BRITISH ENDURANCE RACING - 2020 SEASON GUIDE THE HOME OF - Britcar Endurance
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Contents Page 3 Welcome Page 4 - 5 2019 Review Page 7 2020 Britcar Dunlop Endurance and Trophy Page 9 Spa-Francorchamps Non-Championship Race Weekend Page 11 Sponsorship Support Page 13 BEPI Explained Page 15 Raceday Hospitality Page 17 Media and TV Coverage Page 20 Acknowlegements and Contact Details 2
Welcome to Britcar Welcome to Britcar We enter our fifth year of the rejuvenated Britcar Dunlop Endurance Championship with some exciting developments, building on our continuing success, and acknowledging the original Britcar concept whilst responding to the ever-changing appetite of the motorsport marketplace. Our 2019 season once again identified a stunning diversity of driver age and experience, and an eclectic range of machinery, from supercars through GT and Touring cars, to Hot Hatches, proving that age, experience, and budget are no barrier to success, and that the Britcar championship can be viewed as both aspirational and destinational, depending on individual circumstances. It is apparent to us now that the time is right to split the classes into two discrete Championships, and for 2020 we are introducing the Britcar Dunlop Trophy for Classes 5-7, which we comprise a programme of two 50-minute races, generally on the Sunday of a Britcar Dunlop Endurance weekend (though there will be some exceptions – check our 2020 calendar). The Britcar Dunlop Endurance Championship will continue as 2019, featuring two 60-minute races, on a Saturday, and both championships will be regulated by the unique Britcar Endurance Performance Indicator (BEPI), to ensure a structured and competitive environment. Britcar has enjoyed an ongoing relationship with Dunlop and their associates HP Tyres for many years, and this continues for a further four seasons, thus ensuring a stable and healthy partnership with on-site supply of regulation tyres for both of our championships. Our partners Anglo American Oil also provide on-circuit supply of Sunoco fuel, and we also enjoy ongoing partnerships with a number of suppliers of automotive and motorsport products and services that offer discounts to Britcar competitors. We also very proud to be associated with the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2020, supporting their event at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in April with a pair of non- championship races, and with championship rounds at their Silverstone meeting in September. Britcar is indebted to the continued support of a number of people that ensure the smooth running of events – to the Britcar staff, many of whom are volunteers, for their raceday support and background work between events, and members of the Williams family for their input on several levels. I would also like to personally thank all our sponsors, the staff at the British Automobile Racing Club and all the circuit staff and of course the dedicated and hard working marshals who support us at each event. So, it’s going to be an exciting 2020, with a new Championship, and an association with a major global Championship, and we would love you to be a part of our bright future. See you in 2020! Claire Hedley & Team 3
2019 Britcar Endurance Review Overall champions, taking the Class 2 prize All three of these contenders won their respective in the process, were Paul Bailey and Andy classes, while in Class 1 there was another story – Schulz. Amateur driver Bailey has a 10-year trail early-season paddock chat was that the stunning of winning credentials, and with consummate Praga R1T of VR Motorsport would trounce the pro-driver Schulz, their Ferrari 488 Challenge, opposition. True, it was fast, well driven, and took expertly prepared and run by crack outfit some wins, but it was also affected by weather, SB Race Engineering, took in several overall wins track conditions and circuit configurations, and during the season, and their title was achieved Class 1 had more different winners than any other by sticking to a rigid race plan that never wavered class. through the year, unaffected by weather and Britcar were proud to host the racing debut of track conditions, nor by Safety Car interventions. the new Brabham BT62 at the season finale at Compare this to overall runner-up Tim Docker. Brands Hatch in November; with the boss himself, Driving alone in his VW Golf run by weekend David Brabham on board, it took a win first time warriors from Maximum Motorsport, he did out, and indications are that we’ll be seeing more make use of the opportunities afforded by the of the Brabham in 2020. Also notable at that Safety Car, though being a single driver, had to finale was a win in Race 2 for Mike Moss’s unique maintain a level of mental alertness and physical BMW1M, the culmination of a three-year project fitness for the whole one-hour race. He came with Woodrow Motorsport that Moss is keen to within a whisker of taking the overall title, despite point out, is a “Ferrari-beater built in a farm shed” some poor points score in the early part of the Britcar 2019 showed, more than any previous season. season, that it’s the championship to showcase And then we have our third-place team; father large and low budgets, big and small teams, lone and son duo Peter and Mark Cunningham, their drivers, enthusiastic amateurs, skilled pro/am SG Racing Porsche 997 run from a trailer rather pairings, and innovative engineering. than a transporter, self-spannered by the drivers and a couple of mates, on a tight budget with virtually no testing. Still, they had their best year in a long Britcar career, both drivers taking a Driver of the Day award along the way, and Mark claiming the coveted Driver of the Year award at the season’s end. 5
