Tag: Classic Touring Car Championship

BARC delivers all-out entertainment at Convoy Cymru

The British Automobile Racing Club enjoyed a scorching weekend both on and off the track at Pembrey Circuit in South Wales this past weekend (May 17/18) as a number of different championships took centre stage at 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 soak up the sunshine and to see what Wales’ biggest and best truck show had to offer.

While the likes of show trucks, monster truck shows and rides, live music, trade stands and double-decker bus rides 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, the battle for supremacy across Division 1 and Division 2 rightfully had fans on the edge of their seats as the momentum of the 2025 campaign was kicked up a gear or two.

Reigning nine-time champion Ryan Smith endured a weekend of two halves, the first of which started positively as he snared pole position and two dominant race wins in his Daimler Freightliner on Saturday.

That would be as good as it would get for the Worldwide Truck Racing driver though as contact and mechanical misfortune would scupper his chances on Sunday. Instead, Adam Bint charged to a popular maiden win before Team Oliver Racing dominated the remaining two races.

Michael Oliver led home a historic 1-2-3 finish for the successful squad in the penultimate bout before ten-time champion Stuart Oliver came to the fore in the final race of the day to tally a third win of the season.

In Division 2, last year’s runner-up Simon Cole enjoyed a similar superlative Saturday to Smith as he too was wheel-perfect in his Iveco TGS. Clinching pole position in the closing stages of qualifying, Cole then made no mistakes out front to win races one and two.

The Cole Trucksport driver maintained his front-running form into Sunday’s opening encounter as he again triumphed before title rival Jake Evans underlined his credentials as a serious contender by winning races four and five.

Those with a passion for tin tops were well catered for as the Classic Touring Car Racing Club descended on the Welsh countryside to write the latest chapter in what has already been a captivating 2025 season.

The Everard Pre-66 Touring Cars rolled back the years and it was local racer Endaf Owens that made home advantage count as he guided his Austin Cooper S to a commanding race win in the weekend’s curtain-raiser.

That performance set the tone for the remainder of the meeting too as Owens triumphed by more than 20 seconds in race two before he completed a clean sweep in race three, tallying a third win in equally impressive fashion.

Nic Grindrod showed similar levels of dominance in the Shell Oils Group 1 Touring Cars as he made the most of his Ford Escort to power his way to a pair of race wins. His hopes of claiming a hat-trick was ended in the finale by the hard-charging Jonathan Corker.

Rounding out the nostalgic touring car action were three races that amalgamated PRG Trailers Classic Thunder, Rikki Cann Historic Thunder Saloons, Trackhub.uk Pre-93 Touring Cars, Burty Pre-03 Touring Cars and Burton Power Blue Oval Saloon Series together.

William Davison – who traditionally cuts his teeth among the Pre-93 ranks – proved to be perfection personified in his BMW E36 M3 as he swept aside the opposition to secure all three wins that were on offer.

The Adrian Flux Insurance MG Owners Club Championship delivered a trio of enthralling races and it produced an exciting new battle for outright honours between James Cole and multiple title winner Steve McDermid.

McDermid entered the weekend as one of the form drivers however it was Cole that took the fight to him in races one and two, winning both contests in imperious fashion. Undeterred, McDermid fought back in race three to beat Cole by three tenths of a second.

Rounding out the weekend’s unmissable entertainment was the latest instalment of the Classic 2CV Racing Club, which staged two sprint races and a 90-minute endurance bout around the 1.456-mile circuit.

In the sprint races, the experienced Nick Crispin won a remarkable opening contest that saw the top five drivers covered by a little under seven tenths of a second at the chequered flag.

Sebastian White-Jones then triumphed in the weekend’s second race before doubling up the following day in the endurance bout, teaming up with Luca Proietti to give Podium MotorWorks the win.

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

You can also watch all the action back from Convoy Cymru by heading over to the official BARC YouTube channel HERE.

BARC delivers Easter extravaganza of entertainment at Brands Hatch

The British Automobile Racing Club served up a bank holiday blockbuster at Brands Hatch this past weekend (April 19-20) as the British Truck Racing Championship rumbled into life for the first time this season.

In front of a packed crowd at the world-famous Kent venue, the heavyweight behemoths lifted the curtain on a brand-new campaign with five colossal contests that had everyone perched on the edge of their seats.

Reigning nine-time champion Ryan Smith entered the weekend as the serial favourite and he duly lived up to all expectations as he underlined his credentials by powering his Worldwide Truck Racing Daimler Freightliner to pole position in qualifying.

Smith converted his front-row start into an impressive lights-to-flag victory in race one however he far from had things his own way as he was pushed all the way by fellow former title winners Stuart Oliver and David Jenkins.

While Smith would go on to triumph twice more over the course of the weekend, ten-time champion Oliver also made a welcome return to the top step of the podium as he chalked up a brace of his own.

