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.