Choosing your Championship - Sportscars

Avo Ginetta Sportscar ChampionshipThe cars appeal for their simple, yet thoroughly effective design, race-bred performance and pretty two-seater good looks. Ginettas are chosen for their successful competition record and their proven quality gained through 47 years experience producing single-seater, sports racing and production sports cars. The championship runs in the inaugural ‘Great & British’ Dunlop Motorsport Festival package run by the BARC. All nine rounds will be promoted heavily by Dunlop and a minimum of twelve races will be televised on satellite television.Can you buy a car and run it yourself? - YesCan you buy car and have it run by a team? - YesCan the teams provide and run the car for you? - YesHow many races are there a year? - 18Average grid size - 32Race format - two races held over nine weekends. All meetings comprise of 30 minutes of free practice and 20 minutes qualifying on Saturday with two twenty-minute races held on SundayCost of new car - £12,000Typical cost of second-hand car - £8-10,000Typical budget - £8-20,000Link to series website - www.ginettacars.comTypical racer (% professional, % amateur) - 10/90

Bike Sports ChampionshipThe Bike-Sports series is for cars powered by series-production 4-stroke motorcycle engines, these include two-seater cars and those with a central driving position. Cars will run in classes as follows  A  up to 1300cc modified, B  up to 1300cc standard, C  Sports 1000 and Global Lights, D  Clubsport Radical.Can you buy a car and run it yourself? - YesCan you buy car and have it run by a team? - YesCan the teams provide and run the car for you? - NoHow many races are there a year? - 14 races over nine meetingsAverage grid size - 20Race format - Twenty-minute races and a twenty-minute qualifying session at each meetingCost of new car - £15-25,000Typical cost of second-hand car  £8-15,000Typical budget  £6-15,000Link to series website - www.750mc.co.ukTypical racer (% professional, % amateur) - 0/100

BritsportsEndurance racing series for Sports racers cars with a variety of events running on the Britcar bill. Cars include Radicals, Junos, Normas, Jades and other prototype sports racers.Can you buy a car and run it yourself? - YesCan you buy car and have it run by a team? - YesCan the teams provide and run the car for you? - No but with multi driver cars you car buy a seat.How many races are there a year? - 8Average grid size - 20Race format - Races vary in length but are usually about 2 hours long. Some events are double headersCost of new car - £15-100,000Typical cost of second-hand car - £15-100,000Typical budget - £25-100,000 per yearLink to series website - www.eerc.co.ukTypical racer (% professional, % amateur) - 30/70

Caterham AcademyThe Caterham Academy is a unique introduction to Motorsport. It was set up to create the first rung onthe motorsport ladder and since its conception in 1995, has proved to be an unprecedented success, selling all available places well ahead of the race season. The new race car price also includes all event and administration fees, a medical, full ARDS tuition day, two hillclimbs two sprints, four races and at the end of the season you get to keep the car.Can you buy a car and run it yourself? - YesCan you buy car and have it run by a team? - NoCan the teams provide and run the car for you? - NoHow many races are there a year? - 4 races (see description)Average grid size - 26Race format - Twenty minute races and a twenty minute qualifying session at each meetingCost of new car - £16,495Typical cost of second-hand car - £n/aTypical budget - £5-12,000Link to series website - www.caterhamracing.comTypical racer (% professional, % amateur) - 0/100

Caterham GraduatesThe cars used in the series are Caterham Seven Classics, with live-axle suspension and 8-valve Ford or Vauxhall engines producing about 100bhp. They run on Avon 'Fuel Saving' tyres which can be expected to last a full season of racing. The specification is very tightly controlled, with no changes allowed. This means the cars are all very evenly matched putting the emphasis firmly on driver ability. Professional race teams are actively discouraged, but instead technical support is provided free to all competitors at test and race days.Can you buy a car and run it yourself? - YesCan you buy car and have it run by a team? - NoCan the teams provide and run the car for you? - NoHow many races are there a year? - 10 double-header meetingsAverage grid size - 26Race format - Twenty minute races and a twenty minute qualifying session at each meetingCost of new car - £17,000Typical cost of second-hand car - £10-15,000Typical budget - £10-20,000Link to series website - www.caterhamracing.comTypical racer (% professional, % amateur) - 0/100

