Will Crewdson wins 2024 Junior Saloon Car Championship Scholarship

Will Crewdson has been crowned this year’s winner of the Junior Saloon Car Championship Scholarship, winning a fully-funded season in the popular one-make series for 2024.

Taking place at Croft on Saturday 17th February, Crewdson emerged victorious from an ultra-competitive competition that saw a number of teenage hopefuls all battling to clinch a career-starting prize worth more than £30,000. 

Over the course of the day at the North Yorkshire venue, budding competitors took part in a pitstop challenge, fitness challenge, autotest challenge, media presentation and driving assessment; all while an esteemed judging panel whittled down the contenders.

As the competition entered into its final stages, Crewdson emerged as one of the leading lights and was subsequently declared the winner to follow in the footsteps of previous victors such as Will Fallon, Jack James, Chloe Grant, Harry Rice and Scott McIntyre.

“It’s great to able to give the trophy to a well-deserved winner in Will in what is set to be our tenth year,” said Dave Beecroft, Junior Saloon Car Championship Coordinator. “We’re looking forward to working with this young man in 2024; a super scholarship winner!”

The opening rounds of the 2024 Junior Saloon Car Championship are scheduled to take place across the Easter bank holiday weekend of March 31/April 1 at Brands Hatch.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Laura Payne appointed JSCC Race Meeting Coordinator

The Junior Saloon Car Championship has announced that Laura Payne will take on the role of Race Meeting Coordinator for the 2024 season and beyond.

Payne joins the popular one-make series for teenage drivers having previously been Coordinator for both the BRSCC Fiesta Junior Championship and Airtec Motorsport Fiesta ST240 Championship.

The forthcoming campaign is set to be a milestone one for the JSCC as it celebrates its 10th Anniversary; with a bumper grid already expected to embark on a nine-meeting schedule.

“I’m excited for a new challenge and grateful that the JSCC have put their trust in me,” commented Payne.

“There’s no denying that 2024 and beyond will be big years for the championship and I can’t wait to play my part in it all.”

Championship Manager, Beecroft, added: “Laura brings a wealth of experience to us and will no doubt bolster the existing team we already have in place.

“We’re very fortunate that Laura has chosen to be a part of our growing team.”

The 2024 Junior Saloon Car Championship season commences at Brands Hatch on March 31-April 1.

BARC concludes 2023 season with thrilling Brands Hatch title-decider

The British Automobile Racing Club closed out its 2023 season at Brands Hatch last weekend (November 4/5) with an extravaganza of title-deciding entertainment as a number of champions were crowned in front of a capacity trackside crowd.

Concluding what has been a year to remember for the Club’s championships, series, centres and venues; two days of blockbuster racing – in contrasting weather conditions – provided the backdrop to a fitting finale around the Indy layout of the Kent venue. 

Headlining the action was the British Truck Racing Championship, which saw Ryan Smith continue to re-write the history books as he claimed an unprecedented eighth consecutive Division 1 title.

Going into the weekend holding a commanding lead at the top of the standings, Smith mastered both the wet and dry conditions in his Daimler Freightliner to clinch a hat-trick of race wins and with it, the coveted crown for an eighth time.

Unfortunately, incidents on-track meant that the super-sized series only really contested three of its five scheduled bouts. The first race was declared without a result following two red flag stoppages while the finale lasted just a couple of corners before an accident caused barrier damage on the run up to Druids.

Huge credit must be given to all of the volunteer marshals, BARC officials and circuit staff for their tireless and swift efforts over the course of the weekend.

While Smith comfortably cruised to championship glory, there was unbelievably nothing to separate Paul Rivett and Adam Bint in the battle for overall Division 2 honours – with the pair ending the season tied on points. 

Across both days, the pendulum between the title protagonists swung back-and-forth, with each of them scoring wins. Come the final race, both drivers were locked on the same amount of points and due to the race not taking place, the champion was crowned on a count back of wins.

