Britcar

Last updated
Britcar
Britcar logo.png
CategoryEndurance
CountryUnited Kingdom
Inaugural season2005
DriversVaries
TeamsVaries
Tyre suppliers Goodyear
Drivers' championEndurance:
Class A:
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Marcus Clutton
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Hugo Cook
Flag of New Zealand.svg Peter Erceg
Class B:
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Avery
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nick Hull
Class C:
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Harrison
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nathan Luckey
Class D:
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bal Sidu
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Josh Steed
Class E:
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Bialan
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Simon Mason
Class F:
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Adam Thompson
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Callum Thompson
Class G:
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonny MacGregor
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Arthur Simondet
Trophy
Class 1:
Flag of Italy.svg Marco Anastasi
Class 2:
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Rob Ellick
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Craig Flemings
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mark Jones
Class 3:
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Caleb McDuff
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dom Shore
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bobby Trundley
Clio:
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Maurice Henry
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Hadley Simpson
Official website
Motorsport current event.svg Current season

Britcar is an endurance sports car racing and touring car racing series in the United Kingdom.

Contents

It was formed in 1997, as a result of a discussion in a Nürburgring bar between Willie Moore and James Tucker. Folklore has it that James Tucker and John Veness formed the organizing European Endurance & Racing Club (EERC) with a £10 note found on the ground. The foremost aim was the re-introduction of a 24-hour race in Britain.

At the end of the 2015 season, James sold the Britcar rights to Hedley Cowell Events Ltd. For the 2016 season, Claire Hedley re-launched Britcar Endurance as the Dunlop Endurance Championship and Dunlop Trophy Championship. For 2020 the series was invited to support the FIA World Endurance Championship races at Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone. The race format was 2 × 60 mins Endurance races and 2 × 50 mins Trophy races.

Britcar's Stand at the 2020 Autosport International show. Britcar Autosport International Stand.JPG
Britcar's Stand at the 2020 Autosport International show.

Cars and results

There are two separate championships for different types of car; although some cars can run in both, they may be in different categories.

GTs, which include cars like Ferraris, Porsche Cup, Marcos, Moslers and Ginettas over a long-distance race, normally between two and four hours in length with a compulsory pit stop. Normally cars will have two or three drivers, but cars are sometimes driven by one driver, are given a longer time in the pits.

Production, which include cars like Renault Clio Cup, Seat León Supercopa, VW Golf, Porsche Boxster, BMW M3s, Lotus Elise and Mini Cooper S. These races are normally 90 minutes long, featuring a mandatory pit stop. There can be up to two drivers per car.

Drivers normally bring their own cars to Britcar events, where most cars are accepted if safe to race. Cars are assigned to different classes depending on the car, the car's equipment and other fittings the vehicle has.

Praga R1T at Druids.jpg
ALPRacingSaker.JPG
Team Hard Ginetta.jpg
The Praga R1T (left), a Class 1 car. A Saker RAPX (middle), a Class 2 car. A Ginetta G55 Supercup (right), a Class 3 car.
CupraLeonTCR.jpg
Britcar Class 5 Cars.jpg
A CUPRA León TCR (left), a Class 4 car. A Smart Forfour and BMW Z4, two Class 5 cars (right).

Cars & classes

Cars that competed in the Britcar Endurance Championship from 2016 onwards:

