Tag: MINI CHALLENGE

MINI CHALLENGE UK extends TOCA support package deal until end of 2026

The Quaife MINI CHALLENGE will continue to feature on the support package of the British Touring Car Championship until the end of 2026 after signing a new five-year agreement.

Renowned for producing blockbuster wheel-to-wheel entertainment, this new deal cements the one-make series as one of the leading categories in the UK.

As has been the case across the last two seasons, the JCW class will race solely on the TOCA package, although the calendar for 2022 has yet to be confirmed. The remaining dates will be taken up by the Quaife MINI CHALLENGE Trophy,

Antony Williams, MINI CHALLENGE Promoter, said: “When we announced that we had secured a slot on the prestigious and high profile TOCA package back in 2019, I was incredibly proud of how the MINI CHALLENGE had come of age, and was just as proud of my team, our partners and our drivers for helping us to achieve our aim. 

“To have been able to sufficiently impress the TOCA team despite the difficult times we have all faced, and now be in a position where we can announce that we will be supporting the BTCC – with its incredible ITV coverage – for another full five years, is even more satisfying. 

“This news enables us, our drivers and our teams to plan for the future, knowing the investment we all make can be rewarded for the longer term.

“Finally, I would like to thank Alan Gow and his team for the faith they have in us, and the support and guidance they have provided.”

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, added: “Since joining the BTCC support package, MINI CHALLENGE has provided our trackside spectators and TV audiences with some great and very entertaining racing.

“As well, the management team behind MINI CHALLENGE are incredibly efficient, committed and enthusiastic, so it was a very easy decision for me to reward their efforts by extending their current agreement through to the end of 2026.”

TOCA support package sets course for Scotland

A bumper crowd is expected to flock to Knockhill this weekend (August 14/15) as the TOCA support package sets course for Scotland.

Taking centre stage alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at the picturesque Fife venue, five championships will write the latest chapter in what have already been captivating stories.

Things couldn’t be closer in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB as it stands with just one point splitting the top three and 15 covering the top six.

Shaping up to be a vintage year for the Carrera Cup, Kiern Jewiss will arrive at Knockhill ahead of Lorcan Hanafin and Dan Cammish, eager to open up his lead across the weekend’s two races.

However, throw into the mix the likes of Will Martin, Lewis Plato and defending champion Harry King and you begin to see why Knockhill is primed for an all-out battle.

With the addition of the postponed Oulton Park bout to factor in, the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship is set for a busy weekend in Scotland as its bumper grid of talented teenagers contest four races.

Liam McNeilly heads into the meeting as the championship leader after scoring a sensational second win of the campaign last time out. The Fox Motorsport driver has been one of the leading lights so far however he is not alone in the battle for title supremacy.

Seb Hopkins, Will Jenkins, Aston Millar, Josh Miller, Tom Edgar and Callum Voisin have established themselves as front-running contenders and each of them will be keen to make their mark as the series moves into the second half of the season.

The Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup has served up its fair share of memorable moments this year already and more are expected from the monstrous one-make category as it makes a rare appearance north of the border.

Perennial title challenger Tom Hibbert finds himself in the box seat currently after enjoying a dream weekend at Oulton Park where he scored a pair of wins. The pendulum has swung in favour of Hibbert currently but it could yet swing back to Adam Smalley, who is also firmly in the mix.

Max Bird managed to extend his advantage at the top of the MINI CHALLENGE JCW Championship standings last time out and doing so again will be the aim of the Excelr8 Motorsport driver heading into this weekend.

In what has been a frenetic year for the single-make series so far, the twists and turns of Knockhill’s 1.16-mile track will undoubtedly produce even more breathtaking moments.

Whilst Bird holds the initiative, the likes of Dan Zelos, Lewis Brown, Sam Weller and Max Coates, among many more, will all be looking to topple him.

Rounding out the weekend’s action, as always, will be three contests from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost, which continues to be currently led by James Hedley.

