Motorsport - the driving experience

Hanover/Spa-Francorchamps, July 2004. Hands-on motorsport - that's the popular phrase used when fans have the opportunity to sample the special atmosphere in the paddock and the pits at the racetrack.

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Usually though this is not enough for really keen amateurs, but what other opportunities are there for this particular target group? In Germany, apart from the wide range available in go-karting, what is on offer which 'Mr. Average Driver' can afford is fairly limited - motorsport is expensive. Porsche drivers have a 'somewhat' easier time, since there are specially organised Grand Tourisme Porsche weekend events where they themselves can experience the racing feeling. There are also Cup races sponsored by various brands where fans can spend time on the track achieving fast lap times. There are timed and non-timed training sessions, followed by the actual race, but after 20-30 minutes the whole thing is over, apart from the long-distance cup.

The Uniroyal Fun Cup organised by our European neighbours takes a different approach. Here, in addition to the training sessions, there are proper races lasting 4, 6, 8, 12 and even 25 hours, where several drivers (up to max. eight) can share one cockpit and also the costs involved. So these expenses, which can run to around 50,000 euros for a season consisting of five or six races, with the highlight - the 25 hours of Spa-Francorchamps - costing 12,500 euros, become manageable. Both the idea and the intention have worked well in France, Belgium, the UK and Italy, where the Fun Cup has now been a fixture in the national motorsport calendar of events for several years.

Seven years ago Uniroyal became the Official Partner and tyre supplier for the series, which is increasingly gaining in popularity. The atmosphere, the teamwork and the driving fun are the cornerstones of this concept which, as the name says, places great value on the fun factor. And it does that every racing weekend. The climax of all the European Fun Cup series is the 25 hour race on the Grand Prix circuit at Spa-Francorchamps. The race on the Ardennes Rollercoaster, as the circuit is respectfully referred to, lasts one hour longer than the classical distance twice round the clock. The reason for this is quite simple - one hour longer, because all those taking part enjoy it so much.

Depending on the weather conditions, the 120 or so drivers taking part in the Fun Cup races will go round the circuit (approx. 6.973 kms/4.330 miles in total) approximately 420 times. Alain Prost, one the great names in motorsport, will be giving them the official 'send-off'. Last year the four times ex Formula One world champion became Uniroyal's brand ambassador and will be firing the starting gun at the races once again this year.

The date for the Fun Cup debut in Germany has already been decided - in early August, the compact racers will do the Grand Prix circuit at the Nürburgring in a show race as part of the German Automobile Association AvD's Oldtimer Grand Prix (6th-8th August), before the four-hour competition is held on August 9th.

The Belgian rubber products manufacturer Englebert produced tyres from 1895 and the company's customers included Continental AG. When the firm merged with US Rubber in 1958, it was then known as Uniroyal Englebert. Uniroyal, the inventor of the rain tyre, has been a European brand within the portfolio of Continental AG in Hanover, Germany since 1979.

The Continental Group is a leading supplier of tyres, braking systems, suspension components and technical elastomers. In 2003 the company achieved a turnover of 11.5 billion euros and employs some 69,000 staff worldwide.