DONINGTON PARK RACE REPORT

32 Cars made it to the grid for what was superb racing.

Race 1 Dan Ludlow and Mark Wright shared the front row for the first of the two MG Equip Cup 20-minute races, and it as the MGF Cup car of Wright that made the best start, Chaz Ryles coming through to be second at the end of lap one from Rhys Higginbotham and Dan Ludlow. Wright had the pace to open a gap at the front, and after four laps it was Higginbotham’s ZR190 that was the quickest car on the track, a series of fastest race laps seeing him start to close on the ZR of Ryles.

As the race progressed Ryles in turn started to reduce the gap to Wight out front, but just as we were setting up for an exciting final few laps a car off at Coppice meant the safety car was called out, and the race finished behind it, Wright winning from Ryles, Higginbotham and Ludlow. Wright won overall and took class D, Ryles the first Invitation class home, fifth overall for Alex Fletcher saw him win class C in his ZS, while a fine drive from series returnee Archie Styant saw him well inside the top ten and class B winner, Simon Harding taking class A in his ZR160.

“These cars are quick off the line,” said Wright. “Struggling a little for power today but the car is handling really well.”

“I really enjoyed that,” said Ryles. “I got a good start and was following the MGF, but he never gave me a chance.”

Race 2 In race two it was another good start from Wright, Higginbotham second from Ludlow and Ryles, the lead four in close formation by the end of lap two. There was a shuffle in the order on the next lap, Wright dropping to third behind Higginbotham and Ludlow, while a lap later he also lost out to Ryles.

Two cars off at the first corner brought out the safety car at the start of lap five, and when racing resumed two laps later Higginbotham again showed the pace of his ZR190, just staying clear to win from Ludlow, with Ryles and Wright next cars back. That meant class wins for Higginbotham and Ludlow, while Fletcher, Styant and Harding again claimed their respective categories.

“I really wanted to win that,” said Higginbotham. “I could see Dan was smoking a lot and we were both getting caught in the backmarkers, but it was close at the end.”