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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">INTERACTIVE SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">27/04/2001</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">ISC Launch</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">Hits Central London</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><img border="1" src="Storage/wldsptg82a.jpg"></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2"> Anyone who doubts the visual impact of a grid of modern GT cars needed only to experience the scenes in London’s Berkeley Square last night at the launch of the new for 2001 Interactive Sportscar Championship. <BR> <BR> The sight of a seven car GT lineup brought traffic to a virtual standstill as the ISC’s architect Dominic Chappell unveiled the details of what he described as “the new face of sportscar racing”. <BR> <BR> “With anything new and mould breaking there is bound to be a fair amount of cynicism. We’ve had our fair share of dust ups and backbiting,” said Chappell. “What we are going to deliver however, is a package that will bring a new professional championship with top teams, professional drivers and an unrivalled TV experience to the viewers in their living room.”<BR> <BR> "Sportscar racing has never had a true mass appeal, apart perhaps from the annual pilgrimage to Le Mans. I hope that ends here. Our package will bring cameras into every car, in some cases more than one camera. Viewers will be able to ride with the driver of their choice as well as watching from more conventional viewpoints. At a point in time when Touring Cars are in a suicidal phase this is an ideal opportunity to present a grand prix feel to a fabulous form of racing."<BR> <BR> Asked to explain the delay to the start of the championship announced two weeks ago, Chappell was blunt. “If we had gone too early and ended up with a small grid we would not have done the package justice. The teams have worked hard with us to make this championship work and we needed to be sure that the dates we finally announced could truly be final – if we had had to announce any further delay because teams had not been ready, we would have been crucified." <BR> <BR> Whilst the lineup of seven cars on display made an impressive backdrop to the launch, the series was designed to accommodate twelve two car teams, all campaigning different marques. The ‘definites’ list already includes all seven teams at the launch: The Lotus Esprits of Mike Haines Racing, Brookspeed’s ex-ORECA Chrysler Vipers, The Lister Storms, The NCK Marcos LM600s, Speedworx' new and purposeful looking Chevy-engined Stealths, Simpson Engineering’s gorgeous Ferrari F40s and, the biggest surprise on show, the ‘Aston Martin’ GT700 of David Ellis Engineering. The stalwart of Aston racing was delighted to be able to show off his creation, and to confirm that a sister car is in build, hopefully in time for the start of the championship.<BR> <BR> The ISC however were talking of a possible 16 cars for round one, so who were the missing links? Why the much vaunted Chevrolet Corvettes of Team Atomic Kitten! 'They' were there, in the person of Technical Director Roger Walters. Read more about their plans in the separate story on TMS.<BR> <BR> Not the full 24 car grids that early hype promised perhaps, but neither is it the five or six cars that some cynics suggested. A team of Venturi 600LMs is due to join in the fun later in the season too and ISC sources talked once more of “other exciting projects in the pipeline”. TVR were particularly singled out. “The Speed 12s may do a couple of non-clashing (with the British GT Championship) rounds,” said Dominic Chappell. Rumblings were heard too that TVR GTO class runners might be possible entries during the ISC season. This one could get interesting! <BR> <BR> On the race calendar front, the package remains unchanged from the revised schedule announced a fortnight ago, apart from a final ‘trophy’ round at Donington on 3 / 4 November. <BR> <BR> One further question which the ISC had kept unanswered had related to the “Unique Equalistaion Formula” designed to keep racing close and exciting. Strong rumours had suggested that the intention was to vary fuel flow rates during pit stops. This, however, seemed to be ruled out by Dominic Chappell who described pit stop fuel flow restrictors as “merely safety precautions” and instead announced success ballast as the chosen method of levelling the playing field.<BR> <BR> All in all, a good night for those involved in a championship that has taken a great deal of criticism for its hype. Tonight was its chance to answer those critics. Donington Park, round one on 2-3 June will be the acid test.<BR> <BR> A new era for British sportscar racing may well be about to begin. <BR> <BR> <BR> Graham Goodwin<BR> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>