MG Car Club
Donington Race Report
The winter months seem like a distant memory as I sat in a sun soaked media room at Donington Park, enjoying the opening race meeting of the season. The consensus was that everyone was pleased to back, as ever, and with new drivers and new cars, it was a fantastic start to the 2017 MG Car Club season.
The College Motors MG Trophy
With a 33-car grid, including 10 newcomers, the MG Trophy was set to provide another entertaining performance, and we certainly weren’t disappointed.
Doug Cole scored a winning start to his 2017 MG Trophy campaign, after a thrilling season opener. Despite losing out on his front row start, Cole managed to claim top spot, as he and Graham Ross began their final lap.
Familiar MG Trophy face, Ross Makar, led the way, however it wasn’t long before chief challenger Graham Ross surpassed him for control.
Before long, Cole was hot on the heels of Makar, before demoting him to third place. With Ross in his sights, Cole mounted a challenge, which saw him make it a two way battle for honours. As the pair began their final lap, Ross missed a gear as they lapped a backmarker, allowing Cole to pass for the lead.
Despite landing just inches behind him, Ross was unable to disrupt the result, to claim second place. Makar held on for a third place finish.
Jack Roberts and Paul Luti continued their close qualifying performance, to finish first and second in Class B, whilst Matthew Turnbull dominated Class C. Doug Cole was awarded Driver of the Race.
Ross left race two victorious, after denying Cole and Makar the spoils. The better start fell to Makar as the race began, who led the way for a number of laps.
With top spot in their sights, the lead trio swiftly left the rest of the field behind. Makar’s lead suddenly came under threat, when Cole and Ross made a bid for glory. As Ross leapt ahead, Cole and Makar endured a slight coming together before racing towards Redgate, side by side.
After a few laps, the top three separated, for a relatively calm end to the race. Paul Luti claimed Class B honours, after a frantic outing, to finish some way ahead of Andrew Rogerson and Jack Roberts.
Matthew Turnbull doubled his success, with a Class C victory in race two, ahead of Andy Spencer and MG Trophy debutant John Booth.
Our commentary team rewarded Graham Ross with the Driver of the Race award for the second outing.
The WES MGCC BCV8 Championship with MGCC Thoroughbred Sports Cars
Neil Fowler triumphed in the opening combined BCV8 Championship with Thoroughbred Sports Car race. In what became a race of retirements, Fowler was one of the few who managed to survive the 20 minute duration.
A slow getaway for pole sitter Russell McCarthy allowed James Wheeler to take control. A strong opening lap soon left McCarthy in a position to claim the lead, as Tom Smith and Neil Fowler made it a four-way battle.
McCarthy’s advantage was short-lived, however, when smoke made an appearance from the rear of his MGB GT, as he rounded Redgate. Unable to maintain the pace of the lead trio, he suddenly dropped to fourth place.
Bad luck soon found its way to Wheeler as well, as Smith and Fowler began a two-car battle for the lead. With Smith looking good to repeat his familiar front-running performance, he suddenly pitted into retirement.
This kick-started a chain of retirements, as a number of drivers fell by the wayside lap after lap. With a lack of competition, Fowler steered his way to victory, some 47 seconds ahead of McCarthy. Despite a steady end to his race, McCarthy held on for second place, ahead of Ollie Neaves, Jonnie Wheeler and Jim Bryan. Paul Rayment claimed Driver of the Race for his sterling efforts.
Russell McCarthy and James Wheeler provided a thrilling finale to the BCV8 and Thoroughbred Sports Car outing.
Wheeler again had the edge early on, but McCarthy immediately fought back. As the pair lapped, McCarthy continuously attempted to pass at Redgate, however as Wheeler covered the inside line his efforts were denied. Their side by side stint down the Craner Curves saw the order organised as the pair reached the Old Hairpin, with Wheeler narrowly able to stay ahead.
Persistence paid off, when McCarthy made his trademark move stick, as he glided around the outside into Redgate.
Wheeler fought back a number of times, however as the chequered flag eventually settled the dispute, it was McCarthy ahead by less than half a second.
Ollie Neaves claimed himself a third place finish, ahead of Jonnie Wheeler and Jim Bryan, once again. McCarthy’s triumphant performance saw him awarded Driver of the Race.
