Porsche Sprint Challenge GB – Welcome to the BARC

Marshall storms to Donington hat-trick

Joe Marshall delivering a commanding performance to claim a clean sweep of victories in the RS Pro category.

The Team Parker Racing driver picked up where he left off in 2025, securing three wins from three races, while Australian debutant Joshua Rogers impressed with a hat-trick of podium finishes on his first real-world outing.

RS Pro: Marshall unbeatable at the front

Marshall’s weekend began with a sensational drive in Race One, charging from third to snatch victory late on.

Race One Podium (RS Pro):

Joe Marshall
Samuel Harvey
Joshua Rogers

Race Two saw drama off-track influence the result, with penalties for track limits promoting Marshall to his second win of the weekend.

Race Two Podium (RS Pro):

Joe Marshall
Joshua Rogers
Oliver Cottam

In the final race, a shortened encounter following a red flag still saw Marshall maintain his dominance to complete a perfect hat-trick.

Race Three Podium (RS Pro):

Joe Marshall
Oliver Cottam
Joshua Rogers

RS Am: Somerfield and Burden share honours

The RS Am category produced plenty of action across the weekend, with multiple drivers featuring at the front.

After post-race amendments to the opening result, Reece Somerfield was awarded victory in Race One.

Race One Podium (RS Am – revised):

Reece Somerfield
Aimee Watts
Daniel Lewis

Sunday’s races belonged to Dean Burden, who secured back-to-back victories to take an early championship lead.

Race Two Podium (RS Am):

Dean Burden
Daniel Lewis
Reece Somerfield

Race Three Podium (RS Am):

Dean Burden
Daniel Lewis
Reece Somerfield

Clubsport: Fairbrother perfect on debut

In the Clubsport category, Gabe Fairbrother emerged as the standout performer, taking three wins from three races in a dominant debut weekend.

Race One Podium (Clubsport):

Gabe Fairbrother
Gracie Mitchell
Giancarlo Romano

Race Two Podium (Clubsport):

Gabe Fairbrother
Gracie Mitchell
Giancarlo Romano

Race Three Podium (Clubsport):

Gabe Fairbrother
Gracie Mitchell
Mark McKenzie

Terrific TOCA supports shine at Donington Park

Donington Park provided the setting for an action-packed bill of TOCA support championships to begin their campaigns this past weekend (April 18-19), with each and every one of them delivering unmissable entertainment.

Tom Ovenden enjoyed the perfect start to his defence of the Power Maxed MINI CHALLENGE JCW as he claimed every point that was on offer.

Returning to defend the crown he won in the one-make series last year, Ovenden stamped his authority on the series in emphatic fashion by firstly claiming pole position in qualifying.

That was to be only the beginning for the EXCELR8 Motorsport driver however as he then swept aside the opposition to clinch three race wins, and accompanied them with a hat-trick of fastest laps as well.

Sam Gornall, Nathan Edwards, Max Edmundson and Charlie Hand emerged as the closest challengers to Ovenden, with each of them standing on the podium at least once over the course of the weekend.

A record 31-car grid lined up for the opening three rounds of the Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA, where three different drivers having stood on the top step of the podium.

Title favourite and McLaren Development Driver Dries Van Langendonck claimed a commanding lights-to-flag victory in race one before his Rodin Motorsport team-mate Ethan Lennon then came to the fore to win a truncated second contest.

Van Langendonck returned to the head of the field in the weekend’s finale however he was adjudged to have caused a collision with Theo Palmer and was handed a time penalty, which in-turn promoted Joseph Smith to top spot.

Over in the Porsche Carwow Carrera Cup Great Britain, Junior GB driver Callum Voisin made the perfect start to the season as he hustled his Century Motorsport machine to victory in a fast and furious opener.

Marking his debut in style, Voisin was the class of the field in race one however he was unable to repeat the feat in the partially reversed grid bout, which was won for the first time by the experienced Ollie Jackson.

The Porsche Carwow Sprint Challenge Great Britain also wowed the crowds under the flight path of East Midlands airport, with three races and one driver standing head and shoulders above the rest.

After narrowly missing out on the coveted crown last year, Joe Marshall is back for a second season and the Team Parker Racing driver made the perfect start to his title challenge as he snared victory in all three races.

Rounding out the support race action on the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship bill was a guest appearance from the Legends Cars Championship, which was starting its Elite Cup.

Six breathtaking races culminated in wins falling the way of Aaron Cooke, Tyler Read and Andy Bird.

To view the full classification of results from all championships on the Donington Park bill, CLICK HERE.

