Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Championship

Awards Dinner 2012

 
Hewitt Trophy ( Overall Champion ) – Jim Baynam  
 

Novice Trophy –
John O’Brien  – Overall and Class Z
Nick Webster  – Class A

 
 
Gerry Thorn Trophy – John Kimber  
 
MGOC Workshop Trophy –  John O’Brien  
 
Best Lady Driver – Sam Dyson  
 
Most Improved Driver  –  Mark Baker  
 
Spirit of the Championship –  Team Golhar  
 
Midget Trophy – Ashley Barnes  
 
Terry Farman Memorial Trophy Class A – Jim Baynam  
 
Terry Farman Memorial Trophy Class Z – Dean Sullivan  
 
DNF Trophy  -  Gary Puxty  
 
 
 
   
   
   

 

 

Jim Baynam Hits 100


Click here to read about Jim's amazing achievement.

MGOC Championship on Channel 5

Classic Car Rescue

The MG programme will go out on Monday 8th October @ 20:00 on Channel 5, it is episode 3  of the 6 part show.

The Jaguar e-type will go out on Monday 24th Sept@20:00 and the Porsche 911 on Mon 1st Oct@20:00.

 

 

 

MGB Around the Sea!!

The Journey


Will Punchard who works for MGOC Spares will be leaving Cambridge, UK on the 20th July 2012

He will be visiting the following countries:
UK, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland!

Thats a total of 13 countries in 3 weeks!

Racking up a total of around 5,300 miles in the process!

click here to read more, about this amazing journey.

 

 

BACK TO FRONT FOR MG KX MOMENTUM RACING



24th June 2012 - The MG KX Momentum Racing team secured their second race victory of the 2012 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season at the Croft circuit in North Yorkshire. Jason Plato recovered from a first race technical issue, to win the third race of the day - the 70th victory of the Englishman’s BTCC career.
For the second race meeting running, Jason failed to make it to his grid slot for the start of Race One, as the technical issues that blighted his qualifying session yesterday returned. The MG KX Momentum Racing Crew worked away at the problem and got Jason back out on track to record some running and check the issue was resolved. Andy Neate had a strong opening lap and moved forwards from his 9th place start, bringing his MG6 home in 6th to equal his best finish of 2012 to-date.
Jason set out in Race Two to repeat his heroics from Oulton Park two weeks ago, where he came from the back of the grid to secure a podium finish. Despite a determined drive he couldn’t quite match that, however he did come through to seventh to score solid points and put himself in the mix for the reverse grid draw. Andy had a solid run to score his second successive points finish of the day, coming home in 9th position.
The Triple Eight run, MG squad’s luck seemed to turn for Race Three of the day. The reverse grid draw was kind to the team, placing Andy on the front-row in 2nd position, with Jason directly behind in 4th. Both MG’s made good getaways to battle the fast starting rear-wheel drive BMW’s into Turn One. Andy then fought his way past Foster for the lead, with a brave move into Lodge corner. Jason was soon behind him, as the two MG6’s ran first and second. Jason then moved into the lead as Andy lost some pace in his car after some contact with one of the Honda Racing cars when battling for position, he fell backwards to finish 9th. Jason held on to win brilliantly, completing his back to front day and keep the pressure on his championship rivals.
Jason Plato (#99), BTCC Standings: 3rd – 192 points: “A great end to what had been something of a tough weekend. Getting the win means the team can head into the summer break with optimism for the second half of the season. We made some changes to the set-up in that last race, which took the car in the right direction and with some testing and some development parts, we’ll be ready to fight when we get to Snetterton in August”
Andy Neate (#44), BTCC Standings: 17th – 46 points: “It’s good to come away from Croft with three top ten finishes. It’s disappointing to have led the majority of Race Three and not won it, especially as I think I had the pace to do so. The Safety Car bunched everyone up and I lost some temperature and pressure in my tyres, which means I couldn’t hang on, but it’s pleasing to have at least been fighting right at the front!”
Ian Harrison, Team Principal, BTCC Standings: Teams - 4th – 235 points, Manufacturers – 2nd - 360 points: “It’s been a difficult weekend, with the technical problems that carried across from yesterday to this morning on Jason’s car. But he had a brilliant drive in Race Three, which is what I expect from him, he’s the stand out driver in this series. Andy had a solid weekend and it should have been even better, having lead the majority of the race, it’s just unfortunate that it fell away at the end, but at least he’s proved he can fight outright for wins”

 

 

 

Start your Engines!!!!

