Tag: Junior Saloon Car Championship

Speedfest North meeting delivers all-out action at Croft

The British Automobile Racing Club faced contrasting weather conditions at Croft Circuit this past weekend (May 2-3) as the likes of the TCR UK Championship and a trio of Caterham Motorsport categories headlined its Speedfest North meeting.

Marking the first visit the Club has made to its North Yorkshire venue this year, a hearty crowd flocked through the gates to witness an action-packed 17 race programme – with many of them braving the wind and rain on Sunday following a dry Saturday.

After kicking off their 2026 campaign at Brands Hatch last month, all eyes were on the TCR UK Championship to see what would come next – and what was next were two frenetic encounters in somewhat challenging weather conditions.

Callum Newsham proved to be the cream of the crop when it came to qualifying on Saturday afternoon as he paced the opposition by more than half a second to snare pole position; and he carried that front-running form into race one the following day.

Despite not making the best of starts in the wet conditions, the Scotsman quickly regained the lead in his Hyundai Elantra N TCR and once out front he was able to control the pace all the way to the chequered flag to win ahead of Lewis Kent and Max Hart.

Race two – which was also held in heavy rain – then saw talented teenager Max Hall write his name into the series’ history books as he produced a wheel-perfect drive to claim a maiden TCR UK victory for himself and his team, Halls Racing.

There was no shortage of edge-of-the=seat entertainment when it came to Caterham Motorsport as the Bilstein Caterham Roadsport Championship, FanDrive Caterham Seven 270R Championship and Motul Caterham Seven UK Championship all starred.

Richard Davies maintained his flawless start to the new Roadsport Championship as he made it four wins from four races; although he faced stiff opposition as he won race one by sixth tenths of a second and then race two by a mere two tenths.

Over in the FanDrive Caterham Seven 270R Championship, Brian Thornton and Paul Oggelsby picked up where they left off at Cadwell Park as they once again proved to be the benchmark at the front of the field.

Thornton struck first out of the two of them as he held off Oliver White to win a pulsating opener before Oggelsby then came to the fore in races two and three, winning both contests in hard-fought fashion.

Finally, the Motul Caterham Seven Championship UK kicked off its 2026 season in spectacular season with a three action-packed races and the renewal of a rivalry that is guaranteed to once again captivate the masses.

Defending champion Matthew Armstrong and runner-up Harry Senior were the standout performers in the series last year and they picked up where they left off at Croft, although it looks as though multiple Caterham champion Taylor O’Flanagan will also be in the mix.

The trio were the stars of the show across the weekend with Senior making the perfect start to the campaign by scoring back-to-back wins, the second of which was by a remarkable margin of 17 seconds.

On his debut in the manufacturer’s premier class, O’Flanagan also underlined his credentials as he charged to glory in race three, while Armstrong’s title defence began with a number of standout podium drives.

Elsewhere, the Junior Saloon Car Championship continued to gather momentum with three more races playing out for aspiring racers aged 14 to 17.

Max Scharfeggar claimed a long overdue maiden win at Cadwell Park and that triumph proved to be the kicker that he needed as he came flying out the blocks to claim pole position in qualifying and then back-to-back victories.

Scharfeggar’s hopes of a sublime hat-trick were sadly dashed in race three however as championship leader Ollie Smith returned to the top step of the podium, which in-turn allowed him to strengthen his stranglehold in the standings.

As they did at Cadwell Park last month, Lee Bull and Marshall Groves proved to be the leading lights when it came to the Track Action Racing Club, with the pair claiming a deserving win apiece.

Bull was the first to strike as he produced a flawless drive in his Renault Clio to reign supreme in race one, beating fellow Clio competitor Robert Buckland by more than six seconds while Adam Croft completed the podium in third.

Having suffered an unfortunate non-finish in the weekend’s earlier contest, Groves bounced back in style as he swept his way to victory in race two. The Vauxhall Vectra Challenge driver was pushed by Bull all the way, but remained resolute out front to ultimately triumph.

Also adding to the weekend spectacle was a guest appearance from the Scottish MINI Cooper Cup. Boasting a compact yet competitive grid, the one-make series wowed the crowds with two races that were won by Jack Irvine and James Hitchen.

To view the full classification of results from Croft’s Speedfest North meeting, CLICK HERE.

Speedfest at Croft and Craigantlet this weekend

The British Automobile Racing Club has two headline events this weekend with Croft in Yorkshire and Craigantlet in Northern Ireland headlining the weekend action for motorsport lovers.

