The Motor Racing Spectator

  Car Racing 2022 October 29 Cadwell Park CSCC Swinging60’s-MagnificentSevens-TinTops-TurboTinTops-OpenSeries/NewMillennium-Future/ModernClassics October 29 Donington Nat MSVR PorscheClub-911Challenge/BoxsterCup-Clubmans-TurismoX-BerniesV8 October 29 Silverstone GP 750MC Birkett 6 Hours   November 5/6 Brands Hatch BARC Trucks-MiniSe7en-MiniMiglia-Legends-Pickups-MiniChallenge November 5/6 Silverstone Nat HSCC WalterHayesTrophyFF1600-Monoposto-Historics-Sports/Saloons November 12/13 Anglesey BRSCC RaceofRemembrance-ClubSportTrophy November 12/13 Brands Hatch BARC SuperSaloons-TinTops-IntermarqueSilhouettes-JuniorSaloons-GinettaJunior-HyundaiCoupeCup-ClassicTouringCarClub-BARC110   November 19/20 Brands Hatch MSVR TrackdayChampionship-UnitedFF1600-TrackdayTrophy-TurismoX-EliseTrophy-EnduroKa   December 26 Mallory Park 750MC                        

Here we go again! Motor Sport Vision Racing (MSVR) were the organisers in charge for my first race meeting of 2022. It should have been my third meeting of the year.....I actually had booked my ticket for a good looking Silverstone BRSCC meeting on March 20th but took ill the day before and simply couldn't go. That was £16 wasted as Silverstone didn't want to refund me when I enquired...typical Silverstone! Then I was going to another MSVR meeting at Donington on April 3rd but when the timetable was published and a 5 hour Enduro Ka race was taking place on the Sunday, I opted to stay at home. It might have been entertaining but not my cup of tea to be honest! Sunday 10th April dawned bright and sunny if quite cold and it was off to Donington in eager anticipation of a decent meeting. 9 races were on the schedule....2 each for United Formula Ford, Clubmans Sports Protoypes, GT Cup and Production GTi's plus a single race for the Radical Challenge Championship.  THE BEST VIEW ...

Hello loyal readers...or is that reader?! I type these words on March 8th 2022, on the cusp of Spring and the start of another year of Motorsport action. as you can see I have compiled fixture lists for both two and four wheeled circuit disciplines, mainland only, and hope they are a useful tool to help plan the year ahead. As always please check before travelling! The last two years have seen the Covid pandemic dramatically change the lives of many in the UK and around the world. With two radically altered seasons, racing in the UK has had to adapt new methods and, despite the many challenges, has seen entries and demand for motorsport either stay healthy or remarkably increase the appetite for those who want to compete.  For those whose main interest is to watch motorsport, the last two years have brought about change aswell. Buying tickets in advance was made compulsory, no access to paddocks and, talk about sacrilege!, the end of the printed programme in many cases. There has b...

With the governing body of the sport, Motorsport UK granting permits to go racing again in July it was with some relief that, not only was Motor racing allowed to resume, but thankfully spectators were to be allowed to watch! Motor Sport Vision (MSV) were very keen to get fans back through the gates as restrictions were lifted but other circuits were either reluctant to re-open or in some cases, forbidden to resume activities. The devolved Welsh government had differing standards regarding Covid control and both welsh circuits, Anglesey and Pembrey suffered greatly. Pembrey saw their entire fixture list cancelled and Anglesey only managed to run a single 750MC organised meeting in September that was used as a trial event to monitor how to police a large sporting gathering. The fact that there wasn't another meeting in Wales after this probably meant that the Welsh authorities didn't like what they saw at Anglesey!! Silverstone did resume racing  and ran two Grands Prix in Augus...

Following the Winter show season it was time to settle down, wait for March to roll around and go and watch some Motor Racing. Alas this proved to be wishful thinking.... The news of a virus spreading in China initially, although worrying, seemed a far distant problem that wouldn't affect the rest of the world. The Chinese F1 Grand Prix and Formula E race in Sanya, China were cancelled and that seemed to be that.  Having painstakingly compiled a 2020 fixture list for UK racing, the season looked to be shaping up nicely, however it wasn't to be... The spread of the Corona virus became global and reached these shores in February culminating in the Prime Minister announcing a nationwide lockdown of all non-essential activity beginning on March 24th. The governing body, Motorsport UK, announced that all branches of the sport would have permits rescinded with immediate effect. Initially until the end of May it was quickly extended until the end of June. July would be the earliest th...

AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY 12TH JANUARY 2020 The New Year means only one thing and a visit to the National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham for the Autosport International show. With a free ticket thanks to being a member of the BRSCC, the show is a good way to start off the year and see the health (and wealth!) of the sport we all love. The show was being opened by Monegasque Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc on this particular Sunday and in anticipation of a large crowd I arrived early at the colossal complex that is the NEC. The entrance I chose contained neither a Ferrari F1 driver or a ribbon and a pair of scissors so my entrance was a fairly quiet and subdued one! Indeed I didn't get to see Monsieur Leclerc at any time whilst in the show alas.  As you can see from the photos below I did see Finnish 1981 World Rally Champion Ari Vatanen circulating amongst the crowd during my visit.  One of the highlights of the show was a fantastic exhibition to mark the 70th anniv...