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Sunoco 240 Challenge heads to the wire as five drivers remain in hunt for Daytona drive

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In one of the closest and keenly fought Sunoco 240 Challenge seasons for some time, the prize drive at Daytona could go to one of five drivers racing in four separate championships.

Moving into pole position is Robbie Dalgleish, who has been virtually ever-present in second place over the past few months. The Mini Challenge Cooper Pro driver took pole, a win, and third place at Donington Park last weekend to claim top spot in the standings.

He is closely followed by Toby Goodman, who had two wins and a third place, continuing his fantastic run of form. Both he and Robbie have one last weekend of action at Snetterton where they must continue their front-running performances to have a chance of winning the drive at Daytona.

The dark horse in the battle is British GT Championship GT4 Pro-Am champion Kelvin Fletcher, who’s strong end to the season has put him in third place. If Robbie and Toby stumble, reducing their average score, he could emerge on top.

After holding top spot for much of the season, Cian Carey drops to fourth place after the penultimate weekend of the F3 Cup campaign, despite taking another podium finish in race one at Donington Park.

Also in action at Snetterton later in October is James Gornall, racing in the Mini Challenge JCW category. ‘Jiggy’ sits sixth currently, but with Rob Keogh’s season over, he cannot challenge for the win, so a big finish for Jiggy could push him into first place as well.

Whatever the outcome, it has been another brilliant battle across a number of race championships, proving those at the top of the Sunoco Challenges really do have to earn their success.

What are the Sunoco Challenges?

The Sunoco Challenges provide an accurate assessment and comparison of performances across multiple championships during any given season. Points are awarded for qualifying and race results, including fastest lap, which are then converted into an individual average score for each competing driver over the course of a full campaign.

That means each race weekend offers drivers an equal chance to climb and drop down their respective Sunoco Challenge table. It also ensures that performances are taken into consideration across an entire season while placing less emphasis on one-off or unfair results.

This year’s Sunoco Whelen Challenge champion will win a fully funded race seat at the 2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona, courtesy of Whelen. Sunoco’s 240 Challenge champion will contest Daytona’s 240-minute BMW Endurance Challenge support race held over the same January weekend at the wheel of a Sunoco-supported GT4 car.

The Sunoco Challenges are organised by Sunoco Racing Fuels’ official European distributor, Anglo American Oil Company Ltd.

Sunoco Whelen Challenge-eligible series:

BRDC British Formula 3 Championship
British GT Championship – GT3 Pro and GT4 Pro

Sunoco 240 Challenge-eligible series:

British GT Championship – GT3 Am and GT4 Am
F3 Cup
GT Cup Championship
Mini Challenge – JCW and Cooper Pro
Radical UK Challenge
Ginetta GT5 Challenge
Ginetta G40 Cup
Touring Car Trophy / TCR UK

Summer shake up for Sunoco Challenges as Goodman and Simmons make progress

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Once again, It is all change at the top of the Sunoco Whelen Challenge and Sunoco 240 Challenge standings, with only a few points separating the top of both after an enthralling few weeks of racing.

It is still almost impossible to tell who will come out on top to win those Rolex 24 At Daytona and BMW Endurance Challenge At Daytona drives as the thrilling battles to lead the standings continue.

Sunoco Whelen Challenge: Simmons remains in contention

BRDC British Formula 3 Championship drivers continue to remain the focal point of the Sunoco Whelen Challenge. Series leader Clement Novalak returns to the top of the standings thanks to a podium finish in Belgium.

Hot on his heels is rival Ayrton Simmons who had an outstanding weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, taking a win, a podium, and two pole positions, which puts him right back in contention with only one and a half average points separating him and Clement.

A difficult weekend for Johnathan Hoggard has pushed him into third place despite his perfect point-scoring weekend at Donington Park, but a strong trip to Brands Hatch could change that quite quickly. Jonny Cocker, in the British GT Championship, is only two average points behind Johnathan after he finished seventh in GT3 at Spa, with Seb Priaulx fifth after a sixth-place finish in GT4 in the same contest.

Click here for the complete Sunoco Whelen Challenge standings.

Sunoco 240 Challenge: Carey remains on top whilst Goodman jumps to third.

It could not be closer in the Sunoco 240 Challenge where Cian Carey holds onto the lead despite no track action over the last few weeks. However, it remains an extremely tight fight for the top spot as Robbie Dalgleish closed the gap to Cian with only 1.96 average points between the pair after the Mini Challenge Cooper Pro driver stood on each step of the podium in three races at Brands Hatch.

Toby Goodman has vaulted himself into third place after a superb weekend in Kent as well. He took two wins and a third place, as well as a pole position, to move 0.12 average points ahead of Dominik Jackson, who bounced back from a DNF in race one at Oulton Park to take a win and second place in the Radical Challenge Championship, keeping his hopes alive.

