Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup Set for 2007 Launch

The BARC/Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup for production specification cars has taken a major step closer to taking a prime slot on the 2007 UK racing calendar. Dunlop Tyres and the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) announced the launch of the BARC/Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup in January this year. Since then the BARC has been inundated with enquiries, illustrating the demand for a genuine stepping stone to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

As a result of the demand, BARC are to finalise regulations over the coming weeks before making a launch announcement later this Summer.

Dunlop has pledged to promote Sport Maxx Cup in a way that complements their title sponsorship of the BTCC. The races will take place at high profile meetings forming part of the 2007 Dunlop Great and British Festival package. This will ensure that the series has the high profile that will attract manufacturer and dealer support.

The Dunlop Great and British Festivals has had a promising inaugural season so far with the innovative format, including a mix of trackday action with a quality race programme, attracting new audiences to the sport.

“The enquiries so far show that the BARC/Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup has captured the imagination of professional teams and club racers alike. We believe we can attract new manufacturers and independent dealer teams into UK motorsport, with a level playing field that should prove attractive to those racing contemporary cars. We will be ensuring that the rules are structured in a way that keeps running costs to a minimum,” stated Dale Wells of BARC.

The 2007 series is likely to feature six double header events at Dunlop Great and British Festivals. The class structure will be finalised before the summer launch and will allow a diverse mix of cars. The Cup is open to cars up to five years old, so there will be an opportunity for existing race cars such as the Seat Leon Cupra and Renault Clio to run in production spec alongside potential new entries representing other manufacturers.

James Bailey of Dunlop added: “The Dunlop Great and British Festivals have been a great success so far, complementing our BTCC involvement. The Dunlop Sport Maxx aims to entertain spectators with a wide range of cars from superminis such as Fiestas, Minis, Citroen Saxos and C2s doing battle with bigger coupes and hot hatches. We look forward to it becoming a popular attraction at Great and British Festivals.”

All cars will run on the latest Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ultra high performance road tyres. The recently launched Sport Maxx is a directional tyre featuring a multi-radius tread design that ensures optimum road contact, even during heavy cornering. The tyre is already approved as original equipment on a range of cars including the Renault Megane 225 Trophy, Audi A8 and the new Jaguar XK Coupe.