MG sports and saloon cars to resume Cockshoot Cup battle

Another exciting season is on the horizon for the Cockshoot Cup, a racing championship run by the MGCC North West Centre catering for MG sports and saloon cars.

The 2018 championship will be decided over nine races, taking place on the Silverstone National and Silverstone GP circuits, plus Donington Park, Anglesey and Oulton Park.

The defending champion is Brian Butler in his Class F MGF, who was the first driver to take overall title honours in an F. His main class rival is likely to be ‘under 25’ driver Christopher Greenbank, who improved very quickly during his first full season of racing in 2017. Fast lady Margaret Farquhar will also be entering Class F.

The Class C cars will be the quickest on track, using slick racing tyres when the track is dry. Ray Collier and Mike Ashcroft will be out in their ZR 190s to battle against the mighty V6-powered MG ZSs driven by Ashley Woodward, Simon Lowery, Stephen Norton and new driver Ian Cochrane.

In addition, David Coulthard will compete in the rare MGF Cup Car, while Phil Standish continues to drive his MG TF LE500. Flying the flag for the older MG sports cars will be Peter Bramble in his MGB and former Class B runner Keith Egar in a K-Series Midget.

Class B cars must use treaded tyres, and it is here that the battle between the Midgets and ZR 170s will be fought out. Class winner in 2017, Mike Peters, returns with his 1500 cc Midget to compete with Ian Whitt in a 1380cc version, and John Payne. The ZR 170s drivers will include Ian Winstanley, Mark Bellamy, James Johnson, Helen Waddington, Maddy Maguire and new driver Colin Stubbs. Helen and Maddy will be going head-to-head through the season to win the best lady award. Finally, wet weather specialist Karl Green will be driving a four-cylinder ZS.

Class A for standard MG sports cars starts the season with only two drivers – Ian Wright and Phil Yates, though additional runners are expected later in the year.

For more details on the championship and dates, see www.mgcc.co.uk/cockshoot-cup