TOCA support package returns to full strength ahead of pivotal Silverstone weekend

The TOCA support package returns to full strength at Silverstone this weekend (September 15/16) with five championship gearing up for what will be the penultimate event of the 2018 season.

Taking on a starring role alongside the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship throughout the year, the TOCA package has once again proved entertaining, with twists and turns coming around every corner almost.

Those twists and turns are likely set to continue in the Renault UK Clio Cup, which returns to action after missing the annual trip north of the border to Knockhill. With four races remaining, two of them around the National layout of Silverstone, it is still all to play for in the battle for supremacy.

Max Coates leads the way currently but his advantage is a slender one with just seven points separating himself and former champion Paul Rivett. Westbourne Motorsport’s James Dorlin is also still in contention, albeit 30 points behind, and can’t be discounted from pushing his bid for a maiden Clio Cup crown up a notch.

On top of the main protagonists, the likes of Daniel Rowbottom, Mike Epps, Bradley Burns and Jack McCarthy have all shown that they too can mix it at the front on a consistent basis.

Adam Smalley sits at the summit of the Ginetta Junior Championship with two events to run and the Elite Motorsport drivers looks good value for his lead. Despite having not won a race since Snetterton, the former Scholarship victor has been the epitome of consistency and will be keen to further extend his advantage at Silverstone.

Hot on the heels of Smalley is Louis Foster, the form driver in the series as it stands. Four wins from five races have vaulted him into second in the standings, whilst Luke Browning isn’t too far back either. All three drivers stand a mathematical chance of walking away with the title although the question still remains who it will be.

In the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup, Charlie Ladell will bid to take a step closer to championship glory with another solid points haul over the course of the weekend. Having led the standings since the opening round, Ladell has been a force to be reckoned with throughout the year.

Ladell’s chief title rival is Carl Boardley and fresh off the back of his foray into the BTCC, the series veteran will be eager to eat into the 20-point deficit that he has to make up on the Rob Boston Racing driver.

Dino Zamparelli meanwhile will be looking to put a bit more daylight between himself and Tio Ellinas in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. Just four points separate the top two as it stands and the Redline Racing entrant will be keen to bridge that gap as he bids to clinch the crown he narrowly missed out on in 2017.

The title fight remains wide open in the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost with Kiern Jewiss leading the pack. The Double R Racing driver has been top of the tree since Oulton Park but his advantage has slowly been cut, with Ayrton Simmons giving chase.

Dennis Hauger, Jack Doohan and Patrik Pasma are just three more drivers that have made their presence known this year and all three could still stake their claim, starting this weekend in the three scheduled races that are set to be run.

With title aspirations set to further strengthen as well as some diminishing, the battle for supremacy around the home of British motorsport is set to be an enthralling one.

For all of the event information for Silverstone, including an event timetable and links to live timing, click here.