Roberts & Dobson fight for Title on Saturday
CNC Heads Sports Saloon Car Championship – OULTON PARK
Rounds 12 & 13
The 2026 CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship reaches its climax on Saturday at Oulton Park, with the traditional double-header, double points final race to decide this years Champion. Chris Roberts currently has a nine-point lead, his BMW M4 having had three outright wins and seven other podiums to comfortably lead Class D. One thing to remember is that drivers have to drop two scores, Paul will not have to drop any as he missed the first two rounds whereas Chris will have to drop scores if he finishes either race on Saturday. So it is actually closer than it looks on paper!
Despite missing the opening two races at Oulton Park, Paul Dobson’s Mazda RX7 is the only opposition to Roberts taking the title. A class E winner each time out, Dobson is one of four past champions in the field, having won his fourth title back in 2011. Both Championship contenders decided to dress in orange last weekend and earn extra points from marshalling. While Dobson and son Louie were active trackside, Roberts was mainly seen posing in the pitlane.
Outgoing Champion Simon Allaway is due back with his Lotus Esprit V8, after a troublesome year. He still managed a win at Donington in round seven and has been on the podium twice more. Allaway is one of five winners this season and they are all due to be on the grid on Saturday. Andrew Southcott’s MG Midget Lenham won rounds one, three and five and Paul Rankin’s Westfield Aero race was victorious in four and six. His hopes of the Class A title were dashed when gearbox issues left him sidelined at Anglesey.
Instead of his familiar Banks Europa, Mark Primett has been out in a Mike Johnson built MG Midget this season, having put the Europa engine into the Midget. His luck hadn’t been matching his pace until Anglesey, when he took two wins out of three, to move into fourth in the Championship.
Andy Thomas currently heads Class A in a Ginetta G56 GTA, a comeback year for the ex FF1600 racer after a lengthy lay-off. His closest rival is Ryan Nelson in a similar car, but split by just three points, Nelson still has to play his double point joker. Garry Wardle had led the class early in the season, but after his accident at Donington after the flag destroyed his Audi TCR, he returned to action in his Seat Cupra TCR. Another returnee is Ross Hampson, who only made his race debut in round five at Oulton, before taking a top six overall on his second outing. But his BMW M3 crashed heavily at Donington in round seven.
Championship sponsor Ric Wood is also entered in Class A, but that could change dependant on which car he brings. Jason Hennefer’s Ford Fiesta completes the class, with Nicholas Jones in another Ginetta G56 GTA on his CNC debut.
Challenging Primett in Class B with the absence of Deri Davies’ Darrian, is former double Champion Jamie Cryer in his Ginetta G20. He had his seasons best results last time out at Anglesey, with fourth overall in the last two races. Andrew Armiger’s Vauxhall Tigra is currently fourth in Class, he was third overall in round 10 and could possibly have won the last round at Anglesey if his door had stayed closed.
Anton Landon’s Fisher Fury can’t be discounted either in his first year in the CNC Championship. He’s been unable to do all of the rounds, but was third overall at Donington in round eight, while completing the line-up is Rob Wakelin who moved his Honda Civic from Class F after an engine blow up at Donington and Rob Phillips’ Honda Civic.
There are just two starters in Class C, welcoming back Gary Warburton after his startline crash at Donington, bringing out his Mini Miglia. He still leads the class by just one point from Jack Ives, who returns to the championship too with his Caterham.
In Class D Roberts’ closest rival all season has been Steven Parker’s BMW M235i, the former champions first season in the car. Marshall Groves’ is another driver who has the pace to be a class front runner, but misfortune seems to follow him. Matthew and David Jones are due to share their Ford Focus RS Turbo, while Simon Graveley continues to race for fun in his VW Golf Gti, but had some of his best races last time out at Anglesey. The class is rounded off with Octogenarian Bob Claxton’s VW Gti and Rich Briscow’s Renault Megane, whose had a difficult start to his first season of racing.
Dobson has six rivals in Class E. Currently second in the class is Jonjo Lee who swapped his Mini for a Honda Civic early season. While Richard Hibbert goes solo with the family Honda Civic Type R this time, William and Georgina Bartlett return to share their Renault Clio. Cavan Taylor and Brian Gilsenan are also due out in their Clio’s, along with Chris Stone’s Honda Civic.
Louie Dobson hopes to secure third overall and Class F in his Honda Civic, while in Class G it’s just Stuart Burnett’s Spire GTR as usual.
Qualifying is due to start at 9.35 for 20 minutes, with race one at 12.30 and the Championship decided at 15.50, both races of 20 minutes duration.