Tag: UK Sports Prototype Cup

Where to watch BARC LIVE from Silverstone this weekend

The British Automobile Racing Club takes to the legendary Silverstone Grand Prix circuit this weekend (May 28/29/30) for one of the most eagerly-anticipated events on the UK motorsport calendar – the Citroen C1 24-hour race.

Taking centre stage at the Home of British Motor Racing, more than 50 teams are poised to battle it out around the iconic 3.64-mile layout over the course of a full day.

Before the lights turn green on the C1’s 24-hour contest though, unmissable entertainment is guaranteed to be produced by the Caterham Graduates Racing Club and Sports Prototype Cup – both of which will be in action during Saturday afternoon.

Make sure you don’t miss any of the on-track entertainment by using the key timings and links below:

Saturday Qualifying Show – Starting from 09:25 – Facebook | YouTube

Saturday Race Show – Starting from 13:20 – Facebook | YouTube

C1 24-Hour Race – Starting from 17:15 on May 29 – Facebook Pt 1 | Facebook Pt 2 | YouTube

To find out more information on this weekend’s race meeting at Silverstone, including the official entry lists and timetable, CLICK HERE.

Make sure you don’t miss any future BARC LIVE events by subscribing to our YouTube channel HERE.

Citroen C1 24-hour race set to take centre stage around Silverstone Grand Prix circuit

Silverstone’s legendary Grand Prix circuit will provide the backdrop for the British Automobile Racing Club’s latest race meeting this weekend (May 28/29/30) which will be headlined by the C1 Racing Club’s annual 24-hour race.

In what is now billed as one of the most highly-anticipated events on the UK national motorsport calendar, the one-make series will see a bumper grid tackle the Home of British Motor Racing in front of a trackside audience and thousands online.

Before the C1’s take centre stage however there will be action from the Caterham Graduates Racing Club, Sports Prototype Cup and Max5 Racing Championship.

The last time the C1 contingent competed at Silverstone – in 2019 – they re-wrote the record books by fielding the biggest grid in UK motorsport history. Boasting a mammoth 99-car grid, the category eclipsed the previous record of 75 cars which was held by the Britcar Endurance Championship.

To top things off the race saw one of the greatest comebacks in recent memory too as McAttack Racing came from the back of the grid to win the entire race. This year will undoubtedly see similar levels of drama as a grid of more than 50 cars get set to tackle the challenging 3.67-mile layout.

Notable team names to look out for during the race include Mellow Yellow Motorsport, JW Bird Motorsport, Preptech UK with CEX, Amigo Motorsport with Gala Performance, Silverlake Racing and SVG Motorsport, amongst many more.

Elsewhere, the weekend is also set to showcase the very best of UK prototype racing, as the inaugural ‘Silverstone Open’ takes place. Featuring the Sports Prototype Cup’s centrepiece category, the Revolution A-One Trophy, the format will see a bumper grid of prototype machines from a variety of categories battle it out across two 30-minute encounters.

Boasting an ultra-competitive entry list for this weekend’s first event of 2021, more than 20 drivers representing manufacturers such as Duqueine, Ligier, Radical, Gunn, MCR, CTR, as well as the Revolution A-One Trophy, will battle for outright honours.

Sir Chris Hoy, Bradley Ellis, Johnny Mowlem, Bonamy Grimes, Steven Lake and Martin Verrity are just a few of the names that will be in contention towards the sharp end of the field.

Coming off the back of two blockbuster events at Oulton Park and Snetterton, the Caterham Graduates Racing Club is back in action and with another capacity entry list.

Renowned for serving up frenetic wheel-to-wheel entertainment, the category has underlined why it has proven to be so popular this year with a host of unmissable races from its Sigmax, Sigma 135 and Sigma 150 classes.

Jamie Ellwood, Jamie Winrow, Harry Senior, Simon Grffiths, David Read and James McCall are just a handful of competitors that have enjoyed strong starts to the season, and each of them will be keen to keep the momentum going.

Capping off the weekend’s schedule at Silverstone will be an appearance from the Max5 Racing Championship, which will run on the back of one of the Caterham grids.

Around the challenging twists and turns of Cadwell last month the Max5 contingent delivered a feast of action which culminated in series stalwart Paul Roddison tallying a brace of victories ahead of Andrew Pretorius.