When is the next BARC weekend?
The next events will be this weekend – 2nd and 3rd May

Where are the events being held?

Croft Circuit
Address: Croft Circuit West Lane Dalton On Tees North Yorkshire DL2 2PL

Craigantlet
Address: Craigantlet Hillclimb, Belmont Road, Belfast, BT4 2NH

What is racing this weekend?
At Croft in Yorkshire – there is something for everyone. TCR UK headline the billing and if you love saloons you are in for a treat as backing them up we have Track Action and the Junior Saloon Car Championship joining the fray. Caterham are bringing the big guns out to play with the monstrous Seven Championship UK kick-starting its season.

Roadsport and 270R will also enjoy the challenging nature of Croft and we are delighted to be joined by the Scottish MINIs once again.

Over on the outskirts of Belfast, the British Hillclimb Championship will rip-up the fearsome Craigantlet hill for a one-day shoot-out!

How can I watch?

At the Venue
Wanting to soak up the on-track action in person? Tickets are available on the day or on the Croft website at just £18 per person for each day with children under the age of 15 going free! Tickets can be purchased from here: www.croftcircuit.co.uk/racing/tcr-caterham#tickets

Entrance we understand for the Craigantlet Hillclimb is free for spectators.

What time are things happening on track?

Track action begins at Croft on Saturday at 09:30 with qualifying heading the order with the first race at 13:05. On Sunday we enjoy a slower start on Sunday and kick-start our racing at 12:05 with TCR UK and race through to early evening.

Over at Craigantlet – the action takes place on Saturday only and will feature practice in the morning and two timed runs in the afternoon. The two run-offs are expected at lunch time and 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 at Croft.

Live Timing: www.tsl-timing.com/event/261821
Saturday Stream: www.youtube.com/live/vGjtd_WRlXU?si=NodwCYQWsnxBNKhV
Sunday Stream: www.youtube.com/live/YN2Ip3pnrXQ?si=qzlYxstyvwrhhBSB
Information and Timetable*: www.barc.net/event/barc-race-meeting-croft-may-2-3/

* Subject to adjustments prior and during the race meeting

May is here and the racing is coming thick and fast! Let’s get to it!

Croft set for thriller as early season pace-setters emerge

The British Automobile Racing Club heads to Croft Circuit this weekend (May 2-3) with several championships already beginning to take shape following a blockbuster run of action at Brands Hatch and Cadwell Park.

Topping the bill, the TCR UK Championship arrives in North Yorkshire with momentum building after a dramatic opening three rounds to the season that underlined just how competitive the grid is. Three different winners shared the spoils last time out, with Jac Constable striking first in a chaotic opener before Jenson O’Neill-Going made history by becoming the series’ youngest-ever race winner after fending off sustained pressure from Max Hart.

Callum Newsham then rounded out the weekend in style, producing a flawless drive to victory in the finale. With multiple contenders already staking their claim, Croft could prove pivotal in shaping an early title tilt.

Caterham Motorsport’s ever-entertaining categories have once again delivered edge-of-the-seat action, and that looks set to continue. In the Bilstein Caterham Roadsport Championship, Richard Davies proved to be the driver to beat as he claimed a commanding double victory, keeping Kyle Townend at bay on both occasions.

Meanwhile, the Caterham Seven 270R Championship showcased the brand’s trademark close finishes. Brian Thornton emerged as the standout performer with two wins, while Paul Oggelsby edged a frenetic finale ahead of Bruno van Dyke after a weekend that saw margins measured in tenths and hundredths.

In the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Ollie Smith has laid down an early marker as the driver to beat in 2026. The second-year racer extended his winning streak to five races at Cadwell Park, overcoming the challenge of Jake Wardle – who had edged him to pole in qualifying – to claim further victories in races one and two. Although the final contest was curtailed, Max Scharfegger was declared the winner, further highlighting the depth of talent within the category heading into Croft.

Elsewhere, the Track Action Racing Club produced its own standout performer in Marshal Groves, who powered his Vauxhall Vectra to a pair of impressive wins, underlining both his pace and consistency last time out. The Track Action Club always produces great variety amongst its racing ranks and this weekend expect to see iconic sports and saloon cars from the racing past.

With Croft’s straights, tight and technical sections and heavy braking zones set to encourage slipstreaming battles and bold overtakes, all the ingredients are in place for another captivating weekend.

Early-season dominance, breakthrough victories and multiple race winners have already been defining themes across the BARC package – and with spring in the air, the next chapter of the campaign promises to be just as compelling.

