Tag: CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship

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.

All-out Anglesey action as BARC shines in North Wales

The British Automobile Racing Club celebrated 21 years of racing around Anglesey in spectacular style this past weekend (September 21/22) as a host of championships served up an entertaining extravaganza of track action.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, the two-day meeting marked more than two decades since the very first event at the Welsh venue, and the milestone was celebrated with frenetic action across both days.

The Max5 Racing Championship brought the curtain down on its 2019 campaign in blockbuster fashion with a trio pulsating encounters. Paul Roddison, who has arguably been the benchmark for a majority of the year, signed off with two more wins as Ian Loversidge also triumphed.

Roddison’s two wins clinched the Class A crown whilst Matthew Tidmarsh and Steve Kite were the champions in Class B and Class C respectively.

Scott McIntyre put himself within touching distance of the Junior Saloon Car Championship title as he powered his way to an impressive brace of race wins. Edging towards the coveted crown in his sophomore season, the Team HARD driver was however forced to work for both victories by Alex Jay.

Having been the driver to beat last time out, Jay continued his front-running momentum with a pair of stunning drives, narrowly losing out to McIntyre on both occasions by a mere six-thousandths of a second.

In the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, the BARC NW Centre’s flagship multi-class category, Danny Bird proved to be in a league of his own as he piloted his Spire GTR 1000 to a hat-trick of race wins.

David Kirkpatrick and Neven Kirkpatrick shared the spoils in the Mighty Minis Championship whilst the KW Automotive Classic VW Cup, Uncle Luke’s BARC Saloon Series and TDi North Honda VTEC Challenge amalgamated together also, giving tin tops enthusiasts plenty to cast a keen eye over.

Steve Rothery and Chris Sparks proved too hot to handle for the rest of the competition in the end and ran out winners, taking a win apiece.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action from the picturesque venue in North Wales were a host of races from the Motorsport UK British Superkarts Championship; with Lee Harpham, Liam Morley, Matt Robinson and Mark Bramhall all scoring victory.

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

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

Anglesey to play host to pivotal weekend of racing for BARC categories

The picturesque delights of Anglesey Circuit is the destination for six British Automobile Racing Club categories this weekend (September 21/22). with the fight for championship glory set to continue.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, this latest visit to North Wales will undoubtedly serve up two days of full-throttle entertainment, with it still all to play for across the board.

Bringing the curtain down on their 2019 campaign, the Max5 Racing Championship will sign off its year with a trio of 20-minute encounters and all three class titles being decided. In what has been another vintage season for the one-make series, more twists and turns are predicted.

Paul Roddison, Matthew Tidmarsh and Steve Kite find themselves in the pound seats at the summit of each class as it stands but with 150-points up for grabs, it could all change within a blink of an eye around the International layout.

In the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Scott McIntyre will look to take a crucial step closer to being crowned champion. With one round to go following this weekend, the tin top series for drivers aged between 14 to 17 is heading towards a nail-biting finale and it is McIntyre who holds the advantage.

Being the form driver for a majority of the season, the former Scholarship winner is on the cusp of glory but the likes of reigning champion Lewis Saunders and Alex Jay will undoubtedly have something to say before the final chequered flag flies.

Anglesey will also provide the backdrop for the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship’s penultimate event of the season. As the North West Centre’s flagship series, the multi-class championship is open to all manner of machinery and has become staple of the UK motorsport landscape.

Notable names to look out for include Danny Winstanley, Luke Armiger, Rob Burkinshaw, Paul Dobson and Dave Harvey; all of whom have been in the thick of the action towards the sharp end of the grid.

Small in stature but packing a real punch on-track, the British Superkart Championship will also be in action with several encounters its variety of classes, all of which are based on engine capacity.

Rounding out the weekend’s running on track will be amalgamated races from the KW Automotive Classic VW Cup, Uncle Luke’s BARC Saloon Series and the TDi North Honda VTEC Challenge.

Showcasing some of the best saloon car machines, from Volkswagen and Honda in particular, all three categories are set to take centre stage as they battle for overall honours.

For the KW Automotive Classic VW Cup in particular, this weekend will be pivotal in deciding the outcome of crowning a first-ever champion after championship status was granted at the start of the year.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event at Anglesey, including entry lists and the race timetable, click here.

