National Motorsport Week Spreads Across the Country

Teams, venues, championships and businesses right across the United Kingdom are embracing the re-energised National Motorsport Week (25 June-3 July) with a raft of different initiatives and activities.

The latest companies to support the initiative are:

M-Sport

Prodrive

Silverstone

Croft

Knockhill

Mercedes-Benz World

Dunlop

Daytona

Following last week’s announcement that all eight UK-based Formula One teams would be opening their doors to the public during National Motorsport Week, both of the UK’s two FIA World Rally Championship operations, M-Sport (Cockermouth) and Prodrive (Banbury), confirmed that they would also be offering the opportunity to visit their facilities. 

On Monday, June 27, M-Sport Managing Director Malcolm Wilson OBE will be inviting the public to attend an Open Day at M-Sport’s headquarters at Dovenby Hall, Cockermouth. Visitors to the state-of-the-art technical facilities will have the chance to see the M-Sport collection of historic Ford cars driven by the likes of rally stars such as Colin McRae, Jari-Matti Latvala, Francois Delecour and Malcolm Wilson, have a photo taken in a Ford Fiesta RS World Rally Car, try the Ford Focus RS WRC rally simulator where the fastest time of the day will win a team jacket signed by the BP Ford Abu Dhabi drivers and visit M-Sport’s merchandise shop to purchase gifts for friends and family at rates specially discounted for National Motorsport Week.

Wilson said: “Each year motorsport contributes six billion pounds to the British economy and employs over 40,000 skilled people throughout the country – as an industry and a sport, it is one of the country’s proudest and enduring success stories.  I’m an MIA board member and when I heard that they and the MSA were supporting this year’s National Motorsport Week, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to ensure M-Sport’s involvement in this fantastic initiative. We are always keen to raise the awareness of rallying - and motorsport as a whole - as it is a genuine UK success story to be proud of. The team are looking forward to opening our doors to the public and I look forward to meeting everyone personally on the day.”

Tours to the M-Sport facilities (photo above) will be by prior booking by email application to enquiries@m-sport.co.uk and subject to a £10 per head charge, of which £5 will be donated to the MIA’s Motorsport Foundation.

A select number of tours to visit the MINI WRC headquarters at Prodrive in Banbury will also be available to win on the Go Motorsport website at www.gomotorsport.net.

Alongside the opportunity to see the homes of the Ford Fiesta RS WRC and MINI WRC, a number of other initiatives are being staged by teams, championships, motor clubs and venues during National Motorsport Week.

Backed by the Motor Sports Association (MSA), the UK’s governing body of motorsport, and the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA), National Motorsport Week exists both to highlight the UK’s on-going world-leading role in all areas of international motor sport as well as to showcase the wide range of opportunities open to enthusiasts at grass roots level throughout the country. 

Some of the UK’s most iconic motor sport venues will also be taking advantage of National Motorsport Week to stage their own special events aimed at widening awareness and appeal. Silverstone, the home of the Santander Formula 1 British Grand Prix, will be giving the public a chance to bicycle around the full GP circuit and to see its state-of-the-art new Wing pit and paddock complex on the evening of Saturday 25 June. Entrance is free though a donation to the Help for Heroes charity is requested. This special cycle ride is being co-hosted by the MG Car Club, which is extending hospitality to cyclists and their families that evening at the track, with a party and children’s funfair. 

Mercedes-Benz World at Brooklands is also actively participating in National Motorsport Week with a free live screening of the Formula One European Grand Prix from Valencia plus a series of other motor sport events during the promotional period.

On Friday 1 July, members of the public can sample a high-speed passenger lap at Croft Circuit in a Caterham around the challenging 2.1 miles of the North Yorkshire circuit absolutely free! On a first come, first served basis for anyone over the age of 14, the circuit will be giving away passenger rides with its experienced race instructors.

The previous day, Thursday June 30, Dunlop will be opening the doors to Tyre Fort in Erdington, Birmingham for public tours and a rare opportunity to see inside the operation that researches, designs and produces competition tyres for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Moto 2, Le Mans 24 Hours, Australian V8s plus a range of other international race and rally series. Dunlop will support tyre tours at its headquarters with a field tour around their BTCC tyre fitting operation in the BTCC paddock at the following round held at Snetterton in Norfolk.

The day will include a presentation on motorsport tyre production and the compounds which help teams and individuals to gain a competitive advantage. Café Dunlop will be there to offer refreshments to visitors whilst they check out a BTCC car and FTR Moto 2 replica bike. 

Dunlop Brand Manager, Andy Marfleet said: “National Motorsport Week is a great opportunity for driving and racing enthusiasts to gain greater knowledge of the motor sport industry. Dunlop are offering people the opportunity to gain an insight into the role of tyres within motor sport. With Dunlop being involved in events like BTCC, Le Mans 24 Hours, Moto 2 and Isle of Man TT we are well positioned to talk tyre technology with members of the public and explain our race to road philosophy,” concluded Marfleet.

Numbers are limited and those interested in attending any of Dunlop’s activities should contact Dunlop’s Joseph Plummer at joseph_plummer@dunloptyres.co.uk. 
 

