Tag: Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres

Bigger BTCC prize confirmed for milestone Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres season

The Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres will mark what will be a milestone season with an even bigger prize package for the 2019 campaign.

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year, the popular 5/8 scale series will continue its partnership with race-winning British Touring Car Championship outfit HMS Racing.

A ‘touring car experience’ will be awarded to at least 10 drivers come the end of the 2019 season, in-keeping with the revised qualifying format as of past seasons.

The top ten drivers in the overall points at the end of the penultimate event, staged at Pembrey, will be invited onto the specially arranged day. Should the lead rookie driver at that point of the season sit outside of the top ten, he/she will also be part of the prize.

Alongside high-speed passenger laps in the squad’s stunning Alfa Romeo with multiple BTCC race winner Rob Austin, the Legends Cars drivers will also get to see behind-the-scenes with HMS to understand the inner workings of a top touring car team, with hospitality also included.

Phil Cooper, Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres owner, said: “We’re delighted to begin our 25th anniversary year with this fantastic announcement here at the Autosport International Show.

“The partnership with HMS Racing is one we value immensely and to be able to offer 10, potentially 11, of our drivers the chance to experience a day with the team is tremendous.

“It will provide a wonderful opportunity for a much bigger number of Legends Cars competitors to see behind the scenes with HMS, and to also experience the full capability of the team’s incredible Alfa Romeo with Rob Austin at the wheel – he’s not bad in a touring car, so I hear…! Obviously, we’re incredibly grateful to Simon Belcher for his continued support.”

HMS Racing Team Principal Belcher added: “We’re very excited to be providing this touring car experience day to more drivers than ever before, particularly in Legends’ 25th anniversary year.

“Having the opportunity to sit alongside Rob [Austin] for some full-on hot laps, and then experiencing a full day with the team to see the inner workings of what we do, is a great opportunity and one hopefully everyone will enjoy.”

Legends vice-champion Steve Whitelegg left ‘speechless’ following BTCC prize test

Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres runner-up Steve Whitelegg was left speechless at Silverstone on Monday (November 12) after getting behind the wheel of Rob Austin’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship HMS Racing Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

Having a topped a special prize table which runs separately to the overall championship throughout the 2018 campaign, the Bury-based racer experienced a once in a lifetime opportunity and impressed those in attendance.

Tackling the Northamptonshire venues Grand Prix layout for the first time, Whitelegg also got his first taste of a front-wheel-drive race car by firstly experiencing a number of passenger laps with BTCC race-winner Austin before being unleashed behind the wheel himself.

“This test has been, in a word, awesome!” Whitelegg said. “In every sense of the word the whole experience was awesome, absolutely brilliant. I’m lost for words to be honest, everything was better than I could have even imagined. The braking of the car, the acceleration, the handling and balance, everything was superb.

“I had a spin on my first lap, at The Loop, but I got going again without any problems and then just continued to build and build every lap. Rob [Austin] had told me the left-rear tyre would be cold and, sure enough, it was! I just played myself into it steadily, built up the speed, and by the end I really felt I was on it. The Alfa was handling superbly, the HMS Racing guys have done an amazing job.

“The Becketts sequence is unbelievable in a top-line touring car, I’ve no idea how the F1 drivers go through there like they do. I’d never driven the GP track before, so the experience was incredible – I had visions of Mansell passing Piquet!

“I’m so grateful to Simon [Belcher – DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing team principal], Rob [Austin] and the entire team who were fantastic all day, plus Phil Cooper at Legends of course, for an amazing day I’ll always remember.”

HMS Racing’s Belcher added: “The day went really well and everyone had a great time. Obviously, Steve has been in Legends for a long time and he’s continued to up his game every year, he’s done a great job and really deserved this prize. There were a couple of runs at the start as a passenger, to get a feel for everything and take advice from Rob, and then he had his run.

“He doesn’t have any front-wheel drive experience at all, so to get behind the wheel of a podium-finishing BTCC car for the first time Steve had a lot to learn but got up to speed quickly and did a very good job. He did everything we could have asked, brought the car back in one piece and had a huge smile on his face!”

Also joining Whitelegg at Silverstone to experience a handful of passenger laps with Austin were fellow Legends competitors Sean Smith, Jack Parker and Nathan Anthony who finished second, fourth and fifth in the prize table respectively.

