The Kumho BMW Championship is a single make racing series based in the UK. Exclusively for BMWs, the championship is run by the BMW Racing Drivers Club in conjunction with the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC). The championship is a BARC registered, BMW-exclusive motorsport series.
The Championship is open to any production BMW sold in the UK. It provides close competition in four classes split by a power-to-weight ratio. The aim of the championship is to provide a closely competitive series for drivers, having a low cost entry class where cars can be competitive running standard engines, and a ladder of increasing cost and performance accommodating the latest vehicles. In 2009, 46 contenders scored points in the championship with the race victories shared between 9 drivers across the four classes.
The BMW Car Club Championship was started in 1987 by husband and wife team, John and Linda McVicker. The Championship was an amateur club series, for BMW owners who wished to race their BMW's at all the national circuits in the UK. The championship was open to all types of BMW from 2002s to CSLs, Bat Mobiles, new or old. The first race meeting took place on a cold and overcast Saturday at Silverstone where it the club managed to field a full grid.
The Championship continued under the BMW Car Club banner until late 1999, where the championship was renamed to the BMW Racing Drivers Club. The championship became the âÂÂDrivers Clubâ where all the drivers had a say in how the organisation was run, and it is continues in that fashion to this day. The series is established as one of the fastest road tyred (treaded) championships in the country, but it is not necessary to use the latest models, or to run at the front to be competitive.
2022 marked the 35th anniversary for the Kumho BMW Championship, and also the 25th Anniversary of successful sponsorship from Kumho Tires.
The championship is made up of four classes split by a power-to-weight ratio. There are also a number of strict regulations which all cars must adhere to. These can be viewed here.
The championship currently competes at many famous circuits in the UK, including Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Snetterton, Thruxton and Croft. The championship usually has a 14-race calendar, with 7 race weekends being double-headers (two races, one per day).
Overall Championship Points Table<br /> Overall Table
Class Points Table<br /> Class Table
Brands Hatch ... Brands Hatch 2010 Race Results<br/> Silverstone ... Silverstone 2010 Race Results <br /> Mallory Park non-championship meeting ... Mallory Park 2010 Race Results<br /> Croft ... Croft 2010 Race Results <br /> Snetterton ... Snetterton 2010 Race Results<br /> Rockingham Motor Speedway ...Rockingham 2010 Race Results<br /> Oulton Park ...Oulton Park 2010 Race Results <br /> Thruxton ...Thruxton 2010 Race Results
Overall Championship Points Table<br /> Overall Table
Class Points Table<br /> Class Table
Silverstone ... Silverstone 2009 Race Results<br /> Snetterton ... Snetterton 2009 Race Results<br /> Pembrey ... Pembrey 2009 Race Results<br /> Croft ... Croft 2009 Race Results<br /> Donington ... Donington 2009 Race Results<br /> Brands Hatch ... Brands Hatch 2009 Race Results<br /> Rockingham ... Rockingham 2009 Race Results<br /> Oulton Park ... Oulton Prk 2009 Race Results<br /> Thruxton ... Thruxton 2009 Race Results
Overall Championship Points Table<br /> Overall Points Table
Class Points Table Class Points Table
Silverstone ... Silverstone 2008 Race Results<br /> Rockingham ... Rockingham 2008 Race Results<br /> Pembrey ... Pembrey 2008 Race Results<br /> Brands Hatch ... Brands Hatch 2008 Race Results<br /> Donington Park ... Donington Park 2008 Race Results<br /> Snetterton ... Snetterton 2008 Race Results<br /> Croft ... Croft 2008 Race Results<br /> Oulton Park ... Oulton Park 2008 Race Results
2015 - Greg Marking<br /> 2014 - Tom Wrigley<br /> 2013 - Garrie Whittaker<br /> 2012 - Colin Wells<br /> 2011 - Garrie Whittaker <br /> 2010 - Des Thresh <br /> 2009 - James Card <br /> 2008 â Karl Cattliff<br /> 2007 â Stephen Pearson<br /> 2006 â Rick Kerry<br /> 2005 â Rick Kerry<br /> 2004 â Martyn Bell<br /> 2003 â Chris Wilson<br /> 2002 â Andy Allen<br /> 2001 â Huw Taylor<br /> 2000 â Richard Mallison<br /> 1999 â Robyn Hood<br /> 1998 â Peter Seldon<br /> 1997 â Colin Wells<br /> 1996 â Peter Challis<br /> 1995 â Peter Challis<br /> 1994 â Colin Wells<br /> 1993 â Colin Wells & Alex Elliot<br /> 1992 â Terry Kaby & Colin Wells<br /> 1991 â Max Windhauser & Paul Tilleard<br /> 1990 â Marc Cramer<br /> 1989 â Stephen Guglielmi<br /> 1988 â Tony Halse<br /> 1987 â John Willcocks
Martyn Bell and Rick Kerry are both ex-Kumho BMW drivers who have competed in the British Touring Car Championship.<br /> Geoff Steel, ex-touring car driver and team boss of his eponymous team, Geoff Steel Racing, has also himself competed in the Kumho BMW Championship. The team have also run cars in the Kumho BMW Championship for many years.
In September 2009, Steven Kane made a one-off guest appearance in the championship at Oulton Park, taking pole and two race wins.
Tom Wrigley won the 2014 Kumho BMW Championship, before going on to win the 2016 Ginetta GT4 SuperCup title and becoming a multiple race-winner in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. In 2023, he's competing in the British GT Championship.