A WEEKEND OF FIRSTS AT ROCKINGHAM
IT’S a series of firsts at Rockingham this weekend (May 12/13) when the Northamptonshire circuit hosts its inaugural 24-hour race meeting.
Dominating the two-day British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) programme is the Trade Team Citroen C1 Challenge 24hr endurance race, which gets underway at 17:00 on Saturday (May 12) and continues non-stop until the following day.
The event not only marks the organisations’ maiden visit to the circuit but it is also a historic milestone for Rockingham as it is the first 24hr race to be held at the venue since it opened its doors 17-years ago.
To celebrate the landmark Rockingham has entered its own race team, which is another first for the circuit. Chief Executive and former historic racing driver, Peter Hardman, heads up Team Rockingham, which has five members, all of whom either work or have connections to the venue.
This is the first time C1 Racing Club has held a 24hr race in the UK for more than a decade, and when launched earlier this year, proved so popular places were snapped up fast attracting some top names across the world of motorsport.
Due to its huge popularity, a three-hour Citroen C1 Challenge race will be held prior to the main event on Saturday to accommodate all the teams which missed out on a place in the 24hr event. Both races will be held on the International Super Sports Car Circuit.
Also on the BARC bill is the awesome Pickup Truck Championship, which will not only be making its first visit to Rockingham this season but also holding its debut race on the International Super Sports Car Circuit!
More at home on Europe’s fastest racing circuit and the UK’s only banked-oval, the Pickup Trucks will be following in the slip stream of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship drivers for the first time in 15 years of racing at the venue.
The Pickup Trucks will be out first on Saturday morning to qualify before two 18-lap races in the afternoon. With a grid of 23, which includes eight rookie drivers, and only four who have raced on the Rockingham infield, this is going to be one you will not want to miss!
Advance tickets can be booked online at www.rockingham.co.uk or via the hotline on 01536 500500, option 1, until midday tomorrow (Friday, May 11). Adult tickets cost just £12, while children and 15 and under get in FREE. Tickets will also be available on the gate priced £16 per day.
Gates open at 08:00 and track action starts from 09:00. As always at Rockingham all tickets include access to a grandstand seat offering panoramic views of the entire circuit, the pit garage roof and race paddock, which means there are no hidden costs.
