Following a successful inaugural year in 2011, the JD Classics Challenge – an all-new race series for historic Touring Cars organised by Motor Racing Legends – is set to expand to cover 1966-1985 cars. As long as they comply with the correct period regs for either the BTCC (or British Saloon Car Championship, as it used to be known) or ETCC (the European Touring Car Championship), they are eligable for the burgeoning series.

'We have pushed the eligibility start-date back from 1972 to 1966,” said Duncan Wiltshire of Motor Racing Legends, “to bring such iconic and much-loved models as Ford Anglias and the earlier Escorts out to play – and provide an even better spectacle for race-goers.

'We’ll also consider cars complying with other National regs, on a case-by-case basis. This will help even more Touring Cars to return to the track, and enjoy our excellent calendar of one European and three UK races next year. Not only are the races enjoyed enormously by the competitors themselves, this era of Touring Car racing is hugely popular with spectators, both for its wheel-to-wheel action and because many of us remember these actual cars from their glory days,' he added.

As well as Motor Racing Legends’ plans to extend the eligible years, the historic race organisation is increasing the number of races from two to four, with a 2012 calendar for the JD Classics Challenge as follows:

5-6 May        Donington Historic Festival
26-27 May    Brands Hatch GP Circuit
25-27 Aug    Oulton Park Gold Cup
18-21 Oct     Algarve Historic Festival

For further information see www.motorracinglegends.com