Tag: Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup

Father’s Day fun at Croft as Britain’s biggest motorsport series races north

Father’s Day this year is set to be extra-special in the north-east of the country, as the UK’s premier motorsport series – the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) – speeds into Croft Circuit for a weekend of high-octane entertainment (June 15/16).

What better way to treat dad than with tickets – still discounted until Monday morning  (June 10) – to see 30 of the finest drivers in Britain duelling doorhandle-to-doorhandle around a track that has always proven popular amongst competitors and fans alike?

If the action so far this season is any indicator, spectators are in for a superb weekend’s racing at the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Croft, presented by Tarmac. The circuit – situated just down the road from Darlington in North Yorkshire – invariably delivers thrills ‘n’ spills by the bucketload, and with five different winners and 15 podium-finishers from the opening nine races, unpredictability is very much the name of the game.

Just five points separate the leading four drivers in the standings at this stage, with the top two – defending champion Colin Turkington and Honda rival Rory Butcher – tied at the top of the table.

The former has earned the sobriquet ‘King of Croft’ for his spectacular success in North Yorkshire – racing to 12 wins at the track since 2005 – while for the latter, it is almost a second ‘home circuit’ hailing as he does from Kirkcaldy just north of the border. Both are eager to maintain their early-season momentum next weekend.

“I’m always excited about going to Croft,” enthused Turkington, who is chasing a fourth BTCC drivers crown in 2019. “It’s my favourite circuit on the calendar with a lot of happy memories, and I think we’re in good shape. The track has been resurfaced for this year and we’re bringing the new BMW 3 Series there for the first time so there will obviously be some learning to do, but we know what’s made us fast at Croft in the past so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be strong again.

“The first complex is the place to watch from – that’s where the action is. Actually, Turn One is probably my favourite corner because it’s much faster than you think it should be, so you’ve really got to commit through there. There’s always a lively enthusiastic crowd at Croft, and I definitely feed off that.”

“Croft is just ace – heading up through the Jim Clark Esses into Sunny In and Out is an absolute buzz and a thrill,” echoed Butcherm who broke his BTCC duck in the Brands Hatch curtain-raiser back in April. “It’s also a bit closer to home for me than most track, so we should get some Scottish fans crossing the border to support me.

“We’ve got a new surface there that’s just been re-laid, and whilst the Honda struggled last year on the old track, that should hopefully allow us to be a bit further up the field. All the teams are effectively going to be making a fresh start, so it’s going to be interesting. It’s all to play for…”

It’s not just the headlining BTCC that will thrills the crowds at Croft, with a fast-and-furious feast of support series adding to the appeal. The Formula 1 superstars of the future will go wheel-to-wheel in the F4 British Championship, with the next-generation touring car heroes earning their spurs in the Renault UK Clio Cup. Croft shares its race date with the 87th edition of the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours, and you may just spot a future winner of the race in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, Ginetta Junior Championship and Ginetta GT4 Supercup.

Tickets to the BTCC’s only north-eastern event of the year can be purchased in advance priced at just ÂŁ12 for Saturday entry (BTCC Qualifying), ÂŁ24 for Sunday (BTCC Race Day) or ÂŁ35 for the full weekend. Accompanied children aged ÂŁ12 and under are admitted free of charge, with tickets for 13-to-15-year-olds beginning at ÂŁ3. Further details can be found at: http://croftcircuit.co.uk/racing/btcc

More information on all of Croft’s driving experiences and racing events can be found at http://croftcircuit.co.uk/

TOCA support championships take on starring role at Donington Park

Donington Park delivered a breathtaking two days of TOCA support race action this past weekend (April 27/28) as title battles continued to intensify across all five championships.

All aiming to take on a starring role alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at the Leicestershire venue, action

Jack Young asserted himself as the man to beat in the Renault UK Clio Cup as he enjoyed a near-perfect weekend to rocket to the summit of the standings. Scorching his way to pole position on Saturday, the MRM Racing wrote his name into the history books the following day by becoming the youngest driver to win a race in the series.

Brett Lidsey and Ben Colburn proved to be Young’s closest challengers over the course of the race but neither could stop the Northern Irishman. Brands Hatch race winner Max Coates meanwhile battled back from a pit lane start before retiring with a mechanical issue.