Blockbuster BARC track action headlines Convoy in the Park at Donington Park

The British Automobile Racing Club took centre stage at Donington Park’s Convoy in the Park this past weekend (August 10/11) as six championships hit the track to write the latest exciting chapters of their 2019 campaigns.

In what proved to be a blockbuster two days of on-track action, a bumper crowd descended on the Leicestershire venue to not only soak up the BARC championship action, but also the off-track entertainment too.

Headlining the weekend’s race schedule was eight encounters from the high-octane MV Commercial BTRA Championship. Boasting the biggest grids of the season for both classes, the second half of the season for the heavyweight behemoths proved to be nothing short of dramatic.

Division 1 saw reigning three-time champion Ryan Smith tighten his grip on the title as he scored a brace of victories whilst there were also first wins of the year for both Simon Reid and the returning Jamie Anderson.

Spoils were shared between current title holder Luke Garrett and Paul Rivett in Division 2, the pair both scooping two wins apiece whilst Steven Powell enjoyed an ultra-consistent weekend, netting four second place finishes.

The Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres saw plenty of wheel-to-wheel battles take place across the weekend’s six heats, producing no less than five different winners.

Will Gibson led the way as he visited the top step of the podium twice whilst there were also wins for reigning champion John Mickel, Paul Simmons, Sy Harraway and new championship leader Miles Rudman.

It proved to be another nail-biting event for the Pickup Truck Racing Championship as the battle for supremacy continued to intensify under the flightpath of East Midlands airport; with championship protagonists Michael Smith and George Turiccki both triumphing.

Malcolm Blackman meanwhile continued to exert his dominance in the Super Silhouette Championship as he bagged another two victories. Having seen his unbeaten run come to an end last time out, Blackman bounced back in style with a commanding performance to emerge as the victor.

Slipstreaming shenanigans came in the shape of the Mighty Minis Championship around the 1.97-mile circuit, to the delight of the crowd. Neven Kirkpatrick and Greg Jenkins were the winners both overall and in the Super Mighty Mini class whilst further back, Greg Daw and David Burns shared the spoils in the Mighty Mini category.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action at Donington Park were a pair of races from the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship – the Club’s North West Centre’s flagship series.

Boasting a healthy 38-car entry list for the weekend, the multi-class championship is home to all manner of machinery and Convoy in the Park saw Danny Winstanley and Luke Armiger run out the winners.

To view the full classification of results from each session of each championship, click here.

Seven championships set to take centre stage for Convoy in the Park at Donington Park

Donington Park will welcome the British Automobile Racing Club this weekend (August 10/11) for a titanic two days of on-track entertainment as a total of seven  championships headline at the hugely-popular Convoy in the Park.

In what is the ultimate festival of all things trucking, the two-day spectacular celebrates the world’s largest vehicles both on and off the track, along with plenty of fun for all of the family.

Taking centre stage around the 1.95-mile layout is the MV Commercial BTRA Championship. Weighing in at more than five tonnes and producing in excess of 1000bhp, the heavyweight behemoths of both Division 1 and Division 2 are set to dazzle those in attendance across a blockbuster eight races.

Boasting the biggest entry list of the season so far, both classes are revved up for action with Ryan Smith leading the way in Division 1. Having been the man to beat up to now, the reigning champion has been in relentless form recently and will bid to continue his winning streak against the likes of David Jenkins, John Newell and Stuart Oliver.

Meanwhile, a titanic scrap for supremacy in Division 2 is set to continue with the likes of Steve Powell, Paul Rivett, Brad Smith and John Bowler leading the chase for defending champion and series leader Luke Garrett.

Dwarfed in size by the titans of the BTRA, the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres is set to be a smash-hit over the course of the weekend with no less than six races scheduled to take place.

After a lengthy ten-week break Legends return to action with multiple champion John Mickel topping the standings after scoring his first win of the year last time out. Challengers come from all angles however with the likes of Miles Rudman, Marcus Pett, Connor Mills, Sean Smith, James Hall-Morton and Sy Harraway all having triumphed this year as well.

