BARC Westfield Race Series

[Mark Stanton]

Just received some info that may be of interest to any WSCC Member that would like to take part in the BARC Westfield Race Series or at least try some circuit racing - An invitation class has been added and also a class for XI's (without the need for a full cage)

Info has been sent from Steve Hindle who is working with the BARC to help promote the race series and increase grid sizes and the opportunity for anyone with a Westfield to take part - Any questions please contact Steve Hindle

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To ALL WSCC Members

I am writing to advise you of what I hope will be seen by WSCC members as progressive developments regarding the future of the Westfield Race Series.

Firstly, I need to confirm that following poorly supported grids throughout 2010, the BARC have been left with no option other than to scrap the “factory series”.

At the same time, a similar situation was being addressed with the BARC’s Max5 Racing. Here, the impact of the success of the breakaway Ma5da Racing Championship led to declining grids and again, the decision was taken by the BARC to cancel the series for 2011.

My involvement comes as a result of discussions between the BARC and myself as to how these situations could be redressed.

The second thing that I need to stress is that the BARC are firmly committed to supporting their racing members.

Clearly nobody could expect grids of 5 or 6 to be allowed to continue but the BARC were keen to find a way for all concerned to continue racing within their groups. As a result, the BARC Open Sportscar Series has been formed, with the Mazdas and Westfields providing the backbone. Very simply, the two grids have been merged. However, it was plainly obvious to us that this action alone would not create a sustainable race format.

I have therefore implemented the following:-

* Regulations have been written to allow for participation by the lesser-powered Caterhams (125bhp and 150bhp). These regulations have relaxed the strict “factory rules” in favour of meeting the demands of club racers.

* Regulations have also been written to allow for the participation of the lesser-powered TVR Tasmins. It is further envisaged to later allow participation of S1, S2 Elises and MGF, MGTF models.

* Despite originally intending on keeping the Westfield regs as they were, I understand that there are many cars that may wish to compete, but that have been owner-developed, and as such, do not meet the specific criteria that have previously been laid-down.

Consequently, I have now re-written the regulations to strip-out the key precluding conditions (ie. The use of specific WSC parts) and hope that as a result we can start to rebuild participation by WSCC and WSCRDA members.

* I have written to WSC Ltd to inform them that the Series is now wholly under the jurisdiction of the BARC, with a sole ethos of providing race opportunities for Westfield owners.

* Within the Westfield regs, I have created a class specifically for the XI. There are a number of these currently racing, in different guises; my aim is simply to get them together.

The regulations are currently awaiting MSA approval and as soon as they are published, I will provide copies.

However, for the moment, I would like to give you a glimpse of the classes and their structures:-

Cup Class (Class WC): Any Westfield car previously eligible for 2009 Classes A or B (Westfield AeroRace car with 2000cc Ford Zetec engine, Westfield SE, SEi, SEi Wide and ZEi vehicles with standard Ford Zetec 1800cc Twin Cam 16 valve engine).

Cup Class cars will be required to meet a maximum power-to-weight ratio (with driver) of 280bhp per tonne (cars may be ballasted to achieve this).

* Must run on 13” wheels with Toyo R888 tyres

Academy Class (Class WA): Westfield Race Academy Cars with sealed 150bhp Ford Zetec engine. This class is open to novice racers only.

Euro Class (Class WE): Any Westfield AeroRace car, registered to race in an approved overseas Westfield race series. Euro Class cars will be required to race to their domestic technical regulations.

Invitation Class 1 (Class WI): Any race-prepared Westfield or GTM Sportscar invited by the BARC. Weight or qualifying time penalties may be imposed on Invitation Class cars.

There is a minimum weight of 600kg (with driver) for standard engines and 550kg (with driver) for bike engines.

* Tyre choice free as long as compliant with MSA list

Invitation Class 11 (Class WX) Any race-prepared Westfield Eleven invited by the BARC. Weight or qualifying time penalties may be imposed on Invitation Class cars.

