One of the biggest prizes in club motorsport has been announced by the hugely popular Legends Cars National Championship – a mouthwatering test in Handy Motorsport’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship podium-finishing Toyota Avensis.

Revealed exclusively first in this week’s Motorsport News publication, and officially announced at the 2017 Autosport International Show in Birmingham this morning, Thursday, 12th January, the huge prize test will afford one incredibly lucky Legends Cars competitor the chance to pilot a current spec BTCC racer.

With the addition of expert tutelage from touring car ace Rob Austin, undoubtedly one of the most popular, tenacious and rapid drivers in the BTCC, the package put together by the organisers of the Legends Cars National Championship also provides some outstanding runner-up prizes.

Key to the exceptional offering in conjunction with Handy Motorsport, the entire Legends Cars National Championship grid will be able to battle for the prize with all drivers scored in a number of areas round-by-round with a standalone league table established.

Therefore, any driver entering the Legends Cars National Championship this year could realistically have the opportunity of scooping one of the best prizes in UK motorsport and certainly one of the biggest in British club racing.

In full, the prize structure will be:
• First Prize – 10 laps behind the wheel of Handy Motorsport’s BTCC Toyota Avensis, following 15 laps of instruction as passenger to touring car race winner Rob Austin
• Second Prize – 15 passenger laps alongside Austin in the BTCC Toyota
• Third Prize – 10 passenger laps alongside Austin in the BTCC Toyota

Absolutely delighted to confirm the exciting BTCC prize test, Legends Cars National Championship owner Phil Cooper said: “We are understandably thrilled with the prize package we’ve been able to put in place with the help of Simon Belcher and his Handy Motorsport team. I honestly can’t think of a comparable prize in club motorsport, it’s a huge development for the championship.

“Being able to offer a BTCC test, with tutoring from a driver as talented as Rob Austin, really does add an extremely impressive string to the Legends Cars bow. We’re intending to make 2017 our best season yet, this announcement is obviously an incredible and unprecedented start in helping to make that happen!”

Handy Motorsport’s Simon Belcher added: “We are delighted to be working with Legends Cars with this fantastic prize. The unique thing is the drivers will be scored in several areas, it won’t just be on championship points like other BTCC prize drives. Everyone has a chance, not just the few in with a shout of the title. This prize rewards the most complete and passionate drivers wanting to progress.”

Rob Austin commented: “Legends Cars is a great championship and is a great place to hone close, competitive racing skills for aspiring BTCC racers. I had the chance to drive one of these great cars at Brands Hatch in November, they are a huge amount of fun and provide very close racing.”

Drivers interested in competing in the Legends Cars National Championship this season, or those simply wishing to discover more about the all-action category which features season budgets for less than £10,000, are invited to visit the official stand at Autosport International at Birmingham NEC

Following a second ‘trade only’ day tomorrow, Friday, 13th January, the show is open to the general public on Saturday and Sunday, 14th/15th January. The Legends Cars National Championship is situated in Hall 6, stand 6246 – adjacent to the Dunlop BTCC stand which features Rob Austin’s Handy Motorsport Toyota Avensis.

2017 Legends Cars National Championship Calendar
Rd1: Brands Hatch Indy Circuit, Kent 25th/26th March *
Rd2: Anglesey, Wales 22nd/23rd April
Rd3: Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire 13th/14th May
Rd4: Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire 1st/2nd July
Rd5: Donington Park, Leicestershire 22nd/23rd July *
Rd6: Snetterton Circuit, Norfolk 9th/10th September *
Rd7: Rockingham, Northamptonshire 30th September/1st October
Rd8: Brands Hatch Indy Circuit, Kent 4th/5th November *

*Supporting the British Truck Racing Association