Newly crowned five-time champion John Mickel, who ended the year third in the BTCC prize test table, was unable to attend the event due to work commitments.

British Truck Racing headlines Brands Hatch blockbuster

Brands Hatch played host to a spectacular two days of British Automobile Racing Club action this past weekend (November 3/4) with yet more champions being crowned.

With a sensational firework display lighting up the sky to close out the weekend’s on-track entertainment, a bumper crowd descended on the Kent circuit to witness a feast of entertainment.

Topping the bill was the final round of the British Truck Racing Association Championship, which saw eight races run and two titles being decided.

In Division 1, Ryan Smith clinched his third title in succession as he pipped title rival David Jenkins in a pulsating opening race. Having been the benchmark driver all season, the MAN racer’s 21st victory of the season proved to be enough to see him join an elite list of champions.

Jamie Anderson, Stuart Oliver and John Newell scored a win apiece in the remaining Division 1 races to bring the curtain down on season that will live long in the memory.

Despite enduring his own share of bad luck towards the end of the season, two wins at Brands Hatch for Luke Garrett was enough for him to be crowned champion in Division 2.

Watching on as chief protagonist Brad Smith cantered to victory in the opening race, Garrett held his nerve to achieve a lifelong dream. Eric Forsstrom added his name to the long list of Division 2 winners by also triumphing.

John Mickel wrote his name into the history books of the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres by wrapping up his fourth consecutive title. Solid points across the trio of races on day one was enough for Mickel to be crowned champion for a fifth time in his career – adding to his ledger as one of the best Legends drivers in the world.

Whilst the championship battle between Mickel and Steve Whitelegg became the main focus for many, a hat-trick of wins fell the way of Miles Rudman. Marcus Pett scored his own brace of victories too with Martin Gibson rounding out the season on the top step of the podium as well.

In the Pickup Truck Racing Championship, Scott Bourne made it back-to-back titles as he successfully retained his crown, narrowly edging out season-long rival Lea Wood.

Entering the final event of the season with a slender points lead, a fifth, third and race win was more than enough to ensure Bourne lived up to the mantel of champion to defend his title. In the remaining two races

Lewis Saunders capped off his first season of racing in the Junior Saloon Car Championship in fine style as he clinched the inaugural Winter Cup title. Just a few weeks on from being crowned 2018 champion, the teenage sensation underlined his credentials as one to watch for the future around the Indy circuit.

Steven Chandler edged out Saunders and Ben Kasperczak in the opening encounter before the latter two produced a performance that will live long in the memory in race two. Going wheel-to-wheel race-long, Saunders grabbed victory at the final corner on the last lap to sign off a dream maiden year in the JSCC.

If you missed any of the action from day two of the BARC’s Truck Racing finale weekend, head to the BARC TV live stream and watch it back. Click here to view.

For the full classification of results from all sessions across the weekend, click here.

Fireworks set to fly at Brands Hatch spectacular

Fireworks are set to fly both on and off the track at Brands Hatch this weekend (November 3/4) as the British Automobile Racing Club descends on the Indy circuit for a blockbuster season finale for four categories.

Billed as one of the standout events on the 2018 calendar, the Kent venue will played host to a titanic two days of track action before lighting up the sky for fans with a spectacular firework display like no other.

Headlining the weekend’s action are eight races from the British Truck Racing Association Championship which has an entry list of 30+ machines. Returning to the scene of where their year began, the heavyweight behemoths have been in mesmerising form throughout the season, with titles in both Division 1 and Division 2 still to be decided.

Sitting on the cusp of a third consecutive crown in the top tier, Ryan Smith has at times been in a league of his own in Division 1 and could well be crowned champion in race one of the weekend. With David Jenkins being the only man to stop Smith, all eyes will be on the top two to see if Smith can write his name into the history books or whether Jenkins can produce a comeback for the ages.

Division 2 will also see a two-horse race for the title unfold with Luke Garrett and Brad Smith set to go head-to-head. Garrett has been the leading figure to emerge from the more production-based class this year with countless victories placing him at the summit of points.

Smith meanwhile has been somewhat under the radar, keeping his head down to tally the points week-by-week. With the pair set to be joined by a host of race-winning contenders, this weekend’s battle for the Division 2 is not to be missed at all.

The theme of two drivers battling it out for title supremacy continues in the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres, with John Mickel and Steve Whitelegg bidding to walk away as the victor.

