Historic race organiser Motor Racing Legends has launched an all-new race series for Groups 1 and 2 (plus Group A) Touring Cars, typical of those that raced in the British and European Touring Car Championships between 1977 and ’85.

The new series will be called the JD Classics Challenge and, as with all Motor Racing Legends’ series, will be for real race cars from the era, running to the correct period specification. ‘We believe a lot of the genuine race cars still exist, sitting in garages, but they’re not being brought out en masse as there isn’t a series catering exclusively for them,’ said Duncan Wiltshire of Motor Racing Legends.

‘In Europe, it was the era of TWR XJ-S and BMW 528, of the Alfa GTV6, Audi Coupé and Ford Sierra XR4i, piloted in their day by such stars as Win Percy and Andy Rouse,’ explained Wiltshire. ‘And before that came the likes of the Triumph Dolomite Sprint, BMW 3.0 CSL and Jaguar XJ 12C – not forgetting the evergreen Ford Capri.’

The first round of the new series will be at the brand new Donington Historic Festival, taking place from April 29 to May 1.