Euro Sports Compact The best tuned cars from European manufactures went head to head at PTM Show 2008 in the first ever battle to find our continents king. There will be a second Euro Sports Compact shootout at Marangoni Ultimate Street Car 2008 on Sunday 3rd August. Euro Sports Compact is for contemporary European cars with European bodies and same manufacturer engines, from 4 to 6 cylinders, with open tyre choice.

Euro Sports Compact – PTM Show 2008 Report

6 of Europe’s top modified cars made it to the PTM Show to run in the first ever Euro Sports Compact Race. As with all the race classes at the PTM Show, the first-outing gremlins claimed a few competitors before a wheel was even turned in qualifying, including John Southcote’s Lancia, which is capable of running 10’s when on-song, but despite the best efforts of the team to get it running, it stayed in the pits all day.

The good news was that there were four 10-second runners in the qualifying table, setting the scene for some very close eliminations! Paul Webster’s Mini was not running it’s best and could only manage 13’s in qualifying.

Round 1

The first round of eliminations saw Andy Waite rewarded for his excellent qualifying by getting a free run through to round 2. Andy Nicholls didn’t make it to the line due to a breakage, so James Hodson had an uncontested run to the finish line. Mark Gunns simply outpaced Paul Webster for his first round win.

Semi Finals

Andy Waite knew he’d have a tough time against James Hodson, but he didn’t expect it to be as tight as less than 0.1 of a second at the finish line! It really was anyone’s race, and only a perfect run would be enough. Both cars left the line at almost exactly the same time, and James’s 2mph advantage was just enough to secure the win. Mark Gunns was on a bye run, so ran an uncontested 12.

Finals

Two mid-10 second VWs made it to the finals of the first ever Euro Sports Compact race, and even a perfect run wouldn’t guarantee a victory for either driver. As the two drivers approached the line, the suspense was felt by everyone, and as the lights hit green, James’s drag racing experience in the VWDRC paid off… his superior reaction times put him a fraction of a second out in front, which was enough to keep him a nose ahead as they both powered up the track towards the finish line. Despite Mark’s best efforts, James took a well-earned win.

Winner: James Hodson – Euro Sports Compact PTM Show

Drivers Entered

James Hodson - VW Golf - Race No. ESC13 James held the European front wheel drive record in 2007 with a 10.666s at 132.770mph, he has also taken class wins at TOTB and The Fast Show.

Mark Gunns - VW Corrado - Race No. ESC17 Mark has run 10.84s at 126.77mph in this 4x4 Corrado to finish as the highest amateur European car in the 2007 Castrol Challenge, also class winner at the Fast Show 2008.

Andy Waite - VW Golf - Race No. ESC18 Andy ran a 10.5 during his first outing of the year to win GTI Spring Festival 2008, in this 1.8L 20V MK1 Golf.

Andy Nicholls - MG ZR - Race No. ESC11 www.an-racing.com The AN-Racing MG ZR holds the UK front wheel drive record with 10.23s at 138 mph. Andy has now set his sights on running down into the 9s.

Paul Webster - Mini One - Race No. ESC15 www.1320autos.com This is a multi event wining car which took class wins at Ultimate BMW Show 2 years running.

John Southcote - Lancia Delta - Race No. ESC14 www.youtube.com John's Lancia Delta Integrate Evoluzione has been a regular at RWYBs running 10.8s and he is now stepping up to a shootout.

Grant Parker - 4WD M1 Golf - Race No. ESC12 www.aet-turbos.co.uk This 800bhp, 2.2l Audi Quattro engined Golf, has run a 10.345s quarter and a done 0-60 in 2.47s. Grant is looking for 9s in 2008. Broke before PTM.

Russ Fellows - VW Beetle - Race No. ESC16 A street driven bug that has run 9.996s at 133mph. Broke before PTM.

Paul Jordan - VW Scirocco - Race No. ESC19 Paul's 4x4 Scirocco has run 10.2s. Broke before PTM.