Further north at Knockhill in Scotland spectators displaying a Go Motorsport logo can get free access to circuit’s race day activities on 2 July. The weekend’s Scottish Championship Car Racing meeting is organised by the SMRC with 18 races from Scottish Formula Ford, Legends, Mini Copper, Sports & Saloon and Classic Sports & Saloon Championships. Those producing a Go Motorsport logo also can enjoy free passenger track rides during the lunch-break of the Hot Hatch Day on 26 June (subject to availability) in one of the circuit’s race prepared SEAT Cupra track cars driven by professional ARDS instructors.

 
The UK’s premier kart venue operator, Daytona Motorsport, also has fully embraced the revitalised National Motorsport Week with an exciting opportunity for two of its ‘Arrive & Drive’ karters to win a free entry to a future round of the 2011 Vodafone DMAX Championship.

 
Entry to the competition is simple: during National Motorsport Week the fastest karter at both Daytona Sandown Park and Daytona Milton Keynes will automatically win a prize entry.

 
Daytona Vodafone DMAX Series Director Jim Graham commented: “We are delighted to support National Motorsport Week. It is a great initiative and if all race teams, venues, drivers and news outlets jump on board we can really build a week to celebrate motor sport. I know a lot of the F1 teams are on board as are the circuits, so from a karting perspective we are very pleased to be able to offer this competition.” 

 
Colin Hilton, Chief Executive, MSA, said: “It is really encouraging to see that the whole sport is getting together behind National Motorsport Week, from F1 and WRC teams, to venues, businesses and clubs. We want to open up the world of motorsport to as many people as possible and show them just how easy it is to get involved.”

Motorsport & the UK
Our Competitors

• Britain has produced more F1 World Champions than any other nation with ten title winners; Brazil and Finland are next up with three each.
• Two of the last three F1 World Champions are British – Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.
• More British drivers (31) have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans than those representing any other nation, including France (26).  
• Guernseyman Andy Priaulx MBE is the only driver to have won three World Touring Car Championship titles.
• The reigning IndyCar and Indianapolis 500 champion is Dario Franchitti from Scotland.
• UK karters currently hold six of the 19 International karting titles awarded by the CIK-FIA.
• The UK is one of only two countries to host rounds of all four major FIA World
• Championships: FIA Formula 1 World Championship, FIA World Rally Championship, FIA GT1 World Championship and FIA World Touring Car Championship.
• There are more than 32,000 MSA Competition Licence holders in the UK.
• The UK hosts almost 5,000 MSA sanctioned motor sport events every year including: autocross, autotest, circuit racing, cross-country, drag racing, hillclimbing, karting, rallycross, rallying, sprinting, time attack and trials. 

Our Industry

• British-based constructors have won no fewer than 34 F1 Constructors’
• Championship well ahead of Italian (16) and French (3) based teams.
• Eight of the 12 current F1 teams are based in the UK.
• Two of the three premier World Rally Championship teams are based in the UK.
• The FIA World Touring Car Championship winning team is based in the UK.
• UK companies dominate the design and manufacture of components used in the majority of the world’s competition categories.
• More than 4,000 UK companies are involved in the technology driven world of UK Motorsport and Performance Engineering Industry with an annual turn-over of £6 billion – if which £3.6 billion exported.
• These innovative businesses invest more than 30 per cent of their sales into R&D when the UK pharmaceutical industry invests 15 per cent. 
• Motorsport supports nearly 40,000 full and part-time jobs of which 25,000 are qualified engineers.

DONINGTON PARK ANNOUNCES REVISED EVENTS CALENDAR

Donington Park has announced a change to its 2011 Calendar of Major Events due to noise restrictions in place at the Leicestershire venue. The decision to reduce the number of race days – which comes following careful consideration from the Board of Donington Park Racing Ltd – means that the calendar will now focus on prestigious racing events such as World Touring Cars and the British Superbike Championship. 

The WTCC and BSB rounds will go ahead as planned in July and September, with Superstars International, Aston Martin Owners Club event and the FT International Series and British GT Championship also remaining in the schedule. The reduction in the number of events at the circuit will also allow the Donington Park team to move forward with the planned improvement works ahead of the 2012 season sooner than expected. 

“We were so keen to get Donington Park back up and running that we initially over-subscribed to racing events in relation to the noise restrictions in place,” explains chairman Kevin Wheatcroft. “Although it’s a tough decision to reduce the calendar, we know it is right for the venue. We still have some very exciting events to look forward to and we can press ahead with the improvements at the park ahead of what is set to be another exciting year in 2012”.

2011 Donington Park Major Events Calendar – UPDATED

Please note that this calendar replaces any previous versions

Superstars International Series - 18/19 June
Aston Martin Owners Club - 25/26 June
FIA World Touring Car Championship - 15/16/17 July
MSVR Donington Weekend - 13/14 August
GP Masters Historic Car Racing - 3/4 September
British Superbike Championship - 10/11 September
Cooper Tires British F3 International Series and
Avon Tyres British GT Championship - 24/25 September

Mazda Works Team in Britcar

Britcar is enjoying some good times this year since they were awarded the title of "British Endurance Championship". But it's nice to see that the more traditional aspect of Britcar remains intact with the Production series as busy as ever!