Another driver on the move is British GT Championship competitor Kelvin Fletcher. He leaps ahead of Scott McKenna, who has not raced in the previous few weeks. Just five average points cover fifth to 11th in the standings, so a strong weekend for Jerome De Sadeleer, Nathan Harrison, Rob Keogh, James Gornall, or Alastair Barclay will bring them right back into the mix.

Click here for the complete Sunoco 240 Challenge standings.

What are the Sunoco Challenges?

The Sunoco Challenges provide an accurate assessment and comparison of performances across multiple championships during any given season. Points are awarded for qualifying and race results, including fastest lap, which are then converted into an individual average score for each competing driver over the course of a full campaign.

That means each race weekend offers drivers an equal chance to climb and drop down their respective Sunoco Challenge table. It also ensures that performances are taken into consideration across an entire season while placing less emphasis on one-off or unfair results.

This year’s Sunoco Whelen Challenge champion will win a fully funded race seat at the 2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona, courtesy of Whelen. Sunoco’s 240 Challenge champion will contest Daytona’s 240-minute BMW Endurance Challenge support race held over the same January weekend at the wheel of a Sunoco-supported GT4 car.

The Sunoco Challenges are organised by Sunoco Racing Fuels’ official European distributor, Anglo American Oil Company Ltd.

Sunoco Whelen Challenge-eligible series:

BRDC British Formula 3 Championship
British GT Championship – GT3 Pro and GT4 Pro

Sunoco 240 Challenge-eligible series:

British GT Championship – GT3 Am and GT4 Am
F3 Cup
GT Cup Championship
Mini Challenge – JCW and Cooper Pro
Radical UK Challenge
Ginetta GT5 Challenge
Ginetta G40 Cup
Touring Car Trophy / TCR UK

All change in Sunoco Challenges as battles heat up into summer stretch

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What a difference one month makes to the top of the standings in the Sunoco Whelen Challenge and Sunoco 240 Challenge. With such variation from week to week it is virtually impossible to tell who might emerge victorious at this stage, but it clearly will be an enthralling battle to the final positions at the end of the year when we’ll find out who wins those coveted drives in the Rolex 24 At Daytona and BMW Endurance Challenge At Daytona.

Sunoco Whelen Challenge: Simmons shoots into contention

It is all about the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship drivers at the top of the standings as Ayrton Simmons vaults into second place after taking a win and a third place in the two Sunoco Whelen Challenge eligible races at Silverstone and he closes in on leader Clement Novalak with just eight average points between the pair. The leader in the standings took a win himself, but a sixth-place fin ish has left him vulnerable to his series rival. Jonny Cocker sits in third position after he finished eighth at the challenging three-hour Silverstone 500 during the same weekend, though BRDC F3 driver Johnathan Hoggard is merely fractions of a point behind in fourth.

Click here for the complete Sunoco Whelen Challenge standings.

Clement Novalak takes a win at Silverstone in the BRDC British F3 Championship Jonny Cocker in action in the British GT Championship at Silverstone

Sunoco 240 Challenge: Dalgleish capitalises on Carey’s misfortune

Things could not be closer for the leading drivers in the Sunoco 240 Challenge, where a host of non-finishes has shaken things up a good amount in recent weeks. Toppling then-leader Cian Carey is Robbie Dalgleish who took a win and second place in the Mini Challenge Cooper Pro class at Oulton Park. Carey was in action the same day but a DNF after finishing third in race one has dropped him into second place, albeit with just one point between the pair. Just behind is Alistair Barclay who had a solid weekend at Silverstone with a third and fourth place and keeping a close watch is Jerome De Sadeleer who has not taken to the track since May but will be out at Spa shortly. A good weekend could really put him into contention.

Click here for the complete Sunoco 240 Challenge standings.

Robbie Dalgleish racing in Mini Challenge at Oulton Park Cian Carey races in F3 Cup at Oulton Park

What are the Sunoco Challenges?

The Sunoco Challenges provide an accurate assessment and comparison of performances across multiple championships during any given season. Points are awarded for qualifying and race results, including fastest lap, which are then converted into an individual average score for each competing driver over the course of a full campaign.

That means each race weekend offers drivers an equal chance to climb and drop down their respective Sunoco Challenge table. It also ensures that performances are taken into consideration across an entire season while placing less emphasis on one-off or unfair results.

This year’s Sunoco Whelen Challenge champion will win a fully funded race seat at the 2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona, courtesy of Whelen. Sunoco’s 240 Challenge champion will contest Daytona’s 240-minute BMW Endurance Challenge support race held over the same January weekend at the wheel of a Sunoco-supported GT4 car.

The Sunoco Challenges are organised by Sunoco Racing Fuels’ official European distributor, Anglo American Oil Company Ltd.

