Two rounds, six races and one weekend is all that remains in the massively exciting 2025 Legends Cars Championship, with the decisive final event of the campaign taking place in Norfolk next weekend, 20th/21st September, as part of the USA Snetterton 300 festival.
Ahead of rounds 11 and 12 of a vintage season of Legends Cars racing, the first with the new MT09 water-cooled Yamaha motorcycle engine which has proven hugely successful, Tyler Read (Weedon) is the odds-on favourite to win the coveted title to add to his impressive Elite Cup crown success.
Some 490 points clear ahead of reigning, and two-time, Legends Cars Champion Will Gibson (Farnborough), Read is also the winningest driver so far this year with a total of 10 race victories under his belt up to now – versus five wins for Gibson.
With six races in store next weekend at Snetterton’s full length 300 Circuit though, competitors still have a total of 1,200 points to battle for – and so opportunity aplenty for Read’s chief rivals to try and make inroads.
While Gibson is Read’s closest challenger, there is currently little in it between the 2023 and 2024 Champion and third placed Oli Schlup (Cuckfield) who is just 65 points behind. Read from Gibson from Schlup was the top three in the inter-series Elite Cup, which concluded in August alongside the British Touring Car Championship at Croft. Will that be the final order next Sunday afternoon?
Behind the top three, Chris Needham (Altrincham) is next up and is 330 points behind Schlup but as something of a Snetterton specialist it would be no surprise to see him chalk up big scores in Norfolk next weekend. Another championship regular to look out for is last year’s Elite Cup Champion Jack Parker (Wolverhampton), who has one win thus far in 2025.
There are plenty of other drivers capable of winning races and bidding for podiums, such as Marcus Pett (Boston), Matt Knight (Shoreham by Sea) – who claimed his maiden Legends Cars victory last time out at Oulton Park – Ross Marshall (Stirling) and Nick Price (March). There are also titles to be decided in the Masters Cup class, Rookie Cup and Team Car battles.
Peter Barrable (Dublin) heads the Masters, a class for drivers over 40-years-of-age, and the genuine outright front-runner will be looking to complete a memorable double after winning the Masters division in the recently concluded Elite Cup.
In the Rookie standings Owen Lawlor (Dublin) has a significant advantage over his main challenger David Bonser (Tamworth) and while the Irishman is realistically champion-elect, due to the points still available the title fight continues. Team Car success will be a straight fight between the No.11 car of Team #2Mater and the No.52 car which has been run by Gibson’s squad this year.
Scheduled for a welcome return to action for the first time since the Super Touring Power 3 event at Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit in June is proven race winner Andy Bird (Calne), and joining him on the Snetterton grid will be the returning Graham Butler (Rye) who is a firefighter and fire service engineer by day.
Phil Cooper – Legends Cars Championship Owner:
“All of the hard work, commitment and competition of the past six months comes down to our final six races next weekend. It’s a mixture of emotions for everyone, huge excitement and anticipation for what we expect to be a classic Legends Cars finale, but also some sadness as well with it being the last event of a truly exceptional 2025 season.
“Tyler [Read] obviously has a very large advantage at the top of the championship standings, but it only takes a couple of issues for things to turn on their head and the likes of Will Gibson, Oli Schlup, Chris Needham and many others will be looking to pounce. We’re very much looking forward to being part of the USA Snetterton 300 festival again, it should be a fantastic way to finish our season.”
Qualifying practice for the Legends Cars is scheduled for 09.00 next Saturday, 20th September, with Heat One following at 12.10, Heat Two at 14.35 and the round 11 Final at 17.25. On Sunday, 21st September, drivers will benefit from a morning practice at 09.35 ahead of Heat One at 12.30, Heat Two at 14.40 and then the round 12 Final at 16.35.
Provisional 2025 Legends Cars Championship Points (after Rd10)
1st Tyler Read, 4700pts; 2nd Will Gibson, 4210pts; 3rd Oli Schlup, 4145pts; 4th Chris Needham, 3815pts; 5th Connor Mills, 3735pts; 6th Jack Parker, 3520pts