Roddison and Pretorius are set to renew their on-track battle this weekend and they won’t be the only drivers hoping to be in contention for the spoils on offer. Jeremy Shipley, Lee Hollin and Kimberley Nolan were all in the mix last time out and there should be no reason why they won’t be again.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event at Silverstone, such as entry lists and the timetable, CLICK HERE.

Make sure you don’t miss a single lap of the action by subscribing to the BARC’s official YouTube channel and watching live, CLICK HERE.

2020 Season Review: Sports Prototype Cup

The Sports Prototype Cup’s sophomore season proved to be a smash-hit in 2020 as it boasted bumper grids, exciting races and a debut on the international motorsport stage.

Debuting in 2019 with the aim of providing a multi-marque racing environment for lightweight sports prototype cars to race in a premium race weekend package, the category continued to grow in stature this past year as it delivered a memorable four-event campaign.

Brands Hatch provided the backdrop for the season-opener and it was Alex Kapadia who narrowly edged out Scott Mansell in race one to open his account for the year. Mansell would strike back in race two, getting the better of Bradley Ellis to take home a share of the spoils.

Rounds three and four saw the series go international for the first time, travelling to Belgium to tackle Spa Francorchamps and share the billing with the FIA World Endurance Championship. The category would produce a pair of action-packed one-hour races to show the potential of the fast-growing UK-based series on the global stage.

Morten Dons reigned supreme in the opening encounter around the legendary 4.35-mile circuit before Mansell tallied his second win of the season in a rain-affected race two.

Returning to British shores, Snetterton provided the latest stop on the calendar for two more contests and the Norfolk venue didn’t disappoint.

Spoils were ultimately split between James Abbott and Dons, each of them standing on the top step of the podium whilst there was also a podium finish for Olympic Gold Medalist Sir Chris Hoy, who was making his debut in the series.

The Sports Prototype Cup then brought its sensational season to a close back in mainland Europe, thrilling a 25,000-strong crowd as it starred at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve before the Formula 1 Heineken Grande Prémio De Portugal.

Taking centre stage alongside the biggest motor racing series in the world, an exclusive 17-car Revolution A-One Trophy field got plenty of pulses racing. 

Michel Frey claimed a commanding lights-to-flag victory in race one before Kapadia came to the fore to win the final race of the season. Kapadia’s victory would cement his position as the top ranked Cup driver of the 2020 season.

Work has already begun on the 2021 calendar for the series, with a mix of national and international premium events set to make up the schedule.

Sports Prototype Cup stars on Formula 1 support bill in Portugal

The Sports Prototype Cup thrilled a 25,000-strong crowd this past weekend (October 24/25) as it starred at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve before the Formula 1 Heineken Grande Prémio De Portugal.

In what has been a sensational sophomore year for the lightweight sports prototype series, a 17-car field took centre stage alongside the biggest motor racing category in the world to round out its season with two blockbuster races.

Exclusively for the Revolution A-One Trophy class, race one saw Michel Frey claim a commanding lights-to-flag victory at the second time of asking after a red flag halted proceedings at the end of the opening tour originally.

Converting his front row start into a lead that he never looked like losing, Frey produced a virtuoso performance to beat Morten Dons by little under a second whilst Jesse Menczer rounded out the podium in third for Excelr8 Motorsport.

Race two saw Alex Kapadia come to the fore as he powered his Mike Smith Motorsport/Breakell Racing Revolution to the chequered flag.

Taking over driving duties from Dons, Kapadia fended off the early challenge of James Abbott through the opening sequence of corners but soon settled into a groove and opened up a gap of more than a second to triumph, with Abbott and Richard Wells rounding out the rostrum.

Kapadia’s victory cemented his position as the top ranked Cup driver of the 2020 season as well.

Work has already begun on the 2021 calendar for the series, with a mix of national and international premium events set to make up the schedule.

Goodyear confirmed as tyre supplier for Sports Prototype Cup

Goodyear has been confirmed as the sole tyre supplier for the Sports Prototype Cup, with the partnership set to begin at the categories Formula 1 support race showing at the Portuguese Grand Prix later this month.

The Sports Prototype Cup features classes for the Revolution Trophy and for other prototype cars such as Radicals and now in its second season, this latest partnership is a sign of the continued upward trajectory the category is taking.

Goodyear’s partnership with the Sports Prototype Cup is the latest step in its renewed commitments to motorsport having been appointed tyre suppliers to the likes of the British Touring Car Championship, FIA World Touring Car Cup and FIA World Endurance Championship LMP2 category during the past two years.