Further back, fans were treated to plenty of breathtaking moments as the likes of Tom O’Rourke, Martin Gibson, David Smith and John Bowler all found themselves in the thick of the action across both days.

In Division 2, youthful exuberance and wily experience was on full display as debutant Jake Evans and last year’s runner-up Simon Cole enjoyed a share of the spoils. Evans reigned supreme on Saturday by triumphing twice before Cole came to the fore on Sunday, tallying a hat-trick of wins.

The Classic Touring Car Racing Club made its second appearance of the campaign and the first of three trips to Brands Hatch this year. Armed with a bumper grid of iconic saloon cars, a trip down memory lane proved captivating for all involved.

Defending Pre-66 Touring Cars champion Ian Thompson was wheel perfect in his Lotus Cortina as he claimed two wins while Jonathan Corker ruled the roost in his Datsun 510 in the weekend’s two Pre-83 Touring Car contests.

Elsewhere, Piers Grange proved too hot to handle in the amalgamated Pre-93 Touring Car, Pre-03 Touring Car and Blue Oval Saloon Series races, winning both in impressive fashion from behind the wheel of his monstrous Ford Escort.

Rounding out the CTCRC entertainment were two races from the flame-spitting Classic Thunder and Historic Thunder categories. Colin Voyce showcased why he was the driver to beat last year as he followed suit and guided his Ford Escort to a clean sweep of race wins.

Variety was the spice of life when it came to the Milltek Civic Cup – which was back in action after a pulsating curtain-raiser at Donington Park last month – as three different drivers stood on the top step of the rostrum.

Former TCR UK champion Lewis Kent clinched the bragging rights in the opening bout however he was unable to repeat his heroics in race two as Jack Ruddell edged out Jake Hewlett to win. Liam McGill then added his name to the honours list with a commanding race three victory.

The Junior Saloon Car Championship wrote the latest chapter of its 2025 season with a thrilling two races around the 1.2-mile Indy layout. Unfortunately, the series’ third race was abandoned on Sunday due to barrier damage from a previous race.

In the contests that were run, Josh Selvadorai took the chequered flag on the road in race one however a ten-second penalty for exceeding track limits dropped him down the order and in-turn, handed Luca Masarati a maiden victory.

Fuelled by the disappointment of missing out in race one, Selvadorai made no mistake in race two as he came out on top of an almighty battle with Wilf Butler to claim a hard-fought victory.

Rounding out the weekend at Brands Hatch were also races from the moobob Caterham Academy Championship and the Track Action Racing Club.

Home to drivers that are taking their first steps into motorsport, the Caterham Academy delivered its traditional close-quarter racing that culminated in Max Richardson beating Kyle Townend by just a tenth of a second.

In Track Action, TCR UK race winner Adam Shepherd got behind the wheel of a Honda Integra DC5 to win in somewhat commanding fashion. Like the JSCC, the series’ second race was unfortunately abandoned due to barrier damage on Sunday.

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

Every single race is also available to watch at the click of the button on the BARC’s official Youtube channel, HERE.

BARC kicks off 2025 season in style at Donington Park

The British Automobile Racing Club lifted the curtain on its 2025 season in sensational style this past weekend (March 22-23) as a number of championships battled changeable conditions at Donington Park.

TCR UK Championship

It was the dawn of a new era for TCR UK as the championship competed under the BARC banner for the very first time – and it saw two of its most experienced drivers take centre stage as they laid down their markers as credible title contenders.

Adam Shepherd and Callum Newsham entered the new campaign as ones to watch and they duly lived up to all expectations, with Shepherd striking first as he hustled his Cupra to pole position in qualifying.

Shepherd converted his front-row start into a dominant lights-to-flag victory in the opener. Despite having to deal with early pressure from the chasing pack – which was led by the Laidlaw duo – and a safety car interruption, the Capture Motorsport driver was wheel-perfect on his way to top spot.

Race two would see Shepherd double his tally for the weekend as he came through the field on a drying track to win the reverse grid encounter. On a damp track, the grid was split between wet and dry tyres, providing an intriguing spectacle.

Steve Laidlaw rolled the dice to stay on wets and led much of the race however all eyes were on the slick-shod Shepherd and Newsham as they charged forward. Shepherd would ultimately close down a gap of 12 seconds to snatch the win on the penultimate lap ahead of the aforementioned duo.

Newsham was able to end Shepherd’s run of success with a dominant victory in the final race of the weekend – which took several attempts to run. Making a demon start, the Scotsman was never headed as he beat Finn Leslie and Shepherd to the chequered flag.

Milltek Sport Civic Cup

Alongside TCR UK, the Milltek Sport Civic Cup also made its BARC debut under the flightpath of East Midlands airport with two highly entertaining races setting the stall out for what promises to be a season to remember.