It's even nicer to see a Works team competing, and it's hard to miss this one since their car is such a bright colour! Mazda MX5s are great fun to drive (Click on Series 1 on the top right of this page to see a S1 MX5 on the Llandow Track guide), and despite what anyone says, are quite definitely proper sports cars. Here's how the team got on at Thruxton

Another Podium for the Mazda MX-5 Race Team

The Mazda MX-5 production race car finished third in class in round four of the Britcar Dunlop Production GTN Championship 2011 at Thruxton Circuit on Sunday 12 June 2011.

Despite qualifying a lowly fifth in class on Saturday 11 June 2011, the Mazda Financial Services and Motul backed Mazda MX-5 production car demonstrated its outstanding wet handling strengths to finish third in class.

On race day, despite adverse weather conditions causing poor visibility and heavy traffic on track, the Mazda MX-5 production race car out handled rivals Honda Civic Type R, Ford Focus, Seat Leon Cupra and Honda Jazz to give the production car its first podium of the season.

Mazda driver Mike Wilds started the race and handed over to freelance motoring journalist, Jesse Crosse at the half way point. The Mazda MX-5 production race car proved highly competitive in the conditions– thanks to its 50:50 weight distribution, handling and performance.

Also entered by Mazda was the MX-5 GT race car - driven by Mark Ticehurst, Mazda works driver and Owen Mildenhall, racing driver and motoring journalist – and despite poor track conditions, the MX-5 GT led its class for the first half of the race, climbing to fifth overall chasing two Ferraris before an electrical fault saw the car recovered to the pits.

The electrical fault was traced to water in the MX-5 GT race car’s cockpit, and Owen Mildenhall rejoined the race 15 laps adrift of the class lead. After almost an hour and 10 minutes into the two hour race, the conditions were considered bad enough for the race to finish early and the GT race car finished fifth in class.

“Despite adverse weather and Thruxton circuit lending itself to the faster cars on track, we had a great result on Sunday, which is testament to the drivers and the handling and reliability for which the MX-5 is renowned,” commented Graeme Fudge, PR director, Mazda UK.

The next race is at Spa Francorchamps on 26th June 2011.

BTCC in action at Croft

Not only is there loads of action going on at Donington Park this weekend with the Superstars in town, (see yesterday's post), the BTCC goes north to Croft for their latest round - naturally with their support series in tow. Here's reports from the teams on their preparations!

TOYOTA HOPES HIGH FOR STRONG MID-SEASON SHOWING

NGTC cars like the Toyota have proved popular
(but not with Mr Plato!)

Toyota-driving BTCC independent Frank Wrathall and his Dynojet Racing team head for North Yorkshire this weekend (18/19 June) with high hopes for some solid results in the three races at the Croft circuit which will mark the mid point of the 2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season.

Following the squad’s best-yet showing with the all-new Avensis ‘Next Generation Touring Car’, at Oulton Park earlier this month, and some encouraging between-meeting trials, 24-year-old Wrathall believes Croft could provide him with his best opportunity to show the true potential of the Toyota.

“We covered around 200 miles in the car one day last week,” said Lancashire-based Frank, “and there were no significant issues at all. It was a good day – our best yet – and though we are still not 100 per cent performance-wise, it gives me hope that we are in good shape for Croft. No predictions; I am just hoping to have a good run and three solid races.

“It would be nice to end the first half of the season on a high note, ahead of the long summer break, and I have always gone well at Croft – it has a good mix of corners and I like the layout.”

Wrathall’s Dynojet Racing Avensis will be the sole Toyota in action in Yorkshire, the Speedworks Motorsport team having opted out of running Tony Hughes’s car in favour of further development work away from the TV cameras.

The Croft BTCC meeting is the circuit’s biggest event of the year. Practice sessions and qualifying are scheduled for Saturday (18 June), with qualifying streamed live on itv.com. Sunday’s trio of races will be screened live in HD quality on ITV4.

Following Croft, Wrathall and his Toyota will join some exalted company at the world-famous Goodwood Festival of Speed (30 June-3 July); they have been invited by Toyota, a long-standing event supporter, to join a number of Toyota and Lexus road and competition cars on the famous hill course. These include the Gazoo Racing Lexus LFA, which will be fresh from competition in the Nürburgring 24 Hours; a Group B Celica, which will be driven by four-time World Rally Champion Juha Kankkunen; and the Toyota GT One Le Mans sports car with which Belgian former Grand Prix ace Thierry Boutsen will be reunited.

Frank is thrilled: “It’s another great opportunity for me to showcase Dynojet Racing and the BTCC, and I can’t wait to get the Avensis on to that famous hill climb course to see how it goes.”

HONDA RACING TEAM: BTCC RACE PREVIEW REPORT

Honda Racing Team drivers Matt Neal and Gordon ‘Flash’ Shedden are feeling positive ahead of this weekend’s rounds of the 2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Croft in North Yorkshire.

Former double champion, Matt Neal heads to the fifth meeting of the season on top of the drivers’ standings and Honda also leads the manufacturers’ and teams’ points tables too. Neal and team-mate Gordon Shedden are both hopeful that the demanding 2.25-mile track will help to deliver more success for the Honda Racing team.