Young underlined his supremacy once again later in the day as he scored a second successive win to the tune of nine seconds ahead of Lidsey and the charging Coates.

Spoils were shared in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB as Daniel Harper and the returning Josh Webster claimed a win apiece. Having secured a last-minute deal to join the grid with Team Parker Racing, former champion Webster was on the pace from the get-go and marked his return with a podium in race one.

Harper however was the one to beat in the opener as he produced a mesmerising performance to fend off George Gamble and score his second victory of the year already. Webster would show

James Hedley made his mark on the Michelin Ginetta Junior championship as notched an impressive brace of wins and a second place finish in an exciting trio of races. Hedley produced a battling display in race one to catch pole sitter Roman Bilinski but was unable to make a move.

Having settled for second, post-race checks led to Bilinski being disqualified and thus promoting the teenager to the top step of the podium. James Taylor then came to the fore in the second race of the weekend as he scored his second win of the year before Hedley added to his tally with an impressive drive to cap off the event with more silverware.

Elsewhere the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup proved to be ultra-competitive once more with three drivers topping the podium over the course of the event. Harry King continued his impressive start to the year with victory in race one before Will Burns and Tom Hibbert each enjoyed success.

Capping off the TOCA support action was a trio of races from the F4 British Championship with Louis Foster and Bart Horsten triumphing.

Both the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship and F4 B will be joined by the Ginetta GT5 Challenge and Mini Se7en Championship at Thruxton for the third event of the 2019 season on May 18/19.

The remaining three championships will return to action on June 15/16 in North Yorkshire at Croft.

For the full classification of results, click here.

All-out action expected from TOCA support championships at Donington Park

Coming off the back of a pulsating opening event of the season for all five championships, the TOCA support package continues this weekend (April 27/28) under the flightpath of East Midlands airport at Donington Park – and it’s all to play for.

In the Renault UK Clio Cup, Max Coates and Jack Young look set to renew their battle after emerging as the stars of Brands Hatch. Winning both races at the Kent circuit, Coates got the better of his closest challenger and the pair will be expected to be inseparable once more across the weekend’s pair of races.

Beyond the top two however sits some serious opposition with the quartet of Brett Lidsey, Ethan Hammerton, Jade Edwards and Ben Colburn all aiming to take the fight to Coates and Young and halt their momentum.

The Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup produced three different race winners at the Brands Hatch opener and if the racing so far is anything to go by, this weekend’s triple-header is set to produce some captivating action.

Harry King, Reece Somerfield and Will Burns shared the spoils first time out and the trio will be ones to watch as they bid to build on their strong starts. Behind, former BTCC ace Mike Epps enjoyed an encouraging Supercup debut and he will be keen to build on his strong start.

Tom Hibbertt, Fin Green, Carl Shield and Carlito Miracco are all sure to be in the battle at the front of the field as well.

There were two new winners in the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship at the start of the month and the depth of this years talent in the series suggests that more could spring up in Leicestershire.

James Taylor and Tom Emson emerged as the victors from a thrilling opening weekend and the pair find themselves as the one’s to beat arriving at Donington Park. Whilst they each have a victory in their pockets already, adding to their tally is set to be a difficult with a raft of teenage sensations all eager to make their mark.

The likes of James Hedley, Ethan Brooks, Zak O’Sullivan, Lorcan Hanafin, Theo Edgerton and Casper Stevenson are just a handful of stars revved up for racing to resume, especially as this weekend will see three races take place.

In the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, Daniel Harper will look to extend his advantage at the summit of the championship standings over the weekend’s two races. Making a flying start to the season with a first and third, the Northern Irishman sees him head the way by two points early on.

Lewis Plato leads the chase for the JTR man whilst fellow Brands Hatch race winner George Gamble isn’t far behind either. Two 23-lap duels around the undulating Donington layout will provide further clarity on who will be in the mix for the title this year across all classes.

Capping off the TOCA support action as always will be three races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost.

To find out more information on this weekend’s second TOCA event of the 2019 season, click here.

TOCA support championships star at Brands Hatch

Brands Hatch played host to a memorable two days of racing on the TOCA support package this past weekend (April 6/7), with a raft of show-stealing performances across all championships.