Having been somewhat of a winning juggernaut, especially in recent rounds, NAPA Racing UK’s Rivett was declared the new Division 2 champion ahead of Bint – who had pieced together an incredible campaign from start-to-finish. 

Things were somewhat more straight forward in the ultra-competitive Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE Trophy as former rallycross champion Tom Ovenden reigned supreme to wrap up the title.

Entering the weekend as one of six drivers that held a mathematical chance of lifting the one-make series crown, the EXCELR8 Motorsport driver shadowed his title rivals in the opening encounter before then securing the title with a fifth place finish in race two. 

As Ovenden rightly soaked up the spoils of championship glory, the final three race wins of the season fell the way of Alex Keens, Jack Byrne and Nathan Edwards; whilst Maximus Hall punched in an impressive showing by clinching hat-trick of second place finishes. 

Daire Flock turned his dreams of being crowned champion of the Junior Saloon Car Championship into a reality as he came out on top in the final two races of a thrilling 2023 campaign.

The Westbourne Motorsport driver entered the weekend with a healthy advantage in the standings however with double points on offer, he couldn’t afford to make any mistakes – especially as rookie ace Cameron Pratt-Thompson was waiting in the wings. 

Victory in race one put the sophomore racer on the cusp of glory before he wrapped things up with second place in race two, just behind eventual winner Oskar Dix. Pratt-Thompson would settle for the runners-up spot overall, although he did manage to clinch the Rookie Cup.

Third and sixth place finishes proved to be enough for Reece Jones to successfully retain his Pickup Truck Racing Championship title as he became a two-time champion in the popular one-make series. 

Arriving at Brands Hatch in the pound seat, Jones produced a flurry of measured performances to ensure he did enough to hold off Dale Gent and Paul Tompkins – who were his main rivals heading into the weekend. 

Gent would sign off the season with victory in the final race, although he could do nothing to stop former British Touring Car Championship race winner Matt Simpson from triumphing in the weekend’s earlier two contests.

Rounding out the list of newly crowned champions at Brands Hatch was Will Gibson, who – after coming oh-so close last year – was able to secure the Legends Cars National Championship for 2023.

As expected, the 5/8 scale pocket rockets delivered frenetic racing and while he didn’t win any of the heats, Gibson wracked up the points finishes to guarantee himself an unassailable lead in the standings. Jack Parker and Chris Needham would share the spoils in terms of race wins. 

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

Titles decided on spectacular BARC weekend at Donington Park

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BARC TV: What’s On This Weekend – October 14/15

More titles will be decided this weekend (October 14/15) as the British Automobile Racing Club takes centre stage at Donington Park.

On what promises to be a momentous two days of track action around the famous Grand Prix layout, championship battles are poised to conclude and it’s not to be missed.

The destiny of this year’s British Endurance Championship crown looks set to go down to the wire whilst a number of titles in the Classic Touring Car Racing Club are still up for grabs as well.

Also on the bill and closing out its season is the ROWE Britcar Trophy whilst the Junior Saloon Car Championship and MINI CHALLENGE Clubsport with Airtec Motorsport will also feature on the bill.

Below is all the information you’ll need to know to keep up-to-date with every lap that is being broadcast:

Saturday 14th October // 12:20 – WATCH HERE

Sunday 15th October // 09:30 – WATCH HERE

To find out more information about this weekend’s race meetings, CLICK HERE.

BARC championships entertain the masses at Silverstone

The British Automobile Racing Club took centre stage at the Home of British Motor Racing, Silverstone, this past weekend (September 16/17) for a full-throttle two days of track action that had everyone perched on the edge of their seats. 

Entering the business end of the 2023 season, every position and point proved to be crucial as eight championships wrote the latest chapter in their campaigns around the flowing 1.64-mile National layout. 

Topping the bill were three pulsating contests from the Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE Trophy; which has set up a tantalising title showdown with Tom Ovenden and Alex Solley now separated by just 30 points at the top of the standings. 

