Banner – one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of batteries and battery accessories – has announced it is to continue to support oval track racing here in the UK, an adrenaline-fuelled grassroots motorsport.

Following the success of Banner’s sponsorship of Charlie Bull Racing over the last two years, and having decided last year to extend its participation in the sport by introduce the Duracell Automotive brand with Luke Loveland Racing, the leading lead-acid battery manufacturer has committed to sponsor both teams for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.   

With Luke Loveland and Duracell having finished second in the National Championship last year and Charlie Bull 5^th, Banner is confident that as two of the world’s leading names in batteries compete together on the race circuit that both teams are well place to improve on their 2024 performances and hopefully will bring home the National Championship title.

And with two rounds already completed, it’s been a promising and exciting start to the season. Round 1 at Hednesford saw team Charlie Bull take the chequered flag twice, with Luke Lovelend having secured a respectable 5^th, 3^rd and 3^rd,

With Charlie Bull already claiming his 2025 car is ‘something else’, both drivers have taken to the race circuit with cars that feature improvements both mechanically and in terms of their visual branding that has been enhanced to elevate their on-track presence.

There was equal success on a wet day at Aldershot Raceway for Round 2, where the weather certainly didn’t dampen the spirits or enthusiasm of both teams

With Charlie positioning 5th, 3rd and 5^th, Luke went one better by winning the final on a very wet track after 4^th and 5^th placings in the qualifiers. So after Round 2, Charlie is sitting on top of the National Championship with 935 points, with Luke close on his hells in 2^nd place with 920 points.

Next stop is the Easter weekend, with Yarmouth on April 20th, followed by the British Championship in Ipswich on Easter Monday, April 21st.

As Banner Country Manager, Lee Quinney states: ““The fusion of Banner and Duracell Automotive brought unmatched energy to the track last year, so the decision to extend the sponsorship agreement with both teams for the next two years was a logical one. Last season Luke, backed by the indomitable

Duracell Automotive brand, set new standards of excellence by securing his second place spot, whilst Charlie has enjoyed improvements in his performances over the last two years. Not surprisingly, we are looking forward to seeing how both teams perform as the year unfolds, with everyone at Banner GB wishing them every success.”

Expressing their delight in securing sponsorship for both the 2025 and 2026 seasons, Luke and Charlie said: “It’s been a privilege for us to partner with Banner and Duracell Automotive, both brands being synonymous with power and performance. With their backing, both race teams are poised and committed to unleash their full potential on the track, the aim being to seize championship glory this season and beyond.”

The UK oval track-racing season centres on 16 events that take place across circuits predominantly within the Midlands and across the south of England. It is a closed circuit motorsport that is contested on an oval-shaped racetrack, with cars travelling in an almost universally counter-clockwise direction. Each race event involves three races; 20 laps across two qualifying events and a 25-lap final, and each lap is normally completed in a time of 15/16 seconds, with cars reaching speeds in excess of 65 mph.