Tag: British Hillclimb Championship

The opening phase of the 2026 British Hillclimb Championship, presented by Nova, has delivered exactly what fans hoped for – a three-way fight between defending champion Matthew Ryder, Will Hall and Wallace Menzies, with barely a tenth of a second separating the leading contenders at many of the season’s run-offs.

Now, nearly halfway through the season and five venues into the campaign, the title battle remains wide open, with momentum swinging from event to event. Here’s your catch-up before we head to Doune in Scotland.

Prescott: Hall and Ryder Trade Early Blows

The season burst into life at Prescott, where Ryder and Hall immediately established themselves as the men to beat. Ryder claimed the opening run-off victory, while Hall fired back in Round 2, ensuring the pair left Gloucestershire level on points after the first weekend.

Behind them, Menzies showed his customary speed, confirming that a familiar three-way championship battle was taking shape. One of the stories to emerge from Prescott was Alex Summers, who, in an 1100cc machine, managed to take the fight to the bigger cars, taking home a brilliant seven points from two runs.

Craigantlet: Records Fall as Ryder Takes Control

If Prescott provided intrigue, Craigantlet provided history.

On the demanding Northern Irish road course, Menzies, Hall and Ryder all dipped beneath the long-standing hill record. Ryder ultimately emerged with a perfect double victory, becoming the first driver to break the 39-second barrier before lowering the benchmark again later in the day.

Hall finished second in both run-offs by microscopic margins, while Menzies completed a brace of podiums. The performances cemented the leading trio’s status and handed Ryder an early championship advantage.

Elsewhere, Dean Tighe, who won the hearts of British hillclimb fans with his pilgrimage to the UK, became the first Australian in the modern era to pick up a championship point – six, to be precise, in Northern Ireland.

Harewood: Ryder Recovers, Menzies Strikes Back

The championship moved to Harewood, where the drama continued. Ryder overcame an opening setback to recover strongly, while Menzies secured his first run-off victory of the season.

Hall’s consistency again paid dividends, with two runner-up finishes allowing him to move to the top of the championship standings despite not taking a win.

Paul Haimes also announced himself as a contender with an impressive performance that hinted at stronger results to come.

Gurston Down: Ryder Closes the Gap

At one of the fastest hills in the country, Ryder returned to winning form. The reigning champion claimed both run-off victories to reduce Hall’s championship lead, while Menzies remained firmly in contention with another pair of podium finishes.

Behind the leading trio, Haimes enjoyed his strongest weekend of the year, securing fourth place in both rounds. Alex Coles also continued his impressive progress, strengthening his position in the top five of the standings.

By the end of the weekend, Hall’s advantage had been reduced to just four points.

Shelsley Walsh: Hall Produces a Moment of Magic

The latest chapter came at the sport’s most historic venue, Shelsley Walsh, where Hall delivered one of the standout performances of the season.

In front of a packed crowd, he lowered the outright hill record with a stunning 22.33-second ascent, writing his name into the venue’s history books. The achievement provided a significant boost in the championship battle and underlined the extraordinary level currently being reached by the championship’s front-runners.

Championship Picture

After eight rounds, the 2026 season has evolved into a fascinating contest between Hall, Ryder and Menzies.

Hall’s relentless consistency has kept him at the summit for much of the campaign with 96 points, but Ryder’s recent victories at Gurston Down have dramatically narrowed the gap. He now sits on 87 points, while Menzies remains close enough to capitalise on any mistake from the leading pair with 83.

Trevor Willis is enjoying a strong campaign in fourth place, with some of his favourite hills still to come. Dave Uren had a troubled start to 2026, but a second-place finish in the most recent run-off at Shelsley Walsh has lifted him back into the top five.

Paul Haimes began the season hoping simply to secure a championship number for 2027, and that ambition is looking increasingly achievable as he sits sixth, ahead of Alex Coles in seventh and former champion Alex Summers in eighth.

Avid Warburton is growing in confidence as the season progresses and would dearly love to hold on to his current ninth place, with Jonathan Varley hot on his heels in tenth.

Check-In with the BHC Cup

Over in the BHC Cup, presented by BMTR and supported by Hoosier, Richard Snow hit his stride early with a scintillating run in his Porsche GT4 RS, capturing class-winning points to put him in the overall lead.

