From Wikipedia, Edited by John Reid ( Readman Racing )

The TVR Tuscan Challenge was a one-make series dedicated to the second incarnation of the TVR Tuscan sports car (developed specifically for the series), and took place throughout the United Kingdom. Inaugurated in 1989, it had high power-to-weight ratio, capability of reaching 190 mph (310 km/h) and loud engine noise, combined with close racing in a field consisting of over 30 cars at its peak, made the series become, at the time, the premier one-make series in the UK with an extensive TV coverage; over the years, many drivers who competed in the series moved on in major championship series and many notable drivers have guest driven in a race. The company underwent management changes in 2005, and factory support for the Tuscan Challenge was withdrawn. Under John Reid (ex TVR motorsport director), the TVR Tuscan Challenge was merged with the owner's club series, which has been reformatted to allow for all TVR models under the BRSCC.

A brief history of the Tuscan Challenge:

This version of the Tuscan is not to be confused with either the earlier V8/6 model or the later roadgoing Speed 6 version.

TVR Tuscan Original Brochure: (900k pdf document)

TVR Tuscan AJP original Specs: Specs photo 1 photo 2

With the success of the S Series, TVR began development of an ES, an S series sports car with a Holden V6 3.8 litre engine. It wasn't until the 1988 British Motorshow, in Birmingham NEC; the car was unveiled as a prototype with plans for it to be developed for road use, but in order to attract public interests and stimulate sales, TVR resurrected the Tuscan name and at the same time instigated the one-make TVR Tuscan Challenge series.

In order to attract a large field, TVR offered the first batch at a discount of £16,000 plus VAT for entrants with a condition that they commit themselves to compete at least six of the twelve races in the championship. Should that fail, the purchaser would agree to pay the extra £16,000 at the end of the season.

With the instant success of the series in its first year in 1989, plans for a road car fell by the wayside as TVR was busy with the 'S' and the older wedge models as well as design and development work for the forthcoming Griffith and Chimaera models.

It never went beyond the motor show prototype stage, and the Tuscans continued to be produced in small volumes as racing cars.

The S based chassis had to be developed to cope with the extreme power outputs of the tuned Rover V8 engine; by the end of its development, it ended up being a completely new chassis with a wider track, increased wheelbase and much strengthening.

Its original output was 350 bhp (261 kW) sourced from the TVR 350i that was transmitted through a Borg Warner T5 gearbox to its nine inch (229 mm) wide wheels. In the early 1990s, as the aging Rover V8 was getting beyond its development limits and Rover's takeover by BMW, plus Peter Wheeler's rumoured refusal of having German engines in his cars, Wheeler commissioned engine designer Al Melling to develop the new AJP8 engine, producing more power than its Rover counterpart. With the new V8 engine, the car was capable of 0-60 mph in just over 3 seconds and 0-100 mph in just 6.9 seconds. The cars boasted of 536 bhp (400 kW) per tonne (400 W/kg) with a capability reaching in excess of 190 mph (310 km/h), the cars became popular with race goers. All engines are factory supplied sealed units to ensure a level playing field.

Dealers were usually encouraged to enter the series and the then company owner Peter Wheeler competed in the series, from which he used his expertise to develop the Speed 12, its managing director at the time, Ben Samuelson also competed in the series. Many drivers who are now competing in the Le Mans Series, FIA GT Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans, such as Jamie Campbell-Walter, Bobby Verdon-Roe, Martin Short and Michael Caine, developed their skills in the series. Nigel Mansell was to compete for a one off race at Donington Park in 1993 but was unable to after he was hospitalised following a BTCC incident. Other drivers who have guest driven in the series throughout its history includes Colin McRae, Andy Wallace, Tim Harvey, Anthony Reid, Tiff Needell and John Cleland.

Carlube sponsored the series between 2002 to 2004 and the series was now renamed Dunlop TVR Challenge. At the end of 2003, a version of the new Sagaris was introduced with an intention to run alongside the racing Tuscan and to eventually replace them. But when owner Peter Wheeler sold the company to Nikolay Smolensky, factory support was abruptly ended before the 2005 season had begun. TVR's Motorsport Director John Reid acquired the rights and kept the series going but on a much smaller basis; by then, TVR had sold off all its racers. With waning entries as many of these cars had either been converted to road use or ended up in track days, the series would continue under a new format as it merged with the TVR Car Club which had no races 2007 as BARC had told them that they had no more races the next season Toolsnstuff.co.uk/SIP TVRCC Challenge Cup, TVR car club asked John Reid to take on the car club race series to combined with his series , a smaller series that consists of a wide range of TVR models in various classes, meaning that the gird now featured a more diverse range of TVR models in one race and the series split into three categories (see info).

In 2006, the series acquired a new sponsor, Dunlop Tyres & Royal Purple Oils who paid for the Sky TV coverage that season, this gave a leeway for drivers to decide if they want to compete on slicks, road or track tyres and were not just restricted to TVR's; the series was given an Invitation Class for any make of sports car providing that it complies with the MSA regulations.

During 2006 - 7 the Dunlop TVR series has grown with cars on the grid as well as a great variations of cars on the grid, with the classes ABC in 2008 it worked well but it was needed to do a few alterations for 2009, in class C it was found that the four cylinder [normally aspirated] &V6 Ford engine was out classed by the torque of the Rover V8 so all V8 powered cars below 325Bhp were placed in Class B and any cars above 325 Bhp moved up to Class A, we will have to see how this works out in 2009....Time will tell...