NEWS
The pilot race was held at Cadwell
1980s Production Car Challenge is go
A four-race schedule for the new 1980s Production Car Challenge will be a perfect entry-level race series for production touring , sports and GT cars from the 1980s . The highlight of the programme will be a chance to race on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit . The series is open to cars with standard bodyshells and only minor modifications to engines and suspension . The series will not be open to Caterhams or homologation specials for competition . Cars will be split into classes based on engine size , with a separate class for turbocharged cars . Cars will race on treaded types from Motorsport UK list 1A , 1B and 1C . In addition , contenders will be able to join the HSCC Closed Wheel grid for a pair of races at the sensational Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium ( October 1-3 ).
The series compliments the Club ’ s existing highly successful Historic and 70s Road Sports Championships , which cater for cars from the mid-1950s through to the end of 1979 . Although 2020 plans were impacted by the pandemic , a pilot race was held at Cadwell Park last September , with cars ranging from an Audi Quattro to a Vauxhall Nova .
The list of eligible cars is huge and many suitable cars are available and affordable , so the new class is an ideal way into historic racing for younger drivers and those seeking to start racing with a modest budget . Typical cars that can be entered include the Alfa Romeo GTV6 , BMW 3-series , Ford Fiesta XR2 , Honda CRX , Morgan Plus 4 , Porsche 944 , Suzuki Swift GTi , Toyota MR2 and VW Golf .
Kevin Kivlochan is taking the lead in promoting the new category for 2021 .
He said : “ This is a perfect entry level category and gives drivers a chance to be on the grid in a car that could easily cost them less than £ 10,000 . The cost of cars can be a barrier to entry into historic racing , but the 80s Production Challenge will offer lowercost racing and will be great fun in a cost-controlled environment . I ’ m sure it will particularly appeal to drivers in their 30s and 40s , who can race the cars they grew up wanting to have !”
The 2021 calendar is :
April 17 / 18 Snetterton 300 May 22 / 23 Silverstone GP June 5 / 6 Cadwell Park September 18 / 19 Mallory Park
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Park steps up
Leading Historic FF2000 racer Andrew Park will step up a level this season after acquiring a Formula Atlantic March 79B form a racer in San Francisco . The Quaker State car arrived at his Cumbrian workshop before Christmas and Park is keen to give the car a run as soon as possible . However , racing plans for 2021 are uncertain due to work commitments and the arrival of his son Vinnie last summer .
“ We were looking for a 79B and found
one in an old advert . So we rang up on the off-chance and it was still available . We were lucky to get it out of the docks before Christmas . It is in pristine condition and hasn ’ t run for a couple of years . It ’ s almost too nice to race !”
On the way back from the docks , Park dropped in on Tom Smith ’ s workshop for Smith to give the car a check over and draw up a list of jobs to be done to get it ready to race in the UK .
“ I ’ d like to run it this year ,” said Park , who didn ’ t race last season . “ The
Formula Ford 2000 Reynard is still in a million pieces after it blew up at Silverstone at the end of 2019 .”
Park says he ’ ll pick one or two events for 2021 , either in the Aurora Trophy or Historic Formula 2 . “ It ’ s a good step up and I ’ ll take my time to learn about it . It ’ ll be the fastest thing I ’ ve ever driven .
“ I ’ ll probably keep the 2-litre as I enjoy that car so much , but I ’ ve had some enquiries about what I ’ m going to do with it . I ’ m looking forward to getting out in it
I ’ ve got plenty of support . Callum Grant and Richard Evans have both offered help as well as Tom Smith .”