This Saturday(5th) sees the Championship move to Brands Hatch for rounds 3 & 4. Good Luck to all that are racing the timetable looks something like this:

Qualifying


10.10 Lancaster Insurance - MGOC Championship


Round 3


14.50 Lancaster Insurance - MGOC Championship


Round 4

17.45 Lancaster Insurance - MGOC Championship

So why come and see what we are all about, and enjoy a day of full on racing.

 

 

ANOTHER EVENTFUL WEEKEND FOR MG

 

Following the third round of the 2012 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Thruxton, Gordon Shedden has dramatically closed the gap to two-time champion and current championship leader.

The Scotsman lead his NGTC-spec Honda Yuasa Racing Civic to two victories in the wet weather conditions at the high-speed Hampshire circuit to leave him just four points shy of the championship lead. The weekend got off to a great start for Shedden after topping the first two free practice sessions but a problem in qualifying with the boost pressure saw him start from 18th on the grid after holding provisional pole before he incurred the penalty.

However Shedden’s pace would shine through and he would make up twelve positions during the course of the race only to be thwarted by a late red-flag. The 33-year old would then go on to take the wins in the second and third races of the day to take his weekend total to 55 points, the most that any driver has taken from a race weekend so far this season.

Jason Plato, despite failing to take a race win at Thruxton, remains at the top of the championship standings following a solid weekend. Much like Shedden, the qualifying session didn’t quite go to plan as the two-time champion ended qualifying with his NGTC MG6 nestled in the trees following a big off at Church. The BTCC veteran was unharmed and his earlier pace meant that he would start the first race of the weekend from the front-row of the grid. Plato would go on from there to take a 3rd, 2nd and 4th in races one, two and three respectively and take 45 points and cap off a solid weekend from himself and the MG KX Momentum Racing team and ensured that he remained at the top of the standings.

Mat Jackson brought himself back into contention in the championship with a two podium place finishes which included a race win. Jackson, in the Redstone Racing Ford Focuses which are running to the S2000 specifications for the 2012 season, showed great early pace in the wet but admitted that he was ‘holding on’ during the latter stages of the race. Despite that he took victory in the first race of the day and backed that up with a third place finish in race two in the horrendous weather conditions. Jackson amassed the second highest points haul from the weekend with a total of 47 points which sees him climb to 4th in the championship ahead of Rob Collard.

Elsewhere, reigning champion, Matt Neal, could only manage 35 points from the weekend which included a podium finish in the final race of the day whereas Andrew Jordan, despite starting from pole position, only took 18 points and slips to 6th in the championship.

 

 

 

 

EVENTFUL WEEKEND FOR MG KX Momentum

Mat Jackson and Gordon Shedden shared the wins in today’s three highly-charged Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship races at Leicestershire’s Donington Park circuit. But it is Jason Plato who, despite a crash, still heads the points table as Britain’s premier motor racing series heads south for its next three races at the fastest circuit on the calendar, Thruxton in Hampshire, on the weekend of 28/29 April.

Plato had given his MG KX Momentum Racing MG6 a first-ever pole position in Saturday’s qualifying session. But he could only finish fourth in today’s first race behind Jackson’s Redstone Racing Ford Focus ST and the Honda Yuasa Racing Team Honda Civics of Shedden and team-mate Matt Neal.

Shedden then led home Neal in race two for a dream 1-2 result for the factory Honda squad with Jackson following in third. It also meant the season’s first five races had each been won by a different driver, while Neal now took over the championship lead after Plato crashed out in a tangle with Robert Collard’s eBay Motors BMW.

In race three Jackson crossed the line in first ahead of Plato and Shedden. But officials then demoted Plato to third with a time penalty after they judged he had unfairly bumped Shedden off the track at the final bend. Officials also later excluded Jackson from the results after it was discovered his car had exceeded the permitted turbo boost limits, meaning the Warwickshire driver had to be content with just the one win on home ground.

His exclusion also meant Shedden inherited the victory ahead of Plato and a jubilant Tony Gilham who, in his Team HARD. Honda Civic, had achieved a maiden top three result as well as his first maximum score in the Independent Drivers Trophy. Plato also moved back to the top of the standings as Neal, the reigning Champion, span out of the race in a clash with Pirtek Racing Honda driver Andrew Jordan.

Oxford racer Plato, aiming for a third BTCC title in 2012, commented: “It’s been a very topsy-turvy day for me. The speed of the MG was clear for all to see with that brilliant pole position lap but then things just didn’t go our way in the races. My crash was just a racing incident but then to drive through from 17th to finish on the podium in race three again underlined just how special the MG is and I believe it will fly at Thruxton.”

