Tag: MINI CHALLENGE JCW

Jake Hill and Tom Ingram fly high as BTCC stars in Scotland

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship set pulses racing in Scotland this past weekend (August 16/17) as Jake Hill and Tom Ingram scorched their way to the top step of the podium at Knockhill.

Making the annual pilgrimage north of the border for the seventh meeting of the season, the UK’s premier motorsport series delivered a stunning three races in Fife which resulted in two title winners enjoying a share of the spoils.

West Surrey Racing proved to be the cream of the crop during Saturday’s qualifying session as they claimed a remarkable 1-2-3 finish, with Charles Rainford beating Daryl DeLeon and reigning champion Hill to pole position.

After missing the previous round at Croft on medical grounds, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport’s Hill enjoyed the perfect return to tin top action as he claimed a commanding victory in the first of Sunday’s three races.

Both Rainford and DeLeon enjoyed moments out front however it was Hill that stamped his authority on proceedings as he dispatched both drivers in quick succession and then cruised to a second win of the season.

Pole sitter Rainford was able to maintain his pace up front to clinch second place whilst Team VERTU’s Ingram – who had opted to run the medium tyres – passed team-mate Senna Proctor on the run to the chequered flag.

That pre-planned position switch set up Ingram to claim a sublime victory in race two. Utilising the faster soft tyre, while the BMW pairing of Hill and Rainford were on the medium compound, Ingram charged into the lead in the opening laps and then cleared off into the distance.

As the Hyundai i30 N racer romped to a fourth victory of the year, the NAPA Racing UK duo of Dan Cammish and Ash Sutton battled their way up the order to move into second and third respectively.

While Ingram ticked down the laps out front, Sutton spent the final nine laps chipping away at the gap to Cammish. Then, just as Proctor did for Ingram in race one, the Yorkshireman moved over on the run to the finish line to allow Sutton to claim the extra points for second place.

The BTCC then brought the curtain down in Scotland with another captivating contest and just as he had done at the start of the day, Hill ended it standing on the top step of the podium – this being the seventh time in his career he had done so around Knockhill.

Hill started from the front row alongside DeLeon and by the second lap he had slipped down the inside of his team-mate upon entry into Duffus Dip. That would be the last anyone saw of the rear-wheel-drive ace then as he cruised to victory.

Behind him, Cammish elevated himself up to second place and then once again played the team game to allow Sutton – who had come out on top of an almighty duel with Ingram – to finish ahead of him on the run to the line.

However, due to the yellow flags being waved for the stricken BMW of DeLeon, officials reversed the positions post-race after it was deemed that Sutton took the position from Cammish under yellow flag conditions.

That position swap means that Ingram heads back down south with a 17-point lead at the top of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship. Elsewhere, Alliance Racing/Ford and NAPA Racing UK lead the BTCC Manufacturers/Constructors Championship and BTCC Teams’ Championship respectively.

Three wins from three races for Chris Smiley means he and Restart Racing are out front in the Independents Championship whilst DeLeon holds a slender one-point lead over Rainford in the Jack Sears Trophy.

Adding to the Knockhill spectacle over the course of the weekend were a number of full-throttle races on the TOCA support bill.

Fionn McLaughlin, Adam Al Azhari and Rowan Campbell-Pilling each claimed a win apiece in the Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA while Will Martin and Sebastian Hopkins were victorious in the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain.

Over in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain, Jacob Tofts and Tom Bradshaw were the big winners whilst Nathan Edwards, Josh Porter and Max Edmundson reigned supreme in the VERTU MINI CHALLENGE JCW.

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

How to Watch: BTCC Rollercoaster ride comes to Knockhill

The annual visit to Scotland is here – the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship heads to Knockhill for the short sharp – white knuckle ride of a lap. The picturesque and undulating layout is a favourite for drivers and the passionate Scottish fans – who travel in their droves to see Britain’s premier racing series and supports in action.