Aiming to clinch his fourth successive Legends title, Mickel has been in superlative form – notching 13 wins along the way. Sitting in the box seat, Mickel heads into the finale as the favourite although with 1200 points on offer and Whitelegg a man on a mission, anything could happen.

In addition to the title battle, Legends will write a notable piece in their own history at Brands Hatch with the opening heat on Sunday being the championship’s 250th in its near 25-year lineage.

Scott Bourne and Lea Wood will bring the curtain down on their season-long battle by fighting it out for the Pickup Truck Racing Championship. Bidding to defend the title he won last year, Bourne has been at his brilliant best throughout the season but has come under constant threat from Wood.

With the two having sharing top spot as each round has passed, the culmination of a years racing will come down to the boil across three high-octane races around the 1.2 mile Indy layout.

Capping off the weekend will be a pair of races from the Junior Saloon Car Championship as it stages its inaugural Winter Cup. Just a few weeks ago the curtain fell on the 2018 season for the 14 to 17-year-old category with Lewis Saunders being crowned champion, and he makes up the 15-car entry list.

Running as a standalone one-off event, the highest points scorer over the two races will be declared the maiden victor in the JSCC Winter Cup.

BARC produces all-out action at Anglesey

A trio of British Automobile Racing Club championships travelled to North Wales this past weekend (May 26/27) for what turned out to be a memorable two days of frenetic action at Anglesey Circuit.

Renowned for its picturesque views and the unique challenge it provides driver and car, Anglesey proved to be a fitting backdrop to the latest chapter of several categories.

As the BARC North Western Centre’s flagship series, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship was back on track and boasting another capacity entry list, this time fielding grids of more than 20 cars.

Despite a variety of machines making up the grid, there was no change at the top of the timesheet as Paul Rose further asserted himself as the man to beat.

At the wheel of his Saker RAPX S1-400, Rose scored a sensational hat-trick whilst Steve Harris could only look on in awe, unable to stop the championship leader. David Harvey and Oliver Thomas were the other competitors to make their way to the rostrum, albeit they struggled to keep on terms with the unstoppable Rose.

There was no shortage of drama from the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres, with six races keeping fans on the edge of their seats.

Stephen Whitelegg and John Mickel shared the spoils in Saturday’s two races before multiple champion Mickel went on to win the final, further strengthening his position at the summit of the championship standings.

On Sunday, the day arguably belonged to Jordan O’Brien who hounded Miles Rudman in the opening race to finish second. From then on however, O’Brien couldn’t be stopped as he charged to victory in race two before replicating his performance in the final.

With the Scottish and Irish Legends also competing over the course of the weekend, the battle

Rounding off the BARC action was a pair of races from the Max5 Racing Championship. Having dominated every round that had been run so far, Paul Roddison took yet another race win in the opening 20-minute encounter before Jeremy Shipley stopped the latters run with a win of his own.

In addition to the BARC championships, there was also on-track action from the Scottish Mini Championship and Scottish Fiesta Championship.

BARC delivers blockbuster two days of racing at Donington Park

Five British Automobile Racing Club championships served up a feast of high-octane entertainment and drama at Donington Park this past weekend (July 21/22), as a bumper crowd soaked up the sun at Convoy in the Park.

Headlining the weekend were ten races from the British Truck Racing Association Championship, all of which left fans on the edge of their seats. Division 1 had a familiar feel to it as reigning champion Ryan Smith underlined his excellence with a trio of victories.

Storming to pole position in qualifying, Smith dominated proceedings in race one to take a lights-to-flag victory. He backed it up with a pair of wins from the back of the grid soon after before seeing his winning run come to an end.

Jamie Anderson and David Jenkins then came to the fore in races four and five as they notched a win apiece, rounding off an exhilarating weekend of Division 1 race.

In Division 2, Luke Garrett was in a league of his own as he powered his way to an unprecedented clean sweep. Setting the pace from the opening session on Saturday morning, the MAN driver was not to be denied as he scored five wins from five races, extending his championship lead in the process too.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship saw two frenetic encounters deliver plenty of heart stopping moments right up until the chequered flag. As they have done for a majority of the season, Scott Bourne and Lea Wood continued their duel by scoring a win apiece under the flightpath of East Midlands airport.