Jonathan Varley is performing strongly on two fronts, with a top-10 overall championship position and second place in the Cup representing a strong start to his 2026 campaign.

Rapid Richard Price, in his Caterham, is always one to watch and is tied for second with Varley, sitting just five points clear of Paul Talbot and his mighty Mini 1275 GT.

The Cup is open to all competitors, with points awarded according to class results, creating an eclectic mix of machinery ranging from standard road cars to top-line single-seaters.

For Goulds, Porsches, Alfa Romeos, Van Diemens, Subarus and Hillman Imps alike, there is competition and battle throughout the results table.

Hillclimb fans still have plenty to look forward to, with trips to Scotland, the Channel Islands, Devon and Shropshire still to come. Next time out will also see the launch of the 2026 Tin Top Challenge, presented by AET Turbos, adding another exciting layer of competition in the closed-roof classes.

With outright records already tumbling at Craigantlet and Shelsley Walsh, and several run-offs decided by mere hundredths of a second, the championship is shaping up to be one of the closest and most compelling in recent memory.

As the series heads into the heart of the summer schedule, the question remains unchanged: can Hall maintain his advantage, can Ryder complete the comeback, or will Menzies launch a charge of his own?

If the opening rounds are any indication, the answer is likely to remain uncertain right up until the final few events of the season.

Will Hall stunned the hillclimbing world by setting a new outright hill record at Shelsley Walsh on the first of Sunday’s two run-offs with a time of 22.33s, the fastest climb ever recorded at the Worcestershire venue.

Later in the day, as ambient temperatures dropped, Hall did it again to complete a perfect weekend. Although the afternoon times were a little slower, his climb of 22.72s was still enough to give him a second run-off victory.

These were two incredibly popular victories for the Midlands driver. In the opening run-off he stunned everyone by bettering the outright hill record set by Sean Gould in August 2021 at 22.37s. On the newly resurfaced Shelsley hill, Hall dipped to a 22.33s to shave four hundredths of a second off this most famous and prestigious of hillclimb records.

In the opening run-off, Matthew Ryder led the chase of Hall at 22.54s as Wallace Menzies also broke the 23s mark with a 22.91s before Trevor Willis had one of his best days at Shelsley with a 23.33s to take fourth.

Later in the day, with the temperature dropping and the threat of rain in the air, Hall ran last and knew that a superb 22.98s climb by David Uren was his target. Sure enough, Hall did it all right and grabbed victory with a 22.72s. Ryder slipped to fourth behind Menzies to make the day’s result even more important for the season-long championship.

Others to feature included Paul Haimes and David Warburton and Jack Cottrill got his 2026 score off the ground with two eighth places in his Dallara. With a big crowd and tremendous competition across all the classes, this was another great day for hillclimbing at its most famous venue. It could also prove to be a very important day in the championship battle, as Hall stemmed Ryder’s run of recent successes.

On his new record, Hall said: “After qualifying on 22.8, I didn’t quite think it was going to be that. And then Matt did 22.54 in the run-off. I don’t like knowing what I’ve got to do, but I just got on and drove it.

“It wasn’t all perfect, but it wasn’t far off. There’s a little bit more I think, into Bottom Ess, but it’s being brave enough to just stay on the throttle later. I just want to keep the record to August. And then it could be another deal as more rubber goes down.

“It is very special as I’ve been coming here all my life: since I was in a push chair. So, I just wish my dad was here to see it.”

There was no stopping Matt Ryder at Gurston Down last weekend. The Gould GR59 driver coped with the searing heat better than anyone on Saturday and Sunday to claim both run-off wins in Wiltshire to move closer to the summit of the table.

Ryder relished the challenge at one of the fastest hills in the country, and a 25.49-second run on the opening run-off saw the Englishman set the benchmark on the opening day. His 2026 sparring partner, Will Hall, was his closest challenger with a 25.71 in his Gould GR59.

