CNC Heads return to Donington with Capacity Grid

CNC Heads Sports Saloon Car Championship – DONINGTON PARK

Rounds 7 & 8

The CNC Heads Sports Saloon Car Championship makes it’s second visit of the season to Donington Park this weekend, with yet another capacity grid.

Chris Roberts currently holds a healthy championship lead after three outright victories in his BMW M4. He also has a 100% record in class D. Rob Wakelin lies second in his Class F Honda Civic, again unbeaten in his class so far. But having started the season in his booted version Civic, he debuted his newly built Coupe version at Oulton in a lurid colour scheme. Welsh butcher Deri Davies’ Darrian is third in the points and was third overall in round three at Donington too. He’s had two class B wins so far. Deri Davies in his Darrian T90 (PS Images)

Despite missing the opening two rounds at Oulton, former multiple champion Paul Dobson is already up to fourth. He debuted his flame spitting Mazda RX7 in round three at Donington and has yet to be beaten in Class E.

The top three in Class A are all absent this weekend, but defending Champion Simon Allaway is due out again in his Lotus Esprit V8 after only one finish this year, a third in round two at Oulton. It’s been a troublesome year so far for Allaway, and this weekend he’s up against Richard Wright’s BMW Solution F, debuted in round five at Oulton. Ryan Nelson currently lies fifth in the class points with his Ginetta G56 GTA, as he was another whose car wasn’t ready for the opening meeting at Oulton. Sixth overall I round three at Donington is his best so far.

After a lengthy lay-off it didn’t take Andy Thomas long to get up to pace in Billy Blockley’s Ginetta. He is two points behind Nelson’s similar car, but sustained extensive frontal at Oulton after colliding with Mark Primett’s MG Midget. Ross Hampson made the top six on his debut weekend at Oulton and even managed to impress himself. He hadn’t even sat in his BMW M3 until the eve of his first race. Jason Hennefer is out again in his Fiesta ST180, after another troublesome start to the season, while Gary Warburton will be trying to tame his wild Spaceframe Mini. Paul Wright is back too with his Subaru Impreza, along with Nick Haynes’ TVR Chimaera, and there’s a CNC seasonal debut for Tom Frankland’s Renault 5GT Turbo.

With Roddie Paterson’s Caterham absent, Mark Primett is set to challenge Davies for Class B honours. Primett won round four at Donington and has three other top six finishers. But last time out his MG Midget picked up heavy rear end damage after his collision with Thomas. Former Champion Jamie Cryer is currently fourth in class with his Ginetta G20. He saved his best until the last two races at Oulton, second in class to Davies in both, he was fifth and fourth overall too.

After making his racing debut at Donington last year, Andrew Armiger took over the family Vauxhall Tigra for a full campaign this term. He is another driver whose luck hasn’t matched his pace, but ended the last race in fifth, his best so far. Connor and Alek Modro are possible race winners in their Westfields. Their pace has been proven in recent years, with numerous podium finishers. Alek had a sixth in round five at Oulton, but Connor’s car kept cutting out, as both continue to look for a change in fortunes.

Daz Owen makes his traditional Donington appearance with his Escort RSR, which earlier in the year was driven by son James. But James had a troublesome weekend and failed to finish either race, but this time he is back in his Mercedes SLK Silhouette. George Foxlow has his second outing in Dad Tim’s Escort RSR, Jon Price returns with his Vauxhall Tigra and the class is completed by Anton Landon’s Fisher Fury.

Former Champion Steven Parker’s BMW M235i currently lies second to Roberts in Class D, having swapped from his Fiesta this season. But Zack Booth’s Renault Megane has the pace to be frontrunner and was sixth in round four at Donington. But gearbox issues left him sidelined after qualifying at Oulton last time out. Marshall Groves’ Vauxhall Vectra is capable of challenging for a class podium too, but he’s had reliability issues too thwarting his progress.

Consistency has been Paul Goodlad’s aim though. His VW Scirocco has been on the class podium and is third in class behind Roberts and Parker. Simon Graveley returns in his VW Golf Gti having missed the last four rounds and both Richy Briscow’s Renault Megane and Andrew Gash’s Peugeot 207 GTI will hoping to finally make their race debuts, are both have had qualifying session breakages. John Madoc-Jones’ BMW E46 330 and Bob Claxton’s VW Golf GTI complete the class.

In Class E Dobson has four challengers. Cavan Taylor’s Renault Clio is due to return after a blown engine and Jonjo Lee brings his Honda Civic debuted at Oulton last time out. Howard Hunt’s MG ZS180 had led the class until Dobson arrived, but having crashed out in round four at Donington, he is now third. Chris Stone’s Honda Civic is the final class entry. Paul Dobson in his Class D Mazda RX7 (PS Images)

Louie Dobson’s Honda Civic and Errol Taylor’s Toyota Yaris challenge Wakelin in Class F and in Class G Stuart Burnett’s Spire GTR runs solo.

In case of withdrawals there are seven reserves too, Lee Bull’s Clio, Ric Wood’s Capri, Riccy Walker’s Mini, Robert Bucklands’s Clio, Ralph Underwood’s TR7V8, Thomas Dilly’s Escort and Jas Sapra’s BMW.

Qualifying is on Saturday morning 10.05 until 10.25, with race one at 16.05. The second race is on Sunday at 11.50, each of 20 minutes duration.

Both races can be viewed via livestream on barc.net

Published by Peter Scherer for BARC NW, August 5th 2026