Sunoco Whelen Challenge-eligible series:

BRDC British Formula 3 Championship
British GT Championship – GT3 Pro and GT4 Pro

Sunoco 240 Challenge-eligible series:

British GT Championship – GT3 Am and GT4 Am
F3 Cup
GT Cup Championship
Mini Challenge – JCW and Cooper Pro
Radical UK Challenge
Ginetta GT5 Challenge
Ginetta G40 Cup
Touring Car Trophy / TCR UK

Novolak and Barclay head early running in Sunoco Challenge standings

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With all eligible series having now started their 2019 campaigns, the Sunoco Whelen Challenge and Sunoco 240 Challenge standings are starting to take shape. The BRDC British F3 Championship again heads the way in the former, after Linus Lundqvist won the prestigious drive at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in January, while a remarkable five drivers from five different series fill the top places in the Sunoco 240 Challenge.

Sunoco Whelen Challenge: Novolak heads the way

Clement Novolak sits atop the Sunoco Whelen Challenge standings after leaving Oulton Park with a win and a second place finish. However, he is joined on 102.50 average points by Johnathan Hoggard who took a win and a third in Cheshire. Hoggard has taken advantage of the Team Fox five average point boost donation, whereas Novolak is yet to do so, so this could pull the latter clear at a later date.

The first of the British GT Championship runners sits third, as Jonny Cocker finished fourth in race one at Oulton Park but followed up with the victory in race two after excellent work by team-mate Sam De Haan, who is competing in the Sunoco 240 Challenge. Cocker is looking strong with 95.75 average points ahead of this weekend’s races at Snetterton.

Just behind on 80.00 average points is Ayrton Simmons, another BRDC F3 driver, after he scored a second and third place to open the season, though a DNF in race two leaves him a little behind at this stage. Narrowly in fifth with 79.20 average points is the first GT4 competitor in British GT, as Seb Priaulx recorded a pole position and race win alongside Scott Maxwell.

Click here for the complete Sunoco Whelen Challenge standings.

Sunoco 240 Challenge: Barclay fending off host of competitors

Alistair Barclay has the lead in the Sunoco 240 Challenge, but it is a narrow advantage in these early stages of the season. His three wins, three pole positions, and two fastest laps in the Ginetta G40 Cup, as well as his Team Fox five average points donation boost mean he has 138.33 average points.

Close behind, with 131.67 average points, is Cian Carey, racing in F3 Cup this year. Cian has not been outside the top three in the six races so far, taking three wins to boot.

Robbie Dalgleish sits third, with 117.50 average points from the Mini Challenge Cooper Pro driver, hoping to emulate Kyle Reid who claimed the Sunoco-backed drive at Daytona earlier this year. With James Gornall from Mini Challenge JCW on 107.50 and Jerome De Sadeleer from Radical UK Challenge on 105.00, not only are the top five places closely fought, but there are five different championships represented in those places.

However, with those having had two race weekends so far, the standings are likely to change significantly after two more races for the eligible British GT Championship GT3 and GT4 Am drivers, as well as those in the Ginetta GT5 Challenge and Mini Challenge JCW series this weekend. It will be an exciting battle throughout the year and one well worth keeping an eye on.

Click here for the complete Sunoco 240 Challenge standings.

What are the Sunoco Challenges?

The Sunoco Challenges provide an accurate assessment and comparison of performances across multiple championships during any given season. Points are awarded for qualifying and race results, including fastest lap, which are then converted into an individual average score for each competing driver over the course of a full campaign.

That means each race weekend offers drivers an equal chance to climb and drop down their respective Sunoco Challenge table. It also ensures that performances are taken into consideration across an entire season while placing less emphasis on one-off or unfair results.

This year’s Sunoco Whelen Challenge champion will win a fully funded race seat at the 2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona, courtesy of Whelen. Sunoco’s 240 Challenge champion will contest Daytona’s 240-minute BMW Endurance Challenge support race held over the same January weekend at the wheel of a Sunoco-supported GT4 car.

The Sunoco Challenges are organised by Sunoco Racing Fuels’ official European distributor, Anglo American Oil Company Ltd.

Sunoco Whelen Challenge-eligible series:

BRDC British Formula 3 Championship
British GT Championship – GT3 Pro and GT4 Pro

Sunoco 240 Challenge-eligible series:

British GT Championship – GT3 Am and GT4 Am
F3 Cup
Britcar Endurance
GT Cup Championship
Mini Challenge – JCW and Cooper Pro
Radical UK Challenge
Ginetta GT5 Challenge
Ginetta G40 Cup
Touring Car Trophy / TCR UK

Reid impresses on Daytona debut in BMW Endurance Challenge

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Daytona debutant and 2019 Sunoco 240 Challenge winner Kyle Reid capped off a superb weekend by not only starting the four-hour BMW Endurance Challenge race at Daytona but taking the chequered flag as well.