2020 Britcar Dunlop Endurance and Trophy The 2020 season celebrates the fifth Anniversary of the new wave of Britcar management, and we are building on our continued success to bring to competitors the best of Endurance racing, and the best race meetings, in all types of road based endurance racing cars. Our regulations have proved, once again, to provide a stable and level playing field for all competitors and our expanded classes for 2020 cater for two full grids, with the faster cars having a separate race from the less powerful machinery to give you all a chance to race for glory without excessive speed differences between the classes. The new season sees a launch of new classes to the Britcar Dunlop Endurance Championship, so the two separate grids now cater for a diverse range from a Brabham BT62 to a Mazda MX5 and anything in between. Our unique Britcar Endurance Performance Indicator (BEPI) categorises each car based on not only the engine performance and weight but also the extent of developments in the gearbox, suspension, aerodynamics and electronics. This has given rise to extremely well balanced classes where strategy and skill are the driving force behind success. The Endurance category on the Saturday caters for classes 1-4, GT3-GT4/TCR levels of performance whilst the Trophy category on the Sunday will be for anything below that performance level, cars such as: Clio Cup; Mini Challenge; BMW 116i Trophy and the venerable MX5. All the classes will come together for a pair of races on the Silverstone GP circuit in May and all classes are invited to our Non-Championship ‘Spa Spectacular’ in April where the Britcar Dunlop Endurance grid will play a supporting role to the FIA World Endurance Championship. Driving standards will, again, be closely monitored by our experienced team using current and ex racing drivers, dedicated BARC Clerks and mandatory in-car cameras to review any incidents. At the end of the season there will be two overall winners crowned: the Endurance category winners (classes 1-4) and the Trophy category winners (classes 5-7). We look forward to seeing you on the grid at the iconic venues listed below. Here’s to another great season ahead! Endurance Category Trophy Category Date Circuit Date Circuit 11th & 12th July Croft 11th & 12th July Croft 1st August Brands Hatch Indy 2nd August Brands Hatch Indy 12th September Oulton Park 12th September Oulton Park 10th October Silverstone Int 11th October Silverstone Int 1st November Snetterton 1st November Snetterton 7
WEC Support at Spa and Silverstone It is an exciting time for Britcar, as we shall be supporting the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), for the penultimate round of their 2019-2020 season at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit now reschedule to August 2020. The FIA World Endurance Championship, organised by the ACO, runs over a winter scheduling format and culminates with the world’s most famous endurance race, the Le Mans 24 Hours, in June. Featuring top drivers, including Le Mans winners and erstwhile F1 drivers, the Championship also plays host to some familiar names to Britcar followers; pro- drivers Mike Simpson, Charlie Hollings and Johnny Mowlem have all stood on the top step of a Britcar podium in recent years, and rising stars Phil Hanson and Bonamy Grimes both honed their endurance racing skills in Britcar, Hanson actually winning the Britcar Dunlop Endurance Championship in his maiden season of circuit racing in 2016. Thus Britcar’s already-solid reputation for producing teams and drivers that can perform in the International arena is enhanced by being invited onto the prestigious WEC package, and we are immensely proud that our endeavours to produce a professionally-run nationally-based Championship have been recognised by organisers of one of the biggest Championships in global motorsport. Our support-race package is a non-Championship event, and will comprise of two 50-minute races, and is open to all cars complying with Britcar classes 1-7, on Dunlop tyres, whether or not registered for the Britcar Endurance and Trophy championships, so ideal for a foreign sortie to sample racing on one of the world’s classic circuits. We are also introducing a class S for this race for cars who’s performance exceeds the standard Britcar class 1 enabling modern or classic GT cars to join us at this iconic venue to challenge for glory. Our timetable runs from 15th & 16th August 2020. This is an open invitation to all with a suitable car to join us at Spa for this unmissable opportunity. Later in the season we will be rejoining the WEC paddock as we support the opening round of the 2020-2021 WEC season at the Silverstone GP circuit in September. This is a regular championship round of the Endurance category of the Britcar Dunlop Endurance Championship (classes 1-4) and forms the penultimate round of the 2020 championship where the challenge for the title will no doubt be reaching its peak. This meeting will garner huge national and international public and media attention as it will be the first race for the new Hypercar regulations for the WEC. Whilst priority will be given to registered championship competitors, invitation entries will be welcome in each class giving you an opportunity to race in front of a large and knowledgeable fan base. Please contact the office for availability of grid spaces. 9