Neither Ovenden or Solley would claim outright wins over the course of the weekend; instead that honour fell the way of Nathan Edwards and Rhys Hurd. Hot on the heels of his maiden victory, Edwards produced a pair of superlative defence drive in races one and two to triumph.

Hurd then became the latest driver to add his name to the ever-growing MINI CHALLENGE Trophy winners list this year as he charged to glory in a frenetic finale ahead of Gabe Fairbrother and the ever-impressive Edwards. 

In the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Daire Flock and Cameron Pratt-Thompson continued their battle for the title by once again being the drivers to beat. Westbourne Motorsport’s Flock struck first with a charging drive from fifth to win race one before his title protagonist then took on a starring role.

Pratt-Thompson – who is in his Rookie season in the popular one-make series for teenage drivers – went on to hold off Flock in races two and three by the narrowest of margins to make significant in-roads towards the standings summit. 

Elsewhere, Stephen Berry and Charlie Newton-Darbey enjoyed a share of the spoils in what were three blockbuster MINI CHALLENGE Clubsport with Airtec Motorsport bouts. The Track Attack Race Club meanwhile concluded its campaign with a trio of races that were won by Charlotte Birch and Paul Roddison.

Bryan Bransom and James Card scored a victory apiece in the Kumho BMW Championship whilst Jonny Rockett reigned supreme in a highly-entertaining OT Publishing Coupe Cup 40-minute endurance race.

The Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship saw its fair share of drama too as reigning champion Steve McDermid saw his chances of retaining the crown dealt a blow as he was disqualified from race one. 

McDermid did bounce back in race two however he could do nothing to stop Scott Bugner and Maninder Golhar from claiming victory.

Rounding out the weekend’s action were a trio of captivating contests from the British Superkart Racing Club and its bumper 46-kart entry list – with Jack Tritton, Liam Morley and Brian Jones coming out on top. 

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

BARC TV: What’s On This Weekend – September 16/17

The British Automobile Racing Club is entering the home stretch of its 2023 season and this weekend sees two unmissable race meetings take place.

Below is all the information you’ll need to know to keep up-to-date with all the action that is being broadcast over the course of this weekend: 

SNETTERTON

Snetterton will play host to an action-packed two days of epic proportions as the British Truck Racing Championship writes the latest chapter of what is proving to be another captivating campaign.

Tin top thrills and spills will be served up in the shape of the Classic Touring Car Racing Club whilst the British Endurance Championship and ROWE Britcar Trophy Championship will also star.

Saturday 16th September – 12:30 // WATCH HERE

Sunday 17th September – 10:30 // WATCH HERE

SILVERSTONE 

At the Home of British Motor Racing, Silverstone, a number of championships are poised to take centre stage on the National circuit.

Featuring on the billing around the 1.64-mile layout includes the Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, Junior Saloon Car Championship, Track Attack Race Club, Kumho BMW Championship, OT Publishing Coupe Cup and Lancaster Insurance MGOC Championship.

Saturday 16th September – 14:00 // WATCH HERE

Sunday 17th September – 09:40 // WATCH HERE

To find out more information about this weekend’s race meeting, CLICK HERE.

Classic 2CV Racing Club concludes 2023 season in all weathers at Snetterton

The Classic 2CV Racing Club concluded its 2023 season in action-packed style this past weekend (August 25-27) with yet another memorable Citroen 2CV 24-Hour Race around the Snetterton 200 circuit. 

Renowned for being one of the most coveted events on the national motorsport calendar every year, this year’s edition of the day-long contest had everyone on the edge of their seats as the team of Slarky Malarky reigned supreme.

Pretty much every conceivable weather condition battered the circuit over the course of the race but that didn’t stop the squad of Neil Slark, Ian Slark, Alec Graham and Ryan Taylor from triumphing in superlative style.

At the wheel of their Mini Grande, the quartet qualified in fifth for the prestigious encounter but produced a masterful performance when the lights went out.

Leading the way on a handful of occasions in the early running, the team established a footing at the end of the tenth hour and from there they wouldn’t be unseated from top spot.