All eyes will be on the front duo of Ash Sutton and Tom Ingram who are fighting tooth and nail for the title this season. Sutton is looking for his record breaking fifth crown while Ingram is hoping to double up on his 2022 title success. Other drivers will be hoping to claw back some points in Scotland to keep them in with a chance of the title come Brands Hatch with hard chargers Dan Rowbottom and Dan Cammish leading the pack.

The passionate crowd will be cheering for their home heroes too, with Aiden Moffat, Dexter Patterson and Gordeon Shedden set to receive the biggest support come race day. Triple BTCC champion Shedden has four victories on home soil and would dearly love to add another to his tally for Toyota Gazoo Racing UK this weekend – while Moffat and Patterson will be eyeing their first win in Scotland.

Motorsport eyes from around the world will be on the Power Maxed Racing squad this weekend. The West Midlands based firm received the heart-breaking news that their facility was engulfed with flames last Saturday – with the race transporters the only thing remaining from the unstoppable blaze. Thanks to the incredible support of the BTCC community, the team along with drivers Mikey Dobale and Nick Halstead are set to role out in Cupra Leons provided by other teams. No matter which team fans support – everyone will be willing the PMR team to success at Knockhill after everything they have been through.

When is the next BARC weekend?
This weekend – 16-17 August

Where are the events being held?

Knockhill Circuit
Address: Saline, Dunfermline KY12 9TF

What is racing this weekend?

Out on track this weekend: Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Wera Tools F4 British Championship, the VERTU MINI CHALLENGE and the Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain

How can I watch?

Wanting to soak up the on-track action in person at Knockhill? Tickets are available on the day or on the Knockhill website from ÂŁ31 for a Saturday ticket or ÂŁ42 for a Sunday ticket – with weekend options available from ÂŁ60. Children under 12 go free with discounts for teens and Seniors.

Tickets can be purchased here: www.knockhill.com/events/british-touring-car-championship

BTCC battle resumes in spectacular fashion at Croft

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship resumed at Croft Circuit this past weekend (August 2/3) and it proved to be an event that will live long in the memory as Tom Ingram, Ash Sutton and Dan Rowbottom all triumphed.

Returning to action following its annual summer break, the UK’s premier motorsport series took centre stage in front of a capacity crowd in North Yorkshire – where the battle for title supremacy swung one way and then the other.

Saturday’s track action at the British Automobile Racing Club venue was dominated by Team VERTU’s Ingram as he topped the times in both practice sessions and then snared pole position in qualifying, smashing the existing lap record in the process.

Ingram led from start-to-finish in race one as he kept home heroes Dan Cammish and Senna Proctor at arm’s length throughout. Crucially, four-time champion Sutton encountered problems which resulted in him not scoring – handing Ingram the lead in the standings.

Race two saw NAPA Racing UK’s Rowbottom clinch his third win of the season as he made use of being the highest-placed soft tyre car on the starting grid. The Ford Focus ST driver went from fourth to first in a matter of laps and from that point on he didn’t look back.

Tom Chilton followed Rowbottom in the opening exchanges but was unable to mount a challenge. Instead, he settled for second place while the West Surrey Racing BMW of Daryl Deleon completed the podium in third.

Further back, many eyes were fixed on Sutton as he worked his way from the back of the field to finish fifth; crucially out-scoring Ingram by a handful of points.

One of the most captivating races in recent memory then closed out proceedings at Croft and the end result saw Sutton standing tall ahead of Ingram; with the pair having fought their way to the front to finish first and second.

Pole sitter Aiden Moffat defended valiantly in the opening exchanges however things soon kicked off, starting with Moffat’s team-mate Charles Rainford making contact with Cammish at the Complex which sent him skating into the side of Deleon and Chris Smiley.

Following a lengthy safety car period, the action resumed with Ingram and Sutton going side-by-side for second at the chicane. Ingram came out on top and then went after Moffat – however the Scotsman’s defence was resolute.

The defining – scarcely believable moment – at the front came later on that lap as Sutton went from third to first at the hairpin. Diving underneath the scrapping Moffat and Ingram, the NAPA Racing UK driver survived contact from Gordon Shedden and to come out in the lead and from there he went on to reign supreme.

