Race Reports 2025

Donington Park 7th June

Qualifying

The Cockshoot Cup drivers arrived at Donington Park on June 7th to keep alive the spirit of MGs racing at the circuit which goes back to the 1930s. The races were to be on the full grand prix circuit which had never been used by the championship. Sixteen drivers entered the circuit at 10.00am. The weather forecast was poor, but the track had tried making for fast running. The session was just settling down when Tom Stanfield driving an MG ZR170 inverted his car in a gravel trap. Tom wasn’t hurt, but he would be unable to race later in the day. The red flag was shown and the restart meant a five minute dash for grid positions. It looked as if Chris Greenbank in his MGF would take pole position, but Keith Egar grabbed it away on his final lap. These two would make up the front row with Dave Morrison’s MG Midget and Eliza Seville aboard her MGF making up the second row. The two big ZS saloons of Karl Green and Paul Wignall occupied row three. In Class A, Mark Bellamy was quicker than Leon Wignall with Jimmy Johnson third. Phil Rigby was the only Class F runner and in Class B, Martin Richardson was ahead of Harry Wilkin both driving MGBs.

Race One

A brief shower over the lunch break dampened the track and caused much head scratching about tyre choice for the Class C drivers. Paul Wignall opted for slicks on the MG ZR which proved to be the correct choice. He swept through the field from eighth on the grid to take the first win for his newly built car which harks back to the Touring Car era. Keith Egar was ahead in the race in the early stages, but had to settle for second in the race and Class C. Karl Green’s ZS also moved through the field to take the final podium spot. Class C was completed by Dave Morrison, Peter Bramble’s MGB, and Chris Greenbank and Eliza Seville in their MGFs. Leon Wignall was the Class A leader for much of the race, but a mechanical problem slowed him down and then resulted in retirement. Mark Bellamy won the class with Jimmy Johnson second and Andrew Walsh third all driving ZR170s. Phil Rigby finished safely to win Class F and Martin Richardson beat Harry Wilkin in Class B. Driver of the race award was given to Jimmy Johnson.

Race Two

After more rain showers the track was dry by 18.00 for the second race. Tony Ryalls and Harry Wilkin were non-starters so thirteen cars assembled on the grid. When the red lights went out it was the two Midgets of Keith and Dave which burst into the lead from Paul Wignall, but the driver making progress was Chris Greenbank, the MGF now running on full dry settings. Setting a new lap record he overtook car after car and swept into a lead resulting in the race win. Paul Wignall set off after Chris, but a big lock up cost him time and resulted in second place. Keith Egar held off Karl Green to take third spot from a race long dice between Eliza Seville, Dave Morrison and Peter Bramble who finished in that order in Class C. Leon Wignall had a trouble free race two to win Class A from Mark Bellamy and Jimmy Johnson. Phil Rigby and Martin Richardson won their classes F and B again. Driver of the race was awarded to Eliza for some audacious overtaking manoeuvres.

After four rounds Keith Egar leads the championship with 39 points one ahead of Mark Bellamy.

Oulton Park 19th April

Qualifying

Fifteen drivers arrived at Oulton Park to race in the new version of the Cockshoot Cup run by the BRSCC for MG Car Club members. The recent sunny weather had been replaced by drizzle so qualifying took place on a damp surface. Paul Wignall driving his new build MGZS held pole position for most of the session but was overtaken by Keith Egar’s MG Midget near the end of the fifteen minutes. Karl Green was back driving his MGZS rather than an MGF and was third quickest ahead of an amazing performance by Jimmy Johnson who was next up in his Class A ZR170. Fifth quickest was a cautious David Morrison in his MG Midget with Chris Greenbank sixth. Just after setting that time Chris suffered a suspension breakage and sadly would take no further part in the meeting. Mark Bellamy and Leon Wignall were second and third qualifiers in Class. Sole Class F runner Phil Rigby was eleventh and Class B was headed by the MGB of Martin Richardson.

Race One

There was still a threat of drizzle as the fourteen cars lined up for the first race. Keith Egar romped away from the lights and stayed out front for the whole fifteen minute race. Dave Morrison’s similar car gave chase but having gone for softer settings couldn’t catch Keith. Paul Wignall occupied third spot, but Karl Green was closing and as Paul’s tyres started losing grip the gap got smaller and smaller. Paul hung on to cross the line two tenths of a second ahead. Eliza Seville in her MGF finished tenth on the road and fifth in Class C. In Class A, Leon Wignall improved from his grid position to take the Class win from Mark Bellamy and James Johnson. Fourth in Class was Andrew Walsh with Helen Waddington driving well to stay ahead of Thomas Stanfield the two finishing fifth and sixth in the Class. Phil Rigby drove well to take Class F honours with Martin Richardson winning the battle of the Class B MGBs ahead of Harry Wilkin.

Race Two

Conditions were much better after lunch for race two. All fourteen drivers lined up for the start. This time the race was much closer with Keith Egar and Dave Morrison both dipping beneath the magic two minute lap time. Keith stayed ahead to win by twelve seconds from Dave. Paul Wignall set off in third place but Karl Green began chasing him down again. The pursuit paid off and Karl moved into third only to be given a five second time penalty for “track limits”. Karl managed to stretch his lead over Paul to take third place in the race and in Class C. Paul was fourth in Class followed home again by Eliza Seville’s MGF. In Class A it was another win for Leon Wignall with Mark Bellamy second again. Andrew Walsh had a better race two and finished third in Class. Jimmy Johnson, Helen Waddington and Thomas Stanfield battled through the whole race finishing in that order taking fourth, fifth and sixth in Class. Phil Rigby managed to pull ahead of the dicing ZRs and won Class F. Martin Richardson again won Class B from Harry Wilkin.

The Vicky Peters Trophies for the best aggregate performance in each class were awarded to Keith Egar, Leon Wignall, Phil Rigby and Martin Richardson.