Monday 4th October 2004

TVR saves Tuscan Challenge

Last one ever, but next year's TVR Challenge looks like just the ticket

---

This weekend saw the last ever TVR Tuscan Challenge take place at Brands Hatch in Kent. It's not really all over though - thankfully.

TVR have done a U turn and announced that they will indeed support the series next year - and more exciting still - they will up the ante with modern cars permitted too. Full details of the 'TVR Challenge' are expected later this week, but in essence you'll be able to buy a basic Sagaris, T350 or Tuscan S to which you'll have to fit roll cage, dampers and a leased engine. There's even talk of 500bhp unrestricted Speed 6 engines being made available. Not only will it allow existing drivers to continue racing but more importantly for TVR and its dealers, it will allow people to see race versions of the current road cars battling it out on track in one of the fastest race series in the world.

So whilst there was a bit of end of season sadness at Brands, the talk was very much of next year and who'd be back and what they'll be driving.

Race 1

Sixteen cars attended the meeting with the usual suspects at the front of the grid. There was a new face right at the front however. Valle Makela turned up, jumped in Richard Stanton's car and put it on poll - that's talent!

In the race he struggled to maintain that form though with Mason, Caroline and Keen leading the way, Makela following.

The track was incredibly slippery thanks to plenty of rain and some of the cars had to gingerly make their way around desperately hugging the dry line.

Mason and Caroline battled for the last time this year whilst Keen temporarily dropped back behind Makela. It wasn't for long though. Keen went on a charge, clawing back the places chasing Caroline who by now had taken the lead. it was thrilling to watch as Keen stayed on song, nipping past Caroline to grab the lead - a position he held to the flag.

PHer Andy Holden had a less than satisfactory race as he and former TVR Chairman Peter Wheeler swapped paint. Holden ended up spinning off whilst Wheeler ended up crashing into the pit wall and crawling over the line to take 12th place.

Race 2

The second race also took place in damp conditions, with the same 3 drivers making the headlines. Mason, Keen and Caroline battled it out one last time for 16 laps. They jostled for position, even getting caught up in the back markers which made for scary spectating as they hurtled through the small gaps left by a bunch of slower cars.

Mason unusually ended up tapping Caroline sending him flying into the gravel on the penultimate lap, only to have a similar fate beset him on the final lap. Keen and Mason came together and both of them ended up sliding off! Mason just about managed to recover in time to prevent Makela snatching a last minute win, whilst Keen recovered only to drive straight into the pits.

So all over for another year, with Lee Caroline champion for the second year running. Whether he'll be back in 2005 along with the names from this year remains to be seen. Most drivers want to return - the debate will be who will take the plunge and opt for one of the newer cars.

• Race 1
• Race 2
• Points Table

[marc]

Thank goodness for that! I watched Race 2 up at Druids and it was bloody fantastic with Caroline pulling off some audaious moves. Was the best race of the day bar none, and went home feeling utterly pissed off that the Tuscans were gone!

Got home tonight to this fantastic news! Really cant beat the image of a Tuscans tail squatting down on acceleration going down to Graham Hill bend. The formula was always right......quick cars, with a good bunch of drivers.

Well done TVR!

[Roy C]

The Tuscans are still great, especially in the wet!

The new race series sounds good.
Is this a case of the factory copying the TVRCC?

[yellow peril]

Great News

Seems a turn out of 150 TVRs at Thruxton hit the bullseye!!!!

Would have been a crying shame to see it all finish.
Well done TVR


I take it Donington will be the first race.....
Only a few months to wait then......

Note to self....must order so more flags....

...//P//

[ratpit]

...........and some bigger cake tins !!!!!!!!

[caro]

Not clear from this whether the existing Tuscan race cars will still be eligible?

[hui]

They will.

Mrs Hui

[philgladwin]

I only managed to make practise, but it was a great weekend for the Tuscans, shame there has been no mention of Gerard Coakley coming from the back of the grid in race 1 to finish 9th. Its been a tough year for lower mortals all of them could do with a little more column space.

>> Edited by philgladwin on Thursday 7th October 14:29

[caro]

Thanks Mrs Hui!! Made my day.

ps Here's to the lower mortals, long may they entertain us in outrageously gorgeous, noisy, fast sports cars