The third round of the Dunlop Tuscan Challenge takes place at Castle Combe this Bank Holiday Monday.30/4/2006
The TVR race is at 5.45pm, but several of the TVR drivers are also competing in the 'Special GT' race at 3pm. Qualifying starts at 10amCastle Combe is a hugely friendly circuit and probably one of the best from a spectator perspective - raised banking enables the spectator to see far more of the track than at many circuits.
The TVR field includes full Tuscan Challenge spec cars, Tim Hood's new Sagaris V8, and a variety of other racing TVRs including a Griffith, Chimeara and numerous Tasmins. The paddock is open to spectators and the drivers are all happy to spend time with club members talking through the cars and where that ellusive last 10th of a second is likely to come from! The race will also be shown on Motors TV Congratulations to Tim Hood who this afternoon took the chequered flag at Silverstone in the V8 Sagaris in only its second outing in the Dunlop Tuscan Challenge. Just 3/10 second behind was championship leader Darren Dowling in a Tuscan who was nearly a lap ahead of third placed driver Dean Cook, also in a Tuscan. Class B honours were taken again by Marc Hockin's Griffith ahead of Cliff Jobson's Tasmin. Unfortunately, the only entrant in Class C, Sprint Deputy Editor Howard Bryan, retired after 10 laps. With thanks to Middlesex RO Adam Davis for the photo. Congratulations to Darren Dowling for his victory in the inaugural Dunlop Tuscan Challenge at Oulton Park at the weekend. Congratulations also to winners of Class B Marc Hockin and Class C Sprint Deputy Editor Howard Bryan. The first test of the first true racing V8 Sagaris built by Tim Hood, Terry Lee & Grantura Engineering took place yesterday and the Club believes that these are the first pictures of it shown to the public.This is a highly modified shell with a removable front (clam shell) which will accommodate most V8 engines with a well proven Tuscan race chassis. In testing yesterday at Silverstone, it had only a few very small probles which were all sorted out by the end of the test. First reports are that it handles far better than a Tuscan with the advantage of being more aero dynamic with down force. For futher details contact John Reid. As many of you may have spotted, the Silverstone round of the Dunlop Tuscan Challenge/TVRCC Challenge Cup clashed with both the recently confirmed Back Home Event in Blackpool and the Wedge Fest. Therefore, we are very pleased to announce that this round has been postponed until the following week and will now take place at Silverstone on 22nd/23rd July as part of the Best of British Motorsport Festival. We hope therefore to have a display of the race cars as part of the Back Home celebrations.
The dates for the first TVRCC track days for 2006 are now promulgated on the track days page but I am pleased to confirm that there will be more to be added to these in due course as soon as negotiations with the circuits are complete. In addition, for anyone who cannot wait until April to get their car on the track, we have been invited by the Noble Owners' Club to join them in their track day at Brands Hatch on Sunday 29 January. Please note, this is not a TVRCC track day and therefore you would be strongly advised to check with your insurance company regarding your track cover.
We are indebted to member Paul Shrimpton who has supplied these photographs from the LMES race at Nurburgring showing the Racesport Peninsula and Team LNT's T400Rs. This was LNT's final LMES race with the T400R before they move across to running Panoz for 2006 and which is expected to make its debut in Istanbul. However, we understand that LNT may still enter the T400s in selected races in 2006 including Silverstone. The Racesport Salisbury T400R, driven by Richard Stanton and Piers Johnson, chalked up another finish in LMES at Nurburgring this weekend finishing in 26th position overall and 6th in class, some six laps behind class winners Xavier Pompidou and Marc Lieb's Porsche 996 GT3R. But it was a day of disappointment in possibly LNT's last LMES race in a TVR when both cars, which had qualified well in 3rd and 4th in class just 2 seconds off pole, failed to finish. Team LNT, who are changing to Panoz for 2006, hve been reported elsewhere as saying that they may race the new cars at the next race in Istanbul on 13 November. Congratulations to Racesport Salisbury on once again dispelling the myth that TVRs are unreliable. The race was won by Hayanari Shimoda and Tom Chilton in their Zytek.
After a disappointing qualifying which placed all three TVRs towards the back of the grid, a very wet start to the race followed which meant that many drivers took unplanned excursions into Silverstone's many gravel traps and much of the race was undertaken behind the safety car. Well sadly it's game over for Team LNT and the British GT Championship, following problems with noise limits at Castle Combe this weekend. Club members Paul Shrimpton and Simon Lunn were on hand to get this breaking news from team owner Laurence Tomlinson who has announced that he is retiring the team from the British GTs. For the second consecutive year, as the famous Le Mans Rolex clock passed 4.00pm on Sunday afternoon, the TVR supporters had something to cheer about. For again, the TVR entry had proved that despite what the doubters might say, reliability is proven by finishing the world's most gruelling endurance race. For that is exactly what the Racesports Peninsula TVR T400R had done With 11 hours now past the Peninsula T400R is still lapping the Le Mans street circuit. At present Piers is out on track and lapping at 4.24.349 The team are relaxed as they continue to fuel and service the Tuscan R through the night. Although it is just gone 3am the team are relaxed and readying themselves for the next pit stop. At present there are no serious issues with the car and the team are happy with the current situation. The main problrm for all the drivers is the heat they have to contend with in the cabin.
The TVR is still out and running. Temperatures are set to top 33-35 degrees so it is even hotter than yesterday. Currently it is standing at 14th in class and lapping at 4.32.247. Richard is at the wheel, Piers having handed over a while ago.
So far there have been two delays; The first was 20 minutes sorting out a broken clutch pedal. Apparently clutch pedal travel is now what you would call minimal as it is now something nearer to and on/off switch. The drivers are having to be really careful especially when leaving the pits! The second was an hours delay caused by a problem wheel nut and thread. John sat waiting in the car in the extreme temperatures we are experiencing here for a good while but ended up having to get out and wait. Unfortunate maybe but it is a 24 hour race and there are still many many hours to go and the car is out there working hard. The team are all in good spirits and there are some interesting photos being taken inside the pits that are not ideal for the website but may end up being printed out and passed around! Well we now know the grid positions for tomorrow's race. The Racesports Peninsula TVR T400R shaved nearly 30 seconds of its previous best time in practice and qualifying to post a time of 4:22.310 for the 13km circuit. Unfortunately, everyone else improved during this final session as well so no real improvement on grid position - the teams starts in 12th place in class - 46th overall. But, as Henri Pescarolo, team owner for the all-French Pescarolo Judds that occupy P1 and P2 on the grid in their LM1 cars said last night, It's the race that counts.
The Racesports Peninsula TVR T400R acquiited itslef well last night during first qualifying sessions. At the end of day qualifying it was lying 41st overall and 12th in class with a time of 5:20.267. During the night time session it posted a best time of 4:48.379 leaving the team 44th overall and 11th in class.
Here is proof, if ever you needed it, that Le Mans is now just a few days away. With thanks to Richard Mayoh at Peninsula TVR, we have these exclusive pictures of the team making final preparations this week for the weekend's big event. |
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