There are a plethora of championship battles every year in the world of club motorsport, yet some are remembered much more than others for a variety of reasons.
Whether it’s because the racing was particularly close – and fraught at times – or the title outcome was a complete tie, here are some of the greatest national rivalries from the past season.
INSIGHT: How club racing faced a tricky 2024
10. Carl Boardley v Adam Shepherd
Boardley and Shepherd came together multiple times during the TCR UK campaign
Photo by: JEP
Reigning TCR UK champion Carl Boardley faced a renewed challenge this year from Adam Shepherd, who switched to a Cupra Leon, putting the pair in matching machinery. While Boardley was hampered by early-season set-up issues, Shepherd streaked into the points lead with four wins in the first three weekends.
There was no love lost in an increasingly feisty contest as they collided at Snetterton, Oulton Park and Silverstone, before Shepherd’s challenge unravelled with a series of reliability woes.
9. Chris Ingram v a high-quality BRC field
Ingram came out on top in tight BRC battle
Photo by: JEP
The British Rally Championship had one of its best seasons for many years, Chris Ingram adding the title to his impressive record.
But it was never easy for Ingram, with quality opposition across the season. Ingram went to the Cambrian Rally finale facing up to William Creighton, Keith Cronin and Osian Pryce, and it was Creighton who took the fight to Ingram. Only on the penultimate stage when Creighton spun was the battle resolved after a campaign that was a major boost for British rallying.
8. Shaun Traynor v Adam Lockwood
Traynor and Lockwood continued their MR2 battle from 2023
Photo by: Jonathan Mills
The Toyota MR2 Championship featured a rematch of last year’s battle between Adam Lockwood and Shaun Traynor, and there was again little to separate the pair. Lockwood began the defence of his crown with four wins from the first six races before Traynor responded with seven victories on the bounce.
Despite being pipped to a further triumph by his chief rival on the final lap of the deciding contest, Traynor (left) ended his four-year streak of finishing as runner-up to clinch his fifth title by eight points.
7. Doug Watson v Dylan Popovic
Just one point separated Watson and Popovic in Castle Combe GTs
Photo by: Steve Jones
After a rollercoaster season, one point separated ardent Castle Combe GT combatants Doug Watson and Dylan Popovic. Rearmed with a Ferrari 488 Challenge, Watson won eight of the nine rounds he started. Popovic, whose hulking seven-litre Ginetta G55 was wiped out by another driver’s error in May, returned stronger.
Popovic won once, but bagged fastest lap bonuses in six of the 12 bouts. Two spins and a scrape with Watson in the finale showed his determination. The pair remain great friends!
6. Thomas Langford v Adam Sparrow
Langford’s challenge fell away against Sparrow in MX-5 Championship
Photo by: Steve Jones
After coming close to title success last year, Adam Sparrow found himself in a similar situation in 2024 as he battled Thomas Langford for the Mazda MX-5 Championship.
Langford won five of the opening six races before Sparrow fought back to ensure the duo arrived at the last round tied, and an eventful Brands Hatch decider then played out. Two wins, plus an off for Sparrow, ensured that Langford prevailed.
5. Craig Pollard v Tom Gadd v Rob Welham
Pollard’s consistency made the difference against Gadd and Welham
Photo by: Steve Jones
Another F1000 battle that went down to the final round. This season had a bit of added spice as protagonists Craig Pollard and Rob Welham came together at Silverstone. Pollard’s consistency prevailed as he finished all 16 races, which included four wins versus Welham’s three.
An engine failure while leading at Silverstone and subsequent double non-score left reigning champion Tom Gadd second, despite five wins to end the year.
4. Harry Cook v Taylor O’Flanagan
Cook took the Caterham 310R title by just one point from O’Flanagan
Photo by: Ollie Read
One of the closest fought championships among the Caterham Motorsport categories involved Harry Cook and Taylor O’Flanagan in the 310Rs. Cook amassed five victories to seize the initiative before the series visited Brands Hatch in August, but a hat-trick at the Kent track helped O’Flanagan move to the top of the standings on dropped scores.
Cook then picked the perfect time to grab a treble of his own at the Donington Park finale, which allowed him to snatch the crown by a solitary point.
3. Britcar Trophy’s impossibly close title contenders
The Maurice Henry/Hadley Simpson Clio shared the Britcar Trophy title after a tie
Photo by: Mick Walker
It is not uncommon for two entrants to tie on points, only for countback to determine a champion. But that was not the case in the Britcar Trophy this year, when the first two crews could not be separated and therefore share the title.
The Audi TT of Mark Jones/Rob Ellick/Craig Fleming and the Maurice Henry/Hadley Simpson Renault Clio did not battle on track, but you can’t get a closer points rivalry. Incredibly, it was almost as tight in the top class, Marco Anastasi beating Maurizio Sciglio on countback!
2. Marcus Littlewood v Sam Shaw
Littlewood took Radical SR1 crown after multiple appeals over the season between himself and Shaw
Photo by: Ollie Read
Sam Shaw began the Radical SR1 season as the driver to beat, but the tide turned at Paul Ricard with Marcus Littlewood scoring a treble. There was then Silverstone controversy when Littlewood lost a race to Shaw on appeal for alleged passing in the run-off.
A similar Brands Hatch appeal from Littlewood was thrown out. Littlewood won the penultimate race and led the finale before Shaw’s attempted Clearways challenge was deemed unfair. He was penalised and the title was narrowly Littlewood’s.
1. Ben Powney v Craig Land
Powney finally took Ma7da title in a battle with Land that went down to the last lap
Photo by: Steve Jones
Twice a Ma7da runner-up, Ben Powney finally came out on top this year but was pushed all the way by reigning Locost conqueror Craig Land. Five wins for Powney, including a double at Donington Park’s opener, set him on course but two victories in the last three races by Land made for a grandstand finish.
Powney’s runner-up spot at Silverstone, with less than two seconds covering the top six, left him just two points clear of race winner Land in a nailbiting finale that went down to the last lap.
Entries by Paul Lawrence, Mark Libbeter, Stephen Lickorish, Stefan Mackley, Mark Paulson, Marcus Pye, Peter Scherer and Steve Whitfield
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