The 2022 Kumho BMWRDC season looks set to run from later this month until October, with races at most of the major British circuits. The season starts at Silverstone with qualifying and two races on Saturday and Sunday 26-27th March, followed by Brands Hatch and Snetterton in April and May. A return to Silverstone is scheduled for June with the ever-popular Snetterton used in July and a trip to Donington Park in August. The final round is currently set for Oulton Park in October, but a late addition may be in the pipeline?
The format will be qualifying, followed by two races with competitors split through classes based on power/weight ratio, with the overall champion coming from any class due to the points scoring system. The championship is open to any production-based BMW produced for sale to the general public in Europe, either right or left-hand drive and includes the early 2002 turbo’s and iconic “Batmobile” supercars, through to the latest models. A number of BMW Minis raced as “Invitation” with us last year but will contest two classes in the full championship in 2022, with a realistic chance of providing the overall champion.
The championship has played host to many drivers who have moved onto further success over the years, including former champions Rick Kerry and Tom Wrigley, who both figured on the BTCC package after success in the Kumho BMW Championship. This year looks to be a tight contest with previous champion James Card and fellow Class A front runners Brad Sheehan and Darren Morgan-Owen taking on reigning champion Kevin Denwood in his Class B car. The Minis should add interest and spice to the pot being an unknown quantity after only qualifying for points this year. Bryan Bransom must be in with a shot being local to Snetterton and therefore racing twice at his home circuit. Ian Crisp is returning to the championship and is usually at the sharp end of the action, together with Michael Vittuli and Jason West, while Russel Dack and Trevor Ford will surely be pushing Kevin for the Class B honours.
The BMW Racing Drivers Club Championship was established in 1987 to give enthusiastic BMW owners the opportunity to compete on some of the UK’s leading race circuits. This year, the championship celebrates its 35th birthday and retains sponsorship from Kumho Tyres, the Korean conglomerate having celebrated 25 years as the title sponsor in 2021.
Initially run on Kumho production tyres, after discussion with competitors, the decision was made to change to slicks and wet tyres in recent years in view of increasing power and performance. This makes the championship arguably, one of the fastest and safest in the country, attracting the cream of BMW competitors to race in a championship where driving standards and technical regulations are rigorously enforced to ensure equality and safety. Also, the ease of access to cars and drivers for spectators always ensures a convivial atmosphere in the paddock. Finally, for any drivers thinking of entering, you only have to ask if you need advice or assistance if you run into trouble as the Kumho BMWRDC is run by the drivers for the drivers!