Donington Park – 29/30th August 2026 Race Report, Video, Images and Results

Posted on: September 5th 2026    •    Posted in: Race Results

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Championship Rounds 7 & 8

The SRCC Sports 2000 Championship resumed after its summer break at Donington Park on the August Bank Holiday Weekend. After a summer of drought and high temperatures the heatwave broke mirroring the summer of 1976 when the Bank Holiday brought the summer heatwave to a halt.
The entry for the event being the largest of the season and this was without Championship leader Michael Gibbins. Other notable absentees were, Ben Cater and Peter Williams. In the Historic Classes Class C leader Simon Aldworth admitted he would be out for the remainder of the season, following his Brands Hatch accident in May.
Topping the entry would be Richard Johnson the double winner at Mondello Park, David Houghton who had kept Richard company on the Mondello Podium. Mackenzie Walker, who has had 4 second place finishes in the 6 preceding rounds who would be looking for his first win of the season as would James Barwell, who has three podium finishes in 2026.
SRCC Chairman Nick Bates, made a welcome entry onto the grid in the Derek Bell Class, The Historic Classes had a strong representation with an entry of 8 cars, with Andreas Floth in his Lola T492, joining championship regulars Chris Snowdon, Clive Steeper and Mike Fry.

Qualifying

With a wet track and steady rain for the first time this year the cars would be running on Wet Tyres. For some this would be their first experience of driving these cars in the wet.
The early pace setters in qualifying were James Barwell, leading from Tom Stoten, Tim Tudor, Paul Trayhurn, and Matthew Harbot. Breaking at the end of the exhibition straight to enter Roberts corner, Matthew Harbot’s car slid off onto the grass where the MCR bottomed out ripping off the nose, tail and side sections. The car coming to a halt in the tyre wall. The damage to the car instigated a Red Flag to enable recovery.
When qualifying resumed it would be Richard Johnson, heading the timing sheets from James Barwell, Tom Stoten and Tim Tudor. Many were finding issues with the spray, Nick Bates reporting that there was zero visibility and all saying that there were mainly following each other unless there was a clear opportunity to pass.
Aside from the visibility the wet was creating problems with the electrics on some of the cars. Peter Brouwer was an early retirement with an intermittent Fuel pump cutting out. Andreas Floth could not get his engine to run cleanly. Andrew Noble was having multiple issues with his car, the one that would force him to retire from the event would be an issue with his front discs. The brakes would not release cleanly, so whilst he was braking in a straight line when he released the pedal they would cause the car to pull either to the left or right making it very difficult to stay on track.
At the end of the session Richard Johnson would be the one heading the timing sheets with Tom Stoten in the Gunn TS14 second just 0.137 seconds behind, with David Houghton 3rd, Mackenzie Walker 4th, and James Barwell 5th. Nik Johnson would be 6th on the timing sheets in his Lola T88/90, heading Class B from David Williams in the Van Diemen RF94 who was 7th in the overall qualifying times. Steve Ough the Derek Bell class leader was 8th with the top ten being rounded out by Joshua Needham Class B Van Diemen RF/02P and Paul Trayhurn class DB Gunn TS11.
Heading the Historic Classes would be Chris Snowdon in the distinctive Cabir. Clive Steeper, who had earned a round of applause in Race Control for driving out of the gravel trap at Redgate, preventing a safety car intervention would share the front row of the historic grid. The spin would end Clive’s participation in the session as he had lost oil pressure when the oil pump belt came off in the gravel trap.
On the Second row in the Historics would be Patrick Clifton in the Tiga SC85, the wet showing being the best performance from the class novice. 4th fastest in the Historic classes would be Mike Fry, in the Tiga SC89. Paul Streat in the Lola T87/90 was 5th fastest, with Richard Cooke 6th in a similar chassis. Andreas Floth completing the Historic class running in his Lola T492.

