Silverstone Classic back for 2013

Masters F1 cars will once again be in action

This summer’s Silverstone Classic (26-28 July) is all set to be another record breaker following confirmation of an action-packed programme of 24 races spanning eight decades of glorious motor sport history.

Already firmly established as the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival, the mouth-watering line-up for 2013’s extravaganza features all the hugely popular historic Formula One, sportscar, GT and touring car grids that produced such close racing last year… plus a further three grids to be announced in the coming weeks.

As the home of the British Grand Prix and birthplace of the FIA Formula One World Championship, Silverstone is the perfect venue to celebrate the full spectrum of F1 history. And, with more than 100 of the most famous and iconic GP cars recreating many of the sport’s golden eras, there’s no better homage than the Silverstone Classic.

Headlights ablaze, the Group Cs race into the darkness

The Historic Grand Prix Cars Association (HGPCA) will be out in force with packed grids for both spectacular pre-1961 and pre-1966 F1 cars that revisit five decades of technical rivalries from the Bugattis of the 1920s, through the Maseratis and Ferraris of the 1950s to the dawn of the rear-engine epoch in the early 1960s when British-based constructors such as Brabham, Cooper and Lotus came to the fore.

Grand Prix Masters puts the spotlight on the following generation of DFV-powered F1 cars, reliving a fantastic decade of GP racing from 1968 to 1978 as well as the rise of many of the British teams including Brabham, Lotus, McLaren, Tyrrell and Williams. Adding to the spectacle and rekindling many fond and magic memories, all these renowned racers compete in familiar period liveries.

The comprehensive single-seater bill features two more exciting grids. Races for Historic Formula Junior and the combined F5000/F2 class were among last summer’s many highlights and both make welcome returns this July. All five of these open-wheeler categories are in race action twice at the Classic with a thrilling showdown each during both Saturday’s and Sunday’s busy schedules.

Harking back to what many believe were the halcyon days of the world famous Le Mans 24 Hours event, no fewer than five sportscar and GT grids are also on the unrivalled Silverstone Classic bill.

Touring cars ancient and modern are always popular

The Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy features post-war sports-racers up to the end of 1955, with victory last year going to the hard-charging Jaguar D-type of brothers John and Gary Pearson. The Stirling Moss Trophy stars slightly more modern pre-1961 sportscars with Lister Jaguars, Cooper Monacos and Maserati T61 Birdcages often to the fore while the World Sportscar Masters covers an equally exhilarating era from the mid-1960s up to 1974, boasting track idols such as the Porsche 917, Ferrari 512 and Lola T70.

Moving the clock forward to the 1980s are the super-fast Group C prototypes that once again will race into dusk on Saturday evening. Last year’s entry featured legendary machinery from Jaguar, Mercedes, Peugeot and Porsche as well as a trio of Ferrari-engined Lancia LC2s. An even more alluring line-up is promised for 2013.

Meanwhile Aston Martin will aim for a famous hat-trick of wins in the prestigious Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy for Historic Cars. Run for Pre-63 GT cars, victory in 2011 went to an Aston Martin DB4GT shared by racing legends Stuart Graham and Richard Attwood while last year’s encounter was won by Wolfgang Friedrichs and David Clark in the remarkable Aston Martin Project DP212.

Classic GTs return in 2013 in the Woodcote trophy

The Silverstone Classic also honours the very best of saloon car racing history with two stunning grids already confirmed. The first is for Under 2-Litre Touring Cars with a full 58-car field of battling Lotus Cortinas, BMW 1800 Tis, Alfa Romeo GTAs and Mini Coopers from the pre-1966 era. The second is another Silverstone Classic success story… Last year’s event staged a new tin-top showdown for Group A and Super Touring cars from the 1980s and 1990s. It was such an immediate hit with competitors and fans alike that the category not only returns 12 months on but also has spawned an exciting new series, to be run by the famed Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC).

“It all adds up to another incredible line-up of races that put the spotlight on so much fantastic racing history… and we have another three grids still to announce,” enthused Nick Wigley, event director. “With more than 1000 entries, the Silverstone Classic is now not only the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival but also the largest race meeting staged anywhere on the globe. It may sound clichéd but, hand on heart and given some of the announcements yet to come, this summer’s looks like being the most successful yet.”

To house so much exotic and priceless motor sport history, the massive event will again fill both Silverstone’s National and new Wing pits and paddock complexes. The non-stop racing schedule, organised by the HSCC, is staged on the full Silverstone Grand Prix circuit with many races boasting fully-subscribed 58-car grids.

A very wide range of racing cars line up for the Silverstone classic.

Adding to the Classic weekend’s enormous appeal, all tickets give free access to both racing paddocks as well as trackside grandstands and live music concerts on Friday and Saturday evenings. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Those booking before the end of March can take full advantage of special ‘Early Bird’ prices with adult tickets starting from just £30 (plus fees). Considerable savings are on offer for festival goers spending the full weekend at Silverstone and special packages for car clubs and their members are also available. Full details can be found on the official www.silverstoneclassic.com website.  

Autosport International 2013 : Britcar announces plans for 2013 and beyond

Britcar Boss James Tucker talks to Chris Lucas about the plans for the 2013 British Endurance championship, the replacement for the 2013 Britcar 24 hours and the future of the around the clock racing event at Silverstone

Ariel takes the Atom racing in new championship

Ariel Motor Company’s latest offering, the Ariel Atom 3.5, will make its UK public debut at The Performance Car Show on 12-13 January 2012, held at Birmingham’s NEC.

One of the fastest cars money can buy, the new Atom 3.5 features a host of updates, including a boost to 310bhp with the supercharged version of its 2.0-litre Honda iVTEC K20Z4 engine. British designed and built, it accelerates from 0-60mph in just 2.7 seconds and boasts a top speed of 155mph.
The Atom’s iconic look remains, but with a stiffer chassis, improved balance and traction, it’s even more fun behind the wheel!

Debuting alongside the new road-going mean machine is the race-ready Ariel Cup, which has been specially designed to compete in Ariel’s new one-make race series, launching in 2013 and visiting tracks such as Silverstone and Brands Hatch. The Ariel Cup is powered by a 2.0-litre Honda Type R iVTEC engine and features more enclosed bodywork, a modified chassis, rollover protection, race instrumentation and Ohlins suspension.

