Autocar and Shelsley Walsh hillclimb are combining to launch a brand new, reasonably priced motorsport competitors for 17-to-21-year previous licensed drivers, based mostly across the 1.2-litre Vauxhall Corsa and aimed toward bringing contemporary expertise to a sport that prides itself on welcoming vehicles and drivers of all.
For its first season, the Autocar-Shelsley Walsh Younger Drivers’ Championship goals to draw a most of 10 rivals to a collection of six rounds that can begin this July on the Curborough dash monitor, close to Lichfield, on 11 July.
There’ll then be 5 additional rounds at Shelsley Walsh, Worcestershire – the world’s oldest motor sporting venue nonetheless in use – this September.
“Our sport wants extra youthful rivals,” mentioned collection instigator and guiding mild Paul Matty. “We predict that is the best means to attract them in. We need to appeal to younger rivals with a number of ambition however no racing expertise by retaining the vehicles easy and equal and the price of entry as little as it may be.
“We’ve already had loads of curiosity – together with from different golf equipment and tracks who would love to do the identical form of factor.”
On the competitors’s official launch at Shelsley Walsh yesterday, its first official entrant, 21-year previous Ben Evans, took to the monitor for our cameras in a healthy-looking 2008 Corsa purchased for £2300 within the native classifieds. The automobile was normal aside from a fireplace extinguisher (equipped free to all entrants).
Evans, a Bromsgove-based automobile elements specialist, additionally modelled a set of the particular collection race overalls that, just like the helmet, will probably be equipped to all entrants at a closely discounted value.
Additionally readily available to lend help for what he known as “an awesome initiative” was Constable Simon Yuile, a forensic collision investigator representing the West Mercia Police and a lifelong automobile fanatic. “That is the form of sensible step that may assist younger drivers take pleasure in themselves in vehicles however be a lot safer after they do it,” he mentioned.
Earlier than the brand new Autocar Shelsley competitors begins, all entrants will probably be invited to a day-long driver coaching course at Curborough on 27 Might, the place they’ll obtain driving tuition from certified instructors from the Midland Car Membership, Shelsley Walsh’s proprietor. Entrants will probably be required to affix the membership, once more at a reduced value, and pay particular, decrease occasion entry charges.
