The fundamental question behind the current row over use of TCR cars in the UK

Christmas is supposed to be a time of goodwill and cheer. But there is precious little of that festive spirit in certain quarters of the national racing community at present following the launch of two new UK series set to feature TCR cars and the subsequent response from TCR creator and rights holder WSC.

This increasingly bitter (and increasingly far-reaching) situation stems from the creation of the new Ultimate Racing Championship from Club Time Attack and the Pro Sports Sprint Series from the British Racing & Sports Car Club. Both bodies have used images of TCR cars as examples of eligible vehicles as they promote their new series. And WSC has not been amused.

It issued a warning to series operators and owners of TCR cars in the UK at the end of last month, threatening legal action for any unauthorised use of IP and advising that any machines competing in unofficial championships would lose their TCR homologation. It was a brutal response that served as a reminder of who calls the shots.

Essentially, WSC was acting in the interests of its TCR UK championship, which is moving to British Automobile Racing Club administration next year after a tough 2024 in which it averaged a modest 14 starters. WSC wants TCR UK to be the home for these cars in Britain, but whether its actions will have the desired effect of making people think twice before joining a rival series is not clear.

“The majority of people that have come to us and discussed what we’re doing don’t seem to appreciate people telling them what they can and can’t do with their car, but that’s only an observation,” notes CTA chief Andy Barnes. “While we’re keeping our eye on developments, it’s none of our business really. What is our business is doing great things for our customers – that remains our sole focus.”

But the rumbling is having wider consequences. A return of top international touring car racing to this country had been mooted, with a TCR World Tour round slated for Oulton Park. However, the 2025 schedule published last week includes no such UK visit – and that’s likely no coincidence.

TCR UK promoter Maximum Motorsport has also issued a clarification to state that licences will be granted to selected other UK series to enable TCR cars to compete in them without losing homologation. “We have been working hard to not only make TCR UK successful for 2025 but to improve the UK market and give all TCR cars a home and somewhere to race,” added Maximum.

Considering TCR machines appear in everything from the Northern Saloon and Sports Car Championship to the 750 Motor Club’s Club Enduro (which, alongside the sister Roadsports category, have become the first series to be granted the licences), blacklisting every one of these would leave a swathe of machines unable to take part in TCR competitions worldwide.

“It’s a really fragile business, motor racing, and the problem with saying market forces will determine who will be successful is that, in the process of establishing a ‘winner’, substantial collateral damage is done” Ben Taylor

Despite WSC’s anger, URC is pushing on with its plans. Barnes says dozens of serious enquiries have already been received from interested parties, and these have continued to arrive since the WSC letter. It feels that a combination of subsidised entry fees and large event attendances should prove popular as it seeks to replicate the success enjoyed with Racing Hondas. “Our offering is very simple,” says Barnes. “We’ve got a plan for a championship which invites owners of touring cars, including TCR cars, to race in front of tens of thousands of people with almost half the running costs of any other touring car category.

“If there wasn’t a need for it, we wouldn’t be doing it. That’s why we have support. We’ve got a long-term plan – we’re not going anywhere. Our door is open and we welcome conversations with anyone interested in URC and how they may fit into our picture.”

Club Time Attack is seeking to replicate the success of Racing Hondas with its new Ultimate Racing Championship

But, for all the discussion about TCR cars, the central issue here is far broader. It goes back to that age-old debate of whether governing body Motorsport UK should give permits for new breakaway or copycat series, or ones very similar to series that already exist. It boils down to whether you think market forces should decide which succeed and fail, or believe there should be greater regulation.

“It’s a really fragile business, motor racing, and the problem with saying market forces will determine who will be successful and who won’t is the fact that, in the process of establishing a ‘winner’, substantial collateral damage is done,” says BARC group chief executive Ben Taylor. “Damage is done to suppliers, sponsors, teams, drivers, circuits and clubs – everyone is negatively affected.”

Motorsport UK has tried to distance itself from the TCR turmoil, stating “financial or commercial detriment to private legal entities, including as a result of alleged third-party intellectual property infringements, is not considered by the Championship Control Panel, nor is it a regulatory responsibility of the governing body”. It also says there will be a comprehensive review of circuit racing next year, taking these and other issues into account, but did not expand on why URC was given the green light.

There are no winners in this situation. No one profits from all these arguments and, once again, there has been a worrying failure to see the bigger picture in some quarters.

The current rows have just created uncertainty at a time when such concerns really aren’t needed

Photo by: Ollie Read