Home to the pocket-rocket Honda Civic, the one-make series is billed as a feeder category for TCR UK and has seen a number of promising drivers rise up the ranks in recent years.

At Donington Park, Alistair Camp and former TCR UK champion Lewis Kent underlined their credentials as the leading lights to look out for as they claimed a win apiece around the 1.979-mile National circuit.

Camp snatched pole position by the slender margin on 0.052s in qualifying and duly converted it into victory in race one, pulling clear of Kent and Liam McGill to open his account for the campaign.

Race two proved to be a much closer affair with just six tenths of a second covering the top-three at the finish. This time it was Kent that came out on top as he edged out Harvey Caton and Camp to triumph.

Classic Touring Car Racing Club

Variety was the spice of life when it came to the Classic Touring Car Racing Club as bumper grids of vintage tin top machines went wheel-to-wheel; putting those in attendance and watching online on the edge of their seats.

The Everard Pre-66 Touring Cars rolled back the years with two enthralling encounters, both of which were won by Michael Cullen. The Ford Lotus Cortina driver comfortably beat Oliver Law in race one but had a tougher time of things in race two as he faced competition from Piers Grange.

Cullen came oh-so close to extending his winning streak to the amalgamated Shell Oils Group 1 Touring Cars, Trackhub.uk Pre-93 Touring Cars, Burty Pre-03 Touring Cars and Super Tourers Series contests.

Swapping his Ford Lotus Cortina for a BMW E30 M3, Cullen finished half a second away from Ian Bower in race one while William Davison completed the podium. Nobody would ultimately come close to Bower in race two as he scarpered out front to win by more than 14 seconds.

Bower was a winner in one of the two PRG Trailers Classic Thunder and Rikki Cann Aston Martin Specialist Historic Thunder Saloons races too, with last year’s inaugural champion Colin Voyce claiming the spoils in race two.

Rounding out the Classic Touring Car Racing Club entertainment were two races from the Burton Power Blue Oval Saloon Series. A haven for Fast Fords, the weekend arguably belonged to Andy Robinson as he clinched a clean sweep in his Ford Falcon.

Junior Saloon Car Championship

The Junior Saloon Car Championship lifted the curtain on a brand-new season with three breathtaking contests delivering three different race winners.

Home to the next generation of racing talent, the budget-conscious series has been a staple of the junior racing pyramid for more than a decade and this year’s edition looks to be as competitive as ever.

With a grid made up of second and third-year racers, as well as promising rookies, the single-make category had everyone enthralled and it was Josh Selvadorai that struck first as he bagged pole position in qualifying.

His moment in victory lane would have to wait though as Wilf Butler scored bragging rights in the opening contest as he triumphed ahead of fellow returnees Luca Masarati and Lewis Stannard.

Selvadorai was imperious in race two though as he pulled out a gap of more than seven seconds to beat Butler, with Masarati a few seconds further adrift in third place.

The weekend’s third and final bout went the way of Stannard as he pulled off a sublime number of overtakes to go from fifth to first. Following him to the chequered flag was Masarati and Oliver Kerr.

P4 Emergency Lighting Caterham Graduates Championship

Some of the biggest and smallest winning margins of the weekend came in the ultra-competitive P4 Emergency Lighting Caterham Graduates Championship – which staged two races for its Sigma 135 Class and two for its Sigma 150 Class.

In the Sigma 135s, nobody was stopping Adam Kene as he stamped his authority on the early championship battle with two exemplary performances.

His first victory saw him triumph by almost 16 seconds ahead of Tom McEwing and Stephen Merritt while win number two saw the same three drivers finish on the podium, although this time the gap was capped at six seconds.

Over in the Sigma 150s, Will Stilwell trounced the opposition to win by more than ten seconds in race one. Things however were much closer when it came to race two.

Paul Goldstein – a double Caterham champion last year – emerged victorious from a captivating contest that saw him eventual beat Max Haynes to the chequered flag by just 0.006s. Stephen Clark was a further four tenths back in third.

Adrian Flux Insurance MG Owners Club Championship

The McDermid family had plenty to celebrate on Sunday night as they reigned supreme in the opening rounds of the Adrian Flux Insurance MG Owners Club Championship.

Entering the year as the defending champion, Steve McDermid was wheel-perfect in his MG ZR – which had the number one adorning his window – as he claimed a brace of race wins ahead of his son, Jake McDermid.

There was very little to separate the McDermid duo however behind, Lee Sullivan could only manage to be the best of the rest as he netted a brace of third-place finishes.

To view the full results from all sessions at Donington Park, CLICK HERE.

You can also re-watch all the action via the British Automobile Racing Club YouTube channel, HERE.

Event Information: BARC Season-Opener at Donington Park

Spring is almost upon us, heralding the start of a new motorsport season. Excitement and anticipation fills the air with a packed 2025 British Automobile Racing Club calendar of events getting underway this weekend (22/23 March) with six different championships kicking-off the season.

