Bouley Bay and more.
Unsurprisingly, the art of hillclimbing is very different to that of circuit racing. Rather than racing each other on track, drivers battle on the time sheets across picturesque and challenging hillclimb venues that are about a mile or so in length.
Competitors traditionally only get a handful of practice runs before official timed runs rank the top-12 runners for a reverse order shootout from slowest to quickest. The top 12 run-offs are an exhilarating, nail biting affair with the order expected to get faster and faster.
Essentially it is one run, one shot and one small mistake could be the difference between coming home with a win and a hill record or just a handful of points. Hillclimbing at the top end can only be described as Formula One up a garden path.
The BARC Speed Championship is designed for low-cost, easily accessible motorsport with the emphasis of inclusion for all, as the series is aimed at creating an enjoyable, engaging and truly competitive environment for seasoned drivers, as well those starting out on their motorsport journey.
The championship format is one car at a time, racing against the stopwatch rather than cars together, fighting for the same piece of track. Competitors can enter all events, but they can pick and choose up to eight rounds to count towards the final award of which two must be sprint, two hillclimb and one organised event by the BARC Midlands Centre.
Scoring is based on established class records, thus providing the opportunity for all competitors to accumulate points. Whether you are in standard road cars or top-end single seaters, everyone has a fair chance of taking home a prize.
Venues range from sprint courses, hillclimbs and circuit based events to provide a real variety for the drivers across the campaign.
Tucked away in picturesque Salisbury, Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb is one of the country’s leading hill climb venues and is operated by the British Automobile Racing Club’s South West Centre.
Iconic for its notable decline off the start before ascending up the tarmac on the course, Gurston hosts all manner of events throughout the season including its own championship. Comprising of a handful of rounds, points are awarded on the basis of how fast competitors are on the day relative to their opponents as drivers and machines are pit against the stopwatch.
Awards are up for grabs in the overall championship winner and also each class in the championship too, so there is plenty of competitive action throughout the whole field as drivers vie for position.
Running in parallel with The Turbo Dynamics Gurston Down Championship and at the same meetings, is the Top Ten Challenge which sees points being awarded to the ten fastest registered competitors at each meeting, irrespective of what class they are in.
Organised and run by the British Automobile Racing Club’s Yorkshire centre, the Harewood Speed Hill Climb Championship consists of several rounds of competition over the course of the year.
Providing a unique challenge like no other hill climb venue, Harewood’s picturesque scenery has become renowned for being the ultimate haven for drivers to test themselves behind the wheel as they race against the stopwatch.
The overall championship will pit road-going, modified saloon and sports cars against single seater thoroughbreds, with all competitors competing against the best time from their respective class.
In the FTD Championship, which runs parallel to the main category, points are based on the fastest times set at each round, predominantly dominated by those piloting single seater machinery too.