Rivalries brewing as Hot Hatch grid prepares for season’s second half

The 2026 Castle Combe Racing Club Hot Hatch Championship will soon be firing back into life during the HSCC Historic Race Weekend on 8-9 August – and with six rounds still to go there are many battles worth watching.

The mid‑season break has only heightened the sense of urgency, with title fights tightening and momentum ready to swing as soon as engines start up again.

Grids have averaged more than 26 cars per meeting, showcasing why the series remains one of the UK’s most attractive options for low‑cost, high‑enjoyment club racing.

Five different makes of car – Honda, Renault, Peugeot, MG and Mini – have already taken class podiums, proving that success comes from preparation and race craft rather than budget.

The classes are:

  • A: 1801-2100cc, multiple throttle bodies
  • B: 1801-2100cc, single throttle body
  • C: 1601-1800cc (supercharging permitted)
  • D: 1401-1600cc
  • E: Up to 1400cc

Out front, Corey Webber holds a commanding lead overall and in Class A, having set the benchmark with a clean sweep of wins and fastest laps.

Behind, the battle from P2 to P5 is covered by just eight points: Justin Holloway (Clio 172) and Julian Fisher (Fiesta ST150) lead the chase, with Mark Wyatt (Astra 2000) – Webber’s closest challenger on outright pace – in fourth followed by Tim Fookes‑Bale and Joe Hathway (Clio 172.

In Class B, Lee Waterman (Honda Civic) leads with three wins, while Ian Knight and Ben Pemberton (also both in Civics) sit tied for second, Pemberton also a race winner.

Class C is the tightest of all: Josh Carter (Cooper S R53) leads by four points from James Keepin (MG ZR 1800) with, close behind, Oliver Sprague and Wayne Rushworth (both ZRs), Erling Jensen (a double winner last time out in his R53), Alex Welling (R53) and James Blake (ZR) separated by just three points from P3 to P6.

In Class D, Sam Williams Civic EF) holds a narrow two‑point lead over Adam Wilks (Peugeot 106 GTi), both drivers having already achieved two wins apiece.

The outlier is Devon Till (Civic EF), unchallenged so far in Class E.

A few quick stats show just how competitive things are across the grid:

  • Wyatt’s Astra has twice taken the fight to Webber up front, including the closest overall finish of the season in round 4 where he crossed the line just 1.169s behind. That same race produced the tightest top‑three spread too –338 seconds covering the podium as double Class D winner Geoffrey Ryall (106 GTi) that day also got in on the act
  • In Class D, the smallest winning margin came in round 3 when Williams finished just 0.396s behind Ryall
  • In Class C, round 4 saw Josh Carter chase Wayne Rushworth home a mere 1.922s adrift – by contrast, the largest winning margin was produced by Erling Jensen, who took round 5 by 8.365s.
  • Class B has been the most unpredictable: five different winners in six races, with the closest margin being 0.200s when Mark Ridout (Civic) almost snatched a win from points leader Waterman.

With the Championship set to resume in front of another anticipated bumper crowd, every position now matters.

CLICK HERE for the latest CCRC Hot Championship Points Table

 

CLICK HERE to download the CCRC Hot Hatch Championship Regulations (Technical, Sporting)