Photo Credit Dickon Siddal Race Report Paul Goodman

Twenty-five drivers signed on at Silverstone for the first two rounds of the MG Cup supported by Peter Best Insurance. Qualifying started under a cloudless sky with perfect track conditions. The quickest time would determine the grid positions for the first race with the second quickest used for the race two grid. Sadly, out of the meeting immediately was Mike Williams, his very quick MG Metro side-lined after a single lap. When the flag fell, it was Fred Burgess who was quickest and second quickest so securing pole position for both races driving his ZR170. Completing the front row for race one was Dan Jones in his similar Class B ZR170 with Stuart Tranter and Peter Burchill driving Rover 220 and ZS respectively filling row two and heading the invitation class and class C. Carl Robinson headed Dale Reet in class A both driving ZR160s.

For Race two, Tranter was on the front row ahead of Jones. Race favourites Matthew Simpson and Richard Buckley both had troubled qualifying sessions in their Rover 220s occupying ninth and twenty-second places on the grid for both races.

When the red lights went out for race one, Fred Burgess stormed away into an early lead pursued by Peter Burchill in the ZS and Stuart Tranter in the yellow Rover 220. These three pulled away slightly from the dicing trio of Dan Jones, Tyler Ballard and Ian Boulton in their identical ZR170s. An early retirement was class A polesitter Carl Robinson, followed by Matthew Simpson’s Rover 220. Meanwhile, Richard Buckley was slicing through the field from his lowly grid position, finally passing Tranter to take the lead and win the race and class C. Tranter hung on for second from the hard charging Pete Burchill who finished third and second in class C. Fred Burgess stayed with the front runners, but was penalised five seconds for track limits infringements which dropped him to seventh. The class B battle of the ZR170s was clinched by Dan Jones from Tylor Ballard and Ian Boulton. Chris Twigger was eighth in his Rover 220 securing third in class C. John Gil triumphed in class A in his ZR160 with Dale Reets’s similar car and Michael Simpson in the MG3 completing the podium. The first race ever for the standard MG3 being a great success.

The second race of the day ended the MGCC race meeting. Some earlier delays would mean a race into twilight for the MG Cup sponsored by Peter Best drivers. This time, Matthew Simpson had his Rover 220 running properly with Richard Buckley once again scything through the field. These two drivers held the crowd spellbound with some incredibly close driving particularly around Becketts and Maggots. Matthew held on for many laps, but a superb manoeuvre by Richard took him into the lead and a second race win being named driver of the race and driver of the day for his performance. Stuart Tranter made it an all Rover podium with third place. Behind these three there was a battle of the drivers beginning with “B” – Burgess, Burchill, Boulton and Ballard who eventually finished in that order. Fred Burgess secured the class B win this time by staying on the black parts of the track with Ian Boulton and Tylor Ballard taking second and third in class B. John Gill, Dale Reet and Michael Simpson produced an identical class A result.

So have you got what it takes to race in the MG Cup our next race is at Brands Hatch on the 27th and 28th April and enteries are open now.

Thanks to Ian Boulton organising at local venue all MG Cup entered drivers BBQ tickets have been supported by our sponsor Peter Best Insurance. Racing is not just time in the seat but a social event. Enteries are open for rounds 3 and 4 and we look foreward to filling the grid once again and putting on a good show… #mgcup #fillthegrid

Congratulations to our winners from rounds 1 and 2 of the MG Cup. Special mentions for Dan Jones Driver of the race round 1 and Richard Buckley driver of the race round 2. Richard also took both wins and was awarded driver of the meeting! #turbopower

Great close racing from the fastest growing grid in the Mg Car Club have you got what it takes? Get your entry in for Brands hatch on 27/28th April #fillthegrid2019

There is still time to get registrations in for the fastest growing MG / Rover race series in the UK. The championship is decided over 10 rounds of which 9 rounds count.

2019 MG Cup Race Dates – all double headers

• Saturday 30^th March Silverstone National
• Saturday 27^th– Sunday 28^th April Brands Hatch Indy
• Saturday 20^th – Sunday 21^st July Donington Park
• Saturday 31^st August Oulton Park
• Saturday 5^th October Snetterton 300

Tylor Ballard will be joining us for MG Cup rounds 1 & 2 after registering with the championship, great to have more 170 spec cars in class B.

The MG Car Club, MG Motor UK and SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre are jointly developing a new low cost race car based around the MG3.

SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre Interns have been building the concept car as their Internship Project and will be unveiling the car in the early part of 2019.

The concept behind the car is aimed at providing a low cost entry route into saloon racing with the budget for the project to convert a road going MG3 into a racer set at just £5,000.

Thansks to our drivers that attended the event supporting the MGCC photos can be found on DS Digital website see link below

The MG Cup would like to welcome Fred Burgess for the 2019 season, class B is fiiling up nicely with a week to go there is still time to join the MG Cup for 2019