Race 1

The first race was held in wet conditions. There was very little respite from the rain for the whole day. To reduce the risk of a first corner incident, the decision was taken to start the race behind the safety car. The cars being released in a single file order for two laps before being released.
Mike Turner was unable to complete the first lap when his gear linkage failed and he retired to the paddock via the Melbourne Loop.
At the green light it would be pole sitter Richard Johnson who led the pack away all following through in grid order. The plumes of spray demonstrating how effective the aerodynamics were on the Duratec cars. Drivers hanging back to attempt to get some vision through the mist created. Down the order Peter Brouwer appeared to have cured his electrical problem and moved from his 23rd starting position to 19th place. Notably making brave moves at Redgate and into the Craner Curves.
The safety car was deployed after the first two laps of racing, when Paul Streat became the first of the competitors to fall foul of the conditions at Mcleans. The Lola becoming beached in the gravel trap. Shedding the front bodywork as the car sank into the gravel.
Mackenzie Walker was slowly dropping down the order as he losing visibility inside of his helmet. The problem being identified post-race. Mackenzie was wearing his Ginetta racing helmet which had ventilation to keep drivers cool inside an enclosed cockpit This unfortunately was allowing in the wet making it impossible for Mackenzie to see. Retiring on lap 6.
With Mackenzie retiring Nik Johnson moved into 6th place heading Class B. With 4 out of the first 5 laps being run under Safety car, the race went green again on lap 6. The top 3 in the Historic classes were running quite closely with Chris Snowdon, leading Clive Steeper from Patrick Clifton. Chris passing Lee Gorst on the next lap to place a car between him and the two other Historic cars.
On lap 7 Paul Trayhurn moved up to 7th place taking the class DB lead from Steve Ough. Having started from the back Peter Brouwer was now up to to 13th.
Lap 8 would be the last of the racing laps, Paul Trayhurn moving up to 6th place. Peter Brouwer, overtook Adrian Ridge, to take an eventual 11th place overall. Patrick Clifton got past Clive Steeper to pursue Chris Snowdon. On lap 9 both John Iley and Richard Cooke individually visited the gravel trap at Mcleans coming to rest very close together. Just prior to the safety car again taking control of the race Patrick Clifton passed Lee Gorst. All further advance was halted with the race being red flagged on lap 10.

The order being a win for Richard Johnson, giving him the hat trick for the season, from Tom Stoten, who, it was suggested swam round to second place, following his swim of the Solent for the First Touch Neonatal Charity. 3rd place for David Houghton, with James Barwell 4th, Nik Johnson 5th, Class B winner from Paul Trayhurn 6th, Derek Bell Trophy winner. David Williams 7th and second in Class B, Tim Tudor 8th, Steve Ough 9th and second in the Derek Belll Trophy class with Josh Needham 10th.
Chris Snowdon was winner overall of the Historic Classes winning Class A, second was Patrick Clifton winner of Class B and overall fastest lap in the Historic Classes. Third place in the Historic Race was Clive Steeper winner of Class C, Mike Fry finishing 4th from Andreas Floth finishing 5th.