One of the world's most recognisable cars!

“The Atom is one of the most unique cars in the world and we’re delighted to debut these new editions to the UK public at The Performance Car Show,” said Simon Saunders, Director of Ariel. “Moving from road to racing is something that we’ve long talked about. We’ve worked hard to make sure the Ariel Cup is right for on-track competition and we’re looking forward to the public’s feedback at the show.”

“The Atom is one of the most exciting cars around, and it’s great to host the first public showing of these fantastic models,” said Paul Garlick, PistonHeads.com Brand Manager. “Renowned for its looks and even more so for its performance, both the new road-going Atom and its racing counterpart are set to be outstanding to drive.”

Ariel’s new offerings will be on show at The Performance Car Show alongside a host of the most coveted supercars and sports cars from top manufacturers, including Lamborghini, Ferrari, Audi, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz.

Tickets for The Performance Car Show are on sale now, priced at £31 for an adult and £20 for children (under fives are free). Tickets also include entrance to sister show Autosport International, which features some of motorsports finest cars and top racing stars.
For more information call 0800 581 1419 or visit www.pistonheads.com/show.

Protyre Formula Renault expands to 16 rounds

Formerly known as Formula Renault BARC - Protyre Formula Renault is aiming to expand for 2013

Organisers of the Protyre Formula Renault Championship are delighted to confirm an expanded 16 round calendar for 2013, featuring four ‘triple-header’ events and, as for the last two seasons, an extremely high-profile finale alongside the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

In-keeping with its growing reputation as a true national-level series in UK single-seater racing, the category will now be known as the Protyre Formula Renault Championship – the ‘BARC’ tag of old will no longer be used, although the British Automobile Racing Club continues its administrative role.

Moving to offer even greater value for money to competitors and teams in 2013, the already highly cost-effective championship will retain a six-weekend calendar but one which features 16 races in total, an increase of two rounds on 2012, with visits to some of the country’s most popular circuits.

Beginning at Donington Park National Circuit in Leicestershire over the weekend 13th/14th April, the 2013 Protyre Formula Renault Championship will then travel to Norfolk’s Snetterton 200 Circuit on 11th/12th May for the first of a run of four consecutive ‘triple-header’ events.

Thruxton in Hampshire will host the third race meeting of the season on 1st/2nd June, the annual visit to Croft in North Yorkshire will take place on 13th/14th July and the last of the triple-headers will be held at Rockingham in Northamptonshire over the weekend 10th/11th August.

Silverstone National Circuit in Northamptonshire will then host the final two races of the campaign on 28th/29th September, with the Protyre Formula Renault Championship joining the hugely popular BTCC support package as it has for the previous two seasons at the home of the British Grand Prix.

“We’re very happy with the calendar we’ve agreed with our teams and the BARC and delighted to have once again secured a support slot alongside the BTCC for our championship finale, we’re very grateful to Alan Gow [BTCC Series Director]”, said Protyre Formula Renault promoter Simon North.

“We’ve been working hard to try and offer even greater value for drivers and teams and with a 16 race calendar, four triple-header events and a BTCC support date I think we have an extremely strong package to offer. Our Tatuus Formula Renault 2.0 is well proven, reliable and a fantastic car in which to learn. After a sensational 2012, we’re very much looking forward to the 2013 season.”

In terms of changes to the qualifying format for 2013, at the triple-header events there will be two 15 minute sessions which will be separated by a 90 minute break. Each driver’s fastest time during the opening period will determine the race one grid with second fastest times setting the grid order for race two. The starting line-up for race three on any given weekend will be set during session two.

Where two rounds are contested, during the season-opening event at Donington Park and the series finale at Silverstone, there will be one 20 minute qualifying run with fastest and second fastest times determining the relevant grids in each instance.

Prior to the start of the 2013 campaign, the competitors and teams from Protyre Formula Renault will join their counterparts from the Renault UK Clio Cup for the pre-season ‘Media Day’ and timed test session on Thursday, 21st March, at Silverstone National Circuit.

Along with headline sponsor Protyre, Formula Renault is additionally supported by Michelin, The Lubricant Consultancy, Petronas Syntium and NGK Spark Plugs.

2013 Protyre Formula Renault Championship Calendar
Rds 1/2  Donington Park National Circuit, Leicestershire - 13th/14th April
Rds 3/4/5 Snetterton 200 Circuit, Norfolk - 11th/12th May
Rds 6/7/8 Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire - 1st/2nd June
Rds 9/10/11 Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire - 13th/14th July
Rds 12/13/14 Rockingham ISC, Northamptonshire - 10th/11th August
Rds 15/16 Silverstone National Circuit, Northamptonshire (BTCC) - 28th/29th September

750 Motor Club announces 2013 Calendar.

The 750 Motor Club has announced an expanded racing programme for the 2013 season, having experienced growth in a number of its core categories during the past year. The calendar includes first visits to the Snetterton 300 circuit and Rockingham, and the first event on the Donington Park Grand Prix layout for several seasons.

“We have pursued a policy of conservative expansion,” said the Club’s Competition Manager, Giles Groombridge. “We have two more days of racing than in 2012, but have maintained a good variety of circuits and a sensible spacing in the calendar. The majority of our competitors will have the opportunity to race on one or more new layouts next season, and I know that they will enjoy the challenge.”

The increase in dates, combined with the earlier cancellation of the Saxmax championship, has allowed Groombridge to increase the number of championship rounds by two for 750 Formula, Bikesports, Classic Stock Hatch, Compact Cup and Sports Specials. “All five of these championships showed growth in 2012 so the extra dates are justified,” he said. “This demonstrates the Club’s commitment to developing our categories and rewards the loyalty of our competitors.”

The popular Locost Championship, which fielded average grids of 39 cars in 2012, will feature on the bill at the Motors TV Live Race Day at Castle Combe on the May Bank Holiday. The Club’s season will close, as is traditional with the Birkett Six Hour Relay Race on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit on 26 October. A near capacity entry of 67 teams took part this year.

