Cheapest single-make series?
Discussion
Hello hello,
It’s the end of the season and I’m already thinking of what to race next year! I’m a rookie with a few race meetings under my belt and I’m interested in single make racing.
I understand that those series are usually more expensive and very competitive though!
What series would you recommend? Which one do you think is the cheapest? What about beginner friendly?
It’s the end of the season and I’m already thinking of what to race next year! I’m a rookie with a few race meetings under my belt and I’m interested in single make racing.
I understand that those series are usually more expensive and very competitive though!
What series would you recommend? Which one do you think is the cheapest? What about beginner friendly?
Edited by qwertea on Wednesday 25th October 00:54
I ended up racing Jags, single make but not too ‘spec’ which I actually prefer as you don’t end up directly competing with people who can afford constant testing, continual fresh tyres etc. Some cars are run high budget but they end up in the top classes anyway, if you can make your peace racing for class wins and not overall then it can be very affordable. I’ve had 3 cars eligible for the series, costing £3k, £4k then £3k again- 300hp, RWD, bags of fun and cheap to repair. Engines are a few hundred quid standard which is how most are run. No control tyre in place at the moment though which makes competing for overall race wins impossible without a huge tyre budget. That’s my only quibble though, it’s enormously beginner friendly with plenty of helpful experts on the grid who relish getting cars out and introducing newbies
I'd look in to something like the MR2 Championship, MK3 MR2s still going on eBay for anywhere from £1k upwards, aside from any damage sustained during competition I know people who have competed previously for several seasons and not had to do anything to the car aside from oil changes/servicing and checking the tyre pressures. Being reasonably small/light cars the consumables are very fair in terms of tyre, brake and fuel usage, and competitors are (for the most part!) friendly and willing to help out with any questions or information required.
If you want proper single make and single model racing, rather than a class in a mixed grid race...then City Car Cup is probably as cheap as it gets in absolute terms for sprint racing. You'll get better value in terms of £/minute of track time with Citroen C1 or Ford Ka endurance racing though.
In CIty Car Cup, the Peugeot, Citroen, and Toyota styling gives a little variety, while all the cars are actually identical under the skin. Race prepped cars are relatively cheap, with low price parts, low running costs, and very simple to work on. Very healthy grid sizes means there'll be someone to have a good race with whatever your level of competitiveness is too.
Moving up the cost scale from there, I would say one of the Mk1 MX-5 championships with BRSCC or 750MC would be next....and after that then the sky is the limit.
In CIty Car Cup, the Peugeot, Citroen, and Toyota styling gives a little variety, while all the cars are actually identical under the skin. Race prepped cars are relatively cheap, with low price parts, low running costs, and very simple to work on. Very healthy grid sizes means there'll be someone to have a good race with whatever your level of competitiveness is too.
Moving up the cost scale from there, I would say one of the Mk1 MX-5 championships with BRSCC or 750MC would be next....and after that then the sky is the limit.
EnduroKa, as done by a PH staff team not so long ago, sounds like great fun. Can’t see anything cheaper, other than rental kart racing.
Here’s your starting point. https://www.pistonheads.com/news/motorsport/ph-com...
https://www.enduroka.co.uk/ is their official site, they have a race this weekend at Brands Indy.
Here’s your starting point. https://www.pistonheads.com/news/motorsport/ph-com...
https://www.enduroka.co.uk/ is their official site, they have a race this weekend at Brands Indy.
roddo said:
Track attack has many classes that are excellent value for £££
Peugeot 206gti cup with cars from £2500 and about a dozen cars in the class
Mx5’s etc I will be in one in 2024
I agree it's bargain basement for owner/driver I think it's a mixed grid for most races per season isnt it ? Peugeot 206gti cup with cars from £2500 and about a dozen cars in the class
Mx5’s etc I will be in one in 2024
HustleRussell said:
I know a couple of people from Caterham racing who are now having a lot of fun for less money racing Hyundai Coupes.
