24 Hour Race(S)
Discussion
We have a confirmed date of 21st - 23rd September for the Silverstone Race.
We are in negotiations with Zolder about taking over the promotion of their event.
We are in discussion with Circuit Navarra and Yas Marina about holding long distance (upto 24hrs) races at their respective venues
We are in negotiations with MSVR about holding a long distance (upto 24hrs) race at Snetterton for club saloon racers along the lines of the original Willhire concept.
We are in negotiations with Zolder about taking over the promotion of their event.
We are in discussion with Circuit Navarra and Yas Marina about holding long distance (upto 24hrs) races at their respective venues
We are in negotiations with MSVR about holding a long distance (upto 24hrs) race at Snetterton for club saloon racers along the lines of the original Willhire concept.
News From The NEC - Britcar courtesy of DSC
Over the next few days we’ll be bringing you a round-up of some of the top GT and sportscar news stories to emerge from this year’s Autosport International Racing Car Show.
On the whole it was a fairly quiet show for our branch of the sport. Aside from some significant announcements from JRM and Lola, fanfares from GrandAm, and a few driver interviews, the main Autosport stage was significantly lacking in endurance racing news, and our on-site reporters had to dig fairly deep to find snippets of interest.
One stand always guaranteed to generate a buzz at Autosport International is the plot occupied by the team from Britcar. While others seemed to have cut back in 2012, with reduced representation at the NEC, James Tucker’s stand in Hall 2 was as big and brash as ever, with plenty of cars to drawn the punters and a general air of enthusiastic optimism.
Steve Wood, Britcar Press Officer, was as positive about the forthcoming season as we’ve ever seen him. “The prospects for 2012 are looking very healthy indeed,” he said. “Over the first two days of the Show we picked up significantly more confirmed entries for this season than we managed last year, and not just from many of the regular names. We’ve also had visits from several new and potentially very exciting entrants who’ve committed to Britcar for the coming season.”
One of the new initiatives for the 2012 season that has attracted several serious enquiries has been an extension of the LMPX category. Some of the details may yet require fine tuning, but the Britcar GT2 Class 1 will now be open to Le Mans style, SR2 and Daytona prototypes as well as GT cars and entries like the Stealth and Aquila. The way in which the eligibility of all cars is decided under the regulations for the Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship is based upon an assessment of power-to-weight ratio, and the LMPX class is no different. Essentially, chassis that would normally run within the ACO’s LMP2 category, FIA SR2 and GrandAm Daytona prototype regulations can race in Britcar events provided the power-to-weight ratio meets the stringent criteria.
“We have had approaches from several high profile names regarding the possibility of running prototypes within the Championship,” admitted Wood. “On Thursday we had a visit from Mike Newton, who has expressed an interest in running one of his Lolas, and then on Friday we had a long chat with Martin Short, who displayed similar interest in entering one of his ex Le Mans prototypes with a stock-block engine. We’ve also had a visit from an “emissary” from Pescarolo in France, where they have some “training cars” that they’re considering re-fitting with a regular Chevrolet V8 or Nissan V6. Obviously, such cars will need to be de-tuned so that their engines generate around 300 bhp, but it’s a very exciting development.”
In addition, Wood also dropped a few names into the conversation to illustrate the level of interest from previous Britcar runners. “Bullrun Racing intends to come back with a Lotus Evora GT4 this season. They took the Production Championship in 2010 and finished third in the Britcar 24 last October. Richard Adams and David Green will be joined by last year’s BTCC racer Martin Byford. Team Tiger returns with their familiar Marcus Mantis, and Mike Jordan also looks set to compete in all rounds except one in Nigel Ainge’s Honda Integra. They’ve been sharing the car in the Tin Tops series, as well as competing in the Britcar Production Cup. We’re also delighted to see Harry Handkammer coming back in a BMW. He raced with us in 2005, co-driving with David Leslie.”
Steve was evidently delighted by the response at the Show, and not just by the quantity of potential entries, but also the quality for 2012 as well. Shortly before the Show opened the date for this year’s Silverstone 24 Hours was confirmed. The event will take place on September 21st-23rd, but such is the growth in interest in long-distance endurance races that James Tucker sees the Silverstone 24 as being just one part in a much larger scheme. He announced plans to bring together several 12 or 24 hour races to create a new ‘series’.
