The British Touring Automotive Championship’s supporting collection at all times present loads of intrigue and one other thrilling and unpredictable 12 months is seemingly in retailer.
Among the many headlines is a top quality line-up within the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, the place a trio of BTCC race winners have returned to for 2024, whereas the ever-exciting Deagen Fairclough is among the many favourites for British Formulation 4 glory, and Dan Zelos might be searching for an unprecedented third Mini Problem JCW title.
A raft of membership classes may even be making visitor appearances once more this 12 months – with the Legends Vehicles Elite Cup and Radical Cup UK on responsibility at Donington Park this weekend – whereas a closely upgraded Cayman will characteristic within the fourth of the common helps, the Porsche Dash Problem GB, when it roars into motion at Snetterton subsequent month.
Here’s a rundown of among the key themes and drivers to be careful for this 12 months.
BTCC aces descend on Porsches
Lloyd returns to Porsche racing after a spell as Porsche GB’s junior scholar in 2012
Photograph by: Porsche/JEP
Autosport’s Porsche Carrera Cup GB season preview final 12 months started with the phrases: “There have been some extremely shut Porsche Carrera Cup GB title battles over time and the 2023 contest might be one other so as to add to that checklist.” But that’s not the way it performed out. As an alternative, Adam Smalley steamrollered his strategy to glory, and several other of his anticipated rivals departed the collection after powerful begins to their campaigns.
However there are much more indicators that issues actually might be very shut this time round. For instance, an inflow of British Touring Automotive race winners has ensured loads of curiosity within the championship for 2024. Dan Lloyd, George Gamble and Stephen Jelley have all been Porsche frontrunners prior to now and have been tempted to return to one-make competitors for this 12 months.
“I’m mega excited to be again right here – it seems like I’m coming again to my roots; I believe lots of people neglect I did numerous Porsche and GT racing,” says Lloyd, who was fourth within the standings in 2013 and has joined up with Toro Verde for 2024.
“It appears like an thrilling 12 months for the championship as effectively – actually aggressive with numerous Execs, and it creates that little bit of buzz with just a few of us going to it [from the BTCC]. It’s good to be in a one-make collection, the place it’s all right down to me. It comes with a little bit of stress nevertheless it’s stress I’m glad to have.”
Lloyd factors out {that a} lack of dry pre-season testing means he goes into the marketing campaign “a little bit bit on the again foot” as he readjusts to GT equipment after eight years in tin-tops.
“My focus is to get some factors banked at Donington Park and be taught as a lot as I can and go from there,” he states. “I’m definitely not going to underestimate the competitors.”
That competitors doesn’t simply embrace BTCC returnees, as loads of different gifted drivers have been attracted onto this 12 months’s grid. Becoming a member of Gamble at Century Motorsport – which received final season’s groups’ title – is 2021 British GT4 champion Will Burns, again racing after a 12 months on the sidelines following the delivery of his daughter. After having fun with success with Century prior to now, he’s wanting ahead to the brand new problem.
On his return to racing, Burns is a part of Century’s line-up alongside Gamble
Photograph by: Porsche/JEP
“I’m simply attempting to rise up to hurry with a totally totally different automobile to what I’m used to,” says Burns. “British GT has obtained ABS in order that they let you know to smash the brakes as arduous as you possibly can and, if you happen to try this within the Cup automobile, you flatspot all of your tyres. It’s a really area of interest driving type you want however, every lap that goes by, it is going to begin clicking.”
Different eye-catching names on the grid embrace 2021 British Formulation 4 conqueror and GB3 frontrunner Matthew Rees (certainly one of Jelley’s Workforce Parker Racing stablemates), whereas Formulation Ford ace Andrew Rackstraw is dovetailing his single-seater exploits with a Porsche marketing campaign at JTR.
He’s joined by new Porsche GB Junior James Wallis and, given Smalley continued a long term of triumphs for scholarship winners, the previous GT Cup and British GT racer definitely can’t be discounted.
