IRIS In Focus: a look back at our summer racing
https://www.thercracer.com/2026/09/iris-in-focus-look-back-at-our-summer.html?m=0
Thank you for the positive feedback on the August IRIS in Focus where you got an insight into racing with the team at ETS Hudy Arena. We plan to do more articles like this in the future.
It has been a busy summer of racing and the Focus for this month will be a look back at our IRIS racing over summer, and a brief look forward to the winter carpet season.
BRCA National at West London Racing Centre
IRIS was represented by four racers at the WLRC national run by the BRCA (UK federation). Gary Tayor made a rare appearance on tarmac (he prefers carpet), to join regulars Billy and young Frankie Fletcher. Mark Trinder has been getting faster with his FWD, and this was one of the Nationals he was competing at this year.
On the pace from practice day Billy had strong round by round scores to line up 2nd on the A final grid. A pair of 2nd places in the two A final legs were rewarded with 2nd place overall π
Hard work pays off π
Billy was nearly pipped to the post by Mark Trinder in the FWD class. Mark had excellent practice day pace and backed that up with three 2nd in round scores when it counted.
With one set of FWD tyres in BRCA rules others were sitting out rounds, meaning Mark lined up 4th on the A final grid. A brace of 4th places at a track that is hard to pass on meant Mark just missed out on our first IRIS podium...but we did not have long to wait for that π
Thank you to Gary Taylor for arranging the IRIS Racing group photo πΈ
It was Gary's first- time racing at WLRC, a track that rewards knowledge and running lots of laps beforehand. A few challenges and we greatly appreciate Gary being part of the teamπ€
Hard work pays off π
Billy was nearly pipped to the post by Mark Trinder in the FWD class. Mark had excellent practice day pace and backed that up with three 2nd in round scores when it counted.
With one set of FWD tyres in BRCA rules others were sitting out rounds, meaning Mark lined up 4th on the A final grid. A brace of 4th places at a track that is hard to pass on meant Mark just missed out on our first IRIS podium...but we did not have long to wait for that π
Thank you to Gary Taylor for arranging the IRIS Racing group photo πΈ
Young Frankie had an equally challenging day in Stock TC. But came off the rostrum after his last final with a smile on his face, and that is what matters π
Austian Championship Round 5 at RC Parndorf
Update from Loris Buchhalt and congratulations on a strong podium and great paceπ"Round 5 of the Austrian Championship is in the books!
The race weekend kicked off on Saturday evening with Seeding 1 and Q1. After three more qualifying rounds on Sunday, I managed to secure P3 on the starting grid with solid and consistent pace.
A1 and A2 went pretty much the same way — the pace was good, but there wasn’t really much action during the five-minute heats.
For A3, I decided to make a small setup change, which made a big difference. I found significantly more pace and, finally, some proper racing action! π₯
In the end, Q3 and P3 — a solid result and a great way to finish the weekend.
Congratulations to Tobias Sutrich, Patrick Alexander Gollner and Christoph Grach on the win in the Stock, Modified and FWD class! π
Thanks to RC Parndorf e.V. for the perfect event, always super nice to race there.
Thanks to everyone who supported me and made another great race weekend possible! "ππ
Even better was to come and congratulations to Christoph Grach for an outstanding FWD result at the same meeting π
TQ in every round and taking the A final win rounded off a successful weekend ππ₯
EFRA Euros at Luxembourg
Fabulous circuit with the “corkscrew” section. I was on EFRA Referee duties and had t stay independent but I did get the best seat in the house to watch Billy and Peter Knudsden racing in Stock. Frankie was racing FWD with my own carbon IRIS ONE and took to it quickly.
BRCA National at Adur
Huge congratulations to Mark Trinder on his podium place at the last BRCA National held at the Adur club on the south coast of the UK. After topping the FWD practice timings on Saturday a couple of strong final results got our second ever National podium for IRIS (and our first for FWD) ππ
I am personally delighted for Mark as he just missed out on a podium at WLRC, and this one is a rich reward for his hard work this outdoor season.
Darren Tickner was making his debut for IRIS and qualified 4th on the A final grid, which is a great achievement. Not quite the luck in the final legs, but a positive end to our BRCA FWD Nationals to have 2 cars in the A final.
Billy Fletcher had a stunning Saturday practice, finished top of the Stock timings having unlocked even more pace after his podium at WLRC.
It proved to be a tough day at the office on Sunday. Still qualifying in the top five, but Billy did not get the rub of the green in the finals.
A season to be proud of with a podium and lots of learning and feedback to shape what is coming next. A top three overall out have been nice in a super competitive class, but game on for next season πDarren Tickner was making his debut for IRIS and qualified 4th on the A final grid, which is a great achievement. Not quite the luck in the final legs, but a positive end to our BRCA FWD Nationals to have 2 cars in the A final.
Billy Fletcher had a stunning Saturday practice, finished top of the Stock timings having unlocked even more pace after his podium at WLRC.
It proved to be a tough day at the office on Sunday. Still qualifying in the top five, but Billy did not get the rub of the green in the finals.
ETS at Arena33, Andernach
I mention this one in passing, as when writing this I had not long been back in the UK from the trip to race there. It will not be covered in any detail as it fits better with a future IRIS In Focus theme. All will be clear in time and trust me it will be well worth the wait!A brief look forward to carpet season
Some of our European drivers have a clear split between summer meetings outside on tarmac, and winter meetings indoors on carpet. They find it interesting that here in the UK some clubs and series continue to race indoors on carpet all year around, and we have already seen the first Carpet Legends round held in Stevenage.
The “big one” for us is the excellent Essex Winter Series. Held over five events it is once again packed full with entries, and not everyone can get a place. We will have a bigger IRIS presence than last season, even though I can only race at three events this year.
EWS International is the highlight of the UK winter, and we are excited to have Andreas and Peter Knudsden joining us again.
RugRacers will be a three-event series, and we have IRIS racers entered for those. I will be getting practice in at my local club, so will miss RugRacers and the Carpet Legends meetings.
That practice is ahead of my return trip to race at the US Indoor Champs in Cleveland, hosted by Scotty Ernst. I have entered FWD which has different rules and will be faster than we are used to. And I have entered LMH which is 25.5 ROAR motors as a Touring Car class with Hypercar bodies. It will be great to represent the brand and see my many American racing buddies again.
I will leave by mentioning the ETS round at Daun in Germany which will have a big IRIS presence again. It certainly was a busy summer for us, and it already looks like a busy winter ahead. Bring it on!
Mark Burgess
IRIS UK Team Manager
September 2026
