From Legends Cars Championship PR –
• Championship leader Andy Bird aims to keep flying high in Rds3&4
• Donington double winner Jack Parker targeting more race victories
• Star youngsters Tyler Read and Jamie Moylan hope to close points gap
• 2023 Champs Will Gibson and Connor Mills raring to go for home event
• Six spectacular races in store as part of BTCC event at Brands Indy
Little over a week since the dramatic season-opener to the 2024 Legends Cars Championship and Legends Cars Elite Cup at a rain-hit Donington Park, a packed grid of the 5/8 scale pocket rockets is readying to descend on Brands Hatch just a few days from now for rounds three and four.
Running as support once again to the British Touring Car Championship, the Legends Cars are set to thrill the tens of thousands of spectators who will attend the 1.2-mile Indy Circuit this weekend, 11th/12th May, as well as tens of thousands more armchair enthusiasts watching ITV4 and ITVX.
The first race meeting of the 30th Anniversary Legends Cars campaign at Donington was memorable on many fronts, not least the atrocious rainfall which led to significant delays and changes to the Sunday timetable – including the unfortunate loss of the round two Final.
Through it all, Andy Bird (Calne) emerged as the early points leader with a great set of results including one victory and two other podiums. Not only that, he didn’t finish any of the contested five races lower than eighth position.
Second in the standings coming into rounds three and four at Brands Hatch is vastly experienced Legends Cars racer Jack Parker (Wolverhampton), two wins on the opening weekend could’ve been three but for an unfortunate penalty from the first race – which dropped him to fourth.
Next up in the championship are two outstanding youngsters, last season’s overall Rookie Champion and Rookie Champion of the inaugural Elite Cup Tyler Read (Weedon) and impressive Irish ace Jamie Moylan (Naas). Super-fast Read was close to achieving a win last time out while Moylan, a former Rookie title winner in Irish Legends, was every bit as competitive in the No.44 Team Car.
Underlining their fabulous start to 2024 is the fact both Read and Moylan are ahead of reigning Legends Cars Champion Will Gibson (Camberley) – who won twice at Donington – and Elite Cup Champion Connor Mills (Upminster) in the standings. They are tied on points for fifth place.
Rounding out the championship top 10 currently, which was revised post-event after Donington due to some penalties and associated points deductions, are Oli Schlup (Cuckfield), Peter Barrable (Dublin), Nick Bridgeman (Baldock) and Luke Simmons (Lingfield) – the latter is tied on points with Nathan Anthony (Horley).
Outside the top 10, and without question a driver to watch at Brands, is 14th placed Robert Barrable (Dublin) who was as fast and competitive as ever at Donington, but a series of unfortunate issues badly damaged his points tally. Expect the Irishman to hit back very strongly in Kent at the weekend.
Currently 12th in the standings is the leading Rookie class competitor Eric Boulton (Grantham), who is also participating in the Team Car class in No.62. Boulton is in the car again at the weekend, so will be determined to continue his terrific start to life in Legends Cars.
Rounds three and four of the new season also mark a welcome return to action for former Masters Champion, and the overall Vice-Champion in 2018, Steve Whitelegg (Bury). He makes his first 2024 appearance in the No.94 Team Car which was piloted at Donington by Max Popelyushko (Dollar).
Phil Cooper – Legends Cars Championship Owner:
“It’s always fantastic to be back at Brands Hatch, and especially for the first time this season in our 30th Anniversary year – it is, after all, where Legends Cars began in the UK. Even better, we’re there with the BTCC and I know all of the drivers and teams are looking forward to being part of the TOCA package for the second time in as many weeks.
“Donington turned out to be an interesting weekend, largely due to the impact of the weather on day two, but we enjoyed some great racing along the way and it was good to see Andy Bird, Jack Parker, Tyler Read and Jamie Moylan all making such strong starts to their respective seasons. Of course, our 2023 Champions Will Gibson and Connor Mills aren’t far behind, so we’re set for an absolutely cracking weekend of Legends action.”
Qualifying practice ahead of rounds three and four will begin at 09.10 on Saturday, 11th May, with Heat One starting at 11.40, Heat Two at 14.25 and the round three Final at 17.10. On Sunday, 12th May, Heat One of round four will commence the day’s track action at 10.00, Heat Two is scheduled to follow at 13.50 and the Final is set to start at 17.55.
Provisional 2024 Legends Cars Championship and Elite Cup Points:
1st Andy Bird, 835pts; 2nd Jack Parker, 770pts, 3rd Tyler Read, 685pts;
4th Jamie Moylan, 680pts; 5th Will Gibson, 600pts; 6th Connor Mills, 600pts