Cheered on by friends and family, Kyle qualified the Fast Track Racing / Classic BMW Sunoco-liveried M4 GT4 during Thursday evening’s 15-minute session, clocking a time of 1:55.287, 22nd overall, and third fastest BMW driver on the 49-car grid.

Making up four places in the opening two laps of the race, the Mini Challenge Cooper Pro Champion kept things steady before pitting during a full-course yellow at the 45-minute mark and handing over driving duties. Sound strategy meant the car led the race at half distance, but unavoidable contact with a spinning Audi cost the outfit six laps as repairs were made.

Further misfortune befell the team as a puncture necessitated another stop, though this provided Kyle with the chance for a final stint to bring the car home to the flag on his Daytona debut. Despite a 30th place finish, the team was just a moment of misfortune away from what could have been a spectacular result.

“I’ve loved everything about it,” said Kyle. “The start of the race was something else, going into turn one with 49 cars on the grid. In every mirror there was a car, so I just picked a line and managed to get through. I made up four places and then handed over to Jayson [Clunie].

“The car was leading at one point, but we picked up some damage when Toby [Grahovec] had contact and it lost us six laps, but it meant I was able to get back in the car to take the chequered flag which was special.

“I’ve gained so much experience and knowledge of driving a GT4 car and I’ve loved it. The team have been fantastic; they’ve welcomed me with open arms. I was worried coming in, but we’ve come away the quickest driver in the car and you never know, I might be back racing here in the US. It’s an amazing experience and something I’ll always remember and be able to tell the grandchildren about. I just need to thank Anders and Sunoco for the opportunity.”

“Kyle did exceptionally well, considering he came from a Mini Cooper and we placed him in a completely alien environment with 31-degree banking and a BMW M4 GT4 race car that is four times the power and rear wheel drive,” said Anders Hildebrand, Anglo American Oil Company Managing Director.

“After two days of testing Kyle was on the pace of the team manager and pro driver and the team were so impressed that they let him not only qualify but start the race. Unfortunately, there was a little incident half way through that meant we didn’t get the result we wanted but until then the car was on the pace and Kyle did us very proud.”

Daytona debutants look forward to new Challenge

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2019 Sunoco Challenge winners Linus Lundquist and Kyle Reid are set to make their racing debuts at the world-famous Daytona International Speedway this weekend (January 24-27) for the Rolex 24.

Having taken part in the Roar Before The 24 earlier this month, both have now turned their first laps around the 31-degree banking and challenging infield course, but this weekend will be the first real test, with practice, qualifying, and the races held over three packed days.

Linus Lindqvist battles torrential rain in the #47 Precision Performance Motorsports (PPM) Lamborghini Huracan GT3, GTD at the 2019 Roar Before the Rolex 24.

Linus, making Sunoco Whelen Challenge history as the first winner to climb aboard a car in the competitive GTD class of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, will be carrying the flag for the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship as reigning Champion. He will have just under two hours of practice in which to acclimatise, while sharing his Precision Performance Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo with three other teammates, before qualifying takes place on Thursday afternoon.

Kyle Reid takes to the famous 31-degree banking in the #26 Fast Track Racing/Classic BMW M4 GT4 in the 2019 Roar Before the Rolex 24.

Kyle, the latest Sunoco 240 Challenge winner, represents Mini Challenge as the Cooper Pro class Champion, and will be competing aboard a Fast Track Racing/Classic BMW M4 GT4 in the BMW Endurance Challenge At Daytona, branded in the classic Sunoco blue colour scheme. Like Linus, Kyle will also have around two hours of track time, shared with his teammates, before qualifying later on Thursday.

The action picks up on Friday, January 25, as the four-hour BMW Endurance Challenge At Daytona takes place, before the main event, the Rolex 24 At Daytona, on Saturday for 24 gruelling hours of racing. Both drivers’ progress will be covered on Sunoco UK’s social media channels (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook)

Linus Lundqvist, Sunoco Whelen Challenge winner 

“We did a few laps and felt more comfortable in the car during the Roar Before the 24. It was interesting to see our rivals’ speed and compare where we stand. The circuit is not too technical, but it is a learning process with the team and how endurance racing works, so we’ll see how things unfold.

“I’d like to think my experience with aero in BRDC British Formula 3 has helped me with the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO. It’s heavy and different to drive, especially with ABS and traction control, but it is fun, and I am looking forward to taking part in the Rolex 24.”

Kyle Reid, Sunoco 240 Challenge winner

“It was an awesome experience at the Roar Before The 24. The guys gave me an opportunity to do a qualifying run in practice so hopefully I get to qualify the car for the race itself. It was a great learning experience with a new team, new track, and new car. I felt I improved every session and the team were happy with me.

“Hopefully we can improve towards the race. The times kept falling and we think the time will come to us before the race and we’ll be right on the pace.”