Mixed conditions add to the BARC spectacle at Thruxton

Mixed weather conditions added to the on-track spectacle at Thruxton this past weekend (October 24/25) as the British Automobile Racing Club took centre stage on home turf for a blockbuster two days of racing.

On what proved to be a frenetic race meeting in front of an appreciative crowd, bright sunshine and heavy showers played its part as championship battles raged on.

The C1 Challenge wrote the latest chapter of its ever-growing illustrious history as it made its first visit to Thruxton. Boasting a 45-car entry list, the one-make series starred on Sunday afternoon as an epic three-hour endurance race unfolded around the high-speed Hampshire venue.

Completing a total of 96 laps, the Hybrid Tune trio of Stephen James, David Meenan and Ben Simonds ran out as race winners, scoring victory by more than 90 seconds at the chequered flag. Fans of Mini racing were treated to a feast of entertainment over the course of the weekend as both the Mighty Minis Championship and the Mini Seven Racing Club served up exhilarating wheel-to-wheel action. Ian Slark and David Kirpatrick shared the spoils in the two Mighty Mini encounters whilst there was plenty of variety when it came to the winners of the Mini Seven contingent.

In the Dunlop National Mini Challenge supported by Mini Spares Miglia category, Rupert Deeth bagged an impressive brace with Sam Summerhayes clinching the remaining win. Summerhayes then jumped across to the Dunlop National Mini Challenge supported by Mini Spares Se7en class and tallied another win before Joe Thompson and Jeff Smith also triumphed.

The Kumho BMW Championship battled the treacherous conditions and delivered two scintillating contests. Brad Sheehan powered his E46 M3 to victory in the opener before Michael Pensaville bounced back from a retirement to prevail in race two.

Rounding out the weekend were two BARC Open Sports/Saloon races, both of which were won by Jamie Sturges at the wheel of his Seat Leon TCR.

To view the full classification of results from every session at Thruxton, click here. The British Automobile Racing Club returns to Thruxton this coming weekend (October 31/November 1) with the BTRA British Truck Racing Championship taking centre stage.