Further to the collaboration in 2012, Tiga Race Cars Ltd wishes to announce that the full ownership is now held by Mike Newton, renowned Entrepreneur and Gentleman LMP2 Driver.
The business will be providing parts and support for the historic chassis from 1974 to 1989, as well as the current CN2 car development and future projects.
The plans include the building of a dedicated 3100sq ft building adjacent to the Orex Competition facilities in Northwich, Cheshire to house the cars and design resources.
There is already an operational full race car simulator, unique in that it integrates actual physical Telemetry equipment from MoTeC, providing a fully operational MoTec display, and also allowing training for data engineers on the operation of Telemetry equipment as well as Driver training, and ‘Driver in the Loop’ chassis development.
In addition to the CN12a, there is a future evolution of a further CN2 design which is an update on the 2011 WFR chassis, and is planned to be launched later in the year.
A further project is still under an early evaluation, potentially bringing Tiga cars back to Le Mans racing. Part of the ex WFR CN car package also included the LMP2 project, and a detailed design review is being undertaken to determine whether this can be updated into a competitive cost capped LMP2 project.
On the Historic front, there is a Tiga C286 being restored chassis up for a customer, and Tiga C289, Chassis 371 being restored by Tiga Cars. Mike Taylor retains Tiga C286, Chassis 285, which is anticipated to be restored in the next few months.
• QUOTES
Mike Newton (New Owner) : “We have been working together over the last couple of years as a platform for the new CN Series cars. We know have a number of exciting opportunities in the pipeline, and look forward to continuing this iconic brand. While the LMP2 option is very exciting, we are at the very early stages with this project, and will target track testing late summer if the initial evaluations are suitably encouraging.”
Mike Taylor (Former Owner) : “Since acquiring the Tiga Race Cars rights in 2007 I have not been able to race the Group C Tigas due to personal reasons, so it has been difficult to take the project forward. We have been working together over the last couple of years, and it is now the appropriate stage to let Mike Newton take the project forward with the historic cars as well as the current generation cars”
About Mike Newton
CEO of AD Group, founder of Dedicated Micros, highly successful businessman, Britain’s Entrepreneur of the Year, and “Gentleman Driver” are just some of the descriptions applied to Mike Newton, but just because he doesn’t get paid to race does not mean he can’t mix it with the best.
Mike stands among the most accomplished of non-professional racing drivers, and can claim a string of top titles, including Le Mans Series LMP2 driver’s titles in 2007 and 2010, and two class wins in the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2005 and 2006. In 2010 at Le Mans he and co-drivers Tommy Erdos and Andy Wallace finished 3rd in class, 8th overall. Mike is currently driving with AD Team Tiga, taking part in the Speed Series, in a Tiga CN12a. Mike also remains actively involved with Ray Mallock Ltd.
About Tiga Race Cars Ltd.
Tiga cars were initially designed and built from 1974 and supplied varying formula: Formula Ford, Formula Ford 2000, Formula Atlantic/Pacific, Thundersports, Can-Am, Sports 2000, Formula K, IMSA, Group “C”.
The cars scored numerous wins over a 15 year period. Most notable championship wins were British Sports 2000 1979 to 82 and European Sports 2000 1983 to 85, SCCA U S National Championship 1980, Le Mans Group C 1985, World Championship Group C 1985, Daytona 24 Hours Camel Light 1987 to 88, IMSA Camel Light Championship 1988. Almost 400 cars were built and sold in this period. The company is now producing current generation race cars, including CN2 cars for the Speed Euroseries, and is also making Heritage parts available for the cars from 1974 to 1989.
Source : Tiga