ClassMakeModelTypeYears
1 Flag of Italy.svg Ferrari 488 Challenge Cup2018
458 GTE2017
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Aston Martin Vulcan AMR Pro 2020–2021
Flag of Poland.svg Arrinera Hussarya GT3 2017
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Aston Martin V12 Vantage 2017, 2020
Flag of Germany.svg Audi R8 LMS Ultra 2016
Flag of Germany.svg BMW Z4 2016, 2019
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brabham BT62 2019
Flag of Italy.svg Ferrari 458 2016–2018
488 2018
Flag of Italy.svg Lamborghini Gallardo 2016
Huracán 2016, 2019, 2021
Huracán Evo 2021
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg MacGTaranis2016–2021
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg McLaren MP4-12C 2016
650S 2019, 2021
Flag of Germany.svg Mercedes-AMG AMG 2017–2019
Flag of the United States.svg Mosler MT900 2016–2018
Flag of Japan.svg Nissan GT-R Nismo 2021
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Radical RXC 2017, 2020
Flag of France.svg Renault R.S. 01 2016
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Saker RAPX SP 2018–2019
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Praga R1T Superlights2019
R1S 2019
R1T Evo 2020
2 Flag of Italy.svg Ferrari 360 Challenge Cup2017
458 Challenge 2016–2018
488 Challenge 2018–2021
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ginetta G55 Supercup 2019
Flag of Germany.svg Porsche 997 GT3 2016–2018
991 GT3 2017–2018
911 RSR GT22016, 2018
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg McLaren 570S GT42019
Flag of Sweden.svg Volvo S60 Silhouette 2018
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Saker RAPX SP 2017–2019
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Praga R1S Supercar 2020
Flag of Germany.svg BMW 1M E82 Touring 2016–2021
3 Flag of Italy.svg Ferrari 360 Challenge Cup2017
458 Challenge 2020–2021
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ginetta G55 Supercup 2019
Flag of Germany.svg Porsche 997 2019–2020
991 GT3 2019–2020
997 GT3 2019
911 RSR GT22020
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT42016–2018
Flag of Germany.svg BMW M3 E92 2017
M4 GT4 2018
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chevron GR82016
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ginetta G55 2016–2018, 2020
Flag of Austria.svg KTM X-Bow 2017–2018
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lotus Europa S 2016
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg McLaren 570S 2018
Flag of Germany.svg Porsche Cayman Clubsport 2017–2018
Flag of Germany.svg BMW 1M E82 Touring 2021
M3 E46 GTR 2016–2017, 2019–2021
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ginetta G50 Cup2016–2019
G55 Supercup 2021
Flag of Germany.svg Porsche 997 GT3 2019
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT42019–2021
Vantage AMR 2021
Flag of Germany.svg BMW M3 E92 2017–2018
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ginetta G50 2016–2019
G55 2020
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jaguar Jaguar F-Type S 2020–2021
Flag of France.svg Ligier JS2 R 2020–2021
Flag of Italy.svg Maserati Granturismo MC 2021
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg McLaren 570S 2021
Flag of Germany.svg Mercedes-AMG AMG 2018–2019
Flag of Germany.svg Porsche 718 Cayman Clubsport 2019–2021
Cayman Clubsport MR 2020–2021
Flag of Germany.svg Audi A4 NGTC 2018
Flag of Japan.svg Toyota Avensis 2017–2018
Flag of Italy.svg Alfa Romeo 156 T Production 2019
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Holden Monaro 2017
Flag of Japan.svg Honda Civic Type R (FK8) 2018
Flag of Germany.svg Audi RS3 LMS TCR 2017–2018, 2020–2021
Flag of Spain.svg Cupra León 2017–2021
Flag of South Korea.svg Hyundai i30 N 2021
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Vauxhall Astra 2018
Flag of France.svg Peugeot 308 Racing Cup 2019
Flag of Spain.svg SEAT León 2017–2021
Flag of Germany.svg Volkswagen Golf GTI 2018–2021
Flag of Germany.svg BMW 1M E82 Touring car 2019–2020
M3 E36 2016–2020
M3 E46 2016–2020
M3 E46 GTR 2016–2017, 2019–2020
BMW M3 E90 2020
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mini JCW Challenge R56Cup2016–2017, 2019
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ginetta G40 2016–2017
Flag of Germany.svg Porsche Boxster 2016
Flag of Germany.svg Volkswagen Golf Mk5 2017–2018
Scirocco 2018
CC NGTC 2017
Flag of Italy.svg Alfa Romeo 156 T Production 2017, 2019
Flag of Germany.svg BMW Z4 2019
Flag of the United States.svg Ford Focus 2017–2018
Flag of Japan.svg Honda Civic Type R (FK2) 2016-2017
Civic Type R (FK8) 2018
Civic Type R (EP3) 2019
Civic (FK/FN) 2019
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Smart Forfour 2017–2019