Donington Park hosts the inaugural timetable, with the two–mile National layout in use for the action this weekend. With so much going on this season – we thought it would be useful to bring together all the important information, so you know what is happening on the BARC calendar this weekend.

When is the next race meeting?
The next event will be held on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd March

Where is it being held?
Donington Park – National Circuit
Address: Castle Donington, Derby, DE74 2BN

What is racing this weekend?
TCR UK, Milltek Civic Cup, Adrian Flux MG Owners Club Championship, Classic Touring Car Racing Club classes, Junior Saloon Car Championship and P4 Emergency Lighting Caterham Graduates Championship.

How can I watch?
All of the BARC race weekends will be broadcast live and for free on our YouTube Channel [Link YouTube channel text]. The uninterrupted coverage will feature all the on track drama with commentary, analysis and features throughout the day with over 10 hours across the day with coverage starting just ahead of the first race on Saturday.

For those who want to soak up the on-track action in person – tickets are available on the day from ÂŁ22 or from the Donington Park website from ÂŁ19 with gates opening at 07:30 each day.

What time are things happening on track?

Track action begins just after 09:00 on both days. On Saturday qualifying heads the order in the morning and just after 13:00, we go green with the first race – the opening round of the TCR UK championship with an afternoon of track action to follow. A packed, full day of racing is billed for Sunday with short, sharp races until early evening.

Do you have any more information?

We have a few other handy links that might be useful to help you enjoy your weekend.
Live Timing and Commentary: https://bit.ly/3XMYRzv
Timetable*: https://bit.ly/41YzMUF
Event Information: https://bit.ly/4iKMPP8

* Subject to adjustments prior and during the race meeting

Enjoy the racing. It’s good to be back!

Classic Touring Car Racing Club to feature at Super Touring Power 3 in 2025

Brands Hatch and the Classic Touring Car Racing Club have confirmed that Super Touring Power will return for a third edition in 2025 on June 28/29.

The event, which transported fans back to a golden era of the British Touring Car Championship, has been a smash hit over the past two years with a bumper programme of racing being complemented by a selection of special displays, demonstrations and guest appearances.

Next year will see competitive action provided by the Classic Touring Car Racing Club and the British Automobile Racing Club, with Saturday’s races taking place on the longer grand prix layout before switching to the Indy track for Sunday.

Classic Touring Car Racing Club Chairman, Stuart Caie, said: “After the hugely positive response to the first two editions of Super Touring Power, we just had to get the band together. 

“A huge amount of work goes into putting this event together, but when you see the comments from fans and feedback from competitors, it just makes you want to do it all over again. And that’s why the Super Touring Power era is continuing into next year. 

“This event has rapidly established itself as a fixture our competitors look forward to and its hugely satisfying to put together. We’re excited to work with David [Willey] and the team at MSV once again, and we’re already counting down the days for what I’m sure will be another memorable weekend for CTCRC competitors across all our grids.”

Classic Touring Car Racing Club adds all-comers race to Thruxton meeting

The Classic Touring Car Racing Club has added another layer to its 50th Anniversary celebrations at Thruxton this coming weekend (September 21/22) in the shape of an all-comers race.

Marking its Golden Anniversary at the home of the British Automobile Racing Club, the CTCRC is poised to showcase legendary tin top machines around the fastest circuit in the country.

Alongside individual races for the likes of the Pre-66, Pre-83, Pre-83, Classic Thunder and more, two further 15-minute races have been added to the schedule for anyone wanting to enter.

A single 15-minute qualifying session will also be staged to decide the starting grid.

Those wishing to enter the all-comers race can do so via the BARC Competitor Entry System HERE.

TOCA support championships soak up the sun at Croft

Croft Circuit saw no shortage of entertainment this past weekend (July 27/28) as the Classic Touring Car Racing Club, Vertu MINI CHALLENGE JCW, Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain and Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain took centre stage on the TOCA support package.

Featuring alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship for what is one of the biggest events on the calendar at the North Yorkshire venue, each championship served up a feast of edge-of-the-seat entertainment.

One of the stars of the show was undoubtedly the Classic Touring Car Racing Club and its Pre-’66 Touring Car Championship, which was making its first-ever appearance on the support bill of the BTCC.

As part of the CTCRC’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, the Pre-’66 contingent rolled back the years to a bygone era of tin top racing as they staged three non-championship races around the challenging 2.13-mile circuit.

Former BTCC race winner – and Yorkshireman – Sam Tordoff proved to be the driver to beat over the course of the weekend as he guided his monstrous Ford Falcon to a hat-trick of commanding victories.

David Dickerson and Guy Smith emerged as the closest challengers to Tordoff but both had to settle for the remaining spots on the podium. Also picking up some silverware was former Formula 1 driver Max Chilton, who was competing in a Ford Cortina prepared by Team Dynamics.

