as Masters launches new series

Touring 70s, the new race series for Group 2 Touring Cars of the 1970s, was officially launched by the Masters Racing Series during Race Retro, the International Historic Motor Sport Show, at Stoneleigh today (Friday 14 March). Taking centre stage at the launch was a Ford Capri RS3100, rebuilt by Speedmaster.

These races are for the Group 2 touring cars of the 1970s, the era that produced some of the most spectacular and popular racing saloons cars of all time. This was the era of slicks, wings and body kits on cars like the Cologne Capris and the BMW 'Batmobiles'. Among the smaller engined cars, the Ford Escorts, BMW’s, Alfa Romeos and Mini Coopers all reached the peak of their ‘wild’ development.

Ron Maydon, founder of the Masters Series, said of this latest news:

“Cars like this wonderful Capri, and the BMW Batmobiles, are held in loving memory by fans of 70s racing: top drivers, big factory development budgets, close racing, weird paint schemes – the ETCC had it all! That is what we hope to begin to re-create this year and next.

“Signs of initial owner and driver support are slow but steady and it is fascinating to note that already several of the top dealers, especially our friends at Speedmaster, are already trading in these cars. Like all things quite so new, it will build slowly, but we hope gradually and by year-end, if all the restorations now under way are completed, we should be seeing some impressive grids and some great racing.”

For its inaugural season, Touring 70s will be a regular fixture on Top Hat race days and will also join in with some Masters events in Europe to add to an already diverse and exciting calendar.