With three rounds of the 2026 7 Racing Championship now complete, we have officially hit the halfway point in the season. It’s at this point the championship battle really begins to take shape, as we get an idea of who the main title contenders will be for the final few rounds.
Last weekend at Donington Park saw some superb racing as ever; let’s take a look back at some of the action.
Starting with the 420R championship, it was championship leader, Wes Payne, who claimed pole position in qualifying. However, after a technical infringement following post-race scrutineering, Payne was demoted to a back of the grid start for race one, promoting Carl Jones to pole position.
As the 420R grid formed for race one, Jones lined up on the front row, with 420R Sportsman contender, Ben Gillias, alongside in second place. Rather than starting at the back of the grid, Payne opted for a pit lane start.
As Redgate beckoned on lap one, the field made its way through turn one and towards the Craner Curves. With one lap completed, the race was well and truly on.
After 12 laps around the Donington GP circuit, it was pole sitter Carl Jones who crossed the line victorious, a comfortable 3.5 seconds ahead of nearest challenger Gary Smith. Ben Gillias completed the podium in third place, whilst JJ Magalhaes finished fourth.
Despite starting from the pit lane, Wes Payne managed to navigate his way through the field to finish an impressive 5th, ahead of Marco Aghem in sixth.
Determined to make amends, Payne was keen to return to the head of the pack in race two. After starting in fifth place, he worked his way through the field, crossing the finish line victorious; however, not without a fight.
Tough competition came in the form of race one winner, Jones, as the pair battled profusely towards the chequered flag. Finishing just 0.19 seconds adrift, Jones held onto second place, ahead of Magalhaes in third.
Gillias continued his 420R Sportsman title bid, claiming victory in race two, also finishing in fourth place overall. Smith finished in fifth place, whilst Stewart Calder rounded out the top six. Marco Aghem and Mark Johnson completed the top three in the 420R Sportsman championship.
Onto the final 420R race of the weekend, and with a reverse of the top 10 finishing positions from race two, it was Steve Metcalfe who lined up on pole position, with Johnson alongside.
Despite starting towards the back of the top 10, it was all about Jones and Payne once again in this final race. As the pair battled for supremacy once more, they worked their way through the pack, with Jones claiming a second victory, ahead of Payne in second place this time around.
Mark Farmer completed the podium this time, ahead of Calder. Tom Quarendon was the 420R Sportsman winner this time, also finishing in fifth place overall, whilst Magalhaes completed the top six.
Onto the 310R grid and it was Russ Olivant who secured pole position ahead of race one, with Caroline Everett starting alongside.
Championship leader David Yates lined up sixth on the grid for race one, with all eyes on him to see if he would play a vital role in the first outing. As the race got underway, the challenge was set, with Yates’ sights set firmly on the head of the pack.
After an incident saw the initial race stopped, the restarted and shortened 10 lap stretch saw Yates add another victory to his tally, ahead of the returning Steve McCulley and Olivant. Behind, Everett held on for a fourth place finish with Tom McEwing and Harry Eyre completing the top six.
Race two saw a change in proceedings; however, with many of the usual suspects sitting at the front of the field, it was anyone’s guess as to who would emerge on top.
After 12 action packed laps this time around, it was McEwing who proved triumphant, beating McCulley to the win by just 0.2 seconds, with Olivant a further 0.2 seconds adrift in third place.
Yates was muscled down to fourth place this time, with Tim Steel and Allan Curtis rounded out the top six.
With one final race to go for our 310R contingent, and a reverse of the top 10 from race two, it was John Shiveral who started on pole position, with Everett alongside in second place once again.
After a further 12 laps of excitement around the Donington Park GP circuit, it was Olivant who came out on top, with half a second cushion back to Curtis in a comfortable second place. McEwing finished some three seconds adrift in third place, completing the podium for the final time. Yates again finished in fourth place, with McCulley fifth and Everett sixth.
Attention now swaps to the next round, with Anglesey coming at us thick and fast. A new circuit to the 7 Racing calendar in 2026, and what a superb venue it is. There is no doubt the racing will be spectacular. There is still time to join us at Anglesey, for more details, or to secure your spot on the grid, head to our website: www.seven.racing or contact John Watts – tel: 01455 239900 or email: [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you there, with your buckets and spades.