Plans are already afoot for the Sports Prototype Cup’s 2021 season, with the calendar featuring a number of UK based rounds alongside a handful of international races as well.

Sports Prototype Cup boasts biggest grid of its short history for F1 weekend appearance

The Sports Prototype Cup will field the biggest grid of its short history later this month as it takes centre stage alongside the Formula 1 Heineken Grande Prémio De Portugal at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve.

Announced as a support race for Formula 1’s return to Portugal on October 24/25, the ever-growing category will look to make its mark on the weekend with two races – one before f1 qualifying on Saturday and the other before the Grand Prix on Sunday.

As it stands, a total of 20 drivers have entered to compete, with 17 Revolution A-One machines set to hit the track. The appetite to race in the series is underlined by its rapid rise having only debuted a little over a year ago.

Heading the entry list – which boasts drivers from ten different nationalities – is 2020 race winners Alex Kapadia and Morten Dons, whilst many will be keen to see how Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy fares.

Phil Abbott, Managing Director of Revolution Race Cars, said: “The strength of the grid is impressive both in terms of numbers and team and driver quality. We only announced this race eight weeks ago and for twenty drivers to commit in such a short period of time provides us with a great platform ahead of the 2021 season.”

James Bailey, Director of PitBox91 and Promoter of the Sports Prototype Cup added: “The launch of this event has shone a spotlight on the brilliance of the Revolution A-One’s design and performance. We are proud to have a long-term agreement to grow this class.

“It’s helped us grow our grid size and sets us up well for our multi-class race at Le Castellet in November where other prototypes can also join.”

Spectacular Snetterton weekend in-store for BARC championships

The British Automobile Racing Club travels to Snetterton this weekend (September 19/20) for a blockbuster event that will see no less than six championships take centre stage around the challenging 300 layout.

In what is one of the standout race meetings on the national motorsport calendar each year, the Norfolk venue is renowned for throwing up thrills and spills – and that theme looks set to continue on what is a pivotal event for many.

Headlining the action will be five titanic encounters from the BTRA British Truck Racing Championship. Lifting the curtain on its campaign at Donington Park last month, the heavyweight behemoths rumble into Snetterton with fireworks set to fly in both classes.

Division 1 currently sees an enthralling battle brewing with Ryan Smith, John Newell, David Jenkins, Stuart Oliver and Martin Gibson all split by just a handful of points. With the battle for supremacy set to intensify, any driver could establish them as the man to beat if they can piece together a strong weekend.

Elsewhere, Division 2 kicked into life with Steven Powell clinching a hat-trick at Donington Park whilst defending champion Luke Garrett also triumphed. Having gone wheel-to-wheel throughout last year, both Powell and Garrett look set to continue their duel for the crown.

The Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres has proven to be as competitive as ever this year and six more races are expected to centre stage. As it stands, there is nothing to separate John Mickel and Daniel Clark at the top of the points.

Both have been at their brilliant best, and they will need to be to remain at the top, as the likes of Miles Rudman, Will Gibson, Connor Mills and Jack Parker will all be keen to make their mark.

Variety is the spice of life when it comes to the Classic Touring Car Racing Club and those in attendance will be able to see saloon cars from decades gone by going wheel-to-wheel across six amalgamated races.

Action from the Classic Race Engines Pre ’66 Touring Cars, Shell Oil Pre 83′ Touring Car Championship, Laser Tools Pre-93 Touring Cars Championship, Simply Serviced Pre-2003 Touring Cars Championship, Toyo Tyres Pre-2005 Production Touring Car Championship, Burton Power Products Blue Oval Saloon Series and the Edmundson Electrical Classic Thunder Saloons Championship will undoubtedly set pulses racing.

Nostalgic tin top thrills will also come in the shape of the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship over the course of the weekend as well, with two breathtaking encounters scheduled to take place.

The Sports Prototype Cup’s sophomore season has been nothing short of sensational thus far and the good times are set to keeping come as the prototype category continues. Alongside the usual runners and riders, one notable addition to the entry list is former Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy – who will be making his debut.

Rounding out the action at Snetterton will be high-octane races from the Mini 7 Racing Club. Last month, the Se7en and Miglia categories took on a starring role alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event, including where to follow live timing and view the latest entry list, click here.

BARC publishes COVID-19 guidelines for Competitors and Officials

With the restart to racing in the UK now well underway the British Automobile Racing Club has updated its guidelines on how events will be run for both Competitors and Officials.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to adjust some of our practices and procedures in order to satisfy the requirements laid down by the government and most importantly to provide the safest environment possible for everyone involved.