However, whereas there are such a lot of new and returning names on this 12 months’s combine, there are nonetheless just a few acquainted faces from final season, too. Josh Malin was one of many shock performers on his strategy to third within the standings, regardless of solely becoming a member of from the third spherical after changing Gus Burton at Century.
“I went to Thruxton, which is my native observe, and simply thought, ‘I’m again within the automobile, heck let’s go and revel in it’, and I completed second and third in my first rounds again after 10 months!” Malin recollects. “It was fairly a shock but in addition fairly humbling due to all of the help I had.
“Had I been informed I might have completed third doing three-quarters of the season, I might have thought you’re having fun. It’s given me good confidence going into this 12 months and, hopefully, I can replicate these outcomes.”
The 2020 Ginetta GT5 Problem title winner is now planning a full season with Dino Zamparelli’s new Race Drive squad, and is searching for to say that elusive first win and launch a championship cost.
“The competitors, as at all times, goes to be extremely sturdy so I’m ready for an enormous championship battle,” says Malin, who factors out that, whereas Race Drive could also be a brand new group, it has loads of Porsche expertise amongst its engineering ranks.
Malin (centre) is raring to impress after a promising marketing campaign in 2023
Photograph by: Porsche/JEP
Becoming a member of Malin on the operation is Harry Foster, who might be searching for to construct upon his maiden collection race win within the penultimate 2023 spherical at Silverstone.
Predicting who will finish the 12 months on prime is extremely tough – even the Professional-Am ranks characteristic the likes of Walter Hayes Trophy winner Oliver White and former W Collection driver Abbie Eaton – however all of the elements definitely appear to be in place for a genuinely shut battle after final season’s battle considerably fizzled out.
The 2023 shock package deal searching for consistency in F4
One of the vital memorable sights of British Formulation 4 final 12 months was Deagen Fairclough rocketing up the order within the opening laps of races. The Fiesta Junior graduate threw warning to the wind with a few of his strikes and gained fairly a status. After securing his place on the grid by profitable ROKiT’s sim racing shootout, he was keen to indicate he deserved to be within the collection. However even Fairclough admits he was “too keen” at instances.
“I believe I used to be a little bit bit reckless at first!” he says. “We may have doubtlessly obtained the title final 12 months if I had the appropriate mindset.”
Fairclough says he has discovered loads from a marketing campaign wherein he took three wins and 5 additional podiums, regardless of being the only real JHR Developments driver for among the 12 months – a troublesome job for a rookie going up in opposition to four-car squads and their mountains of knowledge. He now feels that he’s “extra chilled” after becoming a member of the powerhouse Hitech GP group for this season.
“I don’t need to give an excessive amount of away!” he smiles when requested about what he has modified for 2024. “Nevertheless it’s simply staying constant and never having these DNFs is so essential. At Snetterton, we had a DNF and we had damaging factors from it. We had been solely third within the championship on the finish, so if we had just a few extra factors, we may have been within the battle.
“Nevertheless it was my debut 12 months in single-seaters. I’d gone from rubbing doorways to having to go away house in all places. However now I’ve executed a full season, I’ve executed the UAE championship, there’s a lot I’ve discovered and I’m feeling the most effective I’ve ever felt to enter a season of racing.”
Fairclough is among the many F4 title favourites after some swashbuckling shows final season
Photograph by: JEP
There may be definitely no denying that Fairclough is likely one of the favourites this time round, and he’s decided to copy Alex Dunne’s victorious 2022 marketing campaign with Hitech.
“The title is certainly the purpose – I’m probably not aiming for something much less,” he states. “We’re right here to interrupt data.”
Fairclough is more likely to face loads of opposition from inside his personal group this 12 months. Mika Abrahams is one other sophomore F4 racer and joins after an bettering marketing campaign with Fortec wherein he grew stronger after being too younger to contest the opening three occasions. In the meantime, Reza Seewooruthun was certainly one of simply 5 drivers to triumph in Ginetta Junior final season.
Rodin Motorsport can be more likely to pose a significant menace, with all 4 of its racers having loads of F4 expertise. Early F1 Academy factors chief Abbi Pulling will return to the British championship for the rounds that don’t conflict, whereas Jack Sherwood strikes throughout from Chris Dittmann Racing and Alex Ninovic swaps from the Spanish collection, wherein the Australian was tenth within the 2023 standings.
