Caterham Graduates Championship – Page 4

Caterham Graduates membership continues to swell

Caterham Graduates Update

As we embed ourselves in the 2021 motor racing season, we are excited to see a number of changes for the Caterham Graduates Racing Club (CGRC). Despite saying goodbye to the long-standing Classics Class ahead of 2021, the CGRC’s membership numbers are well and truly flourishing.

The Club has enjoyed a strong growth in recent seasons, however this year has gone with a bang, in a good way of course. With a current total of 115 members (and rapidly rising), it’s great to see this expansion of the CGRC.

Amongst the rise in membership numbers is an influx of new members, which is always encouraging. Many have come to the Club from other disciplines or other Caterham championships, but we also have a number of fresh-faced racers embarking on their very first racing experience. It’s always flattering to welcome an abundance of new faces to the CGRC, but to think we are the starting off point for a driver’s motor racing journey is something very rewarding indeed.

We are already one round down of our 2021 season, with our first round taking place at the superb Oulton Park in April. With an invasion of new members, we also welcomed capacity grids at Oulton Park, which was something of a spectacle, and something we expect to see more of as the season progresses.

Although a great deal of hard work has been invested into the growth of the CGRC, we also like to think the values of the Club have had an effective reaction in appealing to racing drivers of all skill levels and abilities.

Introduced in 2020, our FIRST policy (Fun, Inclusive, Respectful, Safe and CosT Effective) represents the CGRC perfectly, and is something that we encompass with each activity, ensuring we are always FIRST for fun.

The CGRC is an environment that is run by drivers, for drivers. As racing drivers ourselves we recognise what works for racing drivers and what doesn’t, whether that’s on circuit or in the paddock. We also appreciate just how busy life can be, particularly in the current climate, and so we like to ensure a certain level of flexibility. With different membership options available, we endeavour to make sure the CGRC can be squeezed into your busy schedule comfortably.

Oulton Park provides backdrop to blockbuster BARC curtain-raiser

The British Automobile Racing Club kicked off its 2021 season in sensational style at Oulton Park this past Saturday (April 17) with the Caterham Graduates Championship, CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, BARC Red and British Superkart Racing Club all starring.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, the one-day meeting saw the picturesque Cheshire venue basking in bright sunshine, albeit without spectators in attendance due to current government guidelines.

Boasting a bumper entry list, the Caterham Graduates Championship served up a feast of edge-of-the-seat entertainment as they kick-started a new year with a handful of pulsating encounters.

New CGRC member Simon Shaw enjoyed a dream debut as he stormed to victory in the opening Sigma race before James McCall race two where the top three were covered by little over a tenth of a second.

Harry Senior and Ben Winrow were tipped as drivers to watch prior to the meeting and the duo reinforced that fact as they took a win apiece in the Sigmax class. Elsewhere, Jamie Ellwood was perfection personified as he bagged a brace of race wins in the Sigma 150 category.

In the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, former title winner Paul Rose enjoyed a perfect start to the new season as he produced a dominant drive to claim victory and set his stall out as the driver to beat.

At the wheel of his Saker RAPX S1-500, Rose converted pole position into a lead that he never looked like relinquishing as he powered his way into the distance to take the chequered flag by nearly 30-seconds, lapping all but Jon Woolfitt and Paul Dobson who finished second and third respectively.

Having enjoyed a memorable debut in 2020, BARC Red kicked off its sophomore season with a pair of frenetic encounters. Open to competitors who drive open/closed roof Sports & Saloon cars, regardless of what championship or racing club they compete in, the series garnered a healthy entry for the start of the new campaign.

Jasver Supra – who has made a name in the Kumho BMW Championship in recent years – piloted his BMW E46 to victory in race one before Anthony Bennett claimed race two honours at the wheel of his Caterham R300.

Rounding off the day’s action were a trio of races from the British Superkarts Racing Club where Lee Harpham, Sam Moss and Paul Platt shared the spoils.

To view the full classification of results from all of Saturday’s sessions, click here.