“It has been a great track for us in the past and I think that we will be strong there again,” said Neal. “It’s a track that really rewards a car that has a strong chassis and that is something we have got with the Civic. It’s very strong in the fast sweeping corners and it’s also a good car when you have to be aggressive across the kerbing. I am going there confident of a strong weekend.”

Despite Neal’s optimism, he says that there will be one factor which could knock the team’s preparations ahead of the three races on Sunday – the good old British weather. “We saw at the last round at Oulton Park that difficult conditions can change everything,” said Neal. “I have looked at the forecast for the weekend and it looks unpredictable. I just hope we can have three dry races to get the most out of the car.”

Neal’s team-mate Shedden is just two points behind in the race for the drivers’ title and he says that Croft could be one of the turning points of the season. “I agree that our car is going to be strong around Croft and I took two wins there last season,” said Flash. “Our rivals don’t stand still though so we will have to push hard to stay on top.

“For each weekend, I need to take away 30 points to remain in the title hunt – that is the target. That means three solid top three finishes and if you can get any more than that, then it is a bonus. I think we can perform strongly because it is such a technical track and it has two distinct characters.

“It has some really fast corners around the back of the circuit which mean you need a great handling car but it also has the slow and technical stuff at the end of the lap so we need to make sure that the set-up is perfect. Getting all of those elements right is what makes it such a buzz when you hook it all up.”

The fifth meeting of the 2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship takes place on Saturday and Sunday and the entire race day is broadcast live on ITV4. The first race takes place on Sunday at 12.10pm. Fans can also follow Honda Racing on Facebook and Twitter for news and race results as the action happens - www.facebook.com/HondaRacingBTCC and www.twitter.com/hondaracingbtcc

Short Report : Kuhmo drives to Success on Dukeries Rally with Andy Burton

Dukeries Rally - a win and three cars in the top five

The Peugeot - Cosworth is one of the most distinctive
cars in UK motorsport

Andy Burton furthered his lead in the Silverstone Tyres BTRDA Rally Series last weekend (June 11) courtesy of a fourth career victory in the Dukeries Rally. The familiar Kumho-shod Peugeot Cosworth of Burton and co-driver Robin Kellard finished the event 24 seconds clear of the Ford Focus WRC of defending BTRDA Gold Star Champions Steve Perez and Paul Spooner. Other cars wearing Kumho rubber included the Subaru Impreza of Roger Chilman and Andrew Sankey (4th overall) and the Mitsubishi Evo 9 of David Wright and Michael Wilkinson (5^th overall). The fifth of the eight round BTRDA Series, the Quinton Stages Rally, takes place on July 9.

Commenting on another week of success for Kumho’s European Motorsport Division, its Manager Steve Thompson remarked, “It’s very rewarding to find our tyres achieving regular success in many different areas of the sport. The research and development required can only serve to improve the design of Kumho’s already very successful range of performance road tyres.”

Fantastic weekend of motorsport coming up!

It's always great to welcome International series here to the UK, particularly when there's a briton in with a chance of winning! The Superstars touring car competition looks fantastic and what an array of cars on offer - I think that there's everything from a Jaguar XF to a Chysler 300C in there.

However, this meeting's almost worth going to for the support races alone. The Caterham Mega Graduates and Pick Up Truck racing championship are two of the best in the UK in terms of out and out racing. Pick ups run very close together indeed and the Caterham boys aren't afraid to loose their wheel arches (and frequently do!). The Mental 250cc super karts will be quite a sight on Donington Park's amazing curves too as they race each other at collosal speeds, only 1 inch off the ground!

And if you don't like racing, there's a hillclimb on at Gurston down where our friends Ruptured Duck Motorsport are competing. It's going to be a great weekend!

SUPERSTARS INTERNATIONAL MAKES UK DEBUT AT DONINGTON PARK 

The fiercely contested Superstars International Series will make its UK debut at Donington Park this weekend (18 -19 June), with Britain's very own Johnny Herbert starring, as he battles against a strong-field of competitors in his Mercedes Benz C63AMG.

A fantastic line up, but the support races are just as good!

With Donington Park hosting one of the five international rounds of the series this year, Thomas Biagi currently leads the standings in his BMW M3 by just nine points from Luigi Ferrara in his Mercedes C63 AMG. Although not counting towards International points, Ferrara comes to Donington in blistering form, having won the first race at the recent Misano round in Italy, with Biagi looking strong too having visited the podium in the second race of the day.

For British fans, ex-formula one driver Johnny Herbert will be the one to cheer, as he looks to improve on his current championship position of 13th and put on a treat for local fans in his Mercedes C63 AMG. Herbert said: "Naturally I'm delighted to be back at Donington Park once again. I have fond memories of the place after just missing out on a podium in the 1993 European Grand Prix, so I hope to set that record straight in the Superstars series this time around while looking for a little more luck in front of my home fans."

Kicking off on Saturday 18th June, fans will not only be treated to the fierce action of the International Superstars Series, but will also get the chance to watch the Caterham Mega Graduate action, Speed Euroseries, 250 Superkarts, Pick-up Trucks and even Scooters.

Advanced tickets for both race weekends are on sale now, so book your place today! Ticket prices for each event are £15 for a Saturday ticket, £25 for a Sunday ticket and £30 for the full weekend. Children 15 and under go free.

