After a scorching week of heat and sunshine, the weekend is bringing cooler weather and even some rain, but let’s not allow that to dampen the excitement of the weekend ahead. With six British Championships taking place as well as over 100 grassroots motorsport events, there is plenty to get up to speed with this weekend.

Around the Clubs

As always, there is an abundance of grassroots action happening over the weekend, and plenty of events that anyone can do in their everyday road car.

Farnborough Motor Club are running a Sprint on Saturday and an Autotest on Sunday. Both events are being held at Brooklands Museum for their Festival of Motorsport. More information can be found here. The StreetCar Mini will be promoting grassroots motorsport, by taking part in the Autotest on Sunday, so be sure to keep an eye out for the little blue pocket rocket on your day out.

Action doesn’t just happen on Saturdays and Sundays; there are usually weekly events during the summer months thanks to the longer days. Meaning that after a day at work, you can jump in your car and have a bit of motoring fun in the evening. Basingstoke Motor Club are running a 12-car Navigational Rally tonight as well as Wigton Motor Club hosting a touring assembly.

The Basingstoke Motor Club is holding an 12 Car Navigational Rally tonight called “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. The Cross Border Navigational 12 Car will run over 60 miles of ‘all tarmac’ lanes, entirely on OS map 185. As a mid-summer event, the Club is hoping for good weather and warm dry asphalt. Together with a later start time, this should provide a nostalgic and enjoyable atmosphere for all participants, either competing or marshalling.

The Wigton Motor Club has organised a touring assembly for today called “Firth to Forth”. The Firth to Forth is open to members of Wigton Motor Club and all other enthusiasts driving historic, classic and other fine and sporting cars of any age. The Club will start from Gretna on the Scottish Border with bacon/sausage sandwiches and coffee at the Old Tollbar (The First & Last House) right on the Border. The route will be approx. 175 miles split into 4 sections.

For more information on how to get started in motorsport, be sure to check out our brand-new StreetCar website.

British Kart Championship – Glan-Y-Gors

The British Kart Championship makes its way to sunny Wales for round two of the Bambino championship and round three for IAME championships after a month away from the track. Karters will be eager to get wheel-to-wheel again and further their dreams of winning the championship

Riley Murro had an impressive start to the Bambino championship having finished first and second in the first two races of the season. However, it is still very much all to play for with only seven points separating the top four karters.

The IAME Cadet Championship tells a similar story with No.27 driver Jenson Graham currently standing at 372 points after three rounds. His closest rival – Jesse Phillips – only sits five points away from the championship leader. These two karters will be sure to go head-to-head over the weekend once again.

Gabriel Stilp has a stronger lead of 10 points between the No.42 driver and his closest rival Jesse Phillips in the Junior X30 Championship, but Phillips will be eyeing up the opportunity to take the lead from Stilp at this beautiful Welsh circuit.

Last of the British Kart Championships for this weekend is the Senior X30 Championship with a strong hold on the lead by Aaron Walker. However, Walker will need to watch his back as the No.77 driver Bart Harrison is a mere six points away from the top.

Glan-y-Gors Park is a popular Welsh Circuit, providing a stunning backdrop for the UK’s premier karting action. Referred to as Wales’ mini-Nürburgring, the circuit is a favourite amongst karters. Opened in 1999 and located in Cerrigydrduion, the 1,100 metre track provides fast and varying gradients.

Be sure to follow all of the action on the British Kart Championship website.

British Endurance Championship – Silverstone

The British Endurance Championship is at the mid point of the calendar, and just seven points separate the top six overall contenders. Jointly topping the table with 83 points apiece are Class C rivals Chris Goddard/Charlie Hollings in the RNR Performance Ferrari 458 Challenge, and Carl Cavers/Lewis Plato, who’s similar Valluga-run machine has been temporarily replaced by a lower-spec Cayman as an interim measure. Just two points adrift is the Team Hard Ginetta G55 of Josh Hislop / Michael MacPherson / Ray Harris, which heads the Class D contingent, ahead of Class A leaders Wayne Marrs and Tom Jackson in the Rob Boston Racing Mercedes GT3.

Jointly on 77 points are the Team BRIT pairing of erstwhile overall leaders Andy Tucker and Luke Pound in the Class D Aston Martin Vantage, and the newer T7 Motorsport version of Peter Montague, who has been variously assisted by pro-drivers Stuart Hall or Dan Brown, and they are just one point ahead of fellow Class D runners, father and son duo James and Jake Little in a Valluga Porsche Cayman.

But points don’t tell the whole story – in Class A, the Mercedes has faced stiff opposition from the ING Sport BMW Z4 and the Lamborghini Huracan of Lee Frost and Lucky Khera, while the unique MacG Racing Taranis, and Venture Innovations’ stunning Aston Martin Vulcan are always front-runners too. Class B has seen the Lamborghini of Claude Bovet/David McDonald most successful, while the Porsche 911 of Peter Erceg and Marcus Clutton has generally set the pace in Class C, but has had issues.

It’s fitting that TCR UK supremo Stewart Lines heads the points table in the TCR-specific Class E, sharing his VW with Anton Spires, but it’s a close-run thing, with Beeson/Heler, Hull/Avery and Dasy/Foster all equally on 65 points, though we have yet to see the best of frontrunners Ash Woodman and Martin Byford’s EDF-run Cupra, while in Class F, The Porsche of father-and-son duo Mark and Jake MacAleer  is up against the Jaguar F-Type of brothers Callum and Adam Thompson.

