Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship – Spring Championship meeting.

British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) Yorkshire Centre organised its first Championship event for the 2026 season on Sunday 12^th April. The Harewood Spring Championship was part of the BARC Harewood Championship and BARC Harewood Speed Hillclimb Fastest Time of the Day Award Series (FTD).

Jaguar Drivers Club

A handful of competitors from the Jaguar Drivers Club (though all not driving Jaguar’s) joined the Harewood Spring Championship meeting competitors along with a three British Hillclimb Championship (BHC) competitors, looking to get some extra practice in before their championship starts later on this month.

These and many more BHC competitors will be back on the famous Yorkshire hill on Sunday 10^th May. The event will be round four of the British Hillclimb Championship but before the event in May, the championship will have rounds at Prescott on 25/26^th April and Craigntlet in Northern Ireland on 2^nd May.

Bugatti Owners Club

This event was round two of the Bugatti Owners Club (BOC) Rally Car Speed Championship. The BOC was formed in 1929 and later established in 1938 the Prescott Speed Hillclimb venue, for it’s members to compete at, though not all members of the club own Bugatti’s cars.

The BOC Rally Car Speed Championship first made it’s debut in 2025 and with the 2026 championship having started at Loton Park on Saturday 4th April.

Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship – Practice and Timed Sessions

Missing from the entry list was 2025 Harewood Speed Hillclimb Champion Adam Riley. Though his father in-law, Doug Mitchell was at the event driving the VW UP which the pair had shared, throughout 2025. Adam was at the event and looked like he was coaching Doug. The pair were seen walking the track at the lunch break.

The event did not get off to a very good start as the first competitor on the greasy track went off and into the barrier. With rain forecast on and off throughout the day. It first arrived, around mid morning, at least half a dozen cars, one after the other, when off the wet track, in and around the Esses. Though most of them took to the large grassed, run-off area, only their times would be effected by this off.

The two practice runs and a timed run would be completed before the lunch break. During the third timed run the rain returned and when the organisers went for a fourth timed run not many competitors started. Most electing to call it a day as the track was wet and any likelihood of anyone setting a time anywhere near the leading classes times was gone.

Harewood Hill is the longest speed hillclimb track in the UK, with a truly spectacular setting looking over the Wharfedale valley. Though on occasions when the rain came in you could not see the view, over the valley.

Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship.

Mark Teale driving his Suzuki Swift GTi takes an early lead in the Harewood Championship. Dave Banner is now in second place driving his Westfield Megabusa and Wallace Menzies in third driving his Gould GR59. Mark Teale was third in the 2025 championship.

Fastest Time of the Day Awards Series.

Fastest Time of the Day (FTD) went to Wallace Menzies driving his Gould GR59, who set a time of 49.55 seconds. In fact it was the three drivers from the BHC who set the FTD’s top three times.

Wallace was the only competitor who set a time under the 50 seconds in the ever changing track conditions. Will Hall also driving a Gould GR59 set the second quickest, just 0.61 seconds behind Wallace. Harry Pick took third place and was 3.89 seconds off the time set by Will Hall.

David Tatham driving his DJ Firehawk set the quickest time by any of the Harewood Hill regulars, just 0.39seconds behind Harry Pick.

Spring Championship Hillclimb Run Times can be found here: Results

Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship after Round one: Results

Fastest Time of the Day Awards Series: Results

BARC Yorkshire centre

Many thanks to BARC Yorkshire centre for the opportunity to be track side again in 2026. Also not forgetting all the volunteer Marshals, Medical and the Darlington & District Rescue Team, along with all the back office staff without which, the events at Harewood Hill could not take place.

2026 Harewood Hillclimb Events Calendar

Key:Blue = Non-Harewood Championship events

• 9 May – Harewood Open
• 10 May – May British Hillclimb Championship
• 6 June – Summer Championship
• 7 June – Jim Thomson
• 4–5 July – July British Hillclimb Championship
• 1 August – Yorkshire Speed
• 2 August – Montague Burton
• 23 August – Classic & Vintage (VSCC)
• 26 September – Greenwood Cup
• 27 September – Mike Wilson

Harewood Speed Hillclimb – Location

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