BRSCC GOES NORTH AS CROFT BECKONS FOR TITLE CONTENDERS
The BRSCC 2025 Croft Autumn Race Weekend promises an electrifying mix of high-speed action and championship-defining battles as the penultimate event of the 2025 season for many competing championships and series unfolds at the demanding and technical Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire. From one-make shootouts to guest appearances by fan-favorite series, it’s set to be a weekend to remember!
The Kent Models Mazda MX-5 Championship goes to Croft this weekend for its penultimate outing of 2025 with the same theme that has run consistently throughout the season – a certain Ali Bray dominating proceedings at every round and looking to keep his win streak alive. He remains unbeaten going to Yorkshire, but even if the streak does go, he’s still in a prime position to leave Croft with one hand on the championship trophy.
It’s almost unprecedented how much success he’s had this year, and on total scores Ali is ahead by 50 points from his main rival Steve Foden, who has been a constant shadow behind him practically all season so far. Having never finished off the podium, there’s nothing more he’s been able to do and will continue to keep chasing all the way to the end. With dropped scores still to come into play, things could still change. A distant third is Neil Chisnall, who has scored a couple of podiums this season and racked up consistent scoring throughout, especially when others have faltered – he has a good advantage over Harry Storer in P4, who will be battling with Adam Craig over who ends up at the base of the top five in the standings.
For the rest of the top ten, the positions have real potential to change with Richard Wootten topping the lot in sixth, followed by best Masters driver Andrey Abaluev, Paul Tucker, Pete Smith and James Seale. All of them have had little flashes of brilliance throughout the season and will be hoping to pick up more solid scores to keep themselves firmly in the mix. It will be another intriguing weekend to say the least, so be sure to watch if Ali Bray can keep his momentum and maintain unshakeable.
The Clapham North Mazda MX-5 Clubman Championship is getting heated as the championship enters its closing stages and with just two events left to go, the crunch point is closing in. Croft in North Yorkshire presents the next challenge and it’s going to be a real bun fight at the head of the field. The championship is close at the top, and it will be fascinating to see who gets the edge on top.
Out in front, Jordan Pimley has a slender margin over second placed Jake Paice, the pair separated by just eight points at this stage on total scores. Pimley has taken six wins so far this season, but has also been handed 21 penalty points over the course of the championship campaign so far too. That means Paice is closer than he’d like him to be and although dropped scores are yet to come into play, Jake will be making sure he tries to keep Pimley close to him throughout the weekend.
Jack Warry was a long-time championship leader at one stage this season, but going to Croft he’s slipped to third after a DNF at Oulton hindered his progress. Even though dropped scores will certainly put him back into the mix once they apply, Jack will certainly know this weekend would well be all crucial for his chances, so he’ll want a clean weekend and some strong scores to make sure he doesn’t lose any ground. Back to try and reclaim some ground himself will be Jonny Greensmith, the defending champ having to rebound after a DNF at Cadwell. Some rebuild work on the car has been complete and he’ll want to reward that with some solid results this weekend. Thomas Greenwood currently grabs the final top five spot in fifth, hoping to replicate the podium placing form that served him well in the early season.
Paul Simard was a little higher in the standings previously, but has slipped to sixth place at this stage, a DNF at Cadwell not helping his cause by any means and will again be hoping dropped scores help him out further. Matt Crozier holds seventh ahead of Kevin Bird in eighth, while Andi Istrate and Will Breame complete the top ten. Both of Saturday’s race could turn out to be key landmarks in the run-in for the title, so everything will be focused on the front to see if Pimley, Paice and co can hold their nerve.
It’s getting to a critical stage of the Clapham North Mazda MX-5 SuperCup now as the championship moves to Croft this weekend, as the Pro and Club class title battles continue to rumble on. Croft’s flat and fast nature will suit the SuperCup cars down to a tee, and the scraps at the front are sure to be as frantic and entertaining as always.
Will Blackwell-Chambers is getting used to life back in the lead of the Pro standings going to Yorkshire. Having won both races run at Cadwell last time (the third abandoned due to outside circumstances), he continues to be on good form and will look to extend his points lead further. He now lines up at Croft with a 41 point lead over second placed Thomas Langford, enjoying a stellar first SuperCup season and well in contention for the title. A first win is still outstanding, and it could definitely happen if given the chance this weekend.
Ollie Hall led the Pro standings for a while, but is now third with two events left and still a chance to get back into it thanks to dropped scores coming into play. He has finished every single race to date and has been rarely off the podium, so expect him to place well in the fight for a win this weekend. Alistair Dendy has also been mega consistent too, and will be wishing to not only take away a strong result or two, but further cement his place as top Masters driver too. Race winner Jack Harding makes another cameo appearance this weekend, and will be looking to steal some points from the title contenders.
As for the Club class, Sam Middleton has only managed one win from the last four races, and that included a double DNF at Oulton Park, but is still set to enjoy a decent lead on dropped scores once they become a factor. Jim Barratt keeps up the pursuit in second only a few points back on total scores in second place ahead of Chris Ginn and Steve Kite, with Clive Powles currently rounding off the top five.