Cars that competed in the British Endurance Championship from 2022 onwards:

ClassMakeModelYears
A Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Aston Martin Vulcan AMR Pro 2022–2023
Flag of Germany.svg Audi R8 LMS Evo II 2023–2024
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bentley Continental GT3 (2018) 2024
Flag of Germany.svg BMW Z4 GT3 2022
Flag of Italy.svg Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2022
Huracán GT3 Evo 2 2024
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg MacGTaranis2022
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg McLaren 650S GT3 2022
720S GT3 2022
Flag of Germany.svg Mercedes-AMG GT3 2022
GT3 Evo 2022–2023
B Flag of the United States.svg Dodge Viper Competition Coupe GT3 2022
Flag of Italy.svg Ferrari 488 Challenge 2022, 2024
488 Challenge Evo 2022–2023
Flag of Italy.svg Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo Evo 2022–2023
Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 2022
Flag of Germany.svg Porsche Porsche 992 GT3 Cup 2024
Flag of France.svg Solution FTC 122023
C Flag of Germany.svg Audi S3 Saloon 2023
Flag of Germany.svg BMW 1M E82 2022
Flag of Italy.svg Ferrari 458 Challenge 2022–2023
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ginetta G55 Supercup 2022
Flag of Japan.svg Honda Civic Type R (FK8) 2023
Flag of Germany.svg Porsche Porsche 991 GT3 Cup I 2023
991 GT3 Cup II 2022
997 Cup 2022–2023
718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport 2022
Flag of Germany.svg Volkswagen CC 2023
GT4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Aston Martin Vantage GT4 2022
Vantage AMR GT4 2022–2023
Flag of Germany.svg BMW M3 GT4 2023
BMW M4 GT4 2024
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ginetta G55 GT4 2022
Flag of Austria.svg KTM X-Bow GT4 2023–2024
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg McLaren 570S GT4 2022–2024
Flag of Germany.svg Mercedes-AMG GT4 2022–2024
Flag of Germany.svg Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport 2022
718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport 2022, 2024
TCR Flag of Germany.svg Audi RS 3 LMS TCR (2021) 2022–2024
Flag of Spain.svg Cupra León TCR 2022–2024
León Competición TCR 2022–2024
Flag of Germany.svg Mercedes-AMG A-Class (NGTC) 2024
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Vauxhall Astra TCR 2022–2023
Flag of Spain.svg SEAT León 2024
Flag of Germany.svg Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 2022–2023
F Flag of Germany.svg BMW M3 GTR 2022, 2024
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jaguar F-Type S 2022–2024
Flag of Germany.svg Porsche 997 2022

Focus on diversity

As a series popular for its diversity in teams, cars and drivers that had regained the attention it lost before its reformation,[ according to whom? ] Britcar were invited to support two WEC rounds, at Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone (subsequently cancelled). Britcar stated "we are immensely proud that our endeavours to produce a professionally-run nationally based Championship have been recognised by organisers of one of the biggest Championships in global motorsport." [1]

Reflecting diversity in both the Endurance and Trophy series, among the teams are Team BRIT [2] whose drivers are all disabled, using specially developed hand controls.

Winners

Overall winner in each category, 2002 - 2022.

