At first glance, Dave Thomas’s Toyota MR2 looks like a charming nod to motoring past among the modern machinery of today’s BARC racing paddocks. At nearly 40 years old and producing a modest 200 horsepower, it stands shoulder-to-shoulder with far newer, far more powerful cars.
Yet appearances can be deceptive. Around circuits like Brands Hatch and Silverstone, this little Toyota continues to punch well above its weight – and continues to put a smile firmly on its driver’s face.
For Dave, the MR2 isn’t just a racing car; it’s a deeply personal one. “When I first started racing MR2s, you could buy them very, very cheaply,” he recalls. “There was a wonderful series just for the Mk1s – the MR2 Challenge – and they were superb fun to drive.”
That accessibility was part of the appeal. The cars were affordable, simple, and competitive, making them ideal for newcomers. Dave even bought a pair for his sons to learn their craft. “We were always near the front of the grid, and right in the mix,” he says. “It was wonderful.”
Like many one-make series, however, the MR2 Challenge came with its share of battle scars. “There was quite a lot of body damage,” Dave laughs, “so I tuned it and elevated it to the Nippon Challenge.”
There, the ageing Toyota found itself increasingly outclassed as newer machinery arrived. “It can’t really hold a light to modern Honda Civics,” he admits. “There’s nearly 40 years between them – but I like to get out there give it a run and enjoy racing with newer cars.”
Yet despite that disparity, the MR2 refuses to fade quietly into retirement. Dave’s example, acquired around 2015 after years of bargain-basement MR2 ownership, remains a formidable tool in the right hands.
“Track Action is a great palace to race it – and it would be great if we could get similar cars out. I want to show you don’t need the latest cars to have fun in a fun series,” he explains.
What the MR2 lacks in outright power, it more than makes up for in balance and braking. Dave offers a comparison that never fails to surprise.
“I’ve also got a racing Mk1 Capri, three-litre. This little car does exactly the same lap times around Spa as the Capri. Unbelievable, really. It just shows how good they are on the brakes and the handling.”
That confidence is tested at circuits like Thruxton, where speed and commitment are non-negotiable.
“I was scared stiff,” Dave admits. “It’s such a fast circuit. I foolishly glanced at the speedo going round Church and it was showing 130. If you get that wrong at that speed, the car is history!”
Dave lives in Wortham, with Brands Hatch his nearest circuit, but decades of racing have made Silverstone also a familiar friend. “I’ve been racing there for years and I love it,” he says. “It’s just great fun to drive.”
Ask Dave about favourite circuits and his answer drifts overseas. “Zandvoort or Spa,” he says without hesitation. “I raced this at Zandvoort before Formula 1 went back — before all the bars and cafés got so expensive. It was brilliant.”
These days, Dave sees his racing career entering its final chapters. “I’ve probably got a couple more years,” he says thoughtfully. “Unless I start winning again – then we might extend it!” Unlike the physically demanding Capri, the MR2 allows him to race comfortably. “You get out of the Capri and you’re a ball of sweat. This is lovely. I can race again straight away.”
Now a familiar face in the Track Action series, Dave values the variety and atmosphere it offers. “It’s tough because of the range of cars,” he says, “but it’s a good environment. There’s nowhere else for this car to race so this is just perfect – it’s so friendly.”
Despite being outgunned, the MR2 retains something that no lap-time advantage can replace. “Everybody’s got the Civics,” Dave says with a smile. “But this has maybe a little more charm. I’d rather have this out on track rather than garage. It gets lots of looks and everyone has a story.”
Admin certainly does. My father enjoyed his road going version, driving on the island of Jersey – perfect car for the lanes and Jersey summers. But, sadly only being a two-seater, the car had to make way for a more practical car when I arrived. Sorry Dad!
And that, perhaps, is the real measure of success — a car that still turns heads, still thrills its driver and those who see it on track. The care still dances on the edge, decades after it first rolled off the production line and long that continue for this car and similar pride and joys up and down the country.