So if I can explain further, the “Cup Class” is the class of cars that was running this year. I’ve relaxed the regs on front suspension, exhausts, LSDs, gearboxes and fibre glass etc to widen the scope of participation.

The Academy Class is for any “Academy” car that Westfield have sold / sell. Here, strict adherence to Factory specification is required.

The Euro Class is to there to encourage participation by overseas owners

The Invitation Class 1 is basically there to allow anything else - especially WSCC Members*

* These cars must run with a cage though, although XIs are exempt.

The general principle behind the new series is close, friendly racing.

With this in mind, I won’t be allowing V8 /ex F3 driver combos . . . it needs to be sensible and every “invited” entry will be judged on merit, with the view that we want the car and driver to come and join us but if it’s likely to upset everyone else, and if we can’t ballast-out the performance, then it’s not in the general interest.

Needless to say, the “meatier” cars are probably going to have more fun with the Magnificent Sevens anyway but what we’re hoping is that with sufficient interest, we can retain the group identities and emphasise the fact that this is racing by drivers, for drivers.

Other key elements of this exciting new series include:-  

*Race team and self-supported cars are welcome

*Registration fees are just £25, and prior to registration, drivers can opt to “try before they buy” by deferring Registration and Membership fees.

*Trophies will be awarded to all classes.

*The race calendar is currently being finalised and central to this will be a 6-hour endurance race at the new Snetterton Circuit.

Below is a link to the BARC's press release but if you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Steve Hindle

mail.hindle@googlemail.com

http://www.barc.net/images....ASE.pdf

[Blatman]

Can I say "I told you so"...

[a4gom]

mmmmm try before you buy 6 hour endurance race

[erictharg]

Sounds promising. If it works out as planned I'll certainly give the early rounds a go in the Eleven. Will be good to have a chance at a race mid-field instead of trailing around at the back...

[adamnreeves]

My car wont qualify then  

[Mark (smokey mow)]

The general principle behind the new series is close, friendly racing.

With this in mind, I won’t be allowing V8 /ex F3 driver combos . . . it needs to be sensible and every “invited” entry will be judged on merit, with the view that we want the car and driver to come and join us but if it’s likely to upset everyone else, and if we can’t ballast-out the performance, then it’s not in the general interest.

I read this to mean that V8's are allowed but not if they're piloted by "fast" drivers.  So you'll be fine till you start winning every week.  

[Mark Stanton]

Your car would probably be o.k with you driving Adam       just don't ask Schumacher to double drive it  

I know it doesn't read well, but you know what I mean    

[adamnreeves]

I read the '/' as an or as one normally does so I applied the logic is my car a V8 or am I an ex-F3 driver. I am not an ex-F3 driver but my car is a V8. The other bits about power to weight sounds like I'd have to add ballast for all the weight I've removed. I probably didn't read that right either, to be honest I got bored. Power to weight with me in the car will be around 430BHP/tonne.

[SteveD]

there seems to be a lot of race cars for sale here and there at the moment and some really cheap in my view ,i must admitt its very tempting

[lewis]

Sorry for bringing this thread back to life! Is the Westfield/Open Sportscar Series now dead? Are there any Westfield racing series or is it just the Speed Series?

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Sorry for bringing this thread back to life! Is the Westfield/Open Sportscar Series now dead? Are there any Westfield racing series or is it just the Speed Series?

for circuit racing there's still a couple of places where you could run a Westfield against similar types of cars and the one that comes immediately to my mind would be the CSCC Magnificent Sevens.

http://www.classicsportscarclub.co.uk/?q=Magnificent%20Sevens

[mark-one]

There's also the 750mc sports specials (if you have a cec) I'm doing my novice year in it and it's great fun

[Paul Aspden]

There are a couple of cars running in the Northern sports car series with DDMC i think.

[lewis]

Some good options to look at then (once mine is built!).

 

I emailed BARC about the Open Sports Series and they are happy to run it if there are at least 10 entries.

[RichUK]

I'm looking at either CSCC Magnificent Sevens or 750mc Sports Specials for 2015.