By 2013, we’ll be looking at four or five endurance races for GT cars,” he suggested. “They’ll be run along similar lines to the current Britcar and Silverstone 24 Hour pattern, with an ‘open’ entry comprising GT2, GT3, GT4 and GTN categories. We believe there’s room for this kind of series now. There’s promotion for the other events, but no cohesive organisation, and we believe that we have the infrastructure to draw all the strings together and manage these meetings. We’ve been talking to Navarra with a view to a starting off with a 12 hour race there (scheduled for the end of July), followed by a 24 hour race at Zolder, and then the Silverstone 24 Hour in September. The next stage of the programme will come into being next year, and should see a 24 Hour event in Abu Dhabi in February. The final piece in the jigsaw will be a 24 hour event at Snetterton that will be a resurrection of the Willhire 24 type of event, essentially for saloon cars. That’s currently pencilled in for late August 2013.”
Britcar Citroen DS3 Challenge
Launched at the Autosport International was the Britcar Citreon DS3 Challenge. A totally new concept for 2012, the Challenge sees the introduction of a specially prepared Citroen DS3 that will run as a separate class within the Britcar Production Cup. Essentially a modified road car, the 150 hp Citroen is track-ready for a total cost of around £17000, including race dampers and brakes, Safety Devices roll cage, driver’s harness, and other safety features. Although the Challenge will run within its own category in 2012, there are hopes to see the Citroens going solo in 2013.
We’ve had a tremendous amount of interest, perhaps due to the keen price,” said Steve Wood. “An encouraging number of potential entrants have already put their names forwards. The entry fee will be around £525 for each of eight rounds, with half hour qualifying sessions heading ninety minutes of racing. There will be a mandatory pitstop, so two drivers could share entry and running costs, but overall we believe this could be a very cost-effective and attractive entry-level package for anyone looking to compete in this type of racing. If it proves a success, then we could be looking at a one-make series next season. We’re also investigating the idea of another one-make series based around the Porsche 996 for 2013 as well.”
“On top of the promising outlook for the Endurance Championship, the Production Cup looks set to gain a sizeable number of fresh entries this season as teams and drivers leave one-make series to join the mixed Britcar grids,” suggested James Tucker. “That’s particularly true of the Mazda MX5, which has proven to be a popular, affordable and competitive means of entering the championship. In all, grids are looking very good, and are at a similar level, if not slightly advanced on those we had at this stage last season.”
The latest regulations can be downloaded from the Britcar website
Over the next few days we’ll be bringing you a round-up of some of the top GT and sportscar news stories to emerge from this year’s Autosport International Racing Car Show.
On the whole it was a fairly quiet show for our branch of the sport. Aside from some significant announcements from JRM and Lola, fanfares from GrandAm, and a few driver interviews, the main Autosport stage was significantly lacking in endurance racing news, and our on-site reporters had to dig fairly deep to find snippets of interest.
One stand always guaranteed to generate a buzz at Autosport International is the plot occupied by the team from Britcar. While others seemed to have cut back in 2012, with reduced representation at the NEC, James Tucker’s stand in Hall 2 was as big and brash as ever, with plenty of cars to drawn the punters and a general air of enthusiastic optimism.
Steve Wood, Britcar Press Officer, was as positive about the forthcoming season as we’ve ever seen him. “The prospects for 2012 are looking very healthy indeed,” he said. “Over the first two days of the Show we picked up significantly more confirmed entries for this season than we managed last year, and not just from many of the regular names. We’ve also had visits from several new and potentially very exciting entrants who’ve committed to Britcar for the coming season.”
One of the new initiatives for the 2012 season that has attracted several serious enquiries has been an extension of the LMPX category. Some of the details may yet require fine tuning, but the Britcar GT2 Class 1 will now be open to Le Mans style, SR2 and Daytona prototypes as well as GT cars and entries like the Stealth and Aquila. The way in which the eligibility of all cars is decided under the regulations for the Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship is based upon an assessment of power-to-weight ratio, and the LMPX class is no different. Essentially, chassis that would normally run within the ACO’s LMP2 category, FIA SR2 and GrandAm Daytona prototype regulations can race in Britcar events provided the power-to-weight ratio meets the stringent criteria.
“We have had approaches from several high profile names regarding the possibility of running prototypes within the Championship,” admitted Wood. “On Thursday we had a visit from Mike Newton, who has expressed an interest in running one of his Lolas, and then on Friday we had a long chat with Martin Short, who displayed similar interest in entering one of his ex Le Mans prototypes with a stock-block engine. We’ve also had a visit from an “emissary” from Pescarolo in France, where they have some “training cars” that they’re considering re-fitting with a regular Chevrolet V8 or Nissan V6. Obviously, such cars will need to be de-tuned so that their engines generate around 300 bhp, but it’s a very exciting development.”