BARC enjoys weekend to remember on Cadwell Park return

The British Automobile Racing Club made a welcome return to Cadwell Park this past weekend (April 11-12) with several high-profile championships taking centre stage for the two-day ‘War of the Wolds’ meeting.

Having not visited the Lincolnshire venue for a couple of years, competitors and spectators were rightfully excited to take on the infamous twists and turns that have led to it to become affectionately nicknamed the ‘Mini Nürburgring’.

As expected, one of the headline attractions from the weekend proved to be Caterham Motorsport, where three of their ultra-competitive categories lifted the curtain on their respective 2026 campaigns.

More than 20 drivers went wheel-to-wheel for outright honours in the Bilstein Caterham Roadsport Championship however nobody was able to stop the commanding Richard Davies, who claimed back-to-back wins ahead of Kyle Townend.

Close finishes are part and parcel of Caterham racing and that was demonstrated in the FanDrive Caterham Seven 270R Championship, where the top two in qualifying were separated by a remarkable 0.041s.

Despite starting on pole position for race one, Oliver White was unable to stop the charging Brian Thornton from triumphing – the two split by half a second at the chequered flag. Thornton would double up in race two before Paul Oggelsby then pipped Bruno van Dyke to win a frenetic finale.

Over in the Vertex Caterham 310R Championship, William Harris enjoyed a sublime start to the new season as he reigned supreme in style. Despite losing out to pole position to his brother Charles, William went on to tally a hat-trick of wins around the 2.186-mile layout.

After starring at Donington Park last month, the Classic Touring Car Racing Club was back in action with an abundance of tin top entertainment that wowed the crowds – both those watching trackside and online via YouTube.

Adam Cunnington and Ian Thompson proved to be the cream of the crop in the Pre-66 Touring Cars. The Lotus Cortina drivers could barely be separated across two pulsating encounters however it was Cunnington that emerged with the bragging rights as he claimed a pair of wins.

Spoils were shared in the amalgamated Pre-83, Pre-93 and Pre-03 Touring Car contests, which welcomed a diverse grid of cars. Multiple title winner Ian Bower dominated race one in his BMW M3 however a non-finish for him in race two opened the door for Kam Tunio to triumph.

Rounding out the Classic Touring Car Racing Club action were two races from the combined Blue Oval Saloon Series and Classic/Historic Thunder. There, Mike Cutt was in a league of his own as he romped to victory in his stunning BMW E36 M3 ahead of the aforementioned Bower.

Ollie Smith’s scintillating start to the Junior Saloon Car Championship season continued at Cadwell Park as he extended his winning streak to five races. Beginning the year as a title favourite, last year’s lead rookie had taken a clean sweep of wins at the season-opener.

Keen to build on that around Cadwell Park, the talented teenager was forced to play second fiddle to Jake Wardle in qualifying after losing out on snaring pole position by just a tenth of a second. He wouldn’t be denied in the races however.

Getting the better of Wardle in races one and two, the second-year racer charged to his fourth and fifth wins of the season. Unfortunately, proceedings came to a premature end in the final bout in the shape of two red flags, although Max Scharfegger was ultimately declared the winner.

As it did at Donington Park for its 2026 curtain-raiser, the Adrian Flux Insurance MG Owners Club Championship boasted another stellar line-up however it was Lee Pearce in his MG ZR that took on a starring role as he claimed both wins.

Elsewhere, Marshal Groves hustled his Vauxhall Vectra Challenge to a pair of wins in the Track Action Racing Club while the Scottish MINI Cooper Cup rounded out the action with Jack Irvine and Chad Little enjoying a share of the spoils.

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

Bringing the War to the Wolds!

Our third meeting of the year sees us return to an old friend – Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire. The War in the Wolds event at Cadwell brings us back to the picturesque circuit after nearly two years away.

Racing this weekend – we have a bit of everything to keep you entertained across the weekend.

Caterham gets its season underway with the Roadsport, 270R and 310R classes waiting to be unleashed for the first time while the Classic Touring Car Racing Club, Track Action, MG Owners Club and Junior Saloon Car Championship are back for a second bite at the championship cherry. 

When is the next BARC weekend?
This weekend: Saturday 11th April and Sunday 12th April

Where are the events being held?
Cadwell Park
Address: Cadwell Park Circuit, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 9SE

What is racing this weekend?
Caterham Roadsport, 270R and 310R classes
Classic Touring Car Racing Club Pre’66, Pre ‘83, Pre ‘93, Pre ‘03, BOSS and Thunder Saloons
Track Action
MG Owners Racing Club
Junior Saloon Car Championship

If I can’t get trackside or I am outside of the UK?