BTCC headlines British battles this weekend

The TOCA package led by the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, organised and officiated by the British Automobile Racing Club is ready for the season opener this weekend at Donington Park (18-19 April).

Supporting the BTCC will be packed grids on a busy timetable across Saturday and Sunday. MINI Challenge JCW, Porsche Carwow Carrera Cup Great Britain, Wera Tools F4 British Championship, certified by FIA, Porsche Carwow Sprint Challenge Great Britain all kick-start their seasons under the spotlight of the ITV cameras this weekend.

The BARC will also have a presence in the south downs with the Goodwood Members’ Meeting taking place at the Sussex Goodwood circuit.

When is the next BARC weekend?
The next events will be this weekend – 18th/19th April

Where are the events being held?
Donington Park National
Address: Donington Park, Castle Donington, Derby, DE74 2BN

Goodwood Members’ Meeting
Address: Goodwood Motor Circuit, Chichester PO18 0PH

What is racing this weekend?
Donington Park – Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, MINI Challenge JCW, Porsche Carwow Carrera Cup Great Britain, Wera Tools F4 British Championship, certified by FIA, Porsche Carwow Sprint Challenge Great Britain.

Over at Goodwood there is a whole host of machinery in action. From Formula 1, Touring Cars, Sports Cars and Bikes.

How can I watch?

At Home
The TOCA Donington Park race weekend package will be broadcast live and for free on ITV4 and ITVX on Saturday and Sunday in the UK.

This weekend’s race day action will feature on the home of the BTCC, ITV4, from 10:45 on Sunday (19 April), while the ITV YouTube page will host the Qualifying Race and Qualifying on Saturday (18 April) from 13:50.

As in 2025, each race day of the season – including all support series’ races – will be streamed LIVE around the globe on the BTCC YouTube channel, with the exception of the UK and North America, which have existing broadcast arrangements.

The BTCC will be aired LIVE in North America (US and Canada), continuing the multi-year agreement with the RACER Network, streaming live and on demand as part of a long-term agreement with the championship.

The Goodwood Member’s Meeting will be streamed throughout the weekend over on the Goodwood Road and Racing YouTube channel.

At the Track
Wanting to soak up the on-track action in person? Tickets are available on the day or on the Donington website from £23 for a Saturday ticket or £36 for a Sunday ticket – with weekend options available from £49.
Tickets can be purchased from here: https://www.donington-park.co.uk/2026/april/kwik-fit-british-touring-car-championship

Over at Goodwood – the event is sold out for 2026 and race goers are advised to sign-up GRRC Fellowship for ticket updates.

What time are things happening on track?

Track action begins at 09:05 on Saturday and 09:10 on Sunday at Donington Park, with BTCC races at 11:30, 14:40 and 17:30 on Sunday. Don’t forget the Saturday Qualifying Race – that will be at 15:05 on Saturday.

At Goodwood there is a packed timetable with track action from 09:15 on Saturday and 09:00 on Sunday.

Do you have any more information?

We have a few other handy links that might be useful to help you enjoy your weekend.

Donington
Live Timing and Commentary: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/261603
Timetable*: www.barc.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/HQ51-Timetable-v5.pdf
Watch Link: www.itv.com/btcc

Goodwood
Entry List: www.youtube.com/@GoodwoodRR
Timetable*: www.goodwood.com/motorsport/members-meeting/plan-your-day/timetable/
Watch Link: www.itv.com/btcc

* Subject to adjustments prior and during the race meeting

The TOCA titans are back in business this weekend and always provide great racing in every category.

TOCA package ready for blockbuster 2026 season

The TOCA weekends are back and the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship and its ultra-competitive support package are set to deliver another thrilling year of action in 2026, with packed grids, exciting new names and returning stars across every category.

BTCC: Big stars, new cars and fresh storylines

Britain’s premier motorsport series, supported by the British Automobile Racing Club returns with renewed intensity as the 2026 campaign promises a blend of established front-runners and exciting new talent.

A host of driver changes, technical developments and highly anticipated debuts set the stage for what is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable seasons in recent years.

With the championship continuing to showcase some of the best tin-top racing in the world, fans can expect the usual wheel-to-wheel action across the UK’s most iconic circuits as the battle for supremacy unfolds. Will Ash Sutton drive to five? Will Tom Ingram net a hat-trick? How will the new Plato Racing team fare? Will the Phoenix rise from the flames over at the Power Maxed camp with their new Audis?

So many stories just waiting to unfold. The talking stops and the driving begins.