Silverstone will also be the venue for the Club’s Summer Festival on the August Bank Holiday weekend.

The full calendar of race events organised by the 750 Motor Club in 2013 is as follows:

23 March                       Donington Park (Grand Prix) 

1 April                           Mallory Park

27/8 April                      Brands Hatch (Indy)

25/6 May                       Snetterton (300/200)

15/6 June                      Pembrey

13/4 July                       Rockingham (International Super Sportscar Long)

24/5 August                  Silverstone (National – Summer Festival)

21/2 September             Donington Park (National)

12/3 October                 Cadwell Park (Full)

26 October                    Silverstone (Grand Prix – Birkett Relay)

[2 out of 3 Grand Prix Circuits!]

Silverstone GT3 Cup Challenge race coverage on-line

                                                               Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge GB

Silverstone GT3 Cup Challenge race coverage on-line
The final race reports from the 2012 season in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge GB are now on-line and can be watched via Porsche’s massively popular YouTube channel.

Two films cover the story of rounds 11 and 12 of the season at Silverstone as the season came to a conclusion in front of the 30,000 BTCC crowd. The weekend featured victories for Justin Sherwood and James Birch as well as some great battles in the pack. Victory in the final race of the season underlined Birch’s title success. Once again, the programme is already attracting very encouraging viewing figures.

The Silverstone race reports can be watched on YouTube at:

Round 11: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PQFPNrqv74

Round 12: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEfxpr1MHyI
 

Birch celebrates Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge GB title

                                     Birch celebrates Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge GB title

James Birch sealed the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge GB title during the final race weekend at Silverstone (6/7 October) and is already aiming to graduate into the Carrera Cup GB in 2013.

Birch won six times in 12 races and was on the podium in five of the other six races in a season when he raced with both IN2 Racing and GT Marques. The 22-year old racer from Amersham made a huge effort even to get to Silverstone as the final two races came during a four-week training course in India with his employer. He flew to the UK from Bangalore on Friday and then had to hastily re-arrange his return – planned for Sunday afternoon – when the race timetable was changed due to fog early in the day.

“I’m absolutely over the moon and so, so happy,” said Birch. “I’m still a bit lost for words to be honest. It’s sunk in a bit but not properly yet, I’ve just had a really enjoyable weekend. Massive thanks to GT Marques for a great weekend of racing.”
For Birch and the rest of the GT3 Cup Challenge drivers, the season finale on the BTCC programme was a real highlight of the year. “Winning the final race at Silverstone was fantastic,” he said. “It was brilliant coming round Luffield on the last lap and seeing myself on the big screen: that was a really enjoyable moment. I’ve never driven in front of so many people before so it was a great experience as well.”

Now, Birch will turn his focus towards plans for next season. “For 2013 we’re looking to move into Carrera Cup. Obviously that’s going to be dependent on funds but hopefully off the back of this weekend we might get some more sponsorship opportunities. Carrera Cup is the logical step for us and that’s the reason we did the GT3 Cup in the first place as a feeder. The Carrera Cup is certainly the route I want to go down.”

Ahmad Al Harthy wins Pro-Am1 Porsche Carrera Cup title in round 18

Al Harthy celebrates Porsche Carrera Cup GB Pro-Am1 title

              Ahmad Al Harthy wins Pro-Am1 title in round 18
Al Harthy becomes the first Omani to win at this level
Al Harthy scores 12 wins and a further four podiums in 18 races
 
Ahmad Al Harthy clinched the Pro-Am1 title in the 2012 Porsche Carrera Cup GB champion during round 18 at Silverstone yesterday (Sunday, 7 October). Oman-based Al Harthy has driven a superb campaign and richly deserved his title with two races still to run at Brands Hatch on 21 October.

“We dreamed about ending it this way and finally I’m a champion and that feels really great,” he said after climbing down from the podium. “It has been three years of hard work to get to this point. It hasn’t sunk in yet, but I’m sure it will on the flight back home. I’m so excited about this.”

Al Harthy is a very popular member of the Carrera Cup grid, having joined the series in 2010. He commutes from his home in Oman for each race weekend and works hard to promote his home country and his sponsors.

“I must say a massive thanks to the guys from Redline Racing, who are behind the Oman Air Racing Team car: they’re the best in the business,” he said. “I love Silverstone and to be able to get two wins this weekend was exactly what we wanted and to wrap-up the championship with a dominant win is something very special. It’s also a very proud moment for me to be the first Omani and the first Arab driver to win a title like this in such a prestigious series.” 

Scott Malvern wins 2012 Formula Renault BARC Championship title

      
          
SCOTT MALVERN WINS 2012 FORMULA RENAULT BARC CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

Scott Malvern (Barkingside, Ilford) is the 2012 Protyre Formula Renault BARC Champion after a
controlled and assured run to second place in the final round of the season at Silverstone on Sunday,
7th October – his second national single-seater title in as many years.

Marking the Cullen Motorsport driver’s 11th podium of the campaign, his first in ‘slicks and wings’
competition, he also wrapped-up the championship in style by setting the fastest lap of the race with a
new Protyre Formula Renault BARC lap record of 56.302 seconds (104.88mph).

Going into the last round – which was screened live on ITV4 and ITV4 HD – with a lead of 11 points
over sole title rival Josh Webster (Stowmarket, Suffolk), Malvern surged from fourth on the grid into
second by the first corner and never looked back. Webster, meanwhile, endured dire misfortune
through no fault of his own and, as in 2011, concludes the season as Vice-Champion.

Seb Morris (Marford, Wrexham) continued his excellent return to form and added his second victory
of the weekend with a lights-to-flag success from pole position. Joining Webster with five wins for the
year, the 16-year-old was able to end his rookie single-seater season third in the points.

“Absolutely fantastic”, said an ecstatic Malvern, “I would have loved to win the race, I had a really
good go but I didn’t want to take too many risks as I knew Josh [Webster] was further behind. I had a few nibbles at Seb [Morris] near the start but then just settled into it after that really.

“It’s fantastic to win the BARC Renault title in my first year, especially off the back of winning Formula Ford last year. I haven’t won the most races but we’ve been consistent and I’ve taken the biggest number of fastest laps so it proves our pace. What happens next, who knows...it’s all down to budget and could be anything!”