If you can’t make it to Cadwell Park… we have you sorted! You can follow everything from home or on the move. The BARC YouTube channel will be broadcasting all the racing action live and for free – no matter where you are around the world on Saturday or Sunday. Be sure to subscribe for the latest streams – www.youtube.com/@britishautomobileracingclub

How can I watch in person?

To go trackside at Cadwell Park, tickets start from £17 online for an adult ticket for Saturday and £19 on the gate. £26 for a weekend ticket online or £38 at the gate, with discounts for teens and senior citizens available and children aged 13 and under go free.

Tickets can be purchased here: www.cadwellpark.co.uk/2026/april/retro-touring-cars

What time are things happening on track at Cadwell?

Practice heads the order on Saturday from 09:00 with the first race at 14:00.
On Sunday we start with MG Owners Club Qualifying at 09:05 before we go straight into racing at 09:30 and run all the way through to early evening stopping for a short lunch break in the middle.

Do you have any more information?

We have a few other handy links that might be useful to help you enjoy the second event of the year

Brands Hatch – Key Links

Live Timing and Commentary: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/261521  

Information*: /www.barc.net/event/barc-race-meeting-cadwell-park-april-11-12/ 

Entry List: www.barc.alphatiming.co.uk/entrylist/17026 

Live Coverage Saturday: www.youtube.com/live/4HpuUvyL1K8?si=AgTXKfBulby47B_D 

Live Coverage Sunday: www.youtube.com/live/fSbLO02_qeo?si=no0vzU_ewy5C59np  

* Timetable – Subject to adjustments prior and during the race meeting

Who will be king of the Mountain this weekend? 

BARC set for thrilling return to Cadwell Park this weekend

Fans are in for a treat this weekend (11-12 April) as the British Automobile Racing Club descends on the spectacular Cadwell Park for two days of flat-out, edge-of-the-seat entertainment in Lincolnshire.

Often dubbed the ‘Mini Nürburgring’, the undulating venue is a favourite among spectators thanks to its natural amphitheatre layout – and with exciting grids and a bumper timetable on offer, there will be no shortage of action wherever you watch from.
One of the headline attractions comes from Caterham Motorsport who get their season underway this weekend.

Some of the closest racing in UK motorsport is always guaranteed and this weekend it’s the turn of Roadsport, 270R and 310R classes. Expect wheel-to-wheel battles throughout the field, with a mix of new recruits, seasoned competitors and those stepping up on the Caterham ladder.

The Junior Saloon Car Championship is another must-watch for fans, as the next generation of racing talent continues to make its mark with their second event of the year. These teenage racers are renowned for their fearless approach, and with several drivers already establishing themselves as ones to watch this season including, Ollie Smith, Max Scharfegger and Martin Wright. Expect plenty of overtakes and slip-streaming across the weekend.

Tin-top enthusiasts will be drawn to the Classic Touring Car Racing Club, where a stunning array of historic machinery will do battle. From nimble saloons in the Pre ’66 class to powerful Thunder racers, the diverse grids offer something for everyone – the racing is just as competitive as it is nostalgic.

Elsewhere, the MG Owners Club Championship brings an eclectic mix of machinery and close competition, while the Track Action Racing Club adds further variety to the programme with a grid that always delivers great racing and unpredictability.

Making the trip south, the ever-entertaining Scottish Mini Cooper Cup is also set to be a fan favourite. Known for its tightly packed racing and slipstreaming battles we welcome them as part of the BARC package this weekend.

With iconic sections such as the Mountain, Hall Bends and the Gooseneck set to challenge drivers across the weekend, spectators can expect dramatic moments, seat-of-the-pants overtakes and non-stop action from start to finish.

Whether you’re trackside for both days or just dropping in on the Live Stream, Cadwell Park is the place to be for pure, unfiltered club racing at its very best this weekend.

BARC begins 2026 season in blockbuster fashion at Donington Park

The British Automobile Racing Club commenced its 2026 season in thrilling fashion at Donington Park this past weekend (March 21-22) as no less than 12 different championships lifted the curtain on their respective campaigns.

Following months of anticipation and excitement, the Club basked in the spring sunshine at the Leicestershire venue, packing in a total of 16 races across both days around the infamous Grand Prix circuit.