BARC set to kick off 2021 season at Oulton Park

After months of excitement and anticipation, the British Automobile Racing Club is set to lift the curtain on its 2021 season this coming Saturday (April 17) with what will undoubtedly be a blockbuster race day at Oulton Park.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, the one-day meeting at the Cheshire venue will mark the start of a busy year for the BARC, with events scheduled to run all the way through until the middle of November.

The CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, the North West Centre’s flagship category, boasts a healthy grid for the new campaign where variety is very much the spice of life. Playing host to a number of different machines, the multi-class category has proven a smash-hit down the years and 2021 looks to be no different.

Notable names to keep an eye across both races include reigning champion Jamie Cryer, Danny Bird, Paul Rose, Paul Woolfitt and Guy Carter, amongst many others.

Despite not crowning any champions last year, the Caterham Graduates Championship proved to be one of the star attractions in 2020 and the much-loved single-make category is aiming to pick up where it left off at Oulton Park.

Like the CNC Heads, the Caterham contingent has an ultra-competitive grid primed for action and with the class structure condensed down to just three – Sigma 135, Sigma 150 and Sigmax – edge-of-the-seat entertainment is all-but guaranteed.

Robin Webb, Adam Harrison, Jamie Ellwood, Jonathan Curry, Oliver Gibson, Harry Senior and Ben Winrow are just some of the drivers that will undoubtedly be in the mix for the top step of the podium.

After breaking new ground in 2020, BARC Red returns for its sophomore season. Open to competitors who drive open/closed roof Sports & Saloon cars, regardless of what championship or racing club they compete in and providing they met current Motorsport UK safety regulations, the series of races garnered plenty of attention from the outset last year and duly delivered.

Now back for a second year, BARC Red looks set to grow in stature with a variety of cars set to battle it out for overall honours around the challenging 2.26-mile layout.

Rounding out the days action will be a number of races from the full-throttle British Superkart Racing Club. Renowned for producing jaw-dropping wheel-to-wheel entertainment whilst sitting mere millimetres from the tarmac, the Superkarts will be keen to kick off the new campaign in fine style.

Saturday’s race meeting will include the national minute of silence in honour of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

To find out more information on this Saturday’s Oulton Park curtain-raiser – including links to live timing, timetable and final instructions – click here.

Please note that this event is being run in accordance with government guidelines and will therefore take place behind closed doors, without spectators being permitted.

2020 Season Review: Caterham Graduates Championship

In a year like no other, one thing remained the same in 2020 and that was that the Caterham Graduates Championship delivered another vintage year of high-octane, wheel-to-wheel entertainment.

Due to the delayed start and the unprecedented nature of the season, championship titles weren’t up for grabs however outright race honours were, and each one was fiercely fought over during the course of the six-event campaign.

Armed with a bumper entry list, the series lifted the curtain on its shortened season with a trio of races taking centre stage at Croft. Harry Heaton would go on to make his mark as he powered his way to a sensational hat-trick of wins at the North Yorkshire venue.

Speeding onto Mallory Park next, the popular one-make series saw another impressive hat-trick achieved, this time by Harry Senior as he reigned supreme in emphatic style.

The undulating twists and turns of Cadwell Park provided the next stop on the calendar and it would be Senior that emerged as the driver to beat once again as he notched another two wins to his ever-improving tally. Jamie Ellwood meanwhile also triumphed, clinching his first victory of the year.

Senior’s scintillating run of form continued as the series ventured to Snetterton in late August as he added another two wins to his list of triumphs. Andrew Whitton ensured that Senior didn’t complete a clean sweep however as he ascended to the top step of the podium in the remaining encounter.

Oulton Park would see a carbon copy of Snetterton as both Senior and Whitton starred before the Caterham contingent wrapped up its campaign at Silverstone.

Having proven himself as the driver to beat for a majority of the year, Senior signed off his season in a dominant manner by netting a further two wins around the home of British Motor Racing.

The 2021 Caterham Graduates Championship is set to return to its traditional format with a host of events taking place and champions set to be crowned.

