Archived Race Reports 2017

Round One Donington Park April 9th

The Cockshoot Cup Race Championship for 2017 began at Donington Park on April 9th under sunny skies. Twenty two drivers signed on and headed out for qualifying in perfect conditions. Pole position was decided at the very end of the session when Ray Collier put in his fastest lap driving his ZR now upgraded from 170 to 190 specification. Howard Hunt secured the other front row spot in his ZS. Novice driver Phil Bowden took third in his ZS from Phil Standish’s TF LE500. All these drivers being in Class C. Quickest Class B runner was Ian Whitt in his Midget with the similar cars of Mike Peters and Keith Egar just behind. In Class F, new driver to the Cockshoot Brian Butler was quickest and in Class A Ian Wright was dominant. David Coulthard set a good time in his ZR 190, but major engine problems meant that he was forced to withdraw.

So twenty-one cars took to the grid for the race start. Howard Hunt was first away when the red lights went out but a great move by Ray Collier put him ahead around Redgate Corner. Sadly, Ray’s engine failed after two laps sending him into retirement. Phil Standish then took up the chase, but he too suffered a mechanical problem on lap 6. This left Howard Hunt in a clear lead with Ashley Woodward and Phil Bowden scrapping for second and third places all driving ZS cars. Suddenly, with only seconds left of the race, Howard headed down the pit lane with a fuel pipe problem. This meant that Ashley who had got ahead of Phil took the chequered flag to win the race and Class C. Up to third in Class and the race came Peter Bramble in the distinctive yellow MGB. Ian Whitt was forced to retire from Class B after contact with another car. Mike Peters emerged as Class winner. Keith Egar finished second after getting the better of Nick Ashman with novice driver Karl Green taking fourth in his four cylinder ZS. Class A was won by Ian Wright after a steady reliable drive with Phil Yates and Gerry Windett taking the other podium positions. Brian Butler secured Class F setting a new lap record with Ian Deaves second and Christopher Greenbank third.

Rounds Two and Three Silverstone June 17th and 18th

Silverstone was hot. Twenty- four drivers signed on at Silverstone for MG Live. Saturday morning qualifying took place in sweltering weather with the Cockshoot drivers sharing the track with the MGB racers. Ray Collier in his MG ZR190 grabbed pole position with Howard Hunt driving his MG ZS alongside on the front row. Ashley Woodward’s MG ZS was third and Ian Whitt in his Midget was fourth and the quickest of the Class B drivers. Keith Egar’s Midget was second quickest in that class. Brian Butler beat Ian Deaves to class F pole and Ian Wright headed the class A cars. Phil Standish had a driveshaft problem with the orange MG TF LE500 which was repaired so that all the cars were able to start the first race.

It was even hotter when the drivers lined up for round two. The MGBs would go on the lights and the Cockshoot cars would be flagged off twenty seconds later. Ray Collier took the lead from the start from Howard Hunt with Ian Whitt putting his fast starting Midget into third place. As the cars passed the Silverstone Wing, there was an incident involving Howard, Ian and Ashley. This resulted in Ian’s retirement and the appearance of the safety car. This meant that the Cockshoot leaders would have to thread their way through the slower MGBs at the restart. The race time was extended so that there would be a ten minute race. When the race restarted there was a superb dice at the front which resulted in Ashley Woodward winning by a single second from Ray Collier. Howard Hunt recovered to take third from Jonathan Harker in his MG TF LE500. Mike Peters stormed through the field to finish fourth and take class B honours from Keith Egar and Mark Bellamy’s MG ZR170. Brian Butler and Ian Deaves battled for class F honours with Brian taking the win. Christopher Greenbank was third in class and Margaret Farquhar fourth. Ian Wright was the only finisher in class A so taking the winner’s trophy.

The second race of the weekend was run at 9.45 on Sunday morning in conditions that were still very warm. This time, there was a clear run without any safety car intervention. Ray Collier was victorious, his first ever race win, with Howard Hunt second and Peter Burchill driving his MG ZS taking third spot. Phil Bowden in his ZS took fourth giving him two good points finishes. This time Mark Bellamy won class B from Mike Peters and Keith Egar. Class F had the same finishing positions as the Saturday race giving Brian Butler a perfect score of three wins from the first three races and a new class lap record. Ian Wright again won class A with Phil Yates finishing second.

