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A Racing Car is Born

Mark's challenge this time is to build a Westfield sports car, and compete in racing events across the UK. Former Chief Development Test Engineer for Jaguar Ian Forrest gets Mark in the driving seat and ready to battle it out on the track at the Gurston Down Hillclimb, a track day at Donnington Park and a test day at Rockingham. Mark even braves French drivers when he takes his prized creation to a race weekend in Northern France. A Racing Car Is Born really gets under the bonnet of budget motor sport.

Episode 1 - 24th September at 9:00pm (repeated 5th October at 8:00pm)
Mark Evans embarks on building another dream project from scratch - his new challenge is to build a Westfield sports car and compete in it at racing events. Before the nuts and bolts action can begin, Mark has to prepare his workshop and unpack the car kit.
Episode 2 - 24th September at 9:30pm (repeated 5th October at 8:30pm)
The challenge to build a multi-purpose car adaptable to different types of motor sport has been established. Mark begins by visiting the Westfield Factory where the car kit is manufactured, before embarking on the initial stages of construction.

Episode 3 - 24th September at 10:00pm (repeated 5th October at 9:00pm)
Mark continues with the building of the Westfield sports car, installing the drive shafts, fuel tank and upper steering column.

Episode 4 - 24th September at 10:30pm (repeated 5th October at 9:30pm)
Mark installs the engine, propshaft, starter motor and gear lever of his Westfield sports car.
Episode 5 - 24th September at 11:00pm (repeated 5th October at 10:00pm)
Mark Evans continues his challenge to build a Westfield sports car from scratch. As well as building the dashboard, he also installs the instruments with some help from Mike Topp from the 750 Motor Club.

Episode 6 - 1st October at 9:00pm (repeated 12th October at 8:00pm)
Mark continues working on his self-build project. In this episode, he concentrates on the chassis of the car and finds out about the manufacture of fibreglass and carbon fibre.

Episode 7 - 1st October at 9:30pm (repeated 12th October at 8:30pm)
The focus of the work is turning towards the interior of the car. Mark gets to grips with the choice of seats for the Westfield.

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Episode 8 - 1st October at 10:00pm (repeated 12th October at 9:00pm)
Mark is still getting to grips with the Westfield's interior, focusing on everything from door lining trimming to lights and dashboard finish. Kitting a car out for racing is not as straightforward as it seems!
Episode 9 - 1st October at 10:30pm (repeated 12th October at 9:30pm)
The finishing touches are made to Mark's creation, as he prepares for the Single Vehicle Approval Test.

Episode 10 - 1st October at 11:00pm (repeated 12th October at 10:00pm)
The Westfield racing car is now built and Mark can concentrate on the next challenge: racing his car. Will the Westfield be up to the job of competing seriously - and will Mark's driving skills stand the pressure?

Episode 11 - 8th October at 9:00pm (repeated 19th October at 8:00pm)
Mark now has the opportunity to test drive his creation and takes part in a driving masterclass

Episode 12 - 8th October at 9:30pm (repeated 19th October at 8:30pm)
A hill climb at Guarston Down, Salisbury, presents Mark's with his first opportunity to race his hand built Westfield against the clock.
Episode 13 - 8th October at 10:00pm (repeated 19th October at 9:00pm)
Mark attends a track day at Donnington and gains his first racing experience in the Westfield.

Episode 14 - 8th October at 10:30pm (repeated 19th October at 9:30pm)
The focus of the action shifts to France, where Mark takes part in practice laps and then qualifies for a circuit race. He also goes behind the scenes and investigates the build up and preparation to this race.

Episode 15 - 8th October at 11:00pm (repeated 19th October at 10:00pm)
The culmination of Mark's challenge is the Circuit Race in France - see how he performs as he puts his creation to the test.



regards,

greg

 

anyone know what engine he drops in there ?

 

1.8 Zetec

 

Dont know about you lot, but I love this series, the other programmes in the series were fantastic, car is born, car is re-born, plane is born, chopper is born....

This stuff is well up my street

Quality TV!

P

 

The cobra replica build was good. But he put drum brakes on the rear with a chevy V8 up front! insane

 

Got me Sky reminder set alrady!!

 

bioforger, that isn't as daft as you might think, on those things, because of the lack of rear end weight, the less braking effort the rear wheels are putting in the better, because with no anti-lock the effect would be not dissimilar to dragging on the handbake
I hope he put some decent brakes on the front though

 

oh yeh good point. Cant remember about the fronts, but I dont think they were anything special.

The E-type rebuild/restoration was amazing. I just caught up on that couple of days ago. They must have a big budget

 

plane is still not finished

 

having seen the first few series - I only recently caught a couple of "chopper is born". I'd love to know how much is him these days and how much is some team of "wunder mechanik".

Nice life for a vet.....

Deano

 

In the final e-type program he reckons on it costing £80k..
But given the state of the body I'm not suprised, a bonnet assembly ( the top and side panels ) is £4k, a door is £400 just for the main part, that doesn't include and glass or channels.. Apparently just one company has the presses to make the panels so pretty much charge what they like.

Neighbour has a 4.2 FHC that he rebuilt himself, worth probably £35k, he bought it for 9 and spent probably £12-15 rebuilding it. His interior was a smidge over £4k on its own...

 

Brakes on the Cobra were standard sierra discs and calipers

 

Gotta agree, this is a good type of series and I have watched all except the plane ones upto now.
When I heared it was a race car, I had thought it would be a Locost, so it will be interesting to see what kit it is.

Loved that yellow/black colour scheme on the chopper

I wonder what happens to them?

Bets on what is next?

A Boat is Born? or a Kart is Born?

 

I saw the e-type he restored for sale in Autosport for £60,000.

 

In one of the episodes on Tuesday night he turned up in the E Type and commented that he still has it and drives it. This could be because he can't sell it, but who knows!

The plane was finished as far as I can remember, and the colours for the helicopter were superb!

 

no the plane at the end was the demo from the makes. The plane Mark was building is still not finished and has been sold because they run out of money
In the car is reborn he nearly cut his thumb off fitting the front screen hence the windscreen company called in to fit it
Adrian

 

nearly fogot the workshop used in a car is born is part of the unit owned by pilgrim cars the supplier of the kit was told by the workshop staff very little was done by Mark
Adrian

 

Saw a gardening programme recently with Mark Evans in it. He seems to be everywhere.

 

hi mucks about to much on the racing car one

 

David Lewis, that's a scary thought, from what I can remember standard Sierra brakes were only just capable of stopping a standard Sierra