Standard Production Racing returns for 2007

The BARC/Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup, announced on ten-tenths before Christmas, is looking promising for 2007.

This weekend at Thruxton two cars (VXR Astra and Hyundai Coupe) were used to evaluate the standard Dunlop road tyre that will be used in the cup.

I think that this has the potential to appeal to a range of competitors, from professional teams at Cupra or GT level to club racers wanting to run a road legal car on a sensible budget.

What do you reckon?

More at driversknow.co.uk/greatbritishfestivals

Production S1???????????

Do we really need yet another new class? Especially one so close to an existing category.

Trouble with these things there is always some cars that are more 'standard' than others isn't there?

Yes, Dunlop sponsor Britcar s1, but they are longer distance races for a diverse group of cars from BTCC cars to Group N on slicks.

This is for road legal 'sub - group N' - back to the days of the old Prodasaloons in the 80s and early 90s.

Then there will always be one must have model that will dominate everything.

Then hopefully the BARC are ready to weild the cunning penalty stick to level the playing field, be that weight, or inlet restrictors.

The main problem is it's another series vying for the racer's buck. And most of the old prod-saloon teams seem to be happy doing Prod S1 in Britcar.

It's probably too much of a step up for the 750MC stock/hot hatch boys due to the cost of building a car, compared to running a £3K Fiesta or Saxo/106.

It would have to be really good "if" I had say 30K available for the car, and running budget of another £20-30K. I'd be weighing it up against Prod S1, and at the moment, longer races (more track time) wins.

Mind you, there were some Spoon Honda Integra's available recently for £12K, brand spanky new, ready to prep.

If someone wanted me to build them a car for it, I'd do it.

Rob.

888 can supply a ready to race Astra for a few beers short of 50k. Is spending that sort of sum club racing?

There you go they are off with the fairys before it has even started!

888 can supply a ready to race Astra for a few beers short of 50k. Is spending that sort of sum club racing?
It doesn't take a lot to get to that sort of figure, have you ever worked out what your car has cost?
There are a few cars in at least one of the race series you participate in that would be close to that figure if not way over.

But that's 888 building a car for you.

You could build one yourself for much much less - but will it be a front runner? Do you want to just race with the "it" crowd, or race at the front?

With Dunlop's backing, and marketing, it should make finding a sponsor a little easier than riding a unicycle with one leg in plaster with your hands tied behind your back.

What you have to realise Al, is that people who are likely to go for this series won't be the "genuine" clubbies like me and you who turn up on their jack jones, running their own car, it'll be the established teams like Mardi Gras, and others that run cars in Production S1. Perhaps they will have a car that does both - on slicks in S1, and on road rubber for Sport Maxx.

Who know's, but this time next year, it'll either be a hit, or a miss.

I was talking to an engineer a while back to said that in his many years of experience of motor racing, on both sides of the fence (competitor, and official), what the public want to see are "angry cars". Meaning things like the old Superloons, Thundersaloons, and maybe the new V8 Supercars.

There are purist "enthusiasts" that eat sleep and breath single seaters, but joe public wants to see "angry cars". Cars that stir the soul.

Like Rockingham - the public go to see the SCSA cars, big angry V8's, not the buzzing pickups, regardless of how good and close their racing is.

The answer is to get the public through the doors, fill the stands, and subsidise (or fully pay for) the grid. Then you will have reached success.

Oh there I go again, like a scratched record.

Perhaps someone will listen one day.

Rob.

Oh I agree hence the Camaros, if I wanted to win I would build a Pug!

It doesn't take a lot to get to that sort of figure, have you ever worked out what your car has cost?
There are a few cars in at least one of the race series you participate in that would be close to that figure if not way over.

But some of those cars are genuine WRC or DTM cars, or competing on a level with those - that level being seriously modified. From how I understand the Production Maxx Sport (delete as applicable) to be run there are very few modifications allowed - brakes are standard, suspension is standard, engine is "standard". Very far from S1, as I understand it. With some of the cars that Gary races with you can see that they should cost big money to develop, a near standard astra for 50k is less easy to justify.
If 888 feel they will get customers at 50k then good luck to them. You could get a car on the grid for a fraction of that cost. The whole idea of going up against a team like 888 who will spend a small fortune developing is off-putting, tho; at least to the likes of me - so my 4k Saxo idea will stay unfulfilled for a little while at least.

Also, weren't cars that become obsolete/too old from this series being pointed towards the Toyos series? Has it been confirmed that the Toyos will be running with Classic Thunder next year, or is that just rumours?

Funnily enough, I was reading regs on BARCs web site today ( no I wasn't if my boss is reading this!) - seems a bit like the DTRC format with a shorter race followed by a longer race ( although 2 qualifying sessions ) races a bit longer than DTRC. Registration is £100, entry fees are £280 for two races, or £320 for the rounds where the second race is even longer and you run two drivers. Seems more for people hoping to progress in the saloon category, or the more wealthy amatuer- I suspect what you will save on engine/chassis development will be spent on body panels (ok I'm just an old cynic).
I'd go and watch it - If someone else wanted to pay for it -I'd do it
However, I reckon someone run by a profesional team will win it, and as Al says one car will be dominant- there are different classes, but people only talk about overall winners - not the guy who wins class D but finishes 17th overall. Ok gents place your bets now what is going to dominate ? list of eligable cars on BARC website- how about 888VXR or a Civic type R ?

Yes, £40k is for an off the shelf car, but a similar car could be built from a write off for about a third of that I guess.

BARc have had enquiries from plenty of drivers who intend to tackle this on a budget too. The up to 5 year old limit keeps it contemporary enough to attract dealer and manufacturer support, but does allow some cheaper cars in too.

The Saxo and 106 are possibilities, as is the option of converting a Leon or Clio to Prod spec once they become redundant from TOCA this year. We have had enquiries from standard Mini Cooper owners too. I think it will offer a chance for newer production spec cars from championships such as the VW Cup and Alfa Challenge to race in a mixed field too.