Headlining the action was a blockbuster 90-minute contest from the Britcar Endurance Championship; which boasted a bumper entry list made up of returning winners, credible contenders and as always, several new faces.

The opening day of the season ultimately proved to be a tale of two halves with the TrueMix Racing entry of Tom Walpole and Marc Kemp emerging as the drivers to beat during qualifying on Saturday morning.

After lighting up the timesheets in practice, the KTM X Bow GT-X duo laid down a true statement of intent as they paced the rest of the field to snare pole position, finishing almost two seconds ahead of SG Racing’s Mark Cunningham and Peter Cunningham.

Converting their front row start into an early lead as the lights went out, the TrueMix Racing squad had looked on course to put distance between themselves and their rivals in the opening exchanges however a small mistake towards the end of lap one saw them spin out of both first place and the race entirely.

Their unfortunate demise opened the door for Toro Verde GT driver Dean Burden to take control of proceedings, and he did so in emphatic fashion as he hustled his Porsche Cayman GT4 RS to the chequered flag more than a minute ahead of anyone else.

As they did in qualifying, the Cunningham’s claimed runners-up laurels in their Porsche 991.2 Cup car whilst the final spot on the podium was taken by Team BRIT’s Bobby Trundley, Aaron Morgan and their McLaren 570S GT4.

The Classic Touring Car Racing Club has become renowned for producing edge-of-the-seat entertainment down the years and that trend continued as its variety of tin top categories broke cover under the flight path of East Midlands airport.

Rolling back the years to a bygone era were the Pre-66 Touring Cars and they wowed the crowds with two action-packed contests that culminated in Piers Grange and Simon Gusterson – who were inseparable on-track throughout – tallying a win apiece.

Jonathan Corker enjoyed the perfect start to his Pre-83 Touring Cars title defence as he guided his Datsun 510 to a sublime double. Donning the mantel of defending champion, Corker was perfection personified as he charged to a pair of commanding race wins.

Closing out the Classic Touring Car Racing Club action were two races that amalgamated the Pre-93, Pre-03, Blue Oval Saloon Series and Thunder classes onto one grid. BMWs ruled the roost as Jasper Sapra and Dave Farrow each made their way to the top step of the podium.

Ollie Smith laid down his marker as serious contender for the coveted Junior Saloon Car Championship title this year after producing a wheel-perfect display over the course of the weekend.

Having lifted the Rookie Cup last season, Smith entered the new campaign as one to watch and he duly lived up to all expectations as he swept his way to a hat-trick of pole positions. The talented youngster then underlined his credentials by converting them into three flawless wins.

Behind Smith, Leon Holly twice finished in second place whilst there were also podiums for fellow sophomore racers Matthew Swatton, Martin Wright and Max Scharfeggar.

Over in the Adrian Flux Insurance MG Owners Club Championship, small margins proved to be the deciding factor in who walked away savouring the spoils of victory following two sublime races.

Jake McDermid opened his account for the season in a pulsating opener as he narrowly beat Robb Addison and Scott Bugner before Addison then turned the tables to prevail in race two after an almighty battle with McDermid.

Elsewhere, a potential star was born in the OT Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires as Nathan James Boyle announced himself in emphatic fashion. The youngster wasted no time in charging to pole in qualifying before claiming back-to-back wins ahead of Matthew Watson and Hazeem Zaki.

Completing the weekend’s on-track entertainment at Donington Park were two races from the Track Action Racing Club, where variety was the spice of life. Adam Croft and his Volkswagen Scirocco proved to be the class of the field as they bagged a brace of race wins.

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

You can also re-watch all the action from the BARC’s opening race meeting of the 2026 season by visiting the Club’s official YouTube channel HERE.

New for 2026! BARC: Beyond the Chequered Flag

There are so many fascinating stories up and down the British Automobile Racing Club paddock — so many that we just don’t get to hear about or celebrate. Personal milestones rather than race wins; personal ambition and enjoyment perhaps over a title campaign.

New for 2026 will be the Beyond the Chequered Flag series, which will follow five drivers from different BARC disciplines — from single-seaters and sports cars to saloon cars and hillclimbing.

Throughout the season, the BARC team will check in with our five drivers, sharing their pre-season news, build-up preparations and race-weekend journeys across our social media channels, website, BARC LIVE streams, newsletters and, of course, our magazine Apex.

Let’s introduce our drivers… Ladies first…

Daniella Sutton — British F4

Heading into single-seaters for the first time is 17-year-old Daniella Sutton, who will make the big jump from Fiestas into the Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA. Britain’s premier single-seater series will see a full-capacity grid in 2026, and Daniella will be driving one of the Chris Dittmann Racing machines.

