The TCR UK Touring Car championship reaches its mid-point this weekend (14-15 June) as the teams head to Croft in North Yorkshire.
The popular tin-top venue hosts Rounds 9, 10 and 11 around the challenging 2.127-mile circuit, with the title race looking much tighter after last month’s triple-header at Silverstone.
Still leading the way is Capture Motorsport’s Adam Shepherd, but he is now just 15 points clear (only nine after allowing for dropped scores) ahead of his former Area Motorsport team-mate Steve Laidlaw.
Shepherd debuted his upgraded machinery last time out. The new CUPRA Leon VZ TCR displayed its undoubted pace, but, saddled by ballast and experiencing some trouble getting the car off the line, Shepherd could only manage one podium finish.
In contrast, Laidlaw had a near-perfect weekend aboard his own CUPRA Leon VZ TCR. He streaked to the highest weekend score of the season with pole position, two wins, two fastest laps and a second place.
With Shepherd now carrying 20kg less weight, and Laidlaw an extra 30kg, it will be fascinating to see which way the momentum swings this weekend.
But it certainly won’t be all about those two or, indeed, Sam Laidlaw, who pilots similar machinery and lies fourth in the championship. Another driver who will be boosted by a strong weekend last time out is JH Racing’s Callum Newsham. Having followed Laidlaw Sr home in the first two contests, Newsham won the Silverstone finale, his second victory of the season.
It means that when dropped scores are allowed for, Newsham is just 12 points off the summit. With two wins aboard his Hyundai i30 N at Croft last year, the Scottish-born driver will head to Yorkshire full of confidence.
Others representing Hyundai this weekend include Power Maxed Racing young guns Finn Leslie (who lies sixth in the points) and Harry Bloor.
Just ahead of Leslie in the points (after dropped scores) is Brad Hutchison. The proud Yorkshireman and family team Bond It with MPHR Racing will be keen to put on a show for their home crowd. Racing an older CUPRA Leon Competicion TCR, Hutchison arrives on the back of five consecutive top-five finishes.
Facing a slightly longer trip from his London base is George Jaxon. The Vannin Motorsport driver will be targeting a maiden podium finish after his best weekend yet in the Audi RS3 LMS Gen 2 at Silverstone.
The CUPRA line-up is completed by two more Capture Motorsport cars for Will Beech and Greg Saunders, plus Ben Sharpe Racing’s Mark Smith. Beech and Smith are two of the leading contenders in the Goodyear Diamond Award for drivers aged 40 and over. Alex Jones returns for his second event of the year, after making his debut at Silverstone in the Gen 1 Cup, at the wheel of his Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR.
The action at Croft gets underway with Qualifying on Saturday morning at 10:50hrs. Lights out for the first race of the weekend, Round 9 of the championship, is scheduled for 15:05hrs. Sunday features two races, but before the on-track action gets going, a pitlane autograph session takes place at 11:00hrs – make sure you don’t miss it!
Fans will then be invited onto the grid to mingle with the stars and their cars at 11:45hrs. Round 10 of the championship, the weekend’s reverse-grid race, will start at 12:05hrs. Sunday’s finale, Round 11, is timetabled for 16:30hrs.
For those unable to attend the racing in person, all the action will be streamed live, with expert commentary and analysis, on TCR UK’s YouTube channel.
To learn more about the TCR UK Touring Car Championship, visit https://www.tcr-uk.co.uk/ for more information and how to get involved.
To learn more about the 2025 TCR UK Touring Car Championship Calendar events, visit https://www.tcr-uk.co.uk/2025-calendar/ for more information.
Stay tuned for news and updates regarding the 2025 season via our website and social media channels:
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