2025 got underway at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi (20–23 February) with Harry competing in the very competitive Gulf Radical Cup Series. After two days of testing and then practice, there followed two sprint races on the Saturday, with a single, forty‑five-minute race next day. Run in temperatures exceeding thirty degrees it was hard work, but all things considered, the long trip proved very worthwhile, with Harry returning home having finished all three races in style, topped by a satisfying 6th place, against the safety car, on Sunday.
Next. Round One of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken Series (NLS) 21–22 March. A four-hour endurance race combining the Grand Prix circuit and the notorious Nordschleife, resulting in a lap distance of 24.358 km, a record in itself. An important date in the diary for Harry, completion in his detuned Toyota Supra being first step in his gaining an all-important ‘drive anything’ Nürburgring Driver’s Certificate. From a grid of over one hundred cars Harry and co‑driver, Luca Link, qualified 90th. That they finished the race 46th overall says everything about the car, team and driver skills.
Britcar 5th April. Barton Racing’s relationship with Geoff Steel continued at a sunny Silverstone with Harry driving the red, white and blue BMW E46 M3. Best remembered for an abundance of safety cars (this was to happen at every round), Harry was still first GT in race one, and although a measly thirteenth overall in race two, still took the class win.
BRSCC PBS Brakes SuperSport Endurance Cup. Oulton Park 18/19 April. Harry (BMW E46 M3 powered by Geoff Steel) absolutely blitzed the opposition in qualifying, put in fastest lap, and led the race unopposed until half distance, the prop shaft snapped. Bugger!
Britcar 2/3 May. Silverstone. At last, a race the team could really get its teeth into. Ninety minutes of flat‑out motoring around the full Grand Prix circuit, with two pit stops to liven things up. Friday testing in the company of driver coach David Pittard got Harry in the groove straight away. Saturday qualifying and Harry put in a lap of 101.02 mph, quickest in class, and sixth overall. He was flying. Then the organisers stepped in with a set of penalties based on Harry’s licence grade: forty seconds added to each pit stop, plus a grid start relegation to the back. Result: 9th overall, no prizes, and an extended post‑race discussion about what is and is not fair in the world of Britcar.
Britcar Round 3. Snetterton. 30/31 May. A full day of Friday testing where Harry sported his new red, white, and blue helmet to match the car (very nice), and luckily, the starter motor failed. Come the first race Harry jumped to third on lap one. But an eight‑minute safety car intervention allowed the pack to close up and the quicker Porsche Cup cars to accelerate past, relegating our Harry to fourth. Second race, and this time the red flags and double yellows lasted over seventeen minutes, slow‑moving traffic causing the BMW to overheat and retire. First non‑finish of the season.
Goodwood Festival of Speed 10–13 July. A big weekend in the life of Barton Racing, with the Lister Storm making its first public appearance, looking absolutely stunning in its original livery and bearing its 2001 Monza winning race number (#1). To say the record crowd fell in love with the sight and sound of this monster sports car legend would be a massive understatement. But with temperatures hitting thirty‑two degrees Harry was under orders, no heroics. Even so, car and driver made it into the Sunday Shoot‑out, and finished 13th overall, without (in Harry’s words) even trying. Riding a wave, the Storm was entered for the forthcoming Silverstone historic meeting. Sadly, this was not to be, after the new‑build engine suffered an expensive blow‑up whilst testing at Donington.
15/16 August, Germany. The depressing side of motor racing continued when Harry not only failed to finish in the six‑hour NLS outing at the Nürburgring, thus missing out on his much‑needed second signature, but as fourth driver, didn’t even get behind the wheel. A wasted weekend, and more money down the drain.
12/14 September, Germany. Never say die, the team returned to the Nürburgring four weeks later in determined mood. And in the end, we had to wonder what all the fuss was about. Of course, it rained, but the whole three days went according to plan, nothing went wrong, and Harry returned home on Monday clutching his valuable ‘A’ Certificate, allowing him to future drive the most powerful of cars around this demanding circuit. Job done, and the next rung of his personal achievement ladder ticked off.
Britcar. Oulton Park 10/11 October. Another depressing couple of days as our long‑term BMW race prep partner Geoff Steel, a man who went out of his way to be the quietest but most efficient and skilled person in the paddock, had unexpectedly died earlier in the week. Friday testing showed up a fault in the power steering, soon fixed. In an unexpectedly aggressive ninety‑minute race that resulted in at least two severe reprimands, and loss of points within the McLaren team, Harry pushed on well to finish a well‑judged fifth overall, proving the old BMW still has plenty of competitive life in her.
Thus, apart from some testing at Zandvoort, the 2025 season came to a close, with thoughts immediately turning to 2026 and next season’s exciting entry into a full GT3 programme (racing at Le Mans as early as 2027 is now a distinct possibility). With this in mind, Harry has now assumed full control of the team, which among other things involves working closely with our newly appointed historic car preparers, Foxcraft Racing, under the direction of Simon Pragnall. The plan here is to race the Lister Storm and the 1975 Schnitzer BMW, and maybe other cars, at international level, when and whenever things fall into place.
One thing is for sure: 2026 is going to be another landmark year in the life of Barton Racing.
And on the subject of 2026: we can announce Harry is confirmed to drive a BMW GT3 in the European Supercar Challenge, a seven‑round series that kicks off with a 2 × 30‑minute and a 1 × 60‑minute race weekend at Zandvoort on 18/19 April. More of the same throughout the 2026 season, so guaranteed encounters of the close kind.
In between times and historically speaking, rumours that the iconic Barton Racing Lister Storm, in the hands of Harry Barton, will be breaking cover in June/July 2026 and racing with Peter Auto cannot be denied.
You can follow our progress via www.barton‑racing.com and our various social media outlets. And please come and say hello in the paddock — we love talking success.