I'm tempted to try this on a budget myself.............

Can I enter a Monaro VXR? :-)

Joking aside I know they have capped the cc, if I did not have cars and projects in abundance I may be tempted but as driversknows says I would do it myself from a scrapper and if I did manage the odd good position against the well heeled would get immense satisfaction from doing so.

Has it been confirmed that the Toyos will be running with Classic Thunder next year, or is that just rumours?Was wondering about that myself. To be honest I am not sure how I feel on this and I do hope CTRCC allows some consultation with members before committing. I am not sure about the mandatory Toyo 888's rule and no slicks as currently only Kumhos fit my CT car and I can drop a class because not running on slicks something that attracted me to the championship. Presumably that consession will go out the window if this happens.

Can I enter a Monaro VXR? :-)



Yes Al, according to the regs, it's a Class D car (161bhp/tonne and over)

I have studied the draft regs, and they look pretty reasonable. Only fly in the ointment is the bit where it says that car which are too old can go to Class E Mod Prods... perhaps they'll give it the kiss of life in three or four years then..

Now how am I going to get a Monaro into Class C so I can have 59..... :rotate:

Rob.

Well thats as I understood what was happening but presumably if they merge with CT there will be no economy class and the natural place for them in the CTRCC would be to pre 93 regs but then that would have to go up to pre 06 so can't see that working.

Sorry I have to say this is exactly the same as BRSCC tried a few years ago to resurrect Prod Saloons. A number of us built Group N spec cars and turned up to race expecting a big grid as we had been promised (I had a nice Pug 106 professionally built)...the grid never materialised (4 cars was the most we managed) and I was lucky to sell the car for track days (the regs specified weld in cages whereas stock hatch are bolt in) to recover anything from the car or spares package.

Consequently I would be very wary of building a car for a new series like this until I had seen the grid...

Since then been in Britcar/Prod S1 and very happy.

Don't want to put anyone off going racing, but be wary of any new series where the car won't be saleable elsewhere/have another series it can be used in.

Archibold

If it hoovers up ½ doz undersupported series and clears a bit of space while having a marketing budget to throw at it, then I'm in favour. If it's yet another series, then please, no. The target should be to bring together a host of competitors to one sensibly priced championship, preferably with the support of the current organisers of each of those series. It would be so nice to be proved wrong for once.

That is the hope Woolley......

It leaves BARC with a nice hierarchy of (mainly Dunlop sponsored) championships to cater for all cars.

BTCC and Sport Maxx Cup for contemporary cars in either S2000 or standard spec, ModProds to cater for cars too old for Sport Maxx Cup, and then Classic Touring now covering everything from the fifties to the nineties.

All of these are well placed to scoop up cars from lesser supported championships.

With the Sport Maxx Cup on the Dunlop Great and British package, we hope to be able to announce a TV deal soon as well.

What series are you expecting to 'scoop up' cars from. I can't think of many where the cars would be easily transferrable.

Production S1, VW Cup, Castle Combe Saloons spring to mind but all are likley to be too highly modified to Maxx Cup and none are that poorly supported.

I personally really like the concept of a series like this but I think and this is why they have all failed in the past (IMHO) there is a fundemental fly in the ointment which is unfortunately whether we like it or not people cheat. It is a fact, it is undeniable, I have seen it on quite a few occassions when running ModProds on anything from hiding rosejoints within rubber bushes, bending solid axles, secret nitros injection fed from the tubes of the roll cage etc etc etc. I could go on and on.

Now with modern mapped ignitions and computers the opportunities to cheat are further enhanced and even post and pre race power testing will be a nonsense as power outputs can be changed by the flick of a secret switch.

For this to be work the cheating has to be addressed, how you do this I don't know (anyone got any suggestions?). We had a buying plate in ModProds originally and although never used and often slatted I noticed after it got voted out by people that wanted to spend massive amounts on this club racing championship set up to deter this, things started to go down the pan. Coincidence maybe but a fact never the less.

I'd bet £100 that this won't succeed.

EERC Production S1 caters for the people with bigger budgets.

750MC Stock hatch caters for people with smaller budgets (for the car if not the body work).

BRSCC LMA Saloons caters for all budgets.

I'd be surprised if people move en-masse from these to a new series and risk getting stung if it got small grids and was cancelled.

And yes, they have a large number of people seriously interested. If everyone that was 'seriously interested' in Mod Prods turned up to a race we would have two grids.

And yes, they have a large number of people seriously interested. If everyone that was 'seriously interested' in Mod Prods turned up to a race we would have two grids.Dennis you are not wrong. I was amazed by the amount of people that were not just seriously interested but serious enough to get their hands into their wallets and actually pay the registration fee but still never to appear!

Also because of my afore mentioned comment on cheating or tweeking the rules however you want to put it and the prices quoted for a prepared car I would say that in reality to be a front runner in a 'stock' specification car can in fact cost more than allowing certaing modifications as allowed in ModProds and this was the basis of the championship. I looked at all these little cheats people wer doing and wrote them into the rules making them legal so no one had an advantage which is how in the end rose joints were infact allowed as an example. I learnt this lesson from running a Sunbeam Talbit in Road Saloons and being told I had to run 'standard' road springs till I caught the co-ordinator changing his behind a shed at Snett. I changed mine and the next meeting put it on pole after a year of trying, what a joke!

So how did the tyre evaluation go DK?

The evaluation of the standard Dunlop Sport Maxx road tyre took place at Thruxton earlier this month, using the 888 Astra VXR Cup prototype and a Hyundai Coupe V6 with track suspension.

The wear and grip characteristics were excellent. Thruxton, due to its long high speed corners and abrasive surface, is the biggest challenge for any tyre and Dunlop were delighted with the results.

