Tag: Pickup Truck Racing Championship

Blockbuster BARC track action headlines Convoy in the Park at Donington Park

The British Automobile Racing Club took centre stage at Donington Park’s Convoy in the Park this past weekend (August 10/11) as six championships hit the track to write the latest exciting chapters of their 2019 campaigns.

In what proved to be a blockbuster two days of on-track action, a bumper crowd descended on the Leicestershire venue to not only soak up the BARC championship action, but also the off-track entertainment too.

Headlining the weekend’s race schedule was eight encounters from the high-octane MV Commercial BTRA Championship. Boasting the biggest grids of the season for both classes, the second half of the season for the heavyweight behemoths proved to be nothing short of dramatic.

Division 1 saw reigning three-time champion Ryan Smith tighten his grip on the title as he scored a brace of victories whilst there were also first wins of the year for both Simon Reid and the returning Jamie Anderson.

Spoils were shared between current title holder Luke Garrett and Paul Rivett in Division 2, the pair both scooping two wins apiece whilst Steven Powell enjoyed an ultra-consistent weekend, netting four second place finishes.

The Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres saw plenty of wheel-to-wheel battles take place across the weekend’s six heats, producing no less than five different winners.

Will Gibson led the way as he visited the top step of the podium twice whilst there were also wins for reigning champion John Mickel, Paul Simmons, Sy Harraway and new championship leader Miles Rudman.

It proved to be another nail-biting event for the Pickup Truck Racing Championship as the battle for supremacy continued to intensify under the flightpath of East Midlands airport; with championship protagonists Michael Smith and George Turiccki both triumphing.

Malcolm Blackman meanwhile continued to exert his dominance in the Super Silhouette Championship as he bagged another two victories. Having seen his unbeaten run come to an end last time out, Blackman bounced back in style with a commanding performance to emerge as the victor.

Slipstreaming shenanigans came in the shape of the Mighty Minis Championship around the 1.97-mile circuit, to the delight of the crowd. Neven Kirkpatrick and Greg Jenkins were the winners both overall and in the Super Mighty Mini class whilst further back, Greg Daw and David Burns shared the spoils in the Mighty Mini category.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action at Donington Park were a pair of races from the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship – the Club’s North West Centre’s flagship series.

Boasting a healthy 38-car entry list for the weekend, the multi-class championship is home to all manner of machinery and Convoy in the Park saw Danny Winstanley and Luke Armiger run out the winners.

To view the full classification of results from each session of each championship, click here.

Seven championships set to take centre stage for Convoy in the Park at Donington Park

Donington Park will welcome the British Automobile Racing Club this weekend (August 10/11) for a titanic two days of on-track entertainment as a total of seven  championships headline at the hugely-popular Convoy in the Park.

In what is the ultimate festival of all things trucking, the two-day spectacular celebrates the world’s largest vehicles both on and off the track, along with plenty of fun for all of the family.

Taking centre stage around the 1.95-mile layout is the MV Commercial BTRA Championship. Weighing in at more than five tonnes and producing in excess of 1000bhp, the heavyweight behemoths of both Division 1 and Division 2 are set to dazzle those in attendance across a blockbuster eight races.

Boasting the biggest entry list of the season so far, both classes are revved up for action with Ryan Smith leading the way in Division 1. Having been the man to beat up to now, the reigning champion has been in relentless form recently and will bid to continue his winning streak against the likes of David Jenkins, John Newell and Stuart Oliver.

Meanwhile, a titanic scrap for supremacy in Division 2 is set to continue with the likes of Steve Powell, Paul Rivett, Brad Smith and John Bowler leading the chase for defending champion and series leader Luke Garrett.

Dwarfed in size by the titans of the BTRA, the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres is set to be a smash-hit over the course of the weekend with no less than six races scheduled to take place.