British F4: Record-breaking grid signals bright future

The Wera Tools, F4 British Championship, certified by FIA continues to go from strength to strength, with a record 31-car grid confirmed for the 2026 season.

As the first step on the single-seater ladder for many young drivers, the championship remains a crucial proving ground for emerging talent graduating from karting. Running alongside the BTCC package, it delivers fast-paced, closely fought racing while helping shape the stars of tomorrow.

The expanded grid highlights the growing interest in the series and reinforces its status as one of the UK’s leading development categories. All eight teams one a race last year with 15 different drivers standing on the top step. We can’t wait to see what happens in 2026!

Porsche Carrera Cup GB: Sprint Challenge adds new dimension

The Porsche Carwow Carrera Cup Great Britain returns with its trademark blend of precision engineering and high-level competition, once again forming a key part of the TOCA support package.

Featuring identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars, the championship places the spotlight firmly on driver skill, producing some of the closest GT racing in the country.

For 2026, the addition of the Sprint Challenge GB further strengthens Porsche’s presence on the grid, creating an expanded pathway within the brand’s motorsport pyramid and adding even more depth to race weekends.

MINI CHALLENGE: Tin-top thrills continue

Rounding out the package, the ever-popular Mini Challenge UK delivers its signature close-quarters racing with packed grids across multiple classes.

A long-standing fixture of the BTCC support bill, the championship provides a competitive and accessible route into touring car racing, with many drivers using it as a stepping stone to higher categories.

Its mix of experienced racers and rising stars ensures unpredictable, action-packed contests at every round.

A must-watch season ahead

With the headline British Touring Car Championship supported by a diverse and high-quality roster of categories, the 2026 season is set to deliver full-throttle entertainment from start to finish.

From future single-seater stars in British F4 to elite GT competition in Carrera Cup and door-to-door battles in the MINI CHALLENGE, the TOCA package once again underlines its reputation as one of the strongest national motorsport line-ups in the world.

Porsche Great Britain announce Carwow as motorsport title partner

Carwow, one of the UK’s leading online destinations for car changing, has been announced as the the official title partner of Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain and Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain for 2026.

As the new title partner, the Carwow logo will feature prominently in both championships operated by Porsche Cars Great Britain.

Furthermore, the championships will be known as the Porsche Carwow Carrera Cup Great Britain and the Porsche Carwow Sprint Challenge Great Britain.

Andy McGregor, Porsche Cars Great Britain Managing Director, said: “This collaboration marks an exciting new chapter, as we unite the rich heritage of Porsche Motorsport with Carwow’s modern approach to car changing.

“We look forward to inspiring and engaging our shared audience, as we explore the synergies between us throughout the exciting racing season ahead.”

James MacNaughton, Porsche Cars Great Britain Motorsport Manager, added: “We are delighted to welcome Carwow as title partner of Porsche Carrera Cup GB and Sprint Challenge GB, as we look forward to an important year of celebrations.

“Our championships continue to go from strength to strength, forming a crucial part of the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid, and providing a springboard for ambitious drivers to realise their racing dreams.”

Ben Carter, Carwow Chief Customer Marketing and Media Officer at Carwow, concluded: “We’ve been working with Porsche for many years across our editorial titles, and this partnership is a natural fit.

“The Carrera Cup and Sprint Challenge deliver some of the most exciting racing in the UK and we can’t wait to see the championships come to life across the 2026 season.”

Porsche Cars Great Britain begins its 2026 motorsport season at Donington Park in Leicestershire on the weekend of April 18-19, where the Porsche Carwow Carrera Cup Great Britain and Porsche Carwow Sprint Challenge Great Britain will race on the BTCC support bill.

Titles decided on TOCA support package at Brands Hatch

Champions weren’t just crowned in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch this past weekend (October 4/5) as titles were also decided across the four support championships that make up the TOCA support bill.

On what was an action-packed finale around the famous Grand Prix circuit, the capacity 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 climax.

Hitech TGR’s Fionn McLaughlin capped off a scintillating season to be crowned champion at the first time of asking and in-doing so, bagged himself an invaluable 12 FIA Super Licence Points – which he will take with him into FIA Formula 3 next year.

The Red Bull Junior driver entered the final meeting of the season with a commanding 61.5-point lead, and a podium in a captivating curtain-raiser at the Kent venue was enough for him to clinch the highly-coveted crown.

In what has been a ground-breaking campaign, McLaughlin’s path to title glory has been nothing short of sublime, with the Irishman tallying a total of two pole positions, five race wins, an additional eight podiums and seven fastest laps on his way to championship superstardom.