MGCC Peter Best Insurance MG Cup
Alan Brooke’s unmatched performance saw him ease to victory in the opening MG Cup outing. In what looked like an easy race, he stormed from a front row start to victory, unchallenged throughout.
Pole sitter David Mellor tired his utmost to dismantle Brooke’s advantage, however settled for second place in the wake of the 5 second gap.
As Brooke lapped, his sideways manoeuvres certainly provided entertainment for the crowds, as he lapped on full power for the duration.
Third place was awarded to Ed Davies, ahead of Richard Buckley and Peter Burchill. Dan Jones completed the top six. Our commentary team deemed Dan Jones worthy of the Driver of the Race spoils.
It was very much a repeat performance at the front in race two, as Brooke once again stormed to a dominant victory.
Mellor once again claimed a strong second place, ahead of Davies. Fourth place was awarded to Buckley this time around, narrowly ahead of James Darby in fifth place. Iain Dowler was awarded the Driver of the Race.
MGCC Cockshoot Cup
Ashley Woodward narrowly claimed victory in the sole MGCC Cockshoot Cup appearance. After long-time leader Howard Hunt suddenly pulled off track, the door was open for Woodward to claim a victorious start to the season.
Hunt secured the best start to lead the way around Redgate, however a furious opening lap saw pole sitter Ray Collier storm into the lead as the field weaved through the Craner Curves.
Despite leading for much of out outing, Collier was rapidly forced off the circuit, when his MGZR 190 began to smoke profusely from the back.
In Collier’s absence, Hunt reclaimed top spot, chased furiously by Phil Standish. As Standish piled on the pressure, his MF TF LE500 was seemingly tired, as he pulled onto the grass along the pit straight. Hunt was the next man to suffer issues, when his MG ZS limped to one side, allowing Woodward and Philip Bowden to storm passed.
As Woodward claimed victory, second placed Bowden stole the show, to narrowly miss out on victory on his racing debut. Peter Bramble completed the top three, as well as being rewarded with Driver of the Race.
MGCC Drayton Manor Park MG Metro Cup
Jack Ashton brushed off his rivals and a safety car to steer to a virtually unchallenged MG Metro Cup victory. His triumph also deemed him worthy of not only Driver of the Race, but also our coveted Driver of the Day award.
From pole position, his view of Redgate was untarnished, as he led the way around the opening tour. Despite a challenge from team-mate Lee Connell, Ashton managed to fend him off. As the field raced lap after lap, the safety car was suddenly called for when Kyla Birdseye landed against the barrier as she weaved through the final chicane.
Out of the car and seemingly unhurt, her stricken MG Metro was pulled to safety, allowing the race to restart. Despite the field nibbling at his heels, Ashton held his ground, to pull an eventual 6.825 second gap.
Unable to disrupt his team-mate’s rhythm, Connell claimed second place, ahead of Mike Williams and Andrew Ashton.
Equipe GTS
Simon Cripps used the aptly timed safety car period to his advantage, for a victorious result, ahead of Brian Arculus and Robin Ellis.
Tom Smith and Mark Ashworth shared control early on, before a well timed safety car period matched the opening of the pit window. As Smith’s MGB Roadster expired, oil was left on circuit at the Craner Curves, calling for the release of the safety car.
As the safety car was released, a number of cars opted to make their mandatory pit stop, making for a busy pit lane.
As drivers rejoined, the order was slightly jumbled, as everyone fed themselves in behind the safety car. After a lengthy period at simmering pace, the oil was dressed and the race resumed.
Once ahead, Cripps managed to fend off Arculus, by just 1.179 seconds. Ellis held on for third place, ahead of Andrew Bentley, David Beresford and Ivan Hayward.
MGCC Lackford Engineering MG Midget & Sprite Challenge
Stephen Collier demonstrated a dominant performance, to claim an MG Midget and Sprite Challenge victory by just over eight seconds.
Second place was a hive of activity, as Richard Wildman and Edward Reeve battled profusely. Reeve had held the position for much of the race, however he was eventually unable to hold off his fellow MG Midget driver.
Peter Kennerley unnerved fourth placed man Richard Bridge, to claim the position by just 0.033 seconds. A last minute dash saw Bridge attempt to reclaim the position as the chequered flag came into sight, however Kennerley narrowly had the edge. Paul Campfield raced his way to a strong sixth place finish. Driver of the Race was awarded to Stephen Collier.
