After delivering quite possibly the greatest ever Legends Cars Championship race at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit just a few weeks ago, the sensational pocket rockets are returning to the Kent venue this coming weekend, 8th/9th June, for the hotly anticipated fifth and sixth rounds of the season.
Renowned as the spiritual home of Legends racing in the UK, the 5/8 scale racers having made their British debut at Brands 30 years ago, the 1.2-mile Indy Circuit is an absolute favourite of competitors and racegoers alike as it always delivers tremendous action.
Leading the way in the Championship standings after the opening two events of 2024 is Jack Parker (Wolverhampton) who has managed to establish an advantage of 185 points. With four victories to his credit thus far this year, two of which having been achieved last month at Brands in support of the British Touring Car Championship, he is in terrific form.
His closest challenger currently is reigning Legends Cars Champion Will Gibson (Camberley), who also achieved two wins at Brands three weeks ago and has four victories under his belt thus far during his title defence. Gibson was the victor of the race being deemed by many to be the best ever in the 30-year history of Legends in the UK, the round four Final which he won by just 0.044 seconds.
Tyler Read (Weedon) is a very well deserved third in the standings, only 20 points behind Gibson, after a hugely consistent beginning to his sophomore season in the Championship. After winning both the Rookie crown in the main Championship and the inaugural Elite Cup last year, Read marked himself out as one to watch and he is certainly delivering on that in 2024.
Fourth in the points is race winner Andy Bird (Calne), who led the way after the season-opener at Donington Park in April. The trip to Brands last month didn’t go to plan, so expect to see Bird aiming to hit back strongly this coming weekend. Holding fifth place is reigning Elite Cup Champion Connor Mills (Upminster) with Oli Schlup (Cuckfield), who took a superb maiden win last time out, sixth.
One of the absolute star performers so far has been Ireland’s Jamie Moylan (Naas) in the No.44 Team Car. For this weekend’s two rounds, the POB Racing prepared car will be piloted by series newcomer Owen Lawlor (Dublin) who has experience of Legends in his native Ireland and is a former saloon car racer – a top three series finisher in the FIAT Uno Championship.
Luke Simmons (Lingfield), another race winner in Legends, is yet to fully hit his stride after a few issues but undoubtedly has the pace and ability to be in among the front-runners in rounds five and six. He is eighth in the standings ahead of brothers Robert Barrable (Dublin) and Peter Barrable (Dublin), race winner Robert eyeing a continuation of his recent improvement in fortunes.
Top Rookie this year is Eric Boulton (Grantham) but his place in the No.62 Team Car is taken by Andy Phillips (Nantwich), making his first appearance of the year in Legends. In the Masters division, Nick Bridgeman (Baldock) heads the way by 60 points from Brands local Nathan Anthony (Horley).
Despite a huge accident not of his making at Croft recently, where he was racing his hot-pink car in a meeting away from the Legends Cars Championship, category regular Mark Beaty (Gosforth) will thankfully be on the grid at Brands and aiming to move closer towards the top 10 in the standings.
The coming weekend also marks the return of a familiar name to Legends, two-time champion Lawrence Davey (East Sussex) joins the #2Mater squad of James Newbery (Burgess Hill) with Davey racing the No.2 Team Car on Saturday, round five, and Newbery contesting Sunday’s sixth round.
Additionally, rallying star Mark Higgins (Abermule) will pilot the No.600 ‘next generation’ car over the course of the weekend, which features the new three-cylinder, six gear water-cooled engine which is intended to be introduced for 2025.
After racing as part of the BTCC package for the first two events of the 2024 season, the Legends Cars now make a welcome return to the American Speedfest spectacular where thousands of fans are expected to file through the gates. Always one of the best events of the year for Legends, rounds five and six are certain to be absolute barnstormers!
Phil Cooper – Legends Cars Championship Owner:
“American Speedfest is a huge event and we’re delighted to be part of it once again this year, especially with Legends Cars now part of the MSV [MotorSport Vision] family. It’s equally fantastic to be back at Brands so soon after the incredible action we all watched and enjoyed three weeks ago. If we can have six races even half as good as we experienced last time out, everyone is in for a treat.
“Jack Parker and Will Gibson have each made a great start to the season, and it’s no surprise to see them currently first and second in the standings. There is so much talent and ability throughout our packed grid of almost 30 cars though, so by the time we see the final chequered flag on Sunday evening things could look very different!”
Legends Cars qualifying will get underway at 10.45 on Saturday, 8th June, with Heat One of round five following at 12.35, Heat Two is set to start at 15.05 and the Final will begin at 18.05. On Sunday, 9th June, Heat One of round six will commence at 10.50, Heat Two starts at 14.35 and the Final ends the event’s race action at 17.35.
Provisional 2024 Legends Cars Championship and Elite Cup Points (after Rd4):
1st Jack Parker, 1755pts; 2nd Will Gibson, 1570pts; 3rd Tyler Read, 1550pts; 4th Andy Bird, 1520pts; 5th Connor Mills, 1400pts; 6th Oli Schlup, 1335pts