Not long removed from their last outing at Silverstone on the National circuit, the Nankang Tyre BMW SuperCup Championship continues to rumble on as the 2025 season progresses. This weekend at Croft is the penultimate outing of the season, and with titles not likely to be provisionally decided here, there’s guaranteed to be plenty of typical door-to-door action this championship provides.
The 1 Series is a little expanded compared to the previous outing with a couple of additions to the grid, but we’ll come back to those. In the race for the class title, Millie Hart was given something of a lifeline at Silverstone after Simon Waterfall had one of those victories taken away due to a disqualification, meaning she increased her lead at the top of the standings. She’s almost 100 points ahead on outright scores with drops still to come into play, but right now it’s looking good for Millie.
Waterfall still holds second, but the sting of the DQ means he can’t use that as a dropped score. All he can do is drive as fast as possible, score high and hope the points end up falling in his direction come season end. Aydan Hassan is now third ahead of Thorburn Astin, who couldn’t start races two and three and lost more points in what’s been an up-and-down season for him. Also back on the grid will be Chris Stretton, along with Mazda regular Martin Tolley and newcomer Darren Rickaby. Also making his senior racing debut, last year’s Fiesta Junior champion Jenson O’Neill-Going gets to test himself in a rear wheel drive race car at senior level for the very first time.
Over in the Compact Cup class, Joe Doble heads the pack out in front by more than 30 points at this stage, and his consistency in taking 2nd and 3rd places has helped him stay there, despite not winning since Oulton Park. Up to second has come Max Noble, who is literally making fourth place his own after taking six in a row, another to keep on racking up the points while some others can’t or couldn’t. Defending champion Connor Grady is a mere point behind Noble in third and fresh from taking a win and two P2s at Silverstone, so watch for him to get back to the top step again. Keith Towers is an impressive fourth in his comeback season, Mike Doble ensures both family members are in the top five, while Adam Wright sits sixth ahead of Gareth Claydon. Former champion Gareth has found his winning form again recently, and even though a second crown’s out of the question, he will still be a force to be reckoned with. Ethan Woods, Paul Mousell and Matt Kendall also currently round off the top ten.
Providing another packed entry as always for its next stop on its 2025 tour, the Nankang Tyre CityCar Cup Championship, featuring the Student Motorsport contest, touches down at Croft with the end of the campaign in sight. Barely three weeks removed from the previous round at Silverstone, the drivers will still feel fairly fresh as they get ready tackle Croft’s flat and fast course.
At the top of the table, something we haven’t seen for a long time – Stuart Bliss NOT leading! Indeed, after Silverstone it’s Alistair May that now takes a six point lead on overall scores, especially after taking his first victory of the season at Silverstone last time. Contrast that with Bliss not even featuring on the podium in both races, and this showcases that this year’s CityCar Cup field is particularly competitive this year. Both will be gunning to leave Croft on top this weekend.
Ben Spencer has been a rookie sensation this year, already established as a pole sitter and race winner in 2025. With three victories under his belt this year and firmly becoming one of the front running pack, his WRC-inspired Aygo is becoming a constant presence in the conversation for wins. Alex Foden has been mighty impressive this year too, going to Croft fourth in points and only six ahead of Richard Jepp in fifth. This will be another battle that is sure to rumble across all three races too, especially so close to the end.
Brady Pollock became the latest first time winner at Silverstone and thus holds sixth, just two ahead of Alex Jackson in seventh, while Christopher Parkes, Chris Mackenzie and Joe Moss complete the top ten. Also keep an eye out for eleventh placed Andrew Dyer – always quick, always a threat and fresh from two podiums at Silverstone.
In the Student Motorsport ranks, Boston College Racing 1 (Bliss) is in control right now almost 30 points ahead of Team Northbrook Racing 1 (Jepp), making it seem as though Northbrook could be about to lose their crown if Bliss’ form continues. West Suffolk College BP (Pollock) occupies the third place spot ahead of Sussex Motorsports 1 (Jackson) and Boston College Racing 2 (Dyer). This is going to be another battle within a battle that will rage all the way to the finale.
It’s a special weekend on and off track for all things MG, as MG Fest North forms part of the BRSCC Croft race event, and at it, the MG Cockshoot Cup is a no-brainer to compete on this meeting. For their penultimate event of 2025, the Cockshoot Cup will share a grid with their manufacturer siblings of the Hickford Construction MG Metro Cup, making for a busy affair for all things MG on track this weekend.
Class A will see all ZRs here, as Leon Wignall and Mark Bellamy look to try and break the deadlock between them at the top of class after Cadwell. Helen Waddington also joins in the fun, looking to provide a challenge to them both. For the older cars in the field, Martin Richardson will continue to defend his Class B lead in his MGB, up against the GT model piloted by Brent Wilkin.
