BARC announces expanded live stream schedule for 2023

The British Automobile Racing Club is delighted to announce that it will continue its partnership with leading sports production company 247.TV for the 2023 season, with no fewer than 23 race meetings set to be streamed live and online for free.

Embarking on what will be a third consecutive season of broadcasting simultaneously on the Club’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, this year is set to bigger and better than ever as the BARC expands its schedule with six more race meetings than last year set to hit the big screen.

Showcasing the very best edge-of-the-seat entertainment that national motorsport has to offer, viewers will benefit from improved graphics and all-encompassing production values, as well as the same much-loved commentary offerings.

Coming off the back of a momentous inaugural year, the 2022 season saw the Club enjoy another bumper year in front of the cameras, with the numbers speaking for themselves. The standout figures included more than 1 Million views being attained across more than 50 different countries around the world.

The BARC’s YouTube channel continued to grow over the course of last season too, with the number of subscribers going from 19,000 to 27,000 come the final chequered flag of 2022 falling. 

The British Endurance Championship, British Truck Racing Championship, Classic Touring Car Racing Club, Caterham Motorsport, Junior Saloon Car Championship and Britcar Prototype Cup are just some of the leading categories that will feature over the course of the campaign. 

BARC 2023 LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE

25/26 March – Silverstone

1 April – Oulton Park 

8/9 April – Brands Hatch

22/23 April – Brands Hatch

13/14 May – Snetterton 300

20/21 May – Pembrey

20/21 May – Croft 

27/29 May – Oulton Park

1/2/3/4 June – Zandvoort 

24/25 June – Silverstone

8/9 July – Thruxton

22 July – Donington Park

29/30 July – Thruxton

12/13 August – Croft

12/13 August – Donington Park

19/20 August – Snetterton 300

25/26/27 August – Snetterton 200

2/3 September – Donington Park

16/17 September – Silverstone 

16/17 September – Snetterton 300

7/8 October – Pembrey

14/15 October – Donington Park

4/5 November – Brands Hatch

If you’re yet to subscribe to the BARC’s official YouTube channel, visit https://www.youtube.com/@britishautomobileracingclub 

2023 BARC race meetings now available to view

The British Automobile Racing Club is poised for a blockbuster 2023 motorsport season, with all race meetings and marshal training days now available view online.  

Following on from a hugely successful 2022 campaign, the Club has unveiled a bumper bill of race meetings which will see championships undoubtedly deliver edge-of-the-seat entertainment across the length and breadth of the UK between the months of March and November. 

Categories such as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, British Truck Racing Championship, British Endurance Championship, Classic Touring Car Racing Club and Caterham Motorsport, plus many more, are just some of the series that are set to take centre stage. 

In addition to running more than 40 race meetings, the Club will continue to take up its customary operational and organisational role across all three Goodwood events; the 80th Members’ Meeting, Festival of Speed and Revival. 

To view the full list of scheduled 2023 British Automobile Racing Club race meetings, CLICK HERE.

John Wickham: 1949 – 2023

The British Automobile Racing Club is saddened to learn of the passing of John Wickham.

In a motorsport career that spanned more than five decades, Wickham enjoyed a storied career as he worked in a variety of racing categories all over the world.

Having briefly worked in banking, the start of his career began with the first of two stints at the British Automobile Racing Club where he took up the role of Competitions Manager in 1972, organising race meetings at the time.

From there he moved to the Surtees team to manage its Formula 2 operation before returning to the BARC for a brief second spell. 

In the years that followed, Wickham would enjoy plenty of success as he oversaw March Engineering clinch the 1979 European Formula 2 Championship and play a key role with the Spirit team, which brought Honda back to Formula 1 in 1983. 

He also went on to run the impressive Audi Sport UK team which charged to title glory in the British Touring Car Championship in 1996 and thereafter was team director of Bentley’s victorious Le Mans triumph in 2003.

Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with John’s family and friends at this difficult time. 

BARC thanks marshals with bumper end of year prize draw

The British Automobile Racing Club has shone a light on the hard work and dedication shown by its marshals throughout 2022 with a bumper end of year prize draw. 

