The British Automobile Racing Club put on a show around Snetterton’s 300 circuit this past weekend (May 13/14) as a number of championships continued their 2023 campaigns with two days of exceptional action-packed racing.
In what marked the first of several visits to the Norfolk venue for the Club over the course of this season, five categories took centre stage to write the latest chapter of their stories – and they didn’t disappoint those that were watching in attendance and at home via live stream.
One of the leading lights to emerge from the weekend was last year’s Junior Saloon Car champion and winner of the prestigious Peter Collins Trophy at the BARC Championship Awards Evening in February, Maximus Hall.
Hot on the heels of an impressive debut outing in the Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE Trophy last month, Hall didn’t put a wheel wrong at Snetterton to ignite his championship charge with two overall victories and a second place finish.
Three frenetic contests – the first of which was won by Nicky Taylor, who had only landed in the country after holidaying in Florida on Saturday morning – around the 2.97-mile layout produced an abundance of overtaking and it was Hall that starred as one of the big movers across both days.
The battle for supremacy across the Morphmy Caterham Graduates Championship ramped up over the course of Saturday and Sunday as the popular single-manufacturer series delivered an impressive six bouts.
In the combined Sigma 150 and Sigmax races, James Wingfield opened his account for the season with a narrow – just 0.048 of a second in fact – win over defending champion Harry Senior. Race two saw Senior strike back with a win of his own but he could do nothing to stop Wingfield from doubling his tally later on in a frenetic finale.
Over in the Sigma 135 category, a bumper 31-car grid had everyone on the edge of their seats as Theo Theato, Ben Wheatley and Richard Groom each claimed a hard-fought win apiece.
Jason West and James Card proved to be the standout performers in the Kumho BMW Championship, with West coming out on top of two captivating encounters with a pair of impressive victories.
Barely anything could split the top two throughout the weekend however it was West that proved too have just enough in hand to stay ahead of multiple title winner and Brands Hatch victor Card.
Over in the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship, spoils were shared as reigning champion Steve McDermid ramped up his title defence with an impressive first victory of the year. Scott Bugner – who was twice a winner at last month’s curtain-raiser – also chalked up yet another win in Sunday’s second bout.
Elsewhere, Luca Staccini Anzanello became the latest race winner in the OT Publishing Coupe Cup with Toyo Tyres. The Italian was perfection personified as he topped qualifying and then triumphed in both races of the much-loved tin top series.
Fans were treated to further slip-streaming Mini action as the Dunlop National Mini Challenge supported by Mini Spares made a guest appearance on the billing. Mike Jordan charged to an impressive double win in the Se7en class whilst Jeff Smith and Kane Astin both triumphed in the Miglia races.
Concluding the weekend’s action was a 45-minute contest from the Uncle Luke’s Snetterton Saloons. After powering his BMW E46 M3 to a commanding pole position in qualifying, Bryan Bransom withstood the challenge of Kevin Clarke and Jasper Sapra to clinch victory.
To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Snetterton, CLICK HERE.
Watch all races that were streamed live across both days on the BARC’s official YouTube channel HERE.
