MG Cup championship leader Ian Boulton was absent from Cadwell Park which gifted a great opportunity those trailing him in the Class B standings. Iain Dowler and Dan Ludlow did not disappoint and they engaged in very intense battles for victory in both races. Just like last year at Cadwell, the modified Class B cars out-paced the race-version Class C machines.

MG ZR-mounted duo Dowler and Ludlow shot off from the front row to lead the way in the first race with Dowler ahead. Dave Nixon meanwhile made a lightening start from the third row in his Rover Tomcat to run third. This aided Dowler and Ludlow as a queue formed behind Nixon for the duration, his pursuers unable to overcome the Tomcat’s straightline speed.

Dowler and Ludlow meanwhile were glued together out front and at half distance Ludlow made his move. Dowler had a little too much understeer through Barn heading onto the start-finish straight and Ludlow was able to dummy him then bravely passed on the outside of the fast uphill Turn One, Coppice.

They remained tied together for the remaining laps with Ludlow staying ahead to win the race 0.5 seconds and collect the Driver of the Race award. Nixon, third home, got the Class C win not far ahead of second-in-the-overall-table Ashley Woodward’s MG ZS 180, who was seeking to take advantage of leader Boulton’s absence.

“First time for a couple of years [that I’ve won],” Ludlow said. “I wasn’t sure as always how we’d get on here but the two test sessions in the morning definitely paid dividends. It was very very close but fair racing, really enjoyed it. Iain’s very quick, there’s nothing between us.”

“I took him on the right-hand side going up the hill. I just slightly had the edge on him going down the straight and I was just hoping that I had a car length to make the manoeuvre and I did so it worked out OK. After that I just managed to keep him behind me although there was a few times when he almost got me back.”

“It’s a new car for me this year and I’m still learning the car. I’m gradually getting better as the season goes on.”

The second race was almost an exact role reversal between Ludlow and Dowler out front. This time Ludlow led from pole with Dowler on his boot lid until just before half distance when Ludlow was balked by a Morgan (from the Morgan Challenge which was sharing the track with the MG Cup) and Dowler had the momentum to get alongside then make another brave pass. 

Once again they remained in close contention for the remainder of the race and survived a scare when they hit oil at Barn – Dowler estimated that his slide put him at a 90-degrees to the barrier! But survive he did and went on to win the race and receive the Driver of the Race award.

After his win Dowler said: “It was an absolutely fantastic race. We both had great starts and went side by side into the first corner, so it was a little bit hairy to start with.”

“Then it was a case of just keep the pressure on him. Dan drove a great race. He just got balked and I got a run on him down the long back straight into Park, its a 90-degree right and I put it up the inside and just stood on brakes until we nearly stopped but we managed to get round. And then it was a case of making sure I did everything right.”

Simon Lowery took the Class C win in race 2
Nixon for much of the way looked good to double up on his Class C win as he again ran third overall, this time with Simon Lowery’s MG ZS 180 close behind. But Nixon pitted late on when a lot of smoke emitted from his exhaust. So Lowery got the class win with Woodward in P2 again.

News – for 2024 new class structure to the MG Cup.

Building on the success of the championship of the past 35 years, we are adding an additional class which will allow more cars into the MG Cup.

By working with our sponsors Cherished Vehicle Insurance Services and Toyo Tires we aim to welcome cars that are outside of current regulations into class D.

A Road – Standard MG Rover BLMC – Running Toyo R888R

B Modified – Modified MG Rover BLMC – Running Toyo R888R

C Race – Race MG Rover BLMC– Running Toyo R888R

D Slicks – Race MG Rover BLMC – Running Slicks

I Invitation – Invitation Class

Peter Burchill, Chairperson said “we want to make it easy for cars to race with us and fair on current competitors, the championship will once again allow slick shod cars to run in class D.  It also caters for MG Rover BLMC cars that have swapped engines and are outside current regulations.  Several of our drivers have asked for this and we see it as way of guaranteeing our future” www.mgcup.com  See current regulations for more detail of current classes.    

