Junior Saloon Car Championship – Page 6

2020 Season Review: Junior Saloon Car Championship

History was made in the Junior Saloon Car Championship in 2020 as Lewis Saunders cemented his legacy as one of the series’ most successful competitors by becoming the first-ever double champion.

Lifting the coveted crown in 2018 before narrowly missing out on retaining it the following year, the 16-year-old entered his third season as the hot favourite for the title and he duly lived up to the hype by producing a virtuoso performance from start-to-finish.

Providing the first steps on the motorsport ladder for 14 to 17-year-old’s and bridging the gap between karting and cars, the one-make category has become the perfect platform for teenagers to forge a career behind the wheel at an affordable price.

With a blend of experienced and rookie drivers making up the bumper entry list for this year’s revised seven-round schedule, the usual edge-of-the-seat entertainment that has become customary in the championship took centre stage once more – with Saunders emerging as the benchmark.

Retaining the support from British Touring Car Championship outfit Ciceley Motorsport, the cornerstone of Saunders’ title charge began as soon as the lights went out in July as he embarked on an impressive winning streak that would stretch across ten races.

Double wins at Cadwell Park, Croft, Brands Hatch, Knockhill and Mallory Park built up a commanding lead at the summit of the standings, however he didn’t always have things his own way.

Alex Solley, Charlie Hand, Ruben Hage, Benjamin Greenhill and Scholarship victor Deagen Fairclough were just some of the regular challengers towards the sharp end of the field, all of whom constantly remained within striking distance of Saunders as each round passed.

Solley would come to the fore towards the end of the season as he scored a brace of wins at both Silverstone and Oulton Park, however by then it had proved too late in the day to overhaul points leader Saunders.

Finishing hot on the heels of the youngster in the remaining four races of the campaign, Saunders bagged valuable points to put one hand on the championship trophy heading into the series finale at Brands Hatch.

Unfortunately, due to a second national lockdown being implemented in the days leading up to the final two rounds of the year, the annual visit to Kent was cancelled and that subsequently meant Saunders was crowned as champion for the second time in his career, rewriting the history books at the same time.

Statement: Cancellation of this weekend’s British Truck meeting at Brands Hatch

This weekend’s concluding round of the BTRA British Truck Racing Championship has been cancelled. Although DCMS and Motorsport UK had designated the event as an Elite fixture, detailed discussions have been required with Kent County Council this week following the new lockdown decision.

Given the short timescales now available to competitors, officials and suppliers to make the necessary preparations at this late stage, BARC and MSV have decided to cancel the event in the best interests of the Club and its competitors.

All parties would like to make clear that this decision has no impact on next weekend’s BTCC championship finale at Brands Hatch.

Green light given to November 7/8 BARC race meeting at Brands Hatch

The British Automobile Racing Club is delighted to confirm that the green light has been given for this weekend’s (November 7/8) British Truck Championship race meeting at Brands Hatch to take place as originally planned.

Having consulted with the Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for guidance, governing body Motorsport UK has confirmed that elite motorsport events will be able to continue over the coming weeks, which includes both this weekend’s British Truck Championship and next week’s British Touring Car Championship finale.

Brands Hatch will therefore host the final rounds of the BTRA British Truck Racing Championship on Saturday and Sunday, with three former champions – Ryan Smith, David Jenkins and Stuart Oliver – all in contention for the coveted 2020 Division 1 title.

BARC produces plenty of thrills during Halloween race day at Oulton Park

The British Automobile Racing Club made it a Halloween to remember at Oulton Park this past Saturday (October 31) as it served up a thrilling day of racing.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, four championships descended on the Cheshire venue to battle challenging weather conditions as they capped off their 2020 campaigns.

In the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Alex Solley prevented Lewis Saunders from wrapping up the title after he produced a virtuoso performance by taking two wins. Saunders will now have to wait until this coming weekend (November 7/8) at Brands Hatch before getting a chance to make history.

Coming off the back of a sensational double-winning drive at Silverstone, Solley took centre stage and subsequently had an answer for every question that was asked of him across both races to close the gap in the standings and set up an intriguing title showdown.

The CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship – the flagship series of the Club’s North West Centre – didn’t disappoint either as a mighty 36-car grid went wheel-to-wheel across two pulsating contests.