If you're looking for something a little bit extra special, then call our hospitality team on 01332 810048 to enquire about our luxury packages. You'll be treated to some of the best panoramic views Donington Park has to offer plus you can sit back and enjoy the world class racing action in comfort.

Click here to book your tickets: www.donington-park.co.uk 

The Return of Baby Bertha

Baby Bertha and a distant relative, the VXR8

Older visitors to our site will remember the irreplaceable Gerry Marshall and his famous Vauxhall touring car racer "Baby Bertha". It was a heavily modified car powered by a huge V8, and it raced in Modsports.

And now, thanks to the Classic Sports Car Club, It's back with a revival event at Mallory Park. The cars and name are back including Marshall's famous car itself. It's also great to see Vauxhall throwing it's support behind a national motorsport event, much like Toyota has done with the MR2 championship.

We're really looking forward to this. Mallory Park will never have sounded so good!

MODSPORT MONSTERS STORM MALLORY TO REVIVE EPIC RACE SERIES

The legacy of the late, great Gerry Marshall will be alive and kicking this August Bank Holiday Monday when over 30 original Modsport and Thundersaloon race cars from the 70s and 80s will once again drift around the demanding Mallory Park circuit in Leicestershire.

Created by the Classic Sports Car Club, the race will mark the start of what the organisers hope will become a full-blown series in 2012, reuniting some of the greatest V8 saloon racers and drivers that ever competed in the UK.

Dave Taylor, Mick Hill, Vince Woodman and Alistair Thompson will be just some of the star racers from the Modsports era who’ll be attacking Mallory on Bank Holiday Monday, August 29, exactly 35 years ago to the day since Gerry Marshall took the 1976 Modsports Championship in Vauxhall’s DTV-sponsored Baby Bertha

In addition to Bertha, the Daf V8 and the Chevrolet-powered Beetle, other original cars set for a competition renaissance include Chris Tilly’s MGB GT V8, Simon Frowen’s 4,000cc Reliant Kitten, Simon Lane’s Chevrolet Camaro and Dave Teley’s Stars & Stripes Opel Manta.

The CSCC’s Richard Wos is passionate about bringing the series to a younger generation of race-goers: “This is the first bespoke race series of its kind this century and, with its noise, speed and drama, it’s sure to appeal to a younger generation of motorsport enthusiasts, as well as those spectators who have fond memories of the original Modsports race series.

As a prelude to the event, the CSCC will be running a press and test day at Mallory on June 29, where all the cars racing in August will be given a shake-down. Many cars, like Dave Taylor’s V8 ‘Dafnee’, have not been driven in anger for more than a decade, so the day promises to be exciting and maybe a little unpredictable!

Baby Bertha, the V8 Beetle and Dafnee pose with the VXR8

Vauxhall Motors, who sponsored Baby Bertha’s mighty campaign in the 70s and 80s, is giving the series its wholehearted support, and has kindly donated the latest 6.2-litre, 431hp VXR8 to act as course-car throughout the event. Perhaps the ultimate spiritual successor to many of the V8 behemoths gathered at Mallory this August, the VXR8 will act as safety car, following the grid around for the first lap of the race and providing emergency back-up in the event of an accident. 

The Facination of Le Mans

Lots of our readers and viewers like a particular event, whether they're spectators, marshals, mechanics or drivers. It's an event that's so famous and so much a part of the British motorsport scene, it's a bit hard to ignore it, and it's this weekend. And it's French. Very French. La 24 Heures Du Mans, Better known as Le Mans.

Every year the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans gets a radical extension to become circuit de la sarthe, an 8.5mile long circuit mostly on public roads. Roughly a large oval shape, the speeds down the fearsome Mulsanne Straight prompted the addition of two chicanes, not that this diminishes the spectacle.

I personally know at least 10 marshals who will don their orange overalls for everything from a club sprint at Llandow and every year will drive hundreds of miles south to France to swap their orange probans for white ones to marshal the great race, Indeed, my friend Geoff has been doing that for over 20 years and refuses point blank to stop. The manager of my local [orange] supermarket, loves nothing more than to jump in his TVR and head off to La Sarthe every year with humerous stickers all over it (TVR Chimera : 5000 bolts flying in close formation), and my local motor club is planning a trip and this weekend a festival of motorsport is taking place in Le Mans' British twin town of Bolton.

It's not just spectators and Marshals either, British based teams like to get in on the action too. Last year's Britcar 24 hours at Silverstone had an entry of two Aston Martin Vantages from Jota - the same team have entered a GT2 verson into GTE Pro at Le Mans. And speaking of Aston Martin, the Prodrive run works team have got their LMP cars, and further back on the starting sheet is RML - the Chevrolet BTCC team amongst several others - lining up with Mike Newton and Ben Collins (the infamous former "Stig")

Other famous British drivers are right at the sharp end of the grid in Audi and Peugeot's Diesel powered entries where you'll find ex F1 drivers Allan McNish and Anthony Davidson lining up whilst in GTE one of our most successful drivers, Andy Priaulx is driving a BMW. There are more British drivers on the grid for this one off race than there are on the grid for an entire season of F1, or WRC, or WTCC or anything else for that matter (27 to be precise). This is not a modern phenomenon either. Way back in 1924 - the second running of the event, Bentley test driver Frank Clement took the win, and there's been plenty of other British winners since him.