Taking centre stage alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, five categories produced  spell-binding edge-of-the-seat entertainment amid the challenging conditions.

Showcasing the next generation of motorsport talent aged between 14 and 17, the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship was back and better than ever with a pair of pulsating encounters wowing those in attendance.

Richardson Racing’s James Taylor edged a thrilling season-opener as he pipped debutant Zak O’Sullivan to the chequered flag by little over half a second, whilst 2018 Winter Series champion James Hedley rounded out the podium.

Race two saw Tom Emson emerge victorious from a nail-biting race which ultimately saw the top three covered by a mere 0.133. Narrowly missing out on the win was Hedley and Lorcan Hanafin, who had led a majority of the race.

The final season of the Renault UK Clio Cup began with Max Coates reigning supreme, enjoying a near-perfect weekend as he bagged a pair of pole positions and race wins. After topping the times in qualifying, the Team HARD driver converted his front row start into a lead that he would never lose as he led Jack Young and Brett Lidsey.

Young would be the winner on the road in the second race of the weekend but was later penalised after falling foul of rules regarding braking under the safety car. Despite having dominated proceedings, Young was issued a one-second time penalty, handing the win to Young whilst Lidsey once again bagged a podium.

In the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup triple-header; Reece Somerfield, Harry King and the returning Will Burns took a win each to set up a tantalising year of on-track action.

Spoils were also shared in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB as two of the pre-season favourites, Dan Harper and George Gamble, set their stalls out as credible title contenders with a win each – Harper the one that finished the weekend on top of the standings.

Capping off the weekend’s racing was a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost, with the spoils being shared between Sebastian Alvarez, Luke Browning and Louis Foster who each took a win apiece.

From the full classification of results, click here.

All five TOCA support championships now head to Donington Park for the next event of the season, taking place on April 26/27.

Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup gearing up to make their mark

The Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup will crown new champions in both the Pro and Am classes this year, and the journey to doing just is set to begin this weekend (April 6/7) at Brands Hatch.

Captivating at almost every turn in 2018, Ginetta’s flagship championship has become a proving ground for some of the UK’s top motorsport talent, and the class of 2019 are primed and ready to make their mark.

With Charlie Ladell not returning to defend his title, Rob Boston Racing have turned to 2016 runner-up Will Burns to spearhead their line-up alongside former Britcar Endurance front-runner Simon Rudd.

There is a Britcar connection over at Team HARD too as Tom Barley steps into the GT4 category after partnering Rudd last year. Barley will be joined in the Team HARD stable by former BTCC and Renault UK Clio Cup competitor Mike Epps, who is making his debut in Ginetta machinery.

Harry King and Elite Motorsport proved to be a tour-de-force last year and King could yet be a threat once more along with rookie Fin Green, three-time winner Tom Hibbert and Carl Shield.

Having triumphed in the Am category with Michael Crees last year, Century Motorsport are bidding to make it back-to-back titles starting this weekend and boast a strong driver line-up.

Jack Oliphant, brother of former champion and now BTCC racer Tom Oliphant, has stepped up whilst 2017 British Rallycross title winner Nathan Heathcote has elected to swap dirt for tarmac and tackle circuit racing.

Dan Kirby, Lee Frost, Lucky Khera, James Kell, Paul Taylor, Darron Lewis and Carl Garnett round out the impressive list of Am competitors for this weekend’s opening event, and all can’t be discounted from prevailing come Sunday evening.

This weekend will see a total of two 24-lap duels take place. For more information on the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup’s opening event of the 2019 season, including links to timetable and live timing, click here.

Michelin named as title sponsor of Ginetta Junior Championship

Ginetta have announced that leading global tyre manufacturer Michelin will become the title sponsor for the 2019 Ginetta Junior Championship as part of a new five-year extension to what is an already long-standing partnership.

In what has been an association that has lasted over a decade already, Michelin will remain the sole tyre supplier for all five of Ginetta’s domestic single marque championships.

The Ginetta Junior Championship, Ginetta GT4 Supercup, Ginneta G40 Cup, Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge and the Ginetta Racing Drivers Club will all run Michelin compounds through to 2023.