In addition, Wood also dropped a few names into the conversation to illustrate the level of interest from previous Britcar runners. “Bullrun Racing intends to come back with a Lotus Evora GT4 this season. They took the Production Championship in 2010 and finished third in the Britcar 24 last October. Richard Adams and David Green will be joined by last year’s BTCC racer Martin Byford. Team Tiger returns with their familiar Marcus Mantis, and Mike Jordan also looks set to compete in all rounds except one in Nigel Ainge’s Honda Integra. They’ve been sharing the car in the Tin Tops series, as well as competing in the Britcar Production Cup. We’re also delighted to see Harry Handkammer coming back in a BMW. He raced with us in 2005, co-driving with David Leslie.”
Steve was evidently delighted by the response at the Show, and not just by the quantity of potential entries, but also the quality for 2012 as well. Shortly before the Show opened the date for this year’s Silverstone 24 Hours was confirmed. The event will take place on September 21st-23rd, but such is the growth in interest in long-distance endurance races that James Tucker sees the Silverstone 24 as being just one part in a much larger scheme. He announced plans to bring together several 12 or 24 hour races to create a new ‘series’.
By 2013, we’ll be looking at four or five endurance races for GT cars,” he suggested. “They’ll be run along similar lines to the current Britcar and Silverstone 24 Hour pattern, with an ‘open’ entry comprising GT2, GT3, GT4 and GTN categories. We believe there’s room for this kind of series now. There’s promotion for the other events, but no cohesive organisation, and we believe that we have the infrastructure to draw all the strings together and manage these meetings. We’ve been talking to Navarra with a view to a starting off with a 12 hour race there (scheduled for the end of July), followed by a 24 hour race at Zolder, and then the Silverstone 24 Hour in September. The next stage of the programme will come into being next year, and should see a 24 Hour event in Abu Dhabi in February. The final piece in the jigsaw will be a 24 hour event at Snetterton that will be a resurrection of the Willhire 24 type of event, essentially for saloon cars. That’s currently pencilled in for late August 2013.”
Britcar Citroen DS3 Challenge
Launched at the Autosport International was the Britcar Citreon DS3 Challenge. A totally new concept for 2012, the Challenge sees the introduction of a specially prepared Citroen DS3 that will run as a separate class within the Britcar Production Cup. Essentially a modified road car, the 150 hp Citroen is track-ready for a total cost of around £17000, including race dampers and brakes, Safety Devices roll cage, driver’s harness, and other safety features. Although the Challenge will run within its own category in 2012, there are hopes to see the Citroens going solo in 2013.
We’ve had a tremendous amount of interest, perhaps due to the keen price,” said Steve Wood. “An encouraging number of potential entrants have already put their names forwards. The entry fee will be around £525 for each of eight rounds, with half hour qualifying sessions heading ninety minutes of racing. There will be a mandatory pitstop, so two drivers could share entry and running costs, but overall we believe this could be a very cost-effective and attractive entry-level package for anyone looking to compete in this type of racing. If it proves a success, then we could be looking at a one-make series next season. We’re also investigating the idea of another one-make series based around the Porsche 996 for 2013 as well.”
“On top of the promising outlook for the Endurance Championship, the Production Cup looks set to gain a sizeable number of fresh entries this season as teams and drivers leave one-make series to join the mixed Britcar grids,” suggested James Tucker. “That’s particularly true of the Mazda MX5, which has proven to be a popular, affordable and competitive means of entering the championship. In all, grids are looking very good, and are at a similar level, if not slightly advanced on those we had at this stage last season.”
The latest regulations can be downloaded from the Britcar website
The link was to the general 24hr news page. It is the second item on the news list.
This is the actual story HERE in case you can't see it on your browser for any reason.
MacG, are you not able to see the news stories? If so could you drop me a pm with your browser details and I'll get our IT to look into it.
This is the actual story HERE in case you can't see it on your browser for any reason.
MacG, are you not able to see the news stories? If so could you drop me a pm with your browser details and I'll get our IT to look into it.
Britcar David said:
The link was to the general 24hr news page. It is the second item on the news list.
This is the actual story HERE in case you can't see it on your browser for any reason.
MacG, are you not able to see the news stories? If so could you drop me a pm with your browser details and I'll get our IT to look into it.
Hi David,This is the actual story HERE in case you can't see it on your browser for any reason.
MacG, are you not able to see the news stories? If so could you drop me a pm with your browser details and I'll get our IT to look into it.