Spoils were shared in the latest rounds of the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE JCW as EXCELR8 Motorsport team-mates Maximus Hall and Tom Ovenden claimed a win apiece, while Dan Zelos maintained his advantage in the championship.

Hall’s triumph came somewhat unexpectedly as a gaggle of cars ahead of him – including Ovenden, Dominic Wheatley and Nelson King – encountered their own troubles in the latter stages, which led to Hall picking up the pieces for his fourth win of the year.

Ovenden would bounce back from the heartache of losing an almost certain win in race two as he got the better of pole sitter Jamie Osborne and then cruise to victory, reigning supreme ahead of the NAPA Racing UK duo of Osborne and Lewis Selby.

Local driver Max Coates had a weekend to remember as he won two of the three races in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain. Always a popular draw at his home circuit, Coates was near-perfect in the one-make series as he ignited his championship challenge in style.

The Team Omologato with Graves Motorsport driver dominated proceedings in the opening encounter, winning by more than eight seconds, before Sebastian Hopkins came to the fore in race two as he tallied his latest win of the season – with Will Jenkins and Coates not far behind.

Hopkins had looked on course to double up in the weekend’s third and final race however he was hit with a five-second time penalty for exceeding track limits late on, which therefore promoted Coates onto the top step of the podium.

In the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain, Hugo Ellis and Matthew Rees bolstered there individual seasons by snaring a win apiece. Ellis was in a league of his own in the opening encounter to triumph before Rees came to the fore in a captivating finale. Will Martin continues to lead the standings as the series heads north of the border to Knockhill.

To view the full classification of results from all TOCA support championships that competed at Croft, CLICK HERE.

BARC stars on wet’n wild weekend at Cadwell Park

The British Automobile Racing Club starred at Cadwell Park this past weekend (April 27-28) with a total of 11 different championships serving up a feast of entertainment as they continued their 2024 campaigns.

Marking what is to be the one and only visit to the Lincolnshire circuit this year by the Club, a blockbuster timetable saw all manner of thrills and spills served up for the bumper crowd that had flocked trackside.

While conditions allowed for Saturday to run as planned, heavy rainfall battered the circuit on the Sunday which led to each category being given just one race to take place during the afternoon after track crews had worked to clear standing water all morning.

Hot on the heels of delivering a pulsating season-opener during the Easter bank holiday weekend at Donington Park, the Classic Touring Car Racing Club was back in action – and this time double points were on offer.

Ian Thompson was in a league on his own in his Lotus Cortina as he claimed bragging rights in the Pre-66 Touring Cars while reigning champion Stephen Primett and Nick Williamson scored a win apiece in the Pre-83 Touring Cars.

The amalgamated Pre-93 Touring Cars, Pre-03 Touring Cars and Blue Oval Saloon Series races garnered plenty of attention with an ultra-competitive grid and that shone through in the results as Piers Grange and Stuart Waite shared the spoils.

Capping off the CTCRC action was the monstrous machines of the Classic Thunder which yielded a victory for Josh Lawton in the opener before defending champion Nick Vaughan tallied his first triumph of the year in race two in his Audi A3.

The Junior Saloon Car Championship continued its tenth anniversary season with Harry Smith maintaining his fine start by adding another race win to the two that he claimed at Brands Hatch earlier in the month.

Smith found himself in the right place at the right time in race one as he inherited victory from Josh Selvadorai, who was hit with a time penalty for gaining an unfair advantage. The youngster couldn’t maintain his winning streak in race two however as Jonathan Moore opened his account with a superlative drive to the top step of the podium.

Multiple Adrian Flux Insurance MG Owners Club Championship title Steve McDermid was another to open his account for the season in style as he carved his way from seventh on the grid to claim a hard-fought victory.

The MG ZR driver underlined all of the credentials that have made him a standout performer in the series in recent years by producing a number of jaw-dropping overtakes on his way to taking the chequered flag ahead of Luke Boniface and Henry Sharpe.

Mark Ridout made the perfect start to the new OT Publishing Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires season as he claimed a clean sweep of results, tallying pole position in qualifying before then following it up with two wins.

Ridout came out on top of a captivating battle between himself, Darren Banks and Luca Staccini Anzanello in the opening contest before stamping his authority on race two with a commanding victory ahead of Daniel Munro and Staccini Anzanello.

The 2CV Parts.com Championship meanwhile saw Kristopher Tovey enjoy the perfect start to his title defence as he comfortably reigned supreme. Tovey pulled clear of the chasing pack in commanding fashion to triumph by more than ten seconds come the end of the contest.

Brian Heerey would finish as his nearest challenger, with he himself ended up finishing more than six seconds ahead of Nick Crispin, who was a title contender last year.