YearSeriesDriver 1Driver 2Driver 3Driver 4TeamCar
2002Britcar SeriesPaul BatesJames PalmerBMW M3 E30
2003Britcar Series Andy Rouse Julian RouseRouseSport Mercedes 190 DTM
2004Britcar SeriesJohn HammersleyAndrew DunlopMark HammersleyGTS MotorsportBMW M3
2005Britcar SeriesHarry Handkammer David Leslie GTS MotorsportBMW M3
2006Britcar SeriesCalum LockieBo McCormickHargreaves Motorsport Ferrari 360
2007Britcar GTSteve BellSimon Leith Geoff Steel Racing BMW M3
2007Production S1Mike GardinerPaul FentonMoore RacingBMW M3
2007BritsportsEdward LovettJ C HarrisLovett SportingNorma M20
2008Britcar GTJan PerssonRod BarrettJay ShepherdNeil Garner RacingPorsche 997
2008Production CupIan Lawson Mike Wilds Anthony WildsING SportBMW 320i
2009GTWitt GamskiKeith RobinsonMJC Ferrari 430
2009ProductionKevin ClarkeWayne GibsonIntersportBMW M3
2010GTWitt GamskiKeith RobinsonMJC Ferrari 430
2010ProductionRichard AdamsDavid GreenBullrunSEAT Cupra
2011GTCraig WilkinsAaron ScottGT3 Racing with KJ & TGDodge Viper
2011Production GTNAlex OsbourneJames MayAPO SportSEAT Leon
2012MSA British EnduranceRichard AdamsDavid Green Martin Byford Bullrun Lotus Evora
2012Production CupEdward CockillHarry CockillDaniels MotorsportSEAT Leon
2013MSA British Endurance Ian Loggie Chris JonesTeam Parker RacingPorsche 997
2014Endurance David Mason Calum Lockie FF Corse Ferrari 458
2015Endurance David Mason Calum Lockie FF Corse Ferrari 458
2016 Dunlop Endurance Phil Hanson Nigel Moore Tockwith Motorsport Audi R8 LMS
2016Dunlop GTChris MurphyJonathan CockerWhitebridge Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT4
2016 Dunlop ProductionMike MossTom HowardKevin ClarkeMoss Motorsport BMW M3 E46
2017 Dunlop EnduranceWitt Gamski Ross Wylie Joe MacariMJC Furlonger Ferrari 458 GTE
2017 Dunlop SprintRick NevinsonBrad NevinsonSean CooperTrack Focused Porsche Cayman Clubsport GT4
2018Dunlop Endurance Sarah Moore Matt GreenwoodTockwith Motorsport Ginetta G50
2018Dunlop SprintJon WattKristian ProsserMoss Motorsport BMW M3 E46
2019 Dunlop EndurancePaul BaileyAndy SchulzSB Race Engineering Ferrari 488 Challenge
2020 Dunlop EnduranceDanny HarrisonJem HepworthVR Motorsport Praga R1T Evo
2020 Dunlop TrophyOliver SmithJC Racing BMW M3 E36
2021 PragaRichard WellsAlex KapadiaTim GrayTim Gray Motorsport Praga R1
2021 Goodyear Britcar EnduranceWill PowellDavid ScaramangaMotus One with Moorgate McLaren 650S GT3
2021 Goodyear Britcar TrophySimon BakerKevin ClarkeOllie ReubensWoodrow Motorsport BMW 1M E82
2022 MSUK British Endurance ChampionshipWayne MarrsTom JacksonRob Boston Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3
2022Goodyear Britcar TrophyChris Overend James Whitley Julian Thomas Team BRIT BMW M240i Racing
2023MSUK British Endurance ChampionshipBradley Thurston Daryl DeLeon Adam HatfieldAlex Sedgewick Team HARD Porsche 991 Cup
2023ROWE Britcar TrophyRhys LloydJack MeakinDragon Sport Renault Clio MkIV
2024MSUK British Endurance ChampionshipPeter ErcegMarcus Clutton (Pro)Hugo Cook (Pro)PB Racing by JMH Audi R8 GT3
2024ROWE Britcar TrophyMark JonesRob EllickCraig FlemingTSRAudi TT
2025 Britcar Endurance Championship

History

The successful first year of competition was in 2002, and following tremendous growth in 2003, it attracted Sky Sports coverage in their Motor Sports section in 2004. The first year of the Britcar 24-Hour Race was 2005 which was won by Rollcentre Mosler of Martin Short. [3] This was followed by packed grids in 2006 season culminating in a capacity field for the 24-Hours. [4] EERC became a Motor Sports Association (MSA) approved Championship in 2007 as well being the now essential 24 hours. It played a supporting role to the British round of the A1 Grand Prix.