Wallace Menzies couldn’t quite duck under the 26-second mark with a 26.06, but he kept a watching eye on his title rivals ahead of him.
Elsewhere, it proved to be an electric weekend for Paul Haimes. After a disappointing meeting at Prescott on the opening weekend, Haimes wound up his Gould and produced a brilliant drive to fourth in his 1300cc turbocharged machine with a 26.50. Alex Coles is never far away from the front and was pleased to secure fifth ahead of Dave Uren, who was building back his confidence in his GR55.

Trevor Willis pushed his OMS to seventh ahead of hill record-holder Alex Summers, who was pleased to pick up points in his self-built AFS P4T, while Harry Pick and Andy Greenen grabbed the final points on offer. For Greenen, it was to be his first BHC point of the season.
Into the second day, proceedings were paused after a sizeable off for Dean Tighe forced the meeting to be halted. The likeable Australian got out of the car, but went to hospital as a precaution.

With time on the hill reduced, the final run-off of the weekend became even more crucial.

It was Ryder again who topped the timesheets, this time going even quicker in the hot and humid conditions with a 25.27 to seal another 10 points. The ever-present Will Hall was just behind with a 25.34 to take nine points. Not taking dropped scores into consideration at this early stage of the season, Matt’s run has seen him reduce the deficit to just four points behind his fellow Gould driver.

Wallace Menzies banked another podium at Gurston Down. The Gould driver knows he has the pace but couldn’t live with the two in front last weekend. A consolation third keeps the title fight alive and, as the championship heads to Shelsley Walsh and Doune, the Flying Scotsman can never be discounted.

Paul Haimes was magic again, taking his third fourth-place finish in a row as the Englishman entered a purple patch of his own. Alex Coles firmly pulled up a seat at the BHC top table with fifth in the run-off, helping him to move up to fifth in the standings.

Trevor Willis bravely battled to sixth ahead of Alex Summers once again in seventh. Harry Pick produced a brilliant run to eighth, while Dave Uren didn’t quite feel at home this weekend in ninth. Bagging crucial points now, ahead of the hills he enjoys later in the year, is always important when fighting for a number. Jason Tunnicliffe snatched the final point from a chasing Andy Greenen and Andy Bougourd.

The championship now heads “home” to Shelsley Walsh — the oldest event on the calendar and the spiritual home of hillclimbing in the UK. Get ready for take-off on 6/7 June!

The British Hillclimb Championship presented by Nova Motorsport delivered one of the most talked-about contests in hillclimbing history at Craigantlet earlier this month, and the drama continued back across the water at Harewood Hill in Yorkshire last weekend (10th May).

After lowering the Craigantlet record in Northern Ireland, Matt Ryder headed to Harewood with a spring in his step as the championship leader looked to continue that form at the longest hill on the British calendar.

In the opening run-off, round five of the series, it was Wallace Menzies who scooped the 10 points. The Flying Scotsman threaded his Gould up the 1,584-yard course quickest with a 47.11-second run to take his first run-off victory of the year – a confidence booster to get his title tilt back on course.

The reigning number two was pushed hard by the in-form and ultra-consistent Will Hall, who produced another electric performance to bag second place, just seven hundredths of a second behind. Matt Ryder – normally a regular in the podium tussle – suffered a disastrous run, with launch control gremlins affecting the #1 Gould and leaving him 12th in the top-12 shootout and, crucially, without points.

Ryder’s disappointment opened the door for another driver to take the final rostrum spot. Up stepped the evergreen Trevor Willis, who powered the OMS to third – his best result of the season. Alex Coles was another driver in top form as he secured another top-five run-off finish in his nimble Force in fourth.

Paul Haimes, fifth had endured a troubled start to his campaign but was pleased to bank crucial points ahead of Dave Uren in sixth, who confessed Harewood was a challenging hill. Will Hamer, Jonathan Varley and Harry Pick all gathered points in run-off one, while David Tatham collected his first point of the year in tenth. Stephen Owen and Matt Ryder were the unfortunate pair to miss out on points in the opening bout.

The second run-off brought the final action on Harewood Hill on Sunday afternoon.

Having resolved his earlier launch control woes, Matt Ryder went from zero points to hero in the second run-off. The Englishman channelled his earlier frustration to dip below the 47-second barrier – the only driver to do so across the run-offs – and claim the second set of 10 points.

