Mazda BTCC Super Tourer from 1993 to race in the UK for first time in 30 years

A one-time British Touring Automobile Championship pole sitting Mazda Xedos 6 will make its first UK racing look for greater than 30 years at Manufacturers Hatch this summer time.

The ex-Patrick Watts automotive from 1993 is amongst a number of machines being shipped from New Zealand for the third version of Tremendous Touring Energy on 28-29 June. 

Affectionately generally known as ‘Rhubarb and Custard’ for its livery, the Roger Dowson-built Xedos was the quickest qualifier for the season’s third spherical at Snetterton, however Watts spun on the first nook. 

He later led a number of laps at Knockhill from his front-row begin earlier than slipping to fourth, however languished fifteenth within the standings after non-finishing in 9 of the 17 races.

Mazda’s expanded two-car BTCC squad folded mid-season in 1994, however the unique mannequin scooped that 12 months’s Nordic title with ex-Formulation 1 driver Slim Borgudd. 

It returned to contest the Touring Automobile World Cup at Donington Park earlier than becoming a member of the only surviving 1994 mannequin in North America.

Present proprietor Paul McCarthy acquired the V6-powered Xedos in 2016. “Once I checked out its historical past, it appealed to me that it was somewhat bit odd,” the Kiwi advised Autosport. 

“It wasn’t certainly one of 30 or 40 automobiles constructed. It was certainly one of three, and I like the paint scheme. Once we acquired the automotive, the engine was fairly unreliable and we needed to embark on a little bit of a venture.”

McCarthy has contested historic races in his homeland, together with in help of Pukekohe’s final Supercars occasion in 2022. A profitable run at Hampton Downs final month satisfied him to ship the automotive throughout the globe. 

“It’s the strongest it’s ever felt,” he mentioned. “And it simply ran faultlessly all weekend.”

McCarthy is ready to share transportation with fellow Aucklander Conrad Timms’s 1995 Ford Mondeo, a veteran of the primary Tremendous Touring Energy. An additional contingent is predicted from New Zealand’s South Island.

Additionally becoming a member of the Traditional Touring Automobile Racing Membership’s Tremendous Tourers grid this 12 months might be former BTCC racer Rick Kerry in an ex-Tim Harvey Peugeot 406 Coupe. 

The BTC-T automotive was constructed by Vic Lee Racing in 2001 earlier than Harvey contested the 2002 season below the Workforce Halfords banner, reaching a single podium end.

“I beloved touring automobiles within the ’90s and the early 2000s,” Kerry, who gained the Gen 1 Cup in TCR UK final 12 months, advised Autosport. 

“The problem to race with a few of them, what I might name my heroes of after I was first stepping into racing, gave the impression of a extremely first rate factor to do whereas I nonetheless can.”

Kerry plans a full season in Tremendous Tourers, and should contest additional European races within the EDF Motorsports-run automotive. He has additionally acquired a second shell, raced by Kiwi Superbike star Aaron Slight in interval. 

“We’re going to be restoring that one again into the Aaron Slight colors to have it out there later within the season,” Kerry added, with a goal for it to interrupt cowl at Tremendous Touring Energy.