Sagaris in Britcar 2 June, Brands Hatch - and a new driver!
Discussion
I'm pleased to announce the debut of our TVR Sagaris V8 GT in the Brands Hatch round of the British Endurance Championship (formerly 'Britcar') on Saturday 2 June. This is a 2 hour race around the Indy Circuit and will be a tough challenge for both car and drivers.
On the subject of drivers, I am delighted to welcome a familiar name back to the TVR marque - Rod Barrett, team owner/driver of Hawthorns Motorsport and former Managing Director of Hawthorns TVR in Farnham, who will drive with me this year.
As set out in the press release below, Hawthorns are joining forces with Team Holden Racing to campaign our Sagaris in selected rounds of Britcar, starting in a couple of weeks time. Its a combination I have been itching to put together for years and I am really chuffed that we have finally been able to make it happen.
Those of you who used to follow the Tuscan Challenge in 2003 and 2004 may remember the friendly banter between me and 'Uncle Rodney' - a spirit of serious competition and serious fun that we aim to recreate with this new venture.
It would be fabulous to see some TVR supporters there - its an ideal weekend to come and watch some motorsport on the Saturday with Sunday-Tues to relax in the extra long Jubilee Bank Holiday break!
I will let you know which garage we are in so please do drop in and say hello. We'll be easy to find, with spangly new white transporter with TVR logos sat outside.
Press release follows:
British Endurance Championship: Hawthorns Motorsport return to TVR with Team Holden Racing
Hawthorns Motorsport, Britcar stalwarts and overall ‘GT’ Champions in 2008, are on the verge of re-entering the British Endurance GT Championship, but with major changes afoot.
Having run for several years under Neil Garner’s preparation team, the Hawthorns Porsche 997 is now up for sale as part of a re-organisation. Plans are well advanced to return to the series with the stunning 6.2 litre TVR Sagaris V8 GT, built and run by Team Holden Racing.
The tie up sees the Hawthorns’ team owner/driver Rod Barrett and owner/manager Diane Barrett returning to their TVR roots, Rod having cut his teeth in the infamous TVR Tuscan Challenge back in 1995. The combined team is a ‘tale of two couples’ with Team Holden Racing run by Andy and Yvonne Holden. Andy completes the ‘ex-Tuscan’ driver line-up.
Hawthorns Motorsport has been trying to find a way forward since long term driver Jan Persson announced his semi retirement and attempts to secure a substitute driver to take his place were unsuccessful. In hindsight replacing the irrepressible Persson was perhaps an impossible task and a different route was therefore required to get the team back out on track.
The new venture with Team Holden Racing ticks all the boxes with the car a proven and reliable example of the breed, built to an exacting specification. It has run successfully through its development period in the Dunlop TVR Challenge, AMOC Super GT and Dutch Supercar Challenge securing several podiums and wins. After running faultlessly though testing the car is now ready for the challenge of longer endurance races. Team Holden will run the car, with the new venture likely to work alongside Neil Garner Motorsport at the Britcar rounds, due to the strong and long term connections that exist between the teams.
The main drivers will be Andy Holden and Rod Barrett with Jay Shepherd potentially joining for longer races. Jan Persson may also come out of retirement for the occasional drive, with the line up for each race selected to suit its nature. The team will enter selected rounds of the British Endurance Championship this season, commencing on 2 June at Brands Hatch, with potential for a full Championship challenge in 2013.
Hawthorns Motorsport’s Rod Barrett: ‘We enjoyed the reliability of the Porsche but running costs in an endurance format were high and Jan’s retirement prompted us to reconsider our approach to racing. Having tested the TVR we were immediately impressed at the pace and driveability of the car. We had some fabulous times in the Tuscan Challenge and it’s great to be back in a TVR again.’
Team Holden Racing’s Andy Holden: ‘We’re delighted to combine forces with Hawthorns. We’ve all been great friends for years and whilst we’ve talked about doing some racing together for some time, the circumstances have never been right. We’re now able to combine the endurance experience of Rod, Jay and Jan with an exciting and fast addition to Britcar, in a package which we expect to be very competitive.’
For further information contact:
Andy Holden
+44 7540 494 864
info@teamholdenracing.com
Rod Barrett
rod@hawthornsmotorsport.co.uk
On the subject of drivers, I am delighted to welcome a familiar name back to the TVR marque - Rod Barrett, team owner/driver of Hawthorns Motorsport and former Managing Director of Hawthorns TVR in Farnham, who will drive with me this year.
As set out in the press release below, Hawthorns are joining forces with Team Holden Racing to campaign our Sagaris in selected rounds of Britcar, starting in a couple of weeks time. Its a combination I have been itching to put together for years and I am really chuffed that we have finally been able to make it happen.
Those of you who used to follow the Tuscan Challenge in 2003 and 2004 may remember the friendly banter between me and 'Uncle Rodney' - a spirit of serious competition and serious fun that we aim to recreate with this new venture.
It would be fabulous to see some TVR supporters there - its an ideal weekend to come and watch some motorsport on the Saturday with Sunday-Tues to relax in the extra long Jubilee Bank Holiday break!
I will let you know which garage we are in so please do drop in and say hello. We'll be easy to find, with spangly new white transporter with TVR logos sat outside.
Press release follows:
British Endurance Championship: Hawthorns Motorsport return to TVR with Team Holden Racing
Hawthorns Motorsport, Britcar stalwarts and overall ‘GT’ Champions in 2008, are on the verge of re-entering the British Endurance GT Championship, but with major changes afoot.