Silverstone plays host to blockbuster BARC bonanza

The British Automobile Racing Club took centre stage at Silverstone this past weekend (October 10/11) to produce a spellbinding two days of action which saw champions crowned and battles lines drawn.

Thrills and spills have been a staple of the Classic Touring Car Racing Club this year and the annual visit to the Home of British Motor Racing proved to be no different as it signed off for the year with a string of spellbinding encounters.

Simon Jeffs was in a league of his own in the combined Pre’66 and Pre ’83 races whilst Andrew Wilson showcased similar levels of dominance in the amalgamated Pre ’93, Pre ’03, Thunder and BOSS contests.

Signing off for another year, the CTCRC also celebrated its champions, with more information on them published at https://classictouringcars.com/.

The Caterhams Graduates Championship brought the curtain down on another vintage year of competition with Harry Senior missing out on completing a hat-trick of wins by a mere 0.080 of a second.

Bagging top spot in qualifying, Senior cantered to wins in races one and two before looking to complete a clean sweep in race three. Jamie Ellwood however would ultimately prevent Senior in the end as he got the nod on the line by the smallest of margins.

Alex Solley enjoyed a near perfect weekend in the Junior Saloon Car Championship as he finally halted the juggernaut form of Lewis Saunders. Bidding to become the first two-time champion in the series, Saunders had won every race up until Silverstone but Solley ended that streak in style.

Storming to pole position, the teenager edged out Saunders in both races to bolster his own hopes of lifting the coveted crown at the end of the season.

The Dunlop Endurance Championship served up a handful of pulsating contests too, boasting bumper grids and eye-catching wheel-to-wheel battles. VR Motorsport’s Danny Harrison and Jim Hepworth reigned supreme in the opening Endurance Class encounter before RAW Motorsport’s Ben Dimmack and Steve Burgess did the same in race two.

Britcar’s Trophy Class enjoyed its biggest grid of the season and it didn’t disappoint either as Amspeed’s Adam Howard and Chris Boardman powered their BMW M3 E36 to the top step of the podium in both races.

Amalgamating together to boast a bumper grid, the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club and Max5 Racing Championship served up an abundance of entertainment over the course of the weekend, with two races on Sunday proving to be a highlight.

David Mellor and Fergus Campbell each took a win apiece in the MG category whilst Paul Roddison reigned supreme amongst the Max5 contingent, triumphing in both contests.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action was action from the BRSCC Formula Ford Championship and the Tiedman Trophy.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Silverstone, click here.

Champions to be crowned as BARC speeds into Silverstone

Champions will be crowned at Silverstone this weekend (October 10/11) as the British Automobile Racing Club takes centre stage for what should be a blockbuster two days of track action around the famous National layout.

In what has been an unprecedented year which has seen a scaled down and condensed 2020 season, several championships will bring the curtain down on their campaigns at the Home of British Motor Racing – and it is not to be missed.

The Caterham Graduates Championship kicked off their season with a taster day at Silverstone in February and it feels only right that things have come full circle for the one-make series as it caps off another stellar year of on-track entertainment.

Bumper entry lists have produced enthralling wheel-to-wheel battles throughout the field this year and that theme is set to continue as champions are decided in Classic, Sigmax, 135 and 150 classes.

Titles will also be decided in the Classic Touring Car Championship as the battle for supremacy comes to a head between the main protagonists across each category.

Action from the Classic Race Engines Pre ’66 Touring Cars, Shell Oil Pre 83′ Touring Car Championship, Laser Tools Pre-93 Touring Cars Championship, Simply Serviced Pre-2003 Touring Cars Championship, Toyo Tyres Pre-2005 Production Touring Car Championship, Burton Power Products Blue Oval Saloon Series and the Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder Saloons Championship will undoubtedly set pulses racing.

Silverstone could see Lewis Saunders take a step closer to title glory in the Junior Saloon Car Championship as well. Looking to become the first double champion in the series, Saunders has been perfection personified this year – winning every race so far.