They were on track during my last race meeting at Castle Combe and the racing looked great (and as you say, not too pricey). I had a look at the regs afterwards and it looks sensibly controlled to keep costs down. Testament to that, was the fact that they had a decent sized grid as well.I watched Citroen C1’s racing a few years back good fun to watch and I imagine it’s super cheap to get into. As with anything the front of the field had thousands spent but the guys towards the back had just stripped them and fitted a roll cage (probably more to it but the cars were beaten up) looked good fun.
The 750 stuff (type R trophy, clio trophy) is excellent, well run and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in type R.
They sometimes run foundation packages- built car, all entires for season and one test day for one lump sum- then at the end you still keep the car. So look out for those offers at start of season.
As with any one make you quickly learn testing, fresh tyres, any options that are allowed (best pads etc) and team support will get you to the sharp end so the costs rapidly build up from what was advertised if you want to be in top 10.
I’ve also done enduroka which is great if you can spread cost between 3-4 mates.
They sometimes run foundation packages- built car, all entires for season and one test day for one lump sum- then at the end you still keep the car. So look out for those offers at start of season.
As with any one make you quickly learn testing, fresh tyres, any options that are allowed (best pads etc) and team support will get you to the sharp end so the costs rapidly build up from what was advertised if you want to be in top 10.
I’ve also done enduroka which is great if you can spread cost between 3-4 mates.
whp1983 said:
As with any one make you quickly learn testing, fresh tyres, any options that are allowed (best pads etc) and team support will get you to the sharp end so the costs rapidly build up from what was advertised if you want to be in top 10.
Is there a lot of rule bending happening at the front of these single make series? I looked at the time sheet for one of them from a track I race at and the two front runners were a good second per lap ahead of everybody else. It turns out that the same thing was true for these two at the other circuits too. The regulations for this particular series looked quite tight and so I just can't see how they were that much quicker (obviously driver skill is one differentiator but everybody else on the grid looked about right with a more typical time spread from the other front runners to the backmarkers).
Not at all, sealed ECUs, cars weighed, power tested.
People in single make always accuse rule bending but reality is there are just some rapid drivers and people with lots of seat time.
When I started I was 15th to 20th, the second season 10th to 15th and towards end top 5 and always top 10.
Some former karting kids, people that have done loads of seasons etc.. but by end I was new tyres every race loads of testing, best brake pads allowed… 750 are good in single make of ensuring fair play.
People in single make always accuse rule bending but reality is there are just some rapid drivers and people with lots of seat time.
When I started I was 15th to 20th, the second season 10th to 15th and towards end top 5 and always top 10.
Some former karting kids, people that have done loads of seasons etc.. but by end I was new tyres every race loads of testing, best brake pads allowed… 750 are good in single make of ensuring fair play.
The thing with the budget one-make series is that the cars have had a life before motor racing and that introduces a lot of variables. There will be people who are seeking out new crate engines or low milers, or who started with a showroom fresh car while others have bought one with 100k on it for a grand. All quite legal. In motorsport you can't keep the money out.
In general there are probably a lot more suspicion of cheating than there is cheating.
Everybody except for the supremely naturally gifted will turn up and receive their reality check, and that is that you are whole second(s) slower than the quick peeps and that time is pretty much all in the driver.
P.S. it's an absolute no-brainer to buy a car which is already prepared and circulating where you can see the results it has been achieving. In reality none of these series would survive if everybody did that and the cost of entry would be much higher but honestly, as a first timer, go for a going concern.
In general there are probably a lot more suspicion of cheating than there is cheating.
Everybody except for the supremely naturally gifted will turn up and receive their reality check, and that is that you are whole second(s) slower than the quick peeps and that time is pretty much all in the driver.