However James Higgins – sixth final 12 months in British F4 with Fortec – is maybe probably to spearhead Rodin’s line-up. Initially, he was eager to graduate to GB3 for this 12 months however was persuaded to take a full F4 title tilt.
“Though final 12 months didn’t go the way in which we wished it to, I believe I nonetheless confirmed what I may do,” says Higgins, who took 4 poles and two wins. “I assumed, ‘job’s executed, we’ll transfer on.’ Nevertheless it fully wasn’t.
“Transferring up too rapidly could be a unhealthy factor. I’m not studying something new – I do know the tracks, I do know the automobile and now I do know the group – so there’s no actual excuses if you happen to take a look at it that manner, so we will certainly attempt to get the title.”
Higgins is one other promising returnee hoping to make his mark at Rodin
Photograph by: JEP
Others to be careful for embrace Mercedes junior Yuanpu Cui at Argenti Motorsport, whereas it is going to even be fascinating to observe the progress of Maxwell Dodds at Virtuosi. The previous Ginetta Junior racer has spent two years on the sidelines and solely secured his F4 seat on the eve of the season, however wish to spring a shock as he will get up to the mark. As will new squad Xcel Motorsport and its lead driver Zack Scoular.
In any case, Fairclough was not anticipated to carry out so impressively final 12 months, so who is aware of which contender may emerge as an sudden star of British F4’s newest line-up?
Zelos aiming for extra in Mini Problem
The Mini Problem was all about one driver final 12 months. Dan Zelos returned to kind in spectacular type and blitzed the opposition en path to his second collection title. Now, having once more been unable to make the development to British Touring Vehicles, he has elected to stay within the collection and attempt to acquire extra silverware.
Nevertheless it has been a troublesome low season for Excelr8 Motorsport’s reserve BTCC racer. In the direction of the tip of final 12 months, a detailed member of the family was recognized with Parkinson’s, and Zelos will now be searching for to lift cash and consciousness for the Parkinson’s UK charity at BTCC occasions.
“It places issues into perspective,” he says of the shock information. “For us to look elsewhere with a lot occurring didn’t really feel proper. We’ve had numerous good instances with Excelr8 however there wasn’t a seat obtainable within the BTCC; the subsequent greatest place to be is to proceed as their reserve driver and compete within the Mini Problem.”
But, regardless of being a confirmed Mini grasp, Zelos says “there’s at all times issues you possibly can be taught from each season – you possibly can by no means be good” as he embarks on a sixth marketing campaign racing the JCWs. He’s undoubtedly one of many favourites for the title, however is anticipating a far more durable problem, particularly from inside his group.
“Final 12 months I used to be the standout driver in Excelr8,” states Zelos. “This 12 months I can see that it’s going to be very totally different. We’ve obtained some actually fast rookies coming in – I’ve made a rod for my very own again by serving to them rise up to hurry!”
Zelos is aiming for a 3rd Mini JCW title with Excelr8
Photograph by: Matt Walker
Zelos expects Nelson King – third final 12 months with Graves Motorsport – and Dominic Wheatley to be aggressive, whereas reigning Cooper champion Tom Ovenden and Nathan Edwards (fifth among the many Coopers in 2023) may additionally determine strongly. However Zelos has been significantly impressed by Max Corridor to date in testing.
“I believe he could be the shock at spherical one,” says Zelos, who additionally reckons NAPA-backed Jamie Osborne will pose a menace.
A brand new JCW Sport class has been launched for this 12 months and has attracted 5 drivers as an intermediate step between the Coopers and the JCWs, whereas a brand new grid-setting format has been launched, with qualifying now figuring out beginning locations for 2 of the three races. Contemplating Zelos was solely defeated as soon as in qualifying all 12 months in 2023, that’s maybe ominous information for the rivals trying to dethrone him.
After his dominance of 2023, can anyone cease Zelos this time period?
Photograph by: Mark Chivers