In the Dunlop Mini Miglia Challenge, Jeff Smith beat Ben Colburn to outright honours in its only race of the weekend. Unfortunately, the Dunlop Mini Se7en Championship was unable to run any of its races to completion for a result to be declared.

Concluding the weekend’s track action were three races from the high-speed British Superkart Racing Club. Lee Harpham was a convincing winner in race one before repeating the feat in the finale.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Cadwell Park, CLICK HERE.

Donington Park plays host to thrilling BARC 2024 season-opener

The British Automobile Racing Club kicked off its 2024 season in action-packed style at Donington Park this past bank holiday weekend (March 29/30) with no less than 12 different championships taking centre stage on the world-famous Grand Prix circuit.

Following months of excitement, anticipation and preparation, a bumper crowd flocked to the Leicestershire venue to witness an Easter extravaganza of wheel-to-wheel entertainment and high drama. 

Headlining the two-day meeting was the coveted British Endurance Championship in association with Motorsport UK, which lifted the curtain on its brand-new campaign with a spectacular two-hour contest. 

Boasting a monstrous grid of GT3 and GT4 machines, battles took place up and down the field however there was no denying PB Racing with JMH at the front of it – as Peter Erceg and Hugo Cook teamed up to claim a commanding victory in their Audi R8 GT3.

After coming close to the coveted crown last year, Erceg entered the campaign as one of the title favourites and he duly lived up to the hype as he punched in a superlative lap in qualifying to net pole position. He did so on his own too due to Cook travelling down from Oulton Park at the time of the session. 

Sharing the front row of the grid with the Lamborghini GT3 of John Seale and Jamie Stanley, Erceg wasted no time in making his escape from the chasing pack as the lights went out, carving out a substantial advantage during his stint before handing the reigns over to Cook.

When Cook took over at the wheel, the Audi outfit were relatively untroubled for the remainder of the contest with Seale and Stanley trailing by a lap at the finish. Completing the overall podium was the impressive Xentek Motorsport entry of Josh Steed and Ban Sidhu in their Porsche GT4. 

Further endurance thrills and spills were also provided over the course of the weekend by the Britcar Trophy Championship, which staged two frenetic 50-minute races under the flightpath of East Midlands airport. 

Race one proved to be an all Ginetta affair at the front as Seb Dubois survived a chaotic opening few laps to eventually take a comfortable victory over Datum Motorsport. Avoiding a number of clashing cars on the opening tour, Dubois showcased his talents as he carved his way to the front and ultimately triumph by more than 11 seconds in his G56 GTA. 

Behind, Maurizio Sciglio and Marco Anstasi – two of last year’s benchmark drivers in the series – enjoyed a superlative scrap to round out the remaining positions on the podium.

Britcar Trophy’s second bout proved to be just action-packed as the Sim Dynamics with Jabbasport SEAT Cupra Gen 1 of Chris Bialan and Simon Mason edged out Axel van Nederveen to claim a famous victory. 

Bialan and Mason battled their way to the front of the field from the second row of the grid and looked an irresistible force however all eyes would be focused on van Nederveen as he carved his way from dead-last to finish a couple of seconds away from the top step of the rostrum. 

Action aplenty best characterised the Classic Touring Car Racing Club – which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in association with the BARC this year – across the weekend.

Joe Ferguson made a wheel-perfect start to the new season in the Everard Garage Equipment Pre-66 Touring Cars as he claimed victory by more than eight seconds in race one. Things were a lot closer in race two however as Peter Mutlow Smith triumphed following a time-penalty for Tom Bell. 

Stuart Waite was perfection personified as he claimed overall honours in both amalgamated Pre-83, Pre-93 and Super Tourer races. Back behind the wheel of his BMW M3, last year’s Pre-93 champion reigned supreme in style whilst the Super Tourers in particular faced mechanical heartache.

The Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder showcased another flame-spitting grid once again and two familiar names, Bryan Bransom and Kevin Clarke – tallied a win apiece. Capping off the CTCRC action were a pair of races from the Pre-03 Touring Cars and Blue Oval Saloon Series, both of which were won by Piers Grange.

Concluding the weekend’s action at Donington Park were also races from the Mini 7 Racing Club and British Superkart Racing Championship. 

Former British Touring Car Championship title winner Andrew Jordan was unstoppable in the Dunlop Mini Se7en Championship race to take two wins whilst Jeff Smith and Endaf Owens shared the spoils in the Dunlop Mini Miglia Championship.

In the Super Series by the British Superkart Racing Club, Liam Morley visited the top step of the rostrum twice whilst Tom Rushforth claimed the remaining victory that was up for grabs.

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

Dan Zelos, Louis Sharp & Steve Bemrose top list of special accolade winners at BARC Awards

The British Automobile Racing Club’s annual Awards Evening didn’t just see the championship winners of 2023 celebrated on Saturday (February 3) as a number of other special accolades were bestowed upon hugely deserving winners too.