In line with the guidance provided by Motorsport UK, the BARC will operate their race meetings as follows:-

BARC Competitors Guidance (v3 21 July) – CLICK HERE

BARC Officials Guidance (v2 22 July) – CLICK HERE

These guidelines have been put in place with the well-being of staff, competitors, officials and all potential visitors to our venues and events remaining at the forefront of our considerations at all times.

As it stands, all race meetings and events remain provisional and subject to change in accordance with the latest directives from the UK government.

To view the remaining post-lockdown 2021 events schedule, head to https://www.barc.net/events/.

Sports Prototype Cup announces Formula 1 support bill slot on Portugal GP weekend

The Sports Prototype Cup has announced that it will feature as a support race during the Formula 1 Heineken Grande Prémio De Portugal at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve on October 23/24.

Fresh off the back of making its international debut alongside the FIA World Endurance Championship at Spa-Francorchamps on August 15/16, two races for the Revolution Trophy – which features the exciting Revolution A-One prototype, will take centre stage around the challenging track.

The two 40-minute encounters are open to registered Sports Prototype Cup teams and drivers to enter. In addition, Revolution will also be offering new-build cars for sales or race-hire for this event and the full 2021 season.  

James Bailey, Sports Prototype Cup Promoter, said: “To race at one of Europe’s most challenging circuits in front of F1 fans is a privilege for our drivers and teams.

“We’ve already provided some sensational racing at Brands Hatch and Spa-Francorchamps this year and the Grand Prix support race is a fabulous opportunity to showcase the performance of the Revolution A-One and the depth of our grid of drivers and teams.”

Phil Abbott, Revolution Race Cars Managing Director, added: “We are proud that the Revolution A-One has been approved as a support race for the Grand Prix.

“We set out to design a car that is at the cutting edge of customer motorsport, with advanced technology, innovative design, high downforce and forgiving handling. It’s the perfect car for such a demanding circuit.”

Sports Prototype Cup stars at Spa Francorchamps

The British Automobile Racing Club was well represented on the international stage this past weekend (August 15/16) as the Sports Prototype Cup travelled to Belgium to compete at the iconic Spa Francorchamps.

Marking rounds three and four of its sophomore season, the category shared the bill with the FIA World Endurance Championship and produced a pair of action-packed one-hour races to show the potential of the fast-growing UK-based series on the global stage.

With a bumper grid of Revolution A-One prototype machines, the event marked the series’ international debut and it didn’t disappoint.

Morten Dons reigned supreme in the opening encounter around the legendary 4.35-mile circuit, leading home a Mike Smith Motorsport with Breakell Racing one-two result. Dropping to third at the start, Dons was soon on the move and made his way into the lead on lap five.

In what turned out to be a gripping contest, nothing could separate the top three however it was to be Dons that would take the chequered flag ahead of Alex Kapadia and Nigel Greensall.

Faced with the prospect of a wet race in the second bout, Brands Hatch race-winner Scott Mansell showcased his prowess in the challenging conditions to take a sensational victory.

Gaining three positions on the first lap to slot into fourth, the Excelr8 Motorsport driver held station during his opening stint before climbing his way through the order in the second half of the race.

Unfortunately, heavy rain in the latter stages brought out the safety car and then subsequently the red flag, with the safety of all drivers and officials taken into consideration.

That left Mansell to collect the victory ahead of Kapadia and Dons.

The Sports Prototype Cup is next in action on Saturday 19th September with a double-header event scheduled to take place at Snetterton.

BARC championship serve up Brands Hatch thrills and spills

Brands Hatch played host to a memorable two days of British Automobile Racing Club track action this past weekend (August 1/2) as six championships took centre stage in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

Whilst some categories continuing their 2020 campaigns and others starting them, the Indy configuration of the Kent venue proved to be smash-hit for competitors and spectators alike.

The Classic Touring Car Championship was one that was continuing its condensed season having starred at Cadwell Park last month. With bumper grids of tin top machines from a bygone era, there was something for everyone across the multiple races that took place around the 1.2-mile layout.

James Card and James Janicki took a win apiece in the amalgamated Thunder Saloons and Blue Oval Saloons whilst Alan Greenhalgh was unstoppable across both Pre 66’ Touring Car races in his Ford Falcon.