The F4 rookie already has many accolades, including the Total Karting Zero UK North Championship title, the BRSCC Junior Scholarship Championship in 2024, as well as the British Women’s Racing Drivers Club Gold Star and BRDC Rising Star honours.

Despite living with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Daniella’s influence extends far beyond the racetrack. As a proud representative of the Juvenile Arthritis Research charity, she uses her platform to inspire others to overcome adversity, demonstrating that determination and resilience can help conquer even the toughest challenges when the season starts in April.

 


Credit: SnappyRacers.com

 

Sam Parker — Caterham

Sam Parker is a well-known face in the BARC paddocks, having been involved in the Caterham pathway for a number of years as well as on screen — presenting the live coverage for the past two seasons.

Sam started her lightweight sportscar journey, like many others, in the Caterham Academy class before stepping up into the Roadsport series in 2025. Her pace developed with each round, and at the season finale at Silverstone last October she took her first ever podium after an intense front-of-the-field scrap.

For 2026, Parker will take two steps forward as she prepares to harness the 310R version of the British machine — putting everything she has learned over the past two seasons into practice for the more powerful iteration in April.

 

 

Project 29:7 Racing — Britcar Endurance Championship

In the exciting Britcar Endurance Championship, BARC will be keeping tabs on one of the young, upcoming teams on the grid — Project 29:7 Racing. Led by Alex Miller and Paul O’Neill, the Northamptonshire-based outfit is set to field a two-driver line-up in its Ginetta G56 GTA. Balancing driver feedback, the stresses of first-time competition and running a race team will hopefully be offset by some season highlights and maybe even some class silverware. You never know!

The new team will field Carl Garnett and Alex Miller as their driver pairing in the eagerly anticipated multi-car Britcar series, which gets underway at Donington on 21 March.

 

 

Richard Andrews and Cathy James — British Hillclimb Championship

Perhaps the biggest championship in terms of driver registrations is the British Hillclimb Championship. The series travels the length and breadth of the British Isles and sees run-offs won or lost by just hundredths of a second. From standard road cars to single-seater hillclimb thoroughbreds, there is a class for almost everything.

This year we will be following Richard Andrews and partner Cathy James who will be using a Porsche Cayman GT4 RS to tackle most of the mainland hills. A record holder at BARC’s very own Harewood, Richard will be looking to lower his personal bests while also putting the spotlight on this point-to-point motorsport discipline.

 

 

Ralphie-Joe Branscombe – Junior Saloon Car Championship

Our final driver brings great excitement… embarking on his first steps into car racing – Ralphie-Joe Branscombe.
Announced moments before APEX went to print – former British Kart Champion in the Honda Cadet class – Ralphie-Joe Branscombe will be the final driver the BARC follow in 2026.

The Junior Saloon Car Championship Scholarship selection process took place at Pembrey at the end of February, with the day consisting of competitors taking part in everything from driving assessments and media interviews to pit-stop challenges and fitness tests; all while an esteemed judging panel whittled down the contenders. As the competition entered its final stages, Branscombe established himself as one of the leading lights and was subsequently declared the winner of a fully-funded season with Orex Competition in the competitive hatchback category for young drivers.

Follow their journey’s this season across our social media platforms, on barc.net and in APEX magazine. Good luck to everyone!

BARC in the Park opens the 2026 racing season

The British Automobile Racing Club racing season fires into life this weekend at Donington Park, with a packed two-day programme set to launch the 2026 season in style.

After a long off-season, anticipation is high across the paddock-and the opening meeting delivers a hugely varied line-up that blends modern endurance machinery with some of the UK’s most promising upcoming drivers, close clubman racing and historic tin-top racing.

At the top of the bill on Saturday is the Britcar Endurance Championship, kicking off its campaign with a 90-minute contest featuring an eclectic mix of GT and endurance machinery. Expect everything from brands such as Aston Martin, Ferrari, McLaren and Porsche as well as more production-based entries, all sharing the track in an exciting classic multi-class format.

Joining the Britcar action is a mix of tin-top, hatchback and coupe racing. The Classic Touring Car Racing Club (CTCRC) provides a plethora of classes to the weekend race programme.

With grids split across multiple eras – Pre-66, Pre-83, Pre-93, Pre-03, BOSS and Classic and Historic Thunder – fans can expect packed fields, close racing, and a nostalgic journey through touring car history.