So why has Le Mans become such a favourite with us Britons? Could it be that it's not really that far away from us? Maybe it's all those British success stories? Or could it be that we're just going there for the beer?

Whatever it is, We'd love to know what you think about the event. Get in touch through the comments box, or by Facebook or by Twitter

May the best month on record for Overdrive

Well we owe you all a huge thank you! The stats are in, and May has been the most successful month for us since we started last October. We'd just like to say thank you very much for your support, and we hope that you will enjoy what we've got coming up! Thanks!

Rallying Call

Regular visitors to Overdrive will have spotted regular press releases from Jason Pritchard, who's competing in the British Rally championship - There's another one below in fact. Jason was in action on the Jim Clark Rally last weekend, but suffered some bad luck and didn't make it to the finish whilst Bogie extended his championship lead with a lead.

But it's not just about the British Rally Championship. The British Trials and Rally Driver's Association also run a very popular series that is frequented by several competitors from the BRC. It also features some amazing cars, like Andrew Burton's incredible Peugeot - Cosworth 306, a unique car that once seen is not forgotten.

So, Here's the result of Pritchard's Jim Clark Rally, and a preview of the next BTRDA event. Remember that if your club has any press releases about upcoming events, we'd love to feature them on the site. E-mail them to info@overdrive-uk.com

BAD LUCK STRIKES AGAIN AND ENDS RALLY EARLY FOR PRITCHARD

Slippery conditions and car trouble combined to end Jason Pritchard's weekend early in Scotland as he experienced even more bad luck in this season's British Rally Championship. After failing to finish the Jim Clark International Rally, which marked the halfway point of the season, Pritchard announced that he now won't be competing in the final three events of the Championship:

"It's a real shame because again, like previous rounds, I felt fantastic and after each stage we were improving and the confidence was there; in myself and the car. We had put ourselves in contention going into Saturday's stages so it was a real shame to find trouble during stage 10. I was really hoping for some luck this weekend but it wasn't to be, we've decided as a team to pull out of the British Rally Championship. It's disappointing because it's such a fantastic competition but we will now be heading abroad to compete; starting over in Belgium towards the end of June"

The move will allow Jason the opportunity to gain some valuable experience, and with only two finishes out of four this season, the young Welshman admits he's too far away from the leaders now to compete:

"I've felt on the pace all season but it just hasn't clicked in the last four-rounds; I think a change right now is the best option, it will offer me a fantastic chance to develop my career"

In a fantastically entertaining spectacle in the Scottish Borders, which was won by David Bogie on home soil, Pritchard was competing with new co-driver Dale Furniss and everything went according to plan during Friday evening, with the North Road Garage backed Subaru Impreza occupying 5th place:

"Dale was brilliant, considering this was his first International and first time making notes, he was very impressive. If I can take any positives from the weekend, it's the confidence and ability he showed throughout each stage in Scotland."

Pritchard can take plenty away from this season's British Rally Championship and without the early retirements it could have been so different; Jason has showed blistering pace throughout and a voyage abroad will only bolster Pritchard's progress.

PRETENDERS TO THE THRONE!…

The fifth round of the Silverstone Tyres BTRDA Rally Series, the Rainworth Skoda Dukeries Rally, sees the return of 2010 Gold Star Champions Steve Perez and Paul Spooner and, in deference to their Dukeries win last year, they will start with No.1 on the doors of their Ford Focus WRC. However, as they are not defending their crowns this time, the battle is on to succeed them to what, since its inception back in 1954, has become one of the most sought-after titles in UK rallying.

Not surprisingly, due to the popularity of the BTRDA Rally Series as a whole, the list of ‘possibles’ includes several names that already feature in the ‘Roll of Honour’ covering the past 58 years. As contenders make their way to Southwell Racecourse from all points north, south, east and west, Andy Burton/Robin Kellard have already made their intentions abundantly clear. Three outright wins, from four starts, have put Burton, who last won the Gold Star Championship in 2003, into the lead at the halfway stage from series newcomer Paul Bird who will be absent on this occasion. While the Cumbrian may well be back on these shores from a trip to Rally Barbados, his car most certainly won’t!..

Occupying 3^rd place is 2008 Gold Star winner Hugh Hunter (Ford Focus WRC), the only other driver to win a round of the Championship outright – the Somerset Stages - so far this year. Now, on the one hand, the difference between Burton’s tally and that of Hunter is such that, if the former failed to finish the Dukeries and the latter won it, Burton would still head the table at the end of the day. But, and there’s always a ‘but’, Hunter and co-driver Andy Marchbank have already posted one retirement, giving them a score ‘in hand’ over Burton/Kellard which may become critical later in the season when dropped scores come into play.

Winners of the 2005 & 2009 Gold Star Championships respectively, Roger Chilman/Andrew Sankey (Subaru Impreza WRC) & David Wright with co-driver Michael Wilkinson (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO9), are handily placed, while Charlie Payne/Craig Thorley (Ford Focus WRC) have fought back after a retirement on the opening round in the Forest of Dean . They were 2^nd on last year’s Dukeries and, barring any dramas, will be there or thereabouts this time.