The ever-consistent Will Hall was there in second once more. His brace of runner-up finishes puts him into the overall championship lead after Harewood. Wallace Menzies couldn’t quite repeat his earlier victory and settled for third, while a resurgent Paul Haimes finished equal fourth with Trevor Willis, ahead of Alex Coles in sixth.

Dave Uren, Jonathan Varley, David Tatham and Stephen Owen rounded out the points-paying positions – with Ben Hamer and Will Hamer – missing out this time.

The championship now enjoys a fortnight’s break before Gurston Down looms as the next challenge. The BARC South West event will take place across the weekend of 23–24 May. Who will emerge with the points haul on one of the most extreme hills in the country?

Next stop… Wiltshire.

The British Hillclimb Championship presented by Nova Motorsport delivered one of the most intense contests in hillclimbing history at Craigantlet on 3 May, where three drivers dipped under the hill record — with a new benchmark laid down on the Northern Irish course.

Matthew Ryder and Will Hall went toe-to-toe during the opening weekend at Prescott just six days earlier, and that rivalry continued across the Irish Sea for Rounds Three and Four on the daunting closed-road hillclimb course on the outskirts of Belfast.

With conditions perfect for the one-day meeting, sights were firmly set on the run-offs in the latter part of the afternoon, which were ultimately decided by the finest of margins as the leading contenders pushed the limits of commitment on the fast and unforgiving public road venue.

Ryder pips Hall in ultra-close Round Three

Round Three set the tone for the day with a remarkably tight finish at the top. Wallace Menzies was first to dip under the 39.12-second benchmark set by Scott Moran in 2016 and later equalled by Dave Uren in 2019 on the 1,300-yard course.

He found a turn of pace to lower the target to 39.03 seconds. However, the new hill record would stand for only a matter of seconds, as Matthew Ryder took to the road and etched his name into the history books with a 38.97-second run — becoming the first driver to break the 39-second barrier.

Will Hall, like his two rivals, also picked up a bonus point as he stormed to a 39.01-second run, leaving the top three covered by just six hundredths of a second.

A gap then opened to David Uren, who secured fourth with a 40.60s effort, while Trevor Willis rounded out the top five on 40.80s. Paul Haimes followed closely in sixth, narrowly ahead of Alex Coles, who was visiting the Northern Irish hill for the first time.

Further down the points, the ever-present David Warburton collected a handful of points, as did first-time scorers Dean Tighe and Gary Warren.

Even closer in Round Four as Ryder doubles up

If Round Three was close, Round Four somehow raised the bar even further.

Ryder again came out on top, this time lowering the benchmark to a blistering 38.60 seconds. Hall pushed him all the way once more but fell just 0.04 seconds short for the second time in succession, recording his first sub-39 run with a 38.64s effort.

Menzies again completed the podium, his 39.12s effort matching the previous record benchmark and reinforcing his consistency across the day.

Behind the front three, Willis moved up to fourth with a strong 40.35s, while Coles improved to fifth ahead of Haimes in sixth — both drivers continuing to bank valuable points in the fight for a top-eight championship finish in 2026.

Further down the order, Tighe, Warren and Warburton remained tightly grouped, separated by only a few tenths as the fight for points stayed fiercely competitive. Tighe, who became the first Australian to qualify for a run-off at Prescott, continued to impress at Craigantlet by scoring his first championship points in only his second event.

Aaron Colbourne completed the top ten, while Darren Gumbley and Uren — who failed to record a time in the second run-off following contact with the wall — rounded out the classification.

Early momentum building

With four rounds now complete, Ryder’s double victory provides a significant early boost in the championship standings. However, Hall’s back-to-back second-place finishes — each by the narrowest of margins — ensure the fight is far from settled.

Menzies’ pair of third-place finishes also keep him firmly in contention, forming a clear leading trio as the season begins to take shape.
The championship now moves on to Harewood next weekend (10 May), where momentum will continue to build. If Craigantlet is any indication, the 2026 title battle could be one of the closest in recent years.

The 2026 British Hillclimb Championship, presented by Nova Motorsport, burst into life last weekend (26/27 April) at Prescott Hillclimb for the opening two rounds of the series.

