We're pleased to confirm all the details for the 14th season of the Essex Winter Series. Here's all the information on our events, and also details on how to make your entry.
EWS events are built on a shared passion for racing and a respect for the time and effort put in by organisers and competitors alike. We expect all participants to uphold the values of fairness, courtesy, and good sportsmanship to ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone.
EWS takes place on ETS-type carpet, with our unique wooden corner kerbs. There is lots of pitting space, but all drivers must bring their own table, chair and multi-plug. Drivers are encouraged to plan with their friends and team-mates to share one 6-foot table between two drivers to make best use of the space available.
===== Format ===== A five round championship, all one-day meetings. Qualifying format is the round-by-round points system. For each meeting, doors open at 7:30am, and racing finishes around 5:00pm.
===== Dates ===== - Round 1 - 05 October 2025 - Round 2 - 16 November 2025 - Round 3 - 11 January 2026 - Round 4 - 08 February 2026 - Round 5 - 08 March 2026
===== Classes ===== - Modified Touring Car - Stock Touring Car (17.5) - Front Wheel Drive (FWD)
===== Tyres and Additive ===== All Touring Car Classes: Rush 30CPM (#0445). Front Wheel Drive: Ride TR09 Slicks (#36086).
Tyre additive for all classes is MR33 V5 (#104056). Additive will be provided by the organiser, and drivers can ONLY use the additive in the bottles provided. Wurth Brake Cleaner will be provided to everyone and is the only product allowed to be used on tyres. No other substance of any kind can be used on the tyres. DO NOT BRING ANY OTHER ADDITIVE, TYRE CLEANER, BRAKE CLEANER (ETC) INTO THE HALL. Use the Wurth or Additive we provide.
Tyre warmers of any type are not allowed.
Front Wheel Drive specific tyre rules: You may only remove the centre mould line of the tyres using side-cutters. You may not use a tyre sander, truer or any other device to modify the tyre surface in any way. The only wear permitted is from driving the car on the track. The EWS team reserves the right to confiscate any set of tyres they believe to have been treated or modified in any way not in accordance with this rule and the spirit of it. In short - take the tyres from the packet, cut off the mould line, and go race on them!
===== Bodyshell & Wing ===== In ALL classes, all-white bodyshells will not be permitted at any event. We always hope the effort we put into running the series makes it worth bringing your best ‘race paint’, but we also understand that’s not always practical. Internal sticker kits from many suppliers are a great option, or you’re welcome to use single-colour shells – just not white. Simply adding coloured sponsor stickers to an otherwise white shell won’t be enough to meet this rule.
Touring Car Any Touring Car bodyshell approved by the BRCA or ETS and meeting the Global Body Spec. Wing must be made of lexan only and fixed directly to the body in the intended position, with no spacers etc. Wing screws/washers/buttons must be no larger than 20mm in any dimension.
This year, we will fix the bodyshell list on 14 September 2025 (three weeks before Round 1). Bodyshells appearing on either the BRCA or ETS lists at this date will be allowed. Any bodyshells released after this date, or added to the lists later in the season, will not be allowed. This gives everyone some certainty over what works, and means you've got plenty of time to get shells prepared and painted properly. Please check our Facebook page for any updates and contact us if you are unsure.EWS 2025/26 BODYSHELL LIST AVAILABLE HERE.
Maximum wing width 190mm. Maximum wing cross section 40x20mm, measured at any point across the width of the wing. Wing endplates may be lexan or 3D-printed (within the maximum dimensions) - carbon fibre pieces are not permitted.
Front Wheel Drive Any Front Wheel Drive bodyshell approved by the BRCA or ETS and meeting industry-recognised dimensions. Only wings included with the bodyshells may be used, cut out to a maximum size of 35x15mm and mounted as intended by the original manufacturer, with a maximum of 2mm spacer between the wing mounts and the wing. Wing endplates may be lexan or 3D-printed (within the maximum dimensions) - carbon fibre pieces are not permitted.
This year, we will fix the bodyshell list on 14 September 2025 (three weeks before Round 1). Bodyshells appearing on any of the BRCA or ETS lists at this date will be allowed. Any bodyshells released after this date, or added to the lists later in the season, will not be allowed. This gives everyone some certainty over what works, and means you've got plenty of time to get shells prepared and painted properly. Please check our Facebook page for any updates and contact us if you are unsure. EWS 2025/26 BODYSHELL LIST AVAILABLE HERE.
===== Construction/General Rules ===== Minimum Weight: Touring Car: 1300g / FWD: 1250g 5mm minimum ride height for all parts of chassis and bodyshell. The underside of the chassis must be flat and free of any protrusions or sharp edges below the chassis or bodyshell General BRCA/EFRA chassis dimensions and construction rules apply. Independent suspension must operate on all four wheels. Chassis layout (position of motor, electronics, etc) is free.
Reflecting the approach taken by the previous series winners, the champion of the Front Wheel Drive class each year must move up to one of the Touring Car classes, and cannot enter FWD for the next three seasons of EWS.
===== Motors & Speed Controllers ===== Modified Touring Any modified motor to BRCA/IFMAR rules. Any electronic speed controller.