Ingram would ultimately cross the line in second while Yorkshireman Proctor delivered one of the standout performances of the day as he went from the rear of the field to third. Remarkably the Hyundai driver made up 12 positions on the opening two laps alone.

Leaving Croft, Ingram holds an eight-point advantage over Sutton in the BTCC Drivers’ Championship whilst Rowbottom is a further 70 points in arrears back in third place.

It wasn’t just the BTCC that starred at Croft either as adding to the excitement were a host of races from the VERTU MINI CHALLENGE JCW, Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain and the Legends Cars Elite Cup.

Tom Ovenden and Nathan Edwards claimed a win apiece in the VERTU MINI CHALLENGE JCW while Will Martin and defending champion George Gamble did the same in the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain.

In the Legends Cars Elite Cup, Tyler Read was provisionally crowned champion as he blasted his way to four wins from six races. Will Gibson and American ace Trevor Krouse picked up the remaining victories that were on offer.

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

BTCC closes out first half of the season in style at Oulton Park

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship signed off the first half of the 2025 season in typical action-packed style at Oulton Park this past weekend (June 21/22) with four-time champion Ash Sutton sitting atop the standings going into the summer break.

Taking centre stage in Cheshire for the fifth meeting of the campaign, a huge crowd descended on the scenic Cheshire venue to witness three captivating contests from the UK’s premier motorsport series.

Scorching temperatures were combined with on and off rain showers however that didn’t deter the racing as NAPA Racing UK’s Sutton managed to extend his lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship to 11 points.

Team VERTU’s Tom Ingram dominated qualifying on Saturday as he obliterated his own lap record to snare pole position, and he duly converted that into a commanding lights-to-flag victory in a frenetic opening encounter.

Sutton had been on course for a podium finish in race one but a strategic call to drop to fourth – thus giving him free choice on what tyres to run for race two – saw Dan Cammish and Chris Smiley ultimately complete the podium.

Lining up on the second row but on the faster soft tyre, Sutton maximised his decision as he surged into the lead by lap two and then cruised to the chequered flag to clinch his fourth win of the season ahead of Adam Morgan and Tom Chilton.

Gordon Shedden then became the tenth different winner from 15 races as he delivered a masterful defensive drive to claim a maiden win of the season for both himself and Speedworks Motorsport.

On a damp track, the three-time title winner started from pole position and was wheel-perfect throughout the 18-lap contest as he fended off challenges from the likes of Sutton, Dan Rowbottom, Jake Hill and Josh Cook to triumph for the first time since returning to the BTCC.

Sutton and Ingram remain the top two in the standings while Cammish leads the chasing pack, albeit someway off. Elsewhere, Alliance / Ford top the Manufacturers’ whilst NAPA Racing UK remain on course to defend their Teams’ Championship crown.

Over in the Independents’, Chris Smiley and Restart Racing maintained their advantage at the top of their respective leaderboards, with BMW’s Daryl Deleon stretching out his lead in the coveted Jack Sears Trophy battle.

If the action on-track wasn’t enough, the Oulton Park weekend also saw an emotional send-off for broadcasting legend Steve Rider, who brought the curtain down on an incredible career spanning nearly 50 years.

Having been the face of the BTCC across four decades, Rider’s phenomenal career was celebrated throughout the event as everyone involved in the BTCC honoured Steve for his unwavering support, service, professionalism and brilliance.

Thrills and spills also played out on the TOCA support package as well with the Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA dazzling those in attendance with a trio of enthralling single-seater races.

Hitech TGR’s Fionn McLaughlin reigned supreme in the opening bout however he could do nothing to stop his team-mate Thomas Bearman and Rodin Motorsport’s James Pizscyk from sharing the remaining spoils that were on offer.

The Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain also served up three blockbuster races that in-turn shook up the battle for supremacy in the championship standings.

Joe Marshall delivered a masterful drive in the weekend’s opening race however it was then over to the flawless Tom Bradshaw as he charged to a dominant double and with it, claimed the lead in the standings in the process.

