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/.

BARC serves up titanic two days of track action at Donington Park

Donington Park played host to a memorable two days of British Automobile Racing Club action this past weekend (August 22/23) which saw mixed conditions only add to the edge-of-the-seat drama and entertainment.

Descending on the Leicestershire venue for what would turn out to be a weekend to remember, a total of seven championships hit the track and turned on the style for the enthusiastic crowd that was in attendance.

One of the headline acts was the BTRA British Truck Racing Championship and the 1000bhp heavyweight behemoths didn’t disappoint as they served up a feast of thrills and spills across five bruising encounters.

Division 1 saw four-time defending champion Ryan Smith begin his quest for a fifth crown in emphatic fashion on the right foot as he powered his way to a brace of rain wins. Martin Gibson, David Jenkins and John Newell also triumphed, underlining that the class is set to be as wide open as ever in 2020.

Steven Powell enjoyed a solid start in Division 2 as he kicked off his quest for the title in emphatic fashion, winning four out of the five races. The MAN TGX driver was in a league of his own at times and would have completed a clean sweep had it not been for Luke Garrett scoring a win of his own.

Another category to lift the curtain on its condensed 2020 season was the Distrigo C1 Challenge, taking centre stage on Saturday for a three-hour spectacle which ended with the top two being separated by little over half a second.

The Progressive Motorsport Ltd duo of Howard Hayens and Dave Ward narrowly edged out Team Davies after a sensational 91 laps around the 1.98-mile track.

The Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres saw three drivers take home a share of the silverware following six breathless races. Saturday’s triple-header saw Daniel Clark, Will Gibson and Connor Mills take a win each before Gibson and Mill triumphed again on Sunday, the latter a brace.

There was action aplenty in the Max5 Racing Championship over the course of the weekend too as the one-make series starred. Andrew Pretorius reigned supreme in the opening encounter before Paul Roddison scooped the spoils in race two.

The BARC North West Centre’s flagship category, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, made its second appearance of the year with Richard Wood and Luke Armiger taking a win apiece under the flightpath of East Midlands airport.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action at Donington Park were races from both the BRSCC Mazda MX5 Championship and BRSCC Mazda MX5 Supercup.

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

BARC revved up for blockbuster weekend at Donington Park

The British Automobile Racing Club is preparing for a blockbuster two days of track action at Donington Park this weekend (August 22/23) with six championships, including the BTRA Truck Racing Championship, set to take centre stage.

In what is always a well-attended event on the national motorsport calendar, the Leicestershire venue will welcome a limited number of spectators to watch a feast of entertainment around the challenging 1.95-mile circuit.

Headlining the weekend’s action will be the five-tonne heavyweight behemoths of the BTRA. Kick-starting their 2020 campaign under the flightpath of East Midlands airport, a bumper grid of trucks will take centre stage with five races scheduled to play out.

Headlining Division 1 is four-time reigning champion Ryan Smith who is chasing a fifth consecutive title. Having been the man to beat in recent years, Smith enters the weekend as the favourite but with the likes of David Jenkins, Stuart Oliver and Simon Reid, amongst others, nothing is guaranteed.

In Division 2, Luke Garrett begins the pursuit of a third successive title and the MAN driver, like Smith, enters the weekend with a target on his back and with Steven Powell, Brad Smith and Simon Cole on the hunt, Garrett will need to be at his brilliant best.

Just over a month since their reschedule season got underway, the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres resumes with its usual blend of wheel-to-wheel, bumper-to-bumper entertainment putting fans on the edge of their seats.

Jack Parker, Miles Rudman, Sy Harraway, John Mickel and Daniel Clark were the early pace-setters at Croft and they will all be worth keeping an eye on, as well as a host of others, across the weekend’s six races.

The Max5 Racing Championship was another category to blast into life at Croft and with grid numbers continuing to rise, the single-make series is building toward a memorable 2020 season.

Jon Halliwell made a triumphant return to the championship last time out and marked it with a double win. Paul Roddison, Sam Hicks, Ian Loversidge, Jeremy Shipley and Andrew Pretorius are just a few of the drivers that will be keen to make their mark during the weekends two encounters.

The Club’s North West Centre will be present over the course of the weekend in the shape of the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship. Running under a multi-class format, the much-loved category began its year at Cadwell Park with Paul Rose and Paul Dobson claiming a win apiece.

Expect those two to be at the sharp end of a grid which has all the hallmarks of encompassing the quote ‘variety is the spice of life’.

Another category that will be making their first appearance of this condensed 2020 season is the C1 Challenge. Providing a low-cost method of going endurance racing, the series has emerged as one of the fastest growing categories in the country since launching midway through 2017.