After a lengthy ten-week break Legends return to action with multiple champion John Mickel topping the standings after scoring his first win of the year last time out. Challengers come from all angles however with the likes of Miles Rudman, Marcus Pett, Connor Mills, Sean Smith, James Hall-Morton and Sy Harraway all having triumphed this year as well.

There will be plenty of edge-of-the-seat entertainment from the Pickup Truck Racing Championship as the battle for supremacy rages on. In what has been an ultra-competitive season to-date, no less than seven different drivers have stood on the top step of the podium and that number could well rise as the year progresses.

Michael Smith, Dale Gent, Reece Jones, George Turiccki, Mark Willis, David O’Regan and Paul Tompkins have tasted victory thus far and any one of them could add to their win tallies around the challenging curves of Donington Park.

Small in stature but packing a punch under the bonnet, expect plenty of scintillating slipstreaming action from the Mighty Minis Championship. Split into two classes, Mighty Mini and Super Mighty Mini, depending on engine capacity, the single-make series is as close as can be currently.

Nothing separates Dave Burns and Greg Daw in Class A at the standings summit whilst Owen Edgley, Dan Heywood and Paul Ogborn are all within touching distance too. Class B meanwhile sees an equally close scrap for top spot with Neven Kirkpatrick, Steve Rideout and Greg Jenkins leading the way. With two races here, and many more on the horizon.

The BARC Super Silhouette Championship has seen its fair share of action over the course of the season so far and that theme is set to continue under the flightpath of East Midlands airport.

Catering for spaceframe coupe and saloon cars that have been built to strict regulations, Malcolm Blackman and Chris Brockenhurst have shared the spoils up to now and could well be in the mix to triumph further this weekend. Don’t discount the likes of Steve Burrows, Keith White and Michael Thurley; all of whom will be keen to take their first wins of the season too.

The BARC North West Centre’s flagship category, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship, will be in action with two pulsating encounters.

Notable names to cast a watchful eye over include overall championship leader Robert Burkinshaw, Dave Harvey, Paul Dobson, Jon Woolfit, Garry Wardle, David Green and Danny Winstanley, who scored victory at Oulton Park last time out on his series debut.

Breaking ground in its inaugural year, SmarTrack Series will continue to make waves with its awe-inspiring grid of Jaguar XE Project 8’s. Launched for the more mature racing driver and offering a turnkey racing opportunity, the one-make category has made several appearances in 2019 already – turning heads wherever it has been.

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

Four BARC categories make a splash at Mallory Park

The British Automobile Racing Club battled treacherous conditions at Mallory Park this past Sunday (July 28) to serve up a plethora of on-track entertainment, with four categories taking centre stage.

Having basked in scorching temperatures leading up to the one-day event, the Leicestershire-based venue saw heavy rain fall throughout the meeting, adding further spice to what was set to be an action-packed meeting.

Tackling the iconic oval layout of Mallory Park for the first time this season, the Pickup Truck Racing Championship didn’t disappoint as it continued its 2019 campaign in sensational style.

Dale Gent produced a storming drive in the opening encounter to power his machine from seventh place on the first lap onto a second victory of the season – by more than five seconds as well. Daniel Petters and George Turiccki rounded out the podium in second and third.

Race two saw championship leader Michael Smith come to the fore as he narrowly edged out Reece Jones to win by little over half a second, strengthening his position as one of the main title protagonists this year. Mark Willis headed Gent by the smallest of margins to claim a distant third.

Spoils were shared in the Max5 Racing Championship as Paul Roddison finally saw his winning streak come to an end, with Ian Loversidge getting the better of the reigning champion in race two.

Standing on the top step of the podium at every opportunity this season, Roddison’s victory-run looked set to continue as the Class A ace powered his way to victory in race one ahead of Loversidge and Jeremy Shipley.

Loversidge then produced a commanding performance in the afternoon’s later race to lead from lights-to-flag, notching his first win of the season whilst Shipley and Roddison followed close behind to round out the rostrum.