Former champion Paul Rose underlined his credentials in the multi-class series in the opening encounter as he powered his Saker RAPX S1-500 to victory by less than a second over Paul Woolfitt.

Woolfitt and his trusty Lotus Exige would then come to the fore in race two as he stretched his legs on the opposition to build up a 15-second margin at the chequered flag, as well as lapping all the way up to fifth place.

Mark Dicken was the driver to beat in the Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup, dominating the categories only race at the picturesque track to beat Alex Cursley by more than ten seconds.

Rounding out the Saturday action were three breathtaking contests from the British Superkarts Championship. Liam Morley, Lee Harpham and Tom Rushforth reigned supreme over the course of the day to share the spoils.

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

Oulton Park set for BARC tricks and treats this Halloween

Oulton Park is set for an abundance of tricks and treats this coming Saturday (October 31) as the British Automobile Racing Club aims to make it a Halloween to remember.

Organised and run by the Club’s North West Centre, the one-day meeting will see three of the Club’s championships take centre stage at the Cheshire venue for what will be a pivotal event on the 2020 schedule.

Titles will be decided in the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, the North West Centre’s flagship category, as they stage two contests around the challenging XX-mile Island layout.

Having raced at Cadwell Park, Donington Park and Oulton Park, the multi-class series which is home to an eclectic mixture of machinery of all shapes and sizes will put on one final show for those in attendance.

Leading the way in the overall standings is Jamie Cryer, who holds a 17-point advantage over the chasing duo of Guy Carter and Garry Wardle, both of whom are tied on points.

The Junior Saloon Car Championship has proven to be a smash-hit this year and Lewis Saunders finds himself in the box seat to become the first two-time champion in the series.

Entering the season as the hot favourite, the 2018 title winner underlined his superiority by winning the first ten races on the bounce, putting him within touching distance of the crown.

Bidding to ensure Saunders doesn’t wrap up the crown are a host of drivers, one of which is Alex Solley who ended Saunders’ winning streak last time out at Silverstone. Throw into the mix the likes of Charlie Hand, Benjamin Greenhill and Molly Dodd and you can see why the day’s two races will prove most intriguing.

Further tin top thrills and spills will come in the shape of the Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup. The budget conscious, single-make series has boasted bumper grids this year and has seen some of the closest wheel-to-wheel action around.

Notable names to look out for include Wayne Rockett, Alex Cursley, Mark Dicken, Kevin Smiles and James Goodwin.

Alongside the cars, the British Superkarts Championship will be in action clocking frenetic speeds mere inches from the tarmac.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event, such as the timetable and entry list, click here.

Junior Saloon Car Championship announces 2021 Scholarship details

The Junior Saloon Car Championship will once again look to find the next teenage sensation behind the wheel and provide the opportunity of a lifetime as it stages its Scholarship programme for the 2021 season – with the search scheduled to take place at Croft Circuit on Saturday 20th February,

Drivers competing for the prize will take to the circuit, face the media, have a fitness test and also take part in an auto test. A judging panel made up of the championships organisers and partners will then whittle down the competition to select a winner.

The winner will receive a fully-funded season for the 2021 Junior Saloon Car Championship along with team support, a season-long supply of Dunlop tyres and full days pre-season testing. The prize will be awarded at the close of the competition.

The Scholarship will be limited to 30 entrants, aged between 14-17 years old, and entrants do not need to have an ARDS license or any previous race experience. Entrants must ensure they are available for the competition date.

Entrants aged 14 and under may be considered if they are 14 at the start of the 2020 season, or if they wish to practice for a future scholarship entry.

Previous winners of the prize include Emily Glanvill, Harry Rice and most recently Deagan Fairclough; who has gone on to record a string of podium finishes this past season.

More information and registration for the 2020 Junior Saloon Car Championship Scholarship can be found at https://www.juniorsaloons.co.uk/scholarship.

Silverstone plays host to blockbuster BARC bonanza

The British Automobile Racing Club took centre stage at Silverstone this past weekend (October 10/11) to produce a spellbinding two days of action which saw champions crowned and battles lines drawn.

Thrills and spills have been a staple of the Classic Touring Car Racing Club this year and the annual visit to the Home of British Motor Racing proved to be no different as it signed off for the year with a string of spellbinding encounters.

