The Milltek Sport Civic Cup returns to action this weekend at Snetterton in Norfolk with a massive 25-car entry set to contest Rounds 4, 5 and 6 of the championship.
The official TCR UK feeder category is making only its second visit to the 2.97-mile 300 circuit in recent years, although teams do have additional experience of the track from the series launch day back in March.
Reigning champion Max Edmundson is currently setting the pace in the title race after an almost faultless display at last month’s season-opener at Brands Hatch. The Area Motorsport driver swept to pole position and a double victory, as well as fourth position in the reversed-grid race. That means he already holds a healthy advantage of 29 points over his nearest rivals.
Edmundson will need to be at the top of his game to remain out front though, with plenty of stiff opposition – even from within his own team. International racer Josh Files scored a double podium on his championship debut, while fellow multiple TCR touring car champion Lewis Kent was also a podium finisher – and set two fastest laps – despite suffering a wheel failure.
Also in the Area Motorsport camp, Liam McGill showed strong pace in last month’s races but suffered a setback with a disqualification, while Sam Kirkpatrick’s weekend was blighted first by engine troubles and then getting caught up in race incidents. Both were race winners in part-time campaigns last year and will look to bounce back at Snetterton.
The six-car Area line-up is completed by one-time champion Alistair Camp, who leads the squad’s programme with the newer FN2 model. While the rest of the team continue with the tried-and-tested EP3, Camp proved that the FN2 can be a competitive proposition, even early on its development, with a hard-fought victory at Brands.
Currently lying joint second in the points, level with Files, is Ben Sharpe Racing’s Spencer Stevenson. The former Mini and Fiesta man impressed on his championship debut last month and will aim to continue that form alongside the squad’s young guns Will Redford – who scored a double podium at Snetterton last year – and Harvey Caton, another regular frontrunner. BSR’s four-car entry is completed by British GT team boss Nick Cristofaro.
Wiltshire-based Pro Alloys Racing will field five cars this weekend in a team packed with youth. Former TCR racer Alex Kite leads the way as he looks to establish himself as a regular fixture in the top six and pushing for podiums. Team stalwart Owen Hillman and karting graduate Aydan Hassan join Kite in EP3s, while former Fiesta Junior drivers Harry England and Wesley Swain are in FN2s.
Early converts to the FN2 were DMR with KA Car Sales pairing Dave Marshall and Mark Hughes. A consistent weekend at Brands Hatch leaves Marshall eighth in the early points standings. Hughes’s focus is on the Goodyear Diamond Award for drivers aged 40 and over, where he currently leads the way.
Josh Bromley, who like Kirkpatrick is a former MG Trophy racer, was hampered by engine problems on his Civic Cup debut last month. He’ll aim to make sure his Adrian Wray-run car is ensconced in the top 10 this weekend, and ready to take advantage of the second race’s reversed-grid.
Jack Ruddell (MJB Motorsport) is also back after missing the season-opener due to a clash with the Goodwood Members’ Meeting. Teenager Ruddell is looking to build on an encouraging debut season and, with Morgan Bailey in his corner, is set to be one to watch.
Another driver joining the fray is former Pickup, Porsche and Mini man Daniel Petters who will race alongside younger brother Jamie in the family-run Team Petters Racing outfit. Local driver Scott Smith will also join the grid this weekend, and Sam Nicolau should get his season under way.
Championship regular Jordan Brennan and former grasstracker Will Butt complete a packed grid which is sure to create spectacular racing. Both are eligible for the Paul Winfield Trophy, for championship newcomers and less experienced racers. The PWT standings are currently led by Spencer Stevenson from Owen Hillman after the opening weekend.
This weekend’s Milltek Sport Civic Cup action gets under way with Qualifying at 1115hrs on Saturday morning. Round 4 of the championship then takes place at 1615hrs on Saturday afternoon. The reversed-grid Round 5 is scheduled for 1215hrs on Sunday, before Round 6 completes the weekend’s running at 1555hrs.
All the action will be livestreamed on the TCR UK YouTube channel across Saturday and Sunday.
To find out more about the Milltek Sport Civic Cup visit https://civic-cup.co.uk/ for more info and how to get involved.
To find out more about the events on the 2024 Milltek Sport Civic Cup Calendar, visit https://civic-cup.co.uk/2024-season-calendar/ for more info.
Useful Information:
SNETTERTON TIMETABLE
SNETTERTON ENTRY LIST
SNETTERTON QUALIFYING LIVESTREAM
SNETTERTON SATURDAY LIVESTREAM
SNETTERTON SUNDAY LIVESTREAM