Caterham Super-GraduatesThe Super-Graduates class was introduced into the Caterham Graduates series in 2001, after requests from drivers for faster cars run to the same low-cost formula. The cars are based on the post 2001 Caterham Academy specification cars, with DeDion suspension, sticky Avon road/race tyres and Rover K-series engines.Can you buy a car and run it yourself? - YesCan you buy car and have it run by a team? - NoCan the teams provide and run the car for you? - NoHow many races are there a year? - 10 double-header meetingsAverage grid size - 26Race format  Twenty-minute races and a twenty minute qualifying session at each meetingCost of new car - £20,000Typical cost of second-hand car - £10-15,000Typical budget - £12-25,000Link to series website  - www.caterhamracing.comTypical racer (% professional, % amateur) - 0/100

Caterham Roadsports Healthy grids and fantastically close racing typify the Roadsport Challenge, Caterham’s championship for intermediate drivers. The cars are all powered by 1.6-litre K-series units and have an impressive power to weight ratio and neat handling on Avon CR500 treaded race rubber. The cars are road legal and competitors can, and often do, drive them home from the circuit. Can you buy a car and run it yourself? - Yes Can you buy car and have it run by a team? - Yes Can the teams provide and run the car for you? - Yes How many races are there a year? - 8 double-header meetings Average grid size - 26 Race format - Twenty-minute races and a twenty minute qualifying session at each meeting Cost of new car - £25,000 Typical cost of second-hand car - £15-20,000 Typical budget - £12-25,000 Link to series website - www.caterhamracing.com Typical racer (% professional, % amateur) - 0/100

Caterham Superlight Challenge This is Caterham’s premier British championship, and features a fresh look in 2006 thanks to the introduction of the new Cosworth-powered Superlight model. The Superlight takes over from the hugely successful R400 model, which has provided breathtakingly close racing for many seasons, enthralling many thousands of circuit-goers and millions worldwide via satellite TV. Can you buy a car and run it yourself? - Yes Can you buy car and have it run by a team? - Yes Can the teams provide and run the car for you? - Yes How many races are there a year? - 12 races over six meetings Average grid size - 24 Race format - Two thirty-minute races and a twenty minute qualifying session at each meeting Cost of new car - £40,000 Typical cost of second-hand car - £20-30,000 Typical budget - £20-60,000 Link to series website - www.caterhamracing.com Typical racer (% professional, % amateur) - 0/100

Dunlop Tuscan ChallengeDramatic sportscars that ran a factory supported series for over 15 years. They sound awesome and produce many sideways moments and very closely fought contests throughout the whole field. The Tuscan is designed and manufactured specifically for the series running with a sealed V8 AJP or Rover based engine. Also Tasmins and Griffiths are eligible to enter.Can you buy a car and run it yourself? - YesCan you buy car and have it run by a team? - YesCan the teams provide and run the car for you? - NoHow many races are there a year? - 14 races over nine meetingsAverage grid size - 12Race format - Twenty-minute races and a twenty-minute qualifying session at each meetingCost of new car - £n/aTypical cost of second-hand car - £15-20,000Typical budget - £15-30,000Link to series website - www.brscc.co.ukTypical racer (% professional, % amateur) - 0/100

Ginetta Junior ChampionshipJunior championship for drivers between the ages of 14 and 16. The cars are low priced and designed to be easy to maintain and driveCan you buy a car and run it yourself? - YesCan you buy car and have it run by a team? - YesCan the teams provide and run the car for you? - NoHow many races are there a year? - 7 meetingsAverage grid size - 16Race format - Twenty minutes qualifying and twenty minutes for each raceCost of new car - £12,000Typical cost of second-hand car - £8-10,000Typical budget - £8-20,000Link to series website - www.ginettacars.comTypical racer (% professional, % amateur) - 0/100