Biggest ever grid provides terrific Silverstone spectacle The packed 32-car grid, the biggest in the history of the championship and the largest Formula Renault entry in the UK for a number of years, proved a fantastic advertisement for the increasingly popular, and cost-effective, Protyre Formula Renault BARC series on its return to the British Touring Car Championship package. While Morris and Malvern ran in close company throughout, taking the chequered flag on lap 21 split by just 0.7 seconds, further behind Webster tried his level best to overturn a disappointing seventh place on the grid into a potential podium challenge at the very least.

Moving into sixth place on lap one, Webster had a good opportunity to try and make further gains
following an early Safety Car period but on the second lap of the re-start he was forced to take
dramatic avoiding action at Brooklands – pitching his car into a spin – when Chris Middlehurst (St.
Helens) tangled with the rear of the Scorpio car of Macaulay Walsh (Northampton).

Wrecking Webster’s already slim championship chances, the 2012 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award
finalist did recover back onto the track, albeit at the tail of the top 20, but mounted a tremendous
fightback in his MGR Motorsport FR 2.0 to finish in a hard-fought 13th place – not what he deserved.

“It has been a good year on the whole, we’ve got equal race wins with Seb [Morris] after his fantastic weekend here and there are some positives to take away”, said Webster, “Racing is harsh sometimes though, I said exactly the same thing this time last year! We did make some good overtaking manoeuvres after going off the track but I was never going to win the championship.

“We went out fighting but now I’m just looking forward and I can’t wait for the finals of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, that’s something to aim for. I’m a bit sad to see my Formula Renault BARC days end like this, it would have been good to go out on a win, but qualifying put me in the bad part of the race and when [Chris] Middlehurst and [Macaulay] Walsh clashed that was curtains for me.”

Double race winner Morris, who will graduate to the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup
next weekend during its final round at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, acknowledged the strength of
Protyre Formula Renault BARC.

“It’s been a fantastic weekend, to take two poles and the two wins is the perfect way to round-off the
championship and to end the year top three in my first season is incredible”, said the Fortec driver, “If you can win races in BARC Renault I think it shows you can win in anything as it’s so tight. To beat a guy like Scott Malvern makes me feel really proud.”

Hillspeed’s Kieran Vernon (West Chiltington, West Sussex) made a welcome return to the podium
with third place, ending the season just seven points shy of the top four despite missing the opening
three rounds of the championship.

Starting second on the grid, Vernon slipped to third behind Malvern off the line before being bundled
back to fifth prior to the first Safety Car. He then profited from the Middlehurst/Walsh incident to move
back into the podium placings and fended off Russian driver Ivan Taranov, enjoying a career-best
performance on his first weekend with Scorpio Motorsport, during the closing stages.

MGR’s David Wagner (Glasgow) finished fifth, securing fourth in the championship, with returnee
Jack Dex (Daventry) matching his opening-round best of sixth for SWB Motorsport. Walsh, despite
failing to score, rounded out the top six in the championship after a strong maiden season.

Reflecting on his podium return, Vernon said:

“We’ve been coming into every race this year on the backfoot as we don’t go testing, we haven’t had the budget to do that. To qualify second and finish third is a huge achievement for me and Hillspeed, I’m massively proud of all the boys who have been great and a big thank you to all the people who have sponsored and donated to get me out here.”

Although the 2012 championship is now concluded, Protyre Formula Renault BARC will be back in
action just a fortnight from now, over the weekend 20th/21st October, at Brands Hatch Grand Prix
Circuit in Kent for the opening two rounds of the Winter Series.

The title race goes to the line after Silverstone suprises

                                

                                  PLATO & JACKSON SHARE WINS AT SILVERSTONE TO
                                   SET UP FOUR-WAY BRANDS HATCH TITLE-DECIDER

Jason Plato, with two wins, and Mat Jackson shared the victories in three astonishing Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship races in front of a mammoth 30,000 crowd at the Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire today. Ultimately four drivers – Gordon Shedden, Plato, Matt Neal and Andrew Jordan – will go into the 2012 season’s final three races, on Brands Hatch’s legendary Grand Prix circuit in a fortnight (20/21 October), with a chance of being crowned Champion of Britain’s premier motor racing series.

After achieving his fifth pole position of the year – also his third in a row – with a qualifying lap record on Saturday, Oxford’s Plato went on to win today’s first race in his MG KX Momentum Racing MG6, but only after Jackson’s Redstone Racing Ford Focus cruelly retired from the lead with just a few laps to go.

Finishing second and third were Inverness’s Dave Newsham in his Team ES Racing.com Vauxhall Vectra and, with his first podium result, Jackson’s team-mate Aron Smith from Dublin. Fife’s Shedden took seventh in his Honda Yuasa Racing Team Honda Civic but Worcestershire team-mate Neal and Lichfield’s Jordan, in his Pirtek Racing Civic, both retired.

Warwickshire's Jackson then won race two ahead of Hook’s Robert Collard (eBay Motors BMW) and Newsham with a quite incredible drive from 17th on the grid, this time after Plato retired from the lead. Jackson also set a new race lap record as he notched up the first victory for his squad’s NGTC-spec Focus. Shedden was again seventh with Jordan ninth while Neal suffered another retirement when his car spectacularly caught fire.

It was then Plato’s turn to wow the crowds as he came through from 20th to win race three ahead of Jackson and Collard. Shedden was sixth and Jordan seventh but, almost unbelievably, reigning Champion Neal retired again, this time after being forced off the track into a barrier.

As a result, Shedden still leads the table by 15 points from Plato who has moved past Neal into second overall. Neal is 31 behind Shedden and Jordan 61 adrift with a possible maximum of 67 still available from ‘Finals Day’.

An ecstatic Plato commented: “Despite the retirement in race two this is still one of the best days in my BTCC career. We’ve made more progress with our MG6 – in fact it’s a rocketship – and our tails are well and truly in the air. For MG to go into the final round with a chance of lifting the title in its first year back in the championship is fantastic and I really believe we’ve got the Honda boys worried.”