The Group N battle is really hotting up – the Mitsubishis of Jamie Anderson and James Grint are actually level on points with Tom Cave, who has used various cars for his campaign so far, one point adrift, even after a retirement on the Plains. The Dukeries presents each one with the opportunity to stamp their authority on the category – but which one?

When the BTRDA Rally Series ran to a different format, Warren Philliskirk won the 1997 Silver Star Championship in his MG Metro 6R4. Fourteen years later, he finds himself leading the series once again, but this time in his Ford Escort MkII. Four consistently good results see the Yorkshireman ahead of Boyd Kershaw in another Escort and Matt Beebe’s MG ZR. Three drivers have shared the maximum scores on the first four events of the season – Allan McDowall (Opel Kadett) took the honours on the Wyedean and Somerset, Dave Brick (Ford Escort) was victorious on the Malcolm Wilson and Will Onions (Ford Escort) claimed the points from Stuart Clarke’s RS2000 on the Plains.

Although Darren Pinchin/Karen Watts (Proton Satria) monopolised the Millers Oils 1400 Championship for the first three rounds, they were unable to shake off Clive Anstey/Tim Currie (Vauxhall Corsa) who were 2^nd or, at worst, 3^rd on the events in question. Then, having missed Somerset, Justin Lawson/Paul Hargreaves (Vauxhall Nova) returned on the Plains to break Pinchin’s run and demote him to second on the day. Although Anstey’s 3^rd place keeps him in the hunt, the former champion’s advantage has been reduced, not by much but it’s still anyone’s title!

On the subject of monopolies, there are those who may well be thinking of referring Ash Slights/ Tom Hughes to the Commission when it comes to BTRDA Rally First wins! In the defence of their 2010 title, the pair remain unbeaten so far this season. Roy Gravestock/Tim Ball (Vauxhall Corsa) and Ian Arden’s Nissan Micra are clinging on to the teenagers’ Toyota Yaris but know they must keep up the pressure if they are to prevail.

Contenders for the Swisher MSA English Rally Championship have had the benefit of a two-month break since the Somerset Stages but now the competition recommences on the Dukeries with joint leaders Darren Pinchin and Ash Slights each aiming for a solo No.1 spot. Allan McDowall is 3^rd in the class-based Championship but there are only nine points between 1^st & 6^th places. Twenty-five points for a win, four events still to run, and it’s amazing how quickly the look of the leaderboard can change!

The first car leaves the start of the Rainworth Skoda Dukeries Rally at Southwell Racecourse at 8.30am on Saturday 11^th June and returns there at 4.00pm that afternoon.

TARMAC TEST FOR PRITCHARD IN SCOTLAND

It has only been 13-weeks since the opening round in Bournemouth but Round Four is already upon us and the British Rally Championship heads north of the border this weekend; The Jim Clark International Rally marks the half way point of the season and Jason Pritchard is fully aware of the challenge that lies ahead:

“The tarmac at The Jim Clark offers a huge test for everyone in the rally and I’m looking forward to racing on the surface, I’m fully aware that a strong position is required in Scotland and I’ll be doing everything possible to allow some promising performances a finish they deserve.”

It’s been a tough season so far for the young Welshman and Jason’s had his fair share of bad luck along the way to deal with: finding trouble with a ditch at the Sunseeker, starting the Bulldog in poor health, and a roll in the Pirelli when he was in a fantastic position has all added up to a frustrating 3 rounds, but Jason is determined to only bring the positives with him to Scotland:

“Yes, we’ve been unlucky and yes the season could’ve started better for me and the crew but we’re due a good run and I’ve got every confidence that we can get it this weekend.”

Jason will have a new co-driver in his North Road Garage backed Subaru Impreza this weekend, youngster Dale Furniss, also from Wales will be sitting alongside Jason for his first drive on tarmac since Ulster last year.

 

Pritchard posted a trio of third fastest times despite their damaged Impreza in Carlisle and that’s something that can only inspire the 22-year old as tackles the tarmac in Scotland.

Heavy Metal

Extra! Extra! Read all about it. Well you don't have to read it, because it's a video. Here's Pembrey rescue crew member Colin King demonstrating some hydraulic tools to us as part of the Marshals film coming in the first of the new format, re-vamped, jump started series of Overdrive!

Hard Luck, Jason

PRITCHARD MISSES OUT AFTER AN IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE IN THE PIRELLI 
Jason Pritchard missed out on the chance to secure his best finish this season and was left feeling that he deserved so much more for a strong showing in Carlisle. The Pirelli International Rally provided both excitement and disappointment for the 22-year old from Builth Wells, who had a potential top 3 finish taken away from him. Jason lost crucial time after rolling his North Road Garage backed Subaru Impreza late on Saturday afternoon. The incident, during stage 8, resulted in Pritchard losing 5-minutes on his rivals and finishing 9th overall in the third rally of this pulsating British Rally Championship.
 