For Class C from which overall honours are expected to be scored, usual suspects include Keith Egar’s MG Midget, Karl Green’s ZS180, Eliza Seville’s MGF, and David Morrison that will be competing for said honours. Also in the mix is another of the MGFs courtesy of David Coulthard (not that one!), along with Ian Hodkinson in his Austin Healey Sprite. Over in the F class, there’s three in the mix with regular Phil Rigby joined again by Laura Farrow and also by Gareth Jones too.
As mentioned, the Hickford Construction MG Metro Cup joins the same grid as the Cockshoot Cup for the very first time, with their championship battle also developing at pace. Jack Ashton, known to dominate in this championship, is currently unbeaten in every single race he’s participated in, leads by eight from Matthew Simpson in second place, but Ashton looks to be the clear favourite here once again. Tim Shooter is third in points ahead of Mike Williams and Richard Garrard in the top five, while also look for the likes of Dick Trevett and and Phil Goodwin to spring surprises too.
For those of you who love Mini racing, there’s a real treat in store at this meeting, too. The incredible Mini 7 Racing Club are out in force at Croft, with both the Se7ens and Miglias represented in equal measure. There’s never a dull moment when this collective of pocket rockets turns up, and there’s sure to be plenty of intense pack racing, side-by-side duels and tight finishes to entertain spectators.
Kane Astin leads the way in the Miglia standings by just two from Aaron Smith with Rupert Deeth in third place, while Spencer Wanstall is only four ahead of Ross Billison in the Se7en ranks with Damien Harrington close behind in third. Both classes guarantee close, hard and fast racing, so expect plenty this weekend from this lot.
GINETTA JUNIOR PREVIEW – written by Ginetta Cars
Rocco Coronel is closing in on title glory as the Ginetta Junior Championships returns to Croft for the first time in three years this weekend (06-07 September) for the penultimate round of a thrilling 2025 season.
Coronel (R Racing) has been a revelation throughout this milestone 20th anniversary season of the Ginetta Junior Championship, with a sensational record of 11 victories and six further podium finishes from the 18 races to date securing him a big advantage at the top of the points standings.
While the Red Bull Junior Team driver missed out on a race victory at Brands Hatch last time out, the first time he’s left a race event without a winner’s trophy this season, a hat-trick of podium finishes still helped to strengthen his championship advantage with six races to go.
Once dropped scores are applied, the Dutchman holds an 89-point lead over Fred Green (Elite Motorsport). Green has been the other standout rookie of the 2025 season and is aiming to make history as only the second Ginetta Junior Scholarship winner to emerge as champion in their debut year.
Having kept his title challenge alive with his third and fourth victories of the season so far at Brands Hatch, he knows that he’ll need to add more wins to his tally this weekend and hope Coronel loses ground to remain in title contention heading into the Donington Park finale.
Alfie Slater (R Racing) remains the only other driver in mathematical contention for the title, as he aims to follow in the footsteps of his older brother Freddie, the 2023 champion. Slater is in good form at present, with wins in each of the last two events and a run of five podiums in the last six races.
R Racing are on course to secure their third consecutive Teams’ title, thanks in part to having four drivers in the top five of the standings at present. Coronel and Slater are backed up by regular podium finishers Max Cuthbert and Scott Kin Lindblom, the latter being another Red Bull-backed talent.
Cuthbert scored his maiden Ginetta pole position at Brands Hatch and has secured five overall podium finishes so far. Lindblom has joined him in knocking on the door of a maiden outright victory, having come home in the overall top three on four occasions.
Three other drivers will take to the grid this weekend having finished on the overall podium this season. Torrin Byrne (Pace Performance) took home trophies from Donington Park and Snetterton, while Ethan Carney (Elite Motorsport) and George Proudford-Nalder (Oulton Park) picked up their maiden podiums at Silverstone and Oulton Park respectively.
2024 race-winner Colin Cronin (Elite Motorsport) is still chasing an elusive first podium of the season, having finished in the top six on nine occasions to date. Harry Bartle (Pace Performance) is a top three contender too, with a great recent run of performances including a first rookie class podium in fourth overall at Brands Hatch.
Within a hugely-talented grid this season, there are a number of drivers who could spring a surprise at the front of the field this weekend. That group includes a quartet who have regularly been mixing it in the top ten this year; Jarrett Clark (R Racing), Raul Zunzarren (MKH Racing) and Elite Motorsport duo Revie Lake and Emmilio Del Grosso.
Josh Watts (Performance One) is one to watch this weekend, not only as the only driver on the grid to have raced at Croft before, but also having scored his first overall top ten finish at Brands Hatch. Joshua Henry (Elite Motorsport) impressed last time out in Kent too, taking a seasons’ best hat-trick of 12th place finishes.
Lewis Goff (ProjectR) enjoyed a brilliant debut at Brands Hatch, securing a best result of 10th overall in only his third race. He’ll be looking to make his mark this weekend, as will the likes of Felipe Reijs (R Racing), Noah Young (Performance One), Henry Cameron (Fox Motorsport) and Matthew Chiwara (Tim Gray Motorsport).
Written by Scott Woodwiss/ Ginetta Cars
