Gala Performance Racing Make History with Inaugural Am Class Win at Donington Park

The 2025 Citroën C1 Challenge season reached its climax at Donington Park with a new twist to the format — the introduction of Pro and Am classes for the very first time. The shake-up was designed to add jeopardy, level the playing field, and give grassroots racers a chance to fight for silverware.

And on the very first outing under the new system, Gala Performance Racing, in partnership with Jack Watts of BPC Tuning, claimed victory in the Am Class — finishing P1 in class and P8 overall.

Behind the wheel for Gala Performance were CEO Mark Thompson and Operations Director Andrew Scott, who have been competing under the Gala Performance Racing banner since they first gained their racing licences in 2018.

Over the years, they’ve shared the track with some of the sport’s brightest names — including European Le Mans Series champion Christian England, Porsche Carrera GB stars Max Coates and Sid Smith, and Welsh champion Rhys Lloyd.

Their best finish until now came with a hard-fought P2 at Pembrey in the old format of the racing series, but the team often found themselves battling against professional drivers, where podiums proved elusive despite strong performances.

That all changed at Donington. By introducing the Am Class, the organisers created a platform that recognised the spirit and determination of amateur racers — and Mark and Andy seized the opportunity at the very first attempt.

The Donington finale was a gruelling test of consistency and teamwork. The Gala Performance duo, alongside Watts, drove with discipline and focus, staying out of trouble and pushing when it mattered. The reward was a commanding class win and a place in the history books as the first-ever Am Class winners in the Citroën C1 Challenge.

Reflecting on the result, Andrew Scott said:

“We’ve been plugging away since 2018, racing against some incredible drivers and learning with every stint. To finally stand on the top step, and to do it as the very first Am Class winners, is something special. It shows how far we’ve come, both as individuals and as a team.”

Mark Thompson added:

“This class was created to make the series more competitive, and it’s done exactly that. To win it on day one is huge for us. It’s all about the journey, and proving that with hard work and persistence, the results do come.”

For Gala Performance, the victory means more than just silverware. As a business that supplies race teams with equipment such as gazebos, awnings, flooring, and pit walling, our involvement in motorsport isn’t limited to the paddock. We put ourselves out there in the thick of it, testing both our products and resilience against the same challenges our customers face.

The 2025 season may have closed, but Gala Performance head into 2026 with momentum, silverware, and a benchmark set for the new Am Class. The journey from licence rookies to class winners has been long, but the next chapter promises to be even more exciting.