The BARC Super Silhouette Championship also saw an unbeaten run come to an end too as Chris Brockenhurst scored his inaugural victory of 2019, ending Malcolm Blackman’s unbeaten run.

The 11-lap race was to be the only one for the silhouette category as the second encounter was cancelled.

Capping off the day’s action at Mallory Park was a trio of races from the Distrigo Parts Distribution Citroen C1 Series. Staging sprint races instead of its traditional history-making endurance races, the much-loved one-make series put on a show for those in attendance.

Spy Motorsport’s Joshua Potter scored victory in races one and three whilst Texense driver Stephen James ensured that Potter couldn’t take a clean sweep in race two.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Mallory Park, click here.

BARC set to produce Mallory Park magic on Sunday

The British Automobile Racing Club’s sensational summer of club motorsport is set to continue at Mallory Park this Sunday (July 28) as four categories descend on the Leicestershire circuit for what should be an action-packed race day.

In what has proven to be a captivating Pickup Truck Racing Championship campaign to-date, the infamous oval layout of Mallory Park will play host to the latest two rounds of much-loved championship.

Four events have already been put into the books, producing seven different winners however all eyes will be on Michael Smith as he bids to extend his lead in the standings. Hitting the front last time out at Thruxton, Smith enters the weekend as leader of the pack and will be keen to extend his advantage over George Turiccki.

Other notable names to look out for across both encounters include Dale Gent, David O’Regan, Mark Willis, Reece Jones and Paul Tompkins, all of whom have won races.

The Max5 Racing Championship will reach the halfway marker of its own 2019 season and if the previous three events are anything to go by then those in attendance will be in for a feast of on-track entertainment.

It has proven to be another ultra-competitive season for the multi-class championship and it is expected that the likes of serial race-winner Paul Roddison, Ian Loversidge, Andrew Pretorius and Jeremy Shipley will all be in the mix for overall honours.

A history-making Distrigo Parts Distribution Citroen C1 Series campaign will continue too during race day as the one-make series makes its maiden visit to Mallory Park for an exhilarating trio of 20-minute races.

Running under a sprint format as opposed to its traditional endurance spectacles, the single-make category has flourished in recent years, growing in stature along the way. With entertainment only around the corner in the C1’s, it will be a case of blink and you’ll miss the action on Sunday.

Capping off the day’s action from the infamous circuit will be a pair of races from the BARC Super Silhouette Championship. Home to spaceframe coupe and saloon cars, the category is designed to encourage close competition and keep costs down – something that has taken place in spades already this year.

With two trips to Brands Hatch and one to Pembrey ticked off, the day’s two races will likely be centred around whether Malcolm Blackman can continue his rich vein of form. Winning every race so far, Blackman leads the standings but will likely come under threat from the likes of Steve Burrows, Keith White and Chris Brockenhurst.

To find out more information on this Sunday’s event, including links to the timetable and live timing, click here.

Thruxton serves up scorching weekend of BARC championship action

The British Automobile Racing Club served up a scorching two days of racing around the fastest circuit in the UK, Thruxton, this past weekend (June 29/30) as a host of championships took centre stage in Hampshire.

Basking in the searing sun, spectators that lined the bankings across both days were treated to a feast of entertainment as temperatures continued to rise both on and off the track.

Headlining the weekend were no less than seven races from the MV Commercial BTRA Championship, all of which delivered exhilarating thrills and spills.

Division 1 of the heavyweight behemoths saw Ryan Smith serve up a perfect performance as he clinched pole position and then all four race wins. David Jenkins was to be Smith’s closest challenger but the former champion could do nothing to stop the MAN driver.

Luke Garrett came close to doing the same in Division 2 as he secured a hat-trick of race wins around the high-speed venue. Clinching pole position, Garrett won the opener and then a further two races on Sunday, with Steve Powell the only driver able to knock him off the top step of the podium.