There will be plenty of edge-of-the-seat entertainment from the Pickup Truck Racing Championship as the battle for supremacy rages on. In what has been an ultra-competitive season to-date, no less than seven different drivers have stood on the top step of the podium and that number could well rise as the year progresses.

Michael Smith, Dale Gent, Reece Jones, George Turiccki, Mark Willis, David O’Regan and Paul Tompkins have tasted victory thus far and any one of them could add to their win tallies around the challenging curves of Donington Park.

Small in stature but packing a punch under the bonnet, expect plenty of scintillating slipstreaming action from the Mighty Minis Championship. Split into two classes, Mighty Mini and Super Mighty Mini, depending on engine capacity, the single-make series is as close as can be currently.

Nothing separates Dave Burns and Greg Daw in Class A at the standings summit whilst Owen Edgley, Dan Heywood and Paul Ogborn are all within touching distance too. Class B meanwhile sees an equally close scrap for top spot with Neven Kirkpatrick, Steve Rideout and Greg Jenkins leading the way. With two races here, and many more on the horizon.

The BARC Super Silhouette Championship has seen its fair share of action over the course of the season so far and that theme is set to continue under the flightpath of East Midlands airport.

Catering for spaceframe coupe and saloon cars that have been built to strict regulations, Malcolm Blackman and Chris Brockenhurst have shared the spoils up to now and could well be in the mix to triumph further this weekend. Don’t discount the likes of Steve Burrows, Keith White and Michael Thurley; all of whom will be keen to take their first wins of the season too.

The BARC North West Centre’s flagship category, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, will be in action with two pulsating encounters.

Notable names to cast a watchful eye over include overall championship leader Robert Burkinshaw, Dave Harvey, Paul Dobson, Jon Woolfit, Garry Wardle, David Green and Danny Winstanley, who scored victory at Oulton Park last time out on his series debut.

Breaking ground in its inaugural year, SmarTrack Series will continue to make waves with its awe-inspiring grid of Jaguar XE Project 8’s. Launched for the more mature racing driver and offering a turnkey racing opportunity, the one-make category has made several appearances in 2019 already – turning heads wherever it has been.

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

Trio of BARC categories produce scorching displays at Oulton Park

The British Automobile Racing Club produced a scorching race day at Oulton Park this past Saturday (June 22) as three championships continued their 2019 seasons around the demanding International layout.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, the Cheshire venue welcomed the Dunlop Endurance Championship, CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship and the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship for a summer spectacular.

Boasting a bumper grid of jaw-dropping machines, the Dunlop Endurance Championship wrote a familiar chapter in its season storybook as two teams reigned supreme across the pair of one-hour races that took place.

Entering the weekend sitting at the summit of the standings, the SB Race Engineering Ferrari 488 duo of Paul Bailey and Andy Schultz dominated qualifying as they stormed to pole position by little under a second.

The duo then converted their front row start into yet another race win as they took the chequered flag by more than 40 seconds ahead of their nearest challengers.

Valluga Racing came to the fore later in the day in race two as Ian Humphries drove his Porsche 991 GT3 Cup car to victory.

Just one race from the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship was run in the end as the multi-class series reached the halfway point in its campaign. With a bumper grid all setting their sights on the infamous Dave Simpson Trophy, the battle for supremacy was a fierce as ever.

In the end, nobody was able to stop Danny Winstanley as he piloted his Caterham Superlight to an emphatic victory, crossing the line 41 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger. David Harvey and Paul Dobson round out the podium positions in second and third respectively.

The 13-lap encounter also saw Chris Maries reach a special milestone as he competed in his 200th race in the championship. He capped off the moment by powering his Honda Integra to a tenth place finish.

Spoils were shared in the two Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship races as Adam Jackson and Simon Kendrick both took a win apiece.

Starting from pole position, Jackson was served up a lights-to-flag performance in the opening encounter as he powered his MG ZR to a dominant victory ahead of Kendrick and Steve McDermid.

Jackson’s aspirations of making it two from two later in the day however were halted after a couple of laps as he was forced to retire. That left Kendrick to take advantage and narrowly edge out McDermid by little over half a second in his MG F VVC, whilst Steve Darbey rounded out the rostrum in third.

The view the full classification of results from all sessions on Saturday, click here.

