Harewood Spring Championship
Report by Chris Bannister of JCB Photography
15 April 2025
Competitors climbed the famous Yorkshire hill for the BARC Yorkshire Centre’s, Harewood Spring Championship Hillclimb event held on 13th April 2025. This would be the first of eight events as part of the 2025 Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship.
The BARC Yorkshire Centre will also have the British Hillclimb Championship competitors visit the hill in May and July. The Vintage and Classic Car Club will also race in June.
Joining the Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship competitors would be members from the MG Car Club and Jaguar Drivers Club. Also a number of drivers from the British Hillclimb Championship.
The morning started off nice and sunny but with a cool breeze, though the cloud would roll in along with a strengthening wind. This kept the track temperatures down, especially for the third timed runs.
Practice Runs
With just the two practice runs completed before the lunch break followed by three timed runs in the afternoon. The Marshalling and Recovery Teams would be kept busy. A number of breakdowns and a couple of cars did manage to loose quiet a lot of oil onto the track so the marshals had to dress the track.
With a new class record set by 2024 Harewood Speed Hillclimb Champion Adam Riley in class 1A. Even though Adam was not at the Practice day event in his VW Up. Adam set the time in his second timed run and did not bother to take is third timed run. Adam shares the car with Doug Mitchell who was second in the class but still some 2.71 seconds off Adam.
Second in the 2025 Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship is Richard Andrews driving the Porsche 718 GT4 and James Hudson driving the Subaru Impreza is in third.
Simon Green who finished second, in last years Championship was not at the event. Henry Moorhouse driving his Honda powered Westfield, who finished in third place last year was taking part and is fourth in this years Championship.
The Fast Time of the Day was set by Wallace Menzies in his Gould GR59 but due to the conditions was some three or so seconds off the hill record. Harry Pick was second driving his OMS 28XD and third was Mr OMS himself Stephen Owen driving the works OMS 28RPE that he shares with his wife Lynn.
Harewood Spring Championship
Full Results from the Spring Championship Hillclimb can be found here.
Harewood Championship Standings.
Many thanks to BARC Yorkshire centre for the opportunity to be track side. Also not forgetting all the Marshals, Medical and the Darlington and District Rescue team. Along with all the back office staff without which the events at Harewood Hill could not take place.
The next event at Harewood Hill takes place over the weekend of 10th and 11th May. Saturday is part of the Harewood Championship, the Harewood Open meeting. Followed on the Sunday with the first of two visits for the British Hillclimb Championship with the May British Hillclimb Championship event.
Harewood Speed Hillclimb course track details.
Harewood Speed Hillclimb is located between the villages of Harewood and Collingham just off the A659. SatNav postcode LS17 9LA. What Three Words. admit.uncle.piston
The track is 1448 metres long, which makes it the longest speed hillclimb venue in the UK.
The fastest cars can complete the course in under 50 seconds and top speeds in excess of 130 mph. Harewood Hillclimb record is 46.39 secs. set by Matthew Ryder driving a Gould GR59J on 03/07/2022.
Ladies Hill record is 50.74 secs. set by Nicola Menzies driving a Gould GR55B on 03/07/2022.
Useful websites for the event:
Yorkshire Regional Centre: https://www.harewoodhill.com
Live Timing: www.hwtiming.co.uk
You can contact JCB Photography via his social media, website or email him directly.