Glorious sunshine bathed the Gloucestershire venue, with quick times there for the taking right from the off. After a day of practice on Saturday, allowing competitors two runs to dial themselves into the new season, Sunday was where it all counted — with round one at lunchtime and the second coming in the early evening.

How it played out

All the way from Australia, Dean Tighe became the first Australian to make it into a BHC run-off. Running first, the former Australian champion set the benchmark for others to beat in his 1300cc Empire with a 39.23. The experienced David Warburton was next up and slashed that to 37.67. The times kept tumbling as 2015 champion Alex Summers dragged his 1100cc DJ Firehawk to a 37.61 — an impressive time that would see him high up the order.

Then, the big five were unleashed. Dave Uren (36.09) moved to the top, while Trevor Willis (36.13) slotted in just behind. Wallace Menzies was the first to dip under the 36-second barrier with a 35.65 in his Gould GR59. Reigning champion Matt Ryder produced a clinical run to snatch the lead just minutes later with a 35.29.

Will Hall, who qualified with the same time as Ryder, went last with the tension building. Could he repeat his run-off win of 12 months ago? Visor down, it was super smooth from the off. After 1,128 yards of climbing, three hundredths of a second made the difference. An exciting start to the year.

Elsewhere, fireworks were lit when Alex Coles took to the hill. The exciting Plymouth-based driver has more power at his disposal for 2026 and looked ready to giant-slay on run one — but a few scrappy moments left him in 10th, just enough to score the final point.

Jonathan Varley (GWR) and Harry Pick (OMS) were also delighted with their runs, bagging their first points of the season — both eager to secure a top-10 number in 2026. Sadly, Paul Haimes suffered a difficult weekend, with mechanical gremlins hitting his 1300cc turbocharged Gould, which limped its way to the top of the hill.

The final bout of the day

David Warburton, who produced a strong run in the first run-off, was the first driver to get the final shoot-out underway with a 38.10. Harry Pick went two hundredths slower just a few minutes later, while Jason Tunnicliffe — who qualified for his first run-off of the year — made a small mistake at Ettore’s, scrubbing off speed and losing time. The Empire driver had to settle for a 39.69.

Alex Summers produced more gold in run-off two, confirming a minimum of two championship points with a 37.77 to set the target time — albeit only briefly — before a reinvigorated Jonathan Varley went quicker by half a second.

The bigger cars came next, with Trevor Willis hustling his OMS to a 36.72 before Alex Coles, in the rapid Force, slotted into second behind the experienced Willis.

Paul Haimes was looking to salvage some points after being dogged by mechanical gremlins earlier in the day. Coming into Ettore’s, the Farnham-based driver lost the back end of his Gould as it rotated — ending with the rear of the car in the wall. Paul jumped out unscathed, but the course had to be cleared before proceedings could resume.

After a short delay, Dave Uren in the Gould GR55B was up next and, despite a slower start at the bottom of the hill, produced a pulsating run to snatch the lead from Willis with a 36.65.

Then came the top three. A pressure-cooker environment. The final runs of the day — who would leave Prescott with the bragging rights?

Matt Ryder stepped up first and beat Uren’s marker, lowering the time to beat to 35.41. Will Hall was next, and the Englishman gave it everything, leaving nothing on the table to record a 35.28.

All eyes then turned to four-time champion Wallace Menzies. The flying Scotsman wasn’t fully at one with his Gould but managed to wrestle his GR59 into another third-place finish.

Will Hall and Matt Ryder shared the spoils with a win and a second apiece. Hall left with the bragging rights, having been just one hundredth quicker than Ryder’s first run-off victory. He rounded out the weekend with a celebratory drive up the hill to great applause from marshals and spectators alike.

The next round of the series takes place this weekend, with a first trip overseas to Craigantlet for a one-day tussle on the closed-road course above Belfast on Saturday 2 May.

Photography kindly provided by Tom Gay Photography

The 2026 British Hillclimb Championship, presented by Nova Motorsport, roars into life this weekend at Prescott, where the traditional curtain-raiser once again sets the tone for a fiercely competitive season.

With 26 rounds across 10 venues, and points awarded through the high-stakes Top Twelve run offs, every fraction of a second counts from the very first climb this weekend.

