Bertie rides again!

– Crowd-pleasing VW Beetle celebrates 60th birthday on WRGB National Rally
– Plucky privateer lines-up alongside World Rally Championship top guns
– Advance tickets with significant discounts on sale for all venues

While the latest generation of spectacular ‘new era’ WRC cars will be wowing the huge crowds as they race through the legendary Welsh forests at unsurpassed speeds, next month’s Dayinsure Wales Rally GB (4-7 October) isn’t just for the title chasing big guns.

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High speed Silverstone marks final chance for ‘Last eight’ in unpredictable title battle

The 2018 Renault UK Clio Cup enters its dramatic ‘last chance saloon’ stages at the high speed Silverstone circuit in just over a week (Sat 15/Sun 16 Sept) with the eight drivers still in with a chance of the crown all hoping to keep their title hopes alive for the season finale at Brands Hatch a fortnight later.

As ever the Clio Cup will be appearing alongside the headlining British Touring Car Championship at Silverstone. A bumper trackside crowd is anticipated for the event at the world famous Northamptonshire circuit while the action will also be broadcast live on the Sunday by ITV4.

Brown bags Mini class win in Belgium

Nissan Kit Car driver Steve Brown made the switch to his Historic specification Mini Cooper at the Conxion Omloop van Vlaanderen Rally a successful one last weekend, by steering the classic machine to a class win at the Belgian event (31st August / 1st September).

Aston Martin begins hunt for the next GT superstar

– Aston Martin Racing launches ‘AMR Young Driver Academy’ for 2019
– Programme aims to fast-track young talent racing Aston Martins
– Winner receives a full Junior Factory Contract in 2020

Aston Martin Racing is launching the AMR Young Driver Academy for 2019, in the search to find the next Ross Gunn, the factory FIA World Endurance Championship team’s current reserve and development driver and the winner of its previous young driver scheme in 2015.

Volkswagen Motorsport presents Polo GTi R5 to first customers

– 15 cars sold to privateer teams in Europe and South America
– Production-based rally car has a performance of 200 kW (272 PS) and four-wheel drive
– Competitive debut with two Polo GTI R5 at WRC event in Spain

After the Polo R WRC comes the Polo GTI R5. With the World Rally Car version of the Polo, the Volkswagen works team won four FIA World Rally Championship titles between 2013 and 2016.

MSA announces Hugh Chambers as new CEO

The UK Motor Sports Association (MSA) today announced the appointment of Hugh Chambers to the role of Chief Executive Officer.

Chambers will assume the position of CEO from 1 November 2018, taking on the leadership of the UK’s governing body for motorsport. His appointment follows an extensive and independent process conducted by a leading professional search firm, in conjunction with a panel comprising Non-Executive Directors of the MSA.

Mia Flewitt clinches FIA Pure McLaren Gt Series title with forst and second places in Germany

– Mia Flewitt clinches inaugural FIA Pure McLaren GT Series title at Hockenheim
– Bruce McLaren Cup class wide open ahead of Silverstone finale
– Race field of McLaren 570S GT4 ‘arrive and drive’ track cars all supported by McLaren engineers, whether rented or owned

Mia Flewitt clinched the inaugural FIA Pure McLaren GT Series title last weekend in Germany, with both a win and second place finish at Hockenheim. This gave her an insurmountable 58-point lead over Stewart Proctor heading into the Silverstone finale later this month.

Bentley Motorsport wins championship title in USA

– Bentley wins the teams title in the Pirelli World Challenge
– New customer team K-PAX Racing takes podiums in all events
– First-generation Continental GT3 has now won four major titles in the USA, Europe and Asia
– K-PAX Racing to take delivery of two new Continental GT3s for 2019

An exciting and challenging home outing for Team Peugeot Total in France

5th and 6th places for Timmy Hansen and Sebastien Loeb respectively in the final at Loheac wasn’t the result that Team PEUGEOT Total wanted on home territory in front of 80,000 enthusiastic fans, but nonetheless all 3 drivers showed considerable fighting spirit and pace through the weekend. Only a series of circumstances and racing incidents compromised their chance to do better – but this is all part of the frenetic and closely-matched sport of rallycross, where just the smallest misadventure can have big consequences. The team’s Junior, Kevin Hansen, also showed plenty of speed, going as far as the semi-final. Next up is Latvia in 2 weeks, where the whole team will be concentrated on ensuring a better result.

Statement from the Rally Isle of Man

It is with great regret that the Organisers of the 2018 Rally Isle of Man (13th-15th September) have been left with no option but to cancel this year’s event.