Tag: Audi Cup

South Wales scorcher for BARC as Championships star at Pembrey

The British Automobile Racing Club soaked up the sun in South Wales this past weekend (June 20-21) as the British Truck Racing Championship and several others took centre stage at Pembrey for Convoy Cymru.

On what is one of the biggest events on the calendar for the Carmarthenshire venue each year, a bumper crowd poured through the gates to see what Wales’ biggest and best truck show had to offer this time around.

While the likes of show trucks, stunt shows, live music, tractor pulling and a funfair headlined the attractions off-track, the heavyweight behemoths of the British Truck Racing Championship were the undoubted stars of the show on it.

Delivering five action-packed races across the weekend, the battle for supremacy across Division 1 and Division 2 rightfully had fans on the edge of their seats as the 2026 campaign further intensified – and it delivered a host of different winners.

In Division 1, no less than ten drivers have now stood on the top step of the podium; a statistic that underlines just how competitive the series’ premier class has been so far this season.

John Bowler and Nathan Smith were the first to reign supreme as they tallied a win apiece on Saturday before Steven Powell then took his tally for the season to two in a frenetic contest on Sunday morning.

Terry Gibbon – who is substituting for Richard Collett as he recovers from major surgery – then triumphed in race four. The spoils for the weekend’s finale fell the way of Scotsman Tom O’Rourke in his International Navistar as he fended off the race-long advances of Bowler.

Over in Division 2, reigning champion Jake Evans maintained his position at the top of the standings with another flawless performance. The MAN driver scooped four wins from five races, with Callum Eason being the only driver that was able to halt his run.

Aaron Thompson once again demonstrated why he is a force to be reckoned with in the Pickup Truck Racing Championship as he headed back to his home county of Essex with another impressive haul of points.

Firmly in contention for the coveted title. Thompson snared pole position in qualifying but could do nothing to stop former champion Dale Gent from claiming a hard-fought victory in a frenetic opening encounter.

Keen to make amends, Thompson starred during Sunday’s action as he pulled off a stunning overtake on Allen Cooper to clinch honours in race two, before then going from eighth on the grid to win race three.

Pembrey also witnessed a feast of MINI Cooper action across the weekend as both the Mairon Motorsport MINI CHALLENGE Trophy and MINI CHALLENGE Clubsport with Airtec Motorsport wowed the crowds.

In the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, spoils were shared between defending champion Alex Keens, rookie Josh Selvadorai and title protagonist Matt Luff, while Oli Willmott was flawless to bag three wins from three in the Clubsport ranks.

Elsewhere, the battle for supremacy in the Civic Cup saw Dave Marshall and Alistair Camp each triumph; and there was success for Andrew Rogerson and Sam Meagher in the Audi Cup, which continues to grow in stature after debuting at Thruxton in May.

The Junior Saloon Car Championship delivered its fair share of thrills and spills but it was Ollie Smith that was able to keep his cool to prevail, winning twice to strengthen his lead in the standings. Matthew Swatton had kicked off proceedings with his first win of the season.

Rounding out the weekend’s entertainment were two races for the Track Action Racing Club, which were won by Adam Croft and Scott Aprigliano.

To view the full classification of results from Pembrey, CLICK HERE.

BARC championships make a splash at Convoy Thruxton

The British Automobile Racing Club made a splash on him turf this past weekend (May 16-17) as the all-action British Truck Racing Championship rumbled into Hampshire to headline Convoy Thruxton.

Marking the first race meeting of the season at the fastest circuit in the country, thousands of fans poured through the gates to witness a feast of thrilling on-track moments, as well as enjoy plenty of eye-catching off-track attractions too.

Despite the challenging weather conditions, the spirits of those in attendance were far from dampened with many being able to soak up entertainment from the likes of show trucks, wrestling, a funfair and much more.

Topping the bill on the circuit was the big rigs of the BTRC, which delivered five captivating contests. When all was said and done, no less than four different drivers triumphed in Division 1, while two more starred in Division 2.

Division 1 – the series’ premier class – saw ten-time champion Stuart Oliver enjoy a fine start to proceedings as he took a commanding win in race one, before fellow former title winner David Jenkins came to the fore to deliver a wet weather masterclass in race two.

After enduring a difficult opening event, 333 Motorsport’s Steven Powell reminded everyone what is he is capable of as he charged to victory in race three. Then, as the heavens opened once more, Jenkins hit the front to once again tally another win.

Having had to spend much of the weekend filling the other steps on the podium, reigning ten-time champion Ryan Smith finally chalked up a victory of his own in the weekend’s finale, despite coming under race-long pressure from Craig Reid.

Over in Division 2, the battle for title supremacy ramped up as Callum Eason ignited his season in style. The WDE Motorsport driver won four of the five races, only being beaten by reigning champion and rival Jake Evans in the other contest.

After a few years away, the Pickup Truck Racing Championship made a triumphant return to Thruxton and the weekend was largely dominated by Aaron Thompson, who snared pole position in qualifying and then followed it up with two race wins.

Thompson had hoped to compete a unique hat-trick in race three but heavy rain and a misted up windscreen hampered his chances. Instead, 2024 champion Dale Gent charged from sixth to first on lap one of the finale, before then going on to reign supreme.

While Thompson and Gent left with the big points, arguably one of the biggest cheers of the weekend came for Dan Fisher, who claimed an emotional maiden podium finish in the weekend’s final bout.

There was no shortage of entertainment over in the Civic Cup as a bumper field of Type Rs were unleashed around the sweeping curves and unforgiving kerbs of Thruxton. The weekend was something of a homage to the past and present of the one-make series too.

Josh Files made a welcome return to the grid and he made an instant impact as he charged to victory in race one. It was then the turn of the championship’s current leading light, Matt Wilkins, to come to the fore to win race two.

Another returning figure, former champion Max Edmundson, then signed off proceedings with a virtuoso performance in heavy rain, as he streaked clear of the opposition to win by more than 11 seconds.

One of the closest finishes pop the weekend came in the OT Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires, as Harvey Cursley got the better of Matthew Watson in race two to claim victory by a staggering 0.029 seconds.

Cursley had finished second to Stephen Slawson in a action-packed opening bout and was determined not to repeat the feat in race two. A tense back-and-forth battle had ensued between the pair however in ever-worsening track conditions, Cursley managed to come out on top.

In the popular MINI CHALLENGE Clubsport, a bumper field jostled for honours across three races however it was last year’s serial winner Oli Willmott that was a cut above the rest as he won twice; while Andy Langley also got in on the act to emerge victorious too.

Closing out what proved to be a weekend that will live long in the memory was a double win for TVR Tuscan driver Michael Saunders in the Bertie’s V8s & Outlaws and three for Ross Makar, who made history by winning the very first three races of the all-new Audi Cup.

To view the full classification of results from Convoy Thruxton, CLICK HERE.