We had deliberated whether to run this series on tyres such as the Dunlop Formula R or Direzza, which are used in many one make series and are a track orientated road legal tyre, but we feel that a pure road tyre such as the Sport Maxx is more appropriate for a production class, even if it is slightly slower in the dry.

The Astra was very well balanced for a 250bhp front wheel drive car. I expected torque steer, but it was very composed. On road tyres, this type of car will reward the smooth driver.

There has been a lot of interest in the Sport Maxx Cup for 2007, and next week we have another preparation expert unveiling an 'off the shelf' car, this time for the lower powered class. Look out for this is the press.

More details at barc.net

As long as the costs are kept in check otherwise the championship will go the way the last few in the past have ie dwindling entry's that's not what us spectators want to see,we want big grids and close racing so is the ballast going to be added?.
It would also be good to see the championship at Castle Combe as due to noise issue's we don't get to see the BTCC so at least a national saloon championship would go a long way to help fill the void:)

Yes, ballast will be added where necessary. With the current boom in the hot hatch market (Focus ST, Volvo C30 T5, Golf GTi, Seat Cupra, VXRs, Clios) plus the junior warm hatches (Fiesta ST, c2 vts, Mini Cooper, Micra 160 etc) and throw in the odd coupe (RX8, TT) there is potential for a very interesting mix of cars.

And we hope to be at Castle Combe too. The dates for the 2007 Dunlop Great and British Festivals will be announced later this year, and Combe was the venue that our teams voted as the one they'd most like to go back to, so we will aim to please!

Yes, ballast will be added where necessary. With the current boom in the hot hatch market (Focus ST, Volvo C30 T5, Golf GTi, Seat Cupra, VXRs, Clios) plus the junior warm hatches (Fiesta ST, c2 vts, Mini Cooper, Micra 160 etc) and throw in the odd coupe (RX8, TT) there is potential for a very interesting mix of cars.

And we hope to be at Castle Combe too. The dates for the 2007 Dunlop Great and British Festivals will be announced later this year, and Combe was the venue that our teams voted as the one they'd most like to go back to, so we will aim to please!

That's good to know we all enjoyed the meeting but perhaps there could be a little more entertainment on the saturday say having one of the radical races on that day instead of both champioships on the sunday which too be honest can get a little boring at times that's only my view though.
For a package to work as well as it has in its first year is an good achivement
hopefully it'll just get better in 2007:)

The potential grid for the 2007 BARC/Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup has been further strengthened with the unveiling of a new customer car to compete in the ‘supermini’ class of the inaugural production car series.

Peugeot/Citroen specialists EJM Preparation, based in Warwickshire, today launched their Citroen C2GT test car for the Cup.

The will compete in Class A of the Cup, alongside potential rivals such as the Mini Cooper, Ford SportKa, Nissan Micra 160SR and MG ZR105.

EJM are taking orders for the Cup contender, which is priced at £14,995 in Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup specification.

The specification includes Tubular exhaust, adjustable dampers and EJM racing springs, comprehensive welded in cage, 195/45R16 Dunlop tyres with a FIA approved seat, six point harness and full safety equipment.

This is a sensibly priced off the shelf race car that will provide a great entry level new car for the Cup, which promises to provide a genuine stepping stone to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. The class structure will encourage close racing throughout the field, and the C2 looks to be one of the main contenders in Class A for cars up to 110bhp per tonne

The Dunlop SP Sport Maxx road tyre has already been tested on two cars that are expected to grace the grids of the production cup next year. The Hyundai Coupe V6 and Vauxhall Astra VXR Sprint were used at Thruxton earlier this month in a successful tyre test.

Yes I read an article on that in yesterdays news of the world (I don't but if folks honest). Looked really good.

Are you going to buy one then Al? ;)

Joking aside if I did not have three Camaros around me I would look into it further. It would just be nice to race something modern with restricted tuning that did not keep requiring changing or fixing something or other all the time as I am sure you are aware as two hard days in the garage at the weekend I certainly am!

Is the race going ahead next week?

After my last weekend's expensive debacle this type of racing is beginning to look a bit more tempting.

Dunlop are planning a press day to launch the Cup on 20th October at Donington, so we may leave a couple of cars there for the weekend to tempt you!

I have entered for the weekend, do you want me to thrash one round for you :-)

Dunlop are planning a press day to launch the Cup on 20th October at Donington, so we may leave a couple of cars there for the weekend to tempt you!

Nice diplomatic side-step to the question of racing at Snetterton. So the Snetterton event is off?

Hi Carrera....wasn't sidestepping. BARC announced plans to do a pilot race in 2006 earlier this year, but once we announced that this series was to be part of Dunlop Great and British this fell by the wayside.

The 888 Astra Cup car and EJM Citroen C2 Cup will be launched at Donington on 20-22 October

Prospective competitors who wish to attend a forum on Friday 20th at 1100 to discuss the 2007 series, and meet with Dunlop, BARC and other potential drivers should message me through this site.

James Bailey
Dunlop

Oh, and if you are coming to Donington, there is a 2-4-1 free ticket offer for the Great and British Championship finals, featuring:

RADICAL, GINETTA, MINI, CLASSIC TOURING CARS

and 2-4-1 admissionto the Donington Collection - the world's biggest collection of F1 cars.........

Get your vouchers at www.driversknow.co.uk/twoTickets/

To Mr Drivers Know.
How will series compare to the clios or cupras in terms of budgets for the season with a team.
Last year i looked at the clios untill i was told of the budget i would require!
Will costs differ much?

There will be something to cater for all budgets in this series, unlike one-make series where there is a set price for everything.

We have one competitor planning to buy an off-the-shelf ready built Astra 888 and get a professional team to run it for him. In tha case, the budget is going to be similar to doing Clios.

