News
The 750MC has announced two new six-race series, one for Austin Seven-based F750 cars which raced during the period 1949-66, the other for early post-war Austin 7 kit cars. The latter is for aluminium or glassfibre-bodied specials such as those produced by Dante, Speedex, Heron, Ashley etc. Full details from Dave Bradley, 16 Woodstock Road, Witney, Oxon, 0X8 6DT (tel. 0993-2285).
Renault’s popular European series, which has featured mid-engined Renault 5 Turbos, will this year switch to Alpine V6s. Production of the mid-engined 5 turbo is unaffected by the introduction of the new 5 series.
A new company, Cavallo Cars of Bradford, is about to begin production of a particularly attractive and practical little 2+2 coupé, the Estivo. The car will be sold only in kit form but like some of the other serious kit car makers, the company is offering a version with all new (MG Metro) parts which requires the minimum of assembly.
The car comes with a Targa top and with canvas rear bodywork which, since the rear quarter-lights are removable, makes it either a semi-saloon or an open car.
Prices begin at £2,999 plus VAT for a basic kit requiring a donor car up to £6,060 (incl taxes) for a nearly completed car using all new parts.
We hope to bring you driving impressions of the Cavallo Estivo 130S in the near future.
The new Ralt RT 30 F3 car, the first completely new F3 design from the company since 1979, has adopted a novel approach to combining aerodynamic efficiency with the demands of the 1985 regulations which call for deformable side structure. The left hand sidepod, which houses the water radiator extends only part way along the flat deformable side structure, while on the right hand side, the side structure is basically a platform extending the flat bottom of the monocoque with a small vertical lip. So far as we can ascertain, this is that rarest of creatures, an entirely new idea in motor racing design. The assymetrical lines of the car look odd and we would have raised our eyebrows had the idea come from anyone except Ron Tauranac. Tauranac, however, must have designed more good customer single-seaters than any other designer and has very rarely made mistakes. Ralt is also building an Indycar, most of the design of which has been undertaken by Tony Southgate.
Following a threat of legal action by Porsche, Covin has discontinued production and sale of the Covin Turbo Coupe a well-finished VW-based replica Porsche 911 Turbo. Aston Martin Tickford has been successful in an action against Rat Designs whose Capri body kits were alleged to infringe Tickford’s copyright. We also hear of legal action taken in Italy against the builders of fake Ferrari GTOs.
Barry Sheene has had a busy time since he announced his retirement from motorcycle racing. First, he has become only the third individual to have twice won the Castro! Seagrave Trophy for achievements by land, air or water — the previous multiple winners being Sir Malcolm Campbell (twice) and Donald Campbell (four times). Next, it has been announced that Sheene will drive a works Toyota Celica Supra in the 1985 Trimoco British Saloon Car Championship, taking over the place vacated by Win Percy whose other commitments preclude him from the series which he has won three times.
As generally expected, Alan Jones is to return to F1 racing towards the end of the current season. The new Beatrice team whose personnel include such familiar names as Neil Oatley, Carl Haas, Teddy Mayer and Tyler Alexander will use a new Lola design powered by Hart engines. It will be the first time for over a decade that Lola has been seen in F1.
British hopes in the 1985 ETC now seem to rest with a team of three TWR-prepared Rover Vitesses to be driven by Tom Walkinshaw, Win Percy, Steve Soper, Jeff Allam. Armin Hahne, Jean-Louis Schlesser, Eddy Joosen and Pierre-Alain Thibault. Jaguars may not be seen in the ETC until late in the year for the company’s main efforts will be directed towards the World Endurance Championship.