You may have read in the motorsport press that the prize for winning this season's MSVR Turismo X championship is a Mazda Demio. As a signed-up member of the Playstation Gran Turismo generation, the thought of collecting a car at the end of a triumphant season is a grin-worthy one. Had reality reflected video games during my racing career, I might've ended up with a Legacy Wagon GT-B or Tom's T111 sitting in my actual garage.
The real prize in this inaugural season though is that there's space at the club level to have a play in some exciting machinery for club(ish) money. The introduction of Class X for cars with 240-300hp per tonne permits the use of former single-make race cars such as the SEAT Leon Supercopa I find myself in at Brands Hatch. Cue immediate thoughts of doing a 'Super Pole' lap that is part of the new format for this year.
Despite coming off the same Spanish production line as the conventional Leon, there aren't many creature comforts in the Supercopa. The wings, bonnet and carbon fibre flat floor are all redesigned to accommodate wider wheels, additional cooling and, crucially, save weight. Someone has also stuck the steering wheel on the wrong side.
One thing that has remained is the adjustable steering column and some DSG paddles connected to a six-speed gearbox. The pedals are set up for left-foot braking with a larger than normal gap between to remind you when the right foot flinches to take over braking duty. Push the up gear button on the steering wheel and the transmission moves from neutral to semi-auto race mode - at which point the car will let you know it wants to get going by juddering eagerly.
Hoping to get a feel for the car, I exit the pit lane at Brands on a damp MSV track day and immediately realise going into Druids that it's been a while since my left leg has done anything save for heavy clutch work. The pedal feel is good, but I am not pushing it hard enough to get the full purchase between the Reyland brakes and Pagid pads.
Along the straights, the front end is desperate for grip, the Yokohoma AO52 rubber trying to find temperature and dry patches in equal measure. I hold on tight to keep the torque steer straight and feed the throttle to avoid understeering into scenery. Things come thick and fast as I try to remember how to handle something capable of lapping the Indy Circuit at the 52-second mark.
Unsurprisingly, after three years of racing an EnduroKa, it is sensory overload. Corners, gear changes, braking points - it's all a bit of a blur. The damp is hardly aiding confidence either, making it difficult to get a real feel for the car's full potential. After six or seven laps of frantic wrestling, I pull into the pits, arms aching a little from the torque steer, and start to process the session.
Ollie, who raced the car last year, sat next to me through the first stint - probably shaking his head and tutting. He informed me that there were a few things I needed to alter in my driving style to really exploit the front-wheel-drive Supercopa. The DSG had felt sluggish to change, but in reality I was waiting for the whole Christmas tree of lights before shifting and I needed to be faster. Moreover, I wasn't taking full advantage of the dialled-in front end on corner entry, which allowed for a later turn in and the chance to get on the power earlier.
With lessons learnt and the track finally drying (and the pride of PH on the line) I ease out the pits again and drive at a few tenths to get the car warm before crossing the start line with my foot flat to the floor. Waiting for just two green lights to appear on the shift indicator, I pull up the paddle to a reassuring blat without any of the previous delay.
Up to Druids, this time with a wider line, I aim for a late apex. The AST coilovers soak up the weight shift, and as I plant the throttle again the car sucks itself in the clipping point. Compared to the morning session, the experience is transformative. By braking harder and further into the zone, and using that laser-focused front-end grip to pull the car through the corners before getting on the power earlier, I get progressively faster until we're the quickest thing on circuit. Make no mistake: the Supercopa truly shifts.
I can only imagine how much fun it would be chasing the pack or defending a lead in this. Speaking of which, this year's championship is spread across six circuits, starting at Silverstone in six weeks' time. Better still, if you fancy winning the Demio - or just having amazing fun in one of these rapid Leons - then there are several arrive-and-drive cars available on the grid. Cost wise, you're looking at £7k a race, or around £24k if committing to the whole season, which covers everything from insurance and entry fees (both test and race days), to tyres, support, fuel and driver coaching.
A race weekend is made up of two 20-minute races, so you could halve the costs by sharing it with a mate. Not sure how you'd split the Demio if you won - but even if you don't, you'd still be looking at an epic racing experience. PHer Steve H has already seen the light in their Intelligent Money-backed Porsche (read the blog here) and will be on the grid this year. Anyone fancy buying a kidney for a couple of grand so I can join in too?
And thanks to Nick Jackson for letting us out in the car!
1 / 9