Tim Hoare, Motorsport Manager at Ginetta, said: “We are proud to extend our long-standing sponsorship partnership with Ginetta and strengthen our association with the complete ladder of racing that Ginetta and Michelin can provide for drivers.

“We feel that our two brands work together very well, allowing drivers of all ages and abilities to experience the thrill of motorsport, while providing an excellent springboard for them to progress through the various classes and beyond, if they so wish.

“This partnership also helps us bring to life the Total Performance characteristics of both our motorsport and road tyres, which are developed along similar lines to make driving a sustainable and more pleasurable experience for all.”

Offering the first step on the motorsport ladder for drivers aged 14 to 17. the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship has forged a path for itself as one of the leading lights within the TOCA support package.

Boasting big grids of Ginetta G40 machines, the series is renowned for producing close-fought racing and down the years has served as a launchpad for drivers to enjoy successful careers around the world.

Ashley Gallagher, Ginetta Motorsport Manager, added: “Michelin are undoubtedly one of the leading tyre manufacturers in the world, and their ethos of providing safe and reliable products to their customers is synonymous with that of Ginetta.

“We are delighted to further our partnership with a company as respected as Michelin into a second decade. This is a testament to the continued success of our domestic championships and together we’re looking forward to a fantastic year of competition in 2019.” In addition to Michelin, Ginetta have also confirmed a technical partnership with Millers Oils, have become title sponsors of the GT4 Supercup and Ginetta Junior Scholarship.

Ginetta reveals 2019 championship calendars

Ginetta has revealed a bumper events calendar for 2019 with all five of its categories once again returning to the track to crown the latest set of champions.

Consisting of 92 individual races and participating at nine different venues around the UK and mainland Europe, the forthcoming 2019 campaign is set to be the biggest yet for the manufacturer.

Both the Ginetta Junior Championship and Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup will fly the flag for the Yorkshire brand as they take their place on the TOCA support package.

Supporting the British Touring Car Championship, both categories flourished in 2018 with Adam Smalley and Charlie Ladell savouring title glory and the two championships will crown new victors next year.

Juniors will feature at all ten BTCC events whilst the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup will miss two events, the first of two visits to Thruxton in May and then later in the season at Snetterton as the second half of the campaign roars into life.

The Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge will also make fleeting visits on the TOCA support package too, filling in the gaps of the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup. The remaining rounds of the GT5 Challenge will be played out on the British GT support package

Alongside the GT5 Challenge on the SRO package is the road-based Ginetta G40 Cup, which in recent years has continued to flourish.

Capping off what is shaping up to be a blockbuster year of track action for Ginetta will see a grid of complete novices begin their journey towards becoming fully-fledged racing drivers, taking the plunge as part of the Ginetta Racing Drivers Club (GRDC).

Ashley Gallagher, Ginetta Championship Manager, said: “2018 was a brilliant year for Ginetta Championships, with over 130 drivers racing with us across the five grids, and with the announcement of another exciting calendar of events coupled with the current high level of interest already for next season, there is no doubt that 2019 will see an even busier season across all the grids!”

To view the full 2019 championship calendar for each Ginetta category, click here.

Snetterton serves up blockbuster weekend of TOCA support championship action

All five TOCA support package championships returned to action at Snetterton this past weekend (July 28/29) and there were edge-of-the-seat thrills all the way.

Resuming battle following the annual mid-season break, the Norfolk venue provided a fitting backdrop to two full-throttle days of high-octane entertainment.

The Ginetta Junior Championship produced a host of thrills and spills, with Luke Browning and Adam Smalley sharing the spoils. Races one and two belonged to Richardson Racing’s Browning as he took back-to-back victories, both on Saturday as the Norfolk venue basked in the sunshine.

Championship leader Smalley, who had to look on as Browning cleaned up, ensured he claimed the final bragging rights of the event with a win of his own in race three. The Elite Motorsport driver was made to work for his sixth victory of the season though as he was hounded to the chequered flag by Browning, the pair seemingly in a league of their own.

Harry King and Charlie Ladell emerged as the stars of the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup with King bagging a pair of race wins too. The Elite Motorsport hotshot proved to be the man to beat early on in the weekend and he solidified that fact with two perfect drives in races one and two.