However, we have several people building their own cars, including one driver who is intending on building a race car from a crash damaged C2 or Punto on a budget of £6K and running it for £6k per year, including entry fees.

That is the beauty of this series - each has an equal chance of glory thanks to the class structure.

The press day at Donington was a huge success. We learnt of several more competitors planning to do this, with a ready built C2, Astra and Clio already on display

Can someone explain how the Dunlop web site has a new article about a guy who is going to run an ex-Seat Cupra championship car next year.

He says "That makes the ex-one make series Cupra a competitive, yet cost effective choice with minimal changes needed. . . . . "

I can't see how this works looking at the rules on the BARC web site:

"No seam welding"
"The standard manufacturers front and rear anti-roll bar must be retained."
"The standard manufacturers transmission, gear ratios, and final drive must be retained."
"The standard manufacturers brake callipers and discs must be retained"
"The standard manufacturer supplied steel or alloy road wheels must be retained"
"Only the camber angle may be adjusted within the range of the standard part. All other settings must remain as standard."
"The fitting of non standard plastic or composite bushes and rose joints is prohibited"
And the engine/ECU won't be legal

That means it will need a new shell, gearbox, engine, ECU, suspension, brakes and wheels for starters.

I'm building a new car for the Alfa Championship for 2007 and was thinking of trying to make it comply with both sets of regs but don't think it's possible to make a car that would be legal and competitive in both.

Either I am reading the wrong regs, that guys bought a very expensive secondhand seat & harness or are the rules already being bent to allow certain cars in?

I remember back in the Auto Italia days we had a Maserati Ghibli Cup ex-one make car running in Production presumably on the basis that 25 of them (or so) were made, so it was standard as far as they went

Maybe the same logic applies to the Seat - all parts on it are standard across the 25 or so that were made for the series

Maybe its me, but do we need yet another expensive production series which is going to take cars/drivers away from existing struggling series (until people realise how expensive its getting, by then the other series may have been demised) when there are already plenty of places these cars could run anyway?

The sort of money I see being bandied about is surely enough to run something at the sharper end of DTRC or LMA Euro Saloons and I'd rather drive something b quick than something that looks and goes like my daily driver

As they say some cars will be more standard than others. Does this not always happen in these type of championships with someone always ending up way in front and looking the greatest driver in the world because his car is just a bit less 'standard' than the opposition and when you get two identical cars going down the straight and one pulls away faster than the other, how does that happen?

Al, Good policing is vital. The Dunlop BARC/Great+British have three of the closest one-make series (Ginetta, Radical and Mini), and the policing has been excellent. The Sport Maxx Cup will share the same infrastructure.

Regarding the Seat Leon - no it can't run in its current spec. If there were say, a dozen, Leon drivers who wanted to run their cars in Sport Maxx it would be worth debating how they could ballast their cars to be on a par with true prodsaloon spec cars, but I agree that Track And Race Cars would be a better place for the car.

Regarding Nyssa's comment. 'I want to run a faster car than a road car' - well, thats what the Track and Race Cars championship is for. The Sport Maxx Cup is for drivers who are more interested in driving than tuning.

Think about it Al,

A lot of it is down to how the engine is run in, the lubricants & additives in the oil, and in the transmission.

You must have driven two cars which are the same model, and one goes better than the other. I often come across that in my work, where two identical cars perform differently, one goes like stink, the other is noticeably slower. If you were to pull the engines apart, you'd find no real difference, but I bet it you analysed the oil, you'd find more metal in one than the other, or bores slightly glazed.

Rob.

Yeah right! :-) There was only ever one truely identical race championship and the was IROC and no one owned the cars (apart from the organisers Penske of course) and the drivers drew lots on the day and that is the only way to really sort out a production champion.

But that's not going to happen over here is it?

They tried a EuRoc, but it failed (identical Dallara sportscar chassis)

The 2007 Great and British dates are out and the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup features six double header rounds at the following promoted meetings in its inaugural year.........

Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup dates

28 – 29 April Snetterton
26 & 28 May Oulton Park (Island)
04 – 05 August Donington Park
25 – 26 August Croft
22 – 23 September Pembrey
06 – 07 October Brands Hatch


PRESS RELEASE
1st December 2006.

Dunlop Great&British grows in its second year with new championships


The 2007 Dunlop Great and British Motorsport Festivals calendar has been unveiled by the BARC. The provisional dates show Oulton Park hosting the G+B package for the first time and a return to Spa-Francorchamps for the popular overseas round on the legendary Belgian Grand Prix circuit.

The core Dunlop Great and British Championships of the Dunlop Radical Enduro and BiDuro, MINI Challenge and PlayStation2 Ginetta Juniors are joined by the Britcar Endurance Championships at Oulton Park, Spa and Donington, taking Britain’s biggest GT and Sportscar series to new audiences.

In addition, the Westfields will guest at five of the eight rounds, showcasing the close, competitive racing of this long-established BARC championship, now running on Dunlop tyres for the first time in its history.

The ever-popular classic Dunlop Mini 7 and Miglia will join the contemporary MINIs at five themed Mini Festival rounds celebrating the Great and British icon.

The all-new BARC/Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup for production cars will have its inaugural event at the Snetterton season opener on 29 April, and all six of the double header events in the first year for this feeder series to the Dunlop BTCC will be promoted at Dunlop Great and British Festivals.

“In 2006, Dunlop Great and British started to put national motorsport back on the map with thrilling action from its core championships – some of Britain’s best supported one make series. In 2007, we add more variety to the Festivals and the addition of Britcar, bringing high-powered supercar action, and the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup will make Great and British a ‘must-see’ entry in any petrolhead’s diary” said Dunlop’s James Bailey.

ENDS

Dunlop is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high performance tyres with an impressive track record of motorsport successes. Dunlop’s extensive racing experience has led to innovative technologies for tyres designed for everyday motoring. Always looking for maximizing driving pleasure, Dunlop offers all types of motorists the performance and durability of the latest tyre technologies, including tyres with RunOnFlat technology.