Worcestershire’s Neal said: “Everything was going great until race three – a third in race one and then a great result for Honda in race two. But race three showed just how quickly it can all change again in the BTCC and now I find myself chasing Jason again as we go to Thruxton. But the main thing is we’re still right in the hunt and my Honda won’t have quite so much success ballast to deal with as his MG around.”

Following a torrid opening round two weeks ago at Brands Hatch, Fife ace Shedden, who becomes the first driver to win twice in 2012, has vaulted to sixth in the championship. He said: “I feel we’ve got our just rewards today despite Jason’s best efforts! The Honda has been fantastic all weekend around Donington and that’s a great sign for Thruxton where again having a good car in high speed corners counts for a lot. It’s the perfect way to bounce back after Brands Hatch and my championship is now back on track.”

Jackson was left to rue what might have been, saying: “Losing the win in race three is a big blow but a win and a third in the first two races are still two very good results. It’s shown we’re capable of taking it to factory teams and I’m going to Thruxton fully intent on rattling their cages again.”

Meanwhile Honda/Dynamics and the Honda Yuasa Racing Team respectively have moved to the top of both the Manufacturers/Constructors and HiQ Teams championships. Jordan and his Pirtek squad have also increased their leads in the Independent Drivers and Teams title races.

Elsewhere a number of teams and drivers were penalised by officials at Donington Park. MG KX Momentum Racing, Rob Austin Racing and Thorney Motorsport all received verbal warnings for moving their cars into their pit garages without permission before the session had ended. Chris James received an official reprimand and 2 penalty points on his competition licence for an on-track incident in race one plus, later, a further 3 penalty points and a £1000 fine for using abusive language and behaviour within the venue. Jeff Smith, Dave Newsham and Andrew Jordan received verbal warnings for on-track incidents. Jason Plato received a 2-second penalty for gaining an unfair advantage on the track. Mat Jackson was excluded from the results of race three for a technical infringement.

 

 

Start your Engines!!!!

This weekend sees the start of our Championship with the season opener taking place at Snetterton 200. Good Luck to all that are racing the timetable looks something like this:

Qualifying

09.00 Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship Qualifying

Round 1

12.00 Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship

Round 2

16.35 Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club Championship

So why come and see what we are all about, and enjoy a day of full on racing.

PLATO GIVES MG WINNING RETURN





Jason Plato has won the third of today’s three Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship races – giving MG a victory on its return to the series.

Plato’s MG KX Momentum Racing MG6 hunted down and eventually scraped past Andrew Jordan’s Pirtek Racing Honda Civic at Clearways Bend. He went on to record his 69th career victory and also the first for the Triple Eight Race Engineering-prepared MG6 which had gone into the weekend with effectively zero testing.

Jordan took second ahead of an elated Dave Newsham who achieved the first BTCC podium result of his career in third – also the first for the ES Racing.com team which prepares his Vauxhall Vectra.

The result means Plato leaves Brands Hatch tonight leading the championship standings. He said: “We weren’t expecting anything like this. It’s been a fantastic day. But I’m just a small part in a team of people without whose efforts… they have done days and days of non-stop work. The way they’ve brought this car on over the course of the weekend is phenomenal.”

 

Back in the BTCC!

 

In January this year MG announced its return to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship with the new MG6 GT under the MG XK Momentum Racing banner. The car will be built to the BTCC’s latest turbo-charged Next Generation Touring Car regulations by Triple Eight Race Engineering, one of the most successful teams in the championship’s history.

 

The drivers will be double champion Jason Plato and rising star Andy Neate, who previously drove for privateer teams WSR and Arena. Jason, who is one of the top two-litre touring-car drivers in the world, is “convinced that we’re going to be winning races very soon. We’ve got a three-year programme (but) that’s not to say we want to wait until year three to win, the objective is to go out and challenge straight away”.

 

Meanwhile, Andy is relishing the chance to help MG take on Honda in the fight for the BTCC’s coveted Manufacturer’s Trophy. “To stand out in the BTCC takes something special because it’s a quality grid from top to bottom. I’ve got myself into one of the four most desirable seats on the grid and have got everything to do the job week in, week out. Jason is one of the most successful drivers, and with the most successful engineering team in BTCC history behind me I haven’t got much of an excuse not to do well. It’s a fantastic opportunity and I’ll try and push Jason as much as I can”.