Armed with a capacity entry list and a three-hour race scheduled to take place on the Saturday, the action is set to be unmissable.

Bringing the curtain down on the track action at Donington Park will be action from the BRSCC Mazda Mx5 Supercup.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event, including links to live timing, timetables and entry lists, click here.

Cadwell Park serves up blockbuster action on season-opening BARC weekend

Cadwell Park provided a fitting backdrop for the British Automobile Racing Club’s long-awaited 2020 season-opener this past weekend (July 4/5); with plenty of edge-of-the-seat, blockbuster action being served up by each championship over the course of both days.

With motorsport having been suspended since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, racing finally roared back into life and in style too as new protocols were introduced whilst spectators were unfortunately not permitted.

Lewis Saunders’ quest to make history in the Junior Saloon Car Championship got off to the perfect start as he took a pair of race wins around the tight, twisty Lincolnshire venue.

Aiming to become the first two-time champion in the teenage series, the 2018 title winner powered his way to victory in race one ahead of Charlie Hand and Benjamin Greenhill. Saunders replicated his superlative performance in race two, leading home Hand and Alex Solley.

In the 2CV Parts.com Classic Racing Championship, a 15-car grid kicked off what is set to be another memorable year of on-track action with two entertaining encounters.

Alec Graham narrowly beat Sandro Proietti in race one to take the spoils before Luca Proietti turned the tables on Graham in race two, taking the chequered flag by just under a second.

The Classic Touring Car Championship boasted big grids and a wide variety of machinery across its eight scheduled races – with several drivers taking centre stage as well.

Guy Smith was the driver to beat in the Poultec – Classic Race Engines Pre ’66 Touring Cars, powering his Ford Lotus Cortina to a brace of race wins – with Roger Stanford and Peter Smith hot on his heels on both occasions.

The Shell Oil Pre 83′ Touring Car Championship saw a familiar name at the helm across both days as Stephen Primett notched two wins. Setting his sights on yet another CTCRC crown, the Ford Escort MK1 driver proved unstoppable all weekend.

In the amalgamated Laser Tools Pre-93 Touring Cars Championship and Simply Serviced Pre-2003 Touring Cars Championship races, Alexander Owen and his trusty Honda Civic Type R proved too hot to handle as he also claimed a pair of wins.

Rounding out the CTCRC action was the combined Burton Power Products Blue Oval Saloon Series and Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder Saloons Championship. Andy Robinson and Michael Pensaville took a win apiece following two frantic encounters.

Representing the Club’s North West Centre, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship had those in attendance on the edge of their seats as Paul Rose and Paul Dobson topped the rostrum after two pulsating races.

Bringing the curtain down on the weekend’s entertainment were races from the British Superkarts Championship, where Liam Morley clinched a sensational hat-trick of wins.

To view the full classification of results from all championships competing at Cadwell Park, click here.

The British Automobile Racing Club will be back in action this coming weekend (July 11/12) at Croft as several other championships kick off their 2020 campaigns.

BARC championships ready to get back on track at Cadwell Park

The British Automobile Racing Club will take centre stage at Cadwell Park this weekend (July 4/5) for the first event of the 2020 season; with a blockbuster two days of ultra-competitive action lined up.

After months of uncertainty due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the UK motorsport scene is set to kick back into life although spectators will not be permitted to attend and strict post-lockdown rules are now in place to combat the spread of the virus.

Packed with tight turns, flowing corners and undulation; the Lincolnshire-based venue has been a popular destination for racers down the years and is set to be a fitting backdrop to start what will be a condensed and frenetic campaign over the coming months.

Topping the bill over the course of the weekend will be two races from the Junior Saloon Car Championship, home to the stars of tomorrow. Open to drivers aged 14 to 17, the one-make series has become renowned for producing plenty of thrills and spills and this year is set to be no different.

Former champion Lewis Saunders headlines the entry list as he bids to become the first two-time JSCC champion however he will be faced with a host of challengers including Ruben Hage, Harry Rice and Scholarship victor Deagen Fairclough, amongst others.

Variety is the spice of life when it comes to the Classic Touring Car Championship and this year’s eclectic mix of tin top machines is shaping up to be no different.

Racing from the Poultec – 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 Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder Saloons Championship will undoubtedly provide thrilling entertainment.

Action from the Club’s North West Centre flagship category, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship will also take place during the weekend. Home to all manner of machinery, a bumper grid of differing machines are all set for battle across the multiple classes that are in place.

Steeped in more than 25 years worth of history, the 2CV Parts.com Classic Racing Championship has become a stalwart of the BARC and it will begin a three-event series this weekend.

