Motor Racing Legends, the organiser of historic racing series, including the Stirling Moss Trophy and the RAC Woodcote Trophy, has announced the introduction of a more recent category; GT3. The cars will be those homologated between 2006 and 2012 but will be permitted to run specifications up to 2015.

Series regulations are being developed but the first race will be held at Silverstone on the weekend of 19th/20th October 2024.

It’s worth noting that these cars are between 12 and 18 years old. I first watched a Historic Sports Car Club event at Brands Hatch in 1976, where cars such as the Lotus 23, which would have been around 16 years old, were raced. Likewise there were Lister “Knobbly” Jaguars of 1958 Vintage which were therefore 18 years old at that time. Incidentally one “Knobbly” was being pedalled by a racey Willy Green on the day. Nonetheless these were Historic Racing Cars. So, in my opinion they meet the necessary “historic” criteria.

What cars can we expect to see on the grid? A quick search for the FIA GT3 Championship for 2008 gives a clue. The entry list for Silverstone that year included: Corvette Z06R GT3; Ferrari 430 GT3; Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S; Lamborghini Gallardo GT3; Aston Martin DBRS9; Ford Mustang FR500 GT; and, Jaguar XKR, so all vehicles that were familiar to most petrolheads.

The announcement also indicates that a number of european rounds are planned, implying that the other MRL series will also expand into Europe. This would be a bold move for MRL who traditionally only ever visited two European circuits, Spa and Portimao.

This is the first initiative to come from the new owners, Aythorpe Promotions Limited, led by Historic Racer Shaun Lynn, but it probably won’t be the last.