Championship Gets Underway at Nene Valley
The 2026 BRCA Large Scale Off Road National Championship roared into life at Nene Valley, where drivers from across the country gathered to begin their championship campaigns. A perfectly prepared circuit, competitive grids and fantastic weather combined to produce an unforgettable opening round, with every class delivering close racing, spectacular overtakes and fierce battles from the first qualifying heat through to the finals.
With valuable championship points on offer, there was no shortage of commitment as drivers pushed themselves and their machines to the limit in pursuit of an early-season advantage.
2WD Buggy
The 2WD Buggy class got the season underway in style, with Oliver Whittleston immediately showing his pace by securing Top Qualifier after an outstanding qualifying performance.
Oliver carried that momentum into the finals, producing a flawless drive to convert pole position into a commanding victory and the maximum championship points.
Behind him, Craig Chilvers drove a measured and consistent race to secure second place, while Andy Blackburn completed the podium after battling hard throughout the finals.
Results
🥇 P1: Oliver Whittleston
🥈 P2: Craig Chilvers
🥉 P3: Andy Blackburn
Top Qualifier: Oliver Whittleston
Short Course Truck
The Short Course Truck class produced some of the closest racing of the day. Zach Whittleston topped qualifying to earn Top Qualifier, setting the benchmark with impressive speed around the Nene Valley circuit.
The finals, however, proved to be a different story. David Attiwell delivered a superb performance when it mattered most, producing a fast and consistent drive to claim the opening-round victory.
Jake Humpheys followed home in second after keeping the pressure on throughout, while Andy Stephenson rounded out the podium with an excellent third-place finish.
Results
🥇 P1: David Attiwell
🥈 P2: Jake Humpheys
🥉 P3: Andy Stephenson
Top Qualifier: Zach Whittleston
4WD Buggy
The 4WD Buggy class featured an incredibly strong field, with qualifying proving just how closely matched the drivers were. Tayler Letchford emerged on top to secure Top Qualifier, demonstrating impressive speed and consistency.
When the finals got underway, Romain Valter produced one of the drives of the meeting, combining speed with precision to take a deserved victory.
Jack Keatley drove an excellent race to finish second, while Letchford backed up his qualifying performance with a podium finish in third after another hard-fought final.
Results
🥇 P1: Romain Valter
🥈 P2: Jack Keatley
🥉 P3: Tayler Letchford
Top Qualifier: Tayler Letchford
A Brilliant Start to the Season
Round 1 at Nene Valley provided the perfect start to the 2026 BRCA Large Scale Off Road National Championship. Every class produced exciting racing, close championship battles and outstanding driving, giving fans plenty to look forward to as the season unfolds.
A huge thank you goes to the organisers, marshals, volunteers and competitors who made the opening round such a success. With championship points now on the board and confidence building throughout the paddock, the stage was set for what promised to be another thrilling season.
Roll on Round 2!
