Tag: Harewood

British Hillclimb Championship at Harewood Hill

Competitors from the British Hillclimb Championship were at Harewood Hill over the weekend of the 5^th and 6^th July for the second visit of the 2025 season, to the famous Yorkshire hill. Organised by the Yorkshire Centre of the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC).

British Hillclimb Championship Saturday 5th July 2025

This event was rounds fifteen and sixteen of a 30 round British Hillclimb Championship (BHC).  Since leaving Harewood back in May the Championship has visited Gurston Down, Shelsley Walsh and Doune.

Rounds 7 and 8, at Gurston Down, with two Run-offs on Saturday Wallace Menzies took both wins with Matt Ryder coming home in second place. However on Sunday for Rounds 9 and 10, Matt Ryder won both Run-offs with Will Hall taking second place.

Rounds 11 and 12,  at Shelsley Walsh, Alex Summers won the first Run-off with Matt Ryder taking second place. Then in the second Run-off Matt Ryder beat Alex Summers into second place.

Rounds 13 and 14, at Doune dawned wet, which continued until late in the afternoon. Will Hall won the first Run-off and Sean Gould took second, with Wallace Menzies in third. Meanwhile Matt Ryder was down in eight place, after technical issues. Then in the second Run-off Sean Gould beat Wallace Menzies with Matt Ryder’s day only getting slightly better, he finished down in 5^th place. He was the first of the top twelve competitors to take to a now drying track, during the final Run-off.

However Matt Ryder driving a Gould GR59J still leads the Championship (coming into the event at Harewood),  from Wallace Menzies driving a Gould GR59-M, with Sean Gould in third place, driving the Gould that he share’s with Matt. Just one point separates Sean from Will Hall also driving a Gould GR59J in fourth place.

Porsche Club GB at Harewood Hill

Joining the BHC competitors, on Saturday would be a large group of Porsche cars from the Porsche Club GB, taking part in the Porsche Club Speed Championship. The winner of this class was David Dyson, Porsche GT4 RS. Full Results for these competitors can be found below in the results from Inter-club Class 14.

BARC at Harewood Hill

Also joining in the competition would be competitors from the BARC Inter club and BARC Connaught classes, over the weekend it was both practice and timed runs.​However, for BHC entrants it was practice on Saturday only and practice, competitive runs and championship Run-offs on Sunday.

Even before the event got underway we had some drizzle. So with a slightly damp track the first of the competitors went out for the first of two Practice runs. With a strong wind and rising temperatures helping to dry the track out.

Non BHC competitors got up to four timed runs, though it was only two Practice runs before the lunch-break. 

Euan Bruce

Young racer Euan Bruce driving his MG ZR that he shares with his father, John were both competing at Harewood Hill again, after Euan made his English debut during this event last year.

Euan now only fifteen competes in the Junior series which was set up to encourage young drivers aged 14 to 15 years to get involved in Motorsport at hillclimb and Sprint level. The cars have a number of restrictions on maximum horsepower, minimum of 5,000 cars in production, in standard specification and tyres. 

Though the Team Legacy, Subaru Legacy car was still on it’s way back from the States having competed in the 103^rd Peaks Peak International Hillclimb back in June. Driver Damien Bradley who was up against regular competitors, was competing at the event for the first time. He still managed to finish third in the Time Attack 1 class. This weekend he was sharing the Subaru Impreza Red Baron with Steve Darley. Steve had a hand in building both cars.

Inter-club Class 14 Results can be found here: British Championship Hillclimb Interclub Results Class 14

Results from the Inter-club Class 42 can be found here: British Championship Hillclimb Interclub Results Class 42

Results from the Inter-club Class 26 can be found here: British Championship Hillclimb Interclub Results Class 26

British Hillclimb Championship Sunday 6th July 2025

The morning started off dry but during the practice run we had a shower, followed by a down pour mid morning, with a cool breeze.  

With just one practice run for the BHC competitors, while the other competitors also got a second timed run. Then a timed run for all competitors. Followed by Round 3 of the Tin Top Challenge, which was won by Simon Bainbridge.

Top 3 Tin Top Challenge.

1^st Simon Bainbridge, V8 SBR Crono

2^nd Steve Darley, Subaru Impreza RB

3^rd Damien Bradley, Subaru Impreza RB

Then Round 15 for the fastest top twelve competitors, Run-off for British Hillclimb Championship points with only the top ten been awarded Championship points. 

1^st Matt Ryder, Gould GR59J

2^nd Alex Coles, Force TA

3^rd Will Hall, Gould GR59 Judd

After a late lunch break, during the afternoon’s second timed run we had a couple more showers, making it a bit of a lottery for the competitors to have the correct rubber on. Followed by the final Run-off’s for the day. It was during the Run-off for round 16 of the BHC that the top 3 drivers set the Fastest Time’s of the Day (FTD).

Round 4 of the Tin Top Ten Challenge Top3.

1^st Simon Bainbridge, V8 SBR Crono

2^nd Damien Bradley, Subaru Impreza RB

3^rd Steve Darley, Subaru Impreza RB

Round 16 of the BHC Top 12 Run-off, Top 3.

1^st Matt Ryder, GouldGR59J

2^nd Wallace Menzies, Gould GR59 Cosworth

3^rd Will Hall, Gould GR59 Judd

Matt still leads the BHC after this event with a ten point lead from Wallace. Will Hall is in third place. The next BHC event takes place at Bouley Bay on Jersey on 15^th July.

British Hillclimb Championship standings: Results after Harewood Hillclimb.

Final Results from Harewood: British Championship Hillclimb Event Results.

Tin Top Ten Challenge Round 3: TOP 10 Tintop Run 1 Times.

Tin Top Ten Challenge Round 4: TOP 10 Tintop Run 2 Times.

BHC Top 12 Run-off Round 15: TOP 12 Run 1 Times.

BHC Top 12 Run-off Round 16: TOP 12 Run 2 Times.

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 will be back to the Harewood Championship over the weekend of 2^nd and 3^rd August for the Yorkshire Speed Hillclimb and Montague Burton Hillclimb.

Nicola Menzies driving a Gould GR55B set the ladies Hill record at 50.74 secs on the 03/07/2022.

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