Leading the list of prestigious recipients was newly-crowned double MINI CHALLENGE JCW champion Dan Zelos who claimed The President’s Cup; which is awarded to the most successful BARC member competing under international level.

Becoming the first driver in the modern era of the ultra-competitive tin top series to clinch the coveted crown for a second time, Zelos chalked up an impressive ten victories and a further two podiums on his way to championship superstardom.

Zelos lauded: “It was totally unexpected and a complete honour to pick it up. We had an amazing year in 2023 and sometimes when your in the middle of getting deals together in the off season you forgot how much you may have achieved – so to be rewarded with a trophy like this has left me lost for words.

“Me, my Dad and the rest of the family have and continue to work incredibly hard to go racing and this is a fantastic accolade to receive. I think I’ve been part of the BARC for more than a decade now too.”

One of the biggest raptures of applause deservedly went the way of this year’s BARC Marshal of the Year, Steve Bemrose. In memory of Dennis Harris and designed to recognise the dedication and special efforts of the Club’s marshals, Bemrose was worthy winner after being selected by the Marshals Core Group.

Attending a multitude of race meetings over the course of last year, his actions in particular at the BTCC season-opener at Donington Park played their part in saving the life of a driver following a high-speed accident.

“It is a complete shock I must admit,” he said. “I’ve always been a fan of motorsport and I remember reading a review about being a marshal, what it entails and I never really comprehended how close you could get to the action, etc. 

“After I had done my taster day my love for it grew and I’ve never looked back. The marshal community is incredibly tight-knit and if there is anyone out thinking about getting involved then do it, because it is just fantastic.”

Elsewhere, Junior Saloon Car Championship and Track Action Coordinator Dave Beecroft saw his diverse and distinguished motorsport career be celebrated as he scooped The Gerry Marshall Trophy, having epitomised the philosophy for motorsport that Gerry once had.

He said: “This award really means a lot to me because Gerry Marshall was a childhood hero of mine; I remember watching him at Oulton Park and was fortunate enough to meet him several times – so it was touching to be this year’s recipient.

“I love everything about this industry and its nice to be kicking off the year like this; especially because we’ll be celebrating our 10th anniversary in the Junior Saloon Car Championship, which is an incredible achievement.”

For the second year in succession, The Densley Trophy – which is bestowed upon the female in the Club that has been deemed to have a successful year – was handed out, with the Classic Touring Car Racing Club’s Sonia Gibbons claiming the prize. 

“I never ever expected to be given this award,” she admitted. “I didn’t even think I would be up for it so I am extremely proud to have won. At the Classic Touring Car Racing Club we are all volunteers but it is a real family. It’s a wonderful Club and I’m honoured to be a part of it.”

Louis Sharp’s charge to the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA title didn’t go unnoticed as he was honoured with The Peter Collins Trophy, which is awarded to the most promising junior drive competing in a BARC championship.

After enjoying a hugely encouraging debut campaign in 2022, the New Zealander lived up to the mantel of being a title favourite by edging out Will Macintyre to the single-seater crown in the final race of the season.

“It came as a complete surprise to me and it’s a massive privilege to receive it so thank you to the BARC for recognising me – it was a nice end to a really special night,” he said. “This award is a fantastic reward for everyone that has supported me. 

“My ambition is to one day get to Formula 1 and while it has been a good start to that journey I’m well aware that there is a long way to go and that it will continue to get more competitive. I’m loving the challenge though and can’t wait to see what is next!”

Rounding out the list of special award winners was Adam Weeden, who completed the most volunteering days to lift The Sir Clive Bossom Trophy, and Zena Wooller who was named BARC Trainee Marshal of the Year.

“I’m delighted,” said Weeden. “This award goes to show how much marshals are appreciated because we give our time, which is very precious to us, to show support to the drivers and the championship.”

Pre-66 Touring Cars secures spot on Croft BTCC support bill

The Classic Touring Car Racing Club’s Pre-66 Touring Car Championship will make a guest appearance on the support bill of the British Touring Car Championship at Croft Circuit next year.

As part of the CTCRC’s 50th Anniversary celebrations in 2024, the Pre-66 contingent – which is open for competitors participating in four-seater saloon cars marketed before 1st January 1966 – will stage a number of races at the North Yorkshire venue on July 27/28.

“We’re absolutely delighted that our Pre-’66 championship has been invited to race alongside the British Touring Car Championship at Croft,” said Classic Touring Car Racing Club Chairman Stuart Caie.

“It’s a fitting way for the club to celebrate its 50th anniversary by showcasing the kind of cars that raced in the early years of the BTCC alongside their modern counterparts. It’s fantastic recognition for our club, the drivers and all our volunteers who work hard to provide a home for touring cars of all ages to race.