Shedden, from Dalgety Bay and who is aiming to become Scotland's first BTCC Champion since John Cleland in 1995, said: “We knew this was going to be our bogey circuit so today was about picking up what crumbs we could – I don’t think we could have wrung any more out of the car. I expect us to be fully back on song at Brands Hatch which has got lots of high-speed corners where our Civic comes into its own. I’d take points in the bag any day and I’m feeling good about our chances.”
Neal added: “Today has been a shocker but I’m not out of it yet – there are still a lot of points to be won at Brands and I’ll be going there with all guns blazing. Jason’s MG will be strong there and our main objective is to get a Honda over the line in first. Gordon is obviously better placed to do that so is the priority…”

Jordan will also go to Brands still with a healthy lead in the Independent Drivers Championship, although can still be caught by Collard, Jackson and eBay Motors’ Tom Onslow-Cole. He admitted: “Let’s be realistic. There’s no way the outright championship is possible so my focus will be to stay ahead of my Independent rivals. Rob has effectively halved the gap to 28 points but there are only 60 left at Brands and our car will be much stronger there.”

Jackson was delighted with his results today which marked his return to the podium since Thruxton in April. “A win from 17th, a second and a new lap record in a car that is still only two months old and it could have been two wins… I couldn’t be happier for everyone in my team,” he said.

Elsewhere Honda/Dynamics is all but assured the coveted Manufacturers/Constructors title. Similarly the Honda Yuasa Racing Team is a red hot favourite to retain the outright HiQ Teams Championship although can still be caught by eBay Motors. But it will be a three-way fight for the Independent Teams Trophy at Brands between new leader eBay Motors, Pirtek Racing and Redstone Racing – just ten points cover the trio with a potential 60 up for grabs in the finale.

Meanwhile a number of drivers were punished today by BTCC officials for on-track indiscretions. Race 1: Andy Neate, fined £500 and three penalty points on his competition licence for an incident with Andrew Jordan; Tony Gilham, official reprimand and two penalty points for an incident during a safety car period; Lea Wood, fined £500 and three penalty points for an incident with Liam Griffin. Race 3: Lea Wood, fined £500 and three penalty points for an incident with Matt Neal; Rob Austin, excluded from the results and four penalty points for an incident with Daniel Welch; Frank Wrathall, fined £500 and three penalty points for an incident with Dave Newsham; Andrew Jordan, received a verbal warning for making contact with another car.

Plato storms to Silverstone Pole

PLATO ON POLE AT SILVERSTONE
AS HONDA RIVALS STRUGGLE

 

Jason Plato has taken pole position in this afternoon’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship qualifying session at Silverstone as points leader Gordon Shedden struggled in a lowly 19th.

Oxford’s Plato took his fifth pole of the season – also his third in a row – with a best lap of 58.717s in his KX Momentum Racing MG6. That is a new BTCC qualifying lap record around Silverstone’s 1.64-mile National circuit.

Warwickshire’s Mat Jackson was second fastest in his Redstone Racing Ford Focus which had been repaired following a practice session prang and Lancashire’s Frank Wrathall third in his Dynojet Toyota Avensis.

Robert Collard’s eBay Motors BMW, Dave Newsham’s Team ES Racing.com Vauxhall Vectra and Daniel Welch’s Welch Motorsport Proton Persona were next up to make it six different makes of car in the top six.

But the two championship leaders Shedden and Matt Neal in their factory Honda Yuasa Racing Team Honda Civics were in major trouble. Neal, the reigning Champion, was only tenth and Shedden a disastrous 19th on a circuit that both had already hinted would be difficult for them because of their car’s lack of straightline speed.

Fife’s Shedden will go into tomorrow’s three races three points ahead of Neal with Plato a further 29 back and a possible maximum of 67 available. Andrew Jordan, 11th in his Pirtek Racing Honda, Collard and his team-mate Tom Onslow-Cole who was eighth in qualifying plus Jackson all still have a chance of winning this year’s title as well.

Plato commented: “Gordon only 19th – that’s a shame, isn’t it? You shouldn’t wish ill on your rivals… but I do. Hopefully the conditions will stay dry for tomorrow because clearly we’re in great shape and a good points haul will really make this championship come alive for us. Things have a way of evening themselves out and maybe here it’s our turn after some bad luck.”

A dejected Shedden, from Dalegty Bay, added: “We knew this was going to be our bogey circuit but we didn’t expect it to be this bad – the pace simply isn’t there. As the championship leader I’ve also got to start the first race tomorrow carrying maximum success ballast in my car. The only positive from that session is that it’s over.”

Meanwhile Jackson was delighted with not only his best qualifying performance so far in 2012 but also the best yet for his squad’s new NGTC-spec Focus. He enthused: “It’s going really well this weekend despite the off earlier in practice. The gap to Jason is quite large when you look at how close it is behind but the Focus is the only other car to get into the 58-seconds bracket and we’re learning all the time. I’m feeling good about tomorrow.”

Wrathall, who turned 26 earlier in the week, said: “I’m delighted with third. It’s such a tight lap with each place decided by the tiniest fractions so it’s important we qualified well.”

Silverstone next for Porsche Carrera Cup GB

Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain

Silverstone next for Porsche Carrera Cup GB
Michael Meadows leads title race heading for rounds 17 and 18
Ben Barker heads four-way battle for second place
Ahmad Al Harthy and Will Goff top Pro-Am1 and Pro-Am2


Silverstone, the home of British motor sport, is the scene for the penultimate race weekend for the 2012 Porsche Carrera Cup GB as Michael Meadows tops the title race heading for rounds 17 and 18 (6/7 October).

With four of the season’s 20 races left to run, Meadows has a firm grip on the overall title in a year when six drivers have already won races, while Ahmad Al Harthy is setting the standard in Pro-Am1 and Will Goff heads Pro-Am2.

Carrying a 54-point advantage into the pair of races at his home track, Banbury-based Meadows (Redline Racing) is very much in control in a season where he has blended speed and consistency to win five races and finish on the podium 13 times in 16 races. If he can maintain that form at Silverstone, Meadows could be confirmed as champion by Sunday afternoon as a margin of 45 points with two races still to run at Brands Hatch would settle the matter.