Oulton Park will host to more BARC action this coming weekend (June 29/30) as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship and supporting TOCA categories take on the infamous Island circuit.

Oulton Park beckons for trio of BARC championships

The British Automobile Racing Club returns to Oulton Park this Saturday (June 22) for what should be a pulsating race day of acton, headlined by no less than three championships.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, the Cheshire venue is set to play host to the latest chapter of each categories campaigns and the traditional thrills and spills are expected to play out around the challenging 2.39 International layout.

Topping the bill will be the Dunlop Endurance Championship with two one-hour encounters. Showcasing the very best in supercar machinery, a glittering array of drivers will share driving duties as they duke it out for the latest pair of race wins that are up for grabs.

The Ferrari 488 Challenge duo of Paul Bailey and Andy Schultz lead the way as it stand but as Britcar has proved on countless occasions this year already, anything can happen and anyone can emerge victorious.

The CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, the BARC NW Centre’s flagship series, will also be in action as it makes its second visit to Oulton Park this year. Boasting another bumper entry list, a 30-car grid will duke it out for the Dave Simpson Memorial Trophy.

In what will be the halfway mark in the season for the championship, the battle for supremacy is set to be an intriguing one with Jon Woolfitt, Andrew Southcott and Danny Bird, all race winners this year, headlining the entry.

There will be plenty of high-octane entertainment from the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship too as it takes fans on a spirited trip down memory lane as machines from a variety of eras go wheel-to-wheel.

Running under a multi-class format, the single manufacturer championship has wowed crowds at Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Donington Park so far, with Oulton Park set to be no different.

Two races are sure to set pulses racing with the likes of Jim Baynam, James Pryor, Sarah Sullivan, Stuart Plotnek, Simon Kendrick and Steve Darbey, amongst others, being in contention for outright and individual class honours.

To find out more information on the event, including links to live timing and the timetable, click here.

BARC trio set pulses racing at Anglesey

Anglesey Circuit provided a fitting backdrop for a memorable two days of British Automobile Racing Club action this past weekend (May 25/26) as three championships took centre stage in North Wales.

In what was the first of a handful of visits to the picturesque venue this year, challenging and changeable conditions greeted the Distrigo Parts Distribution Citroen C1 Series, CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship and Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres – adding to the spectacle.

Coming off the back of their history-making weekend at Silverstone where a brand new record for the largest grid was set, the C1 Series fielded a 25-car grid for four-hour encounter.

In what proved to be an action-packed 240 minutes, the PrepTech UK team came to the fore to ultimately cross the line and clinch a popular victory, Having qualified tenth, the duo of Colin Lewis and Nicole Drought powered their way up the order

Rounding out the podium was Team Davies, made up of John Davies and Matthew Davies, and Majestic Motorsport; which housed the trio of Greg Richardson, Geoff Richardson and Jonathan Taylor.

The Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres saw plenty of wheel-to-wheel action over the course of the weekend as Sy Harraway moved to the top of the points.

Underlining the unpredictable nature of the championship, the action proved to be frenetic over the course of both days. Harraway emerged as one of the big winners as he bagged himself a pair of wins alongside with the points lead.

Marcus Pett also secured a double of his own whilst Sean Smith and Miles Rudman weren’t to be denied the spotlight either as they each topped the podium too.

Alongside the British contingent, fans were also treated to Scottish and Irish Legends action too.

Capping off the weekend’s action from Anglesey was a pair of races from the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship. Open to all manner of cars and running under a multi-class format, non-stop entertainment is part of the norm with the series, and it didn’t disappoint in North Wales.

However, despite a bumper 29-car entry list nobody was able to stop Danny Bird from stealing the show. At the wheel of his Spire GTR, Bird was unstoppable as he romped to pole position in qualifying and then took a hat-trick of race wins.

For the full classification of results from each session, click here.

BARC trio heads to picturesque North Wales to tackle Anglesey

The British Automobile Racing Club will head to North Wales this weekend (May 25/26) for what is set to be a spectacular two days of competition around the picturesque Anglesey Circuit.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, the picturesque venue – which overlooks the Irish Sea – will play host to a selection of BARC categories, all of which will continue what are proving to be captivating 2019 campaigns.