All of Sunday’s action will be broadcast live on ITV4, with coverage scheduled to begin at 11:15.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event, including links to the timetable and live timing, CLICK HERE.

Blockbuster action throughout TOCA support package at Oulton Park

Blockbuster thrills and spills ran right the way through the TOCA support package this past weekend (July 31/August 1) as five championships resumed their 2021 campaigns at Oulton Park.

On what proved to be an action-packed two days where red flag stoppages proved to be a regular occurrence, the bumper crowd that attended the Cheshire venue were treated to plenty of entertaining wheel-to-wheel battles.

The Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship ultimately raced just once due to delays to the timetable on Sunday. Following a lengthy stoppage of their own due to barrier repairs, the one-make series staged a frenetic four-lap dash to the flag.

Liam McNeilly produced a superlative performance to narrowly clinch victory ahead of josh Miller and Aston Millar, and with it, moved to the summit of the points standings. The second race scheduled to take place will now be run at Knockhill later this month.

Tom Hibbert was perfection personified in the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup as he established himself as the driver to beat in the battle for the title.

Despite qualifying fifth, the Rob Boston Racing driver underlined his championship credentials with two peerless drives to claim a brace of race wins.

Max Bird strengthened his lead in the MINI CHALLENGE JCW Championship too with a win, although that achievement was to be overshadowed by two sizeable accidents in race two.

Both Jim Loukes and Oliver Barker suffered heavy impacts with the armco barriers but thankfully they were able to walk away unhurt. Barker had been in the lead when he crashed and following the result being declared lap prior to the red flag, he was declared the winner.

The Porsche Carrera Cup GB continued to throw up more twists and turns too as the title battle closed up further. Lorcan Hanafin and Kiern Jewiss each scored a win to ensure that just one point separates the top three heading into the next event.

Rounding out the weekend’s action were a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. James Hedley, McKenzy Cresswell and Joseph Loake emerged as the leading lights from the single seater category as they scored a win apiece.

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

The TOCA Support Package now joins the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship in heading north of the border to Knockhill next on August 14/15.

Leading lights of TOCA support championships head to Oulton Park

Oulton Park not only provides the latest stop on the calendar for the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this weekend (July 31/August 1) but also the TOCA support package, with five championships aiming to take centre stage.

Fresh off the back of a five-week summer break, the battle for supremacy across the variety of categories that share the limelight with the BTCC will not want to be missed in front of an unrestricted crowd at the Cheshire venue.

Just three points separate the top four drivers in the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship as they make their first appearance at Oulton since 2019.

Despite yet standing on the top step of the podium, consistency has proven to be key for Seb Hopkins who leads the way and he will be eager to clinch a maiden win. Tom Edgar, Liam McNeilly and Will Jenkins are hot on the heels of Hopkins however and all of them will be keen to topple him.

Arguably the one to watch will be R Racing’s Callum Voisin, who arrives at Oulton Park coming off the back of a sensational hat-trick of wins at Brands Hatch.

Things are as equally close in the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup, with Adam Smalley and Tom Hibbert split by just five points. Expected to be in the mix for the title this year, the pair have made impressive starts to their campaign with Smalley emerging as one of the leading lights.

Behind them, the likes of Josh Rattican , Carlito Miracco, Tom Emson and Steve Roberts will all be worth keeping an eye on as they bid to chase down the top two.

The Porsche Carrera Cup GB has made a number of headlines this year already and you can expect that more will be made over the course of the weekend’s two scheduled contests.

The season so far has seen plenty of thrills and spills but it is former champion Dan Cammish that holds the initiative, albeit it by two points over Kiern Jewiss. Throw into the mix the likes of Lorcan Hanafin, Will Martin and reigning champion Harry King and you begin to see why this season is proving to be one of the best for the series.

Blockbuster wheel-to-wheel entertainment will be guaranteed to be provided by the MINI CHALLENGE JCW Championship too. Providing a pivotal step on the UK motorsport ladder, the one-make tin top series has been in fine form.