But Meadows knows this will be no easy task and with a gaggle of drivers currently battling over second place, he cannot afford to let his guard slip for a moment. The man on stunning form just now is Ben Barker (Parr Motorsport) with four wins on the trot at Knockhill and Rockingham and he is determined to maintain that form at Silverstone. Barker’s recent run of success has taken him two points ahead of Sam Tordoff (Team Parker Racing), while Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing), Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) and Daniel Lloyd (Team Parker Racing) are all chasing hard.

Other drivers aiming for a visit to the Silverstone podium are Richard Plant (Team Parker Racing), Andy Meyrick (Team Parker Racing) and former double champion James Sutton. Having rejoined Redline Racing last time out at Rockingham, Sutton will race alongside Meadows in a bid to secure a fifth team championship title for Redline.

It is the Redline team that is also at the head of the Pro-Am1 title race as Ahmad Al Harthy heads to Silverstone with a 48-point advantage. The Omani racer is having a superb season, with 10 wins from 16 races, and if he can end the second Silverstone race with a 45-point lead, he will be Pro-Am1 champion. Leading the chase of Al Harthy and battling for second place are Oly Mortimer (GT Marques), Derek Pierce (Team Parker Racing) and Victor Jimenez (Redline/Oman Air) and anyone of them could emerge on top at Silverstone.

The Pro-Am2 title has come down to a straight battle between Will Goff (Goff Racing) and Tania Mann (sibsport performance) and Goff currently has the upperhand after Mann suffered a troubled weekend at Knockhill.

After qualifying at 12.55 on Saturday, round 17 will start at 09.00 on Sunday, with round 18 at 15.45. Round 18 will be broadcast live on ITV4 during the extensive BTCC programme which runs from 11.00 on Sunday.

SILVERSTONE The countdown begins

 The countdown begins. 

Little more than a week remains before Northamptonshire’s world-famous Silverstone circuit (Sat 6/Sun 7 Oct) hosts the crucial penultimate round of this year’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. The three races at Silverstone will decide who will then still be in with a chance of winning the UK’s most prestigious motor racing title on Finals Day at Brands Hatch in Kent a fortnight later.

Seven drivers can mathematically still be crowned BTCC Champion in 2012, namely Honda Yuasa Racing Team team-mates Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal who lead the way, MG KX Momentum Racing’s Jason Plato, Pirtek Racing’s Andrew Jordan, eBay Motors pair Robert Collard and Tom Onslow-Cole and Redstone Racing’s Mat Jackson.

Arriving at Silverstone it is Hampshire’s Collard, Surrey’s Onslow-Cole and Warwickshire’s Jackson who will be most under pressure to perform if they are to keep their fading title hopes alive. All are presently more than 67 points adrift of leader Shedden with that then being the maximum available when the cars take to the legendary Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit for the season finale on the weekend of 20/21 October.

Of the four ahead, two wins for Scotsman Shedden last weekend at Rockingham, also in Northamptonshire, have moved him into the championship lead by three points from Worcestershire’s Neal. Shedden has never won the BTCC before while Neal is looking to retain his crown from last season – achieved when he defeated Shedden at Silverstone – and make it four titles to his name.

For Oxford’s Plato, himself a double BTCC Champion, Silverstone is very much his home event as it is for Lichfield youngster Jordan who, like Shedden and Neal, races a Honda Civic. All three Honda drivers, though, are expecting to struggle around Silverstone’s high-speed National circuit and Plato, in his MG6, will be hoping they are right.

Plato is currently 32 points behind Shedden with a maximum of 67 available from Silverstone’s three races. What’s more his MG team-mate Andy Neate, another local from nearby Aylesbury, will surely be out to aid Plato’s chances by stealing vital points away from his Honda rivals…

Silverstone’s short lap and long, wide straights never fail to deliver plenty of doorhandle-to-doorhandle entertainment for fans. Indeed the view from Woodcote corner of cars slipstreaming and fanning out five abreast along the Wellington Straight is one of the most evocative of the season.

As ever ‘the home of British motor sport’, easily accessible from across the Midlands just off the A43 dual carriageway between the M40 and M1 motorways, is making its big BTCC weekend hugely popular among audiences both young and old. Adult tickets for race day (Sunday) start from just £29 if booked in advance with admission for accompanied children aged 15 and under FREE all weekend. All admission includes access to grandstands, the main central BTCC teams’ paddock and Sunday’s specially organised autograph session with the star touring car drivers.

To book in advance visit www.silverstone.co.uk or call the ticket hotline 0844 3750 740.

In addition to the BTCC’s three penultimate races of 2012 which headline the event a further 12 races for the Ginetta GT Supercup, Ginetta Junior Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup, Renault Clio Cup and guesting Formula Renault BARC categories are also in store during the weekend.

Toyota GT86 scores success at Britcar 24 Hours

The Toyota Drivers collect their rewards!

Team Toyota GB is celebrating a remarkable UK racing debut for its GT86 sports car , which claimed eighth place overall and third in its class in Britain’s toughest race, the Britcar 24 Hours on its conclusion Last Sunday at Silverstone.

Toyota GB's distinctive Livery getting stuck into the start of the race

Crewed by a four-man team led by Chris Hodgetts,Toyota’s double BTCC champion of the 1980s, the near standard GT86 ran faultlessly throughout its 512 laps and 1874 miles around the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. Hodgetts was joined on the driving strength by his son, Stefan, evo journalist Richard Meaden and Travis drummer Neil Primrose.

“It is an absolutely fantastic result,” said Gary Blackham, whose team GPRM prepared the car for the event. “We harboured ambitions of finishing in the top 10 and we are more than delighted with eighth overall. Given the differential in horsepower between our car and the other rather more modified racing cars in the division, third in class is a great result also.

“The GT86 ran faultlessly throughout; I think the only work we had to do was to add about half a litre of oil during the whole race. All the pit stops went smoothly, the technicians - a mixture of seasoned GPRM regulars and staff from Toyota GB's head office - worked very well together and the drivers were fantastic; they did everything they needed to and everything that was asked of them.”

