Junior Touring Car Championship - new to the UK in 2014

[MotorsportTom]

Hi guys, have you heard of the new Junior Touring Car Championship in 2014? What are your guys thoughts and opinions on the new championship?

[redshoes]

Isn't it just the old 750MC SaxMax series, taken over by the BARC and now re-branded. Not exactly "Touring Cars" as we know it.

[MotorsportTom]

It has been re-branded this year yes, lots more media coverage, sponsorship and effort put in to make the championship what it can be. Do you believe it could be the driver feeder series for BTCC?

[redshoes]

Not that much media coverage, your post was the first I'd heard of it. It will be as much a feeder series as any other club level saloon series, i.e. not much.

[MotorsportTom]

The championship will gain more media coverage as the weeks go on, the championships main aim is to start the juniors at a young age so they can develop as much as possible to hopefully go on to greater championships. Do you believe that it is good for the juniors to have a championship like this to race in?

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by MotorsportTom

The championship will gain more media coverage as the weeks go on, the championships main aim is to start the juniors at a young age so they can develop as much as possible to hopefully go on to greater championships. Do you believe that it is good for the juniors to have a championship like this to race in?

It's no different to other junior series really is it? Same as the other junior series - progress up the ladder depends whether daddy has deep pockets.

Out of interest what's your connection to the championship?

[MotorsportTom]

I mainly just have a keen interest in the championship and am looking for other members views.

[auroan]

Originally Posted by MotorsportTom

Do you believe it could be the driver feeder series for BTCC?

I'm afraid that already exists..... Clio Cup

Clio Cup has a strong history of champs and vice champs making the jump into the BTCC

[MotorsportTom]

Do you think this series is good for the youngsters?

[andy97]

SaxMax went down hill and was dropped by 750. <May do better re-branded but who knows.

Fiesta Juniors didn't happen I don't think.

Ginetta Juniors is a long way short of full grids but is the best of the lot in terms of grid size, promotion, exposure and potential to get on a "ladder".

Formula BMW came and went

And there was a space frame "saloon" series for a while which also came and went.

How many wealthy parents are there willing to spend cash on a series like this. If you are any good there are plenty of junior Kart series to impress in. If you are any good in that, the there are any number of good competitive club or National level series to prove yourself in and so on.

And if you aren't much good, save your money, accept the fact and just enjoy club racing when you are old enough anyway.

Oh, and edited to add that I have just tried to search for the Junior Touring Car Championship but there is not much about it. Their website was established in Nov 2013 but has not been populated with anything. Doesn't look promising

[kipper]

Originally Posted by andy97

SaxMax went down hill and was dropped by 750. <May do better re-branded but who knows.

Fiesta Juniors didn't happen I don't think

Junior Fiestas has been run by the BRSCC for the last two seasons with small grids (generally, single figures). SaxMax ran with BARC and whilst grids increased by a tiny bit, they were still small. Personally, beyond a gimmicky name I don't think that the rebranding of SaxMax will increase entries. The reasons for this is that the costs are likely to still be the same, whilst it doesn't seem to benefit from any increased promotion or a more interesting calendar.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by andy97

And there was a space frame "saloon" series for a while which also came and went.

That was T-cars, gave us Tom Boardman, Tom Chilton and Will Bratt. Although to be fair in the case of the two Toms, they would have got to Touring Cars regardless of what series they were in thanks to family backing.

The name change is nothing more than a big gimmick, and suggesting that it suddenly makes it a feeder series is ridiculous in the extreme.

[andy97]

Originally Posted by kipper

Junior Fiestas has been run by the BRSCC for the last two seasons with small grids (generally, single figures). SaxMax ran with BARC and whilst grids increased by a tiny bit, they were still small. Personally, beyond a gimmicky name I don't think that the rebranding of SaxMax will increase entries. The reasons for this is that the costs are likely to still be the same, whilst it doesn't seem to benefit from any increased promotion or a more interesting calendar.

I stand corrected, thanks. But if they both have small grids why not run them together (lol. Inter club politics!).

Arhh, yes, T-Cars. I remember now!

[charliemorgan]

I raced in the saxmax championship last year and grids where very low. I'm racing in the Junior Touring Cars this year and so far, more than 20 people have bought cars and are ready to sign up in a few days.


the JTCC will cost the same as saxmax did, which is around £10,000-£12,000 in your first year, £7000 - £8000 in your second year. This is cheaper than the big karting championships and we're racing on tracks like Brands Hatch, Snetterton, Donington and a few more, instead of kart tracks that you may only ever race on once.

We're also on a package with the barc clio cup & formula renault, taking us to new places this year. 2014 will be a strange year, going from 9 in 2013 to 20+ in 2014. It's all looking good

[RaceCarConsultants]

Its interesting to see just how many championships there are out there all fighting for the same space.

I competed in the Fiesta ST Championship last year and the grids were huge, 30+ at times, but as mentioned the Fiesta Junior grid, which are an idential car with the exception of the tyres , struggled to get into double figures....even when the winner gets a touring car test!

The 2012 Champ Charlie Ladell tested a motorbase Focus at Snett late last year....the prize for the seniors....just the glory!