“It’s also appropriate that it’s at Croft, a BARC circuit, given our long association with the club. The Pre-’66 cars always produce great racing, and we feel sure that the BTCC crowd will love the little-and-large battles of Minis versus big American V8s and everything in between. It should be a wonderful weekend.”

The BTCC’s full support programme for 2024 is due to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Titles decided on spectacular BARC weekend at Donington Park

More titles were decided this past weekend (October 14/15) as the British Automobile Racing Club took centre stage at Donington Park, with both the British Endurance Championship and Classic Touring Car Racing Club delivering full-throttle entertainment right to the very end.

On what proved to be a thrilling showdown on the world-famous Grand Prix layout of the Leicestershire venue, champions were crowned across a variety of categories as the curtain fell on the 2023 season for the majority that were in attendance.

The British Endurance Championship’s sophomore season culminated with the Team HARD. pairing of Brad Thurston and Daryl Deleon holding their nerve to seal title glory in their Porsche 991 Cup.

Heading into the season finale as one of five teams that could clinch the coveted crown, Thurston and Deleon – who has this year also cut his teeth in the British Touring Car Championship – charged to victory in Class C, which was in-turn enough for them to prevail in the overall battle. 

Boasting a bumper grid of monstrous machines for its two-hour finale, qualifying saw two new faces blast their way to pole position as the Team BRIT Invitational entry of Paul Fullick and James Whitley reigned supreme. 

Unfortunately, the McLaren 570S GT4 outfit couldn’t capitalise on their front row start as a safety car period would interfere with their planned strategy. Taking the bull by the horns – as they have done on many occasions this year – instead was the PB Racing team of Peter Erceg and Marcus Clutton.

At the wheel of their Audi GT3, Erceg and Clutton produced a superlative performance however they were kept honest all the way to the chequered flag as the Breakell Racing entry of Ameerh Naran and outgoing champion Tom Jackson claimed second in their McLaren GT3.

The Track Focused KTM GT4 of Mike McCollum and Sean Cooper completed the podium in third, with Team BRIT fourth and the Venture Innovations team of Chris Jones and Matt George completing the top five. Jones and George also secured overall runners-up laurels. 

Blockbuster tin top wheel-to-wheel moments were in full force when it came to the Classic Touring Car Racing Club, which served up no less than ten races over the course of the weekend.

The Poultec Pre-66 Touring Cars, which is home to some of the most iconic saloons, saw James Everard and Barry Sime walk away with a share of the spoils whilst Howard Spooner and Stephen Primett scored a win apiece in the Orange Aero Pre-83 Touring Cars. 

More than 30 cars lined up for the amalgamated Laser Tools Pre-93 Touring Cars, Burty Haulage Pre-03 Touring Cars and Burton Power Blue Oval Saloon Series contests; and they proved to be a sight to behold as Piers Grange romped to a brace of wins. 

Flame-spitting Holden’s rightfully grabbed the headlines in the Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder as Andy Wilson and Abbie Eaton put on a show for the appreciative crowd. The pair slugged it out for both race wins, with Wilson just edging the former W Series racer on both occasions.

Rounding out the CTCRC entertainment were two races from the Berkshire Jag Components Jaguar Challenge, both of which were won by Guy Connew in his Jaguar XJS.

The ROWE Britcar Trophy Championship crowned new champions in the shape of Rhys Lloyd and Jack Meakin, who delivered an exemplary performance in their Dragon Sport Renault Clio.

Setting the pace in the Clio Class for much of the campaign, Lloyd and Meakin produced a faultless performance as they charged to a pay of category wins to clinch the overall title.

Whilst they reigned supreme in the championship fight, Datum Motorsport’s Marco Anastasi claimed overall victory in race one before the Intersport duo of Bryan Bransom and Jas Sapra triumphed in race two in their BMW M3 E46.

The destiny of the Junior Saloon Car Championship is poised to go down to the wire at Brands Hatch next month after the ultra-competitive series dished up two frenetic races under the flightpath of East Midlands airport.

Daire Flock and Cameron Pratt-Thompson will duke it out for the prestigious crown however neither of them could do anything to stop Oskar Dix who took a clean sweep of results; pole position and two race wins. 

Pacing the opposition in qualifying, the Westbourne Motorsport driver pipped Flock to victory in race one by just 0.030 seconds before then leading home Jonathan Moore by a little over six tenths in race two.

Concluding the weekend’s track action, and their first year with the BARC, were a trio of races from the MINI CHALLENGE Clubsport with Airtec Motorsport. 

Staging two sprint races and a 45-minute endurance encounter, the single-manufacturer series culminated with a scintillating showing from Stephen Berry, who charged to a hat-trick of race wins. 

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

You can also watch all the best bits from Saturday and Sunday at Donington Park via BARC TV on YouTube HERE.