Round Four Cadwell Park July 22nd

The MGCC returned to Cadwell Park on July 22nd after a gap of several years. Nineteen drivers signed on for the fourth round of the Cockshoot Cup all looking forward to the challenge of the twisty circuit. After a wet start to the morning, qualifying took place on a drying track which meant the fastest times being achieved near the end of the session. Pole position was taken by Ashley Woodward driving his MG ZS with Class F driver Brian Butler alongside. Mark Bellamy was quickest Class B runner on row two with Phil Standish driving the orange MG TF LE500 the second of the Class C drivers. Next up were Mike Peters Class B MG Midget and David Coulthard’s MG ZR 190 with a newly rebuilt engine. Ian Whitt, driving Carl Chadwick’s car, suffered a gearbox breakage and so could not start the race.

Right on schedule in dry and sunny conditions the Cockshoot drivers took to the track for their twenty minute race. Ashley Woodward got the best start when the lights went out, but the officials judged it to be a jumped start and added a ten second penalty to his race time. The race got worse for Ashley when a brake pipe fractured and the car hit the barriers. Phil Standish took the lead which he then held to the flag, the LE500 running perfectly, and so winning Class C. Second place was claimed by Mike Peters after a storming drive giving him Class B victory. Into third place came Brian Butler winning Class F in fine style and setting a new class lap record. Behind the front three the drivers beginning with B enjoyed a race long dice. Mark Bellamy managed to hang on and take fourth place and second in Class B from Phil Bowden, Peter Burchill and Peter Bramble. Phil and Peter in their ZSs secured second and third in Class C with Mark second in Class B. Next up was Keith Egar taking third in Class B. Second and third in Class F were Ian Deaves and Christopher Greenbank. Ian Wright was the only Class A starter finishing ninth and setting a new class lap record. Maddy Maguire and Helen Waddington fought hard in their ZR 170s finishing twelfth and thirteenth.

Rounds Five and Six Anglesey August 5th and 6th

The Cockshoot Cup drivers headed into Wales for rounds five and six with nineteen competitors arriving at the Anglesey Circuit. Qualifying took place in perfect track conditions. Howard Hunt and Ashley Woodward were fastest in their MG ZS cars with the similar car of Phil Bowden on row two with fastest Class B runner Mike Peters. Brian Butler was the fastest Class F driver and Ian Wright headed Class A in his MG Midget. Ian Deaves experienced brake problems, but all the cars were ready to race later in the day.

The sun lit up the circuit, sea and mountains as the cars formed up on the grid as the last race of the day on Saturday. Howard Hunt took the lead from the start, and despite a brief safety car period, held on to win the race from Ashley Woodward. Mike Peters got a poor start, but was soon on the move, passing Keith Egar and latching onto the tail of third place Phil Bowden although not able to pass. Next up were David Coulthard in his MG ZR190 and Peter Bramble’s MGB all in Class C. Mike secured Class B from Keith with James Darby in third place. In Class A, Ian Wright won from Phil Yates and Gerry Windett all three driving MG Midgets. Brian Butler clinched Class F from hard charging Ian Deaves and Chris Greenbank with Brian setting a new class lap record. After the race Howard Hunt was excluded from the results moving all the other drivers up one place.

Sunday dawned fine, but by lunchtime the promised monsoon arrived making the weather very like Autumn. All the drivers were given two green flag laps and the race was shortened by three minutes. David Coulthard got a great start and took the lead, but Ashley Woodward and Phil Bowden were pressing hard and trading fastest laps. Ashley took the lead, but then Phil had a brake problem which resulted in contact with Ashley and the retirement of both cars. David Coulthard drove brilliantly in the conditions to win the race, and Class C. A great drive by Karl Green took his Class B MG ZS into second and a class win with Nick Ashman third in the race and second in Class B. Brian Butler finished fourth winning Class F again maintaining his perfect score for the season and so giving him a clear lead in the championship. Peter Bramble’s MGB was next up finishing second in Class C with Andrew Wheals MG MGF taking third in class. Helen Waddington finished ahead of Maddy Maguire, these two taking third and fourth in Class B. In Class F Ian Deaves and Chris Greenbank ran closely for the whole race with Chris slipping past on the last lap to be second in Class F. Ian wright again won Class A from Phil Yates.