That links works fine thanks, all the dates etc are there as you described. However, if I go to the news page, the second story down is about Callum Lockie's trip out with Lotus F1. Could well be my PC though if no one else is having the same problem.
Thanks for clarifying!
@Britcar David
@Steve Britcar
Can you provide any information on how to apply for photography accreditation and who to apply to? Would love to get closer to the action.
Feel free to PM me if required - happy to discuss any opportunity/requirements.
Scott
Apologies for being a bit OT.
@Steve Britcar
Can you provide any information on how to apply for photography accreditation and who to apply to? Would love to get closer to the action.
Feel free to PM me if required - happy to discuss any opportunity/requirements.
Scott
Apologies for being a bit OT.
Edited by kybo on Thursday 19th January 14:26
macgtech said:
Hi David,
That links works fine thanks, all the dates etc are there as you described. However, if I go to the news page, the second story down is about Callum Lockie's trip out with Lotus F1. Could well be my PC though if no one else is having the same problem.
Thanks for clarifying!
Ah, I think I've got it. I think you are looking at the General News page. The first link was to the 24hr News page. I think thats where the confusion lies.That links works fine thanks, all the dates etc are there as you described. However, if I go to the news page, the second story down is about Callum Lockie's trip out with Lotus F1. Could well be my PC though if no one else is having the same problem.
Thanks for clarifying!
Kybo, there are no such things as photographers passes. There are media passes, which are exactly what they say on the pass, ie, working media. UK circuits exercise strict criteria on accreditation - you need to prove that you have a sound commercial reason for being there, plus, without exception, you must hold £5 million (£5,000,000)minimum Public Liability Insurance cover.
Steve Britcar said:
Kybo, there are no such things as photographers passes.
Wrong choice of words, but you knew what I meant
Steve Britcar said:
There are media passes, which are exactly what they say on the pass, ie, working media. UK circuits exercise strict criteria on accreditation - you need to prove that you have a sound commercial reason for being there, plus, without exception, you must hold £5 million (£5,000,000)minimum Public Liability Insurance cover.
Thanks, although this is not something I've done too many times I am aware of how creditation works in principal (but not in detail) - I would be seeking an editor's letter to prove commercial intent.But 1 question you could clarify for me - would I still require the liability insurance if I am there to take pictures for, say, 'Autosport' or am I covered through their policy?
Currently my insurance does not cover such a high value as I'm unsure as to whether I actually need it.
Thanks for the detailed info, Steve, very much appreciated.
Scott
kybo said:
Currently my insurance does not cover such a high value as I'm unsure as to whether I actually need it.
Certainly FIA GT, VLN and many other series require 5M in PLI coverage.They may not always check at the point of accreditation (in fact most don't), but I wouldn't like to imagine the consequences of something going wrong and not being covered.
(for example if the use of your flash was to cause an a car to crash - potentially involving other cars, and perhaps injuries, and you were deemed by other parties (e.g. other photographers, marshalls) to be at fault, you could be held liable for the damages... )
for the sake of the extra 100quid/yr or so it adds onto my camera insurance policy, its definitely worth having the good peace of mind.
cpufreak said:
kybo said:
Currently my insurance does not cover such a high value as I'm unsure as to whether I actually need it.
Certainly FIA GT, VLN and many other series require 5M in PLI coverage.They may not always check at the point of accreditation (in fact most don't), but I wouldn't like to imagine the consequences of something going wrong and not being covered.
(for example if the use of your flash was to cause an a car to crash - potentially involving other cars, and perhaps injuries, and you were deemed by other parties (e.g. other photographers, marshalls) to be at fault, you could be held liable for the damages... )
for the sake of the extra 100quid/yr or so it adds onto my camera insurance policy, its definitely worth having the good peace of mind.
Thanks for your comments - what I meant was that as I have no jobs on the radar (as yet), which require such a high PLI value, I'm currently loathed to pay the premium for it and not use it. As soon as I get my first gig I'd upgrade for sure!!
I'm trying to get media accreditation but finding it more difficult this year.
Would really like to get up close and personal in the pits/garage/backstage with a Team - on-track photography is a bonus but not an absolute must - I love the atmosphere, the noise, the smell... ...you get the picture!!
Thanks,
Scott
ETA: Sorry, that post sounds all a bit ME ME ME, doesn't it? In all honesty, that's not what I meant, or how I wanted it to come across. I wouldn't expect to be put there without being able to give something back in return.
I should have been less enthusiastic and a bit more professional!! Thx
Edited by kybo on Wednesday 8th February 08:16
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