For more information on Dunlop, visit www.driversknow.co.uk





BARC Dunlop Great and British Motorsport Festivals – Provisional 2007 calendar




28 – 29 April Snetterton


26 & 28 May Oulton Park (Island)


15 – 17 June Spa Francorchamps


21 – 22 July Thruxton


04 – 05 August Donington Park


25 – 26 August Croft


22 – 23 September Pembrey


06 – 07 October Brands Hatch

Two new cars for the inaugural BARC Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup are to be displayed at Autosport Show.

EJM Preparation will be displaying their 'baby class' contender the Citroen C2, which is available ready to race for £14,995. This will be on their stand in the national motorsports hall.

AMR Racing will be displaying their SEAT Leon FR. This 200hp car will be run as a celebrity car in the series in Class C and will be unveiled on Thursday 11th on the Dunlop stand

Interest in the first series is high, with cars such as Astra VXRs, Renaultsport Clios, Mazda RX8s and other hot hatches and coupes expected on the grid this year.

Regulations available at barc.net

is that a real sport maxx C2, or the rally car dressed up as one?

At that price, the sport maxx!! A 'real' C2 rally car would set you back at least double that.

The sport maxx C2 on the dunlop stand at the london motorsport show was a rally car in disguise.

Did the mudflaps and the stone chips give it away?

No, it was the extra chair on the passenger side...

Rob. You can pick up a Citroen C2 package for about £10k if you want to screw one together for yourself.

The EJM car at LMS was indeed a rally car.

So is there a Sport Maxx one then? Sorry if I sound a bit rude but i think its a reasonable question. Infact has anybody out there built a car for this series?

The C2 is touted as a cheap entry to the series, no more. Unlikely the one to be displayed will be a different car to the one seen at LMS.

The VXR used in the publicity shot is no doubt a similar vehicle, not actually built for the series, but if you are willing to part with the thick end of 50k you can take one away.

The Seat looks like it is to be the first official entry to the series. No doubt more news will be forthcoming at Autosport.

Don't get me wrong I like the idea behind the series but it is not going to be cheap to play in. Bringing in race fuel does the budget no good as it is 3 x the cost of Tesco's finest plus you need somewhere to store it (Anglo American don't do club points either). Registration fee of £100 will probably be enough to put some potential entrants off for a start specially on top of £95 BARC racing membership.

The VXR used in the publicity shot is no doubt a similar vehicle, not actually built for the series, but if you are willing to part with the thick end of 50k you can take one away.

The Seat looks like it is to be the first official entry to the series. No doubt more news will be forthcoming at Autosport.

Registration fee of £100 will probably be enough to put some potential entrants off for a start specially on top of £95 BARC racing membership.

Reg fee appears to be the least off putting - think 50 K and running cost would be more off putting ! Has anyone committed to this championship yet ?

:cool:

Why on earth do they need to run on race fuel if the engines are bog standard????

Control fuel Al, to stop people cheating with additives etc....

If the fuel sampled doesn't match the signature - you're out matey!

And the price of the fuel, I don't think it's three times that of Tesco99.
The last price I had for Sunoco FR (102 octane F3/GT legal) was £1.29/l compared to 1.10/l for Optimax (at the height of the stupid prices last year - though one station was trying to charge £1.21/L for Optimax!)

They're using the 100 octane MSA legal fuel IIRC, so it should be cost effective compared to the fluctuation in pump prices.
If you want any more info, contact Anders at AAOil...

Rob.

25l is £74.03, 50l is 137.48, 200l 504.08, all according to the aaoils site, for the 102RON FR. The 100RON MSA fuel is more expensive than that.

Similar to numbers from Teej. Price list handed out has R MR 100 octane at £65 plus vat plus delivery for 25 litres. It's cheaper to buy 200 litres at £449.00 plus vat plus delivery, but where do you put it? Certainly would not want that lot sitting in my garage. Tesco 99 works out at £21.04 plus vat for 25 litres.

There may well be discounts etc if you join the series but nothing has been mentioned.

Ahh yes... discounts....... marvellous things them....

I'm not sure, but I believe that (may well be wrong) AAOil offer a lower price to the "championship" as they are all running on it, like a quantity discount...

I reckon that's what they did with Britcar...

Ahh yes... discounts....... marvellous things them....

I'm not sure, but I believe that (may well be wrong) AAOil offer a lower price to the "championship" as they are all running on it, like a quantity discount...

I reckon that's what they did with Britcar...

If that were true it would be worth me registering for the championship and never racing in it to save the money on the fuel. Don't tend to see change from £400 for 150 litres

The other problem with having large quantities in is that Health & Safety regs say you can only keep 20 litres at home. I usually have 150 litres delivered to my preparer's premises to get round this, but my neighbours would have gone hysterical in summer when we had a couple of double headers close together and I must have had 100 litres in my garage at one point

The other problem is - doesn't the fuel 'go off' or lose some of the octane rating after a period of time? So buying loads of hi-octane fuel and storing it wouldn't be such a good move.

Standard production and AAO race bred fuel - why not just tescos fuel. Perhaps as part of the race meeting cars would have to all drive to the same petrol station in convoy (the one of the series supplier) and fuel there (and only there). The organisers could then seal all the fuel tanks/cells at the garage and if anyone wanted for whatever reason it would have to be from the organisers at track supply (some jerry cans) in a controlled environment.

This would prove thats the cars were road legal, ensure fair play and promote the sport/event well.

The other problem is - doesn't the fuel 'go off' or lose some of the octane rating after a period of time? So buying loads of hi-octane fuel and storing it wouldn't be such a good move.

