COMBE HOT HATCH

Any series or championship averaging 25 cars per race could be deemed a success, even more so when that series was only introduced last year. But that’s exactly what the Castle Combe Racing Club’s Hot Hatch Challenge Series has done.

Open to non-turbo saloons, four classes from 1400cc to 2100cc means that competitors can enter in almost anything – from Peugeot 205 Gtis and Renault Clios to Honda Civics and Ford Fiestas.

Big names have already taken part in the series, including 2015 Castle Combe Saloon champion Mark Wyatt and Gary Prebble, Combe’s most successful driver.

“Because it’s non-turbo it opens the door to a lot of cars that were getting thrashed in Saloons [the popular Combe series that has run for many years]; in this series they have a chance of being up the front,” says Prebble. “It’s good, it’s more equally powered cars and more of a level playing field. It puts the racing close together.”

Prebble plans to stay in the series in 2018, having competed in five of the six races last year and only missing the final round after selling his Peugeot so he could build another.

“I sold that car, and am in the process of getting another Peugeot GTI with a GTI6 engine from a Peugeot 306,” he says. “It means it will have more puff.”

Entry prices per round are between £150 and £180 and, says Prebble, you could do a season for £5000.

Looking ahead to this year, the series will have five meetings consisting of six races, with a double-header at the August 27 event. Numbers are expected to be similar to last year, and should the series continue its success it could soon be turned into a championship.