The Sun sets on a fine achievement for Toyota's New Car

The drivers took three-hour turns at the wheel and each put in two stints. Stefan Hodgetts started the race and set theToyota’s fastest lap towards the end of his first stint, and his 61-year-old father enjoyed the honour of taking the chequered flag. Said Chris: “We drove the wheels off it for 24 hours. We literally ragged the poor little car throughout, and as you would expect from a Toyota it responded with fantastic reliability.”

Added Meaden: “The car is mega through the corners. Considering the short space of time the team had to do the preparation this result is testimony to them and to the performance of the car. Eighth place overall is a fantastic achievement.”

Thirty-three cars took the start of the Britcar 24 Hours, and the class for modified production cars featured 14 entries, of which 12 made it to the chequered flag.

The Britcar Toyota GT86 was powered by the standard 16-valve double overhead cam horizontally opposed ‘boxer’ engine of the road-going model, delivering 197bhp. GPRM now plans to develop a more powerful version for customers looking to buy track Toyotas of their own - although there are currently no plans to run the car again this year.

The Toyota GB Team with their appropriately numbered GT86

Special silver anniversary for RS500

It’s 25 years since Ford’s iconic Sierra Cosworth RS500 burst onto the world’s roads and racetracks and next month’s Silverstone Classic powered by the AA (20-22 July) will pay homage to the winged wondercar. The RS500’s silver anniversary will be marked with two special touring car races plus a large display dedicated to both competition and showroom derivatives.

It was back in 1985 that Ford shocked the world by launching the original Sierra Cosworth – a turbocharged version of its basic family hatchback that came complete with a ‘whale-tail’ rear spoiler and ample performance to embarrass many a supercar.

Once 5000 of these ‘standard’ 150mph ‘Cossies’ had been produced, international Group A competition rules allowed Ford to develop an even hotter evolution version of which only 500 were needed to meet the homologation regulations – hence the introduction of the flame-spitting RS500 in August 1987.

Now armed with a bigger turbocharger plus a host of other aerodynamic and performance related upgrades, racing versions could develop more than 500bhp and were quick to make their mark in motor sport. In 1988 the RS500 dominated the European Touring Car Championship and won national titles in Germany, Belgium, Spain and Holland. It was in the coveted British Touring Car Championship, though, that the RS500 really earned its reputation with drivers such as Andy Rouse, Steve Soper and Robb Gravett enjoying a record unbeaten run of 40 consecutive victories between September 1987 and the end 1990 after which saloon car racing adopted a new non-turbo Super Touring formula.

Twenty five years on, those remarkable achievements will be showcased in two momentous Fuji Film Touring Car Trophy races to be staged at the Silverstone Classic. Marking the occasion, no fewer than five RS500s will head an impressive entry list that includes close to 50 of the world’s finest touring cars from 1975-1999  – and more are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Among the RS500s already confirmed is Dave Brodie in his familiar ‘Run Baby Run’ Sierra, a regular BTCC front-runner back in the late Eighties.

Adding to the celebrations the RS Owners Club is putting together a large collection of more than 40 road and racing RS500s for display over the weekend.

“The RS500 is already part of motor sport folklore and we are thrilled to have so many participating at this year’s classic,” enthused event director Nick Wigely. “Watching the mighty Cossies racing against the more modern generation of Super Tourers is going to be every bit as intriguing as spectacular. The newer cars may be more advanced in terms of technology but with rear-wheel-drive and massive turbos the dramatic RS500s are sure to be huge crowds pleasers.”   

Adult tickets for 2012’s Silverstone Classic powered by the AA (20-22 July) cost from as little as £35 and special two- and three-day weekend tickets are also available with savings of up to 20 per cent if purchased in advance. Full details are available via the event’s official HYPERLINK "http://e2ma.net/go/11609114144/4166337/113240288/39710/b64/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zaWx2ZXJzdG9uZWNsYXNzaWMuY29t" www.silverstoneclassic.com website. 

Silverstone Classic Hosts AA World

Clearly these vehicles have shrunk in the wash.

 This summer’s exciting new AA World will be Britain’s most complete interactive driving experience featuring a huge range of activities for all ages.

AA World includes:

• Free taster driving lessons for those aged 12 and over (minimum height restrictions apply)
• Skid Pan and 4x4 Experiences
• Meet and greets with Roary the Racing Car and Friends
• Hot Laps on the Stowe Circuit
• Electric Jeeps for juniors
• F1 driving simulator
• Pit-stop Challenge
• Giant Scalextric racetrack
• Car Archery Challenge
• AA Emporium including cooking demonstrations
• Parking Challenge
• AA Grand Tour classic car display
• Special AA heritage display
• Big top and funfair with dodgems
• Racing action live on big screen
• Live music on AA flatbed truck stage

Backed by the Automobile Association ­– the UK’s biggest motoring organisation – AA World is an integral part of the Silverstone Classic powered by the AA (20-21-22 July), the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival with 1,000 historic race cars and 7,000 classic display cars. The three-day event is also a major family attraction with live rock music, air shows, retail village, vintage funfair plus a host of other entertainment in addition to a packed programme of track action showcasing the full spectrum of motor sport history.

We'll have the Sauber Mercedes Group C please.

Based right at the heart of the Silverstone Circuit, close to the venue’s impressive new Wing pits and paddock complex, the new AA World motoring theme park will provide show-goers of all generations with an unprecedented line up of free driving experiences ranging from electric cars for toddlers and taster driving lessons for teenagers to hot laps around the Stowe Circuit in some of today’s latest and most desirable performance cars.

Edmund King, AA president, says: “AA World will get the whole family involved in the fun of driving from Roary The Racing Car for toddlers to hot laps and skid-pan sessions for the grown-ups.

“And pre-driving age teenagers will be able to get behind the wheel of an AA driving school Ford Focus for a first drive at Silverstone.”

“The arrival of AA World will add yet another fantastic dimension to what’s already a great event for car lovers of all ages.” confirmed Nick Wigley, Event Director of the Silverstone Classic.

Something a bit more sensible - Where better to learn to drive than
Silverstone?

The AA World driving experiences will be free to both AA members and non-members. The AA believes that driving is an important life skill and it regularly campaigns on young driver road safety. Earlier this year, it called for driving science to be included in the National Curriculum and its charity offers free ‘Drive Smart’ tuition to young, newly-qualified drivers.

