BARC - The British Automobile Racing Club Audio News and Interviews

Jason Plato BTCC 600th Race -  Adrian Flux with Power Maxed Racing - Thruxton 9th May 2021

https://www.coupecup.rocks/Whether a seasoned racer or a complete novice, the Carbon8 Hyundai Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires is one of the fastest-growing series’ in the UK under the British Automobile Racing Club umbrella.Roaring into life a few years ago, the Coupe Cup is a budget conscious, single-make category for first and second generation two-lite Hyundai Coupe machines.Running a set of control parts that ensure identical machinery throughout, the series is focused on keeping costs down and maintaining parity as well, all aiding close and exciting racing that is produced.Maintaining it’s status as a ‘series’, points may not be on offer for those competing however the spoils of race wins are always up for contention; and more often than not fiercely fought over.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is primed and ready for another memorable year after officially launching its 2021 season at Silverstone today (April 22), announcing a capacity 29-car entry list.After an unprecedented yet entertaining 2020 campaign, which ended with Ashley Sutton clinching the Drivers’ crown for a second time, Britain’s premier motorsport series is set to return with a bumper grid and to its traditional ten round, 30-race format.Kicking the season off behind closed doors at Thruxton next month, the series will then head to Snetterton, Brands Hatch, Oulton Park and Knockhill before making a second visit to Thruxton. Visits to Croft, Silverstone and Donington Park will follow before the traditional finale at back at Brands Hatch in late October.Donning the mantel of defending champion and running the famed number one on his Infiniti Q50, Sutton sticks with Laser Tools Racing for the new season as he bids to retain his titles in both the overall championship and Independents’. Aiden Moffat and Carl Boardley will partner Sutton at the rear-wheel-drive squad.West Surrey Racing and Team BMW proved to be the closest challengers to Sutton last year and the reigning Teams’ & Manufacturer champions have swelled to three cars once again with Colin Turkington, Tom Oliphant and Stephen Jelley tasked with piloting the 330i M Sport to glory.It is an all-new line-up at Halfords Racing with Cataclean however with Dan Cammish returning to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and Matt Neal taking a step back from driving duties. Whilst one three-time champion steps back, another returns in the shape of Gordon Shedden as the Scotsman rejoins Team Dynamics to partner Daniel Rowbottom.Another driver to make a popular return to this grid after a year on the sidelines is Jason Plato. Electing to sit out 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the double champion is back at Power Maxed Car Care Racing in the Vauxhall Astra and gunning to tally his 100th victory in the series. Daniel Lloyd, a race-winner in the BTCC, gets a full-time drive to partner Plato.Toyota Gazoo Racing UK steps up its BTCC programme this year as it expands to two cars. Rory Butcher fills the void left by Tom Ingram in the Speedworks Motorsport-run Corolla and he is joined by Sam Smelt, who last competed in the series in 2018.Ingram’s departure from Toyota sparked a frenzy during the off-season and the former Independents’ champion has found a new home at Excelr8 Trade Price Cars. Armed with the Hyundai i30N, Ingram has his tail in the air and is hungry for success. He’s joined at the four-strong squad by Chris Smiley, Jack Butel and former British GT champion Rick Parfitt Jnr.Elsewhere, Ciceley Motorsport have acquired the services of Tom Chilton to partner Adam Morgan and they have parted ways with the Mercedes Benz A-Class. In its place are a pair of West Surrey Racing-built BMW 330i M Sport’s and hopes are high for the Car Gods-backed outfit.BTC Racing are another to have high hopes for the season ahead and with good reason as Josh Cook has remained with the team to drive their Honda Civic Type R. Michael Crees, Jack sears Trophy champion last year, has also inked a new deal to stay whilst Jade Edwards will get a full-season after debuting at Silverstone in 2020.Motorbase Performance and MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square are another two teams to have joined forces over the winter to field a quartet of Ford Focus’, and they will run as Manufacturer/Construtors entrants. Sam Osborne and Andy Neate will run out of the Motorbase side of the garage whilst Jake Hill and Ollie Jackson will do the same for MB Motorsport.

https://www.britcar-endurance.com/SILVERSTONE PLAYS HOST TO WEEKEND TO REMEMBER FOR BRITCAR AND CLASSIC TOURING CARSThe Britcar Endurance Championship delivered plenty of unmissable moments over the course of both days, especially in the Endurance class. On a weekend which saw the Praga category make its bow and make its presence known towards the sharp end of the field, nothing could stop the Lamborghini Huracan pairing of John Seale and Jamie Stanley from winning both encounters.On Sunday, Britcar’s Trophy category took centre stage with a record entry to kick off its sophomore season. Whilst wheel-to-wheel action took place throughout the field, Woodrow Motorsport dominated proceedings out front as the BMW 1 Series duo of Simon Baker and Kevin Clarke powered their way to victory in both 50-minute races.