Kit Car Championship 750 Motor Club series for genuine production kit cars, front or rear engined, specifically excluding one-off specials. Chassis and bodywork materials and the design concept may not be changed. Cars must be capable of passing an MOT test. Add-on aerodynamics are prohibited. Can you buy a car and run it yourself? - Yes Can you buy car and have it run by a team? - Yes Can the teams provide and run the car for you? - No How many races are there a year? - 14 races over 9 meetings Average grid size - 20 Race format - Twenty-minute races and a twenty minute qualifying session at each meeting Cost of new car - £10-20,000 Typical cost of second-hand car -  £7-£15,000 Typical budget  - £3-12,000 Link to series website -  www.750mc.co.uk Typical racer (% professional, % amateur) - 0/100

Locost ChampionshipThe cars are built to the design set out in Ron Champion’s book ‘How to build a sportscar for £250’. The purchase of new cars which have been professionally-built is prohibited. All cars must be capable of passing an MoT on the day of the race and run a Ford Xflow 1300GT engine.Can you buy a car and run it yourself? - YesCan you buy car and have it run by a team? - YesCan the teams provide and run the car for you? - NoHow many races are there a year? - 14 races over nine meetingsAverage grid size - 20Race format - Twenty-minute races and a twenty minute qualifying session at each meetingCost of new car - £n/aTypical cost of second-hand car - £5-10,000Typical budget - £5-12,000Link to series website - www.750mc.co.ukTypical racer (% professional, % amateur) - 0/100

MAX-5This very British race series using the Mk1 1600cc Mazda MX5 is run on the principle that close racing is exiting racing, the race championship is aimed at drivers who want there racing to be fun. The front-engine rear-wheel drive layout gives a sports racer feel at a low price.Can you buy a car and run it yourself? - YesCan you buy car and have it run by a team? - YesCan the teams provide and run the car for you? - YesHow many races are there a year? - 13 races over nine meetingsAverage grid size - 24Race format - Twenty-minute races and a twenty minute qualifying session at each meetingCost of new car - £8-10,000Typical cost of second-hand car - £5-8,000Typical budget -  £6-12,000Link to series website -  www.max5racing.comTypical racer (% professional, % amateur) - 0/100

MSVR Sports and Sports Racing ChallengeThe Motorsport Vision Racing series has already built a strong following thanks to its low entry fees and regulations that allow a wide range of sportscars to take part including Radicals, Caterhams, Ginettas and Westfields.Can you buy a car and run it yourself? - YesCan you buy car and have it run by a team? - YesCan the teams provide and run the car for you? - NoHow many races are there a year? - Five meetings Average grid size - 30Race format - Two twenty-minute races and a twenty-minute qualifying sessionCost of new car - £10-60,000Typical cost of second-hand car - £10-40,000Typical budget - £3-12,000Link to series website - www.motorsportvision.co.ukTypical racer (% professional, % amateur) -  0/100

Radical Clubmans CupOne-make sportscar series for Radical SR4, PR6, SR3 and clubsport sportscars. These mini-prototype racers are fitted with Powertec Kawasaki engines and a six-speed sequential gearbox. Two closely fought 40km races plus qualifying and testing all run over two days as part of the Dunlop Great and British package.Can you buy a car and run it yourself? - YesCan you buy car and have it run by a team? - YesCan the teams provide and run the car for you? - YesHow many races are there a year? - 12Average grid size - 26Race format - All meetings comprise of 30 minutes of free practice and 20 minutes qualifying on Saturday with two twenty-minute races held on SundayCost of new car - £30-50,000Typical cost of second-hand car - £20,000Typical budget - £15-30,000 per yearLink to series website -  www.radicalsportscars.comTypical racer (% professional, % amateur) - 20/80

Radical UK CupOne make sportscar series for Radical SR3 and SR8 sportscars. Six events feature in Dunlop’s ‘Great & British’ Motorsport Festivals package and two are combined with Radical European Masters events. Race format is either a 50-minute double header or a single 75-minute race with a fuel stop in addition to a driver change. All ‘Great & British’ events are televised on Sky Sport and Radical Web TV.Can you buy a car and run it yourself? - YesCan you buy car and have it run by a team? - YesCan the teams provide and run the car for you? - YesHow many races are there a year? - 18Average grid size - 26Race format - Two races held over nine weekends. All meetings comprise of 30 minutes of free practice and 30 minutes qualifying on Saturday with two forty minute races held on SundayCost of new car - £55,000 for the SR3 and £85,000 for the SR8Typical cost of second-hand car - £25,000 for the SR3, £55,000 for the SR8Typical budget - £25-50,000 per yearLink to series website - www.radicalsportscars.com www.driversknow.comTypical racer (% professional, % amateur) - 20/80