Max Bird enters the weekend as the driver to beat however with the likes of Lewis Brown, Dan Zelos, Sam Weller and James Macintyre chasing him down, all bets are off in terms of who could end the meeting on top of the pile.

Rounding out the weekend’s action will be a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certfiied by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. James Hedley leads the way in the single-seater ranks however the duo of Matthew Rees and McKenzy Cresswell aren’t far away.

To find out more information on this weekend’s fourth event of the season, including links to the timetable and live timing, CLICK HERE.

Brands Hatch provides backdrop to blockbuster TOCA support race action

Brands Hatch played host to a bumper two days of TOCA support race action this past weekend (June 26/27) as the 2021 season ramped up.

Callum Voisin wrote his name into the history books of the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship as he became one of only a handful of drivers to win all three races on the same weekend.

Entering the third event of the season as one of the form drivers, the R Racing ace didn’t put a wheel wrong as he stormed to pole position and then went on to triumph in each contest, vaulting him into title contention.

Behind, the trio of Liam McNeilly, Seb Hopkins, Josh Miller filled the remaining podium places however none of them could ultimately stop Voisin from scoring a famous hat-trick around the Kent venue.

The Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup delivered three breathtaking encounters around the tight and twist Indy layout as Carlito Miracco, Adam Smalley and Tom Hibbert shared the spoils.

Miracco had to dig deep for his victory in the opener – the championship’s 250th race – as he withstood pressure from the charging Smalley. There was no stopping the latter in race two however as he surged to his third win of the campaign.

Race three proved to be one of attrition as Hibbert and James Blake-Baldwin had those watching trackside on the edge-of-their-seats as their battle for victory went down to the wire, with Hibbert narrowly prevailing in the end.

There was plenty of drama in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB as Dan Cammish and Harry King found themselves in the wars. Coming together in race one, the pair were unable to fight their way to victory – leaving the door open for others to take centre stage.

Lorcan Hanfin continued his fine start to the campaign with a superlative victory in race one before Will Martin reigned supreme in the second bout.

Further tin top thrills were provided by the MINI CHALLENGE JCW, which served up three action-packed races. Max Bird, Max Coates and Dan Zelos were the drivers to beat over the course of the weekend, each taking a win apiece.

Rounding out the weekend’s action were a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. Zak Taylor scored victory in the reverse grid bout before James Hedley and Matias Zagazeta also triumphed.

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

TOCA support championships head to Brands Hatch for latest chapter of the season

Nearly a fortnight on from an action-packed two days of racing at Snetterton, the TOCA support package charges into Brands Hatch this weekend (June 26/27) for what is shaping up to be a blockbuster third meeting of the season.

Taking centre stage alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship around the famous Indy circuit, five categories will continue their campaigns in front of a 4000-strong trackside crowd once again.

It is set to be a momentous weekend for the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup as it celebrates a special milestone, with the opening contest at the Kent venue being the championship’s 250th since launching in 2011.

Adam Smalley made a near-perfect start to his title challenge at Snetterton, scoring a pair of lights-to-flag victories, however a race three retirement has left him trailing Tom Hibbert in the points. All eyes will undoubtedly be on these two as they renew their battle at the front however they won’t be the only one’s bidding for glory.

Josh Rattican – the winner of race three at Snetterton – and team-mate Tom Emson will be in the mix over the course of the weekend’s three races, as will the likes of Carlito Miracco and James Blake-Baldwin.

The Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship is proving to be just as exciting and unpredictable as ever with a mammoth grid of youngsters serving up bumper-to-bumper thrills around almost every turn.

Tom Edgar, Will Jenkins, Callum Voisin, Liam McNeilly, Aston Millar and Seb Hopkins have all featured towards the sharp end of the grid across the opening two events and will undoubtedly continue to be in the battle for silverware once more.