In a season that saw more than 1000 marshals play their part in BARC race meetings across the length and breadth of the country, many are set to claim some incredible prizes via the annual end of year draw – which is aimed towards giving back to the army of volunteers that ensure the smooth running events week on week.

The Club would like to thank the following teams, drivers, venues and organisations for their kind donations of prizes:

ING Sport, Team Brit, Goodwood, Darkside Motorsport, Croft Circuit, West Surrey Racing, EXCELR8 Motorsport, Thruxton Circuit, JHR Developments, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, MB Motorsport, CDR Racing, HiTech Racing, MINI Challenge, Barry Holmes, Leo Panayioutou, Virtuosi Motorsport, Motorbase Performance, Ginetta, SimTrack and the Junior Saloon Car Championship.

Winners will be contacted by the BARC Competitions Department in due course however some prizes may only be available for collection at future events.

BARC HQ 2022 Christmas & New Year closing dates

The British Automobile Racing Club headquarters at Thruxton Circuit will be closed during the following dates over the Christmas and New Year periods.

From: Thursday 22rd December 2022 at 17:00

To: Tuesday 3rd January 2023 at 09:00

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible trackside throughout 2023; be it if you are officiating, marshalling, spectating or competing!

From everyone at the BARC and all of our venues around the country; we wish you a safe, Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

Thruxton Circuit confirms blockbuster 2023 events calendar

Thruxton Circuit has announced a blockbuster events schedule for 2023, where visits from both the Kwik British Touring Car Championship and Bennetts British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli are set to headline once again.

Coming off the back of an action-packed 2022 campaign, the fastest circuit in the UK is set to play host to the some of the biggest championships and clubs over the course of the season, staging a total of six race meetings from early May through to mid-August. 

The Hampshire venue will hold an exclusive test day for the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA and Porsche Carrera Cup GB on April 12 before the Classic Sports Car Club kicks off the race schedule less than a month later on May 6/7.

Following that, the UK’s premier motorsport series – the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – will make its one and only visit of the year to Thruxton at the slightly later date of June 3/4. 

Spectators will step back in time for the Thruxton Historic in mid-June before the heavyweight behemoths of the British Truck Racing Championship rumble into town for Convoy on the Plain.

The British Automobile Racing Club will run an additional meeting at its home track in 2023, with a Summer Festival scheduled to take centre stage on July 29/30.

Bringing the curtain down on the full-throttle thrills at the circuit is the Bennetts British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli, where the best riders in the world will battle it out for outright honours at speeds of more than 190mph. 

Thruxton Circuit – 2023 Calendar

April 12 – Test Day | British F4 & Porsche 

May 6/7 – Classic Sports Car Club

June 3/4 – Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship

June 17/18 – Thruxton Historic

July 8/9 – Convoy on the Plain 

July 29/30 – British Automobile Racing Club 

August 11/12/13 – Bennetts British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli

Tickets for all 2023 race meetings are now available to purchase from https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing.

BARC Marshal Training dates confirmed for 2023

The British Automobile Racing Club can confirm that it will run a a total of six marshal training days prior to the start of the 2023 motorsport season.

Gurston Down, Croft, Pembrey and Thruxton will host the aforementioned training days across the months of January, February and March next year.

Every event organised and run by the BARC needs marshals and all marshals, whatever they are doing, are contributing to the success and smooth running of the meeting.

With training provided to cover a wide range of topics such as fire safety to pit lane operation and teamwork; marshal training covers a wide variety of key attributes in preparing those that are heading trackside for the forthcoming season.

2023 BARC MARSHAL TRAINING DATES

Saturday 21st January – Gurston Down – Speed = THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL

Sunday 22nd January – Thruxton – BOOK HERE = Trainees/New Marshals [If you have marshalled 10 days or more, please attend either of the March training days]

Saturday 11th February – Croft – BOOK HERE = Trainee/Registered; Specialists/Off Track; Track/Grade 1; Experienced & Flag/Grade 2; IO & Post Chief/Grade 3; Examining PC/Marshal Assessor

Sunday 19th February – Pembrey – BOOK HERE = Trainee/Registered; Specialists/Off Track; Track/Grade 1; Experienced & Flag/Grade 2; IO & Post Chief/Grade 3; Examining PC/Marshal Assessor

Saturday 11th March – Thruxton – BOOK HERE = Track/Grade 1; Experienced & Flag/Grade 2

Sunday 12th March – Thruxton – BOOK HERE = Specialists/Off Track; IO & Post Chief/Grade 3; Examining PC/Marshal Assessor

Further information on all training days will be published in due course.

