BRSCC CityCar Cup:
Cheap, Easy & Fun?
This week we’re taking a look at the BRSCC CityCar Cup, which is a single-manufacturer series that uses cars from three manufacturers. Confused? So am I…
Most racing series that incorporate vehicles from different manufacturers end up requiring performance equalising measures to keep the grids even. For example, grassroots competitions regularly separate vehicles into classes using power-to-weight, and in more professional categories a ‘Balance of Performance’ measure is used in an attempt to negate any specific car from being much faster than any other. Occasionally, though, a racing series doesn’t need any. This week, we’re going one step further still: we’re talking about a racing series that’s effectively one-make, despite allowing three different vehicles from three different manufacturers compete.
Now, I know that I have mentioned a fair few times on this blog that I have no interest at all in racing front-wheel drive cars, nor am I looking to convert a road car into a racing car. With that said, however, this sort of challenge may be exactly what you readers are wanting to get involved with, so it feels right for me to create these all-you-need-to-know style articles regardless. As such. This week we’re delving into the BRSCC CityCar Cup.
To kick things off, let’s address the elephant in the room of the whole ‘three-make, one-make series’ bit. The CityCar Cup is a new-for-2020 series dedicated to the first-generation Toyota Aygo, Citroen C1 and Peugeot 107. The reason why this is therefore effectively a single-make series is because the three cars, under their unique bodies, are the same vehicle, and (I’m fairly sure) they were even produced in the same factory as one another. Their engines, drivetrains, suspension systems are all identical, and so their resulting performance was also identical.
Seven years after production of these pocket not-so-rockets ceased, the British Road and Sports Car Club (BRSCC), alongside SW Motorsports, have created a dedicated competition for these cars. In theory it sounds not only good but cheap, so what do you actually have to do? Well, in order to both turn these monsters into track-ready demons and preserve parity, those of you who wish to track-ify your C1s, 107s or Aygeese must do so by using the supplied kits from SW Motorsports. Luckily, these are relatively cheap at £2,900 VAT inclusive, and considering the cars themselves are readily available from around £1,500, you’re looking at spending less than five grand!
Included in your sub £3k conversion kit is a full bolt-in roll cage, spec wheels, tyres and coilovers, and a few other bits and bobs like door cards and a footrest. There is a second, optional package labelled the ‘MSUK Safety Kit’ (interesting to see that safety is optional…) available for £1,400 which includes a seat, harnesses, fire extinguisher etc, and whilst it’s only a recommended option it makes sense to purchase as it’ll save you a tonne of time in searching for the items individually. When this is factored in, then, you’re looking at costs of circa £6,000 with sundries included, but there is another way into the competition.
If you’re not especially mechanically-minded, have an extremely busy schedule or are just a bit lazy, you don’t have to build your car yourself. SW Motorsports, the guys that developed the whole CityCar Cup package, also offer ready-made machines for you to purchase, at the cost of £6,995. What makes this option particularly attractive, however, is that your competition registration and first entry fee are thrown in with the package, saving you even more time! At that cost, you have the option of all three models, too, so you can pick your favourite-looking, the lightest (apparently the C1 is marginally trimmer) or, if you’re in a similar situation to myself where your family already own a first-generation C1 and a 107, you could complete the set.
Now you’ve secured your motor, then, what next? Well, race entry fees are £345 per event, where the CityCar Cup forms a class within the ClubSport Trophy. Whilst this arrangement is reported to be temporary, with the CityCar Cup receiving its own dedicated race in 2021, it does mean that you’re stuck at the rear end of a moderately diverse grid. For example, the pole position time at the previous Silverstone National round was a 1:04 in the ClubSport Trophy, whilst the CityCar Cup pole time was a 1:19. The race itself lasts for 45 minutes, with one compulsory pitstop. Whilst 2020 was always meant to be an experimental, ‘let’s get things off the ground’ year, the way things have gone has limited the CityCar Cup to just three rounds, two of which have already occurred. The final race of the year is at Croft, during the BRSCC meeting on October 31st, and whilst that may be too soon for you to organise an entry, it could be the perfect opportunity to scout out the competition in preparation for an assault on the 2021 title.
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