Scottish Motor Racing Club Championship Cadwell Park
Report by David Gowshall – :DEEGEE: Motorsport Photography
Sunday 15th June 2025
Established in its current form in 1963, the Scottish Motor Racing Club organises the Scottish Motor Racing Championships each year. Racing takes place predominantly at Scotland’s National Motorsport Centre; Knockhill Racing Circuit.
In addition, the club organises a small number of away rounds each year. This was the first “away” fixture of the 2025 season. Two previous rounds at Knockhill, during which competitors traditionally raced both clockwise and anti-clockwise round the Scottish circuit. The next event was held at Cadwell Park last weekend, and I went along with my camera in hand.
The weather forecast predicted a warm and sunny day. Just a chance of a heavy shower, but fortunately the rain held off.
Cadwell Park
Only a small crowd was in attendance. It was noticeable many of them had unfamiliar accents in these parts of Lincolnshire. Most having travelled down from North of the border, showing the support for the club.
I arrived at the circuit mid-morning just as the first qualifying sessions got underway.
The unfamiliarity with the circuit seemed to catch a few drivers out and the session was littered with red flag incidents. None of which fortunately, resulted in any damage to the drivers. Unfortunately, a number of cars suffered some terminal damage. Resulting in some small grids for two of the four classes in action later in the day when racing proper got underway.
Racing
The racing programme got underway just prior to lunch. Two races for each of the Ford Fiesta, Citreon C1 and Scottish Classic Sports and Saloon Championships. Three races for the Scottish Mini Cooper Cup, the first of which started the race programme.
This championship, which can always be relied upon to provide close, hard and competitive racing, provides an ideal stepping stone for drivers looking to move up the motorsport ladder. It’s widely recognised as one of the best single-make racing series in the UK.
Racing Format
The championship takes its inspiration from the British Touring Car Championship in the way the races are formatted. Race 1’s grid is set by qualifying position while Race 2 is decided by the result of Race 1. Race 3 is the wildcard – drawn by ballot with anywhere between the top 5 and 8 cars reversed. This format has proven to be highly effective in creating action packed and unpredictable races.
Only the 1.6 Mini Cooper model built between 2001-2006 is eligible. The championship regulations are designed to ensure that cars are built to the same specification. Yokohama tyres are used by all competitors.
This puts more emphasis on a driver’s skill by keeping the cars performance as equal as possible.
Over the years it has been a proving ground for many top drivers. British Touring Car Championship stars Rory Butcher, Aiden Moffat and Chris Smiley to name a few.
As the current owner of a Mini, and having owned a number of variants of this small car the class was of some personal interest.
The racing lived up to its promise, and was highly competitive throughout the three afternoon outings. With little to separate the cars performance-wise the drivers had to push very hard to gain an advantage. One or two cars returned to the paddock with some re-aligned body panels.
Scottish Motor Racing Club Race Results
In Race 1 Stuart McPhaden (#53) took the outright and newcomers win. Closely followed home by Chad Little (#25) and Jack Irvine (#65).
An unfortunate collision on the last lap of Race 2 took Jack Irvine and Stuart McPhaden out of the podium positions leaving Chad Little to take a good win. Daniel Patterson followed him home (#18) with Barry Holmes (#88), taking his maiden championship podium in third.
Race 3’s initial start ended up with a red flag due to Stuart McPhaden’s car experiencing a small fire.
Thankfully Stuart was fine and the marshals cracked out the extinguishers before the car sustained any serious damage.
Following the restart Martin Wijetunga (#27) looked like he was going to convert pole position into a maiden win. However, Daniel Patterson managed to take the lead on the final lap. Jonathon Wild (#5) after posing a threat early in the race scored his maiden podium and newcomers win with a well earned third place overall
Classic Sports and Saloon
Always a crowd pleaser, the Scottish Classic Sports and Saloon Championship offers drivers the opportunity to race the cars that they grew up watching or owning and provides an opportunity for anyone who enjoys a passion for classic cars to get out on track.
The diversity, in terms of machinery, taking part in the race was quite simply mesmerising. Both mass production-based cars and limited production cars can take part.
As a consequence the grid is full of extremes. Cars ranging from Lotus Sevens, Chevrolet Corvettes, Austin A40’s to Triumph TR7’s. Both of which I have owned in the past.
With some additional “guest” entries the grid was boosted to include 32 cars of every shape and size. Those watching could not avoid being entertained by squealing tyres and locked up brakes as the drivers manouvred their way round the twists and turns of the circuit.
C1 Cup and Fiesta ST Cup
The other two classes racing on the day that were taking part in the The Scottish Motor Racing Club Championship were the C1 Cup and the Fiesta ST Cup.
Citreon C1’s 1 litre power unit may not make them the world’s fastest race cars but competition is fierce amongst those taking part, with drivers fighting for every inch of the circuit.
The addition of a roll cage is the only modification allowed on these tiny city cars and the organisers claim a full season’s racing can be enjoyed for no more than £6K.
The drivers certainly get their money’s worth in terms of fun.
One step up, with some modifications allowed to tyres, suspension and brakes, beyond what is a standard car, are the Mark 6 Fiesta ST’s. who contest the ST Cup.
Unfortunately both races for these two classes featured single figure grids, the initial entry list being further reduced by the qualification carnage earlier in the day.
Nonetheless the small fields still provided lots of interest and I left Cadwell having enjoyed an entertaining days “grass roots” racing in the warm sunshine .
The Scottish Motor Racing Club future events
The Scottish Motor Racing Club have two further “away days” planned at Oulton Park and Croft as well as three further visits to their “headquarters” at Knockhill to complete their their 2025 season.
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