Rounding out the weekend’s action were two full-throttle races from the VERTU MINI CHALLENGE JCW. Max Edmundson reigned supreme to secure his maiden win in the series in race one before Lewis Selby fended off his team-mate Jamie Osborne to triumph in race two

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

Dan Cammish, Dan Rowbottom and Mikey Doble share Snetterton spoils

Dan Cammish, Dan Rowbottom and Mikey Doble triumphed at Snetterton this past weekend (May 24/25) to make it eight different winners from the opening nine races of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season.

Taking centre stage in Norfolk for the third event of what is already one of the most competitive campaigns in recent memory, the trio of Cammish, Rowbottom and Doble reigned supreme in style – much to the delight of the huge trackside crowd.

NAPA Racing UK’s Cammish proved to be the man to beat in qualifying on Saturday as he snared a second pole position of the season after setting the fastest ever lap around the Snetterton 300 layout.

Blasting away from the front row, Cammish duly delivered in race one as he didn’t put a wheel wrong on his way to tallying a first win of the season. Behind him, Tom Ingram and Ash Sutton had everyone on the edge of their seats as they scrapped for second and third.

Race two saw Rowbottom come to the fore in his NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus ST as he made the most of being the highest placed car on soft tyres to take a long overdue victory in the UK’s premier motorsport series.

The multiple race winner wasted no time in hitting the front however he soon faced an onslaught of pressure from several Hyundais. Soaking up everything they could throw at him, Rowbottom hung on to take finish ahead of Adam Morgan and Tom Chilton.

Without doubt the most popular win of the day came in the reverse grid finale as Mikey Doble clinched a memorable maiden win. Starting from pole position, the Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing driver was wheel-perfect throughout to take the chequered flag.

Four-time champion Sutton had closed onto the back of Doble late on but unable to find a way past he settled for second while Josh Cook claimed a first podium of the season in his One Motorsport Honda Civic Type R.

Not only was it a first-ever win for Doble but it was also the first time an Independent entry has won a race outright in the BTCC in 1001 days. The victory was also the first since 2019 for the Vauxhall Astra squad.

Leaving Snetterton, Sutton holds a 15-point advantage at the top of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship while EXCELR8 / Team VERTU head the way in both the Manufacturer / Constructors and Teams’ Championship’s.

In addition to his maiden win, Doble leads the Independent Drivers’ Championship whilst Restart Racing top the Independent Teams’ category. Daryl Deleon and Charles Rainford remain the benchmark in the Jack Sears Trophy.

Elsewhere, fans also had a bumper bill of support race action to soak up and in the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE JCW those in attendance witnessed another near-perfect showing from Jamie Osborne.

Hot on the heels of winning all three races at the season-opener, the NAPA Racing UK driver was back in the winners circle again as he claim two wins and a third place finish. Stopping him from completing another clean sweep was Tom Ovenden who triumphed in race one.

The Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA has a new points leader after Red Bull Junior Fionn McLaughlin claimed a double podium and a first-ever win to move to the summit of the standings.

The Hitech TGR had looked on course to winning the opening encounter before damage sustained on a bollard broke his front wing and forced him into the pits. That opened the door for Adam Al Azhari to triumph before August Raber was victorious in race two.

Rounding out the weekend’s action were two full-throttles race from the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain, which was celebrating milestone weekend with race one being the series’ 400th contest.

Arguably written in the stars, Porsche GB Junior James Wallis – who was running the number 400 for one weekend only – produced a virtuoso performance to claim his maiden victory in the one-make category.

Fan favourite Max Coates then guided his Duckhams Yuasa Racing by Graves Motorsport machine to the top step of the podium in race two after holding off the JTR duo of Ollie Jackson and Josh Stanton.

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

BTCC stages spectacular 2025 season-opener Donington Park

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship blasted back into life in spectacular style this past weekend (April 26/27) as four-time champion Ash Sutton and the experienced Tom Chilton made a winning start to the 2025 season.

Taking centre stage at the Leicestershire venue in front of a packed crowd, the UK’s premier motor racing series delivered three blockbuster contests to kick-start what promises to be another vintage year of tin top action.