To find out more about marshalling with the BARC and how to get involved, CLICK HERE.

Job Vacancy: BARC Competitions Administrator

The British Automobile Racing Club is recruiting for the role of Competitions Administrator, with applications now being welcomed.

In 2023, the BARC will take on some major new championship and has the need for an administrator to deliver excellent customer service to our competitor and official community.

The successful applicant will support the department to deliver high-profile motorsport events including the British Touring Car Championship and all of the BARC’s race meetings and support for other competition department activities, such as Goodwood.

Click HERE to view the full Job Description which includes the Responsibilities, Skills, Attributes and more related to the position.

To apply, please send a covering letter and full CV to Mark Turner: mturner@barc.net before the end of Monday 7th November.

Issue 3 of 2022 BARC Magazine hits members’ doorsteps

Issue 3 of the British Automobile Racing Club magazine is available to read for all members, with copies now hitting doorsteps.

Packed with the latest news and centre reports, as well as Bruce’s Blog, Martin Hunt’s Marshal Matters and Driving Destinations, the 60-page issue also includes a number of must-read features too.

This latest issue sees us look back on the top ten moments from this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, we speak to Josh Cook on his BTCC success around Thruxton, recap the latest Hillclimb action and discuss Mile Rudman’s ever-growing business venture – plus much more.

To become a member of the BARC and to receive a copy of the magazine, head to https://www.barc.net/membership/.

Statement: HQ & Venue Closures on 19/09/22

The British Automobile Racing Club and all its venues will be closed on Monday 19th September for the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This includes all activity at Thruxton including the circuit, kart centre, skid pan and 4×4 course, as well as the circuits at Pembrey and Croft.

All scheduled activities over the coming weekend will continue as previously planned. This includes the British Truck Racing Championship meeting at Snetterton, the BTRDA Clubmans RallyX at Pembrey, the BRSCC meeting at Croft and the two days of hillclimbing at Harewood Hill. Two minutes silence will be respected within the proceedings as appropriate.

The BARC continues to send its thoughts and best wishes to His Majesty King Charles III and all members of the Royal Family at this difficult time.

Statement: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

On behalf of everyone connected with the British Automobile Racing Club, we are saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Her dedication to public service has been an inspiration to the country and the world for more than 70 years.

We remember her and the values she espoused, as we send our deepest condolences to the Royal Family.

BARC & Club24H postpone Anglesey 24-hour event

The British Automobile Racing Club and Club24Hour regret to announce that the inaugural endurance race, scheduled to debut at Anglesey Circuit on September 23-25, has been postponed. 

A number of operational factors led to the decision, but plans are already in place for the new event to debut in 2023.

Mark Turner, BARC Sporting Manager, said: “It is a shame that we have had to push this event back a year. On the operational side there are a number of factors that have brought the event into question so we have made the early decision to cancel for 2022 and look again in 2023.

Dave Beecroft, Club 24 Director, added: “We are obviously disappointed but we had a number of obstacles that couldn’t be overcome and that would mean we couldn’t deliver the event to the highest quality.

“We have had plenty of interest and entries for the race prior to this announcement and I’m confident that with even more time to work on things we will be able to deliver a race to remember next year.

“I’d personally like to thank Anglesey for their understanding on this matter and for being so accommodating. We’ve always enjoyed running there and we’re looking forward to visiting once again soon.”

The Club’s race meeting at Anglesey on September 3-4 is unaffected by this decision and will proceed as planned with Caterham Graduates Racing Club, Junior Saloon Car Championship, CNC Heads Sports/Saloons Championship, Mini 7 Racing Club and British Superkart Racing Club all on track. 

For more information on how to enter, head to www.barc.net or contact the Competitions Department via competitions@barc.net.