Kumho BMW Championship
Encyclopedia
The Kumho BMW Championship is a single make racing series based in the UK
. Exclusively for BMWs, the championship is run by the BMW Racing Drivers Club in conjunction with the British Automobile Racing Club
(BARC). The championship is a BARC registered, BMW
-exclusive motorsport
series.
sold in the UK
. It provides close competition in four classes split by a power-to-weight ratio
. The aim of the championship is to provide a closely competitive series for drivers, having a low cost entry class where cars can be competitive running standard engines, and a ladder of increasing cost and performance accommodating the latest vehicles. In 2009, 46 contenders scored points in the championship with the race victories shared between 9 drivers across the four classes.
where it the club managed to field a full grid.
The Championship continued under the BMW Car Club banner until late 1999, where the championship was re-named to the BMW Racing Drivers Club. The championship became the ‘Drivers Club’ where the all the drivers had a say in how the organisation was run, and it is continues in that fashion to this day. The series is established as one of the fastest road tyred (treaded) championships in the country, but it is not necessary to use the latest models, or to run at the front to be competitive.
The championship is made up of four classes split by a power-to-weight ratio
. There are also a number of strict regulations which all cars must adhere to. These can be viewed here.
The championship currently competes at many famous circuits in the UK, including Brands Hatch
, Silverstone
, Snetterton, Thruxton
and Croft
. The championship usually has a 14-race calendar, with 7 race weekends being double-headers (two races, one per day).
The 2010 season opened at Brands Hatch
on the weekend of 17/18 April and finished at Thruxton on 17 October 2010.
Overall Table
Class Points Table
Class Table
Brands Hatch ... Brands Hatch 2010 Race Results<
Silverstone ... Silverstone 2010 Race Results
Mallory Park non-championship meeting ... Mallory Park 2010 Race Results
Croft ... Croft 2010 Race Results
Snetterton ... Snetterton 2010 Race Results
Rockingham Motor Speedway ...Rockingham 2010 Race Results
Oulton Park ...Oulton Park 2010 Race Results
Thruxton ...Thruxton 2010 Race Results
Overall Table
Class Points Table
Class Table
Silverstone ... Silverstone 2009 Race Results
Snetterton ... Snetterton 2009 Race Results
Pembrey ... Pembrey 2009 Race Results
Croft ... Croft 2009 Race Results
Donington ... Donington 2009 Race Results
Brands Hatch ... Brands Hatch 2009 Race Results
Rockingham ... Rockingham 2009 Race Results
Oulton Park ... Oulton Prk 2009 Race Results
Thruxton ... Thruxton 2009 Race Results
Overall Points Table
Class Points Table
Class Points Table
Silverstone ... Silverstone 2008 Race Results
Rockingham ... Rockingham 2008 Race Results
Pembrey ... Pembrey 2008 Race Results
Brands Hatch ... Brands Hatch 2008 Race Results
Donington Park ... Donington Park 2008 Race Results
Snetterton ... Snetterton 2008 Race Results
Croft ... Croft 2008 Race Results
Oulton Park ... Oulton Park 2008 Race Results
1988 – Tony Halse
1989 – Stephen Guglielmi
1990 – Marc Cramer
1991 – Max Windhauser & Paul Tilleard
1992 – Terry Kaby & Colin Wells
1993 – Colin Wells & Alex Elliot
1994 – Colin Wells
1995 – Peter Challis
1996 – Peter Challis
1997 – Colin Wells
1998 – Peter Seldon
1999 – Robyn Hood
2000 – Richard Mallison
2001 – Huw Taylor
2002 – Andy Allen
2003 – Chris Wilson
2004 – Martyn Bell
2005 – Rick Kerry
2006 – Rick Kerry
2007 – Stephen Pearson
2008 – Karl Cattliff
2009 - James Card
2010 - Des Thresh
2011 - TBC
and Rick Kerry
are both ex-Kumho BMW drivers who have competed in the British Touring Car Championship
.
Geoff Steel, another ex touring car driver has also himself competed in the Kumho BMW Championship.