Stock Touring 17.5 motors to BRCA list as of 14 September 2025 (three weeks before Round 1) - Motors added to the list throughout the season cannot be used. All competitors must use Blinky/Zero timing speed controllers and be prepared to demonstrate (using their own programming box or similar) that appropriate software and/or setting(s) are in place at any time requested. EWS 2025/26 17.5 MOTOR LIST AVAILABLE HERE.
Front Wheel Drive Motor: Hobbywing Justock G2.1 17.5 (#3040811). ESC: Hobbywing Justock G3S (#30112005), with the latest firmware (ETS-FWD18-4.4.05)installed. Any driver with an entry to four or five rounds will be able to purchase the ESC from us for a special price of £35*. This is the same as the combo used at the ETS - ONLY THE NEW G3S ESC is permitted this seaon. The old G3 cannot be used. Drivers must supply their own ESC and motor - there are no handouts) RPM Limit: 17,500 (identified by the LED flashing red-green-red-green-red-green) Maximum Gearing: 5.00
The RPM and Gearing limits will be reviewed throughout the season to ensure that the Front Wheel Drive class continues to provide close and competitive racing, at appropriate speeds for all abilities and our track size.
* This offer applies to those drivers who have an entry to four or five rounds of EWS 2025/26 and have paid the appropriate entry fee in full. Priority will firstly be given to those drivers who were not part of the special ETS/Tonisport pricing ahead of the ETS Daun 2025 event - those drivers may be able to obtain one, subject to availability.
Motors in the Stock Touring and Front Wheel Drive classes may be subject to further inspections during or after an event. This may include visual inspection in the car, disassembly of the motor, or full destructive testing. Should a motor be destructively tested and is found to be legal, it will be replaced at our expense. Penalties for use of an illegal or non-compliant motor are at the discresion of the EWS team but may include exclusion from the series and future EWS events.
===== Batteries ===== For all classes competitors must use 7.4v or 7.6v (2 cell) commercially available (in the UK) hard cased LiPo batteries. Batteries must be charged to a maximum of 8.40v. Whilst connected to a charger/discharger batteries must be securely placed in a LiPo sack. Batteries must be charged or discharged using a LiPo charger on the LiPo settings, and must not be charged in excess of the manufactures guidelines, or 15A, whichever is lower, and discharged in excess of the manufactures guidelines, or 20A, whichever is lower. No heating or cooling of cells are allowed during charging or discharging.
Your charger may not (at any point in time, whether a battery is connected/charging or not) be set with a cut off voltage higher than 4.20v per cell. Anyone found with a charger setting higher than this will be deemed to be deliberately over-charging their battery, which cannot be tolerated on safety grounds. Any driver found with a charger set higher than 4.20v per cell may be excluded from that, and any future EWS events.
Additionally, battery voltage will continue to be checked randomly at pre-race technical inspection. If a battery is presented at 8.41-8.43 volts, your charging equipment will be checked, and the above will apply. The driver may then discharge their battery down to a maximum of 8.40v, and re-present their car for a voltage check. If a battery is presented at 8.44 volts or higher, that battery will be immediately confiscated and disposed of, and the driver will not be allowed to run their next race. The drivers charging equipment will be checked in line with the above.
If any of the above is unclear, please speak to a member of the EWS Team before setting up your charger.
===== Transponders ===== We use the MyLaps RC4 Decoder. Any MyLaps and AMB Transponder will be supported, as will the newer MRT PTx. The original MRT transponders will not work. It is the racers responsibility to ensure their transponder is compatible. If you do not have a compatible transponder, you will be able to rent one from EWS for £5 per meeting. More information on the different transponder types can be found here.
===== Championship ===== For the overall championship, the best 3 scores from 5 events will count. Full details of the points scoring system and tie breaks can be found in this document. ===== Entry Procedure ===== By making an entry using the button below, you are applying for an entry to the events you put on the entry form. This does not guarantee you a space in these races.
The initial entry period will open on Sunday 10 August at 8:00am and close on Wednesday 13 August at 9:00pm. Following this, we will assess all the entries and set class limits based on the entries received. If this results in a class being oversubscribed, we will conduct a drawing to select the drivers initially offered a space. If we conduct a drawing, drivers will have an increased chance of getting an entry for each of the following: * The number of events applied for * The number of events attended in the previous two seasons * Attendance at the 2024 EWS International * Junior drivers
Entries are £30.00 per round, or £135.00 if the whole series is paid up front. You may only apply for/enter ONE class per event. Any driver attempting to enter multiple classes will have all entries cancelled. If we have spaces closer to the event, we may permit drivers to enter a second class at that time.
Once entries are paid for, no refunds will be provided. Any driver entering and then not attending and failing to notify the organisers will be placed at the back of the reserve list for all further rounds. Any driver who repeatedly cancels close to the event (the Friday beforehand or later) will also have their remaining entries cancelled.
All entries are finalised as of midday Friday before each event. Following this point in time, the pit plans and heat groups are fixed. Even if there are drivers who withdraw late or do not show up on the day, we will not add any other reserve or waiting list drivers in on the day. Therefore, if you do not have a confirmed place to race, please do not just turn up at the track as we will not be able to accommodate you.
Should an event need to be cancelled due to (for example) severe weather conditions making the hall inaccessible, we will re-schedule that event and carry any entries over to the new date.