MSA plans for UK Motorsport

[Alan]

What do people think of the plans announced in this weeks Autosport (and I assume Motoring News) for the changes in the structure of motorsport in the UK?

It looks like it will give drivers and teams a good ladder and aid progress but/and (depending on your viewpoint) it will make it more difficult for new series to get going.

I note the deadline for championships to register is the 1st July, not very long - and I have to assume this has been known to insiders for a while now.

[Sim_Da_BTCC_Man]

Alan could you enlighten me a bit more,

I have not poped down to the newsagency yet.

Thank you :)

[Alan]

Basically, they want to split series into three groups, with three levels - Saloons (BTCC at the top), single seaters (F3 there of course) and Sportscars (with GT's at the top level).

The second levels are, for example, SEAT Cupra, FF and F Renault and National Supersports and Radicals.

The third level is Clio's, Zip Formula and Caterhams (all examples of course).

I note that they use the words professional/semi-professional when describing these series - and there are a total of 15 slots to be filled - but they don't necessarily want to fill all the slots.

There is an assumption that all of the series in this "grid" will gravitate to one of the two major promoted packages - i.e. TOCA or F3/GT.

I think that is the idea anyway - hope I have got it right!!!:)

You really will have to get to the newsagents sooner Sim!!:D

[Racefan_uk]

I noticed that the MSA had placed Radicals and National Supoersports on the 'GT' part of the grid. Fine, I understand that if you are looking to get into sportscars they are a way to go, especially if you like prototypes (a la ALMS) but.. they seem to have missed out things like Porsche Cup, TVR Tuscans, Caterham R400s etc.
Surely they are bigger more high profile steps into sportscars? :confused: :rolleyes:

[tvgod]

I suspect Caterhams and Tuscans will end up in the spare slots below GT.
I'd be very surprised if the Porsche Cup continues as an official series - it just can't attract enough drivers.
When it was relaunched at the end of last year they were promising grids of 20+.
Halfway through the season, and they've never come close - though they haven't quite fallen to last year's 7-car nadir.

[Frank Rizzo]

Alan Gow has agreed to extend the deadline due to hardly any responses being received. The Tuscan series missed, so did VW Cup I believe, amongst many others.

Tuscans will almost certainly be part of the matrix - they get such good grids. TVGOD is right about Porsches though. Shame, because the racing can be excellent when they get enough of them out there. Just so ****** expensive!

It should be noted that this is for 'promoted' series only. Therefore, national and club racing won't be affected yet. There are further plans for club racing if this all goes well.

All in all, it's a great idea, and will lead to less series, but bigger grids on those that survive. Race weekends will be much more fun for competitor and spectator alike. Good luck with it, I say!

[Alan]

I think you have summed it up well Frank.

As you say there are too many series vying for a limited amount of sponsorship, and that can only be detrimental to this level of motorsport.

If the deadline has been extended it makes me think that maybe enough time has not been allowed for the various series to make their interest known - which is a bit worrying!!