Yeah, but probably not as quickly as the likes of Optimax which has already gone off by the time it reaches the station

Need to talk to AAOil at the Autosport Show, have 50 litres of fuel (half still in the car) left over from last race of the season due to breaking the gearbox on the outlap of qualifying :bmood: which has probably gone off by now. No idea how to dispose of it assuming its not got the octane rating the ECU map is expecting

The whole point of buying in these blends is that they are more stable than the fuel you get from the forecourt so more chance of consistency

remembering the Firestone/ Uniroyal production car championships and some of the competitors err.... interesting interpretations of the rules, i hardly think the advantages of people using octane booster in pump fuel would register in lap times or results. The series should be on pump fuel. The only reason to introduce a designated fuel supplier like this is if the organisers are getting some kind of commision on the fuel they sell.

.........have 50 litres of fuel (half still in the car) left over from last race of the season due to breaking the gearbox on the outlap of qualifying :bmood: which has probably gone off by now. No idea how to dispose of it ............

Should be perfectly ok to put it in a road car.

Reg fee appears to be the least off putting - ....



Perhaps we've had it too good with the DTRC. No registration fee and only need to join a club of your choice. The difference between the registrations will pay the entry for one of the DTRC rounds!

[quote=nyssa7]Yeah, but probably not as quickly as the likes of Optimax which has already gone off by the time it reaches the station.
the other problem that not alot of people know about or hear of is fuel cross overs at the fuel station .when sleepy tanker driver sticks 100 odd ltrs of diesel into what you might think is the good gas for all the money then ya poor race motor crys at ya!..nooo more pleeese

To answer some of the earlier points:

Yes, the first EJM Citoroen is based on a rally car. Subsequent cars ordered from EJM will be built from scratch.

The Astra VXR use at the Donington press day by Tom Chilton in October was a race prepared car. I also tested the same car at Thruxton in August (by the way, it is very impressive!)

The SEAT Leon to be displayed at Autosport is part-prepared. It has the right suspension bits on it, but the roll cage and interior is scheduled to be done in February as the car was only sourced at Christmas. AMR currently have two more enquiries for similar cars.

Although it is early days, we also know of two Clio 172s for Class C, a Xsara VTS 16v, a self-built (not 888) Astra VXR and a Mini Cooper all in build at the moment.

Next month, we expect to announce a manufacturer-sponsored single car entry that should be ready for round one.

All in all, Dunlop are optimistic about year one. Success would be to start the year with ten cars and finish with nearly twenty. The fact that this is for nearly new, but very standard cars, taps into an area of the market that should complement more modified series such as Dunlop Production S1 and Dunlop TRC.

Thanks to those who enquired about the Cup. There are 3 months before round one, and regisrations have now opened.

Our expectation for non-championship year 1 is to start with ten cars and build towards 15+, so we start the first championship season in 2008 with 20 cars.

Dunlop has just announced a bonus fund to reward drivers competing in the inaugural Cup.

The multi-class structure of the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup has led Dunlop to offer a bonus package that will reward as many drivers as possible, not just the outright winner.


The top drivers in their class at each round will receive a set of Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres, a bonus worth over £600 (depending on the tyre size). Additional prize tyres will be awarded to second and third place winners and for a ‘spirit’ award at each round.

Any competitor who registers with the BARC before March 1st will also receive their first set of tyres free of charge if they also race at the inaugural Snetterton event.

The first round is in three months time at Snetterton, on April 29th.

Any ten-tenthers going to the Maxx?

I might do a race or two in this series if my car was elligable, its a Punto HGT 1.8.. as far as I can see the suspension, brakes, shell, transmission are ok but I have an aftermarket ECU binging the power from 130bhp to 160bhp... will this rule me out of the championship or just into a different class?

Hi - You would have to source a standard ECU.

There are two other Punto HGTs that a team expects to enter later this year, so you won't be on your own!

ECU's How are you going to police those as a matter of interest?

Wouldn't be worth my while de-tuning the car for a couple of races , thanks anyway!

Shame, would have been nice to see an Irish championship Punto.

Any other Fiat fans or drivers looking for a cheap car could buy one of these though.................

http://www.crash.net/news_View~t~Maxx--Fiat-champions-to-enter-Punto-team-~cid~26~id~143611.htm

Here is a summary of off-the-shelf ready to race cars for Sport Maxx:

AMR Racing Punto HGT Class B £7995 (built from used road car)
EJM Preparation Citroen C2GT Class A £14995 (new)
Team Dynamics Civic Type R Class D £25000 (as reported in Motorsport News)
AMR Racing SEAT Leon FR Class C £28000 (new)
888 Astra VXR Class D £39000 (new)

Obviuosly, it is cheaper to do it yourself, and we are expecting self-built cars including Mini Cooper, Alfa 147, Citroen Xsara VTS, MG ZR, Renault Megane, Renault Clios and others to add a bit of variety to the grid.

Regs at : www.barc.net

I personally would love to enter this championship and see it flourish. I missed out on my late father's Group 1/DTV days and grew up with him running three Monzas (him, Cleland and Lanfranchi) and then his own Monza, a Uno Turbo, 3 Stradas, 2 Astra GTEs, an RS Turbo for him in the end and I though Production Saloons was brilliant, it captured the essence of what Group 1/2 had, win on a Sunday, sell on a Monday. These days how many of us and Joe Public watch the BTCC and think I want that Integra (which I think still isn't available here) or that Seat (that if the misses kerbed would collapse under it's own suspension)??
I think this year will be a struggle and I think there will need to be strict policing, there was always problems in the Production Saloons with turbo boost lights going out (no names mentioned, cough cough, Sands, Smith, Blower, Hathaway maybe even Marshall!!) and it slightly tainted the series and was probably part of it's demis in the '90s.
Someone should make the decison and grab this championship and the BTCC by the scruff of the neck and make it a proper feeder championship, just how it used to be (and used to be), the BTCC needs dumbing down slightly as it stands anyway!:rofl:

You mean the BTCC needs RWD V8's and driving standards!!