Having thrown up plenty of unpredictability leading into the event, the Pickup Truck Racing Championship continued to deliver a nail-biting battle towards the sharp end of the grid – with Mark Willis and Michael Smith sharing the spoils.

The Luna Logistics Classic Formula Ford 1600 Championship produced a spectacular pair of races, rolling back the years in emphatic style. Tim Harvey enjoyed a near perfect weekend around the ultra-fast venue to take the lead in the overall standings.

Triumphing in the opening encounter, the former BTCC champion narrowly missed out on a second win by 0.187 as Rick Morris bounced back from a frustrating race one to round out the weekend on the top step of the podium.

There was plenty of drama in the Mighty Minis Championship as those in attendance were treated to a raft of slipstreaming thrills and spills. Just 0.024 separated Stuart Coombs and Greg Jenkins in race one, with Coombs getting the better of his rival to score a hard-earned win.

Jenkins would strike back in the second race of the weekend as he fended off a swarm of challengers to narrowly pip Neven Kirkpatrick to the chequered flag.

Elsewhere, the BARC Clubmans Sports Prototype Championship in association with King Henry’s Taverns provided plenty of entertainment with Clive Wood in dominant mood as he swept his way to a hard-earned hat-trick of wins.

In the Kumho BMW Championship, Garrie Whittaker continued his winning streak with a dominant performance, extending his unbeaten run in 2019 as well. Arriving as the man to beat in the single manufacturer category, the E36 M3 driver exerted his status as the man to beat by scoring wins in both races by more than 30 seconds.

Rounding out the weekend’s action at Thruxton was a pair of races from the Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup. Wayne Rockett recorded his fifth win on the bounce in the opener but saw his winning streak come an end later in the day as Nick Moore struck to notch his first win of the year.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions across each championship, click here.

Thruxton’s next major event of the year takes place on August 2/3/4 in the shape of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli.

Thruxton revved up for blockbuster BARC race weekend

The home of the British Automobile Racing Club, Thruxton Circuit, will play host to a blockbuster two days of track action this weekend (June 29/30) as the MV Commercial BTRA Championship descends on Hampshire with a bumper supporting cast.

In what is one of the highlights of the season for the fastest track in the UK, a total of seven championships will go wheel-to-wheel around the much-loved venue as they each write the latest chapter in their 2019 campaigns.

Headlining the weekend’s action will be no less than seven races from the MV Commercial BTRA Championship. Weighing in at more than five tonnes and producing in excess of 1000bhp, the heavyweight behemoths have delivered all-out action so far this year, and it’s only set to continue.

Division 1 currently sees three-time champion Ryan Smith in control of the points after making a flying start to the year. Aiming to become a four-time title winner, Smith has a wave of momentum behind him however fierce rival David Jenkins will be keen to halt his progress and close the gap.

Luke Garrett meanwhile has taken on the role of defending champion in Division 2 with relative ease, leading the way in the points after two events. Notching four wins so far, Garrett will be one to watch as he bids to extend his advantage over the chasing pack – made up of Paul Rivett, Steve Powell, Brad Smith and more.

Whilst Division 1 and Division 2 will compete in three races each, the fourth and final encounter will see both grids combine – bringing the curtain down on the weekend in sensational style.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship has kicked off the year in ultra-competitive fashion with six different winners from the first seven races. George Turiccki leads the pack into the weekend’s two races however staying there may prove difficult, with the competition being as fierce as it is.

Dale Gent, David O’Regan, Reece Jones, Paul Tompkins and Michael Smith are the other victors so far and any one of them could top the podium over the course of the two days.

Slipstreaming will be on full display in the Mighty Minis Championship as a bumper entry list of the iconic car duke it out for supremacy. Renowned for producing edge-of-the-seat thrills, both the Mighty Mini and Super Mighty Mini classes will be in attendance for a pair of thrilling races.