Prescott’s narrow, technical course is a unique early test—rewarding commitment, rhythm, and bravery in equal measure. As ever, the spotlight will fall on the championship’s elite: the Top 12 contenders expected to dominate the run offs in 2026. It isn’t just the top 12 machines in action—there is a whole host of classes, all finely poised and ready for battle. With the weather set to be dry and warm, could the opening weekend see records tumble?

The Leading Contenders

At the head of the field is reigning champion Matt Ryder, carrying the coveted number one on his Gould. After a dominant 2025 campaign, he arrives as the benchmark—if he hits top form early, others may be chasing shadows. However, in hillclimbing it’s never so simple; there will always be a pack eager to snatch the #1 from the defending top seed.

Four-time champion Wallace Menzies remains the most formidable challenger. A relentless competitor with proven title-winning pedigree, Menzies will be eager to strike first and lay down a marker in pursuit of a fifth crown by the time the series returns to Prescott in September.

Close behind, Will Hall continues his push for a maiden title. Having shown front-running pace and Top 12 run off success last season, a strong Prescott weekend could be crucial in converting promise into a genuine championship bid.

Sean Gould is another on the rise, building momentum after a strong 2025. Sharing machinery with Ryder, his pace – particularly on faster hills – makes him a genuine threat for run off wins.

A trio of experienced frontrunners adds further depth. Three-time champion Trevor Willis remains a master at extracting results from his OMS, while Dave Uren continues to edge closer to consistent podium contention across the British Isles. Former champion Alex Summers, even on a partial programme, is always capable of upsetting the established order and, with his self-built AFS P4t, run off wins would taste even sweeter.

The next wave is equally compelling. Alex Coles proved his giant-killing potential last season, especially in tricky conditions, while Jack Cottrill brings consistency and upward momentum after consecutive strong campaigns. Paul Haimes, a perennial top-ten finisher, will once again target a solid points haul from the outset to kick-start his 2026 season.

Who else to watch at Prescott

The opening weekend is about more than just points – it’s about intent. Early victories can define momentum, and with two scoring rounds on offer, Prescott provides an immediate opportunity to seize control.

In the Tin Tops, the tantalising battle between Steven Darley (Subaru Impreza) and Stephen Moore (Mitsubishi Evo 6) enters another season and is always spectacular to watch.

Former champions Roger and Scott Moran return to blow away the cobwebs. 1997 champion Roger Moran will campaign his Skoda Fabia R5 as he continues to dial it into the British hills, while multiple champion Scott is behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Evo 6 for the BHC opener.

In other news, from the land down under, Dean Tighe – an Australian Hillclimb Champion – arrives with his Empire Wraith, shipped from Australia. It will be fascinating to see how he fares on the British hills.

Expect razor-thin margins, evolving track conditions, and a fascinating blend of experience versus rising talent. Whether Ryder asserts dominance, Menzies responds with authority, Hall builds on his 2025 form, or a new challenger emerges, the 2026 British Hillclimb Championship begins with intrigue – and Prescott is ready to deliver.

You can watch all the pulsating action on Sunday courtesy of the fantastic coverage provided by Hillclimb TV – www.youtube.com/@HillClimbTV

Matt Ryder has written a new sublime chapter in British Hillclimb Championship presented by Nova Motorsport history after successfully retaining his title this year.

The Gould GR59 Judd driver claimed his maiden crown in 2024 and entered this season as the defending champion, with everyone wondering whether he would be able to reign supreme once more.

Ryder did just that in emphatic fashion as he chalked up a total of 14 run-off victories to become a two-time champion in the sport.

As always, Ryder didn’t have things his own way with former four-time champion Wallace Menzies providing a stern test over the course of the campaign. Menzies would take six run-off wins of his own whilst Will Hall, Alex Summers and Matt’s co-driver Sean Gould took two apiece.

Ryder’s triumph sets up an exciting prospect in 2026 as he begins his quest for a third successive title. He’ll do so as a father too with he and his wife Kirsty expecting their first child in the coming months.

To find out more information on Ryder’s title-winning year, head to https://www.britishhillclimb.co.uk/news.