30-car grid for HGTCC at Donington Park
As many as 30 cars will line up for the Heritage Grand Touring Car Challenge during the British F3/GT meeting at Donington Park (Leicestershire) next weekend (May 20/21).The HGTCC is one of the leading race series in Britain for sports, saloon and GT cars from the 1960s and 1970s and a near capacity grid will contest a 20-minute race on Saturday followed by a 45-minute two-driver race on Sunday.It all started in fine style at Oulton Park on Easter Monday with a race that turned into a tremendous battle between the Ford Mustang of David Yates/Graham Scarborough and the Morgan +8 of Oli Bryant. Eventually, after the Morgan was forced to make a second pit stop to attend to a flapping door, the Mustang won, but it had been a fine contest.Bryant will now bid to turn the tables at Donington as he doubles up by racing the classic 1970's Plus 8 alongside the latest Aero 8 in British GT.However, this is far from a two-horse race and the thundering Chevrolet Camaros and Aston Martin V8s will be chasing hard. Heading the Camaros will be the newly prepared car of Arthur Thurtle/Roger Bennington and the similar car of Pete Hall/Andy Rouse. Engine issues kept the Hall/Rouse car away from Oulton, but it should be ready for Donington.Add in more Mustangs, the rapid Astons of Bob Searles/Tony Jardine and Chris Scragg and the nimble MGB GTV8 of Roy and Russell McCarthy and the stage is set for a mighty contest at the head of the field.However, this is also a multi-class series and the battles in the other classes should not be overlooked. In class B, the stunning Lotus Elan 26R of Pat Thomas/Mike Youles will again do battle with the Jaguar E Type of Peter Lloyd, while series newcomers Tim Rhodes and Shaun Rainford will campaign their Austin Healey Sprite in class C. In Class D, Mini legend John Rhodes (father of Tim) and Nathalie Boyd will pit their Mini Cooper against the similar car of Conor O'Brien and Colin Blower and the Ford Anglia of Gordon Streeter.The organisers of the HGTCC are keen to get the fans close to the action, so they are encouraging spectators to visit the paddock and see the cars and drivers up close. Fans of the series can also enter a special prize draw to win race day prizes. Simply text 'win' and 'first name last name' to 07792 132916. Standard operator text charges apply, this is NOT a premium rate or subscription service. At Oulton Park the winner received a limited edition Heritage GT jacket. Prize draw rules are available upon request.