In 2011 it became known as the MSA British Endurance championship.

Such was its popularity in some seasons that over-subscription meant there are reserves waiting for grid positions.

For the 2017 season, the format was changed. Drivers in all races would now accrue points towards the Dunlop Endurance Championship but drivers could choose to do two 50-minute races under the Sprint category, or one 50-minute and one 2-hour race in the Endurance category. Grids were combined and most events were to take place over a single day to save costs. The night race proved so popular in 2016 that a second night race was introduced, to run at Silverstone earlier in the same month.

For the 2019 season the format was changed again, merging Endurance and Sprint categories into a single grid for two 60-minute races per weekend, finishing the season with a single 60- and a single 120-minute night race at Brands Hatch.

For 2020, Britcar introduced a Trophy category [5] and a new series of shorter races named the Britcar Trophy Category for cars under Class 4 performance and the TCR and GT4 cars, for classes 5–7. The majority of these new classes are production cars, such as the Smart Forfour, Mini JCW R56 and the Honda Civic Type R (FK2) which were popular in Class 5. Some Trophy Category events ran alongside Endurance events, whilst other events ran dedicated Trophy cards with no Endurance or Praga rounds at the weekend.

Also in 2020, the Endurance grid saw several new Praga sportscar prototype R1 and R1T entries balanced into the existing Endurance class system. In 2021 these entries were given a dedicated class.

In 2020 Britcar ran as a support event for the FIA World Endurance Championship for the first time, at the 2020 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps event, with two non-championship races consisting of Endurance and Trophy cars plus non-Britcar cars with one-off entries made under class 1 through class 7 specifications. [1] WEC had additionally extended the invite to support the 2020 Silverstone event, but that entire event including the WEC round was later cancelled.

(This marked the introduction of the relationship with WEC specifically; Britcar has raced outside the UK, including at Spa-Francorchamps, in many earlier years.)

In 2021 the title sponsor changed from Dunlop to Goodyear (the parent company) in line with the BTCC.[ citation needed ]

For 2022, Motorsport UK granted permission for Britcar to run their Endurance Championship with the title "British" and to increase the race duration from 1-hour to 2- and 3- hour, with the aim of running even longer races in the future. A new website and new social media channels were launched to support this change. Praga split off from Endurance to have grids of their own, run under the Britcar/BARC umbrella while the Trophy Championship continued unchanged.

For 2025, the Britcar organisation merged the Trophy and British Endurance championships into a single grid, running 8 rounds of two 45-minute or single 90-minute races.

Silverstone Britcar 24-Hour

Britcar traditionally hosted an endurance race on the Silverstone GP circuit.

The presenters of the well-known British car show Top Gear , namely Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May - together with 'The Stig' - took part in the 2007 event, in a BMW 330d, coming third of the five diesel cars, and 39th overall, at the end of the 24 Hours. [6]

At the end of the 2015 season, the rights for the Silverstone 24 hour endurance race were sold to Creventic to become the UK edition of their FIA "touring car" Endurance Series - although this round was then dropped in 2019.

For this event's history, see Silverstone Britcar 24-Hour

References

  1. 1 2 Wood, Steve. "Britcar Supports FIA WEC at Spa 2020". Britcar Endurance. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  2. "Changing Motorsport". Team Brit.
  3. "24hr_ August 05". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2007-03-31.
  4. IMI: The Institute of the Motor Industry Information > Britcar 24 hours of Silverstone Archived October 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Trophy Category 2020 Season Review". Britcar. Britcar Endurance. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  6. http://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=eerc/2007/73663.pdf Britcar 24hr results 2007