Getting Into the Touring Car Challenge

There are a number of options for potential competitors to join the Australian Motor Racing Series as part of the Touring Car Challenge category:

• Have little or limited circuit racing experience, but interested in gaining some in the Touring Car Challenge? Click here.
• Already hold a circuit racing licence, and interested in leasing a car to compete in the Touring Car Challenge category? Click here.
• Already hold a circuit racing licence, and interested in purchasing a car, and competing in the Touring Car Challenge category? Click here.
• Have a licence and already own an eligible car? Click here.
• Would like to build a car eligible for the Touring Car Challenge? Click here.

If you have limited or no circuit racing experience, but you are keen to get involved, you have come to the right place - the Australian Motor Racing Series is the ideal place to learn about all aspects of Motor Racing, and the Touring Car Challenge is an ideal category to hone your driving skills.

There are a number of things you will need to do before you are ready to start your first race, these include (but are not limited to):

• Obtain a circuit racing licence (medical examination, application form, and experience/skills test)
• Obtain racing equipment (helmet, driving suit, gloves, boots, undergarments)
• Obtain a suitable vehicle

If you are interested in attending an Australian Motor Racing Series seminar, to be held at Wakefield Park, Goulburn 17 December 2006 please click here for further details. This motorsport expo will be the ideal introduction to Motor Racing for any new competitor.

If you already hold a circuit racing licence, but need to obtain a car before you can join the Touring Car Challenge category, you have three options - Buy, Lease or Build. To learn more about building a new car, click here, or scroll down to the article below.

To lease a car in the Touring Car Challenge, you will need to sign a lease agreement with the owner/operator of the car. Generally you will be responsible for paying for any damage to the car, and each agreement will include different things - for example; some agreements will include new tyres, while others will offer used tyres with new tyres costing extra. A good starting price for one round is between $5,000 and $15,000 - lease prices will vary depending on the car, and what is included.

There are many eligible cars available for sale. Visit the AMRS Classifieds, or most Australian Motor Racing publications feature a classifieds section. Things to look for include the history of the car, including previous results, accident damage, but more importantly how well it has been repaired (most cars will have some accident damage, but the quality of the repair should be a deciding factor), also look at what is included, and if there are any items you may need to acquire separately before you can race. An average price for an eligible car is between $40,000 and $100,000.

If you already own a car, and you have a circuit racing licence, you're ready to race! Visit the Competitor Info page to find Series Registration, Round Entry and other applicable forms. Click here to visit the Competitor Info page.

Building your own racing car is the ultimate challenge - to engineer, construct, prepare, tune and drive your own car. And at the end of it all, to be competitive and have fun! To access the regulations, please click here.

If you would like to obtain some advice from people who have been there, click here to email AMRS management to request the contact details for someone who has successfully achieved the goal you are about to set for yourself.

© AMRS 2006