Leading the chase for Ciceley Motorsport-backed teenager is Charlie Hand, Alex Solley, Benjamin Greenhill and Molly Dodd, to name but a few.

Edge of the seat entertainment will be provided by the Dunlop Endurance Championship across both days as its Endurance and Trophy categories take centre stage with a pair of races eacg. Marking the penultimate round of the season, every point is set to be crucial in deciding the destiny of each title come the end of the year.

Notable names to look out for during the course of both days include Paul Bailey in his Ferrari 488, VR Motorsport’s Jack Fabby and Garry Townsend, Barry McMahon and the Peugeot RCZ duo of Rob Smith and Charlie Campbell – amongst many more.

Sunday will also see the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship and Max5 Racing Championship join forces and amalgamate their grids for two all-action contests around the challenging 1.64-mile circuit.

Joining the BARC over the course of the weekend will also be the BRSCC Formula Ford Championship and the Tiedman Trophy.

To view more information on this weekend’s race meeting at Silverstone, including where to follow live timing and to view the event timetable, click here.

BARC publishes COVID-19 guidelines for Competitors and Officials

With the restart to racing in the UK now well underway the British Automobile Racing Club has updated its guidelines on how events will be run for both Competitors and Officials.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to adjust some of our practices and procedures in order to satisfy the requirements laid down by the government and most importantly to provide the safest environment possible for everyone involved.

In line with the guidance provided by Motorsport UK, the BARC will operate their race meetings as follows:-

BARC Competitors Guidance (v3 21 July) – CLICK HERE

BARC Officials Guidance (v2 22 July) – CLICK HERE

These guidelines have been put in place with the well-being of staff, competitors, officials and all potential visitors to our venues and events remaining at the forefront of our considerations at all times.

As it stands, all race meetings and events remain provisional and subject to change in accordance with the latest directives from the UK government.

To view the remaining post-lockdown 2021 events schedule, head to https://www.barc.net/events/.

Four championships put on a Saturday show at Oulton Park

The British Automobile Racing Club took centre stage at Oulton Park this past Saturday (September 12) where four championship basked in the Cheshire sunshine to serve up a feast of entertainment.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, the one-day meeting had a host of thrills and spills as each category continued their condensed 2020 campaigns.

Headlining the day’s action was the much-loved Dunlop Endurance Championship, which was home to all manner of eye-catching pieces of machinery. Two races, one for the Endurance class and the other for the Trophy class set pulses well and truly racing.

In the hour-long Endurance encounter, VR Motorsport’s duo of Jack Fabby and Garry Townsend reigned supreme in their Praga R1T to triumph whilst the Honda Integra Type R pairing of Danny Casser and Nigel Ainge did the same in the Trophy category.

Harry Senior enjoyed a near-perfect weekend in the Caterham Graduates Championship as he tallied two wins from three races. Senior controlled proceedings in races one and two before missing out on the hat-trick in race three, where Andrew Whitton ran out as the victor.

The North West Centre’s flagship category – the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship – boasted a near 30-car entry list for its two races and close-quarter, wheel-to-wheel battles were present throughout the field.

Paul Woolfitt was to be the driver to beat, powering his Lotus Exige to an impressive pair of wins ahead of Luke Armiger. The spoils for third place were ultimately shared between Jon Woolfitt and Danny Bird.

Capping off the day’s action were two races from the Kumho BMW Championship, which showcased some of the best machines that have been produced by the Bavarian manufacturer from down the years.

Michael Pensaville proved too much for the competition at the wheel of his BMW M3 E36 to score an impressive brace of race wins whilst Brad Sheehan finished hot on his heels in both encounters. Lucky Khera and James Card each took a podium apiece as well.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions, click here.

BARC heads to Oulton Park for one-day meeting

The British Automobile Racing Club heads to Oulton Park this weekend (September 12) for a one-day meeting that will is bound to get pulses racing, as four championships continue their 2020 campaigns.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, the Cheshire venue is set to play host to a breathtaking day of high-octane autumnal action in front what will undoubtedly be a bumper crowd of enthusiastic spectators.