Or a meeting at Wimbledon!

Hello Gregor. How's that 'new nail'?? (Don't ask about Harry - long story!)

As for Standard Production Racing - well, there will always be those that are "more standard" than others.

I look forward to seeing it flourish, but it always worries me that it will take competitors from existing well supported championships, leaving them wanting for numbers, and eventually ailing to the point of amalgamation/cancellation. But that's the way with British un-supported un-promoted loved less than the great unwashed by the media Motorsport.

Rob.

Well, now you've said that Dad always thought that was the way forwards was V8s and RWD but then do we want Aussie Touring Cars or a wet night at the dogs (so to speak!!)?

Little Nail is looking good, I got some great pictures today and other than lack of funds everything is coming together well, will put some new pics on the website over the weekend, it has been severely neglected recently!!

Very true, some people are more standard than others and if you want to highlight it to people just say some cars at Goodwood are more Historic than others. :laugh:

British Motorsport is at a real crisis point at the moment with all the differant championships and by no means at all do I have the answers, all I'm saying is I'd like to see the old routes, Production Saloons then BTCC. I dislike this whole single seater brigade who aren't good enough for F3/GP2/F1 moving into BTCC but at the end of the day the cars are basically single seaters with a stupid body on, IMHO:D .

I think at the moment '70s classics are the way forwards, as that's what everyone remembers being beemed live into their sitting room on a Saturday/Sunday and they were really cars you could go out and buy and get a kit from the respective tuner. I think the new kits are great, 888 have done a great job, but to be honest it's absolute rubbish to think you or I or Joe Public will spend that much money on a club event.

The BARC need to be accomadating but hard, no manufacturer involvement and I personally think no specialised "team" involvement for the first year and then after that they can get involved.

If you look at the old mags I'm sure everyone will agree that there was probably more press coverage on the Monroe Shock Absorbers and Uniroyal Tyres production Saloons championships than there was on the (then) BTCC and any other championship and I am willing to bet that everyone in the BTCC in the '90s at some stage raced in the production saloons (barring Johny Foreigner!).

Unfortunately there is now too many people involved at too much a high level within a club and too many championships go wandering. I really don't know the answer and all I can comment on is my 25 years being with Dad in whatever championship and as much as I am a nobody I'd like to think I have seen some great championships and some f in awful championships (anyone remember the P100 championship??) and I don't think any of us have the answer, other than getting the right people to run the clubs we want, not old fuddy duddys running the championships that they think we should have.

P.S. I'm running in the Post Historic (Pre '74) and the Classic Group 1 (Pre '84) championships run by the CTCRC and I would seriously consider the Heritage and Top Hat stuff if it wasn't full of people with more money than me and people with an axe to grind about Dad.:p

Anyway, that's far too much from me, but I do really think there is a Championship for Production Saloons with the right policing.

all I'm saying is I'd like to see the old routes, Production Saloons then BTCC. I dislike this whole single seater brigade who aren't good enough for F3/GP2/F1 moving into BTCC but at the end of the day the cars are basically single seaters with a stupid body on, IMHO:D .


The BARC need to be accomadating but hard, no manufacturer involvement and I personally think no specialised "team" involvement for the first year and then after that they can get involved.

If you look at the old mags I'm sure everyone will agree that there was probably more press coverage on the Monroe Shock Absorbers and Uniroyal Tyres production Saloons championships than there was on the (then) BTCC and any other championship and I am willing to bet that everyone in the BTCC in the '90s at some stage raced in the production saloons (barring Johny Foreigner!).

Anyway, that's far too much from me, but I do really think there is a Championship for Production Saloons with the right policing.


Great feedback, thanks!

Yes, the first season is a trial season of pilot races, with the first championship season in 2008. Early indications are that we will have 10-12 cars in April and over 15 at the end of the year, with some very interesting car/driver combinations.

On the subject of policing, all I can say is that BARC/MSA are now very experienced in this area. They will be measuring power to weight ratios very strictly, as well as regular eligibility checks.

As a feeder series to the BTCC it is in a strong position.

- Dunlop sponsor both
- BARC run both
- SEAT, Vauxhall and Dynamics are likely to be represented in both
- Evo are the media partner to both
- Matt Neal is heading up the Dunlop Sport Maxx Race Academy , announced today. (see below)

More info and regs at barc.net or driversknow.co.uk

In 2007, the Dunlop Race Academy will be part of the inaugural Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup and British Touring Car Championship winner Matt Neal will be joining the training team and panel of judges to find a racing star of the future.

Matt Neal said: “ Dunlop Race Academy will offer a schedule of training to budding BTCC drivers and then the chance to race on track with experienced drivers in the BARC/Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup for one winner"

The competition stages have also been widened to encompass three regional semi-finals with 21 finalists taking part from across the UK. The chosen entrants will undergo training with experts such as Le Mans 24-hour racing driver, Calum Lockie. The winner gets to race in the final round at Brands Hatch on October 7th in the 200bhp Dunlop SEAT Leon FR"

Look forward to seeing you out in the pre-74's Gregor, probable be a late start from me as I am a summer person.

As a feeder series to the BTCC it is in a strong position.Why does it have to be a feeder series for anything let alone that championship. By promoting it as such I think you may regret it as you might end up with the same driving standards they have. I would prefer to watch your championship if supported than cars running around that bear little or no relationship to the road version.

Al - at the moment I might have a late start, A I've run out of money (if you know anyone that wants memorbilia of Dads' send them my way please!!) and B Gerry J has decided to take a break on the engine, but at least the first round isn't until the 21st/22nd of April (great the 21st being the 2nd anniversary of Dad's passing, REALLY looking forward to that being my first foray!!), but luckily I know Brands very well, now I've said that I'll end up in the barriers or break something!

