15/12/12 - The GT Cup Championship is set to produce even more thrilling sports car action in 2012 following the announcement of a 23 race calendar which includes visits to the UK's premier circuits.
Bute Motorsport's popular GT Cup Championship enjoyed a highly successful 2011 season which it hopes to develop with an expanded race schedule and new regulations permitting GT3 cars into the championship. Last season Irishman Andy Ruhan lifted the overall title after an intense season long battle with David Tomlin.

Running under the banner of MotorSport Vision Racing (MSVR) for another season, the GT Cup Championship will comprise 23 races beginning and ending at Donington Park. The championship will visit Silverstone, Brands Hatch Indy and Brands Hatch Grand Prix along with trips to the Snetterton 300, Oulton Park and Scotland's Knockhill. Each round apart from Oulton Park will host three races of varying lengths and the championship title will be decided by competitors' best results from 16 of the 23 races.

GT Cup Championship founder Marc Haynes said: "It's a great calendar. We're going to Donington Park twice which is always good and we are back at the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit. New for 2012 will see the GT Cup Championship head up to Scotland to tackle the Knockhill circuit for what should be a really special event. I'm pleased with the progress made with the championship for next season, its early days still but I'm looking forward to next year."
New for 2012 is the eligibility of GT3 homologated cars which include the Porsche 997 GT3 and the Ferrari 458. The GT Cup Championship has also appointed a new competition manager with former BTCC team owner Philip Boland joining the championship to share his expertise. Car equalisation will undergo a change with the use of a chassis dyno which will be deployed at GT Cup Championship events.

GT Cup Championship 2012 Calendar
28/29 April - Donington Park (3 Races)
12/13 May - Silverstone National (3 Races)
16/17 June - Brands Hatch Indy (3 Races)
30 June/1 July - Snetterton 300 (3 Races)
21 July - Oulton Park (2 Races)
18/19 August - Brands Hatch GP (3 Races)
8/9 September - Knockhill (3 Races)
6/7 October - Donington Park (3 Races)

Drivers and teams who wish to register their interest in joining the 2012 GT Cup Championship should email hannah@butemotorsport.co.uk or visit www.gtcup.co.uk for more information.

MBE was founded in 1987 in order to provide powertrain control systems during a time of intense technological change within motorsport. The techniques MBE employed enabled rapid development of the company and to the subsequent growth of MBE Systems.

MBE has built its reputation by harnessing its significant technical expertise with an impressive "can-do" approach to every project undertaken - a success story proved over and again. MBE deliver:

• Fast Response - often outpacing client deadlines
• Highly Competitive - in development and production costs 
• Bespoke Systems - designed to meet the most exacting standards
• Experience - valuable advice and consultancy at every stage
• Innovation - in design and performance which exceed client expectations

The collective goal at MBE is to enable the development of the best technical innovations within the powertrain industry, whether that goal is cleaner environment, reduced weight or more power. The MBE team is continually developing unique diagnostic software systems and revolutionizing the design and manufacturing processes associated with emission-legislation compliance. The key benefits to clients being increased speed in design and development and reduced production costs.

The sophisticated technological advances made by the company have led to MBE being regular partners in the development programs of Engine Management systems for some of the world's leading automotive companies for production vehicles, R&D applications, military applications and motor sport clients.

MBE first started to work with TVR in the early 1990s where the synergies between the two outward looking and innovative companies led to a long and successful partnership. Numerous innovations enabled TVR to produce road going emission legal cars with exceptionally high specific power outputs at far lower cost than contemporary competitors. 

The recent turmoil at TVR have resulted in many of these projects lying dormant and rather than let these projects fade into memory, MBE and TVR Power have decided to blow the dust away and let TVR drivers experience some of the features that only that original thinking mentality of that TVR era would have produced.

The features that were near to production were:

Enhanced Logging capability
Euro 6 emissions compliance 
Encompassing Drive by Wire
Wide band Fast Light Off Lambda Control
Variable CAM control
Knock Control
Throttle body Production variance compensation strategies
ESP/Traction Control  
Automated Transmission
Knock Suppression Strategies
Flat Shift Functions
Optional Data Display – ( lcd screen) 
Plug & Play to fit stand wiring harnesses
No more Eprom Chips

http://www.mbesystems.com/ 

Powers Performance and Central TVR have combined to create a TVR sales centre with a difference, ‘Midlands TVR Sales’.