Headlining the day’s timetable will be two pulsating encounters from the Dunlop Endurance Championship. Showcasing an eclectic mix of jaw-dropping machinery across multiple classes, the series has starred at Croft and Brands Hatch already this year and that theme is only set to continue.

VR Motorsport’s Danny Harrison and Jem Hepworth hold the early initiative in the Endurance Category whilst Barry McMahon holds a slender advantage in the Trophy Class. Keen to extend their leads respectively, the duo will need to be in top form as the list of contenders that are hot on their heels continues to grow.

Boasting bumper grids and producing blockbuster wheel-to-wheel entertainment, the Caterham Graduates Championship has been at its brilliant best this year and Saturday’s visit to Oulton Park is set to be no different.

The Kumho BMW Championship will be back in action after starring at Mallory Park, with two races scheduled to take place. Home to all manner of models that have been produced by the Bavarian manufacturer, rear-wheel-drive rules the roost and is a sight to behold across all classes.

Notable names to look out for include James Card, Brad Sheehan, Darren Morgan-Owen and Rick Kerry, amongst many others.

Rounding out Saturday’s action will be two races from the North West Centre’s flagship category, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship.

Open to all manner of machinery, the multi-class championship has seen its fair share of excitement and drama already this year, with events taking place at Cadwell Park and Donington Park. With the likes of Paul Rose, Paul Dobson and Danny Bird battling for supremacy, it’s all to play for at the top.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event at Oulton Park, head to https://www.barc.net/event/barc-race-meeting-oulton-park/.

Snetterton primed for 2CV Racing 24-hour spectacle

The 2CV Parts.com Classic Racing Championship will headline the British Automobile Racing Club’s late summer visit to Snetterton this coming weekend (August 28/29/30) for its yearly 24-hour race.

In what is one of the standout events on the Club motorsport calendar, the Norfolk venue will play host to a blockbuster three days of track action with several other categories all in action too.

Traditionally run as the series finale for the much-loved single-make championship, revisions to the 2020 calendar due to the coronavirus pandemic has meant that the annual 24-hour encounter will serve as the second event of a condensed schedule.

Roaring into life at Cadwell Park at the start of July, Alec Graham and Luca Proietti shared the spoils across two frenetic encounters but that was only half the story of what proved to be an enthralling spectacle.

Boasting a bumper entry list of not only competitors in the UK series but also in mainland Europe, this weekend’s 24-hour race is set to have pulses racing from start to finish and its anybody’s to win.

Prior to the 2CV Racing Championship taking centre stage at Snetterton, several other BARC categories will continue their campaigns including the Caterham Graduates Championship.

Serving up plenty of entertainment already this year, the one-make series is bigger and better than ever this year and is renowned for producing exhilarating wheel-to-wheel action. Notable names to keep an eye on over the course of the weekend include Andrew Whitton, Kevin Barrett and Barry White – amongst a host of others.

The Kumho BMW Championship will be back in action as well, with two races scheduled to take place. Home to all manner of models that have been produced by the Bavarian manufacturer, rear-wheel-drive rules the roost and is a sight to behold across all classes.

James Card emerged as the man to beat at the Brands Hatch curtain-raiser and the E36 M3 driver will be hard to beat once again, however a host of contenders will undoubtedly not make it easy for Card to remain unbeaten.

Further tin top thrills and spills will be provided by the Hyundai Coupe Cup and BARC Saloon Series – both of which will amalgamate together to form one grid. Providing a low-cost means of going racing, each series has enjoyed great success in recent years and that trend will surely continue into this weekend.

Rounding out the action around the 200 layout of Snetterton will be a handful of races from the British Superkarts Championship.

To find out more information on this weekend’s race meeting at Snetterton, including links to live timing and the event timetable, click here.

BARC championships serve up scorching weekend of racing at Croft

The British Automobile Racing Club’s second race meeting in as many weeks since UK motorsport restarted proved to be a resounding smash-hit this past weekend (July 11/12), as six championships served up a feast of entertainment at Croft.

