20th Anniversary weekend at Donington
Date posted: 12/03/2009
News on the 20th Anniversary weekend at Donington 2/3 May
Text courtesy of Andy Holden
The TVR Tuscan Challenge was launched in 1989, some 20 years ago. From the outset the cars were loud, fast and lairy... and in the days when British Touring Cars were 'proper' cars, the Tuscans were still quicker.
Over the years grids were huge and an enormous variety of drivers were attracted - including names like Nigel Mansell, Colin McRae. The series became a stepping stone into GT racing and it is still difficult to go to a race meeting without bumping into someone who was connected with Tuscans, whether it be a BTCC meeting or GTs.
Incredibly, after 20 years, the series is still going and still has Championship status. Now in a slightly different guise, more of a TVR open series, the most prolific car remains the Tuscan. Indeed 2009 brings a bumper crop of Tuscans, with as many due to race this year as were out in 2004.
The 20 year celebrations are to be held over the weekend of 2/3 May at Donington. This coincides with 2 races from the Challenge, and a bumper grid is expected. Ex Tuscan champion and Le Mans veteran Martin Short returns to race a Tuscan for the first time in many years.
I understand that the Car Club are organising something in the way of evening entertainment which no doubt will be announced shortly.
In addition to the TVR races, TVRs will be in action throughout the weekend.
There are 2 Britcar races of 90 minutes duration. The V8 Sagaris GTF cars of Tim Hood and Steve Glynn are entered for these races to fly the flag for TVR and will be up against some stiff competition in the form of Moslers, Porsches and Ferraris.
The Dutch Supercar Challenge is in town with 2 races of 45 minutes each, for each of its two 2 grids. Darren Dowling and I are teaming up again in my Sagaris V8, racing as no 110 in the top class (the 'GT division'), taking on an even more competitive grid which includes all of the above plus ex DTM cars. This will be the race debut of our car after its comprehensive upgrade during 2008.
Finally the Aston Martin Owners Club hosts the Super GT race - with all kinds of lairy machinery from big Astons, a Porsche 935 to Ferrari F355. Mike Saunders has entered his Cerbera in this race, doubling up with the TVR races.
So all in all, a packed weekend of TVR racing. Camping is available, as per Sprint, so this is an opportunity to make the weekend something of a mini Le Mans style event. It is unlikely that so much TVR racing will happen on the same weekend at the same venue, so an opportunity not to be missed.
A 'parade lap' for TVRs is also being laid on. A bit pricey at £25.00, but having spoken to the bloke to be driving the 'Safety Car', he is a race driver, he once raced a Tuscan at Thruxton in 2004 and the pace will be 'brisk'. It should be fun and it is an opportunity to show off your TVR.
No doubt more information will come from the TVRCC, but with the date fast approaching I wanted to give you more information now so that you can save the date if interested.
As ever, TVRCC members are assured of a warm welcome in the paddock.
Owen O'Neill
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