Race one saw reigning champion Bourne emerge as the victor following a tense battle. Duking it out from lights-to-flag, Bourne pipped Wood to the chequered flag by a mere 0.025 to win. The roles were reversed in race two as Wood led Bourne, this time by more than seven seconds. David O’Reagan and Michael Smith bagged a podium each as the top two squabbled.

Six races from the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres delivered some memorable moments too, as the title battle intensified. Miles Rudman, Ben Power and Sam Smith scored a win apiece on Saturday, each encounter bettering the one that went before it.

Sunday’s trio of races from the 5/8 scale machines saw Power come out swinging in heat one as he stormed to the front to win. Reigning champion John Mickel showcased he has lost none of his guile in race two as he stormed through the field to take another win.

The third and final race from the weekend proved to be an all-time classic from the Legends as Paul Simmons claimed his maiden victory in the series, with the top three being covered by just 0.081 seconds.

In the Britcar Endurance Championship, Jonny MacGregor piloted his MacG Racing Taranis to victory in the 50-minute sprint race before doing the same in the sprint section of the longer two-hour race too.

As MacGregor celebrated his Donington double, race two of the weekend continued and ended with the Team HARD duo of Simon Rudd and Sam Randon driving their Ginetta G55 GT4 to the top step of the podium.

Rounding out the action from Convoy in the Park was two races from the 2CV Parts,com Classic Racing Championship. Spoils were shared as Pete Sparrow and Simon Clarke took a win each, whilst there were podiums for Matthew Hollis, Nick Crispin, Tom Perry and Brian Heerey.

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

BARC championships battle Storm Callum on memorable Pembrey weekend

The British Automobile Racing Club faced rain, wind and bright sunshine at Pembrey this past weekend (October 13/14) as Storm Callum made its presence felt at the venue’s Autumn Truckfest meeting.

On what is one of the standout events for the Welsh venue, not even torrential rain and high speed winds on Saturday could stop a hearty crowd from flocking trackside to witness a flat-out two days of track action.

Circuit staff, officials and marshals met be credited b their determination and hard work at the start of the weekend as they battled the treacherous conditions to ensure racing could go ahead, albeit later than originally scheduled.

When the action did get underway the British Truck Racing Association Championship lived up to its billing by taking centre stage. With the battle for supremacy in Division 1 and Division 2 approaching an exciting climax, the penultimate event of the season served up a feast of entertainment.

Reigning champion Ryan Smith proved to be the benchmark driver in Division 1 once again as he scored a pair of victories however the MAN driver didn’t have things all his own way. Chief title rival David Jenkins scored a win of his own in the premier class whilst Simon Reid also added his name to the winners list in the final race of the weekend.

In Division 2, spoils were shared between three drivers as the title battle heated up. Series leader Luke Garrett kicked off the weekend with victory but that was to be as good as it got for the multiple race-winner as he endured a rough ride from then on.

John Powell notched his first win since the season-opener at Brands Hatch and swiftly followed it up with a second victory not long after. Former champion Adam Bint meanwhile rounded off the Division 2 victors as he produced a defensive masterclass to score his maiden win of 2018.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship is set to go down to the wire following an enthralling triple-header at Pembrey, with Lea Wood vaulting himself into title contention.

Bidding to chase down reigning champion Scott Bourne, former BTCC ace Wood did his championship charge no harm at all as he scored a pair of impressive victories around the 1.49 mile circuit.

Having triumphed twice, Wood capped off his weekend with a third place finish in race three as Dale Gent showcased what he has become known for in the Classic Touring Car Championship by clinching a narrow victory ahead of Bourne.

In the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres, four drivers scored victory across the weekend as the series delivered a wealth of twists and turns. On Saturday, Sy Harraway wrote his name into the history books with a maiden win before Jack Parker and John Mickel each topped the rostrum too.

Harraway and Mickel would score a win apiece on Sunday too before Steve Whitelegg brought the curtain down on proceedings by taking the chequered flag in race six.

Joining the three BARC championships at Pembrey was also the Welsh Racing Drivers Association and the MSA Superkarts Championship.

For the full classification of results from all sessions and races, click here.

Convoy in the Park at Donington Park awaits five BARC championships

The British Automobile Racing Club heads to Donington Park this weekend (July 21/22) for one of the biggest events of the summer, Convoy in the Park, with five championships set to hit the track.