Completing a total of 734 laps, the Slarky Malarky foursome finished four laps clear of their nearest rivals – Misfits – to clinch a famous victory.

Leading the way in the 2CV ranks was the KT Racing trio of Kris Tovey, Peter Rundle and Louis Tyson; who served up a mesmerising drive to clinch third place overall.

Tovey arrived at Snetterton in the pound seat of the 2CV title battle and his teams commanding performance – which saw them finish 17 laps ahead of the next 2CV outfit – saw him claim the 2023 championship crown.

That wasn’t to be the only action from the Norfolk venue however as the Junior Saloon Car Championship wrote the latest chapter of its campaign with two blockbuster races that were won by Daire Flock and Cameron Pratt-Thompson.

Entering the business end of the season, the one-make category saw a little over half a second split Flock and Pratt-Thompson in both races as they battled for supremacy; picking up crucial points in the title fight along the way. 

Rounding out the captivating on-track thrills and spills on the 1.984-mile layout were a pair of races from the always entertaining Track Attack Race Club. 

Boasting an ultra-competitive grid, Paul Roddison – who is a previous winner of the coveted BARC President’s Cup – finally opened his account for the season in the series as he chalked up two commanding victories in his Volkswagen Scirocco.

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

Classic Touring Cars headline tin top festival at Croft

The British Automobile Racing Club packed in an abundance of wheel-to-wheel entertainment across two days at Croft this past weekend (August 12/13) as the Classic Touring Car Racing Club took centre stage in North Yorkshire. 

Two weeks on from the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship’s annual visit to the 2.10-mile circuit, tin tops from a variety of eras had those in attendance on the edge of their seats as they wrote the latest chapter of what has already been an action-packed season.

Headlining proceedings were two races from the amalgamated Laser Tools Super Tourers, Burty Haulage Pre ’03 Touring Cars and Laser Tools Pre ’93 Touring Cars; which showcased machines that are often revered fondly amongst BTCC folklore.

Stewart Whyte piloted his ex-Tom Kristensen 2000 Honda Accord to victory ahead of Jason Hughes in the weekend’s opening contest and the experienced racer then doubled his account on Sunday, heading Ian Bower in race two.

The Poultec Pre ’66 Touring Cars and Orange Aero Pre ’83 Touring Cars saw William Davison take a clean sweep of wins whilst Bower and Nick Vaughan triumphed in the Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder and Burton Power Blue Oval Saloon Series bouts.

Concluding the Classic Touring Car Racing Club action were two races from the Berkshire Jag Components Jaguar Challenge, which were won by Colin Philpott.

Elsewhere, the Junior Saloon Car Championship maintained the theme of high-speed thrills and spills with two blockbuster races that will undoubtedly play a critical role in deciding who is crowned champion come the end of the season. 

Arriving at Croft in the pound seat at the top of the standings, Daire Flock was wheel-perfect in race one as he converted pole position into a comfortable lights-to-flag victory ahead of Jack James and Jonathan Moore.

Race two for the 14 to 17-year-old one-make series saw a carbon copy result as Flock once again resisted the race-long advances of James to claim victory and crucially, take a massive step towards being crowned champion.

Concluding the weekend’s on-track entertainment were no less than six pulsating races from the Morphmy Caterham Graduates Championship. 

Ben Wheatley and Richard Groom enjoyed a share of the spoils in the trio of Sigma 135 contests whilst Will Stilwell blasted his way to an impressive hat-trick of race wins in the combined Sigma 150 and Sigmax bouts.

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

Croft set to step back in time for Classic Touring Car Festival

Croft Circuit will welcome some iconic racing cars from the past when it takes a step back in time to host the Classic Touring Car Festival featuring Super Tourers next weekend (12/13 August).

The North Yorkshire track will celebrate one of the most fondly remembered eras of saloon car racing when the two-day British Automobile Racing Club meeting arrives as the Super Touring Cars of the 1990s will roar into action with two races.

