Racing & competition

We offer:  full race preparation service / ground up historic race builds / on event technical support UK & Europe / Expert crash repairs / chassis set up service / engine tuning / axle ratio changes / up-rated brakes and suspension.

Want to go racing?

Over the years we have brought over 100 novices into racing, we can guide you through the whole process, from first contact to sitting on the grid for your first race. This includes: how to get your race license / arranging you / what race kit you need and where to get it / supply and prep your new or used race car / advise on finance packages available / track days and tuition / advice and mechanical support / arrive and drive service available.

Aero Racing Morgan Challenge

A long standing and enduringly popular race series for all Morgan models, highly recommended for its driving standards, camaraderie, and very novice friendly. This is an extremely cost effective way of starting racing, with controlled costs and controlled car specification.

In late 2004 Richard built a road going but race prepared version of the then new Morgan Roadster 3.0 V6. Having raced it himself, and thoroughly enjoyed it, Richard put a proposal to Morgan Motor Company that they should produce a run of the cars to run in a separate class in Morgan Challenge. This was embraced by the directors and since 2005 39 Roadster Lightweights have been produced and are racing in Europe as well as the UK. The vast majority of the UK cars (and several European) were supplied by Richard Thorne Classic Cars, and are owned by customers new to racing.

In September 2009 the RTCC team produced a second road going race car based on the new 4/4 Sport 1.6 and called 4/4 Competition. These cars are as much fun on the road as on the track and once again Morgan Motor Company endorsed and started building the cars for the 2010 season. 14 4/4 Competitions have been built so far and are available to special order though us. An RTCC 4/4 Competition won Class E of the Morgan Challenge overall in 2010 and 2011, and Class A of the MGCC Thoroughbred series in 2010.

More information about the Challenge, competitors, race dates and regulations, can be found at www.mogsport.net

Historic Racing

We have a dedicated separate race shop on site; race projects include a ground up restoration and race preparation of a 1970 Morgan Moss Box +8, a 1964 Morgan 4/4 Series 5, and a 1953 Jowett Jupiter. We have obtained FIA HTP papers for all these cars and many others. We have also recently obtained entries for our customers at prestigious race meetings including Pau Historique, Spa 6 Hours, Dix Mille Paul Ricard and the Le Mans Classic. For these we provide a full technical support service, including vehicle transportation and logistics. We have prepared many championship and class winning cars and sold some of the most exciting racing Morgans in the last few years, we are happy to source and prepare a specific model to a customers requirement.

Richard first raced with the Historic Sports Car Club in 1985 and he has enjoyed a long association with the club. He is very experienced as a competitor and race organizer having started 70’s Roadsports on behalf of the HSCC, and being on the executive committee and chairman for 13 years.

British GT

In 2002 the BRDC announced that a new class would be added to the British GT Championship for 2003: GT Cup. Regulations were essentially simple; cars had to be derived from production road sports cars and with a strict power to weight formula. The Morgan Motor Company immediately saw the potential of producing their Aero 8 in GT Cup form and announced it at the Autosport Show in January 2003.

As a leading Morgan dealer who has been involved in Motorsport up to international level for more than 30 years, Richard was immediately excited by the prospect of buying and running the new car, the road going version having already earned his considerable respect. Setting up a separate race team for GTs, developing a new car and acquiring all the hardware necessary to compete at this very professional level was challenging and rewarding.

The team, competing on a very tight budget, finished second on its debut, won its fourth race, and finished a close second to the Tech9 911 in the Championship overall. Two of the team drivers, Neil Cunningham and Adam Sharpe, were selected by Morgan to drive their 2004 Le Mans 24 Hour Aero 8 GT2 car.

Historic Rallying

Historic Regularity Rallying has shown phenomenal growth in the last 20 years. Richard himself competed in the first Pirelli Classic Marathon from London to Cortina and back again in 1988 and it was this week long event more that any other that set the pattern for those that followed. Richard Thorne Motorsport have prepared a wide variety of cars over the years for rallies ranging from the London-Capetown and Peking-Paris, to Winter Challenges, Le Jog and Rally of the Tests. These all offer the chance to use your classic properly in wonderful scenery and enjoy excellent camaraderie.

We fully understand the rigors of competing over longer distances with an older car and can carry out full or partial preparation including shell preparation, suspension, steering, electrical, and brake overhaul or upgrade.

Richard has been rallying for more than 30 years and has introduced many complete novices to this extremely exciting sport. He is always happy to advise potential competitors on how to get started.

We have prepared the following:

2011
Overall Winner Class E Morgan Challenge
Multiple Class wins Class R Morgan Challenge
Class Win Sixties Endurance Paul Ricard
3rd Index of Performance Paul Ricard
1st MGCC 4 Hour Relay (2 team cars)
5th MGCC 4 hour relay (3 team cars)

2010
Overall Winner Class E Morgan Challenge
Overall Winner Class E MGCC Thoroughbreds

2009
Class Win Class E Morgan Challenge

2008
Overall Winner Roadster Cup Morgan Challenge

2007
2nd in Class HSCC Historic Roadsports Class B 1965 Morgan +4
Overall Winner Roadster Cup Morgan Challenge Morgan Roadster Lightweight
17th Overall (of 62) 4th in class (of 16) 2nd British Car (of 12) Morgan Lightweight GT Britcar 24 hour.

2006
1st ever Classified finish for Aero 8 in a 24 hour race, Britcar 24 hour.

2005
Invitation Class winner Morgan Challenge Morgan Roadster Lightweight GT

2004
HSCC 70s Roadsports:
1st in Class A (over 3000cc) and overall Champion 1974 Morgan +8
1st in Class C (under 1300cc) 1976 Lancia Fulvia Coupe
3rd in Class D2 (1600-2000cc) 1978 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV
5th in Class D2 (1600-2000cc) 1978 Lancia Beta Coupe
HSCC Historic Roadsports:
2nd in Class D (up to 2000cc) 1964 Lancia Flavia Sport Zagato

2003
HSCC 70s Roadsports:
2nd Overall
1st in Class A (over 3000cc) 1974 Morgan +8
1st in Class C (under 1300cc) Lancia Fulvia Coupe