From Legends Cars Championship (UK) media –
| • Excitement building for penultimate event of 30th Anniversary season • Reigning Legends Champion Will Gibson leads way ahead of Rds11&12 • Provisional 2024 Elite Cup title winner Jack Parker heads challenge • Superb grid packed with quality expected for USA Snetterton 300 event |
| Just three rounds remain in what has been an outstanding 2024 Legends Cars Championship season, and the first two of those will take place at Snetterton this coming weekend, 7th/8th September, as part of the Norfolk venue’s exciting new USA Snetterton 300 event. With a huge number of points still up for grabs, 600 per round at Snetterton and then double points during the single day season finale at Oulton Park later this month, it is clear much can change as the championship enters a critical phase. Reigning overall Legends Cars Champion Will Gibson (Camberley) leads the way at the top of the driver standings, carrying a very useful advantage of 165 points, and he will be determined to once again deliver his customary speed and consistency during rounds 11 and 12 at the 2.97-mile track. As well as targeting the title in the series’ landmark 30th Anniversary season, he is aiming to become only the seventh driver in the category’s history to win back-to-back Legends crowns. The challenge, though, is fierce from several equally impressive rivals. Chief challenger is unfailing high scorer Jack Parker (Wolverhampton), the provisional winner of this year’s British Touring Car Championship-supporting Elite Cup which concluded last time out at Knockhill in Scotland. With more race wins than anyone so far this year, 10 victories in total compared to Gibson’s seven, Parker is more than capable of departing Snetterton as the new leader. Some 240 points behind Parker is fellow race winner Andy Bird (Calne), who led the points standings after the championship curtain-raiser in late April at Donington Park with the BTCC. Almost always there or thereabouts, Bird can rack up significant results and is certainly going to be one to watch. Fourth in the outright title battle is, arguably, one of the 2024 season’s most impressive performers, last year’s Rookie Champion Tyler Read (Weedon). Winning twice so far this year, and missing out on the Elite Cup title by a mere five points – having originally looked to have claimed the crown by the same margin – Read is blindingly quick and a scintillating competitor, and just 85 points shy of Bird. Oli Schlup (Cuckfield), another of the category’s young hot shots, is fifth in the championship going in to the Snetterton event and close behind Read – just 45 points adrift. Schlup is a three-time race winner this season and has proven to be a genuine front-runner throughout the campaign, another driver to keep a very close eye on. Rounding out the top six in the points standings is Robert Barrable (Dublin), like Schlup a three-time race victor in 2024 and a driver more than capable of racking up big points at Snetterton. Close to winning the inaugural Elite Cup crown last year, this campaign has been peppered with misfortune but Barrable’s pace and racecraft is every bit as eye-catching as ever. Luke Simmons (Lingfield) is still seeking his first win of 2024 and is seventh in the standings with the likes of Masters Class leader and Masters Elite Cup Champion Peter Barrable (Dublin), brother of fellow Legends racer Robert, and second placed Masters runner Nick Bridgeman (Baldock) not far behind. In the Rookie class battle, Eric Boulton (Grantham) wrapped-up the Elite Cup variant of that title after Knockhill despite not taking part in the series finale, his performance during prior events in the No.62 car proving more than enough to seal the crown. Harri Musselle (Buckingham) and Ben Mahoney (Sussex) are currently second and third in the overall Rookie scrap. The MSVR sanctioned, first ever, USA Snetterton 300 meeting will feature all manner of Americana, including NASCAR demo laps, offering a spectacular Stars and Stripes-themed showcase for all of the racegoers heading to the ever-popular track a few days from now. Phil Cooper – Legends Cars Championship Owner: “We’re at an absolutely crucial stage of the 2024 season now, and Snetterton’s six races will be absolutely pivotal, I’m sure, in helping to determine the overall Legends Cars Champion in our 30th Anniversary year. It’s been an exceptional season of racing so far, and Snetterton is always capable of springing surprises, so we’re all waiting with bated breath to see what happens next weekend. “It’s great to be part of MSVR’s first USA Snetterton 300 event, we’re very much looking forward to being back in Norfolk and showcasing the best Legends Cars racing has to deliver to the many race fans we expect to be heading to the track. It’s going to be a fantastic weekend and we’re hoping to see plenty of fans visiting the Legends paddock.” Qualifying practice for the Legends Cars is expected to get underway at 10.45 on Saturday, 7th September, with Heat One of round 11 following at 12.20, Heat Two at 14.05 and the Final set to commence at 15.40. On Sunday, 8th September, practice starts the day’s action at 09.00, Heat One begins at 11.10, Heat Two at 13.15 and the round 12 Final is scheduled to start at 15.35. Provisional 2024 Legends Cars Championship Points (after Rd10) 1st Will Gibson, 4130pts; 2nd Jack Parker, 3965pts; 3rd Andy Bird, 3725pts; 4th Tyler Read, 3640pts; 5th Oli Schlup, 3595pts; 6th Robert Barrable, 3470pts |
Photo credit: George McNeill