This new sales centre, based at Central TVR’s premises in Stourbridge of course features quality previously owned TVRs, but the difference and Midlands TVR Sales’ unique selling point is that customers will be offered the option of a freshly rebuilt TVR Power engine, carrying with it a TVR Power three year unlimited mileage engine warranty.

Adrian Windridge explains “Central TVR and TVR Power have been working together for some time in the used TVR market and have found that a remarkably high proportion of buyers are opting to have their engines rebuilt sooner rather than later to help guarantee them trouble free and efficient motoring. Dom Trickett and I have simply pre-empted that and formed Midlands TVR Sales to offer buyers the opportunity of purchasing a previously owned TVR fitted with a warrantied TVR Power rebuilt unit. So rather than buying a car and then taking it off the road at some stage in the future to have the engine refreshed, Midlands has already done it for you. We’re helping to keep your car on the road, not in the workshop.”

Not only will Midlands TVR Sales be offering Speed 6 powered cars, but RV8 powered cars also, so whichever flavour of TVR you prefer, they should be able to offer you something. Of course Midlands’ customers will also have the option of moving up to an upgraded TVR Power unit, so you could be driving away with a freshly built 4.3ltr or 4.5ltr Speed 6 , or indeed a 5.0ltr RV8 Taraka.

Adrian continues “All Midlands’s vehicles are very well prepared and fully serviced and come with a standard three month car warranty with the option to extend to two years. But the additional three year unlimited mileage warranty on all newly refreshed TVR power engines should deliver our customers many more miles of trouble free driving, allowing them to relax and enjoy the experience of owning a reliable, quality TVR. What more could you ask?”

To find out more about Midlands Car Sales or to make an enquiry, call Adrian on 01384 571 021

The TVR Power Pro Stock Bike team have had a number of challenges this year, but rider and tuner Dave Beck goes into the final major event of the year feeling confident. The year opened well with a European best run of 7.06 seconds at the Easter meeting. The 1755cc, 350bhp Suzuki suffered some engine damage, but hung on to take the win. The next event was the UEM Main Event at Santa Pod, but we suffered more motor damage before even turning a wheel in anger. The summer saw Dave ride a Finnish owned bike in the European rounds in Finland and Sweden, and while this wasn’t on the TVR Power bike, some valuable data was collected which will be put to good use in the future.

For 2011 there is one remaining round of the UEM Championship left, at the European Finals at Santa Pod in the UK. 25,000 spectators are expected on the qualifying and race days, as the best European drag racers on two and four wheels do battle. The Pro Stock bike class has been very competitive this year, with the Sovereign backed team of Jesper Thiel and Rasmus Olesen regularly run in the 7.1 bracket and even into the 7.0s with their Buell V-twins. Not wanting to be left behind, Fredrik Fredlund imported a Suzuki motor from the Karen Stoffer NHRA race team and has also gone into the 7.0 bracket. Both of these teams have also invested heavily in tuning expertise, with the Sovereign team bringing legendary Pro Stock tuner George Bryce to the European championship rounds, and Fredlund bringing leading tuner Gary Stoffer over the pond.

But coming into the European Finals, the fastest bike outside of the US is still the TVR Power Suzuki. “I think the guys in Pro Stock bike have really raised the bar this year, with 7.0 runs becoming much more regular – in fact you need to be in 7.1s to compete at all,” commented Dave Beck, “speeds have also gone up into the 190mph range now. Guys like Jesper and Fredrik have invested heavily and have got the best advice and moved the class forward.” “We had some problems early in the year, but I have worked hard with all our sponsors and advisors to get to the bottom of the issues and I’m confident we have a motor that will compete at the Finals,” Beck continued “As well as race wins, the guys are all trying hard to be the first bike over here to nail a six second run and I feel we have as good a chance as anyone to do this. We have a fresh motor in the bike now, with some key modifications, plus I also picked up some tuning learning over the summer that will help.” You can see Dave contest the European Finals on the TVR Power bike at Santa Pod from 9 to 11 September. “We are gunning for the six, but we aren’t going to forget we are there to win the event – I want to sign off the year with a big performance for my sponsors!” concludes Dave. Dave is sponsored by TVR Power, Stephen Moon Consulting, MTC Engineering, Falicon Crankshaft Components, PR Factory Store, Worldwide Bearings. Nimbus Motorsport and VP Fuels.