After narrowly missing out on clinching pole position to his team-mate Dan Cammish on Saturday, NAPA Racing UK’s Sutton was wheel-perfect in races one and two as he claimed successive lights-to-flag wins ahead of his long-time rival Tom Ingram.

Bidding to become the first driver in BTCC history to win the title five times, Sutton didn’t have things his own way in either contest however as he was forced to provide a resolute defence as Ingram applied pressure throughout.

The pace of the NAPA Ford Focus ST was further bolstered as both Dan Rowbottom and Cammish snared silverware as they claimed a third-place finish apiece in the aforementioned opening two bouts.

Race three – the reverse grid contest – saw Team VERTU’s Chilton drawn onto pole position and with the soft tyre at this disposal, he showcased all of his experience as he streaked clear to claim a deserved victory.

While Chilton romped to a 17th career triumph, the battle for the remaining podium positions had everyone on the edge of their seats as Ingram and Sutton renewed their tussle on-track – although this time it was Ingram that held on to complete a hat-trick of second place finishes.

Leaving Donington Park, Sutton holds an early advantage in the Drivers’ Championship over Ingram while just one point separates EXCELR8/Hyundai and Alliance/Ford in the Manufacturers’ Championship.

There is nothing to separate Team VERTU and NAPA Racing UK in the Teams’ standings whilst Chris Smiley and Power Maxed Racing are the early pace-setters in the Independent rankings. Over in the Jack Sears Trophy, Ronan Pearson leads the way after three races.

It wasn’t just the BTCC that put on a show under the flight path of East Midlands airport either as the support championship that feature on the TOCA bill also kick-started their campaigns.

The single-seater stars of the future that make up the Wera Tools F4 British Championship, certified by FIA delivered a trio of captivating contests that resulted in three different winners from three races.

Argenti Motorsport’s August Raber was the first to strike as he reigned supreme in race one before Chase Fernandez won a shortened reverse grid bout. Rodin Motorsport’s James Piszcyk then came to the fore in the feature race as he won after the top two were hit with time penalties for exceeding track limits late on.

NAPA Racing UK’s Jamie Osborne was perfection personified in the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE JCW as he clinched a clean sweep of race wins. Despite missing out on pole position in qualifying, Osborne was unstoppable in race one as he charged to victory in commanding fashion.

Race two was arguably even more impressive as, starting ninth, he scythed his way to the front of the field to triumph by more than four seconds. Osborne capped off his weekend with another brilliant display in race three as he pipped Tom Ovenden to the chequered flag.

The Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain made a flying start to the new season with Will Martin and Andrew Rackstraw walking away with a share of the spoils that were on offer.

Tipped by many as one of the favourites for the title in the off-season, Martin produced an exemplary drive in race one as he held off Sid Smith to triumph – with Angus Whiteside completing the podium in third.

Race two saw Rackstraw then convert his pole position start into an impressive lights-to-flag victory as he headed Century Motorsport’s Whiteside and Porsche Junior Driver James Wallis.

Rounding out the weekend’s action were three races from the Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain which saw Toby Trice stake his claim as one to watch in the battle for supremacy as he chalked up a brace of wins.

Had it not been for some misfortune in the opening encounter Trice could well have scored a hat-trick of wins. Instead, the spoils of the opening bout went the way of Toro Verde GT’s Tom Bradshaw.

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

Regulations changes locked in for 2025 Vertu MINI CHALLENGE season

The Vertu MINI CHALLENGE has confirmed a number of regulation changes ahead of the opening rounds of the 2025 season, which take place this month. 

Snetterton provides the setting for the Cooper class curtain-raiser this weekend, with the JCW and JCW Sport classes getting underway at Donington Park on April 26-27.

Ahead of the lights going out, amendments to the regulations across all three classes have been ratified and communicated to all competing teams and drivers. 

Race distances for the ten meetings that are held alongside the British Touring Car Championship – covering the full JCW/JCW Sport season and three events for the Cooper class – will see drivers offered additional track time.