With two races scheduled to take place and defending champion Pete Sparrow absent from the entry list, the door is wide open for someone to be crowned champion. Nick Crispin, Lien Davies and Chris Yates are just three possible contenders that could claim the throne.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action will be racing from the much-loved British Superkarts Championship, where high-octane speeds will be clocked just inches off the ground.

To view more information on this weekend’s 2020 curtain-raiser at Cadwell Park, including the full entry list and official BARC guidelines, click here.

BARC announces revised provisional 2020 calendar for remainder of the year

The British Automobile Racing Club can today (June 22) reveal its revised provisional calendar for the remainder 2020; kicking off on July 4/5 and running right the way through until November 22.

Following on from the suspension of UK motorsport in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Club has worked tirelessly to put together a calendar with the dates available that will suit each individual championship.

Unfortunately, both the British Hillclimb Championship and BARC Connaught Speed Championship have elected to cancel their 2020 campaigns, with the focus now on 2021.

To view the full revised list of 2020 British Automobile Racing Club race meetings, CLICK HERE.

All dates remain provisional and subject to change in line with the current and ever-evolving government guidelines. Spectators are currently not permitted to attend events at this moment in time.

Those wishing to enter a race meeting can do so via the BARC Competitor Entry System.

For those that do not have a Username to access the BARC Competitor Entry System or if you have a general enquiry, please contact BARC Competitors secretary David Wheadon via 01264 882209 or dwheadon@barc.net.

Guidelines for Competitors and Officials have also been published in relation to how BARC race meetings will operate moving forward. They can be viewed by heading to https://www.barc.net/barc-publishes-covid-19-guidelines-for-competitors-and-officials/ 

Tickets on sale for prestigious BARC Championship Awards Evening in February

Champions, marshals and officials are set to be honoured at the British Automobile Racing Club’s annual Championship Awards Evening on Saturday 8th February 2020, with the Chesford Grange Hotel in Kenilworth confirmed to once again host the prestigious event.

Celebrating the 2019 season in fine style, race suits and overalls will be swapped for black ties and ball gowns as the great and good of UK motorsport come together for what should be another unforgettable night.

Whilst those who emerged victorious from their respective categories over the course of the season will take centre stage, several other ‘secret’ awards will be handed out during the evening as well – adding further excitement to the spectacle.

Hosted by Alan Hyde, the star-studded evening is set to include a three-course dinner and raffle in addition to the customary trophy presentation. Entertainment will come in the shape of popular cover band ‘The Torn Off Strips’.

Tickets for the BARC Championship Awards Evening are priced at £75.00 for BARC Members whilst £85.00 for Non-Members. Click HERE to view and complete the ticket booking form.

For more information regarding the event, please contact: Mandy Curley, BARC Ltd, Thruxton Circuit, Andover, Hants SP11 8PN | Tel: 01264 882202 (direct) | Fax: 01264 882233 | Email: mcurley@barc.net

A limited number of rooms have been allocated at Chesford Grange Hotel on a Bed & Breakfast basis at Double £112 per room and Single £98 per room.

Once allocation has gone, the full rate may be charged. To book and pre pay for your accommodation with the hotel’s central reservations line, contact 0845 074 0060 and quote ‘BARC event’.

BARC makes a splash at Oulton Park title-decider

The British Automobile Racing Club and four of its championships battled treacherous conditions at Oulton Park this past weekend (October 26) for what proved to be a blockbuster title-decider around the challenging Cheshire venue.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, the one-day meeting was greeted by heavy rain throughout the day – adding further spice to the on-track excitement and entertainment.

In the Michelin Clio Cup Series, spoils were shared between Ronan Pearson and Ben Colburn; however Pearson had much more to celebrate as he wrapped up the Race Class title due to main rival Simon Freeman not being in attendance.

James Colburn and Nic Harrison had both secured unassailable leads in the Sport and Road classes respectively prior to the event, therefore bringing the curtain down on another memorable year for the one-make category.

The Dunlop Endurance Championship took centre stage for its penultimate event of the 2019 season and it served up two pulsating one-hour encounters.

Valluga Racing’s Ian Humphires was the driver to beat in the opener as he powered his Porsche 991 to a comfortable victory before JPR Motorsport’s Steve Harris and Chris Hart came to the fore to win race two in their Sakar RAPX.

There was title celebrations in the Mighty Minis Championship too, which delivered a show-stopping performance around the flowing bends of Oulton Park.

Neven Kirkpatrick converted his healthy points lead into title glory in the Super Mighty Mini category by romping to a pair of outright race wins and putting himself out of touch of his nearest challenger.

In the Mighty Mini class, the battle for supremacy went down to the wire but in the end it was Greg Daw that reigned supreme to be crowned champion by just a handful of points.

Rounding out the day’s action were two races from the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship; the North West Centre’s flagship racing series.