In front of what is expected to be a bumper crowd, the on-track action is just a flavour of the two-day event which will also encompass Show Trucks, a funfair, trade village, open-air cinema and much more.

Headlining the action are a colossal ten races from the British Truck Racing Association Championship. Boasting the biggest grids of the season in both Divisions, the heavyweight machines are likely to steal the show as they go wheel-to-wheel, with high drama never far away.

Division 1 currently sees reigning champion Ryan Smith sitting at the summit of the standing after bagging four wins at Thruxton. Currently in irresistible form at the moment, the MAN driver is likely to be the man to beat however there are a host of contenders all in the mix and hot on his heels.

David Jenkins, Jamie Anderson, Simon Reid, Stuart Oliver and the returning Mat Summerfield are all in the hunt for Smith, amongst others, so it will be intriguing to see who emerges victorious over the course of the weekend.

Luke Garrett has emerged as the leading star in Division 2 having scored a total of ten victories thus far and could well add to his tally under the flightpath of East Midlands airport. Garrett will have to be on top form however as he faces off against 15 other competitors – a season best for the category.

Leading the chase will be Brad Smith, Steve and John Powell, John Bowler and many more, all of whom are capable to shaking up the order at the sharp end of the championship standings.

The Dunlop Endurance Championship will take on a starring role on the Saturday of the event with a 50-minute and then two-hour race set to be staged. Bringing together an eclectic mix of jaw-dropping machinery and high-profile drivers, the series is enjoying a period of rude health and that is set to only get better after a recent five-year extension with Dunlop was announced.

Notable entries to look out for include Edward Moore and Marmaduke Hall in the Ginetta G50, David Mason and Ross Wylie in the Ferrari 458 GT3 and Chris Murphy in the Aston Martin Vantage GT4, along with a host of others.

It has been a thrilling season in the Pickup Truck Racing Championship and things are set to only intensify as the series rolls into Donington Park. After enjoying a strong start, Lea Wood’s pursuit of a maiden title has come under threat recently with the resurgent defending champion Scott Bourne coming to the fore.

Scoring a double at Thruxton, Bourne has closed the gap to Wood in recent rounds and their duel for the top spot is set to continue, providing an intriguing watch, whilst countless others also try to impose themselves on the sharp end of the field.

Whilst the British Truck Racing Association Championships machines are set to be the biggest at Donington Park, the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres can claim the title of being the smallest.

Never short of providing high-octane thrills, the 5/8 scale machines have dazzled crowds wherever they have visited this year, and it is reigning champion John Mickel who leads the way. Holding a commanding 700 point lead, Mickel will be keen to pick up where he left off before the annual summer break.

Miles Rudman, Steve Whitelegg and Jack Parker are currently Mickel’s closest challengers and the trio will be looking to close the gap to the experienced racer across the weekend’s six races.

Capping off the weekend’s BARC action will be a pair of races from the 2CV parts.com Classic Racing Championship. Running two separate encounters, with drivers sharing cars, this iconic series is set to take spectators down memory lane, with Lien Davies as defending champion.

BARC descends on Pembrey for Autumn Truckfest

The British Automobile Racing Club heads to Pembrey Circuit this weekend (October 13/14) primed for two days of blockbuster track action, headlined by the British Truck Racing Association Championship.

In what is being billed as the ‘Autumn Truckfest’, a bumper crowd is expected to flock trackside to witness all manner of edge-of-the-seat thrills from a variety of categories.

Making their second visit of the year to South Wales, the British Truck Racing Association Championship will look to steal the show as they get set to stage eight races over the course of the weekend.

Sitting at the summit of Division 1 and on course to secure his third title in succession, Ryan Smith will likely be the man to beat at the wheel of his MAN. Having enjoyed plenty of success throughout the year, the reigning champion could well wrap up the title if things fall his way at the sharp end of the grid.

David Jenkins and Jamie Anderson will stand the best chance of haulting Smith’s charge albeit the likes of Stuart Oliver, Richard Collett and Simon Reid will also be in the mix no doubt too.

It is a similar story in Division 2 as well as Luke Garrett bids to put himself out of touch of his rivals at the summit of the standings. Having built up a comfortable lead with a string of victories, the MAN driver will need to replicate his pulsating form to remain control of the championship battle.