 

Triple Eight’s track record in the BTCC is the envy of other teams – between 2001 and 2009 it won six drivers’, six teams’ and no fewer than eight manufacturers’ titles with Vauxhall, as well as the independent team and drivers’ awards last year. Supremo Ian Harrison, who was team manager for Williams F1 before setting up Triple Eight, explained in February how the partnership with MG came about. “I’d been chatting to MG for 18 months (but) it was only about three months ago that discussions really started to gather pace. It’s a very exciting prospect and we have a very good combination of people from an engineering point of view and our drivers in the cockpit. Of course we’ve worked with Jason before when he won the title with us and Vauxhall in 2001. Honda and Dynamics will probably be the benchmark but the MG6 platform looks pretty good to us and I think we’ll deliver a car that looks the part and goes as well”.

 

The BTCC is the most-watched race series in Britain after Formula 1, and regularly attracts sell-out crowds. To catch the action live this year, the calendar is as follows:

 

Brands Hatch, Kent – Sun 1st April

Donington Park, Derbyshire – Sun 15th April

Thruxton, Hampshire – Sun 29th April

Oulton Park, Cheshire – Sun 10th June

Croft, North Yorks – Sun 24th June

Snetterton, Norfolk – Sun 12th August

Knockhill, Fife – Sun 26th August

Rockingham, Northants – Sun 23rd September

Silverstone, Northants – Sun 7th October

Brands Hatch, Kent – Sun 21st October

 

You can also catch up with the action on ITV, which is covering the series.

 

 

MG XK Momentum Racing drivers Jason Plato and Andy Neate:

 

 

With thanks to the BTCC and Silverstone Circuit.

 

 

 

 

THE BARC TO CELEBRATE 100 YEARS IN 2012
BARC 100 years logo


The British Automobile Racing Club is one hundred years old, and as part of this celebratory year, has revealed a special centenary logo. 

MG ENTERS BTCC WITH MG6 DREAM TEAM

 

MG Motor UK announced today (25th January) it will enter the 2012 BTCC Series with a 'dream team' of cars, drivers, constructors and sponsors.

Two MG6 GT cars will run in the all-new MG KX Momentum Racing team piloted by double BTCC champion Jason Plato and BTCC rising star Andy Neate.

The cars will be prepared by Triple Eight Race Engineering, one of the most successful constructors in touring car racing. And completing the 'dream team' are principal sponsors Tesco Fuels with their Momentum 99 brand and KX energy drink completing an all-British line-up.

MG KX Momentum Racing will debut at Brands Hatch on April 1 when the 2012 Dunlop MSA BTCC championship season gets under way.

The MG6 GT five-door fastback is the first all-new MG in 16 years. It is designed and engineered at MG Motor UK's plant in Birmingham where final assembly also takes place.

Jason Plato is the most successful driver in BTCC racing history with 68 career wins, with more fastest laps, pole and podium positions than any other driver in the history of the Series. He is undoubtedly the face of British Touring Cars as well as being a well-known and respected TV presenter and newly appointed Director of the British Racing Drivers Club.

Plato said: "It's really exciting to be involved in a brand-new all-British team and it's just brilliant that the iconic name of MG will be back on the track."

Guy Jones, MG Motor's Sales & Marketing Director, said: "We are delighted that the new MG6 will be seen by millions of fans in Britain and beyond and this continues the famous sporting lineage of the brand. "


Triple Eight, headed by Ian Harrison, is based at Greatworth, just a few miles from the famous Silverstone race circuit. The company has more than 100 BTCC race wins to its credit.


Left to right, Ian Harrison, Guy Jones, Jason Plato, Andy Neate

Coming Soon

We are always looking for ideas and suggestions to make the website better, if you an idea of something you might like to see, please feel free to drop me an email to editor@mgoc-championship.co.uk

 

An Interview with Martin Wills

 

This months Enjoying MG features an article with MARTIN WILLS the 2010 Class F and overall MGOC Championship. Please click here to read the article.

MGOC Championship 2012 Race Dates

 

 

Put these dates in your diary for 2012 -
Rounds 1 and 2 : 7/8th April    -  Snetterton
Rounds 3 and 4 : 5/6th May   -   Brands Hatch
Rounds 5 and 6 : 19th May       -   Oulton Park
Rounds 7and 8:   23/24th June    -   Silverstone GP circuit
Rounds 9, 10 and 11: 18/19th August -   Donington Park
Rounds 12 and 13 : 8/9th September -   Cadwell Park
Rounds 14 and 15 :  30th September -   Mallory
Round   16 : 14th October -  Thruxton

 

              

   

All races are BARC meetings except Brands Hatch and Silverstone.