Thank you to all our sponsors Thank you to all our Sponsors for your support, we look forward to working with you during 2020. Po Box 202, Lindford, Hampshire, GU35 5DR 10
Sponsorship The Britcar Dunlop Endurance Championship offers a wealth of opportunities for companies, brands and individuals to connect with potential partners and customers. We have the opportunity to offer you a bespoke package to suit your needs, anything from simple stickers on cars to help to generate exposure or meeting and entertaining facilities at the race weekends. We can offer behind the scenes tours of a race meeting and exclusive pitlane access. During 2019 we had emerging global brands use Britcar to launch new phases of their expansion plans, artisans use Britcar to connect with new clients, charities generate awareness and national and international brands use their prescence in the Britcar paddock and on the competing race cars to leverage exposure. As the Championship promoter Britcar is in the unique position of being able to offer the widest range of solutions to your requirements: be it a simple advert in a programme, through title sponsorship of a race meeting, having your branding on the TV coverage, race event hospitality meeting and networking facilities, hot-lap rides or anything else you can think of. Our team will work with you to achieve your ideal promotion. To discuss the opportunities available please contact Claire Hedley at Britcar claire@britcar-endurance.com 01428 288008 11
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BEPI Explained The Britcar Endurance Performance Indicator (BEPI) is our way of grading each cars performance to ensure a fair and level playing field in each of the classes of the Britcar Endurance Championship. Most multi-class series categorise their cars based on a simple power-to-weight ratio or an engine size formula but neither of these methods take into account all of the aspects of car performance. This can easily lead to a car with a lower power to weight ratio out performing a car with a higher power to weight ratio due to a more sophisticated suspension system, a better gearbox or superior aerodynamics. This can lead to frustration for teams and drivers unable to compete. The BEPI uses the power and weight of the car but that is only part of the solution. We also take into account the aerodynamics of the car, the position of the engine, which wheels are driven, the style of gearbox, development of the suspension and aerodynamics and what driver aids the driver has access to. This is all fed into our online calculator which then takes all this information, assigns various weightings to the different selections and calculates a figure, known as the BEPI figure. Each class has its own BEPI figure range making it easy to then classify each car based upon all these factors. The BEPI calculator is hosted on our website at the following URL: britcar-endurance.com/bepidev/ The data updates live to give you the opportunity to develop and adjust your car ‘virtually’ and directly see the result of how it will affect the classification of the car. Now in its 5th year, the Britcar Endurance Performance Indicator system has proven itself to provide fair and even racing across the classes and with its refinement and re-balancing of the calculations it continues to provide this level playing field as new cars are produced and developed. 13
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Hospitality Looking after our teams, drivers and their guests again in 2020 will be the wonderful Butcher and Boss catering team. This is the fourth season that they have provided their fantastic array of cooked lunches, cakes and snacks for the Britcar Members Hospitality. All Britcar registered competitors and teams are welcome into the Britcar Hospitality Centre at each race weekend for complimentary tea, coffee and cold drinks. On the Saturday of each UK race meeting Butcher and Boss will provide a two course lunch to all competitors in classes 1-4. Where the Trophy category races on the Saturday they will be entitled to purchase hospitality passes for their drivers, crew and guests. Please contact Britcar directly to confirm prices and availability. Endurance Category competitors (Classes 1-4) are entitled to four hospitality passes included in their entry fee and have the ability to purchase additional passes prior to each event to ensure none of their guests miss out. The Britcar Endurance Hospitality is open all day and we encourage teams to socialise after the race has finished as this is when awards will be presented for overall and class places in the days races. Sample Menus Burger Pot Roast Pork Should er ese Gourmet 100% Beef Apple and fried sage sau ce Pulled Pork Mac ‘n’ Che Jac k che ese and caramelised onions k