A fantastic day swiftly came to an end, in the light of the Spring sunshine. With healthy grids, excellent racing and lots of smiling faces, it’s safe to say the season opener was a great success. We’re looking forward to Brands Hatch, in just a few weeks time. See you there.
Leanne Fahy.
The lights are out
Start your engines – the 2017 MG Car Club racing season gets underway this Sunday at Donington Park!
All of the Club’s seven championships and two series are in action in the Midlands, where spectators will be feasting their eyes on MGBs, MG T-types, MG Metros, and MG ZRs. With ten races throughout the day and a lunchtime track parade for MGCC members, there’s no better place to be this Sunday.
Motorsport fans can expect to see large grids on track thanks to an impressive amount of race entries that have surpassed 2016’s numbers.
Donington Park kicks off the 2017 calendar before the racing goes down south to Kent and Brands Hatch for a full weekend of racing at the end of April. MGLive! at the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit on the 17th & 18th June follows that before meetings at Cadwell Park and Oulton Park.
The season then comes to a close on the Snetterton 200 circuit on September 30th & October 1st.
For more information about our race meetings, please see the Club’s motorsport section. For Donington Park tickets, please visit their official website.
MG TB takes the title!
The Endurance Rally Association’s ninth Flying Scotsman Rally ended in a nail-biting finish as the winning crew of Paul Crosby and Ali Proctor suffered two breakdowns in their Supercharged 1939 MG TB on the final run for the chequered flag at Gleneagles, Scotland.
The event started at Slaley Hall in Hexham, Northumberland, with over 750miles of rally ahead of the 103 crews.
Storming into the lead at the end of day two, leapfrogging John Abel and Leigh Powley with their 1937 Lagonda LG4, the MG suffered broken rear suspension issues but got back on the road thanks to the ERA’s mechanics.
It was a tight finish with the winning crew securing an overall total of 00:19:37, only 00:00:24 separating them from Abel and Powley, who have finished second for the past two years, on 00:20:01. Bill Cleyndert and Dan Harrison took third place in the 1928 Ford Model A with a total of 00:20:21.
Paul Crosby said: “I’m absolutely overwhelmed because we never thought we had any chance of coming here and winning. We’ve done two Flying Scotsman events and Ali didn’t make a mistake all weekend.
“We thought it would be a big engined car that would come here and win it. They rearranged the test very slightly this year to make it a lot fairer for smaller cars so we were good on some tests and the big cars were good on others. A brilliant event, incredibly well organised, and an amazing result for us.”
The 2018 Flying Scotsman Rally will take place from Thursday 26th to Sunday 29th April, marking its tenth anniversary by returning to its southern roots. Entries will open at the end of May 2017.
For more details including all the results and the latest updates on the forthcoming ERA events, visit www.endurorally.com
Time for Trophy!
The MG Trophy Championship kicks off its season at Donington Park on the 9th April with 34 cars on the grid.
Championship co-ordinator Pete Macwaters said: “I’d set myself a target of 30 for the opening rounds at Donington but 34 is amazing. We have so many new drivers this year that there was a real possibility that we could have filled the grid!”
Catering for the MG ZR with 3 classes from the basic 160 through to the VHPD engined ZR190 the MG Trophy has a class for all budgets. For just £6,000, a driver under the age of 25 can purchase a car and compete in all 12 rounds of the championship.
“With the well-proven organisation of the MG Car Club behind the championship, we race at the UK’s top circuits, including MGlive! on the Silverstone Grand Prix track. This year we’re also going back up to Knockhill where we’re always made to feel so welcome,” concluded Macwaters.
MG Trophy ‘Assert’ themselves with charity partner once more
The MG Trophy Championship drivers have decided to stay with their chosen charity ‘Assert’ for a further year.
Assert is the charity that offers support, education and research for all those with Angelman Syndrome.
In June last year the championship presented a cheque for £700 to the charity at MG Live and in February this year the championship topped up their donation to £1,000 with a further donation of £300.
The presentation was made by championship co-ordintor Pete Macwaters to Assert’s Andea Baines at the MG Car Club’s offices at Kimber House in Abingdon.
Trophy co-ordinator Pete Macwaters said “I was really pleased that the drivers voted to stay with Assert for another year and it was great to meet Andrea for the cheque hand over.”
All the MG Trophy cars carry the Assert sticker in the windscreen and they will be competing in 12 rounds all over the UK in 2017.