Round Seven Oulton Park September 2nd

Oulton Park is the spiritual home of the Cockshoot Cup and twenty drivers arrived at the MGCC race meeting for round seven of the championship. Perfect weather lasted throughout the day giving competitors the wonderful experience of racing on the full circuit on a dry track. Qualification started on time in mid-morning with Phil Standish driving his MG TF LE500 grabbing pole position from Peter Bramble’s yellow MGB. Mike Peters in his Class B Midget was next up with David Coulthard’s MG ZR190 alongside. Fastest of the Class A runners was Ian Wright with Brian Butler heading Class F.

After various repairs were completed in the paddock, all twenty cars took to the grid in mid-afternoon for the twenty minute race. Phil Standish got a great start to lead the pack away and down the Avenue. He then drove a fault free race to take the victory and fastest lap. Initially, Mike Peters grabbed second place from Peter Bramble, but Peter fought back to claim second in the race and Class C. Third in that class was taken by Ashley Woodward in his MG ZS who came through the field after a troubled qualifying session. David Coulthard was challenging near the front, but was forced out with engine problems. Mike Peters ended third in the race and won Class B from Keith Egar driving his Midget and Mark Bellamy’s ZR170. Brian Butler took another Class F victory and with it, a new lap record, holding off Ian Deaves with Christopher Greenbank retiring. Ian Wright secured Class A victory from Philip Yates.

Class winners Phil Standish, Mike Peters and Ian Wright won the Vicky Peters Trophies.

 

Rounds Eight and Nine Croft September 16th and 17th

The Cockshoot Cup drivers arrived at Croft Circuit on September 16th for the last two rounds of the 2017 Championship. Car problems kept several drivers away with thirteen signing on. Qualifying started on Saturday morning in sunny, but cold conditions. Phil Standish had an early scare by slipping into one of the gravel traps, but was able to restart, but not get a quick lap on the board. Ashley Woodward and Phil Bowden in their MG ZSs were the quickest cars until Mike Peters popped onto pole position at the last minute driving his Class B Midget. Keith Egar was the second quickest Class B runner. Only one runner in each of Classes A and F, Ian Wright and Brian Butler, appeared on track.

During the lunch break there was a large rain shower and all the drivers opted to run on wet weather tyres. Mike Peters had to win Class B to keep his Championship chances alive. When the red light went out, Mike’s Midget hardly moved causing Phil Bowden and Phil Standish to get poor starts. Ashley Woodward grabbed the lead but Phil Standish in the MG TF LE500 soon caught Ashley but couldn’t pass him. Lap after lap the V6 power pulled his car ahead, but with two laps to go Phil squeezed past to win the race. A long way back, Phil Bowden came back from his delayed start to take third place with Karl Green driving a brilliant race to take fourth and win Class B. Peter Burchill’s ZS and Peter Bramble’s MGB took fourth and fifth in Class C. Meanwhile, Mike Peter’s car had severe handling problems on the wet surface and he retired to the pits. In Class B, Helen Waddington stormed past Keith Egar to take second. Final finishers were Brian Butler, Ian Wright, Aaron Jackson and Maddy Maguire.

With Mike Peters failing to win Class B, Brian Butler was declared the Cockshoot Cup Champion for 2017.

Showers again hit the circuit on Sunday with the drivers racing for the Malimson, Genesis and Entune Trophies to be decided on aggregate. Mike Peters decided not to race on the wet track so twelve drivers lined up on the grid. Ashley Woodward and Phil Standish put on another master class of wet weather driving including going side by side through Tower Bend. Sadly Aaron Jackson spun his Midget making contact with Phil which put him out of the race giving Ashley a clear win and the Malimson Trophy. It was a bonanza for the MG ZSs with Phil Bowden and Peter Burchill finishing second and third and Karl Green in fourth place winning Class B and the Genesis Trophy. Keith Egar and Helen Waddington finished second and third in Class B with Maddy Maguire taking fourth, enough to clinch the seasonal award for best lady competitor. Ian Wright finished safely in Class A to secure the Entune Trophy. Brian Butler finished the race in Class F to register his ninth success of the season.

So the Cockshoot Cup was secured by Brian Butler from Class F with Ian Deaves and Christopher Greenbank second and third. Class C went to Ashley Woodward from Phil Bowden and Peter Bramble. Mike Peters topped Class B with Keith Egar and Karl Green completing the podium. Finally Ian Wright clinched Class A from Phil Yates. Congratulations and thanks to all the drivers who competed in 2017.