should er bles Low & Slow cooked por with thyme. Roasted Root Vegeta spiced ugh a lightlyenquiries, throHospitality red all stirFor please contact Lemon & thyme ta cheese pasSarah Bell on 01428 288008 Posh Hot dog h herbs Hot mustard and hom emade Hot potato salad wit or sarah@britcar-endurance.com Longhorn Bee f Chi lli Sage and onion stuffin g ns in a Sau erk rau t in a brioche bun. Firey mix of meat & bea d with dark attas deep rich chilli finishe Roasted vegetable ciab hurt and chocolate. Feta cheese and a yog Desert Menu pasta mint sauce. Strawberry Jam Charred Corn & Pepper Victoria Sponge with per s and cha rred Slow roasted pep Chopped salad nge lemon dressing Dark Chocolate & Ora corn in a tomato sauce. Traditional olive oil & e Baked Vanilla Cheesecak Salads Potato Salad Chopped salad & herbs Toffee topped Apple Pie Grain mustard, honey g Honey & Thyme dressin Hand Cut Coleslaw Tiramisu New potato salad Crunchy & fresh se Lemon Meringue Caper & Dill mayonnai Slow Roasted Brisket Root vegetable slaw Fresh Horseradish sau ce Mustard & Apple 15
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Media & TV Coverage n Television: The team at Pro-Active Television filmed the 2019 Britcar championship with around 40 hours of coverage across the various distribution channels and over 80 indicidual TV slots - a large percentage of which were strong prime time slots or strong secondary or weekend slots. Every programme is featured on the Sky Sports, Front Runner and Motorsport TV channels with further coverage on our dedicated Youtube channel and the Samsung TV Plus on Samsung smart TV’s. Sky Sports was the primary broadcast partner, providing output through the Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Mix channel and an average weekly audience reach of over 999,600 viewers during the broadcast period. The rapidly exanding Front Runner channel - which takes the programmes to new audiences through its availability on Freesat - offering an additional weekly audience of more than 95,300 viewers during the broadcast period. TV producer, Chris Hartley, commented: “Britcar continues to enjoy a much wider level of television coverage than many other National championships. Indeed only a very small handful of other championships can offer teams and sponsors regular prime-time coverage on the Sky Sports network. Rather than solely focusing onconveying the excitement and quality of racing on track, our coverage tries to put the spotlight on the drivers, characters and incredible cars that feature - and not just the front runners but entrants from every class, right the way through the grid.” n Photography: We continue to benefit from support from a number of professional and freelance photographers who post their race photos on the Britcar Endurance website after each event providing a very visible platformfor on-car and on- racesuit sponsor logos and graphics. Images are available to be purchased form the photographers directly for driver and team publicity, please contact the office if you require any images and we will provide contact details of the appropriate photographer. n Social Media: We continue to expand our prescence on both Facebook and Twitter with nearly 5000 followers on each platform. Videos, photos, news and results will be posted live during each round. We also have our own Youtube channel featuring replays of the TV programs. n Publications: Covered by recognised publications Autosport and Motorsport News as well as a number of motorsport specific websites. Some of our sponsors also feature race reports and updates on their own websites and promotional material. n Websites: The championship will continue to have web coverage for 2019 with race reporets, team and driver interviews as well as special features on the Britcar Endurance website (britcar-endurance.com). All race timing is provided by TSL and timetables, results and live timing can be viewed on their site (tsl-timing.com). n Exhibitions: Britcar Endurance has a presence at both the MotorsportDays Live trade show at Silverstone every November and the Autosport International Show held at the NEC in Birmingham each January. Contact: For all media enquiries:- contact Chris Valentine at chris@britcar-endurance.com 17
ENDURANCE SPIRIT Dunlop, the choice of the winners in the FIA World Endurance Championship, is proud to provide grip, durability and performance to Britcar. As Britain’s best endurance racing series for GT and Touring Cars, the championship sees teams racing day and night at the UK’s top racing venues including the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. britcar-endurance.com @DunlopMSport facebook.com/dunlop.uk www.dunlop.eu
Thank you to all our photographers Thanks to all the photographers who have covered Britcar in 2019, we look forward to working with you again in 2020. Media and photo credits: Steve Wood, Chris Valentine, Paul Cherry, Stevie Borowick, Dave Maries, Sean Mulcahy, Jurek Biegus, Gary Harman, Marc Waller, Steve Jackman and all previous Britcar photographers. 19
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THE TRACK IN 2020 Hedley Cowell Events Ltd T/A Britcar PO Box 140, Liphook, GU30 9BU T: 01428 288008 n M: 07534 369892 E: claire@britcar-endurance.com n www.britcar-endurance.com
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