For JCW and JCW Sport entrants, the final race of the weekend will run a duration of 25 minutes at Donington Park, Oulton Park, Croft and Knockhill.

Over in the Cooper class, the four non-TOCA race meetings will comprise of three 15-minute races. The meetings on the TOCA bill (Thruxton and Donington Park GP) will offer more track time for the final contest. 

For all classes, race one on the Saturdays on the TOCA programme will run to a duration of 20 minutes with an opportunity of five minutes contingency added in the event of a safety car, as with BTCC races. Race two will continue to run to a fixed duration of 20 minutes.

The points-scoring system remains unchanged however an additional six points will be given to the fastest time in qualifying in each class. Furthermore, the fastest race lap in each class will now be worth three points instead of six. 

Dropped scores have been revised too, with every race now being counted in both the JCW and JCW Sport categories, In the Cooper class, drivers will now drop their worst score from the season rather than their two worst scores. 

Entries have also been looked out with teams now limited to running maximum of four cars in any individual class. Should a team wish to run more than four cars, it will need to submit a request in writing to the Championship Organisers. 

Finally, the rules around the reverse grid have been tweaked for the JCW and JCW Sport classes, bringing them inline with the Cooper class. 

As a result, on those weekends where there are three races, the grid for race two will be decided by a random draw that will see anywhere from the top six to top ten overall from the previous race reversed.

Sustainable fuel signed off for MINI JCW and JCW Sport classes

Organisers of the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE have confirmed that cars competing in the JCW and JCW Sport classes will run on sustainable fuel this season.

Off the back of successful tests that were held across the 2024 campaign, Sunoco’s RFM E25 – a 25% ethanol-based fuel – will become the control fuel for the popular one-make series that resides on the support bill of the British Touring Car Championship.

Last year sae the introduction of a special development car that competed as a guest entry in the JCW Sport category. Driven by the likes of Hannah Chapman and Harvey Riby, the car tested the new fuel.

Whilst the new fuel will be mandatory across the top two MINI CHALLENGE classes, cars competing in the Cooper category will continue to race on the same CMR Plus fuel also provided by Sunoco.

MINI CHALLENGE to stage Media Day at Snetterton

The Vertu MINI CHALLENGE has confirmed that it will host a Media Day test at Snetterton on April 2.

Cars from all three classes – JCW, JCW Sport and Trophy – will be in attendance at the Norfolk venue; allowed competitors the opportunity to showcase their 2025 liveries and gain some valuable mileage ahead of the new season.

Track action will commence from 09:00 – 12:00 in the morning, while the afternoon session will run from 14:00 – 17:00.

To find out more information on the forthcoming 2025 MINI CHALLENGE campaign, head to https://www.minichallenge.co.uk/.

MINI CHALLENGE and Millers Oils launch JCW Challenger scheme

Millers Oils has announced a new Challenger Scheme that will see one lucky driver secure a free entry into the headline JCW class of the 2025 Vertu MINI CHALLENGE.

The new scheme will be open to every driver who has signed up to compete in the JCW class by the end of January, when a shortlist of four will be drawn up as finalists.

As well as having their entry fee for the 2025 covered, the winner will then have the opportunity to work with Millers Oils in an ambassadorial role throughout the season, which will include showcasing the Millers Oils brand on track across the seven events on the JCW calendar.

“We’re searching for a driver with talent, passion, and determination to carry the Millers Oils legacy forward,” Jody Ogden, Millers Oils Marketing and Communications Manager, said.

“You’ll be supported to race in a premier championship, gain unparalleled exposure, and represent a brand synonymous with engineering excellence and motorsport innovation

“This is a life-changing opportunity for one skilled and ambitious driver and if you’re ready to rise to the challenge, we want to hear from you!”

New leadership team in place for MINI CHALLENGE as 2025 entries open

The Vertu MINI CHALLENGE will mark the start of a new chapter next season after announcing a new leadership team comprising of Rhea Beauchamp, Luke Caudle and a third figure still to be confirmed.

Long time Championship Co-ordinator Beauchamp will take on the role of Championship Director with Caudle – a former MINI CHALLENGE title winner as Sporting Director. A new Technical Director is poised to be named in due course.

