After its early summer break, TCR UK bursts back into life at Snetterton for Rounds 6 and 7 of the championship this weekend (11-12 July).
The three-mile Norfolk circuit offers a unique challenge, combining long straights and high-speed corners with a technical infield section to test all aspects of performance.
Heading in to the event, 16-year-old sensation Jenson O’Neill-Going leads the championship standings after a magnificent start to his first full season in the championship. The Power Maxed Racing driver took his Honda Civic Type R FL5 to a win at Brands Hatch and already has two further podium finishes to his name. Ironically, Snetterton was the only venue where O’Neill-Going didn’t win in his 2024 Fiesta Junior title season so he will be looking to put that right this weekend. With only 10kg of compensation weight, less than most of his main rivals, he has a great opportunity.
Leading the chase, just five points down on O’Neill-Going, is JH Racing’s Callum Newsham. The Hampshire-domiciled Scot is the only man to have won more than once so far this year, with victories at both Brands Hatch and Croft. A 100% record in qualifying demonstrates Newsham’s outright pace aboard his Hyundai Elantra N, but its Achilles’ heel has been reliability. Clutch and gearbox issues have cost vital championship points. An incident at Snetterton effectively put paid to Newsham’s title hopes last season, so he will be keen to banish that memory and assert his authority on this year’s championship chase. He will have to overcome the handicap of 30kg of compensation weight if he is to do so.
Irishman Max Hart lies third in the points standings, a further 15 points adrift. Hart’s return to TCR UK, running a dual campaign in the same ALM Motorsport-run Honda Civic that he races in TCR Europe, has yielded two podium finishes so far. But Hart will feel he should have more to show for his efforts after a crank-sensor issue denied him a likely victory in the Brands Hatch season opener. Another weighed down by an extra 30kg, Hart will be pleased for the opportunity to put a tough time in Hungary last weekend behind him with a quick return to action.
Running alongside Hart in the Hall’s Racing Honda, teenager Max Hall will arrive at Snetterton with a spring in his step. Hall took his maiden victory last time out at Croft and will be gunning for more glory in Norfolk. If he can add another win to his tally, ballast-free Hall will thrust himself back into championship contention, having endured more than his fair share of misfortune before breaking his duck.
Two-time champion Carl Boardley (CBM with SVG Motorsport) is another Honda driver hoping to maintain an upward curve after a disastrous start to the season where he failed to finish the opening two rounds. At least he can chalk those up as dropped scores, and two podiums have followed, but Boardley knows he can’t afford any other non-finishes. Although it’s the East Anglian’s home circuit, Boardley is yet to win in TCR UK at Snetterton. Don’t bet against him putting that right.
Boardley is currently tied for sixth in the points standings with Brad Hutchison (MPHR with Capture Motorsport). The Yorkshireman has fond memories of Snetterton after scoring his maiden victory there two years ago. Hutchison was on fine form on home ground at Croft last time out, qualifying his upgraded CUPRA Leon VZ on the front row, only for driveshaft woe to send his weekend rapidly downhill. The plus side is that Hutchison carries no compensation weight this weekend.
Best of the CUPRAs in the championship standings at present is Power Maxed Racing’s Rod McGovern, who sits fourth. The veteran Irishman, second overall in Round 1 at Brands Hatch, also leads the way in the Goodyear Diamond Award, for drivers aged 40 and over.
McGovern’s biggest threats in that sub-competition come from CUPRA-powered Mark Smith (MPHR with Capture Motorsport) and the Hyundai i30 N of Rick Kerry (EDF Motorsport). A consistent run of results leaves Smith just 10 points shy of McGovern. Kerry lost ground when he had to miss Croft for family reasons, but the Suffolk driver should be back in the hunt at his local circuit.
Limited prior experience in TCR touring car machinery means that McGovern is also eligible for the Tom Walker Trophy, where he lies second to O’Neill-Going after the opening two weekends. Third in the points is Jenson’s fellow teenager, Harry Bloor (DT Racing Developments Honda). On the team’s home circuit, Bloor will be looking to build on his best-ever qualifying position of fifth overall last time out.
Further Goodyear Diamond Award competition comes from Audi RS3 LMS duo Russell Joyce (JH Racing) and Barry-John McHenry (Vannin Motorsport) who was another absentee at Croft due to a personal commitment.
Also returning to action this weekend, on a circuit he knows very well, is Luke Allen whose own team runs his unique-to-the-championship Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk7 of Gen 1 vintage.
After qualifying on Saturday, both races this weekend take place on Sunday (12 July). Lights out on Round 6 of the championship is scheduled for 10:10hrs before Round 7 – the reversed-grid race – is set to get underway at 14:50hrs that afternoon.
With sister series the Civic Cup and Audi Cup also in action, together with the big rigs of the British Truck Racing Championship, there is no better place to watch than trackside. But for those who can’t be there, ultra-professional live coverage is streamed around the world on TCR UK’s YouTube channel with expert commentary and analysis.
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.
For more information about the 2026 TCR UK Touring Car Championship, visit https://www.tcr-uk.co.uk/2026-calendar/
Stay tuned for news and updates regarding the 2026 season finale via our website and social media channels:
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SNETTERTON SATURDAY LIVESTREAM