The Silverstone GP takes place at the Northamptonshire circuit on Saturday 18 June. More information is available on the championship website.

British Superkart Championship – Anglesey

Also in Wales this weekend is the British Superkart Championship which will be making its way to Anglesey International Circuit.

Division One is perceived as one of the premier classes in long circuit racing. Boasting 100bhp, these pocket rockets will push the driver 145mph in just a matter of seconds. Currently leading the pack by some extent is Lee Harpham who is currently 35 points in the clear of his closest rival Liam Morley with No. 3 driver Carl Kinsey on one point behind Morley.

The F250 National is the second to the top championship, and using a single 250cc engine, these karts still produce speeds of around 130mph. There is a similar story to tell in this championship with Lee Plain clear of the lead by 27 points, his closest rival – Shaun Lombardo – has to get his teeth stuck in this weekend in order to fight to get to the top.

The F450 National is the next championship to be taking on Anglesey over the weekend and whilst it is similar to the F450’s, one noticeable difference is the size of the engine. However, these beasts can still grasp speeds of up to 130mph. This championship fight is a little closer than that of the other two. No.69 driver Kosta Kyritsis is currently clear of the lead by just five points which means it is still all to play for with Ami Jerger nipping at Kyritsis toes.

The Formula 125 Open may be the lowest class of the British Superkart Championship, but it is by no means slow. These karts are great introductory karts for those who are just starting out in superkarts. With a 125cc KZ engine – similar to those see in the British Kart Championship – these projectiles can still manage 120mph. Jack Tritton currently holds the top position in this championship with a decent gap of 23 points between him and rivals Tom Riley (47 points) and Gary Potkins (35 points).

Follow all of the action on the British Superkart Championship website over the weekend, as this championship is still all to play for.

Drift Pro Championship – Brands Hatch

With the Drift Pro Championship being the first ever drifting championship certified by Motorsport UK, it is an exciting time for the world of drifting. This is the only judged form of motorsport with drivers competing against each other on world renowned circuits such as Brands Hatch and Donington Park, and are judged on their performances over the track.

It is as exciting as they get, with no other British Championship resembling what Drift Pro Championship do. This weekend will be challenging for all competitors, but more so for Lwi Edwards and Oliver Evans who are neck and neck with 90 points each. Edwards gained top marks in round one, whilst Evans turned it around to gain top points in round two. This weekend one may come out on top and take the lead in this championship.

It doesn’t stop there, with Axel Hildbrand also still in the running to take a strong position as he is currently sat in third with 60 points.

Follow all of the action on the Drift Pro Championship Facebook page or better yet go check out drifting for yourself – tickets are available here.

British Hillclimb Championship – Doune

The British Hillclimb Championship is visiting Doune Hillclimb near Stirling in Scotland. This weekend marks the second and final “double-header” weekend of the 2022 season. These two days are separate events with drivers having four point scoring opportunities over the weekend. This makes Doune a crucial turning point for the 2022 season and may even provide some clues towards the championship winners at the end of the year.

Defending British Hillclimb Champion Wallace Menzies will be competing in his Cosworth XD engine Gould GR59-M. He will be joined by the current championship leader –  Alex Summers – who will be driving his DJ Firestorm Cosworth XD. Summers is currently leading Menzies but by just two points. Third placed Scott Moran will be competing in his Judd engine Gould and will be aiming to have a high scoring weekend and bridge the gap between himself and the top two.

Competitive action is scheduled to start at 8.30am on both days and will continue for the majority of the day. Tickets will be available on the gate on each day of the event.

British Autotest Championship – Alwoodley Motor Club

The Alwoodley Motor Club has organised round five of the British Autotest Championship this Sunday. Held in York, this Northern event will see some of the best Autotest drivers compete for their chance at the championship.

Reigning champion Alistair Moffatt will be looking to extend his lead at the championship summit after winning at this venue three times before.

An Autotest is one of Motorsport UK’s StreetCar disciplines where competitors tackle a number of tests, which they must memorise beforehand. Unlike an AutoSOLO, an Autotest may include tight turns, advanced skills and reverse manoeuvring. Whilst the British Autotest Championship will mainly consist of modified cars as this is the highest level of the discipline, there are plenty of Autotests around for anyone to test their own skills in their everyday road car.

For more information about the British Autotest Championship, please visit their Facebook page.

For more information about how to get started in Autotests, please visit the StreetCar website.

English Rally Championship – Kielder Forest

The English Rally Championship is back for the Kielder Forest Rally, organised by Cumberland Sporting Car Club. Situation in Hexham, and near the Kielderhead National Nature Reserve, this forest round will be showing spectators just what rallying is all about.

Bishop Auckland-based crew Stephen Petch/ Michael Wilkinson will lead the field away from the Hexham start on this weekend’s Kielder Forest Rally. However, Petch and Wilkinson will need to watch their tails with the competition poised behind them and the series having produced a different winner on each of the preceding rounds it is anybody’s guess as to which crew will emerge as winners from the almost 100 entries.

With the exception of Rallynuts Stages winners, Matthew Hirst/ Declan Dear, all the leading contenders will be pitching up in Hexham and, given the challenge that the gravel tracks in the legendary Kielder can throw at these drivers and co-drivers.

Follow all of the action from the Kielder Forest Rally on their website.