Notable names to keep an eye on over the course of the event include Alex Comis, Owen Edgley and Neven Kirkpatrick, amongst many more.

Speaking of cars from a bygone era, fans of single seaters will be well catered for in the shape of the Luna Logistics Classic Formula Ford 1600 Championship. Rick Morris and Tim Harvey have emerged as the form men early on, the pair separated by just a point, however a whole host of contenders could come to the fore and challenge their status. 

Open-wheeled action will also be served up in the shape of the BARC Clubmans Sports Prototype Championship in association with King Henry’s Taverns. Unique in every manner, the championship has packed grid and delivers non-stop entertainment, with the likes of Peter Richings, Barry Webb and Pippa Tanner-Wood just some of the stars of the show.

Tin top thrills will come in the shape of the Kumho BMW Championship, where Garrie Whittaker will be aiming to extend his winning streak. Showcasing some of the most awe-inspiring models from the Bavarian brand, the Kumho BMW contingent have become a haven for doorhandle-to-doorhandle thrills and spills, with Thruxton set to be no different.

Rounding out the weekend’s action will be a pair of races from the Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup. Continuing to grow in stature as each year passes, the Coupe Cup contingent have raised the bar each year and the 2019 crop of racers are in demand by fans.

Wayne Rockett has won every race run so far and you’d not bet against him from being amongst the front-runners, alongside Alex Cursley and Nick Moore, either.

Tickets are available to purchase on the gate from £15 on Saturday and £20 on Sunday. Further information regarding ticketing can be found at http://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/trucks.

For more information on this weekend’s event at Thruxton, such as links to timetables and live timing, click here.

Legends UK, Pickup Truck Racing & Super Silhouettes star at American Speedfest

Brands Hatch brought a flavour of the USA to Kent in the shape of American Speedfest this past weekend (June 1/2), and three British Automobile Racing Club championships took centre stage to put on a star-studded performance.

In what is billed as the biggest celebration of American-fuelled motoring, music and racing this side of the Atlantic, the two-day event welcomed a bumper crowd – all of whom got the full stars and stripes treatment.

Alongside the likes of Euro NASCAR and Bernie V8s that all took to the track, the BARC trio of the Legends UK National Championship with MRF Tyres, Pickup Truck Racing Championship and the BARC Super Silhouettes Championship were also in action.

Having last been action just a week previous at Anglesey, the 5/8 scale Legends contingent wrote the latest chapter in what has already been storybook season for them.

Saturday saw three different winners come to the fore across the day’s three races, with a popular winner triumphing in the final. Storming to pole position in qualifying, Marcus Pett scored victory in race one before Sean Smith triumphed in race two.

Donning the mantel of defending champion and teamed up with a special level for Legends’ 25th Anniversary, John Mickel finally notched a first win of the season in race three of the weekend.

Another trio of races followed on Sunday at Brands Hatch for the Legends with Pett, Smith and Tom Grainger topping the rostrum.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship saw two pulsating encounters played out around the Indy circuit of Brands Hatch, and both of them will likely be crucial on the outcome of who walks away as champion.

George Turiccki struck first around the 1.20 mile layout as he piloted his machine to pole position for both races. Turiccki was unable to convert his front row start into victory however as Reece Jones emerged as the man to beat in the opening race, taking victory by seven seconds ahead of Turiccki.

Race two saw Turiccki make amends however as he stole a march on his rivals to canter to victory ahead of David O’Regan and Jones.

Rounding out the action for the BARC representatives was the ever-growing BARC Super Silhouette Championship. Already reaping the benefits of a rebrand this year, the space frame category served up a mesmerising performance for those in attendance.

Qualifying saw Chris Brockhurst lay down the gauntlet to his rivals as he topped the timesheets in qualifying from behind the wheel of his Vauxhall Tigra. However, as he has done on many occasions this year already, Malcolm Blackman was the man to beat in race one as he scored yet another victory – before then repeating the feat in race two.

