EQUIPE SUMMER CLASSIC FEATURING MG CUP AT SILVERSTONE 8/9TH JUNE

The Equipe MG Cup runners have entertained at every meeting so far this season and have a 20-minute race each day at Silverstone for a strong field. Mark Wright won the opening rounds in style at Brands Hatch in March and returns in his slick-shod Class D MGF but will have plenty of opposition both in class and from across the field.
 
Keith Egar has been rapid in his Class D Midget, and is joined on slicks by Ian Boulton, who took second overall at Brands Hatch in Class B so should be quick this weekend. At the last two meetings it has been the Invitation class that has provided the winners, and a name that jumps out from that class is Dan Ludlow in his MG ZR190, a class and outright race winner in 2023, who is doing Sunday’s race.  
 
Jack Chapman took a Class B win and second overall at Oulton Park last time out so should be a factor in that class and overall, while last year the race was won outright by a Rover 220 Tomcat Turbo, so watch out for the car of Andrew Burns. There is always plenty of action right down the field with so many of competitive drivers and cars in the field.

It’s our first Equipe Summer Classic on the full Silverstone Grand Prix circuit this weekend and we have a great line up of racing instore at the famous venue. We have races over the two days featuring superb grids and some fantastic cars. A highlight has to be out Equipe Elan 60 race on Saturday marking the 60th anniversary of the Lotus Elan 26R with a strong grid of these rapid racers!   Equipe GTS With 61 entries across the weekend, Saturday’s Equipe GTS race opens our competitive action after a morning of qualifying, and they are out again on Sunday afternoon to provide their usual close and competitive racing.   The MGBs are as usual out in force with 25 set for Saturday’s race, a host of regulars as well as new faces taking on the other marques. Alongside a host of familiar MGB racers we have TVR regular Lee Atkins in an MGB on this occasion and BCV8 front runner Russell McCarthy also joining the field in his FiA car.   There will be plenty of opposition for the MGBs with a number of quick TVR Granturas, including one for Jack Willmott, and Marc Gordon with his Lotus Elite. John Alexander has gone well in his Austin Healey 100/S this season and David Wenman is always at the sharp end in the races with the family Morgan Plus 4. Equipe Elan 60 An undoubted highlight of our Silverstone weekend is the Equipe Elan 60 race, marking the sixtieth anniversary of the Lotus Elan 26R, one of the great club race cars form the 1960s – and through all the decades since. We have a great response to this race with a superb display of 26Rs who should put on a memorable display in their one-hour race on Saturday afternoon.   Tom Smith has been entertaining in his 26R this season, winning at twice at Brands Hatch in the Equipe Libre season-opener and also winning at Oulton Park so will surely be a factor. Andrew Cahill has been first Elan home three times and twice on the overall podium, while Robin Ellis in his 26R Shapecraft claimed the class win on the Brands Hatch GP layout.   The anniversary race sees some well-known drivers on the grid – former BTCC racer Rory Butcher shares a 26R with Ben Tinkler, while British GT ace James Dorlin forms part of a strong pairing with John Tordoff. Cameron Jackson has a reptation for being quick in classic single-seaters so the 26R should suit him and he shares with Murray Shephard, while the hugely experienced Michael Caine joins up with Equipe regular Brice White – a strong pairing! Equipe Libre An outstanding Equipe Libre field of over 40-cars will be spectacular, with so many quick cars and drivers all the way down the order. The big V8s always grab the attention, but with a field ranging from a diminutive Mini to a might Ford Galaxie, there will be plenty for spectators, and the drivers, to enjoy during their two races.   Six Cobras will be a feature, Graham Moss in his Daytona Coupe will be quick but is up against drivers such as David Methley and Jack Willmott to name just two. Neil Fisher and Larry Tucker have entered Mustangs, but the TVR Griffith challenge is strong with 2023 winner Mike Whitaker joined by Jamie Boot, Matt Holben and Christian Douglas.   Nine Elans are entered, many straight from the 26R race earlier in the day and should be a force, while Rick Willmott will feature in his beautiful Jaguar E-Type low drag coupe. Add in some quick Healeys, a Chevrolet Corvette, MGBs and many more, and both Libre races will be unmissable.   Equipe MG Cup The Equipe MG Cup runners have entertained at every meeting so far this season and have a 20-minute race each day at Silverstone for a strong field. Mark Wright won the opening rounds in style at Brands Hatch in March and returns in his slick-shod Class D MGF but will have plenty of opposition both in class and from across the field.   Keith Egar has been rapid in his Class D Midget, and is joined on slicks by Ian Boulton, who took second overall at Brands Hatch in Class B so should be quick this weekend. At the last two meetings it has been the Invitation class that has provided the winners, and a name that jumps out from that class is Dan Ludlow in his MG ZR190, a class and outright race winner in 2023, who is doing Sunday’s race.     Jack Chapman took a Class B win and second overall at Oulton Park last time out so should be a factor in that class and overall, while last year the race was won outright by a Rover 220 Tomcat Turbo, so watch out for the car of Andrew Burns. There is always plenty of action right down the field with so many of competitive drivers and cars in the field.   Equipe Pre’63 and 50s The Pre’63 and 50s grid always features some great cars, and over their two races there should be plenty for the crowd to to admire. The Jaguar E-Type is well represented, with series regulars such as Roberto Giordanelli joined for Saturday’s race by marque specialist Gary Pearson, while Andrew Mooore and Howard Spooner are out both days in their E-Types.   Some very quick Austin Healeys take on the E-Type in the Pre’63 category, with cars from Richard Hywell-Evans, Simon Parry-Williams and Jo Willmott just some of the potential front-runners. Marc Gordon is bringing out his Jaguar XK150, while we have already seen this season a well driven Elva Courier can be a challenger, so watch for Paul Mortimer ins his Elva.   In the 50s element of the race Robi Bernberg will race his rapid Cooper Monaco in Saturday, while Paul Ugo takes over for Sunday’s 30-minute race. Similarly Andrew Wenman races his Morgan Plus 4 in the first race before handing over to David Wenman for Sunday. Thornton Mustard should be quick in his Lotus Elite, just one of a number of potential front-runners.   Equipe 70s with BCV8 A race that can’t fail to be great value for the spectator sees the Equipe BCV8 and 70s fields combine, with some superb – and very quick – cars on show. Over 30 cars are expected each day, and the rapid BCV8 cars face opposition from a marques ranging from Ford to Ferrari.   In the 70s John Dickson is another returnee in the Ferrari 308 he debuted at Zandvoort last season, while the superb Ford Capri RS2600 of Mick Matthews won at Oulton Park last year and will be one to watch in the race. Mike Whitaker brings out his TVR Griffith, a Silverstone winner last year, and with other challengers from Porsche, Morgan, Lotus and more, we should have two great races to enjoy   James Wheeler and Neil Fowler were BCV8 winners at this meeting last year, and both return having already taken wins in 2024. Russell McCarthy is always a force in the races while Jordan Spencer has been right there too – and it is pleasing to see 2023 champion Andrew Young return in his MGC GT.    As usual we have some superb series joining us for this event, the Monoposto races featuring a broad range of single-seaters including some very quick Formula Three cars at the front, while we are delighted to be joined again by the GT & Sports Car Cup field who have a two-hour race on Sunday afternoon.   We cannot wait …Warm regards …