Also in action on the Saturday is the Junior Saloon Car Championship – one to always watch at a season opener, with a grid full of teenage racers taking their first steps into circuit racing. Donington Park’s demanding layout provides a stern early test, and with many drivers arriving from karting, the racing is typically close, energetic, and occasionally unpredictable as they adapt to racing in the Citroen Saxo hot hatches.

Joining the BARC season opener on the Sunday is the MG Owners Club Championship. Offering up a mix of historic MGs from the fifties and sixties through to the new millennium – the tightly matched machinery ensures slipstream battles and photo-finish results are never far away.

These races often hinge on consistency and momentum, particularly around a flowing circuit like Donington, where maintaining speed through the Craner Curves and the Old Hairpin can make all the difference. It’s a category known for producing some of the closest racing of the weekend.

Variety continues with the Track Action Racing Club, which brings a real mixed flavour to the meeting on both days. Featuring a wide mix of cars and driver experience levels, it embodies club racing at its purest – competitive, accessible, and unpredictable. Speaking of accessible, another series growing in popularity is the one-make Coupe Cup which has quickly built a reputation for close, hard-fought racing.

With evenly prepared cars and a growing grid, the focus is firmly on driver ability, and that tends to produce tight qualifying sessions and races where small mistakes can cost multiple positions. It’s a category that continues to grow in stature and should provide plenty of action on the Sunday of the meeting.

With a huge variety of machinery and race formats on offer, the opening weekend promises to set the racing tone for the months ahead. Get to the circuit or get the live stream on! We cannot wait!

Ralphie-Joe Branscombe wins 2026 Junior Saloon Car Championship Scholarship

The Junior Saloon Car Championship has named Ralphie-Joe Branscombe as its 2026 Scholarship winner, with the teenager clinching a fully-funded season in the popular one-make series.

Taking place at Pembrey Circuit this past Saturday (February 21), Branscombe emerged victorious from an ultra-competitive competition that saw a number of young hopefuls all battle to win a career-starting prize worth more than £35,000.

The day consisted of competitors taking part in everything from driving assessments and media interviews to pit-stop challenges and fitness tests; all while an esteemed judging panel whittled down the contenders.

As the competition entered its final stages, Branscombe established himself as one of the leading lights and was subsequently declared the winner – seeing him follow in the footsteps of previous victors such as former champion Scott McIntyre, Will Crewdson, Chloe Grant and most recently, Martin Wright.

Branscombe heads into the one of the UK’s most coveted junior championships boasting an impressive resume too, having clinched a number of karting titles in recent years.

 

“I’m so grateful for this opportunity,” said Branscombe. “It’s still sinking in and feels unreal. I’ve been working hard towards this dream since a young age so I’m going to give it my all and make the absolute most of it.”

Dave Beecroft, JSCC Championship Director, added: “We’re excited to see Ralphie Branscombe’s journey in motorsport continue by winning the 2026 JSCC Scholarship. We’re sure that Ralphie and his family will have a positive effect in the JSCC paddock.”

Branscombe will begin his fledgling car racing career at Donington Park on March 21-22, the setting for the 2026 Junior Saloon Car Championship curtain-raiser.

Luke Browning named Atlassian Williams F1 Team Reserve Driver

Former British F4 Championship title winner and Junior Saloon Car Championship competitor Luke Browning has been announced as the official 2026 Formula 1 Reserve Driver for the Atlassian Williams F1 Team.

The 23-year-old will play a pivotal role in helping the team with its bid to return to the front of the grid as Formula 1 enters an all-new era of regulations.

In addition to being on weekend stand-by duties, Browning will also continue to help develop the car over the course of the year through data analysis and simulator work.

Browning’s fledgling car racing career began with the British Automobile Racing Club back in 2016, when he stepped up to the ultra-competitive Junior Saloon Car Championship. In his rookie campaign, the British racer claimed a maiden victory before then being voted the Henry Surtees Teen Racer of the Year for 2016.

Further success would follow for Browning in the Ginetta Junior Championship before he made the switch to single-seaters in 2019. A stellar maiden campaign in the British F4 Championship certified by FIA was quickly followed up by title success a year later as he came out on top of a tense showdown at Brands Hatch.

From that point on, the Kingsley-born ace hasn’t looked back since; winning the coveted BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award as well as competing in FIA Formula 2 and FIA Formula 3. He has also made a number of practice session appearances in Formula 1.

