As part of its innovative calendar of events for 2006, the Castle Combe Racing Club is holding the first ever MG Raceday at the circuit on Saturday September 16.
Although the marque is currently in limbo, its racing heritage and affection with the general public is such that championships for almost any age and kind of MG are some of the most popular around.
Five specific MG championships will be in action on the day, with a couple more non-specific ones with MGs sprinkled throughout the classes.
The MG Trophy championship caters for the most modern MG models in two classes. Purpose built MG ZR race cars running on slick tyres and putting out 190bhp will be running alongside the former MGF Cup race cars. Tetbury’s Nick Barfoot has his MG ZR 190 run by Scala Motorsport and enjoyed a tremendous battle to 6th place at the last round at Mallory.
The MG Car Club’s BCV8 championship race has some of the most spectacular entries, with classes catering for almost standard MGBs up to fully race prepared 4.2 litre V8s. Adrian Beer was the man to beat at Brands Hatch last time in his 3.5 litre GT.
The Actman Eyewear MG Midget Challenge should be very closely fought, with plenty of place swopping expected. Joining Class B for race modified cars are Cirencester’s Charles Marriott in his Frogeye, and in Midgets, Adrian Moore from Weston Super Mare and Martin Hillard from Ditcheat.
The Drayton Manor Park MG Metro Challenge also has a few local competitors with Lyneham’s Barry Lake and Stroud’s Tony Dowler in modified cars and Swindon’s Daniel Ludlow in the invitation class with his more modern 1.8 litre example.
The Total Butler championship for all kinds of road going and modified MGs and Austin Healeys, should witness some classic battles between the Midgets and the MGBs. This is the final round of the championship and at Mallory last month it was Simon Hutchinson’s modified Midget which led everyone home in both races.
Frome’s Andy Vowell is no stranger to success at Castle Combe with his Triumph Spitfire Mk3, having won his class there in previous Triumph Sports Six Club races. This time he’s also competing in the Henry Recruitment Thoroughbred Sports Car Championship race. Other locals in the TSSC race, which also incorporates the TR Register championship, are Bristol’s Steve Small in a TR7 Sprint and Chippenham’s Ian Agnew in a TR7 V8.
Title battles for two of the circuit’s championships are coming to a head with just two races remaining to decide the honours.
In the savesometax.co.uk Castle Combe Special GT Championship, Castle Combe’s Keith Sprules and his Ferrari 355 has a single point lead over reigning champion, Louis Davidson in the Radical Prosport.
Davidson’s task is a challenging one as he has considerable class opposition, the most ferocious of which is that of Bristol drivers Tony Michael and Thomas Richardson who are both adept at putting their shared Nemesis RME02 on a par with the Radical. At the last round, Richardson took a brilliant outright victory. This time, Michael is back in the car and Richardson reverts to their Westfield SE.
Bath’s Guy Woodward meanwhile is well in control of Class A with the Jade team and is hoping to get his hands on one of the latest Trackstars for this round.
In the National Mobile Windscreens Saloon Car Championship the title battle is focused on Calne’s Tony Hutchings in his Class C MG ZR. He’s two points behind championship leader, Nigel Marsh from Bournemouth after beating him to class honours at the last round and with his new gearbox, could well make up the deficit over the final pair of races.
Bristol’s Mark Wyatt is neck and neck with Gary Prebble at the top of the Class B points, the Astra needing to improve its starts if Prebble’s Rover Turbo is to be beaten.
The Class A title is between Nailsworth’s Keith Murray in the 4WD Audi A4 and Weston Super Mare’s Steve Turvey in the fast starting Subaru Impreza. Mitsubishi Evo pilot Mark Harrison from Kington Bagpuize is improving every race, whilst Atworth’s Rob Ballard clearly has the fastest machine in the field with his RS version.
Matt Rivett tied up the Melton Concrete Products Formula Ford 1600 championship last time after Bradford On Avon’s Ed Moore was eliminated in a classic Quarry incident involving Steven Jensen from Saltford and Newbury’s Pat Blakeney.
Bath’s Bob Higgins was one of the beneficiaries, taking a superb second place with Bratton’s Ben Norton third in his Swift.
Bath’s Chris Acton clinched the Pre ’90 class at the last round but Trowbridge’s Stephen Gibbins and Jim Hamilton from Kington St Michael should chase him hard this time.
Saturday’s action starts at 8.40 am with qualifying, racing getting under way from 13.00.
Admission prices are £12 for adults, £6-00 for OAPs, £2-50 for paddock transfer, whilst accompanied children under 15 are admitted free.
For further information, visit the Castle Combe Circuit website on www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk
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