For the full classification of results from American Speedfest, click here.

Sun shines on memorable weekend at Pembrey for Spring Truckfest

Pembrey Circuit served up a captivating two days of track action this past weekend (May 11/12) as several British Automobile Racing Club championships continued their 2019 campaigns.

Basking in bright sunshine throughout both days, a bumper crowd descended on the picturesque Welsh venue for one of the biggest events of the year – Spring Truckfest.

Making the first of two visits to South Wales to headline the action was the MV Commercial BTRA Championship, and all seven races didn’t disappoint. Division 1 saw the ongoing duel between reigning champion Ryan Smith and David Jenkins take another turn, as the pair squabbled for supremacy.

Smith struck first with victory in the opening encounter before Jenkins bounced back with a win of his own in race two, albeit narrowly ahead of the three-time title winner.

A stunning last lap overtake in the third encounter handed the advantage back to Smith before the three-time title winner capped off his weekend in style by completing his hat-trick in the combined finale.

In Division 2, Luke Garrett continued his march towards securing back-to-back titles with another superlative performance. Storming to pole position, the MAN driver clinched a lights-to-flag victory in the opener before doing the same in race three.

Paul Rivett scored a hugely popular first win in the series also whilst Steve Powell also tasted success by powering towards the top step of the podium in the final race of the weekend.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship served up plenty of unpredictability once more as a trio of races were played out around the 1.49 mile layout. Paul Tompkins edged out a nail-biting battle for victory in the opening race ahead of Michael Smith and Mark Willis before Reece Jones came to the fore in race two to prevail.

The third and final race from the Pickup Trucks saw Dale Gent charge towards the summit to become the third different race winner in the series.

Malcolm Blackman continued his dominant start to the year in the BARC Super Silhouette Championship with a further three wins at Pembrey. Having topped the podium twice at the Brands Hatch season-opener, Blackman extended his unbeaten start to the season with a commanding performance.

As Blackman starred Chris Brockenhurst, Steve Burrows and Danny Hunn all also picked up podium finishes.

There was further dominance in the Max5 Racing Championship as well as Paul Roddison notched two wins to extend his perfect start to the 2019 campaign. Coming off the back of claiming a sensational hat-trick of wins at Croft, Roddison underlined his credentials as the man to beat in superlative circumstances.

Roddison battled back from fourth to head Ian Loversidge and Andrew Pretorius in race one before then doing the same in race two, this time doing so from lights-to-flag.

The BARC Saloons Series, TDi North Honda VTEC Challenge and KW Automotive Classic VW Cup amalgamated together once again to give fans of all things tin tops plenty to get excited about.

William Casswell piloted his Honda Civic to the top of the rostrum in race one before the eye-catching Ford Sierra XR4i of Ashley Shelswell triumphed later on.

Rounding out the weekend’s action were a pair of races from the Welsh Sports & Saloon Car Championship which were both won by Keith Butcher.

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

Pembrey revved up and ready for two-day Spring Truckfest meeting

Pembrey Circuit is gearing up for one of the biggest events of the season in South Wales this weekend (May 11/12) as a host of British Automobile Racing Club championships descend on the popular venue for Spring Truckfest.

In what has become a marque two-day event in recent years, a bumper crowd is set to line the spectator bankings over the course of the weekend to soak up all of the on and off track entertainment, of which there is plenty for the whole family.

Headlining the on-track action will be several races from the MV Commercial BTlRA Championship. Roaring into life at Brands Hatch in style, the heavyweight behemoths head to Pembrey for the second event of the 2019 campaign and with it all to play for in both Divisions.

Ryan Smith and David Jenkins find themselves locked in a battle at the top of the points in Division 1 currently after emerging as the early pace-setters from the round one.

After ruling the roost at the season-opener, Ryan Smith and David Jenkins enter round two with nothing between them in the points. Sharing the spoils along with Stuart Oliver last time out, the pair are set to renew their rivalry further as they bid to gain the upper-hand. John Newell, Richard Collett and Simon Reid will all likely be in the mix too.