Jimmy Piszcyk helped guide Rodin Motorsport to a second successive Teams’ Cup as he won twice around the 2.43-mile circuit whilst Chris Dittmann Racing’s Tommy Harfield also ended the year on the top step of the podium.

Over in the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain, just two points separated the top two in the standings however it was Rosland Gold by Century Motorsport’s Andrew Rackstraw that emerged victorious to secure title honours.

The South African driver entered the weekend holding a small advantage in the points over Will Martin and knowing that he just needed to shadow his chief title rival at best to ensure he walked away with the main prize.

Eden Motorsport’s Martin certainly pushed Rackstraw all the way by tallying a brace of podiums although two top-fives proved to be enough for the latter to follow in the footsteps of his team-mate George Gamble and end the year as champion.

Things were just as close in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain too with Tom Bradshaw holding off a late charge from Joe Marshall to become champion.

Marshall proved to be irresistible around the flowing Grand Prix layout, winning all three races, however that sadly wasn’t to be enough as Bradshaw tallied just enough points to bring home the coveted crown.

Rounding out the list of champions was EXCELR8 Motorsport’s Tom Ovenden, who clinched the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE JCW title.

Arriving at Brands Hatch with one hand on the title, Ovenden – who is a previous winner of the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy – held his nerve on a weekend that saw Le Mans 24-Hour winner Nick Tandy win twice to claim the biggest prize on offer.

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

Silverstone tees up grandstand finish to brilliant BTCC season

The 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will go down to the wire in less than two weeks’ time at Brands Hatch with Tom Ingram and Ash Sutton going head-to-head for the biggest prize in UK motorsport.

Holding a 33-point lead over his long-time adversary, Ingram will go into the finale in the box seat having been one of three drivers to triumph during the penultimate event of the season at Silverstone this past weekend (September 20/21).

In what was a feel-good visit to the Home of British Motor Racing, the battle for supremacy began in a wet-dry qualifying session on Saturday which culminated in West Surrey Racing’s Daryl DeLeon becoming the first Filipino driver to snare a BTCC pole position.

DeLeon would sadly be unable to convert his front row start in Sunday’s opening contest as Daniel Lloyd delivered a masterful performance to claim his first win in more than 1000 days and the first win ever for Restart Racing.

Dispatching former champions Gordon Shedden and Jake Hill in quick succession, Lloyd held his own out front and never looked like faltering. In the end the race would finish behind the safety car following a fire for Nicolas Hamilton’s Cupra, giving Lloyd the win ahead of Hill and Shedden.

Having battled his way into the top ten in race one following a lacklustre qualifying, all eyes were rightly on Ingram for race two and the Team VERTU lived up to all expectations as he cruised to his sixth win of the campaign.

Bolting on the soft tyre to his Hyundai i30 N, the 2022 title winner was up to third place at the end of the opening lap and then moments later, he was clear of the entire field. Despite having to contend with a late safety car, Ingram cruised to victory ahead of Sutton and Hill.

Arguably the biggest cheer of the weekend was saved for the reverse grid finale as NAPA Racing UK’s Sam Osborne produced a flawless driver to clinch a memorable maiden victory.

Starting from pole position virtue of the reverse grid draw, the Ford Focus ST driver had to contend with race-long pressure from Josh Cook in the Toyota however Osborne was wheel-perfect as he charged to the chequered flag ahead of Cook and Sutton.

Heading to the legendary Brands Hatch circuit, Ingram holds a 33-point advantage however with 67 points still up for grabs, nothing is guaranteed. The battle for third place has also closed up between Hill, Dan Cammish and Dan Rowbottom.

Alliance Racing/Ford hold a two-point lead in the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ order over EXCELR8 Motorsport/Hyundai, whilst the same two outfits under their NAPA Racing UK and Team VERTU names are separated by three points in the Teams’ table.

Lloyd, Mikey Doble and Chris Smiley are blanketed by just a handful of points in the Independent Drivers’ Championship while Restart Racing have already secured an unassailable lead in the Independent Teams’ Championship.

In the battle for Jack Sears Trophy supremacy, just eight points is the difference between BMW stablemates DeLeon and Charles Rainford.

Elsewhere on the TOCA support bill, Fionn McLaughlin edged closer to the Wera Tools F4 Championship certified by FIA title as he extended his lead in the standings to 61.5 points over James Piszcyk and Martin Molnar.