Spectators will be able to enjoy a blast from the past when cars including Honda Accords, Vauxhall Cavaliers and Renault Lagunas amongst other classic machines take to the tarmac at Croft. They will be joined on the starting grid by other pre-2003 models and will have their qualifying session on Saturday morning before racing at 4.30pm and again on Sunday at 3.45pm.

There is a full programme of Classic Touring Car Championships competing over the weekend with pre-66, pre-83, pre-93 classes also set to go head-to-head. The pre-66 category includes the likes of Austin Mini Coopers and Hillman Imps whilst the pre-83 class features Ford Escort Mk1s and MG Metros.

The pre-93 championship is open to four-seater saloon cars produced before 1st January 1993 such as the BMW E36 M3 and Vauxhall Astras and line-up on the grid alongside competitors from the Blue Oval Saloon Series exclusively for Fords on sale before 1st January 2013 including the Fiesta, Escort and Anglia.

The Caterham Graduates will also be in action as will the Junior Saloon Car Championship, featuring up and coming drivers aged between 14 and 17 behind the wheels of Citroen Saxos.

The Classic Thunder series will be battling for the honours which sees competitors participating in saloon, coupe, hatchback, and estate cars as well as the pre-83 Historic Thunder Saloon Cars, Notable machines will include the Ford Falcon, Mazda RX8, BMW E46 M3, Toyota Starlet and Aston Martin V8 Vantage.

Jaguar fans will be able to get their fix with the Jaguar Challenge going wheel to wheel in two races.Saloon and GT cars from the 1960s, such as the XK engine, to Millennium models such as the S Type and XK8 feature in the series across five classes.

There will also be touring car displays throughout the weekend, whilst on Saturday racing starts at 9.30am with qualifying followed by eight races starting at 13.50. Sunday’s action gets underway at 12.00 noon with a further ten races during the afternoon.

Adult admission prices are ÂŁ16 for both Saturday and Sunday. All accompanied children aged 15 and under are admitted free and parking and paddock access is free also. For further details and tickets, please visit www.croftcircuit.co.uk or call 01325 721815.

BARC laps up high-speed thrills at Thruxton Summer Festival

The British Automobile Racing Club served up a full-throttle two days of edge-of-the-seat entertainment on home turf this past weekend (July 29/30) as a number of championships shared the limelight at the Thruxton Summer Festival. 

Descending on the fastest circuit in the UK for the penultimate race meeting of the 2023 season at the Hampshire venue, those in attendance were treated to a feast of memorable wheel-to-wheel moments.

Headlining the action were no less than ten races from Caterham Motorsport. In the Adrian Flux Insurance Caterham Academy, Daniel Neale clinched an impressive victory in the White class whilst Barry Thompson edged out Nick Highton in the Green category.

Less than seven tenths of a second proved to be the difference between the top two across all Mission Motorsport Caterham 270R Championship contests; with the overall spoils ultimately being shared between Charlie Lower and Freddie Chiddicks.

That theme of close finishes continued in the Motul Caterham 310R Championship as Taylor O’Flanagan and Tom Wyllys triumphed whilst Craig Boyle and Lyonel Tollemache reigned supreme in the Vertex Caterham Roadsport Championship.

History was made in the Junior Saloon Car Championship as the popular one-make series for 14 to 17-year-old’s embarked on its first-ever visit to the high-speed Hampshire track – serving up three pulsating encounters in the process. 

Never short of entertainment, the JSCC contingent had those in attendance on the edge of their seats as Daire Flock and Cameron Pratt-Thompson powered their way to the top step of the podium across Saturday and Sunday. 

The Track Attack Race Club – which is organised and run by the same team that looks after the JSCC – welcome a bumper grid of tin top machinery for its first visit to Thruxton since 2017, with Jack Ruddell and David Shead notching a win apiece.

Nigel Mustil and Tommy Field shared the spoils in the Classic & Modern Motorsport Club bouts whilst the weekend’s action was concluded by two Classic Racing Car Club Formula 2000 Pinto Challenge races, which were won by Jordan Harrison. 

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Thruxton, CLICK HERE.Â