Anyway, going back to what was said (the PR doesn't appear on the website though??) I can understand it being a feeder series into the "best" saloon car championship in the UK but the BTCC as it stands at the moment is rubbish and I'm more than happy to go on record as saying that.

Dad hated the recent championships (FWD) and for a few out there you might remember him driving the Vectra (apparently Cleland's, but I can assure you it wasn't, handlebars on the wrong side to start with) for an article in CCC and he said he really couldn't tell it was FWD (because of the electronic front diff) but he could tell you it was f in horrible to drive, but he would have loved to have raced it.

As far as I have an emotional link to it but I reckon Dad would've been competitive (please compare any of the drivers in it to when they raced against him, yes he might have been a big fish in a small pond, coz the manufacturers wouldn't touch him) and I think you'll find he would/could've beat all of them. Anyway!!

Unfortunately we are at the stage all of the cars are gonna be FWD and I still don't understand why we homolgate cars that aren't sold in this country; how does that work??!!

I could post about a diminutive Scotsman who got a 2 door sportscar included in the then BTCC and if you see the pictures of him pushing a Dolomite Sprint around a circuit you think how the hell could that happen, but it did in '79 so there's no reason why it won't now, IMHO, no matter what the BARC and "the famous" Dunlop say.

The BTCC is a joke at the moment, car-wise and driving-wise and that's not to say the drivers are rubbish but they have no honour and I can't believe that Ray Bellm is the "mentor" (I think he still is??) and lets them get away with what happens.

Anyway, when I knock ten people off to win my first race I won't complain, so we'll see what happens!!

does anyone know if a Mini Cooper challenge spec car would fit the rules for this new series or were they built to a modified spec and would be difficult to make fit these reg's? thinking of one of the original cooper models not a cooper S.

thanks

does anyone know if a Mini Cooper challenge spec car would fit the rules for this new series or were they built to a modified spec and would be difficult to make fit these reg's? thinking of one of the original cooper models not a cooper S.

thanks


To the best of my knowledge, the John Cooper cars are close to standard, and as the JCW parts were listed as official options in the BMW-Mini price list, this should not be an issue.

However, please check with the scrutineer. The Coopers are eligible to race in the MINI Challenge Club class, but with a quick change from the race rubber to the standard road Dunlop's to be used in the Sport Maxx Cup it gives the possibility for MINI drivers to do 4 races (two double headers) at each Dunlop Great and British meeting

News to be released today..............


Dunlop have put together a package for at least five of the six rounds of the BARC/ Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup. The new television deal will offer more race action of the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup to wider audiences with greater coverage on Sky Sports and Motors TV - making it an attractive series to new competitors.

Sky Sports will now feature the BARC / Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup in a 90-minute show, with highlights from the Dunlop Great & British Festivals that will broadcast to over 8 million homes across the UK and Ireland.

Motors TV is to dedicate a half-hour show featuring the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup and will broadcast to over 15 million homes across Europe.

The First ever round at Snetterton on April 29th has attracted 12 entries, a promising start for a series that will become a full championship in 2008.

Our aim is to have 18 cars by the end of the year and full grids for the first championship year in 2008

It is an interesting mix as well:

Two Nissan 350Zs, Clio, Megane R26, Seat Leon, Fiat Punto, MG ZR, Alfa 147, Mini Cooper, Lupo GTi...........

Timetable at www.driversknow.co.uk/greatbritishfestivals

Hope to see you there.

Do you know if they'd consider extending the list of cars eligble to include the Honda Integra Type R. My one is a year 2000 UK supplied car so its too old, but would they accomodate it?

Craig,

Only UK market cars are allowed, but I'm sure the Dunlop Britcar Production S1 Championship (eerc.co.uk) or Dunlop Motorsport News South East serise will welcome you!

Is the 350Z really a saloon car? http://redlinemax.com/catalog/images/bodykit-nissan-350Z-0304-spirit-fb1_pic2.gif

The series is for production based saloon and closed sports coupe cars.

Nice mix of cars; they missed off the Citroen though, probably as it is sitting on Toyos! lol

Sorry missed that bit.

my Honda Integra DC-2 is a UK offiical car (its just too old for the series)
The newer Integra, the DC5 was non uk car import only

so its an age thing I am asking

Craig you are more than welcome to join the BARC south east DMN championship. Regs are on the BARC website in the south east centre section. Registration is just £15.

Hi Craig.

Sorry for my ignorance, as I didn't realise the Integra was officially sold in the UK. I stand corrected!

As I'm just the sponsor rep, and shouldn't meddle in eligibility decisions could you contact either Dale Wells at BARC or the Sport Maxx scrutineer listed in the regs:

http://www.barc.net/competitors/regulations/BarcDunlopSportMaxx2007RegsFinalVersion.pdf

If you get two sets of wheels you could then do the Sport Maxx on road tyres and the Dunlop Motorsport News South East on race tyres!

Just a quick note to thank everyone involved in the first ever Sport Maxx Cup event yesterday. The first race in particular was a fantastic scrap between the Astra VXR, Megane 230 and Nissan 350Z, with equally close battles between the Clio, SEAT and MGs in Class C and the Cooper, 147 and Lupo in class B.


With a couple more cars due out at Oulton and more mid season this has got off to a great start.

Look out for the TV coverage on Sky and Motors in a couple of weeks time.

Craig you are more than welcome to join the BARC south east DMN championship. Regs are on the BARC website in the south east centre section. Registration is just £15.

Or the CSCC "Tin Tops" series (www.classicsportscarclub.co.uk)

or the BARC south east tin tops www.barc.net (south east centre). You could even do the challenge on May 5th.

Does anyone have any links to sites with photos from the first round?

http://www.hydephotography.co.uk/gallery/greatbritish.htm

Next week this should have photos uploaded.

Steve Hyde is appointed by Dunlop, so photos aere copyright free