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editorthegrid@yahoo.co.uk
BRSCC LMA Euro Saloons Championship
in association with
Practical Performance Car
www.LMAeurosaloons.co.uk for the latest news
Supported by Mark Fish Motorsport &
Alpha Composites
LMA
Euro Saloon and Sports Car Championship
The LMA Euro saloon and
sports car championship welcomes cars from virtually any manufacturer,
with the proviso that there should be at least one road going example
registered somewhere within the European union. This year cars from over
twenty different manufacturers have taken to the grid, with
representations from Alfa, BMW, Fiat, Ford, Harrier, Honda, Lancia,
Lotus, Marcos, Nissan, Noble, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Rover, Sakar,
Seat, Talbot, Vauxhall and Volkswagen. Even if your car does not meet
this rather relaxed criteria we have a discretionary invitation class
for suitably interesting cars that meet the spirit of the regulations.
Nearly seventy
registrations and buoyant grids prove this concept works, and that there
are many drivers who have a race car in their garage and just want a low
hassle place to race it. We offer a bargain registration fee of just
£100 for those wanting to race for the whole season, and also welcome
drivers wishing to make one off appearances with a facility for
temporary registration at reduced cost. If you have a car with closed
wheels and a roof, chances are you can race with us. Driving standards
are good, contact is not at all welcome and the paddock atmosphere is
always friendly.
The championship caters for
pretty much the same machinery that can race in Britcar, but at a
fraction of the price. Entry fees, tyre and fuel bills are far lower
than in endurance racing, as is wear and tear on the car. The
championship has become the natural home of retired factory touring
cars, for those who remember the proper “super tourers” of the 90’s you
will be thrilled to see cars like John Cleland’s old RML Cavalier and
the Menu / Rydell Mondeos back on track and fighting at the sharp end
with Honda Accords and Nissan Primera’s. Throw into the mix some modern
GT cars, like Noble and Lotus as well as a few awesomely powerful Escort
Cossies, the spectacle at the rolling start makes great viewing and the
race winner is always in doubt, as proved by five different victors from
seven starts so far this season.
The championship is not
just about the powerful front runners, there are five classes consisting
of cars classified according to engine size and technical specification,
with a sub championship for Renault Clio Cup cars which is sponsored by
Renault tuning Guru Mark Fish motor sport. Class A sees factory built
Supertourers, GT cars and highly modified self builds over 3000cc engine
capacity, Class B is for pre 95 touring cars, smaller capacity mid
engined sports cars and various one make factory cars like Clio and Seat
cup, as well as modified cars up to 3000cc. Class C caters for many cars
built to the old super coupe regulations, and sees Vectra challenge cars
and Rover Tomcats resume battle. Class D provides a home for many of the
less modified cars, with regulations that allow racers built to a host
of other single marque championship requirements to mesh together,
whilst class E is for road specification vehicles.
The championship enjoys
sponsorship from the LMA group, who provide marketing support, event
organisation and awards to the winners. LMA are wholesalers,
manufacturers and suppliers of motorsport parts and accessories, and
they present trophies to 1st, 2nd and 3rd
places in each class. Last year the outright champion was Jason Holmes
with his class D Rover Tomcat, but this year congratulations go to Simon
Taylor, also heading class D and taking the 2007 championship with his
mega reliable and always fast Honda Civic.
The championship is
coordinated by Sara Pryce, who can be contacted at
Sara@LMAeurosaloons.co.uk
or see the championship
website at
www.lmaeurosaloons.co.uk for news, photo galleries and regulations.
If you are
new to racing we have several experienced drivers who can act as driver
mentors, contact the coordinator and choose from Derek Hale, John
Hammersley, Simon Taylor or Simon Jackson. If
you want to get in touch with other drivers for a chat, try the
championship forum at
www.nyssaracing.com/forum
For 2008 there are
minimal changes to the technical regulations, just a little fine tuning
as follows :
Proposed regulation updates
for 2008 & justification (in brackets)
-
Provision for the use of a safety car where appropriate (to allow
safety car intervention instead of red flag)
-
Exclusion from the championship of any individual car registered for a
current national or international GT championship (to discourage big
budget teams considered outside of the spirit of the championship)
-
Exclusion from the championship of the Porsche GT3 and any other
Porsche car built by Porsche motorsport (such cars are considered too
competitive with extensive factory support and development outside of
the spirit of the championship)
-
Mitsubishi Evo, Subaru Impreza and Nissan Skyline – specific 4wd turbo
which cars must compete in class A (performance similar to Escort
Cosworth)
-
All forced induction mid engined sports cars must compete in class A
(these have proved competitive in this class)
-
Modified category cars to be allowed the use of non pump fuels with a
RON no greater than 102 (many such cars were built to that
specification and cannot operate correctly without a non pump fuel)
-
Production modified category to be allowed the freedom to remove non
structural material from steel closure panels (allow steel panels to
be made lighter as an alternative to making them from a composite
material
-
Road saloon category to have some eligibility restrictions lifted to
allow more cars to comply (to encourage more uprated but still road
going cars to join)
Supported by Mark Fish Motorsport &
Alpha Composites
News of next year.
LMA
have
proposed to the BRSCC a calander of 4 double headers along the lines
outlined by Iain Brown, and 8 single rounds. The single rounds will
possibly be split grids. As yet they have one provisional date of Castle
Combe in May. We are waiting to hear back from the BRSCC and will keep
you informed.
2008 Wallplanner
They are also planning a larger A2 wallplanner for next year and need
ad’s from drivers and sponsors to fill it up, if you are interested
please speak to Stuart or Sara. £100.00 per insert with a circulation of
5,000 copies.
Autosport
International
We
are hoping to have a stand close to the BRSCC’s stand at Autosport. This
means we will be there for all four days, so please come along and say
hello. More information nearer the event.
Contact Details
Sara
Pryce Championship Co-ordinator
Mobile: 07880 794201.
Daytime: 01234 217061 Tue and Fri 9.00am – 3.00pm at all other work
times this line is answered by Stuart Cumming of LMA.
Supported by Mark Fish Motorsport &
Alpha Composites
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