We expect to see MGZR190, MGZS180, MGF/TF190, MG3, MGB, MGC, MG Midget, Rover 216GTI, Metro GTI, Rover Tomcats and welcome some of our Triumph friends to join us….  We will be announcing our provisional calendar shortly.

If you would like to discuss your car and eligibility please get in touch.

Its not to late to enter…

Exciting news for the MG Cup in 2024 coming soon…….

We cant wait…… If you want to join us please DM

One of the most rewarding circuits in the UK. Lincolnshire countryside and is known as the “mini Nurburgring”, due to its unique challenges among British circuits. The track was almost doubled to 1.3 miles in 1953, when the first car race was held here (500c motorbike-engined Formula 3 class). Cadwell remained on the Formula 3 calendar until 1984. These days the only car races held here are club meetings, but the track’s tight and swooping nature provides excellent racing. If you’re a track day enthusiast, Cadwell Park should be towards the top of your list. 

The MG Car Club’s mid-summer Silverstone Historic Grand Prix circuit showpiece is always a meeting to savour, with its variety of infield attractions supplementing the full range of racing classes battling on track. Yet this year’s event was particularly special as it also marked MG’s and Triumph’s 100^th anniversaries.

MGCC MG Cup

MG Cup’s Silverstone double header had a new look. Matt Simpson was back in the category in his Rover Tomcat after a year away and won both races. And in both he was chased gamely in second by Chris Boulton who, at last, had his new Class C MG ZR 190 running competitively. Boulton previously was a long-time competitor in a 170.

Simpson led all the way in race one, beating Bolton home by just under seven seconds and also received the Driver of the Race award.

Dan Ludlow was just behind Boulton in third and won Class B in his ZR 170 beating reigning class champion, and Chris’s cousin, Ian Boulton.

Race two’s story was similar. Simpson again dominated from pole and Chris Boulton was second but this time the gap was some 16 seconds. Jack Chapman in his MG ZR 170 was a close third and won Class B ahead of Ludlow and Ian Boulton. Craig Bayston meanwhile got Driver of the Race having climbed to finish P6 in his MG ZS.

Simpson said: “The car’s got really good pace and I knew if I got out in front and started picking off some of the Cockshoot cars [which it shared the grid with the MG Cup] that would slow Chris Boulton down so it was a real big push at the beginning.”

“I’ve come here without having done too much to the car in the past two years, aside from race it here last year. No new tyres or anything. I’ve done it on a small budget this year, old tyres, just spanner checked it and hoped for the best.”

Simpson’s dominant double was not without its problems though. “I’ve been dealing with a fuel pressure issue around slow corners so getting out front was important so that I could manage it,” he explained. “And then towards the end of the race, no tyres, oil pressure on the floor, I could smell burning oil. I couldn’t wait for that chequered flag!

“It’s [Silverstone] close to home and is a perfect circuit for the Tomcat. It’s just a shame to have the car sitting in the back of the workshop. So I give it a birthday every year and bring it out.”

Boulton meanwhile explained of the conspicuous improvement of his 190: “The car’s just not been feeling right and a bit underpowered, and it turned out that it had the wrong throttle bodies on it. So we got that sorted and this is the first time it’s been out. We didn’t get much testing on it, but out of the box it’s flying. You can always improve your driving but if the car’s good to start with we’ve got half a chance of getting somewhere.”

Luckiest man of the race must have been Paul Rigg, after the flywheel on a ZS became detached and a rather large chunk of it pierced the MGF’s windscreen, hit Paul on the shoulder and embedded itself in the rear bulkhead. We wish Paul and the car a speedy recovery. Equally lucky was Alan Forster whose Montego Estate was also struck by a piece of the flywheel. The impact, right in front of the driver, thankfully did not pierce the windscreen.

Matt Simpson was back out in the MG Cup after a year’s absence for MG 100 taking both wins.

Motorsport, club displays, live music and more…. On the historic F1 Circuit….

There will be something for everyone at MG & Triumph 100. Our racing will take place on the full Silverstone GP Circuit and feature both MG and Triumph marques in competition plus special guests.

Drivers are ready and its going to hot… Come and meet the drivers and see the cars and discuss plans for next year..

Livestreaming of qualifying and both races if you cant make it….