The Hitech TGR driver was perfection personified to win race one of the weekend however the Red Bull Junior ace could do nothing to stop Ethan Jeff-Hall and Tommy Harfield claiming a win apiece in races two and three.

Tom Ovenden remains on course to lift the VERTU MINI CHALLENGE JCW crown after title rival Jamie Osborne was forced to sit out Silverstone on medical grounds. Max Edmundson enjoyed his strongest outing to-date as he claimed two wins while Nathan Edwards was also a winner.

Elsewhere, Matthew Kyle-Henney and Samuel Harvey shared the spoils in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain while Andrew Rackstraw and Sebastian Hopkins claimed a win apiece in the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain.

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

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 £31 for a Saturday ticket or £42 for a Sunday ticket – with weekend options available from £60. 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 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.

WSR enjoys record-breaking BTCC day at Brands Hatch

WSR and BMW enjoyed a record-breaking weekend in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch as they scored a trio of wins to become the most successful team in BTCC history.

After enduring a lack lustre curtain raiser at Donington Park last month, the Surrey-based squad bounced back in style at its home track as reigning champion Jake Hill triumphed in race one before Daryl Deleon and Charles Rainford both claimed a maiden victory apiece.

Milestones began to tumble on Saturday as Hill obliterated the qualifying lap record by more than a second to clinch pole position and set up what would ultimately be a race day to remember in front of a bumper crowd.

The Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport driver converted pole position into a relatively straight-forward victory in the opening encounter as he led every lap, while his rookie stablemate Rainford kept him honest behind.

That victory would be the 133rd in the BTCC for WSR and ensured that they were now clear at the top of the all-time leaderboard. Behind Hill and Rainford, 2022 champion Tom Ingram continued his fine start to the season with a third place finish.

Race two delivered more captivating action as Deleon scored his first-ever win. Hill fended off a number of challengers early doors but following two safety car periods, there was no stopping the teenager as he utilised the faster soft tyre to hit the front and streak clear of the opposition.

Hill’s resilient defence allowed Deleon to build up a substantial advantage over the rest of the field and by the time Adam Morgan and Ash Sutton moved into second and third respectively, they could do nothing to catch the BMW ace.

Not to be outdone, Rainford then completed a historic day for WSR as he claimed a commanding victory in just his sixth BTCC race. Charging past Hill and pole sitter Dan Rowbottom in the early exchanges, Rainford was wheel-perfect until the end to claim a sensational win.

Many fans were perched on the edge of their seats as Hill and Ingram – who had surged from 11th on the grid – became embroiled in a fascinating back-and-forth battle for second place. Hill in the held firm in the end to clinch the position.

Leaving Brands Hatch, Sutton remains in the lead of the Drivers’ Championship ahead of Ingram and Hill whilst EXCLER8 Motorsport/Hyundai remain in control of the Manufacturers/Constructors Championship.

Team VERTU lead the Teams’ Championship while Chris Smiley and Restart Racing head the early going in the Independents’ category. In the Jack Sears Trophy, Deleon has hit the front virtue of his near flawless weekend.

Of course, it wasn’t just the BTCC that starred at Brands Hatch as a number of championships that make up the TOCA support bill also made their mark around the 1.208-mile Indy circuit.

Toby Trice continued his fine start to the season in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain as he guided his Clean Racing machine to a brace of race wins.

Trice had to play second fiddle to Tom Bradshaw in the weekend’s opening contest but come Sunday he was unstoppable as he charged to a pair of lights-to-flag victories, strengthening his advantage at the top of the Drivers’ Championship in the process.

The Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy made its first appearance of the season on the BTCC support programme and as expected it didn’t disappoint with a trio of hard-fought races leaving fans wanting more.

Title contender Joshua Wilby narrowly beat Ronnie Smith and Gabe Fairbrother to top spot in race one before Alex Keens was declared the victor of race two after on-the-road winner Rhys Hurd was handed a post-race ten second time penalty.

Hurd’s Westbourne Motorsport wasted no time in putting that disappointment behind them though as Olivier Algieri claimed his first win of the season in style, beating Fairbrother and Wilby to the chequered flag in a frenetic finale.

Rounding out the weekend’s action was a one-off guest appearance from the Dutch Barn Caterham Seven Championship UK and as predicted – the racing couldn’t have been any closer around the short, sharp layout.

Matthew Armstrong kicked off proceedings with a measured drive to win race one however he could do nothing to stop Harry Senior from reigning supreme in the weekend’s remaining two bouts as he triumphed twice.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Brands Hatch, 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.