The prestigious Carlisle racecourse was the venue for round three and David Bogie was victorious for a second time this season; Bogie led from start to finish on Kielder Forest’s demanding gravel roads. Pritchard was on the pace throughout and started extremely well on Friday evening, navigating a number of problems along the way; he was fourth in proceedings after the two seven-mile runs through Newcastleton Forest and was only 0.01 seconds away from third place. Jason had a further 79 competitive miles to deal with on the Saturday and was well placed to challenge the overnight leaders, feeling extremely confident after such a strong showing during the first two stages:
 
"The roads were what we expected, very dry and dusty from the word go. It's always a special feature of the rally here in Carlisle, however I felt great over the two stages, even though we had to deal with a bent wheel after the first stage. It was crucial with a new co driver that we clicked and I felt that a top 3 finish was very much in our sights going into the Saturday."
 
Pritchard admitted that valuable time was lost early on Saturday after being on the wrong tyres but again the youngster managed a difficult situation with maturity and confidence:
 
"Once we changed tyres we managed to pick up the pace and I'm disappointed that the incident on stage ten hampered my final position. Looking at the final times and what we lost, third place would've been achievable, so it's very frustrating. However it's important that I take the positives away from what was an excellent drive. I would also like to mention the spectators who pulled me out of the car after the roll, the support as always was fantastic and I can't thank everyone enough."
 
Pritchard was third fastest after the incident, showing his desire and ability to deal with any situation and he finished the race impressively, even with a smashed windscreen. The Jim Clark International Rally in Scotland is next up for Jason and if he can avoid similar incidents and any bad luck along the way, we can expect Pritchard to be up there challenging again. 

Do you have a press release for us? E-mail it to us at info@overdrive-uk.com        

Pritchard back for Pirelli International with new Co-Driver

PRITCHARD IS READY AND RARING TO GO FOR ROUND THREE IN CARLISLE
Round three of the 2011 Dulex Trade MSA British Rally Championship heads to Carlisle this weekend in what promises to be another exhilarating contest as the Pirelli International Rally rally retains the popular Friday night and Saturday format.

The event is returning to the rally base at the prestigious Carlisle racecourse and round three, like the previous two rounds, is expected to be another close battle. After an impressive performance at the Bulldog International Rally North Wales, Jason is confident that he can improve on his fifth-place finish:

"It's a fantastic format at the Kielder forest and I can't wait to get to Carlisle. I was under the weather before the Bulldog and it hampered my preparation; I only started to feel myself on the afternoon of the rally and I was pleased to finish where I did.

I'm going into the Pirelli in much better shape, I feel fantastic and the car's in top condition - this is really when the season can get going for myself and the team."

Jason will have a new co-driver in his North Road Garage backed Subaru Impreza, Ryland James will join the 22-year old in Carlisle, and everything is in place for a successful weekend:

"It's great having Ryland on board, he's a vastly experienced co driver and was a great help when I first started making my own pace notes earlier on in my career. I've known Ryland since a young age and he used to navigate for my Dad. He'll bring experience and professionalism to myself and the team, I have no doubt he will be a great benefit."

 

Alongside this change, Jason is also in talks with a number of design companies to change his look away from the car:

"I'm working with a number of people to try and move my image forward, it's an exciting time and along with a new website, I'll be introducing a new logo and trying to keep my fans updated throughout the season via Twitter and Facebook. I feel it's really crucial to keep up-to-speed with how we communicate, keep your eyes out for the new look towards the end of the season."

The Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship is now entering a crucial stage in the season and Jason knows how important this weekend is. Preparation for the event has gone to plan as he hopes to make a real impression during the third round of the British Isles' premier rally series.

Start Delayed

Photo courtesy of Michael Nielsen of Victoria, Austrailia

Well, to coin a phrase, it's all gone Pete Tong here at Overdrive Towers. It comes down to this... workload.

Overdrive is a project that I've been running in my spare time up to now (and funding it myself as well) primarily to gain experience in the big wide world of the TV industry. As such paid work takes priority - and until someone wants to sponsor the project, Overdrive isn't it.

When I'm not at a race track, I actually work as a technical apprentice for a small production company here in lovely South Wales (see my other blog - www.kevinmcmullintv.blogspot.com), which is great. But it's been really busy since March with some major projects. From any other perspective than Overdrive, that's fantastic news.

The result is that I haven't been able to work on Overdrive, and at the moment it's only me who has the capability to edit the programme! At the moment we've got a film from March about Marshals ready for Dave to work his magic over, but... erm... nothing else. Planned Shoots didn't happen because of a) Tiff Needell and b) See above.

So, Overdrive will continue, but it will be a heck of a lot more sporadic than I'd have liked, and the format may change away from the 10 minute magazine type thing. Currently looking at changing it to a quarterly format with only 4 issues this year, finishing with a grand review of the year in December. I'm not abandoning the project. Just slowing it down a bit.

Meanwhile, if anyone wants to keep this blog up to date with features all about UK club and national motorsport. Please get in touch. The pay's terrible (well, non existant!) but it could be just the thing for an aspiring motorsport journalist to take on. My focus has been, and always will be, the video side of this project. But I think that the blog has potential to grow.

Finally, a huge thank you to everyone who's shown us support especially all of you great guys and girls on Twitter. Please please follow them if you're a fellow tweep... We're @overdrive_uk and they are @rupturedduck, @fastestcat, and there are a hell of a lot more fine people where they came from.

As for you, Tiff Needell - We're watching you!

As ever, watch this space.

Kev