Having run for several years under Neil Garner’s preparation team, the Hawthorns Porsche 997 is now up for sale as part of a re-organisation. Plans are well advanced to return to the series with the stunning 6.2 litre TVR Sagaris V8 GT, built and run by Team Holden Racing.
The tie up sees the Hawthorns’ team owner/driver Rod Barrett and owner/manager Diane Barrett returning to their TVR roots, Rod having cut his teeth in the infamous TVR Tuscan Challenge back in 1995. The combined team is a ‘tale of two couples’ with Team Holden Racing run by Andy and Yvonne Holden. Andy completes the ‘ex-Tuscan’ driver line-up.
Hawthorns Motorsport has been trying to find a way forward since long term driver Jan Persson announced his semi retirement and attempts to secure a substitute driver to take his place were unsuccessful. In hindsight replacing the irrepressible Persson was perhaps an impossible task and a different route was therefore required to get the team back out on track.
The new venture with Team Holden Racing ticks all the boxes with the car a proven and reliable example of the breed, built to an exacting specification. It has run successfully through its development period in the Dunlop TVR Challenge, AMOC Super GT and Dutch Supercar Challenge securing several podiums and wins. After running faultlessly though testing the car is now ready for the challenge of longer endurance races. Team Holden will run the car, with the new venture likely to work alongside Neil Garner Motorsport at the Britcar rounds, due to the strong and long term connections that exist between the teams.
The main drivers will be Andy Holden and Rod Barrett with Jay Shepherd potentially joining for longer races. Jan Persson may also come out of retirement for the occasional drive, with the line up for each race selected to suit its nature. The team will enter selected rounds of the British Endurance Championship this season, commencing on 2 June at Brands Hatch, with potential for a full Championship challenge in 2013.
Hawthorns Motorsport’s Rod Barrett: ‘We enjoyed the reliability of the Porsche but running costs in an endurance format were high and Jan’s retirement prompted us to reconsider our approach to racing. Having tested the TVR we were immediately impressed at the pace and driveability of the car. We had some fabulous times in the Tuscan Challenge and it’s great to be back in a TVR again.’
Team Holden Racing’s Andy Holden: ‘We’re delighted to combine forces with Hawthorns. We’ve all been great friends for years and whilst we’ve talked about doing some racing together for some time, the circumstances have never been right. We’re now able to combine the endurance experience of Rod, Jay and Jan with an exciting and fast addition to Britcar, in a package which we expect to be very competitive.’
For further information contact:
Andy Holden
+44 7540 494 864
info@teamholdenracing.com
Rod Barrett
rod@hawthornsmotorsport.co.uk
I am in contact with our lubricant sponsor, Opie Oils, to ascertain if they have a special 'aperture lube' to assist getting dear Rodders in and out of the car. At present its like trying to force a champagne cork back into a bottle and the same on the way out - once past the lip of the door he flies in or out.
Its less an issue of 'power to weight' more one of flexibility - whilst Rodders has retained his cat-like reactions, is ability to fold in half and post himself through a letterbox sized slot needs a little work.
The team is also searching for 2 licenced doormen to assist with driver changes, as the forced ejection technique may come in handy....
Its less an issue of 'power to weight' more one of flexibility - whilst Rodders has retained his cat-like reactions, is ability to fold in half and post himself through a letterbox sized slot needs a little work.
The team is also searching for 2 licenced doormen to assist with driver changes, as the forced ejection technique may come in handy....
HUI said:
Good news all round. Andy and Uncle Rod sounds like a great combination. I fully undertsand Rod's entry/exit problem. As a poor old lad I also find it difficult to get in and out and mine hasn't got a lid on it!! Not sure if I can make Brands on the 2nd but will try. Good luck with the new partnership.
Thanks Hugh, would be good to see you if you can make it.Rod keep's telling me it's not that he's too big, it's the hole that's too small! He has a point, you do need to do a bit of origami on yourself, especially with a helmet and HANS on and the latter invariably gets caught on the door frame. Used to be a lot easier climbing out through the top of the roll cage in a Tuscan!
Racing Rod said:
Obiwonkeyblokey said:
I believe the Orange Topcats Marcos is ex CBH.
Good luck this weekend chaps. Not sure I'm out as budget doesn't allow Brands indy, favouring Brands GP and Oulton instead. Really looking forward to seeing Andy's car out again and Rod giving it the beans. Just don't bounce off the Orange Marcos as we need some points for the championship. Ta.
Don't worry mate, Andy has given me strict instructions not to bounce off anything including the curbs and this race is all about finishing not outright performance, the car needs to be gently introduced to endurance as thus far most of it's racing has been sprinting. With the upgrades Andy has carried out, we should be fine but we intend to take our time and look for reliability and longevity of the components so will minimise the stress we place on her.Good luck this weekend chaps. Not sure I'm out as budget doesn't allow Brands indy, favouring Brands GP and Oulton instead. Really looking forward to seeing Andy's car out again and Rod giving it the beans. Just don't bounce off the Orange Marcos as we need some points for the championship. Ta.
Having said that , if Andy goes off for a loo break and can't see what I'm up to, I'll give it some stick
pblake said:
That's easy then you take the second stint and then while Andys on the podium the guys can lever you out of the car, job done.
...which is almost exactly what happened. 3rd in class on our debut, which could have been second were it not for an extra (possibly unnecessary) fuel stop. The car ran faultlessly for 2 hrs, so all in all very pleased indeed. Great to see some old TVR friends, and meet some new, sorry if we didn't get much chance to chat, it was a busy day!
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