https://classictouringcars.com/The British Automobile Racing Club delivered a spectacular two days of track action around the Home of British Motor Racing, Silverstone, this past weekend (April 24/25) which was headlined by the Britcar Endurance Championship and Classic Touring Car Racing Club. Watched online by more than 140,000 people on the Club’s YouTube channel and by an additional 45,000 on the Club’s official Facebook page, the meeting proved to be one to remember. The Britcar Endurance Championship delivered plenty of unmissable moments over the course of both days, especially in the Endurance class. On a weekend which saw the Praga category make its bow and make its presence known towards the sharp end of the field, nothing could stop the Lamborghini Huracan pairing of John Seale and Jamie Stanley from winning both encounters.On Sunday, Britcar’s Trophy category took centre stage with a record entry to kick off its sophomore season. Whilst wheel-to-wheel action took place throughout the field, Woodrow Motorsport dominated proceedings out front as the BMW 1 Series duo of Simon Baker and Kevin Clarke powered their way to victory in both 50-minute races.Variety was the spice of life in the Classic Touring Car Racing Club as the biggest grid in their 45-year history took to the Northamptonshire venue, providing plenty of thrills and spills along the way.Richard Wood showcased that Aussie power couldn’t be matched as he drove his Holden Commodore to two wins in the combined Edmundson Electrical Classic/Historic Thunder Saloons and Blue Oval Saloon Series races whilst AJ Owen did the same in the Laser Tools Racing Pre ’03 Touring Cars and Simply Serviced Pre ’03 Touring Cars.Elsewhere, Peter Smith piloted his Ford Lotus Cortina to an impressive double in the Poultec Classic Race Engines Pre ’66 Touring Cars. Tom Robinson rounded out the list of winners by clinching victory in both Shell Oils Pre ’83 Touring Cars & JEC Saloon & GT bouts.The Mini 7 Racing Club undoubtedly had plenty of people on the edge of their seats as they watched at home as they served up a feast of entertainment across both the Miglia and Se7en classes.In the Miglia category, Endaf Owens survived a last corner move from Andrew Jordan to emerge victorious after an eight-car race-long battle for the lead. Race two would see a similar story however this time it would be Nick Padmore that managed to hold off former BTCC champion Jordan to win.Things were just as close throughout the field in the Se7en class however Joe Thompson was the driver that reigned supreme, claiming a brace of race wins.Rounding off the weekend’s track action were a pair of pulsating races from the Maximum Networks Volkswagen Racing Cup incorporating Goodyear Touring Car Trophy and TCR UK.Max Hart claimed the plaudits in race one as he drove his Hyundai i30 N TCR to victory by more than two seconds, setting his stall out as credible contender for the rest of the season. Lewis Kent would strike back in race two as he opened his account for the year with a measured drive to pip Hart.

http://www.barcnorthwestern.co.uk/championships/cnc-headsRun by the British Automobile Racing Club’s North West Centre, the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship is a cost-effective category that is open to all manner of cars regardless of their make, model and power.Started in 1984 as a special GT championship with a small core of regular enthusiasts entering races, the series has grown into a successful and stable championship which boasts grid of more than 30 cars on an almost regular basis at each event every year.To be eligible to compete in the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship cars must have been originally designed for road use and are then split into two basic categories, Special and Modified.These two categories are further divided into three classes based on engine size, the splits being at 1600cc and 2500cc in both cases. Points are awarded within each class and the overall champion each year is the driver with the most points.

https://c1racing.club/Providing a low-cost method of going endurance racing, the Silverlake C1 Racing Series has emerged as one of the fastest growing categories in the country since launching midway through 2017.With more than 100 cars have been built, the one-make series shows no signs of letting up as it continues to welcome more and more new faces that want to go long-distance racing on a budget.Using the standard first generation Citroen C1s, modifications are tightly controlled with none being allowed to be made to engine or transmission. Club supplied modifications however are allowed to the suspension to reduce tyre wear.On-track competitors reap the benefits of a diverse range of races such as two, three, four, six and 24-hour encounters, as well as short sprint races too.Such is the popularity of the Silverlake C1 Racing Series, 2019 saw the category make history for the largest ever starting grid at Silverstone – 99 cars.

https://classictouringcars.com/In 1974 a group of amateur racing drivers got together to form a club which would promote affordable racing for the popular saloon cars of the fifties and early sixties.MG, Triumph, Jaguar and other sportscars had always been well catered for but the Austin A35, Morris Minor etc, had been left in the cold for some time. Racing in those more relaxed times allowed owners to “arrive and drive” (only needing a crash helmet and licence to compete).Times have changed somewhat since those days and so has the Club but the watchword in all the regulations is stability which ensures the return of competitors year upon year.During the past 47 years the Club has evolved and expanded to now encompass seven championships.Our races are divided by year of manufacture and therefore reflect the relevant period of British Saloon/Touring Car racing applicable to each era. Furthermore, each Championship or Series is sub-divided into classes depending on engine size.

Alan Gow BTCC Chief Executive - Brands Hatch Final 2020

Ash Sutton - Laser Tools Racing - 2020 British Touring Car Champion - 15th November 2020

Michael Crees - BTC Racing - Brands Hatch - Jack Sears Trophy 2020

Bert Taylor - Director and Team Principal of BTC Racing - Brands Hatch Final 2020

Bob Moffat - Laster Tools Racing - Brands Hatch Final 2020

Dick Bennetts - WSR Team Principal - Brands Hatch Final - Teams Award

Jake Hill - MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square - Brands Hatch Race 3 - 15th November 2020

Rory Butcher - Motorbase Performance - Brands Hatch Race 3 - 15th November 2020 

Tom Ingram - Team Toyota GB with Ginsters - Brands Hatch Race 3 - 15th November 2020

Colin Turkington - Team BMW - Brands Hatch Race 2 - 15th November 2020