Reigning Legends Cars Champion Will Gibson (Camberley) heads a superb initial entry for the championship’s eagerly awaited 30th Anniversary season it is confirmed today, Monday, 4th March, with a total of 19 drivers so far named in a list packed with quality.
Gibson’s title defence in the 13 round, 39 race, campaign will begin at Donington Park National Circuit in the East Midlands on 27th/28th April as part of the first British Touring Car Championship event of 2024. Unlike last year, points accrued in the Legends Cars Elite Cup – which the first two rounds of the season at Donington are also part of – will count towards the overall championship.
Terrific competition for the coveted Legends Cars crown and the Legends Cars Elite Cup title will come from a whole host of proven Legends Cars racers, not least the Vice-Champion of the inaugural Elite Cup last year, Robert Barrable (Dublin).
Confirming a full season, Barrable – who has enjoyed considerable success in rallying and has competed at the highest level in the FIA World Rally Championship – will also be joined by his brother Peter Barrable (Swords), a two-time Irish Supercar Champion. Fellow Irishman Declan Burke (Cashel) is also back for a full year, having contested the Elite Cup last year with the Barrables.
Back for a full season is Legends Cars mainstay Jack Parker (Wolverhampton), as he seeks his first overall championship crown. Originally intending to be on the sidelines last year, an opportunity to stand in as the driver of the No.4 car – following an injury sustained by John Mickel – delivered third overall in the Elite Cup as well as the Team Car title with Mickel in the main championship.
Stephen Treherne (Islington), the 2011 Legends Cars Champion, has entered for a full season having returned to Legends Cars last year – for the first time in seven years – to contest a part-campaign in the Elite Cup, where he won the Team Car crown with Jonty Norman and Stuart McAndrew.
Luke Simmons (Lingfield), who was named ‘Most Improved Driver’ in the main championship last year and ended his sophomore season in Legends Cars sixth overall with two race wins, is back for a crack at the title and will be joined by fellow race winner Nick Bridgeman (Baldock) and reigning Elite Cup Masters Champion Nathan Anthony (Horley), the latter at the wheel of his distinctive Se-Van.
Podium finisher Mark Beaty (Gosforth) has signed-up for a fourth successive year in Legends Cars with Daniel Pooley (March) entering his third year with the pocket-rockets. Nick Price (March), who was third in the Rookie Cup in the main championship last year, returns for a second season where he will be eyeing big progress. Price and Pooley are former World Champions in Grand Prix Midgets.
Exciting youngster Jamie Moylan (Naas) debuts and will be eyeing some top results. With experience of racing Legends in Ireland, winning the Rookie crown there in 2020 aged 16-years-old, he went on to be a top three overall championship finisher and multiple race winner.
James Newbery (Burgess Hill), who pilots the unique #2Mater car which is based on the Mater character from Disney Pixar’s film franchise Cars, returns for his fifth year in Legends Cars but this time with a Team Car entry. Partnered by Daniel Hughes (Burgess Hill) and Toby Broome (Lindfield), the latter has been racing in 750 Motor Club while Hughes has experience from the Ovals.
Strong competition in the class will come in the guise of vastly experienced former Legends Cars Vice-Champion and multiple race winner Steve Whitelegg (Bury), who partners with Championship debutant Max Popelyushko (Dollar). The latter has just six race weekends under his belt from racing Legends in his native Scotland, so Whitelegg’s tutelage will be a major benefit.
Also battling hard in Team Car will be father and son duo Lenny Woodcock (Chichester) and Dylan Woodcock. National and International Supercross and MXGP racer Dylan makes a welcome return to action in Legends, again partnering his Dad who is a hugely successful stuntman and stunt rigger – credits including Star Wars Episode VII, Episode VIII and Captain America: The First Avenger.
Woodcock Snr’s friend and business partner Ben Mahoney, a fellow professional stunt rigger with credits including Solo: A Star Wars Story, Kingsman: The Secret Service and Guardians Of The Galaxy, debuts in Legends Cars and will be eligible for the Rookie Cup
Phil Cooper – Legends Cars Championship Owner:
“We’re all incredibly excited for the start of our landmark 30th Anniversary season, and delighted to confirm the first batch of entries with close to two months still to go until the first rounds with BTCC at Donington Park. Of course, it’s fantastic to see our champion Will Gibson return to defend the title and he’s going to have plenty of competition over, what will again be, a very busy season.
“With the likes of Jack Parker returning, the Barrable brothers, Luke Simmons, Nick Bridgeman, Mark Beaty and Nathan Anthony, plus former champ Stephen Treherne, there’s a lot of strength in depth already confirmed. There will be more registrations announced in due course ahead of, what we know will be, a fantastic season of Legends Cars with MSVR. We’re really looking forward to it.”