Simon Jeffs was in a league of his own in the combined Pre’66 and Pre ’83 races whilst Andrew Wilson showcased similar levels of dominance in the amalgamated Pre ’93, Pre ’03, Thunder and BOSS contests.

Signing off for another year, the CTCRC also celebrated its champions, with more information on them published at https://classictouringcars.com/.

The Caterhams Graduates Championship brought the curtain down on another vintage year of competition with Harry Senior missing out on completing a hat-trick of wins by a mere 0.080 of a second.

Bagging top spot in qualifying, Senior cantered to wins in races one and two before looking to complete a clean sweep in race three. Jamie Ellwood however would ultimately prevent Senior in the end as he got the nod on the line by the smallest of margins.

Alex Solley enjoyed a near perfect weekend in the Junior Saloon Car Championship as he finally halted the juggernaut form of Lewis Saunders. Bidding to become the first two-time champion in the series, Saunders had won every race up until Silverstone but Solley ended that streak in style.

Storming to pole position, the teenager edged out Saunders in both races to bolster his own hopes of lifting the coveted crown at the end of the season.

The Dunlop Endurance Championship served up a handful of pulsating contests too, boasting bumper grids and eye-catching wheel-to-wheel battles. VR Motorsport’s Danny Harrison and Jim Hepworth reigned supreme in the opening Endurance Class encounter before RAW Motorsport’s Ben Dimmack and Steve Burgess did the same in race two.

Britcar’s Trophy Class enjoyed its biggest grid of the season and it didn’t disappoint either as Amspeed’s Adam Howard and Chris Boardman powered their BMW M3 E36 to the top step of the podium in both races.

Amalgamating together to boast a bumper grid, the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club and Max5 Racing Championship served up an abundance of entertainment over the course of the weekend, with two races on Sunday proving to be a highlight.

David Mellor and Fergus Campbell each took a win apiece in the MG category whilst Paul Roddison reigned supreme amongst the Max5 contingent, triumphing in both contests.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action was action from the BRSCC Formula Ford Championship and the Tiedman Trophy.

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

Champions to be crowned as BARC speeds into Silverstone

Champions will be crowned at Silverstone this weekend (October 10/11) as the British Automobile Racing Club takes centre stage for what should be a blockbuster two days of track action around the famous National layout.

In what has been an unprecedented year which has seen a scaled down and condensed 2020 season, several championships will bring the curtain down on their campaigns at the Home of British Motor Racing – and it is not to be missed.

The Caterham Graduates Championship kicked off their season with a taster day at Silverstone in February and it feels only right that things have come full circle for the one-make series as it caps off another stellar year of on-track entertainment.

Bumper entry lists have produced enthralling wheel-to-wheel battles throughout the field this year and that theme is set to continue as champions are decided in Classic, Sigmax, 135 and 150 classes.

Titles will also be decided in the Classic Touring Car Championship as the battle for supremacy comes to a head between the main protagonists across each category.

Action from the Classic Race Engines Pre ’66 Touring Cars, Shell Oil Pre 83′ Touring Car Championship, Laser Tools Pre-93 Touring Cars Championship, Simply Serviced Pre-2003 Touring Cars Championship, Toyo Tyres Pre-2005 Production Touring Car Championship, Burton Power Products Blue Oval Saloon Series and the Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder Saloons Championship will undoubtedly set pulses racing.

Silverstone could see Lewis Saunders take a step closer to title glory in the Junior Saloon Car Championship as well. Looking to become the first double champion in the series, Saunders has been perfection personified this year – winning every race so far.

Leading the chase for Ciceley Motorsport-backed teenager is Charlie Hand, Alex Solley, Benjamin Greenhill and Molly Dodd, to name but a few.

Edge of the seat entertainment will be provided by the Dunlop Endurance Championship across both days as its Endurance and Trophy categories take centre stage with a pair of races eacg. Marking the penultimate round of the season, every point is set to be crucial in deciding the destiny of each title come the end of the year.

Notable names to look out for during the course of both days include Paul Bailey in his Ferrari 488, VR Motorsport’s Jack Fabby and Garry Townsend, Barry McMahon and the Peugeot RCZ duo of Rob Smith and Charlie Campbell – amongst many more.

Sunday will also see the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship and Max5 Racing Championship join forces and amalgamate their grids for two all-action contests around the challenging 1.64-mile circuit.