Open to a variety of different cars, another bumper entry list went wheel-to-wheel for the final time this year with Paul Dobson winning both in his Locost 7.

In terms of the overall championship, Robert Burkinshaw maintained his place at the summit of the standings to triumph in his trusty Honda Integra.

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

Three championships set for Oulton Park title showdown

The British Automobile Racing Club will pay its final visit of the 2019 season to Oulton Park this weekend (October 26) with three out of four championships revved up and ready for a title-deciding day of full-throttle action.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, the Cheshire venue is set to play a host to a memorable day of ultra-competitive racing which will see champions crowned at the very end.

Headlining the day’s timetable will be two pulsating one-hour encounters from the Dunlop Endurance Championship. Showcasing an eclectic mix of jaw-dropping machinery across multiple classes, the series has continued to grow in stature throughout the year and after a gruelling season, Saturday marks the penultimate event of the year.

Paul Bailey and Andy Schulz hold the initiative at the top of the standings, the pair having been in superlative form at the wheel of their Ferrari 488 Challenge since the get-go. Behind, Tim Docker trails by 19 points whilst the Porsche pairing of Mark and Peter Cunningham can’t be discounted either.

Like the Dunlop Endurance Championship, it is all to play for in the Michelin Clio Cup Series. After 12 frenetic races, both Ronan Pearson and Simon Freeman enter the season finale tied on points and ready to duke it out one final time to decide who will be champion.

James Colburn and Nic Harrison have already secured unassailable leads in both the Sport and Road classes; but don’t expect either of them, along with a host of others, to not make their mark too.

Double points across the final two races of the BARC North West Centre’s flagship category, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, will added further spice what is already a captivating series.

Open to all manner of machinery, the multi-class championship has seen its fair share of excitement and drama this year, and Saturday could see Robert Burkinshaw covert his healthy points lead into a title victory.

Rounding out the day’s action at Oulton Park will be a pair of races from the Mighty Minis Championship. Small in stature but packing a punch under the bonnet, this iconic series has served up a feast of entertainment

The Mighty Mini class will see Greg Daw and Paul Ogborn go wheel-to-wheel for the coveted crown whilst Neven Kirkpatrick and Steven Rideout will do the same in the Super Mighty Mini class.

With champions to be crowned and the challenging demands of Oulton Park set to play its part as well, this Saturday’s race day is set to be an unmissable event.

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-2/.

BARC North West Centre celebrates 21st Anniversary of competing at Anglesey in style

This past weekend (September 21st/22nd) saw the British Automobile Racing Club’s North West Centre celebrate 21 years of competing at Trac Môn in style, with a blockbuster two-day event setting pulses racing.

Having been in existence since the end of the Second World War, the Club’s North West Centre has been responsible for covering the Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside & Greater Manchester areas; organising race meetings at Oulton Park and Anglesey in particular.

Following an initial track visit in 1997, Anglesey got its first taste of BARC NW Centre competition on the 14th June 1998 and has never looked back since. Racing from MGs, Westfields, Citroen 2CVs, Formula Ford 1600 and the centre’s flagship Sports/Saloons category (supported in those days by Ace Vehicle Deliveries) made it a race day to remember.

Whilst the circuit has changed over the past two decades, the edge-of-the-seat entertainment that comes with the NW Centre has never wavered – leading to the now several race meetings that are held around the picturesque venue based in North Wales each year.

After significant alterations were made to the venue in 2006 and 2007, encompassing a variety of new circuit configurations, Anglesey has prospered. As it stands, both the International and Coastal layouts have been used extensively by the Centre.

Richard Peacock, former Trac Môn Manager, said: “The BARC as an event organiser has a long and most impressive history and the North West Centre has always been at the forefront of organising race meetings at circuits such as Aintree, Oulton Park and Anglesey.

“It is great to be able to celebrate 21 years of BARC competition, courtesy of the North West Centre, and here is too many more.”

With the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Max5 Racing Championship, KW Automotive Classic VW Cup, CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Championship and more taking centre stage and putting on a show at Anglesey to mark 21 years of the Club’s NW Centre competing at the venue this past weekend, the future looks bright for several more decades of ultra-competitive action.

After racing on the Saturday the CNC Heads competitors, marshals, officials and circuit staff joined the committee of the North West Centre to celebrate the milestone. Cakes, suitably decorated by Trac Môn, where displayed on a Scalextric depiction of the current International circuit whilst words from both Annette Freeman, Anglesey Commercial Manager, and Ray Sumner, BARC NW Chairman, said a few words.

The BARC is set to pay one last visit to Anglesey in 2019 as it once again joins forces with Mission Motorsport on November 8/9/10 for Race of Remembrance.

To find out more information on the 2019 Race of Remembrance, click here.