Ladell meanwhile added yet another victory to his 2018 record as he maintained his lead in the championship heading into the business end of the season.

There was an emotional first win in the Renault UK Clio Cup for Daniel Rowbottom during the weekend too. In treacherous conditions, Rowbottom scythed his way from ninth into second on the opening tour, and then was involved in an almighty scrap for the lead with James Dorlin. After several laps of going back and forth, Dorlin out-braked himself at Wilson, giving the Cattaclean driver a lead he ultimately never went on to lose.

Race two from the Clio Cup saw championship leader Max Coates bounce back from his race one woes to notch another win. Losing the lead at the start, the Team Pyro driver battled back to pass Dorlin and then pull away from his rivals, taking victory ahead of the aforementioned Dorlin and Lee Pattison.

Spoils were shared in the two Porsche Carrera Cup GB races with Dino Zamparelli and Tom Wrigley each toping the podium. In wet conditions, Zamparelli controlled proceedings in race one as he grabbed an early lead and was ultimately never headed.

The second race of the day saw the circuit substantially drier, giving Wrigley the opportunity to showcase his talents and stake his claim to the title with a measured performance, taking the chequered flag by a mere eight tenths of a second ahead of Lewis Plato.

Finally, the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost produced three exhilarating races to kickstart the second half of their season. With another bumper grid of single seater machines primed for battle, Snetterton provided the perfect backdrop for rounds 16, 17 & 18.

Dennis Hauger came out on top in a dramatic opening encounter, leading home an Arden 1-2 with Sebastian Priaulx hot on his heels. Race two saw a new driver come to the fore as Paavo Tonteri scored his maiden F4 victory, taking the lead at the start and then never being challenged from there.

The final race of the weekend from the F4 contingent saw Jack Doohan make it three different winners from three races, pipping fellow race winners Hauger and Tonteri.

For the full classification of results from all of the weekend’s session from each championship, click here.

The action continues for the TOCA support package on August 11/12 as the Renault UK Clio Cup, Ginetta Junior Championship, Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup and F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost head to Rockingham.

TOCA support championships produce all-out action at Rockingham

There was action all the way on the TOCA support package this past weekend (August 11/12) as four championships continued their campaigns at Rockingham.

The Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup delivered three different winners as the title battle took another twist around the partial oval circuit. Tom Roche was the man to beat in race one as he converted pole position into a flawless win.

Championship leader Charlie Ladell won on the road in race two but he wouldn’t step on the top step of the podium, that would fall to Carl Boardley. Ladell was hit with a ten-second time penalty after being adjudged to have started out of position, dropping him to fourth overall.

Harry King signed off the weekend for the Supercup paddock by sweeping to a comfortable victory in race three ahead of Ladell and Angus Fender.

There were plenty of twists and turns in the Ginetta Junior Championship at Rockingham as it too staged a trio of races over the course of the weekend. Saturday belonged to rookie Louis Foster, who vaulted himself firmly into title contention with a brace of wins.

Foster’s first win came after a breathtaking move down the inside of Patrick Kibble at the Tarzan hairpin on lap six. From there, the pair diced all the way to the chequered flag with Foster pipping Kibble whilst Adam Smalley finished third. Foster’s second win of the weekend came after he emerged from a titanic tussle in the lead to win, Luke Browning and James Taylor rounding out the rostrum.

Treacherous conditions greeted the Junior contingent for their final race of the weekend and Foster almost made it a hat-trick of wins. Running Browning close throughout the ten-lap encounter, he could do nothing to stop the Richardson Racing driver scoring his latest win, whilst Smalley scored another podium in third.

In the Renault UK Clio Cup, spoils were shared between Daniel Rowbottom and Jack McCarthy. Off the back of his maiden victory in the series at Snetterton, Rowbottom was at it again as he stormed to a commanding win in race one. Taking the lead on lap three, the Cataclean-backed racer was unstoppable as he headed Paul Rivett and McCarthy. Elsewhere points leader Max Coates found himself out of luck and out of the race, forced into retirement following contact.

McCarthy became the latest winner in the series in a wet race two as he controlled proceeding’s to take a memorable first triumph. Getting the better of Bradley Burns early on, the Pyro Motorsport driver edged out the chasing duo of Mike Epps and Coates, both of whom capped off the podium.