Full details of the 2012 Silverstone Classic powered by the AA – including further information on AA World as well as a comprehensive selection of on-site camping facilities – are available via the event’s official www.silverstoneclassic.com website.   

Birch sets the pace in Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

James Birch with his appropriately liveried car at Silverstone

Former single-seater racer James Birch made the early running in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge as teams and drivers tested at Silverstone yesterday (13 March) during Porsche’s pre-season test and media day.

Contenders in the GT3 Cup Challenge joined competitors from the Porsche Carrera Cup GB for over three and a half hours of exclusive testing on the Silverstone National circuit and by the end of the afternoon Birch was top of the GT3 Cup times in his IN2 Racing entered 911 GT3 Cup.

The 22-year old racer was delighted with the day’s work. “I’m really starting to get in the groove with the car now and I feel that I can push,” said Birch. “I’ve been on a learning curve today and I’m just trying to take a lot on board at the moment.”

Leading the chase of Birch was Graeme Mundy, who has recently confirmed plans to contest a full GT3 Cup Challenge season with Team Parker Racing. The Salisbury racer lapped within half a second of Birch’s best time as Neil Houston and Steven Liquorish made it three Team Parker Racing cars in the top four. For Houston, it was a very encouraging finish to his first day of testing in a 911 GT3 Cup after two part seasons in a Ginetta G50 in 2009 and 2010.

Peter Smallwood rounded out the top five for Parr Motorsport, while Lithuanian racers Michael Osterman and Vilmantas Audzijonis ran well as they learnt the track with Juta Racing. Also on hand, but not ready to run in the test session were Guy Riall (Almara Racing), Tom Hallissey (ASK Racing) and Mark Cowne (Fearn Sport).

The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge season starts at Snetterton over the Easter weekend (7/8 April).

Silverstone Classic supports Touring Cars

 The 2012 Silverstone Classic powered by the AA will showcase an even greater spectrum of motor sport history following confirmation today (Thursday 12 January) that two exciting new races will be adding to this summer’s on-track action.

With more than 1100 of the world’s finest classic competition cars entering a remarkable mix of the superb races on Grand Prix circuit, last year’s Silverstone Classic was the biggest motor sport event ever staged on earth. Now the introduction of two new grids will broaden the festival’s appeal still further with special showdowns for super touring cars and evocative F5000 and F2 single-seaters lining up alongside established crowd favourites such Group C sports prototypes and DFV-powered F1 cars.

Touring cars are always popular

The popularity of touring car racing has spiralled in recent decades and this year’s Silverstone Classic will feature two unique races – one on Saturday and one on Sunday – starring many of the famous cars that have fuelled this escalating appeal. The line-up will include the cream of front-runners from European, British and German Touring Car Championships spanning the years from 1975 to 1999. The result will be a spectacular entry celebrating Group 2, Group A, Super Touring and DTM eras including Jaguar XJ-Cs, BMW CSLs, Ford Sierra Cosworths and Rover SD1s alongside a more modern generation of BTCC classics from the Nineties such as the Nissan Primera and Ford Mondeo. It will be the first time in history that such a comprehensive display of modern touring car classics has raced together and is certain to be an instant success with owners, enthusiasts and fans.

More than 30 cars have already entered this pace-setting double-header with a near capacity grid of more than 50 machines expected in total. As well as highlighting a golden generation in touring car history, the pioneering races will put a special spotlight on the evocative Sierra RS500 Cosworth, which turns 25 this year. When launched in August 1987, the iconic turbocharged winged Ford caused a sensation both on an off the track. The ground-breaking RS500 not only won countless national and international race and rally titles but also helped to rewrite the road car rulebook by offering supercar levels of performance for little more than the price of a standard Sierra model. Several RS500s are already on the provisional entry list and more are expected to join the milestone Silver Anniversary celebrations.

Thunderous F5000 cars set to entertain!

The second new race – announced today on the Silverstone Classic powered by the AA display stand at the Autosport International Show inside Birmingham’s NEC – is for Formula 5000 and Formula 2 single-seaters built and raced between 1967 and 1979. Both formulae were hugely popular in the Sixties and Seventies, enhanced by regular appearances from F1 stars. Back then F2 grids regularly fielded many of the top F1 drivers – Graham Hill, Jochen Rindt, Niki Lauda, Ronnie Peterson, James Hunt plus a host of others – when their Grand Prix commitments allowed. Once again a close to capacity grid is anticipated with plenty of entertainment guaranteed as the fastest of the nimble F2 cars battle with the thundering American V8-engined F5000s.

“Though firmly established as the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival we are always looking to provide both racers and fans with innovations and evolutions,” explained Nick Wigley, Event Organiser. “The special touring car race will be the first of its kind, highlighting the huge success of tin-top competition in recent years. That 2012 marks the 25^th birthday of the amazing Sierra RS500 just adds to what’s clearly going to be a very special occasion. Similarly Formula 5000 was a huge draw back in the Seventies and Eighties with drivers such as Alan Jones, Jody Scheckter, Mario Andretti and, of course, the late Peter Gethin. It’s no surprise that the formula has enjoyed a global revival in historic racing circles during the past few years and we know the fabulous sight and sounds of these mighty V8 machines will provide another nostalgic crowd pleaser in July.”

On top of the record-breaking on-track action, the Silverstone Classic offers a wealth of other infield attractions. In excess of 7000 classic cars will be displayed by more than 120 car clubs, many marking significant anniversaries. This year’s standout tributes include 50^th birthday parties for a number famous British sportscars including the AC Cobra, Lotus Elan, MGB and Triumph Spitfire. Adding to the ‘Rocking and Racing’ festival atmosphere, live music shows on Friday and Saturday evenings will see classic pop and rock bands strutting their stuff with Adam Ant as well as Mike and the Mechanics topping the 2012 bill.

Full details of the 2012 Silverstone Classic powered by the AA – including information on ‘Early Bird’ ticket offers and a comprehensive selection of on-site camping facilities – are available via the event’s official www.silverstoneclassic.com website.