Dan Cammish made a triumphant return to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB as he scored a win and a second to establish an early lead in the points. In what is already showing signs of being a hotly contested season in the one-make category, the Redline Racing ace will be keen to extend his points lead.

Just six points separate Kiern Jewiss, defending champion Harry King and Lorcan Hanafin from Cammish, and with the likes of James Dorlin, Lewis Plato and Will Martin also in the conversation, all bets look to be off in terms of predicting who will reign supreme.

Further tin top thrills around Brands Hatch will come in the shape of the MINI CHALLENGE JCW over the course of the weekend. Delivering some breathtaking moments last time out, the one-make championship is expected to deliver three unmissable races.

Lewis Brown scored a pair of wins at Snetterton and heads into series’ second event of the year leading the way. Hot on his heels however sits Sam Weller, Max Bird, Brad Hutchinson and Dan Zelos, to name but a few, and any one of them could hit the front.

Rounding out the weekend’s action will be a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. James Hedley maintains his advantage at the standings summit however the chasing pack is growing and he’ll need to be on top form if he is to leave Brands Hatch still leading.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event at Brands Hatch, including links to the timetable and live timing, CLICK HERE.

Sunday’s coverage will be broadcast live on ITV3 starting at 11:00.

TOCA support package serves up spectacular entertainment at Snetterton

Snetterton played host to the latest rounds across the TOCA support championship this past weekend (June 12/13) and there was action across the board.

On a weekend where spectators made a triumphant return in scorching temperatures, the supporting cast of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship took centre stage around the popular Norfolk venue.

One of the most highly-anticipated spectacles over the course of the weekend was two races from the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, which featured former champions Dan Cammish and Harry King, as well as a number of others.

Lorcan Hanafin looked as though he had spoiled the party after qualifying on pole and winning on the road in race one, however a time penalty for being out of position on the start saw Cammish mark his return to the series with a win.

Reigning champion King then came to the fore in race two as he surged into the lead and looked on course to open his account for the year. It wasn’t to be though as a time penalty for exceeding track limits saw the Team Parker Racing drive drop down the order, with Kiern Jewiss triumphing instead.

The battle for supremacy in the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship intensified during both days as the next generation of motorsport stars delivered three breathtaking contests.

Despite the safety car bringing proceedings to an early close in race one, Callum Voisin was declared the winner ahead of Will Jenkins and Liam McNeilly. Race two would then see McNeilly go on to score a breakthrough win in the series as he edged out the rapid Tom Edgar.

Having come close during the two earlier races, Edgar finally scored victory in the third and final race as he fended off the advances of Jenkins and McNeilly – each of whom had sensational weekends as they picked up silverware in all three encounters.

Kicking off its 10th Anniversary season, the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup provided further one-make thrills as they too delivered a trio of memorable races.

Tipped by many as a credible title contender, Elite Motorsport’s Adam Smalley wasted no time in hitting the ground running as he scored victory in races one and two. The former Ginetta Junior champion had looked on course to make it a hat-trick until contact, whilst in contention for the lead, forced him to retire.

As Smalley was left to watch on from the sidelines, Josh Rattican took full advantage to cap off an impressive debut in the category to score victory.

The MINI CHALLENGE JCW Championship also lifted the curtain on its 2021 season at Snetterton, and it too made its mark around the challenging 2.97-mile circuit.

After narrowly missing out on pole position by little over two tenths of a second, Lewis Brown made the perfect start to the new campaign as he triumphed ahead of Max Bird and Sam Weller in race one.

Brown doubled his tally for the weekend in race two before Brad Hutchinson came to the fore in race three to triumph for MotorsportApps.com with MPHR.

Rounding out the weekend’s action were a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. Showcasing the latest crop of single seater stars, a bumper grid went wheel-to-wheel with Matthew Rees and Georgi Dimitrov sharing the spoils.

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

The TOCA support package will join the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch in a little under two weeks’ time on June 26/27, for the next chapter of the 2021 campaign.