2004 (Rick Kerry)
2005 (Rick Kerry)
2007 (Stephen Pearson)
2008 (Karl Katcliff)
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Exclusively for BMWs, the championship is run by the BMW Racing Drivers Club in conjunction with the British Automobile Racing Club
British Automobile Racing Club
The British Automobile Racing Club is one of biggest organising clubs for auto racing in the United Kingdom.-History:The Cyclecar Club was formed in 1912, running races for the small and light motorbike powered vehicles at Brooklands as well as rallies and sporting trials. Among the founder...
(BARC). The championship is a BARC registered, BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
-exclusive motorsport
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
series.
Introduction
The Championship is open to any production BMWBMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
sold in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It provides close competition in four classes split by a power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio is a calculation commonly applied to engines and mobile power sources to enable the comparison of one unit or design to another. Power-to-weight ratio is a measurement of actual performance of any engine or power sources...
. The aim of the championship is to provide a closely competitive series for drivers, having a low cost entry class where cars can be competitive running standard engines, and a ladder of increasing cost and performance accommodating the latest vehicles. In 2009, 46 contenders scored points in the championship with the race victories shared between 9 drivers across the four classes.
History
The BMW Car Club Championship was started in 1987 by husband and wife team, John and Linda McVicker. The Championship was an amateur club series, for BMW owners who wished to race their BMW’s at all the national circuits in the UK. The championship was open to all types of BMW from 2002’s to CSL’s, Bat Mobiles, new or old. The first race meeting took place on a cold and overcast Saturday at SilverstoneSilverstone
Silverstone is a village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England. It is about from Towcester on the former A43 main road, from the M1 motorway junction 15A and about from the M40 motorway junction 10, Northampton, Milton Keynes and Banbury...
where it the club managed to field a full grid.
The Championship continued under the BMW Car Club banner until late 1999, where the championship was re-named to the BMW Racing Drivers Club. The championship became the ‘Drivers Club’ where the all the drivers had a say in how the organisation was run, and it is continues in that fashion to this day. The series is established as one of the fastest road tyred (treaded) championships in the country, but it is not necessary to use the latest models, or to run at the front to be competitive.
- The championship has its own driving standards policed by the competitors' own BMW Racing Drivers Club, membership of which is a requirement of entry. This is in an attempt to eliminate the damage caused by modern tactics of blocking, weaving and tapping (or as it used to be known, driving into one another). Do not however think that this makes for a gentle series. Racing is getting ever closer as drivers become confident that these undesirable tactics are removed from the sport, allowing competitors to trust one another to not take out the opposition. Some founder members remain at the club today. These include Evelyne Buanic, Stuart Laws who compete in Class B and the club's president, Trevor Ford.
The Kumho BMW's Today
2010 marked the 23rd anniversary for the Kumho BMW Championship, and also the 13th Anniversary of successful sponsorship from Kumho Tyres.The championship is made up of four classes split by a power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio is a calculation commonly applied to engines and mobile power sources to enable the comparison of one unit or design to another. Power-to-weight ratio is a measurement of actual performance of any engine or power sources...
. There are also a number of strict regulations which all cars must adhere to. These can be viewed here.
The championship currently competes at many famous circuits in the UK, including Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
, Silverstone
Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone Circuit is an English motor racing circuit next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. The circuit straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border, with the current main circuit entry on the Buckinghamshire side...
, Snetterton, Thruxton
Thruxton Circuit
Thruxton Circuit is a motor racing circuit located near the village of Thruxton in Hampshire, England which is used to host a number of motorsport events including British Touring Cars and Formula 3 racing....
and Croft
Croft Circuit
Croft Circuit is a motor racing circuit located near Dalton-on-Tees in North Yorkshire, England. The tarmac circuit is just over long and is based on the lands of an airfield, but has long since moved on from being a basic airfield circuit...
. The championship usually has a 14-race calendar, with 7 race weekends being double-headers (two races, one per day).
The 2010 season opened at Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
on the weekend of 17/18 April and finished at Thruxton on 17 October 2010.