Coming off the back of a history-making event at Silverstone where a new record for the largest starting grid in the UK was set, the Distrigo Parts Distribution Citroen C1 Series is back in action – this time for a four-hour race.

Staging a 99-car 24-hour race at the home of British motorsport last month, the popular one-make series now has a place in the record books, although it is showing no signs of slowing down with another bumper entry list has been confirmed for this weekend.

The weekend will also see the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres continue its 25th Anniversary campaign with a host of races. Roaring into life at Brands Hatch over the Easter bank holiday, the pocket rocket series is a smash-hit wherever it goes.

Connor Mills sits on top of the standings heading into the second event of the season courtesy of his Brands Hatch hat-trick however the competition is proving be to fierce with reigning champion John Mickel, Sy Harraway, Jack Parker and James Hall-Morton leading the chasing pack.

With six heats scheduled across the weekend, the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres is a spectacle that is not to be missed.

Both the Scottish and Irish Legends Championships will also take to the track too, combining together for their own block of heats.

Capping off the weekend’s track action will be two races from the BARC North West Centre’s flagship category, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship. Open to all manner of machinery, the multi-class series showcases variety of the highest order, with Anglesey marking the third stop on the calendar.

Andrew Southcoott, David Harvey and Jon Woolfit are just three drivers that will be in contention for outright honours during Saturday’s two encounters.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event at Anglesey, click here.

Cadwell Park plays host to frenetic BARC race day

The British Automobile Racing Club’s bumper bank holiday schedule included a scintillating Sunday (April 21) at Cadwell Park last weekend, with four championships taking on a starring role.

In what is the first of several trips to the undulating Lincolnshire-based venue over the course of the 2019 campaign for the BARC, the Easter Sunday event set pulses races from the get-go.

Three pulsating races from the 2CV Parts.com Classic Racing Championship proved to be one of the highlights of the day as reigning champion Pete Sparrow and Lien Davies shared the spoils.

Boasting a bumper entry list for their second event of the year, the iconic machines went wheel-to-wheel around the challenging twists and turns that Cadwell Park had to offer, producing spectacular racing along the way.

Former title winner Davies was the first to strike as he claimed outright honours in race one, leading Sparrow and Nick Crispin across the line – the trio covered by little over three seconds.

Having dominated the season-opener at Silverstone, Sparrow was soon back to winning ways in race two as he edged out Luca Proietti and Simon Clarke before then adding a second victory later in the day, heading Davies and Proietti in the finale.

The Mighty Minis Championship lifted the curtain on its 2019 campaign with a pair of thrilling races, won Neven Kirkpatrick and David Kirkpatrick. One of the last categories to kick-start their seasons, the Mini contingent wasted no time in serving up a feast of entertainment.

At the wheel of his #11 machine, Neven Kirkpatrick leapt into the lead on lap four and was never challenged after as he led Alex Comis and David Kirkpatrick across the line. Not happy to settle for third place, the latter Kirkpatrick bounced in race two to triumph ahead of Comis and Steven Rideout.

Andrew Southcott was the man to beat in the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship as he piloted his MG Modsport 2300 to a brace of wins. Southcott edged out David Harvey to pole position earlier in the morning and that proved to be the theme for the rest of the day as Harvey ended up as the nearest challenge to Southcott.

Rounding out the podium was Paul Dobson and Paul Woolfitt, the pair picking up a piece of silverware each.

Capping off the day’s action was two races from the British Superkart Championship, both ultimately won by Gareth James.

For the full classification of results at Cadwell Park, click here.

BARC quartet set for race day of twists and turns at Cadwell Park

The British Automobile Racing Club is set to make it an Easter Sunday to remember this weekend (April 21) as four championships get set to take on the technical twists and turns of Cadwell Park.

In what is the first of three visits to the Lincolnshire-based track over the course of 2019 by the BARC, those attending are set to be treated to a feast of on-track entertainment from the opening lap.

Having kicked off their year at Silverstone, the 2CV Parts.com Classic Racing Championship will continue with a trio of 20-minute races scheduled to take place. Reigning champion Pete Sparrow set his stall out as the man to beat last month by storming to a pair of race wins and it would be hard to bet against him adding to his win tally on Sunday.