In the Pre 83’ category, Mike Luck enjoyed a trouble-free two races to cater to victory with Rod Birley doing the same in the two Pre 93’ & Pre 03’ spectacles.

The Dunlop Endurance Championship served up a feast of entertainment as it staged races in both its Endurance and Trophy classes. VR Motorsport duo of Danny Harrison and Jem Hepworth were the victors in the Endurance category whilst Trophy Class spoils were split between Charlie Campbell and Barry McMahon.

Lewis Saunders continued his relentless march towards a second Junior Saloon Car Championship title, sweeping to another brace of race wins to take his tally for the season to six.

Saunders didn’t have things his own way however as the Ciceley Motorsport-backed former champion fended off the race-long advances of Charlie Hand in both encounters, whilst Alex Solley clinched a pair of third place finishes.

James Card was another driver to leave the Kent venue with plenty of silverware, claiming both wins in the opening round of the Kumho BMW Championship. At the wheel of his E46 M3, Card dominated proceedings to kick-start the new season in fine style.

The Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship was another category to see one driver take centre stage as Fergus Campbell lifted the curtain on the new season with a double-winning performance.

Piloting his MG ZR, Campbell led a bumper entry list throughout Sunday’s two races as David Mellor, Steve McDermid and Steve Darbey filled the remaining podium positions.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action at Brands Hatch were two races from the UK Sports Prototype Cup. Having debuted in 2019, the multi-marque series boasted a bumper entry list for the start of its sophomore season and it put on quite the show.

Alex Kapadia narrowly edged out Scott Mansell in the opener before Mansell struck back in race two, getting the better of Bradley Ellis to take home a share of the spoils.

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

Brands Hatch beckons for BARC championships

The British Automobile Racing Club makes the first of two scheduled visits to Brands Hatch this weekend (August 1/2) for what should be a spectacular two days of on-track entertainment, with no less than six championships in action.

Following on from successful events at Cadwell Park and Croft last month, this weekend will be a notable one for the Club as it will be the first for spectators to watch in person since motorsport resumed in the UK following the COVID-19 lockdown.

With a total of 20 races set to take place around the iconic Indy layout of the Kent venue across both days, thrills and spills will be all-but guaranteed across each category. 

In the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Lewis Saunders has proven to be the benchmark driver thus far having scored an impressive three wins from four races. Bidding to become the first two-time champion in the series, Saunders has been in fine form but hasn’t had things all his own way.

Charlie Hand has been the other race winner and alongside the likes of Molly Dodd, Ruben Hage and Jake Weston, things are far from a forgone conclusion – especially with two more encounters taking centre stage this weekend.

Variety has always proven to be the spice of life in the Classic Touring Car Championship and that was on full show last month as a bumper entry list of tin top titans lifted the curtain on the new season.

Featuring cars built in 1966 through to the early noughties, the CTCRC has something for everyone. Expect the likes of Guy Smith, Stephen Primett, Alexander Owen and Andy Robinson to be some of the names dicing towards the front for outright honours.

The Dunlop Endurance Championship starred at Croft several weeks ago and it is set to do so once again in Kent as a feast of GT machinery will do battle across a pair of 50-minute races.

At Croft, the RAW Motorsport duo of Steve Burgess and Ben Dimmack, as well as VR Motorsport’s Danny Harrison, shared the spoils and while both will be keen to replicate that feat once again this weekend, the competition is likely to make it a tough fight to do so.

Whilst several championships will be back in action this weekend, Brands Hatch will also represent the opening event of what is now a condensed 2020 season for some.

One category which will be making its first appearance of the campaign will be the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship. Home to some of the most famous cars to ever be built, the cost-effective category has been much-loved for a number of years.

Notable drivers to cast a watchful eye over at Brands Hatch include series stalwarts Jim Baynam, Stuart Plotnek, Steve McDermid and Will Sharpe – to name but a few.

Fans of all things BMW will be well-catered for over the course of the weekend as the Kumho BMW Championship roars into life for another year.

Home to all manner of models that have been produced by the Bavarian manufacturer, rear-wheel-drive rules the roost and is a sight to behold across all classes.

Rounding out the weekend will be action from the UK Sports Prototype Cup, which is embarking on its sophomore season in 2020. Looking to build on the foundations that it laid down last year, the multi-marque series boasts an ultra-competitive grid so expect fireworks to fly.

To view all of the important information ahead of this weekend’s event at Brands Hatch, such as links to the entry list and timetable, click here.