The news follows confirmation that entires have officially opened for the 2025 Vertu MINI CHALLENGE season, with drivers and teams able to now sign up and secure their place on the grid for each of the three classes.

Entry fees for the JCW, JCW Sport and Cooper classes are being held at 2024 levels whilst early bird discounts have also been put in place that will make the MINI CHALLENGE even more affordable.

Anyone registering for either the JCW or JCW Sport class by 29 November and paying their full entry by 1 February 2025 will benefit from a £2,000 discount on entry, with Cooper drivers following the same payment schedule receiving a discount of £1,000.

“We are delighted to officially open entries for the 2025 season and what promises to be another exciting year for the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE,” Beauchamp said.

“We are already seeing high levels of interest from teams and drivers who are interesting in competing with us next year, which is a nice position to be in at this stage considering that the Cooper class still has one round left to run.

“Holding entry fees at the same level as 2024 means that the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE continues to be one of the most cost-effective ways to go racing at a high level in UK motorsport, particularly when you consider the high profile that comes from being of the BTCC package.

“We have a number of things in the pipeline that we will announce in the coming months, and we look forward to welcoming drivers old and new into the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE for 2025.”

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, added: “The Vertu MINI CHALLENGE continues to be an important, entertaining and exciting part of our support package for 2025 and beyond. 

“So it’s great to see the Championship energetically working with its teams and drivers in order to continue to grow the championship – not just for next year, but for years to come“.

Titles decided across action-packed TOCA support bill at Brands Hatch

Champions weren’t just crowned in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch this past weekend (October 5/6), as two more titles were also decided in the championships that make up the TOCA support bill.

On what turned out to be an action-packed finale around the famous Grand Prix circuit, the bumper crowd in attendance were treated to a feast of wheel-to-wheel thrills as the battle for supremacy across each of the one-make categories reached an exciting crescendo.

George Gamble came out on top of a thrilling Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain finale to be crowned champion after the Rosland Gold By Century Motorsport driver went into the final race as one of three drivers that could triumph.

Eden Race Drive ace Harry Foster reigned supreme in the weekend’s opening encounter however all eyes were on race two as Gamble, Charles Rainford and Hugo Ellis battled each other, and the elements, in a bid for title glory.

With the pendulum swinging back and forth as the laps ticked by, Gamble took the fight by the scruff of the neck and began carving his way to the front of the field, ultimately dominating proceedings to clinch the Drivers’ Championship.

Things were just as tense in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain where three drivers were also battling tooth-and-nail for the right to call themselves 2024 champion.

Team Parker Racing’s Will Jenkins arrived as the outside bet for the crown and he did everything that he could to overturn the deficit to the top two by winning all three races in commanding fashion.

While Jenkins threw everything he had at it, Sebastian Hopkins kept a cool head to ensure that he was scoring what was required and he ultimately pippex Max Coates to the crown by one point, with Jenkins a further eight in arrears.

In the ROKiT British F4 Championship certified by FIA, the pressure was very much off Deagen Fairclough after he secured an unassailable lead in the single-seater series last time out at Silverstone.

Becoming the tenth different driver to lift the coveted crown, the Hitech Pulse-Eight drivers record-breaking campaign saw a fitting final chapter written as he powered his way to two more race wins – taking his final season tally to 14.

JHR Developments’ Leo Robinson claimed the spoils in the re-run reverse grid contest that was cancelled at Silverstone while series runner-up Alex Ninovic capped off a fine season with his fifth win of the season in the other bout.

Like British F4, the destiny of the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE JCW crown was already decided with Dan Zelos having claimed a historic third title when the tin top category was last in action back in August at Knockhill.

Rookie Cup champion Max Hall charged to victory in the weekend’s opening bout before Nathan Edwards underlined his talents with a superlative performance that included a brace of race wins.

To view the full classification of results from all TOCA support championships, as well as the final standings for each, CLICK HERE.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship and TOCA support package will return in 2025, with the new season scheduled to get underway at Donington Park on April 26/27.