Division 2 currently sees a familiar face at the summit of the standings with Luke Garrett getting the defence of his title off to a strong start. Winning twice last time out, Garrett will be keen to continue his momentum however the likes of Steve Powell, Paul Rivett and Erik Forsstrom will be worth keeping a keen eye on too.

More truck racing action will be on offer at Pembrey in the shape of the Pickup Truck Racing Championship, which also resumes after a pulsating season-opener at Brands Hatch. Two more races from the much-loved series will likely get those in attendance on the edge of their seats from the get-go.

Those with a keen interest in all things tin tops will be well-catered for as the KW Automotive Classic VW Cup, BARC Saloon Series and TDi North Honda VTEC Challenge continue their campaigns.

All roaring into life at Silverstone a couple of weeks back, the very best in saloon car machinery will be on display over the course of the weekend with a raft of notable names to keep an eye on.

The Max5 Racing Championship will be back in action with Paul Roddison aiming to maintain his scintillating start to the year. Roddison scored a sensational hat-trick at Croft and will be eyeing further success across the weekend.

Fans will also be able to get behind a host of local drivers too as the Welsh Racing Drivers Association Championship takes centre stage. With a variety of cars set to duke it out for supremacy, the WRDA is one not to be missed.

For more information on this weekend’s event at Pembrey Circuit, click here.

BARC delivers scorching Brands Hatch bank holiday blockbuster

The British Automobile Racing Club put on an Easter extravaganza at Brands Hatch this past weekend (April 20/21/22) as eight championships basked in the bank holiday sun to produce three days of unmissable action.

Topping the bill were eight dramatic race, four for Division 1 and four for Division 2, from the MV Commercial BTRA Championship. Kicking off another season of edge-of-the-seat entertainment, the heavyweight behemoths served up a string of spellbinding performances. 

In Division 1, reigning champion Ryan Smith began the defence of his title in style as he picked up a pair of victories whilst Stuart Oliver and David Jenkins also triumphed.

There was a similar theme in Division 2 as well with reigning champion Luke Garrett making an equally flying start as he too picked up a pair of wins. Eric Forsstrom and Steve Powell left the Kent circuit with a win apiece as well whilst Paul Rivett made his mark by scoring a hat-trick of podium finishes.

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2019, the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres was back and better than ever. Renowned for close-quarter racing, the 5/8 scale championship wowed crowds from start-to-finish with a host of photo finishes.

Connor Mills prevailed as the most successful driver around the 1.2 mile circuit as he bagged three wins whilst the trio of Sy Harraway, Jack Parker and James Hall-Morton, upon which was his maiden victory in the series, shared the remaining spoils.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship is set to be wide open this year with five different drivers filling the podium across the weekend’s two races. With the void of double champion Scott Bourne needing to be filled, Michael Smith came to the fore in the curtain-raiser to beat George Turiccki and David O’Regan.

O’Regan would move up the order in the second race as he produced a scintillating performance to score victory ahead of Dale Gent and Paul Jones.

Malcolm Blackman wrote his name into the history books as the first winner in the BARC Super Silhouette Championship, which is now being run by SHP Promotions. A stalwart of the spaceframe formula, Blackman delivered a stunning lap in qualifying to bag pole position and then backed it up with victory in race one.

The former champion made it two from two later in the day but was made to work for it as he came under extreme pressure from Chris Brockhurst in the closing laps.

Wayne Rockett was at his brilliant best as a new season of the Carbon 8 Hyundai Coupe Cup got underway, notching two commanding race wins as Alex Cursley, Kevin Smiles and Nick Moore all rounded out the rostrum across the two respective races.

Saturday saw a Classic Touring Car Championship takeover with several races from its multiple classes. Mike Luck and Stephen Primett were the victors in the Pre ’83 Touring Car Championship whilst Richard Wood dominated the combined Classic Thunder & Blue Oval encounters.