The F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost served up plenty of entertainment across its three races, with a host of drivers coming to the fore. In a lively opening encounter, Patrik Pasma delivered a scintillating performance to score his maiden victory in the single seater series, leading an Arden Motorsport 1-2-3 ahead of Red Bull Junior duo Jack Doohan and Dennis Hauger.

Johnathan Hoggard was back in the winners circle for race two as he narrowly pipped Kiern Jewiss in a thrilling 14-lap race, with Doohan third. Pasma added a second victory to his CV in the final race of the weekend, producing another superlative drive to top the podium.

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

Next stop for the TOCA support package will be north of the border at Knockhill, where the Ginetta Junior Championship, Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge, Porsche Carrera Cup and the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost will all do battle on August 25/26.

All for to play for in TOCA support championships at Rockingham

The battle for supremacy across the TOCA support championships will continues this weekend (August 11/12) with Rockingham playing host to the latest stop on the 2018 calendar.

In what has been another memorable season across the board thus far, four categories will continue their campaigns on the popular partial-oval circuit based in Northamptonshire.

Arriving at every weekend bar one as the points leader, Adam Smalley remains firmly in control of the Ginetta Junior Championship and is still the teenager to beat currently. Further success at Snetterton last time out maintained his healthy advantage at the summit of the standings however a host of contenders are all still within touching distance.

Virtue of his two wins at Snetterton, Luke Browning has moved up into second place in the standings, and along with leading rookie Louis Foster, could still wrestle the lead from former Scholarship winner Smalley. Tipped as the drivers to beat, those drivers could steal the show although there are plenty more youngsters all keen to make their mark too.

Whatever the outcome, three high-octane races from the Junior category is certain to get fans on the edge-of-their-seats and will also likely play a pivotal role in deciding the destiny of this years title.

In the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup, Charlie Ladell and Carl Boardley look set to renew their rivalry as they battle for championship glory. At one stage the pair were split by just a single point at Snetterton, that changed however when Ladell notched his latest victory in race three at the Norfolk venue.

Now separated by 20 points, all eyes will be on Boardley to see if he can close the deficit to Ladell over the weekend’s three encounters. Tom Roche, Harry King and Jac Constable will also be one’s to watch as they bid to catch the top two as well.

Six races remain in the Renault UK Clio Cup, including the two here at Rockingham, and there are still no less than 11 drivers in contention of lifting the coveted title. It is likely that that number will come down this weekend although the question by how many and who is yet to be answered.

Max Coates, Paul Rivett and James Dorlin have proved to be the leading protagonists this season and the top three have pulled away from the chasing pack; all should be battling it out towards the front once again as they bid to better each other.

Off the back of scoring his maiden victory, Daniel Rowbottom will look to continue his pursuit of the top three with more success whilst the likes of Mike Epps, Lee Pattison and Jack McCarthy can’t be counted out either.

Capping off the weekend’s racing around Rockingham will be three races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. The single seater category has had many gripped this year with a raft of drivers all s taking their claim to being the one to lift the iconic title at the end of the year.

Leading the way as it stands is Kiern Jewiss, who will be hoping for better fortunes after a gruelling Snetterton event which yielded just 12 points. Ayrton Simmons remains Jewiss’ nearest challenger but the likes of Dennis Hauger, Sebastian Priaulx, Patrik Pasma and Jack Doohan are all also zeroing in too.

TOCA support package ready to return for Snetterton spectacular

It is not just the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship that returns this weekend at Snetterton (July 28/29), with all five TOCA support categories also resuming battle following the customary mid-season break.

In what has already been an action-packed campaign for the variety of one-make championships, the annual trip to Norfolk will spark the second half of the season for all five – and the intensity is set to increase.

Grabbing a lot of the headlines so far this season has been the Renault UK Clio Cup, and that theme could continue across the weekend’s two races. Max Coates arrives at Snetterton as the series leader but the Team Pyro driver has stiff competition hot on his heels.

Multiple champion Paul Rivett has proved to be a continuous threat so far whilst James Dorlin will be keen to get back in the mix after a tough Croft. The Westbourne Motorsport driver won five races in-a-row earlier in the year but came unstuck at his home event.