P.S. it's an absolute no-brainer to buy a car which is already prepared and circulating where you can see the results it has been achieving. In reality none of these series would survive if everybody did that and the cost of entry would be much higher but honestly, as a first timer, go for a going concern.
I would strongly advise looking at the Ma7da Championship (or Mazda Locost/Mazda 7) in the 750mc. I was just out in them at the weekend as a test myself, and can't recommend it more highly.
I think it's genuinely very hard to beat as a series, especially for a beginner wanting to develop their driving. The cars are perfect for it. They are Locost chassis running a 1.8 MX5 engine, many of the cars have been converted from the Locost series (which whilst still being large, is a completely redundant series now in my eyes as ma7da makes just so much more sense!). It's an inexpensive chassis (can be bought 2nd hand as a Ma7da, or as a Locost, or built up from scratch) with cheap easily replaceable/repairable fibreglass bodywork (which many 1 make series cannot easily claim), cheap running gear with cheap control tires that have long life. They are lightweight so don't burn through suspension and brake pads too fast. Add to the mix dirt cheap stock mx5 engines that have plenty of power and torque (about 145bhp I believe) and are pretty reliable, so the power to weight ration is actually pretty good.
With "7" style handling they are really good fun to drive, fast enough to keep many seasoned racers well entertained, whilst being easy enough to drive and not too daunting for beginners to get into them - a great balance. It's regularly a 20 car grid (we had 25 at the weekend) and seemingly growing quickly, with a mix of seasoned locosters moving across, and a huge mix of experience and beginner drivers involved, so there will always be someone to race, and perfect to develop and hone your skills for several years in order to reach the front. The racing itself is really great (I dare say better than pretty much everything mentioned)! Also a very friendly welcoming bunch of people.
The problem I see with Ka, or C1, 116 or many other 1 make series is based on road cars is they are generally too heavy, slow in comparison, burn through parts (or at least pads) more quickly, have issues relating to replacement bodywork (should you bang it, which definitely will happen at some point) or are just harder to service.
Ma7da is cheaper than most of them, somewhat faster than most of them, has better racing... and I'm not biased honestly - Ma7da is not the main series I race in. Likewise I've looked reasonably closely at 116, type R, ka and some others. I just think they have a really sorted package.
I think it's genuinely very hard to beat as a series, especially for a beginner wanting to develop their driving. The cars are perfect for it. They are Locost chassis running a 1.8 MX5 engine, many of the cars have been converted from the Locost series (which whilst still being large, is a completely redundant series now in my eyes as ma7da makes just so much more sense!). It's an inexpensive chassis (can be bought 2nd hand as a Ma7da, or as a Locost, or built up from scratch) with cheap easily replaceable/repairable fibreglass bodywork (which many 1 make series cannot easily claim), cheap running gear with cheap control tires that have long life. They are lightweight so don't burn through suspension and brake pads too fast. Add to the mix dirt cheap stock mx5 engines that have plenty of power and torque (about 145bhp I believe) and are pretty reliable, so the power to weight ration is actually pretty good.
With "7" style handling they are really good fun to drive, fast enough to keep many seasoned racers well entertained, whilst being easy enough to drive and not too daunting for beginners to get into them - a great balance. It's regularly a 20 car grid (we had 25 at the weekend) and seemingly growing quickly, with a mix of seasoned locosters moving across, and a huge mix of experience and beginner drivers involved, so there will always be someone to race, and perfect to develop and hone your skills for several years in order to reach the front. The racing itself is really great (I dare say better than pretty much everything mentioned)! Also a very friendly welcoming bunch of people.
The problem I see with Ka, or C1, 116 or many other 1 make series is based on road cars is they are generally too heavy, slow in comparison, burn through parts (or at least pads) more quickly, have issues relating to replacement bodywork (should you bang it, which definitely will happen at some point) or are just harder to service.
Ma7da is cheaper than most of them, somewhat faster than most of them, has better racing... and I'm not biased honestly - Ma7da is not the main series I race in. Likewise I've looked reasonably closely at 116, type R, ka and some others. I just think they have a really sorted package.
