This season, Lanotec has proudly sponsored the Victorian State Championship for Hyundai Excels, with the category turning on the thrills at Phillip Island, Sandown, Winton and Calder Park.
And why not? The class provides some of the best racing action from big fields, with a hungry pack of drivers, young and old, all eager to make a point.
Here, we take a deep dive into the category and what makes it so successful.
One Make Racing
Over the years, one make racing has proven a popular attraction in Australian motorsport circles.
Look at HQ Holdens – a class that emanated out of Tasmania in 1988, which still attracts strong fields around the country.
Then there are regional-specific hits, like Porsche 944s and BMW E30s in Victoria, Holden Geminis in Queensland, and Nissan Pulsars, which are spreading their wings out from their home in New South Wales.
At the top end of town, the Porsche Carrera Cup and its spin-off Sprint Challenge classes have been popular and will be joined next year by a one-make Ferrari Challenge, while spec Lamborghinis are regular international visitors.
Over the years, some classes, such as the Ford Lasers and Triumph TR7s, have come and gone.
So, what’s the attraction with Excels that have seen hundreds of the model prepped for racing?
Primarily, it’s low cost, which is a significant selling point, but the parity between the cars also ensures that talent rises to the top.
Yes, there is a disparity between the most expensive and the cheapest second-hand cars available, but the more affordable vehicles can often be massaged into competitive packages.
There’s no need for big factory teams, and huge dollar spends – Excels can easily be fettled in your home garage.
That said, for a bit bigger budget, numerous operators can provide trackside and between-meet servicing programs that allow you to get involved without the hassle of getting your hands dirty or facilitating the logistics to get your car to the circuit.
The class is also a fantastic grounding for drivers looking to make a career in the sport.
Since it started with a three-car grid at Queensland’s Lakeside in 2010, numerous drivers have used Excels as a stepping stone from go-karting to bigger and better things.
Broc Feeney, who finished second in the Supercars championship aboard a Red Bull Ampol Racing Chevrolet Camaro was a product of the category, ditto Brad Jones Racing co-driver Jaylyn Robotham.
Others who started out in the class include Ben Bargwanna, Nash Morris, Mason Kelly, Jett Johnson, Michael Clemente, Max Vidau, Bailey Hall, Jordan Caruso, Jordyn Sinni, and Cooper Webster, amongst many.
Not disparaging other categories, Excels are quick for what they are, with their nimble driving dynamics able to be tuned through shock absorber settings, tyre pressures, and driving styles – all important aspects in driver development.
Subsequently, the category has attracted many big-name guest drivers, especially at enduro races, including Brodie Kostecki, Will Brown, Chaz Mostert, Ryan Wood, Declan Fraser, Aaron Seton, Jay Hanson, Ben Grice, Tim Slade, Declan Fraser, Zane Goddard, Paul Morris, Jonathon Webb, John Faulkner, Steve Johnson, Chelsea Angela, Prince Jeffri Ibrahim, Aaron Cameron, Ryan Hansford, Adam Macrow, Jordan Boys, Kai Allen, Steve Owen, Jesse Dixon, Jason Gommersall, Todd Wanless, Melinda Price and more.
Other part-timers include Jason Akermanis, Roland, and Jessica Dane.
The Cars
There are many obvious enhancements in the name of safety, including an approved roll cage, race seat, racing steer wheel, and a window net.
Roll cages can be purchased off the shelf from one of a number of manufacturers, or pieced together by a professional fabricator.
The base donor car must be a series X3 Excel built between 01/07/1994 and 31/06/2000 and feature either the 1,495cc double overhead or single overhead camshaft, which came from the factory with 74kW and 66kW, respectively.
To keep costs in check, certain parts are controlled by the relevant category rules, including tyres and suspension, which also level the playing field for competitors.
Typically, a DIY build would come in at a $6,000 to $10,000 price point, although this price will increase when outside assistance is introduced to the build process.
Within the Motorsport Australia system, the category technical regulations feature engine and gearbox sealing, ensuring a vehicle’s compliance with the rules.
As with any race series, you will need to have the appropriate governing body competition licence and car club membership.
Let’s Go Racing!
The fantastic thing about Excels is that due to the category’s popularity, all states host regular race meetings for the class – with a prepped race car, you can compete locally or tour the country and race on our most famous circuits!
As a bonus, the category occasionally features on the undercard at professional series, such as the Supercars championship.
Outside of circuit racing, competitors are known to participate in various disciplines, such as hillclimbs, lap dashes and sprints, with the cars also typically eligible for a range of long-distance races throughout the year.
