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RACE REPORTS DONINGTON PARK
| 30 cars lined up for the opening race – the biggest Equipe MG Cup field of the year. The track still damp making the cars with the option of slicks think long and hard about their tyre choice. Rhys Higginbotham had his ZR190 on pole and led the field away, some of the slick shod runners scrabbling for grip. By the start of lap five, Higginbotham had put in a storming lap and moved clear of the field, Mark Wright’s MGF Cup next up ahead of Dan Ludlow and the Rover 220 of Stuart Tranter. Higginbotham held the advantage, Ludlow’s ZR190 closing on Wright in the latter laps and going past round the outside at Redgate heading into lap 11 to claim second. Higginbotham won overall and claimed class D, Ludlow second and heading the Invitation class. An entertaining class B battle had filled the lower part of the top ten, Andy Firth’s ZR170 taking class honours and sixth overall, Peter Burchill wining class C “It was very slippery out there,” said Higginbotham. “We weren’t sure what tyres to go for and chose semi-slicks which really paid off, the car was locking up a lot but a good race.”and the Rover 216 GTi of Freddie Ugo first class A car home. |
| The afternoon’s race was on a dry track and Ludlow took the lead off the line, holding off Wright who failed to complete the first lap, series returnee Eliza Seville gaining ten places on lap one and another five on lap two to come round 14th in her MGF. Ludlow eased away at the font, Tranter second but Chaz Ryles had his ZR190 going quickly and was past Tranter on lap seven, Seville by this time part of a six-car battle for fourth. Ludlow took the win and the Invitation class. Tranter in turn second and clear of the rest, Ryles third over the line but carrying a five-second penalty that dropped him to fifth, Seville rewarded with third after a great drive from the back. Seville was first class D car home, with Firth again heading class B in fourth overall. Burchill made it a class C double in his ZS180, while Ugo was another to claim two wins on the day in class A. “I was enjoying being in P1 for once and I just got my head down and enjoyed it,” said Ludlow. “The car held together, we have had so many issues lately, so good to take the win. I last won in this car a couple of years ago at Cadwell Park.” |
REGISTERED DRIVER CLASS I MGZS180
Greg joins to the Cup in his stunning MGZS180, making his racing debut this season. Oulton Park is the next round on 2 August.
Our grid’s diversity ensures competitive racing under fair regulations and clean racing.
- Class A: Road-going cars with minimal modifications on Toyo R888R
- Class B: Modified class on Toyo R888R
- Class C: Race class on Toyo R888R
- Class D: Race class on Slicks
- Invitation: Cars outside our regulations but aligned with Equipe MG Cup’s spirit
To find out more email joinus@mgcup.com
MGF / MGTF 30 CELEBRATION
Giving a little back, come and join us for free, open to all owners of MGF’s and MGTF’s.
CLASS WINNERS FROM DONINGTON
Donington Results for the Equipe MG Cup, 30 Cars qualified after Simon Lowery withdrew for the meeting on Friday.
Race 1 Sunday
Class A
1st in class Freddie Ugo ROVER 216GTi
2nd in class Peter Davies MGFVVC
3rd in class Christakis Chistou MGZR160
Class B
1st in class Andy Firth MGZR170
2nd in class Leon Wignall MGZR170
3rd in class Cal Moore MGZR170
Class C
1st in class Peter Burchill MGZS180
2nd in class Robert Holly MGZS180
Class D
1st in class Rhys Higginbotham Class D MGZR190
2nd in class Mark Wright Class D MGF CUP
Class I (Invitation)
1st in class Dan Ludlow MGZR190
2nd in class Stewart Tranter TOMCAT TURBO
3rd in class Chaz Ryles MGZR190
Race 2 Sunday
Class A
1st in class Freddie Ugo ROVER 216GTi
2nd in class Peter Davies MGFVVC
3rd in class Christakis Chistou MGZR160
Class B
1st in class Andy Firth MGZR170
2nd in class Archie Styant MGZR170
3rd in class Leon Wignall MGZR170
Class C
1st in class Peter Burchill MGZS180
2nd in class Robert Holly MGZS180
Class D
1st in class Elize Seville Class D MGF190
Class I (Invitation)
1st in class Dan Ludlow MGZR190
2nd in class Stewart Tranter TOMCAT TURBO
3rd in class Chaz Ryles MGZR190
We look forward to Oulton Park on the 2 August not long now…Entries are open.
31 CARS ON THE GRID FOR DONINGTON THIS WEEKEND
What a grid with cars in all classes, 31 cars are set for a superb double header of the weekend.
Our grid’s diversity ensures competitive racing under fair regulations and clean racing sets us apart.
- Class A: Road-going cars with minimal modifications on Toyo R888R
- Class B: Modified class on Toyo R888R
- Class C: Race class on Toyo R888R
- Class D: Race class on Slicks
- Invitation: Cars outside our regulations but aligned with Equipe MG Cup’s spirit
To find out more email joinus@mgcup.com
REGISTERED DRIVER CLASS I MGZR190
Chaz joins to the Cup in his stunning MGZR190, making his debut at Donington which is our biggest grid this year with 31 cars.
Our grid’s diversity ensures competitive racing under fair regulations and clean racing.
- Class A: Road-going cars with minimal modifications on Toyo R888R
- Class B: Modified class on Toyo R888R
- Class C: Race class on Toyo R888R
- Class D: Race class on Slicks
- Invitation: Cars outside our regulations but aligned with Equipe MG Cup’s spirit
To find out more email joinus@mgcup.com
REGISTERED DRIVER MGZR170
John joins the Cup in his stunning MGZR170, making his debut at Donington which aims to be our biggest grid of the year with 30 cars on the grid.
Our grid’s diversity ensures competitive racing under fair regulations.
- Class A: Road-going cars with minimal modifications on Toyo R888R
- Class B: Modified class on Toyo R888R
- Class C: Race class on Toyo R888R
- Class D: Race class on Slicks
- Invitation: Cars outside our regulations but aligned with Equipe MG Cup’s spirit
To find out more email joinus@mgcup.com
DONINGTON WITH 30 CAR GRID
A superb line up for Sunday’s two Equipe MG Cup races promises some great racing and a big grid of the evenly matched cars. Class D sees two returning faces, Mark Wright a race winner before in his MGF Cup car, while Eliza Seville battled for the race lead at Donington Park last year in her MGF and makes her 2025 debut.
Stuart Emmett flew away from the field in the first race at Silverstone last time out, but this time lines up in a Class B ZR170, while Archie Styant and James Moreton have both taken class wins this year and should be right with him. In Class C Ashley Woodward, Simon Lowery and George Streather have all taken two wins from the six races, so it should be a tight battle on Sunday.
In Class A there is a variety of cars, Freddie Ugo in a 216 GTi, Petr Davies in an MGF, and ZRs in the hands of newcomer Chris Christou and series regular Andy Butcher. The Invitation class continues that theme – a pair of rapid MG Metros joined by a Rover 220 Turbo Tomcat and an MGB GT.
DONINGTON ENTRIES 26 WITH 12 DAYS TO GO
12 Days to go and the grid is building nicely…
DONINGTON GRID IS BUILDING
Will the MGF190 have the legs to take the win
MG Cup 