Thank you so much for all the suggestions! I thought I'd compile them into a list:
- Jaguar Challenge
- Hyundai Coupe Cup
- Track Attack Peugeot 206 GTI Production Cup (single-make class within a mixed grid)
- 750MC or BRSCC Mk1 MX-5 Championship
- 750MC MR2 Championship
- 750MC 116 Trophy
- 750MC Ma7da Championship
- City Car Cup
- Mighty Minis
- Citroen C1 Endurance
- EnduroKa
It seems most of the 750MC single-make series are in the list, to be fair I knew about them before but they felt a little less approachable to a beginner!
I'm surprised more series do not control how many tyres one can use during a season though, surely that would help keep costs down.
- Jaguar Challenge
- Hyundai Coupe Cup
- Track Attack Peugeot 206 GTI Production Cup (single-make class within a mixed grid)
- 750MC or BRSCC Mk1 MX-5 Championship
- 750MC MR2 Championship
- 750MC 116 Trophy
- 750MC Ma7da Championship
- City Car Cup
- Mighty Minis
- Citroen C1 Endurance
- EnduroKa
It seems most of the 750MC single-make series are in the list, to be fair I knew about them before but they felt a little less approachable to a beginner!
I'm surprised more series do not control how many tyres one can use during a season though, surely that would help keep costs down.
qwertea said:
Thank you so much for all the suggestions! I thought I'd compile them into a list:
- Jaguar Challenge
- Hyundai Coupe Cup
- Track Attack Peugeot 206 GTI Production Cup (single-make class within a mixed grid)
- 750MC or BRSCC Mk1 MX-5 Championship
- 750MC MR2 Championship
- 750MC 116 Trophy
- 750MC Ma7da Championship
- City Car Cup
- Mighty Minis
- Citroen C1 Endurance
- EnduroKa
It seems most of the 750MC single-make series are in the list, to be fair I knew about them before but they felt a little less approachable to a beginner!
I'm surprised more series do not control how many tyres one can use during a season though, surely that would help keep costs down.
Many of them keep tyre costs down by using a budget tyre with no wet option (it was MRF in type R trophy and Toyo in enduroka) so even if you use loads it’s not bonkers….. unlike direzzas I use now and race wets! - Jaguar Challenge
- Hyundai Coupe Cup
- Track Attack Peugeot 206 GTI Production Cup (single-make class within a mixed grid)
- 750MC or BRSCC Mk1 MX-5 Championship
- 750MC MR2 Championship
- 750MC 116 Trophy
- 750MC Ma7da Championship
- City Car Cup
- Mighty Minis
- Citroen C1 Endurance
- EnduroKa
It seems most of the 750MC single-make series are in the list, to be fair I knew about them before but they felt a little less approachable to a beginner!
I'm surprised more series do not control how many tyres one can use during a season though, surely that would help keep costs down.
750MC despite being large and daunting with so many series, is actually a very good club for beginners imo, as they are geared towards cheaper to run series for the most part. It's a small running operation though who are really helpful and friendly and who'm I find very approachable.
Likewise many of the single-make type series in it will use a single control tire that works for both wet and dry. Ma7da control tire is an inexpensive track day semi-slick. Worked fine in the wet last week, and they go through maybe 2 sets in a whole season, with very little performance deficit as they age until they are pretty much worn through, so you don't see people buying more tires for each race. I know that Formula Vee and Sports1000 also both have similar policy.
Likewise many of the single-make type series in it will use a single control tire that works for both wet and dry. Ma7da control tire is an inexpensive track day semi-slick. Worked fine in the wet last week, and they go through maybe 2 sets in a whole season, with very little performance deficit as they age until they are pretty much worn through, so you don't see people buying more tires for each race. I know that Formula Vee and Sports1000 also both have similar policy.
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