Joining the BARC over the course of the weekend will also be the BRSCC Formula Ford Championship and the Tiedman Trophy.

To view more information on this weekend’s race meeting at Silverstone, including where to follow live timing and to view the event timetable, click here.

BARC publishes COVID-19 guidelines for Competitors and Officials

With the restart to racing in the UK now well underway the British Automobile Racing Club has updated its guidelines on how events will be run for both Competitors and Officials.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to adjust some of our practices and procedures in order to satisfy the requirements laid down by the government and most importantly to provide the safest environment possible for everyone involved.

In line with the guidance provided by Motorsport UK, the BARC will operate their race meetings as follows:-

BARC Competitors Guidance (v3 21 July) – CLICK HERE

BARC Officials Guidance (v2 22 July) – CLICK HERE

These guidelines have been put in place with the well-being of staff, competitors, officials and all potential visitors to our venues and events remaining at the forefront of our considerations at all times.

As it stands, all race meetings and events remain provisional and subject to change in accordance with the latest directives from the UK government.

To view the remaining post-lockdown 2021 events schedule, head to https://www.barc.net/events/.

Mallory Park set to stage BARC bank holiday blockbuster

The British Automobile Racing Club heads to Mallory Park this coming Bank Holiday Monday (August 31) with an action-packed day of on-track entertainment lined up courtesy of three championships.

In what is the first of two visits to the Leicestershire venue by the Club this year, a busy month of racing will draw to a close with no less than nine races scheduled to take place over the course of the day.

Home to the next generation of rising stars, the Junior Saloon Car Championship has enjoyed a sensational start to the 2020 season with former champion Lewis Saunders setting his stall out as the driver to beat.

Scoring countless victories already, Saunders’ quest to become the first driver to be crowned a two-time champion is moving in the right direction. However, with the likes of Charlie Hand, Molly Dodd, Ruben Hage and Jake Weston – amongst others – all in front-running contention, Monday’s two races are far from guaranteed to fall the way of Saunders.

The Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship roared into life at Brands Hatch at the start of the month and it didn’t disappoint. Running under a multi-class format, the single-marque category has proven to be a smash-hit down the years.

Notable names to keep an eye across the day’s trio of encounters include Fergus Campbell, a double race-winner at the Brands Hatch season-opener, as well as David Mellor, Steve McDermid and Steve Darbey.

Fresh off the back of two enthralling races at Donington Park last weekend, the Max5 Racing Championship continues to flourish with bumper grids primed to take centre stage.

Like the MGOC, the Max5 contingent runs under a multi-class system and it has already seen several star names come to the fore including the returning Jon Halliewell, Paul Roddison, Andrew Pretorius and Ian Loversidge.

Capping off the day’s action at Mallory Park will see new ground broken with the launch of an innovative set of Open Sports/Saloon Car races. Open competitors who drive open/closed roof Sports & Saloon cars, regardless of what championship or racing club they compete in, providing they meet current Motorsport UK safety regulations, the new initiative is proving to be popular.

The format guarantees that everyone will be racing against those doing similar lap times, irrespective of the car they are driving, leading to much closer competition. Classes will be changed post-qualifying and post-race if competitors run two or more laps faster in a qualifying session or race than their nominated class allowance stipulates.

To find out more information on this Monday’s bank holiday race meeting, including links to live timing and the event timetable, click here.

BARC championship serve up Brands Hatch thrills and spills

Brands Hatch played host to a memorable two days of British Automobile Racing Club track action this past weekend (August 1/2) as six championships took centre stage in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

Whilst some categories continuing their 2020 campaigns and others starting them, the Indy configuration of the Kent venue proved to be smash-hit for competitors and spectators alike.

The Classic Touring Car Championship was one that was continuing its condensed season having starred at Cadwell Park last month. With bumper grids of tin top machines from a bygone era, there was something for everyone across the multiple races that took place around the 1.2-mile layout.

James Card and James Janicki took a win apiece in the amalgamated Thunder Saloons and Blue Oval Saloons whilst Alan Greenhalgh was unstoppable across both Pre 66’ Touring Car races in his Ford Falcon.

In the Pre 83’ category, Mike Luck enjoyed a trouble-free two races to cater to victory with Rod Birley doing the same in the two Pre 93’ & Pre 03’ spectacles.