The likes of Daniel Rowbottom, Dan Zelos, Jade Edwards, Ben Colburn, Mike Epps and last year’s Renault UK Clio Cup Junior champion Jack Young, who makes his debut this weekend, will also be ones to look out for.

There is always an abundance of entertainment in the Ginetta Junior Championship and this year’s crop of 14 to 17-year-olds have showcased that once again. Former scholarship winner Adam Smalley currently leads the way after a strong Croft event and he will be keen to extend his advantage in the weekend’s two nine-lap encounters.

On his tail however are a host of youngsters that have been in the mix from the get-go. Louis Foster, Luke Browning, Fin Green, Ruben Del Sarte, and Gus Burton are just five drivers from a stacked entry list that can stop Smalley from further strengthening his position at the top of the points.

Further Ginetta action will be on display at Snetterton in the shape of the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup. A trio of races are set to be run around the challenging 300 circuit and the title race is set to hot up as Charlie Ladell looks to continue his run of being on the podium in every race so far.

Carl Boardley scored a hat-trick of wins at Croft last time out and closing the gap to series leader will be his main goal whilst Harry King, Tom Roche and Carl Shield will all also be eyeing that top step of the rostrum.

Racing for the first time since Oulton Park, the Porsche Carrera Cup GB will get back on track with two races during the weekend. In what has already been a tense battle at the top of the points, Tio Ellinas currently leads the way but Dino Zamparelli, Tom Wrigley, Lewis Plato, George Gamble and Dan Harper are all in the championship conversation.

Capping off the weekend’s blockbuster action is a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. Kiern Jewiss is currently the drive to beat in the single seaters series but the likes of Ayrton Simmons, Dennis Hauger, Sebastian Priaulx and Jack Doohan lead the fight into Snetterton.

TOCA support package shines at Donington Park

All five TOCA support championships were in action at Donington Park this past weekend (April 28/29) with some new faces topping the podium.

Competing under the flightpath of East Midlands airport alongside the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, the customary edge-of-the-seat thrills were on display for the thousands in attendance.

James Dorlin emerged as the man to beat in the Renault UK Clio Cup as he stormed to a pair of race victories, spring boarding himself up the points table. Clinching pole position on Saturday, the Westbourne Motorsport driver took a commanding victory in race one as he streaked clear of his rivals.

Further back Paul Rivett left WDE Motorsport with a mountain of work after he exited the circuit heading down the Crane Curves, hitting the wall hard – thankfully he walked away unhurt and made it out for race two.

If race one had been memorable, the second encounter for the one-make tin top category was a different spectacle altogether. In what turned out to be a dramatic three-way fight for victory, Dorlin went wheel-to-wheel with Jack McCarthy and Bradley Burns, pipping the pair as he bounced through the gravel to take the chequered flag and make it a dream double.

The Ginetta Junior Championship saw Luke Browning come to the fore as he scored two wins, narrowly missing out on completing a memorable hat-trick. Establishing himself towards the top of the times from the outset, the Richardson Racing driver powered his way to victory in races one and two.

Browning then played his part in a race three that will live long in the memory, as he chased kept himself permanently on the bumper of Louis Foster, who held his nerve to score a maiden victory in the series.

Spoils were shared in the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup as Charlie Ladell, Tom Roche and Harry King took a win apiece. Underlining the depth in quality the championship once again boasts this year, Ladell strengthened his position at the helm of the standings.

His third victory of the year came in a fast-paced opener before Roche repeated his heroics from the corresponding event last year in race two. Capping off the action was youngster King, who on just his second outing since graduating from Juniors, took a popular win for Elite Motorsport.

The Porsche Carrera Cup GB saw four different winners from four races as both Tio Ellinas and Lewis Plato joined the list of winners. Ellinas was measured in his race three win, holding his nerve off the start to take the chequered flag in a league of his own.

Plato meanwhile faced a stern test in the longer 33-lap encounter at the Leicestershire venue, fending off a trio of cars on the final tour to take his maiden victory.

Rounding off the support race action at Donington Park was the British F4 Championship, which once again took on a starring role. Johnathan Hoggard bagged a pair of wins whilst Kiern Jewiss also found his way to the to the top of the rostrum.