TOCA support championships revved up for Snetterton scorcher

After a five week break, the TOCA support package blasts back into life at Snetterton this weekend (June 12/13) with two championships looking to pick up where they left off last time out at Thruxton and a further three lifting the curtain on their 2021 campaigns.

Taking centre stage alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at the Norfolk venue, the weekend will also see spectators make a triumphant return trackside for the first time in more than 18 months.

Undoubtedly set to entertain those in attendance will be the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship, with three races scheduled to play out around the 2.99-mile circuit. At Thruxton, the next generation of motorsport stars arguably stole the show and you’d be hard pressed for them not to do the same again.

Tom Edgar and Callum Voisin shared the spoils at the high-speed Hampshire venue however they were just two of several standout performers. Seb Hopkins, Aston Millar, Freddie Tomlinson and Will Jenkins all featured at the front and each one of them, along with many more, will be keen to become the latest race winner.

The 10th Anniversary season of the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup begins this weekend and it fields a bumper grid of Pro and Pro-Am competitors that are ready to embark on what will be a frenetic battle for supremacy.

Some of the headline names to line up on the grid include 2020 title contenders Tom Hibbert and Adam Smalley; whilst the likes of Tom Emson, Josh Rattican and Carlito Miracco will all be expected to be in the mix for outright honours too.

One of the most eagerly-anticipated categories to get underway this year is the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. Boasting an ultra-competitive grid, many eyes will be focused on the battle between defending champion Harry King and returning double champion Dan Cammish.

Having been left without a BTCC drive this season, Cammish has returned to the series he once dominated and is set to take the fight to King, who reigned supreme in dominant fashion last year. It won’t just be about Cammish and King though, with a host of renowned names eager to make their mark.

James Dorlin, Kiern Jewiss, Lewis Plato, Lorcan Hanafin and Jamie Orton are just a handful of drivers that could stake their claim to what is already being billed as one of the closest Carrera Cup GB seasons in recent memory.

Another championship that is set to blast into life will be the MINI CHALLENGE JCW. The one-make series proved to be a smash-hit last year on the TOCA package and more edge-of-the-seat thrills are expected once again this year.

With a blend of experienced and rookie drivers making up this year’s grid, all bets look to be off as the chase to follow in the footsteps of 2020 champion Nathan Harrison kicks off.

Rounding out the weekend’s action will be a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. Home to the latest crop of single-seater stars, James Hedley holds the early advantage after claiming a pair of wins at Thruxton.

To find out more information on this weekend’s second event of the BTCC season, including links to live timing and the timetable, CLICK HERE.

Don’t forget that LIVE race day coverage will begin at 11:00 on ITV4 this Sunday.

TOCA support package aims to take centre stage at Thruxton opener

It won’t just be the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship that lifts the curtain on its 2021 season at Thruxton this weekend (May 8/9) as the TOCA support package turns a wheel for the first time.

Marking the start of what is set to be another frenetic season of racing, five categories will descend on the Hampshire venue to tackle what is the fastest circuit on the calendar – and it is not to be missed.

The Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship bursts into life with a mammoth grid of 27 teenage talents – the largest entry list for a season opener in the series’ history – aiming to take centre stage.

With a number of seasoned racers being joined by a raft of rookies, the battle for supremacy this year looks set to be as competitive as ever; especially as reigning champion Tom Lebbon has stepped up to BRDC British F3.

Returning drivers Tom Edgar, Freddie Tomlinson, Will Jenkins, Aston Millar, Josh Millar and Seb Hopkins will hope to utilise their previous experience however the frenetic nature of the championship could see anyone stake their claim to the crown early on over the course of the weekend’s two races.

The Juniors won’t be the only Ginetta representatives at Thruxton either as the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge kicks off its tenth season. The championship is renowned for producing some of the closest and most exciting one-make racing in the UK, and that’s sure to continue this year as the series embarks on a new four-class format after merging grids with the Ginetta G40 Cup.