Leading the chase for Garrett are a host of experienced racers including Brad Smith, John Powell, Steve Powell and John Bowler, all of whom have showcased their credentials at some stage during the year.

The action is set to be similarly exciting in the Pickup Truck Racing Championship, with the battle for supremacy at the top of the standings firmly on. Reigning champion Scott Bourne finds himself leading the way after a resurgent run of form but he isn’t likely to have things his own way.

Season-long rivals David O’Regan and Lea Wood are hot on the heels of Bourne and the weekend’s three races will be pivotal in deciding the outcome of who walks away as champion.

The Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres will make its first visit to Pembrey since 2016 with a bumper grid and six sensational races lined up.

As it stands, John Mickel and Steve Whitelegg look destined to take the battler the title all the way to the wire and neither of them can afford a slip up around the challenging curves of Pembrey.

Eyes must also be focused on Jack Parker, Miles Rudman, Sean Smith and Paul Simmons, all race winners that on their day can take the fight to the top two.

In addition to the BARC action, Pembrey will also play host to the MSA British Superkarts and Welsh Racing Drivers Association throughout the weekend too.

Anglesey awaits trio of BARC championships

The British Automobile Racing Club heads to the picturesque setting of Anglesey Circuit this weekend (May 26/27) with three championships geared up to compete.

On what is the first of several visits that will be made to the North Wales-based venue by the Club during the 2018 campaign, the action is set to be frenetic – with a bumper XX race programme in place.

Set to top the billing is the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres, which hits the track for the the fourth time this year. Last in action at Croft, the much-loved 5/8 scale category heads to Anglesey having already delivered an abundance of thrills.

Defending champion John Mickel leads the way going into the weekend virtue of a near-perfect performance last time out. Holding a sizeable advantage ay the summit of points, Mickel is currently in the box seat – however as has been proved in years gone by, nothing is for certain in Legends racing.

Leading the chase of the multiple champion is Steve Whitelegg, who has two wins to his name already this year. Also in the mix and not to be discounted is Miles Rudman, Jack Parker and last year’s runner-up Ben Power, who rounds out the top five.

As has been the case in previous years, both the Scottish and Irish Legends will be competing over the weekend too; meaning there will be no less 13 races across the three categories.

One of the highlights of the weekend is set to be the standalone ‘Nations Cup’ on the Sunday afternoon where competitors from all three championships will battle it out for the coveted trophy.

Also in action will the BARC’s North Western Centre’s flagship category, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship. Having boasted bumper entry lists at all rounds thus far, another enthralling weekend of racing is set to unfold with a diverse variety of cars set to compete.

Of those to look out for, the Saker of Paul Rose will be a credible contender for victories whilst Jamie Cryer, Andrew Southcott, Dave Harvey and Luke Armiger lead a long list of challengers that will also all be keen to power themselves to the top of the rostrum.

Rounding off the BARC portion of the action will be a pair of 20-minute encounters from the Max5 Racing Championship. Open to those drivers wishing to compete in the well-known Mazda models, the series has enjoyed a stellar start to the new season, with events at Pembrey and Snetterton.

At the helm of proceedings has been Paul Roddison, who has won four out of four thus far. Whilst Roddison will be focused on adding to his impressive win tally, the likes of Matthew Tidmarsh, Jeremy Shipley, Andrew Pretorious and Lee Hollin will be keen to notch their first wins of the year respectively.

Also in action over the weekend is the Celtic Speed Scottish Mini Cooper Cup.

BARC delivers memorable two days at Croft

The British Automobile Racing Club enjoyed a memorable two days at Croft this past weekend (April 28/29) as a trio of championships continued their campaigns.

Searing temperatures coupled with rain showers only added to the spectacle as the fans were treated to an abundance of bumper-to-bumper thrills.

Making their first visit to the North Yorkshire venue since 2007, the Pickup Truck Racing Championship returned to Croft for the second chapter of what has already been an enthralling 2018 campaign to-date.

Reigning champion Scott Bourne opened his silverware account in race one as he stormed to victory, narrowly pipping David O’Reagan and Mark Willis, with just under three seconds covering the rostrum finishers.

O’Reagan climbed to the top step in race two however as he emerged as the victor following a frenetic race-long battle with Lea Wood, crossing the line 0.051 ahead of the double Brands Hatch winner.

