The race for the 2024 TCR UK Touring Car Championship title is hotting up as the teams head to Silverstone for Rounds 12, 13 and 14 of the season this weekend (17-19 August).
Just seven points cover the leading three contenders in the title chase ahead of a triple-header at the home of British motorsport. The venue’s 1.64-mile National circuit will make for three action-packed contests among the biggest entry of the season so far.
Clinging on to his championship lead despite a tough time at Croft last time out is Adam Shepherd. The Area Motorsport with Shepherd Motors driver has set the pace for much of the year in his CUPRA Leon Competición TCR, having recorded four wins to date.
But mechanical dramas in North Yorkshire mean that Shepherd cannot afford any more non-finishes or low returns, having effectively ‘used up’ both his dropped scores. One consolation for Shepherd is that he has shed all his compensation weight for this weekend, at a circuit with two very heavy braking zones.
Reigning champion Carl Boardley has been the top points scorer across the last two race weekends as he puts the pressure on Shepherd. Driving a similar CUPRA Leon Competición TCR run by his own CBM with Hart GT organisation, Boardley has only twice been off the podium all season and has two wins to his name.
He is now only two points down on Shepherd (with 40 available for a race win) and his consistency means that Boardley has two healthy dropped scores in his back pocket should he need them.
The third title contender is Callum Newsham, just five points further back. The JH Racing driver is riding the crest of a wave after a near-perfect weekend last time out.
Pole position, two wins, two fastest laps and a podium in the reversed-grid race thrust Newsham back into the title hunt. The downside is that his Hyundai i30 N TCR will carry the maximum 40kg of compensation weight this weekend, something that has hampered him in the past.
With seven podiums in the past eight races, and a surmountable deficit of 37 points in the title chase, Brad Hutchison remains a threat to the top three in the standings.
The family-run Bond It with MPH Racing CUPRA Leon Competición TCR scorched to a trio of second places at its home circuit last month and will be targeting another big points haul at Silverstone despite being laden with 30kg of compensation weight.
Making his second appearance as Shepherd’s team-mate at Area Motorsport this weekend is Steve Laidlaw. Having switched to the CUPRA Leon Competición TCR last time out, Laidlaw quickly got to grips with his new steed, suggesting he could soon be giving the established frontrunners a run for their money.
Laidlaw is also a leading contender in the Goodyear Diamond Award, for drivers aged 40 and over. That is currently led by Newsham’s JH Racing team-mate Darron Lewis. Expect the pair’s scraps at Croft to continue this weekend.
Completing the Hyundai runners at Silverstone are Capture Motorsport pairing Sam Laidlaw (Steve’s son), and series supremo Stewart Lines. Laidlaw Jr will look to build on a very promising debut in the car vacated by his dad last time out.
There are a number of exciting additions to this weekend’s entry, as well as a return for some familiar faces.
Civic Cup regular Owen Hillman steps up to TCR UK for the first time, piloting Pro Alloys Racing’s Lynk & Co 03 TCR. The car made a sensational debut when it won at Brands Hatch in Viktor Andersson’s hands and now makes its eagerly awaited return with team stalwart Hillman behind the wheel.
Also making his debut this weekend is former motorcycle racer Cedric Bloch. The Frenchman was left in a wheelchair after an horrific accident in a British Supersport race three years ago.
Now, having obtained the necessary homologations for his Audi RS3 LMS DSG to be driven with hand controls, Bloch will write the next chapter in an inspirational story by making his motorsport comeback. In doing so, he will become the first paraplegic driver in TCR UK history.
Bloch’s Gen 1 Cup class car is run by Simon Green Motorsport in conjunction with Will Powell’s Sport77 outfit. The Go-Fix Honda by Sport77 squad will be fielding a pair of Honda Civic Type R FK7s for Powell himself and reigning British Endurance champion Brad Thurston.
Two drivers making their returns to the championship are Luke Sargeant and Matthew Wilson. Sargeant, who was edging closer and closer to a maiden podium finish earlier this season, has switched to an Audi RS3 LMS Gen II.
Wilson returns aboard the JW Bird Motorsport-run CUPRA Leon Competición TCR in which he scored at podium at Silverstone last year.
The Gen 1 Cup, for older cars, has proved to be an incredibly tight contest so far this year. Rick Kerry (EDF Motorsport CUPRA TCR) and Will Beech (Capture Motorsport Volkswagen Golf GTI) are separated by just a single point ahead of recommencing their duel at Silverstone.
Jeff Alden (Matrix Motorsport with DW Racing Opel Astra) also returns to the category this weekend after missing the last round.
A busy weekend of action begins with qualifying at 1115hrs on Saturday morning, before Round 12 of the championship takes place that afternoon, with lights-out timetabled for 1650hrs.
There will be two races on Sunday. The ever-popular public grid walk takes place head of Round 13 of the championship, the reversed-grid race, which is scheduled to start at 1335hrs. Round 14 is the weekend finale at 1730hrs.
For those unable to make it to Silverstone, all the action will be streamed live on TCR UK’s YouTube channel, with expert commentary and analysis.
You can still purchase tickets for the next event of the 2024 season, at Silverstone, from their website: https://www.silverstone.co.uk/events/BRSCC-TCR-Touring-Car
To find out 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 2024 TCR UK Touring Car Championship Calendar events, visit https://www.tcr-uk.co.uk/2024-calendar/ for more information.
Stay tuned for news and updates regarding the 2024 season via our website and socials media channels:
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Useful information and livestream links:
SILVERSTONE NATIONAL TIMETABLE
SILVERSTONE NATIONAL ENTRY LIST
SILVERSTONE NATIONAL SATURDAY LIVESTREAM
SILVERSTONE NATIONAL SUNDAY LIVESTREAM