The Dunlop Endurance Championship served up a feast of entertainment as it staged races in both its Endurance and Trophy classes. VR Motorsport duo of Danny Harrison and Jem Hepworth were the victors in the Endurance category whilst Trophy Class spoils were split between Charlie Campbell and Barry McMahon.

Lewis Saunders continued his relentless march towards a second Junior Saloon Car Championship title, sweeping to another brace of race wins to take his tally for the season to six.

Saunders didn’t have things his own way however as the Ciceley Motorsport-backed former champion fended off the race-long advances of Charlie Hand in both encounters, whilst Alex Solley clinched a pair of third place finishes.

James Card was another driver to leave the Kent venue with plenty of silverware, claiming both wins in the opening round of the Kumho BMW Championship. At the wheel of his E46 M3, Card dominated proceedings to kick-start the new season in fine style.

The Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship was another category to see one driver take centre stage as Fergus Campbell lifted the curtain on the new season with a double-winning performance.

Piloting his MG ZR, Campbell led a bumper entry list throughout Sunday’s two races as David Mellor, Steve McDermid and Steve Darbey filled the remaining podium positions.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action at Brands Hatch were two races from the UK Sports Prototype Cup. Having debuted in 2019, the multi-marque series boasted a bumper entry list for the start of its sophomore season and it put on quite the show.

Alex Kapadia narrowly edged out Scott Mansell in the opener before Mansell struck back in race two, getting the better of Bradley Ellis to take home a share of the spoils.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Brands Hatch, click here.

Brands Hatch beckons for BARC championships

The British Automobile Racing Club makes the first of two scheduled visits to Brands Hatch this weekend (August 1/2) for what should be a spectacular two days of on-track entertainment, with no less than six championships in action.

Following on from successful events at Cadwell Park and Croft last month, this weekend will be a notable one for the Club as it will be the first for spectators to watch in person since motorsport resumed in the UK following the COVID-19 lockdown.

With a total of 20 races set to take place around the iconic Indy layout of the Kent venue across both days, thrills and spills will be all-but guaranteed across each category.

In the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Lewis Saunders has proven to be the benchmark driver thus far having scored an impressive three wins from four races. Bidding to become the first two-time champion in the series, Saunders has been in fine form but hasn’t had things all his own way.

Charlie Hand has been the other race winner and alongside the likes of Molly Dodd, Ruben Hage and Jake Weston, things are far from a forgone conclusion – especially with two more encounters taking centre stage this weekend.

Variety has always proven to be the spice of life in the Classic Touring Car Championship and that was on full show last month as a bumper entry list of tin top titans lifted the curtain on the new season.

Featuring cars built in 1966 through to the early noughties, the CTCRC has something for everyone. Expect the likes of Guy Smith, Stephen Primett, Alexander Owen and Andy Robinson to be some of the names dicing towards the front for outright honours.

The Dunlop Endurance Championship starred at Croft several weeks ago and it is set to do so once again in Kent as a feast of GT machinery will do battle across a pair of 50-minute races.

At Croft, the RAW Motorsport duo of Steve Burgess and Ben Dimmack, as well as VR Motorsport’s Danny Harrison, shared the spoils and while both will be keen to replicate that feat once again this weekend, the competition is likely to make it a tough fight to do so.

Whilst several championships will be back in action this weekend, Brands Hatch will also represent the opening event of what is now a condensed 2020 season for some.

One category which will be making its first appearance of the campaign will be the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship. Home to some of the most famous cars to ever be built, the cost-effective category has been much-loved for a number of years.

Notable drivers to cast a watchful eye over at Brands Hatch include series stalwarts Jim Baynam, Stuart Plotnek, Steve McDermid and Will Sharpe – to name but a few.

Fans of all things BMW will be well-catered for over the course of the weekend as the Kumho BMW Championship roars into life for another year.

Home to all manner of models that have been produced by the Bavarian manufacturer, rear-wheel-drive rules the roost and is a sight to behold across all classes.

Rounding out the weekend will be action from the UK Sports Prototype Cup, which is embarking on its sophomore season in 2020. Looking to build on the foundations that it laid down last year, the multi-marque series boasts an ultra-competitive grid so expect fireworks to fly.

To view all of the important information ahead of this weekend’s event at Brands Hatch, such as links to the entry list and timetable, click here.