“I’m incredibly excited to be stepping up as Reserve Driver with Atlassian Williams F1 Team this year,” said Browning on his graduation to Reserve Driver having been a long-standing member of the Williams Academy.

“The Academy has been instrumental in my growth, supporting me through both Formula 3 and Formula 2 while giving me the chance to get up to speed with modern F1 machinery through testing and FP1 sessions. I look forward to working alongside Alex and Carlos to drive the team forward in this new era for Formula 1.

“I’m also happy to confirm that 2026 will be my rookie season in Super Formula. This will be a completely new challenge, and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in!

“As my next step up towards a full-time Formula 1 seat, this gives me another chance to show how I’ve developed on track and continue to build my skills in a new environment and culture.”

Fireworks fly at Brands Hatch as BARC crowns more champions

High drama, thrilling wheel-to-wheel action and the crowning of multiple champions was the narrative of the British Automobile Racing Club’s penultimate event of the season at Brands Hatch this past weekend (November 1/2).

Taking centre stage in front of a sellout crowd at the Kent venue, fireworks were advertised for the Sunday evening however plenty of sparks flew before as six categories closed out their 2025 campaigns on the Indy circuit.

The British Truck Racing Championship was the undoubted headline act of the weekend and the heavyweight behemoths delivered a spectacular finale that culminated in Ryan Smith and Jake Evans savouring title glory.

In Division 1, Smith entered the finale as the driver to beat and he duly lived up to all expectations as he kept his nose clean and did what was required to clinch a historic tenth consecutive title in the series’ premier class.

At the wheel of his Daimler Freightliner, the Mansfield racer finished second to David Jenkins and Nathan Smith in the opening two bouts before he wrapped things up in style with a race to spare by claiming a commanding victory.

Things proved to be far more dramatic over in Division 2. Jake Evans and Callum Eason went into the final meeting tied on points but as the weekend progressed, Eason outscored Evans in each of the first three races to go into the finale with an eight-point buffer.

On lap two, the pair clashed at Clearways which left Evans needing to be recovered from the gravel and Eason forced to enter the pit lane to fit a new rear bumper bar. Both would feature during the restart and take the chequered flag, however the drama didn’t end there.

Officials would later deem that Eason had not completed the required 80% race distance to be classified. That subsequently meant he scored no points and Evans was therefore declared the champion.

Elsewhere, the TCR UK Championship went down to the wire with Adam Shepherd finally clinching the coveted crown. After enduring a number of near misses in recent years, the Cupra Leon VZ TCR driver did enough to secure the bragging rights for 2025.

Shepherd entered the weekend with a commanding lead in the points and he put himself within touching distance of the crown in the weekend’s opening bout as he clinched a crushing lights-to-flag victory.

Needing to just pick up a handful of points in race two, Shepherd did just that as his main rival, Callum Newsham, delivered an incredible drive to go from ninth to first on the opening lap – and then ultimately onto victory.

Just a handful of points was the difference when it came to the destiny of the Junior Saloon Car Championship title. Oliver Kerr and Josh Selvadorai headed to Brands Hatch being separated by the smallest of margins, a theme that would continue right the way until the bitter end.

With double points on offer, Kerr struck first as he beat Selvadorai to victory in race one before then out-scoring him again in race two, this time finishing second to impressive teenage talent Wilf Butler.

Butler would double up and win the finale but it was the battle for second place that had people focused on. Kerr and Selvadorai ran line astern throughout the contest, with Kerr having just enough in hand to finish ahead of him and with it, snare title glory.

Over in the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, Alex Keens capped off an impressive campaign to be crowned champion. The Graves Motorsport driver had been the cream of the crop for much of the year and victory in race two at Brands Hatch sealed the deal with a race to spare.

The other two race wins went the way of Westbourne Motorsport’s Rhys Hurd. Arguably the driver to beat over the final two events, Hurd was dominant in races one and three to secure runner-up laurels to Keens.

In the Milltek Civic Cup, Liam McGill kept his cool to bring home the single-marque crown for the first time. McGill and Alistair Camp entered the weekend in contention but victory in the opening bout for McGill put him on the cusp of championship superstardom. Managing to outscore Camp in an action-packed finale, McGill was declared the champion.

Closing out the weekend’s entertainment were two races from the popular Track Action Racing Club, which were won by William Di Claudio in his Peugeot 106 GTI and former Classic Touring Car Racing Club title winner Gary Prebble in his Honda Civic.

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

You can also watch all of the action back via the British Automobile Racing Club YouTube channel HERE.