Race 2

The second race took place on the Sunday morning in much better weather. Sunshine, a dry track and very mixed-up grid following the very wet Saturday race. Richard Johnson at the head of the field lining up alongside Tom Stoten who really shone in the difficult conditions holding onto Richard Johnson through the spray on Saturday.
The second row would be David Houghton who had recorded fastest lap in the previous race alongside James Barwell, the third row would be Nik Johnson on his own. Paul Trayhurn’s gearbox failing as he prepared to go to the assembly area. The other non-starter being Andrew Noble who had called it a weekend following his brake issues in qualifying.
On the Historic grid it would be Chris Snowdon sharing the front row with Patrick Clifton, another driver who had shone in the wet. For both the Duratec and Historic grids there was a lot of interest focussed on the back of the grid.
Following his helmet problems Mackenzie Walker would line up on Row 10 wearing his father’s helmet, lining up alongside him would be Mike Turner and completing the grid would be Matthew Harbot. He and the family working late into the night to have his car repaired in time for race 2.
The Historic grid had Paul Streat starting from the back following his early departure at Mcleans and Jon Harmer who had been working at Snetterton the day before, confirming it had been equally wet there too.
Being a dry track the cars had a standing start with Richard Johnson taking a commanding lead into the end of lap. Behind Richard James Barwell had moved up to second place with David Houghton 3rd Tom Stoten slipping back to 4th place followed by David Williams and Tim Tudor who had moved up two places. Nick Bates enjoying clear visibility had a great start coming from 15th to 11th place.
Mackenzie Walker ended the first lap in 9th place. Both Jon Harmer and Paul Streat made good starts from the back of the Historic grid with Jon leading the Historic race at the end of lap 1 from Patrick Clifton and Chris Snowdon.
The leading group of Johnson, Barwell and Houghton started to close up with Tom Stoten dropping back. Mackenzie Walker was continuing to make progress, passing Tim Tudor into the Old Hairpin on lap 2. With Steve Ough and Nik Johnson also passing Tim on that lap. Matthew Harbot was also making good progress coming up to 13th having passed John Owen and Roger Donnan on that lap,
In the Historic classes Jon Harmer had a commanding lead over Paul Streat, with Chris Snowdon slipping back behind Patrick Clifton who had moved up to 3rd in the Historics.
There was overtaking and hard-fought battles throughout the field. The commentary team and the live stream TV crew not knowing where to look next. The mixed-up grid making for an interesting race.
Lap 5 and Mackenzie Walker was now 5th behind Tom Stoten. James Barwell, was closing in on Richard Johnson, having reduced Richard’s advantage by a second bringing David Houghton with him. David Williams now had Steve Ough and Nik Johnson in his wheel tracks with Tim Tudor slipping further down the order having been passed by Peter Brouwer.
It was lap 7 when the leaders commenced lappery. The race became something of a game of chess. James Barwell almost within touching distance of the lead was looking to find that opportunity to push if Richard was held up whilst lapping slower cars.
This was the time for a spate of retirements Tim Tudor being the first, followed by Tom Stoten on the following lap with Peter Brouwer being the last of the pit callers on lap 9 Peter rejoining on lap 12. As the leaders exited the Old Hairpin, James Barwell gave a little extra push in his pursuit of Richard Johnson, the ensuing spin at Mcleans had him just catching the gravel trap but avoided ending his race there, coming through in 13th place. James spin giving Richard some breathing space with the gap back to David Houghton going out to almost 4 seconds.
Clive Steeper also got caught out at Mcleans, his car colliding with the barrier to retire. The damaged car was deemed to be in a safe place and the race was able to continue under waved yellow flags.
Nik Johnson, had moved up to 4th place with David Williams 5th Steve Ough 6th and Matthew Harbot up to 7th with Nick Bates 8th. Nick being closely followed by Josh Needham.
As the race drew to its close the leading trio had once again been drawn together, Mackenzie Walker now on the tail of David Houghton who had reduced the gap to Richard Johnson under a second again.
Steve Ough had a big spin approaching the Old Hairpin on lap 18 retiring the car the following lap. In a brave move Mackenzie Walker took the opportunity to pass David Houghton to make one last charge at the win. On lap 20 David Williams collected one of the marker boards approaching Redgate leaving part of his bodywork on the track. The race built up to a thrilling crescendo on the last lap as Mackenzie briefly took the lead for Richard to reclaim it approaching the Esses and to win by 0.207 seconds. David Houghton coming home in 3rd place. Sadly after such a strong showing in the early part of the race James Barwell retired on the last lap with a fuel pump failure.
Nik Johnson came home in 4th place winning class B, Matthew Harbot, after his difficult Saturday finished 5th from David Williams in 6th place with a Van Diemen in need of some new bodywork. 7th place and winner of the Derek Bell Class was Nick Bates. 8th place was Josh Needham, 9th Mike Turner 10th place John Owen. John Harmer was the winner of the Historic Class C and the Historic Race Overall, Paul Street Class A winner was second in the Historics, with Patrick Clifton Class B winner completing the Historic Race Podium. Whilst not winning their respective classes, Mackenzie Walker, David Williams and Steve Ough all recorded the respective fastest lap for the race. In the Historic Race it was a clean sweep for the class winners.

Driver of the Day

With so many exemplary performances over the weekend it was a difficult choice to pick a driver of the day. The short list included, Patrick Clifton, Mackenzie Walker but the winner was Matthew Harbot. It was a fine performance on track, but the effort made to repair his car following his qualifying accident set him apart for this meeting.

The 27th and 28th September sees the Championship Finale taking place at Donington Park on the Grand Prix Circuit.

Many thanks to Alan Jones for this report

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Full results are available via the Results Page. Here

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Race Images

Many thanks to Kevin Gibson of KJG Photography for these Images from the event.

Driver of the Day

Qualifying and Race 1 Images

Race 2 Images

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