Leading the chase for Sparrow are several front-running contenders including former champion Lien Davies, Nick Crispin and Nigel Hollis – to name just a few. Boasting another bumper entry list, this iconic car and series has continued to be a smash-hit and that theme should continue at Cadwell Park.

Flying the flag for the Club’s North West Centre, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship will be back action with a wide variety of cars set to battle it out for supremacy.

Coming off the back of a disjointed opening event at Oulton Park where there was a red flag stoppage for a start-line incident followed by the race finishing under a safety car, hopes are high for a smoother race day – with two frenetic encounters taking place.

Notable names to keep an eye on over the course of the day include Oulton Park victor Jon Woolfit in his MK Indy, Paul Dobso, David Harvey and Nigel Mustill, amongst many more.

The Mighty Minis Championship meanwhile will lift the curtain on their 2019 season with two races. Never short of producing door-to-door action, the iconic Mini will once more take fans on a spirited trip down memory lane to showcase why it became one of the most popular cars globally.

Split into two classes, Mighty Mini and Super Mighty Mini, the championship is proving to be as popular as it ever has done with a healthy grid size for this Sunday. Amongst them is a list of possible title contenders that are hungry to make their mark during the opening weekend of the year.

Reigning champion Stuart Coombs, David Kirkpatrick, Alex Comis, Paul Inch and Paul Ogborn are just five drivers to cast a watchful eye over.

Capping off the action at Cadwell Park will be a pair of races from the British Superkart Championship. Small in stature but able to clock eye-watering speeds, the very best karting drivers in the country will be going wheel-to-wheel in a bid to top the podium – and it is not to be missed.

For more information, such as the entry list and timetable for this Sunday’s event, click here.

Blockbuster BARC race day served up at Oulton Park

The British Automobile Racing Club delivered a scintillating race day at Oulton Park this past Saturday (March 23) as four championships kick-started their 2019 campaigns in blockbuster style.

Following a busy off-season which has seen meticulous car preparation from teams and drivers, the picturesque Cheshire venue provided the perfect backdrop to lift the curtain on the new season.

 Home to the next generation of motorsport talent, the Junior Saloon Car Championship provided two pulsating races with a bumper grid of 14 to 17-year-old racers, with the spoils shared between reigning champion Lewis Saunders and 2018 Scholarship winner Scott McIntyre.

Bidding to become the first back-to-back JSCC champion, Saunders ignited his title defence in emphatic fashion as he scored a lights-to-flag victory in the opening round after leapfrogging pole sitter McIntyre. Thomas Ward would also get the better of McIntyre over the course of the race and it would be that order that the top three finished in.

Roles were reversed in race two as McIntyre got the better of Saunders and raced on to take the chequered by little under a second. Ward once again underlined his credentials and consistency by notching another podium finish, albeit this time third place.

The Club’s North West Centre’s flagship series, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, raced just once during the day but it proved to be an eventful six-lap encounter which culminated in Jon Woolfitt piloting his MK Indy to the chequered flag.

David Harvey and Danny Bird proved to be the closest challengers to Woolfitt in the end however the pair had to settle for second and third respectively.

Garrie Whittaker proved to be in irresistible force in the Kumho BMW Championship too as he romped his way to a brace of victories. Once again behind the wheel of his BMW E36 M3, Whittaker made an emphatic statement in race one, beating Lucky Khera by more than 45 seconds.

Whittaker followed up his first victory with a second one shortly after, this time heading Jason West by a somewhat smaller margin – 26 seconds this time.

Capping off the day’s action at Oulton Park were a raft of races from the Classic Touring Car Championship, each of them mixing classes together.

AJ Owen emerged as the benchmark in the amalgamated Pre 93, Pre 03 and Pre 05 encounters as he scored a pair of wins at the wheel of his Honda Civic Type R. Leading Ross Craig and Graham Myers in race one, Owen made a further statement as one to watch by heading Ian Bower and Craig in the second race.

Mark Osborne and his Triumph Dolomite Sprint were in fine form in the combined Pre 66 and Pre 83 eight-lap races, claiming outright honours in both.

Elsewhere Andrew Wilson and Richard Wood ensured that they left Oulton Park with a win apiece after each triumphing in the day’s two Blue Oval Saloon and Thunder Saloon races.

For the full classification of results from Saturday, click here.