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Interesting concept.

The Historic Sports Car Club has unveiled the Production Car Challenge, a new race series for production touring, sports and GT cars from the 1980s.

The new series will be 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.

The HSCC plans to run several pilot races later in 2020, ahead of a fuller programme in 2021. The series will compliment 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.

The list of eligible cars is huge and many suitable cars are available and affordable, so the new class will be an ideal way into historic racing for younger drivers and those seeking to start racing with a modest budget. Typical cars that could 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.

HSCC CEO Andy Dee-Crowne said: “No organising Club can afford to stand still and we are keen to develop a cost-effective race series for the next generation of cars, which should also appeal to a wide range of drivers. The Production Car Challenge will sit very well alongside our existing portfolio of categories and offer another way into historic racing for newcomers to the sport. Our aim is to grow the category over the next couple of seasons.”

There will be a perfect chance to discuss the series with representatives from the HSCC during the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at the Birmingham NEC from 8-10 November. The HSCC will have a six-car display on stand 1-330, designed to show visitors that historic racing can be affordable, accessible, great fun and run in a safe environment.