Whatever happened to People Carrier Racing?
A few years back, the production team at Top Gear realised that the humble people carrier was being flat-out ignored when it came to having its own race series – a shame indeed (no, seriously).
Yes, of course, Aston Martin has its own series, as does Ferrari and all the usual other marques you might expect to take part in this type of thing, but even Volvo once had its own estate racing event – so what about people carriers?
Cars like the Renault Esapce, Toyota Spacecruiser and the Mitsubishi Spacewagon have been part of British family life for the past 25 years, so dragging the old warhorses on to a race circuit at some point seemed almost inevitable. But since the Top Gear piece went out in 2004 it seems that no proud people carrier owners have run with the idea and established it as an official racing series.
With so many on the road in the 21st century, it seems that there should be a real call for this type of thing. Obviously, people carrier racing is never going to provide the retina-scorching thrills of, say, competing in the Monaco Grand Prix in an F1 rocket, but not a lot of people can afford to buy a racing team.
No, what I’d like to see is a raft of Sunday drivers tootling along to Brands Hatch in their Previas, fire in their bellies, and at least 80bhp at their disposal.
It might not make it on to ITV on a Sunday lunchtime, but would have the potential to serve up more thrills and spills than Jenson and his well-groomed colleagues could provide.
Spread the word and make it happen.
About the author: Anthony Blascara is a writer and fan of the people carrier.
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