A new challenge

Sir,
After 35 years the World Endurance Championship, under its various titles, is virtually over. The future of “two-seater” racing with only one driver and less than two-hour races looks bleak.

That is, it did look bleak until February’s Motor Sport arrived. The proposed “Supercar GT” category would provide a new challenge for manufacturers and entrants, and a new interest for spectators.

Having seen the Goodwood TT, run from 1960 to 1963 for GT cars, I can confirm that small-volume production models can provide some superb racing. The eligible cars listed, plus others soon to be released, such as the 8-series BMW, should produce even more spectacular racing than the days of the GTOs and DB4s.

My one disappointment is that races should be for only 500km. Would not five hours be more realistic for these vehicles? The “possible exceptions” could be races of nine or twelve hours. Spa seems to be at a loss what to do with its 24-hour race since the demise of ETC, and GT cars would certainly solve its problem; that race did, after all, start life as a challenge for “sports touring” cars.

Motor Sport has set itself a big and difficult task if these exciting proposals are to become reality. Mike Cotton is well known for his enthusiasm for “real” motor racing, and with Motor Sport behind the project it is my sincere hope that manufacturers and private teams will be quick to give their support.

For sure, here is one spectator already looking forward to the first race. There must be many thousands like me — some maybe old enough (like MLC!) to have enjoyed those Goodwood races. Who knows, we might even have the pleasure of Jenks’ company at a long-distance race for the first time since 1975?

John W Nicholls Plymouth, Devon