Jonathan Lewis emerged as the driver to beat in the Pre ’66 Touring Car Championship, winning both races, as the amalgamated Pre ’93, Pre ’03 & Pre ’05 spoils fell the way of Don Hughes and AJ Owen.

The BARC Clubmans Sports Prototype Championship in association with King Henry’s Taverns saw Clive Wood kick off his campaign on the right as he stormed to a trio of pole positions, and then backed it up with a pair of race wins.

Dominating proceeding’s in races one and two, Wood had looked to be a sure bet to complete a clean sweep in race three however a mechanical issue when trying to leave the pit lane put an end to that dream before the race had even begun. Taking advantage of a vacant pole position spot, Peter Richings brought the curtain down on the weekend with victory.

Capping off the bank holiday weekend’s racing at the Kent circuit was a pair of races from the BARC Tin Tops Championship. Guest driver Steve Rothery piloted his Peugeot 308 to the top of the time-sheets in qualifying and then onto victory twice later on Saturday afternoon.

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

BARC revved up for Easter extravaganza at Brands Hatch

Brands Hatch is set to play host to a blockbuster Easter extravaganza this weekend (April 20/21/22) as the British Automobile Racing Club descends on the Kent circuit with eight championships for three days of door-to-door action.

A traditional fixture on the motorsport calendar for both the Club and the circuit, the Easter race weekend has provided plenty of memorable moments down the years and 2019 is likely to be no different.

Headlining the action with eight races will be the MV Commercial BTRA Championship, which roars back into life for another year. Weighing in at more than five tonnes and producing in excess of 1000bhp, the championship is a favourite among many and boasts a bumper entry list in both Division 1 & 2.

Three-time champion Ryan Smith will be the man to beat in Division 1 as he bids to write his name into the history books whilst both former champions David Jenkins and Stuart Oliver will be keen to halt the MAN juggernaut and get the jump on him early in the year.

Division 2 will see Luke Garrett begin the defence of his title however he faces a stern test from a raft of contenders including Brad Smith, Steven Powell, Simon Cole and Paul Rivett, who has made the switch from the Renault UK Clio Cup to Truck Racing full-time.

At the other end of the scale in terms of size competing at Brands Hatch is the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres. Marking the start of a milestone year for the category as it celebrates its 25th Anniversary, the 5/8 scale machines are set to wow crowds with a host of races, and a big grid all aiming to topple reigning champion John Mickel.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship will crown a new champion this year with two-time victor Scott Bourne not returning for 2019, and judging by the entry list it is set to be as wide open as ever. A blend of experienced and fresh-faced racers will line up on the grid for the opening event of the year with it all to play for.

Rebranded and running under the SHP Promotions banner, the BARC Super Silhouette Championship will kick off a new era at Brands Hatch. Formerly known as Intermarques, the space-frame machines are set to ensure pulses are racing as a strong entry list dukes it out for honours in the opening event of the season.

Those wanting to take a trip down touring car memory lane will be well catered for as the Classic Touring Car Championship continues. Kicking off the season at Oulton Park in March, the championship once again has another awe-inspiring line-up of cars and drivers, all of whom will be keen to shine at this second meeting of the year.

Brands Hatch will mark the start of new seasons for the BARC Clubmans Sports Prototype Championship in association with King Henry’s Taverns and the Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup too. Both delighting fans wherever they went in 2018, the two categories are polar opposites from each other however one theme is set to relate them around the Indy circuit and that is that they will deliver non-stop entertainment.

Capping off the action will be further saloon car thrills from the BARC Tin Tops Championship, which is open to a diverse range of machines.

In total, a scheduled 33 races are set to take place over Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Brands Hatch making it an event that is not to be missed. To find out more information on the event as a whole, click here.

British Truck Racing headlines Brands Hatch blockbuster

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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