Wood wasn’t to be denied in the final race of the weekend though, cementing himself as the man to beat at this stage in the championship by scoring his third win of the season. Having failed to finish earlier in the day, Bourne bagged second place behind the former BTCC star whilst O’Reagan scored a hat-trick of podiums.

In the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres, John Mickel underlined his status as a multiple and defending champion with a scintillating showing.

Boasting another bumper grid of the 5/8 scale machines, Mickel started the weekend hot on the heels of Steve Whitelegg who took the win in the first of six races. From there on however the event belonged to Mickel as he produced a string of mesmerising performances to win the next five races.

Other notable performances included Miles Rudman, Jack Parker, Paul Simmons and Sean Smith.

There were no less than eight races from the Classic Touring Car Championship, with many classes amalgamating. The Pre 66 Classic Saloon & Historic Touring Cars saw Philip House pilot his Ford Lotus Cortina to a brace of wins as Alan Greenhalgh and Roger Stanford rounded off the remaining podium positions, each taking a second and third place finish each.

Stephen Primett and Jim Mcloughlin shared the spoils in Pre 83 Group 1 Touring Cars whilst Dale Gent and his Subaru Impreza proved to be too much for the competition in both Classic & Historic Thunder Saloons & Blue Oval Saloon Series both races.

Outright wins also went the way of Ian Bower and Steven Barden in the combined Pre 93 Touring Cars, Pre 2003 Touring Cars & Pre 05 Production Saloon Cars races around the 2.1 mile layout.

Rounding out the action over the course of the weekend was two races from the DDMC Northern Saloon & Sports Car Championship, which boasted an entry list of more than 30 cars. Jeff Wilson piloted his Lotus Elise to both victories.

For the full classification of results from all championships, click here.

Trio of BARC championships descend on Croft

The British Automobile Racing Club makes its first visit of the season to Croft Circuit this weekend (April 21/22) with a trio of championships set to entertain fans trackside.

Scorching weather is set to match the on-track action, which is made up of a diverse variety of categories and machines.

Making their first visit to North Yorkshire since 2007, the Pickup Truck Racing Championship returns to Croft for the second chapter of their season.

Former British Touring Car Championship racer Lea Wood leads the pack into weekend after scoring a dominant pair of victories at Brands Hatch at the start of the month. Defending champion Scott Bourne however is hot on his heels and will be keen to strike back

Add into the mix a host of wily veterans and fresh faces that make up this year’s grid and it is set to be a frenetic weekend of racing from the iconic line-up of trucks.

Iconic is a word that can be strongly linked to the Classic Touring Car Racing Club, with multiple classes and a raft of diverse cars set to take to the track during both days too.

Grids for Pre-93, Pre-96, Pre-03 and Pre-05 as well as the Pre-83, Thunder and BOSS make up the grid for this championship, ensuring that there is something for everyone no matter the age.

A total of eight races will be run over the course of both days with notable names such as Stephen Primett in his Ford Escort Mk1, Richard Askham in his Jaguar XJR and Dale Gent in his Subaru Impreza, to name just a few, to keep an eye on.

Rounding out the BARC flavour is the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres. In what is their third event of the 2018 campaign, the action from the 5/8 scale has once again produced edge-of-the-seat thrills up to now, and that theme is set to continue this weekend.

Five races and a grid in excess of 30 cars will do battle around the Darlington-based venue. Two wins at Brands Hatch, paired with his consistency so far, sees Miles Rudman lead the series however he has a host of contenders hot on his heels.

Multiple and reigning champion John Mickel, Ben Power, Steve Whitelegg and Jack Parker are just a few drivers that will be in contention for outright honours.

Darlington and District Motor Club’s capacity-entry Northern Sports and Saloon Car Championship will also feature at their local track with a majority of the grid made up of local drivers to Croft in a host of different cars, ranging from historic sports cars to modern-day Touring Cars.

Scotsman Andrew Morrison leads the series after Oulton Park in his Seat Leon TCR just ahead of former champion Mike Cutt from York in his rapid BMW M3.

Practice gets underway at 9.30 on Saturday with ten races starting at 12.10. Sunday’s action commences at 12.00 with another nine races to round off a bumper weekend of action.

Adult admission is just £11.00 on both days in advance or £15.00 on the day with accompanied children aged 15 and under admitted FREE on both days. A weekend ticket costs £15 in advance or £25 on the gate. There is also FREE car parking and FREE paddock access.