Notable names to look out for include Josh Steed, Conner Garlick, Connor Grady, Magnus Kriklywi and Owen Hizzey, amongst many more.

Coming off the back of hugely successful maiden season last year, the Porsche Visit Cayman Islands Sprint Challenge GB will also be in attendance as it kick starts its 2021 campaign.

Home to the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4, the series looks set to grow in stature this year as it fields a grid of second and first year drivers. Some names to cast a watchful eye over include Theo Edgerton, Ethan Hawkey, Jack Bartholomew, Marcus Armstrong and Ambrogio Perfetti.

The Quaife MINI CHALLENGE Trophy heads for Thruxton for the second round of the season this weekend, with action aplenty expected from a packed grid of Cooper class cars.

Matt Hammond grabbed the early initiative at Snetterton two weeks ago and he will be keen to continue his strong start to the year across the weekend’s three races. The chasing pack of Dominic Wheatley, Lee Pearce and defending champion Harry Nunn will undoubtedly be keen to ensure that doesn’t happen.

Rounding out the weekend’s action will be a trio of contests from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. Home to the next generation of single seater stars, the series has garnered a reputation for spring-boarding the careers of many, the most popular being current F1 driver Lando Norris.

Boasting an entry list that encompasses drivers from right around the globe, this weekend looks to be closely fought with the likes of James Hedley, Abbi Pulling, Matias Zagazeta and Roman Bilinski all in the mix for outright honours.

To find out more information on this weekend’s BTCC opener, including the official entry list and timetable, CLICK HERE. Check out the official Digital Programme for the event HERE. You can watch all the action live on ITV4 from 10:50 on Sunday.

MINI CHALLENGE to join TOCA support package from 2020

The MINI CHALLENGE will join the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship support bill full-time from the 2020 season onwards, further cementing itself as one of the country’s leading tin top championships.

In what is a multi-year deal for the one-make category, the MINI CHALLENGE will fill the vacant slot which will be left by the Renault UK Clio Cup – which will cease come the end of the 2019 campaign.

The top-flight CHALLENGE JCW Championship, which caters for the latest version of MINI’s 265bhp hot hatchback running on Dunlop slick racing tyres, is planned to feature at eight of the planned 10 BTCC weekends whilst the Cooper CHALLENGE will get a chance to shine on the remaining two fixtures. The exact split of dates has yet to be finalised.

Anthony Williams, MINI CHALLENGE Promoter, said: “The deal to join the TOCA package represents one of, if not the biggest moment in the history of the MINI CHALLENGE and it’s certainly something we’ve been working very hard towards over the last few seasons.

“The JCW is now a proven, purpose-built race car and driver feedback has suggested that it is the closest thing out there to the thrill of driving a full NGTC touring car, making the CHALLENGE an ideal feeder category toward the BTCC. During recent seasons we’ve had many BTCC teams come to join us, and we’re proud to boast a string of alumni drivers who have gone on to race successfully in the BTCC.

“Running in support of the UK’s biggest circuit racing championship will only strengthen that link further and we have to also thank our superb tyre partner Dunlop for its support in working toward this deal. We’ve enjoyed very healthy grids in recent seasons, and we fully expect that to continue as part of the TOCA package.

“The deal is also brilliant news for the Cooper CHALLENGE. Electing to run the JCWs at eight of the 10 rounds helps keep budgets under control, and also gives us the chance to elevate the Coopers onto the main stage and show the strength of the MINI CHALLENGE at all its levels.”

BTCC Series Director Alan Gow added: “We’ve kept an eye on the development of the MINI CHALLENGE over the last few years and it’s clear that it’s a very popular and competitive championship.

“At TOCA we are keen to showcase not just the British Touring Car Championship, but also the cream of national racing categories to our audiences both at the circuits and on TV.

“Recent years have certainly shown that the MINI CHALLENGE is an ideal feeder category for drivers aspiring toward a career in the BTCC and I’m sure the championship will be an excellent fit within our 2020 weekends and beyond.”