RGB ChampionshipThe RGB Championship (Roadgoing bike-engined cars) is for two-seater cars to roadgoing spec and capable of passing an MoT on the day of the event. The cars can be ‘one-off’, converted sports or kit cars or one of the many bike-engined kit cars.Can you buy a car and run it yourself? - YesCan you buy car and have it run by a team? - YesCan the teams provide and run the car for you? - NoHow many races are there a year? - 14 races over 9 meetingsAverage grid size - 20Race format - Twenty-minute races and a twenty-minute qualifying session at each meetingCost of new car - £10-20,000Typical cost of second-hand car - £8-15,000Typical budget - £8-15,000Link to series website -  www.750mc.co.ukTypical racer (% professional, % amateur) - 0/100

Sports 2000 ChampionshipSports 2000 was first introduced in 1977 and resurrected again in 1998 by the SRCC (Sports 2000 Racing Car Club) and in association with the BRSCC has gone from strength to strength. Split into races for the Duratec and Pinto cars.Can you buy a car and run it yourself? - YesCan you buy car and have it run by a team? - YesCan the teams provide and run the car for you? - NoHow many races are there a year? - 14 races over nine meetingsAverage grid size - 24Race format - Thirty-minute races and a thirty minute qualifying session at each meetingCost of new car - £15-25,000Typical cost of second-hand car - £8-15,000Typical budget - £6-15,000Link to series website - www.brscc.co.ukTypical racer (% professional, % amateur) - 0/100

7 Championship750 Motor Club series for Caterham 7 or Lotus 7 cars, in four classes determined by which engine is fitted. Options include Ford 1700 Xflow, Vauxhall 2-litre, Rover 1400K & 1600K, Superlight-R, Roadsports 1600K, Academy, Graduate and Super Graduate.Can you buy a car and run it yourself? - YesCan you buy car and have it run by a team? - YesCan the teams provide and run the car for you? - NoHow many races are there a year? - 14 races over nine meetingsAverage grid size - 20Race format  - Twenty-minute races and a twenty-minute qualifying session at each meetingCost of new car - £15-40,000Typical cost of second-hand car - £12-25,000Typical budget - £8-18,000Link to series website - www.750mc.co.ukTypical racer (% professional, % amateur) - 0/100

750 FormulaA true two-seater sports-racing car, although passenger space is very small! Most cars have been individually designed and built by enthusiasts over the years to comply with the chassis regulations; many cars are available second-hand. Essentially the cars are lightweight, space-frame with aluminium panels and fibreglass bodywork. Cars must use either the Reliant 850cc engine or, newly introduced, the Fiat 1108cc ‘FIRE’ engine. Tuning on the Reliant is quite extensive, whilst the Fiat engine is basically standard.Can you buy a car and run it yourself? - YesCan you buy car and have it run by a team? - YesCan the teams provide and run the car for you? - NoHow many races are there a year? - 14 races over nine meetingsAverage grid size - 20Race format - Twenty-minute races and a twenty-minute qualifying session at each meetingCost of new car - £10-20,000Typical cost of second-hand car - £8-15,000Typical budget - £6-15,000Link to series website - www.750mc.co.ukTypical racer (% professional, % amateur) - 0/100

Westfield Sportscar ChampionshipAll cars are equal spec Westfield SE race cars running standard 1800cc or 2000cc Ford Zetec engines and Dunlop control race tyres. The racing is suited to both the newcomer to circuit racing and experienced racers. It does not rely upon a large budget. The cars are relatively unstressed due to the unmodified engine specification, providing reliability and low running costsCan you buy a car and run it yourself? - YesCan you buy car and have it run by a team? - YesCan the teams provide and run the car for you? - NoHow many races are there a year? Eight meetingsAverage grid size - 24Race format - Twenty-minute races and a twenty-minute qualifying session at each meetingCost of new car - £20,000Typical cost of second-hand car - £10-15,000Typical budget - £4-5,000Link to series website - www.wscrda.co.ukTypical racer (% professional, % amateur) - 0/100