2010
Overall Championship Points TableOverall Table
Class Points Table
Class Table
Brands Hatch ... Brands Hatch 2010 Race Results<
Silverstone ... Silverstone 2010 Race Results
Mallory Park non-championship meeting ... Mallory Park 2010 Race Results
Croft ... Croft 2010 Race Results
Snetterton ... Snetterton 2010 Race Results
Rockingham Motor Speedway ...Rockingham 2010 Race Results
Oulton Park ...Oulton Park 2010 Race Results
Thruxton ...Thruxton 2010 Race Results
2009
Overall Championship Points TableOverall Table
Class Points Table
Class Table
Silverstone ... Silverstone 2009 Race Results
Snetterton ... Snetterton 2009 Race Results
Pembrey ... Pembrey 2009 Race Results
Croft ... Croft 2009 Race Results
Donington ... Donington 2009 Race Results
Brands Hatch ... Brands Hatch 2009 Race Results
Rockingham ... Rockingham 2009 Race Results
Oulton Park ... Oulton Prk 2009 Race Results
Thruxton ... Thruxton 2009 Race Results
2008
Overall Championship Points TableOverall Points Table
Class Points Table
Class Points Table
Silverstone ... Silverstone 2008 Race Results
Rockingham ... Rockingham 2008 Race Results
Pembrey ... Pembrey 2008 Race Results
Brands Hatch ... Brands Hatch 2008 Race Results
Donington Park ... Donington Park 2008 Race Results
Snetterton ... Snetterton 2008 Race Results
Croft ... Croft 2008 Race Results
Oulton Park ... Oulton Park 2008 Race Results
Previous Champions
1987 – John Willcocks1988 – Tony Halse
1989 – Stephen Guglielmi
1990 – Marc Cramer
1991 – Max Windhauser & Paul Tilleard
1992 – Terry Kaby & Colin Wells
1993 – Colin Wells & Alex Elliot
1994 – Colin Wells
1995 – Peter Challis
1996 – Peter Challis
1997 – Colin Wells
1998 – Peter Seldon
1999 – Robyn Hood
2000 – Richard Mallison
2001 – Huw Taylor
2002 – Andy Allen
2003 – Chris Wilson
2004 – Martyn Bell
Martyn Bell
Martyn Bell is an auto racing driver. Since 2006 he has contested the British Touring Car Championship, but he spent the majority of his career racing BMWs in various championships...
2005 – Rick Kerry
Rick Kerry
Rick Kerry is a British motor racing driver from Ipswich, United Kingdom. In 2007, Kerry drove in the British Touring Car Championship in a BMW 120d, the championship's first-ever diesel car.-Racing History:...
2006 – Rick Kerry
Rick Kerry
Rick Kerry is a British motor racing driver from Ipswich, United Kingdom. In 2007, Kerry drove in the British Touring Car Championship in a BMW 120d, the championship's first-ever diesel car.-Racing History:...
2007 – Stephen Pearson
2008 – Karl Cattliff
2009 - James Card
2010 - Des Thresh
2011 - TBC
Notable drivers
Martyn BellMartyn Bell
Martyn Bell is an auto racing driver. Since 2006 he has contested the British Touring Car Championship, but he spent the majority of his career racing BMWs in various championships...
and Rick Kerry
Rick Kerry
Rick Kerry is a British motor racing driver from Ipswich, United Kingdom. In 2007, Kerry drove in the British Touring Car Championship in a BMW 120d, the championship's first-ever diesel car.-Racing History:...
are both ex-Kumho BMW drivers who have competed in the British Touring Car Championship
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
.
Geoff Steel, another ex touring car driver has also himself competed in the Kumho BMW Championship.
Trivia
- In 2007, the championship had their first teenage driver. At only 16 years old, Liam Hamilton, was racing in Class D driving a 318is E36.
- The championship was briefly televised on Sky SportsSky SportsSky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
in the UK, in the late 90s.
- The championship was again be televised in 2010, as part of an all-day live event at Mallory ParkMallory ParkMallory Park is a motor racing circuit situated in the village of Kirkby Mallory, just off the A47, between Leicester and Hinckley. With the full car circuit measuring only 1.35 miles it is amongst the shortest permanent race circuits in the UK...
, by Motors TVMotors TVMotors TV is a television channel dedicated to news, documentaries and coverage of motorsport and automobiles, and to a lesser extent motorbikes, boats, aircraft and models. It is available in many countries via satellite and cable, with audio in English, French, German and Serbian...
.
- West Suffolk Racing have either built, run or developed the Championship winning cars in:
2004 (Rick Kerry)
2005 (Rick Kerry)
2007 (Stephen Pearson)
2008 (Karl Katcliff)