Entering the Porsche Club Championship by Stuart Ings, January 2013
« Back to main page I was asked a question,
How do you go about preparing a car and the procedure for entering the Porsche Club race series.
The way I went about it the first part of the question was really difficult and expensive but the second part is just plain easy.
The problem was with the car I wanted to race in, a Boxster of course. My first idea was to enter
A 3.2 in class 1 but after talking to Steve Kevlin and due to my lack of race experience (none) I
would have more enjoyment in class 2 with a 2.5. I searched around my local area first trying to find
someone interested in preparing the car (once I had purchased one) but the same old question, why
a Boxster and why a 2.5. Other people were saying go and buy a prepared 944S2 but I believed in
the Boxster and no one was racing in one, I just knew they were all missing something.
On the off chance I phoned Porscheshop and spoke to Adam, told him what I wanted to do and he said I needed to speak to Ian but he was out for the day, another waste of time I thought. The next morning the phone rang and it was Ian from Porscheshop he was asking all sorts of questions and telling me some of the problems with the engines.
The following weekend Elaine and I were at Cirencester for the PCGB AGM, they started giving out awards and called up Ian from Porscheshop so at the break I introduced myself and we got chatting. His enthusiasm and belief that a Boxster would do well was music to my ears. I had found someone that could build the car and help me on my way.
A couple of weeks later Porscheshop came up with some prices for preparing the car using mid- range equipment and even that was more than I had hoped for.
I was still looking for a Boxster, preferably with low mileage and if it had good interior then that could be sold on to help with the funds. I had seen a few that had been totally abused and then found one where the price had just been dropped to 6.5k with bills for an engine rebuild of 4k and 60k on the clock, came with a hard top and was in mint condition. I almost walked away thinking it was too good to chop about but offered him 6.2k and came away with a bargain.
I started to strip out what I could and then took the car to Porscheshop to do the serious stuff; I had
a few ideas of what I wanted but was mostly reliant on them to prepare me a race car. Porscheshop
were great at keeping me informed on the build and I popped in a few times to see the progress, try
some seat positions and collect parts that were stripped out.
It was mid July 2011 and Steve Kevlin said I could enter the last 2 rounds of the championship if the car was ready. Porscheshop said it was possible and they could have it ready for a shake down at the clubs track day on the national circuit of Silverstone at the beginning of August then the first race at Castle Combe the end of August then back to Silverstone for the last race on the GP circuit and part of the Britcar 24hr weekend at the end of September.
The PCGB track day was fantastic. To be in the F1 pits under the Wing at Silverstone with my race car is something I will never forget along with my first race at Castle Combe.
To enter the Porsche Club Championship.
In any order,
You need to apply for a race Licence with the MSA. They send you a pack with all the info you need to pass the theory and a list of circuits to take both the theory and practical. There really is nothing to it, you have to answer a few safety questions, name the different flags then take a car for a spin on the track.
Obviously you will need a car and the options are to hire one, buy one prepared and raced (with some history, usually) or to have one prepared for you.
Option 1 is expensive, option 2 is the most cost effective but if the car you want is not around then you go with option 3 and make it yourself.
Then you need to give Porsche Club Motorsport some money and enter the championship. It is that simple. You probably would have done some track days to want to get into racing but you don't need to prove any experience.
I have just had my first full race season and still improving my own race craft. The Boxster is very forgiving and great on corners. The 2.5 is the smallest in my class with the 944S2 and 968CS and I am proud to say we beat all the S2 cars and all but 3 of the 968s to end the championship 4th/17 in class and joint 9th/41 overall.
Now looking forward to the next season starting at Donington on April 6th.
Stuart Ings, Car 23, Boxster 2.5 - January 2013 « Back to main page