As the sun beamed down on the North Yorkshire venue across both days, competitors and officials continued to adjust to the ‘new normal’ due to the COVID-19 pandemic; with temperature checks, wearing of face masks and social distancing all being carried out.

Spoils were shared in the opening two rounds of the Dunlop Endurance Championship as a bumper entry list took centre stage around the challenging 2.1-mile circuit.

Race one saw the RAW Motorsport pairing of Steve Burgess and Ben Dimmack power their Radical RXC Coupe to the chequered flag before VR Motorsport’s Danny Harrison did the same in race two at the wheel of his Praga R1T.

The Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres delivered six spellbinding encounters and produced three deserving winners.

Saturday’s action saw Jack Parker take an impressive brace before Sy Harraway closed out proceedings with a win of his own. On Sunday, defending champion Miles Rudman opened his account for the season before Harraway returned to winning ways once again, netting another two victories.

Lewis Saunders maintained his advantage at the summit of the Junior Saloon Car Championship as he bagged another pair of wins. The former champion swept the opposition in the opener before narrowly edging out Charlie Hand in race two to maintain his perfect record.

The Mighty Minis Championship saw a dominant double-winning display produced as well as Neven Kirkpatrick reigned supreme to kick-start his 2020 campaign in fine style; getting the better of Ian Clark and Steven Rideout in both races.

Jon Halliwell completed a fairytale comeback in the Max5 Racing Championship as he also claimed a sensational two wins. Having watched from the sidelines for a few years, Halliwell was back behind the wheel and back at the front to lead Paul Roddison home.

Rounding out the weekend were a trio of races from the Caterham Graduates Championship, which boasted a bumper entry list throughout each of its classes that added up to an impressive 34-car starting grid.

Henry Heaton proved to be the driver to beat throughout the weekend however as he was perfection personified, taking victory in all three races and by some margin as well.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions, click here.

Croft set to play host to bumper BARC weekend

The British Automobile Racing Club speeds into North Yorkshire this weekend (July 11/12) with six championships all set to take centre stage at Croft Circuit.

One week on from what proved to be a hugely successful season-opener at Cadwell Park for the Club since lockdown restrictions were eased, a total of 17 races are set to take place around the challenging 2.1-mile circuit across both days – with edge-of-the-seat entertainment guaranteed.

Having taken on a starring role last weekend, the Junior Saloon Car Championship is back in action with another bumper entry list of talented 14 to 17-year-old’s and two high-octane encounters scheduled to be run.

After notching two wins at Cadwell Park, all eyes will be on former champion Lewis Saunders as he bids to extend his early points lead over the rest of the field. Leading the chase for the Mac Tools-backed ace will be the likes of Charlie Hand, Ben Greenhill and Ruben Hage, amongst others.

Kickstarting their campaign at Croft will be the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres. Small in stature but packing a real punch under the bonnet, these 5/8 scale machines are renowned for producing breathtaking wheel-to-wheel moments.

Miles Rudman returns as defending champion but the threats to his throne come from all angles, with multiple title winner John Mickel, Connor Mills and Sy Harraway set to be the lead protagonists across the weekend’s six races.

The Dunlop Endurance Championship boasts a coveted entry list too with all manner of jaw-dropping machines revved up to launch their season with a pair of 50-minute spectacles.

Elsewhere, the Caterham Graduates Championship has continued on its upward trajectory of recent years and with a blend of experienced and new drivers, it is set to be quite the display on-track.

This weekend will also mark the start of a new season for the Max5 Racing Championship, which looks set to showcase one of its biggest grids in some time.

Paul Roddison has proven to be the driver to beat in recent years in the one-make series however the return of Jon Halliwell could well make it an intriguing weekend for the formidable race-winner.

Rounding off what is set to be a blockbuster weekend’s action at Croft will be races from the Mighty Minis Championship, with the usual thrills and spills likely to be delivered.

Please note that this event will be run behind closed doors and spectators will not be permitted to attend.

To view more information on this weekend’s event, such as the full entry list and timetable, click here.