MGCC Anglia Phoenix
Donnington Park
October 25/26

Donnington Park Castle Donington Derby DE7 2RP

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If anyone went to the Birkett 6hr Race on the same weekend as this, you will not have failed to notice the lack of a 'Phoenix MG Challenge Team' this year. Unfortunately due to a clash of dates, it meant that the Phoenix MG's were battling out the final round of the season at Donnington Park...

Credit for this report must go to Alan Brooke.
The Phoenix race at Donington Park went more or less as follows:

In class E Tony Howe made a brilliant start, unfortunately he spun going into Redgate and was collected by Andrew Talbot who was unable to avoid him. Both of them ended up neatly parked on their roofs in the gravel trap, they were both perfectly OK but the cars are looking somewhat used. Even with their joint retirement they secured 1st and 2nd in class and Tony finished 3rd overall in the Championship.

Team Cowley RV8 driver Chris Roche pipped privateer GT V8 driver David Brooke for first in class and in doing so won Class B by a single point, also finishing 4th overall in the series. New boy John Cooper (yes really) qualified on the front row in his MGB but dropped to 17th having to avoid becoming involved in the first corner melee. He stormed through the field to finish only yards behind David in 6th place.

Don Kettleborough, in the MGF had gear selection problems and had to pit so one of the team could select a more suitable gear from under the back of the car. He rejoined and made rapid progress through the field until the chequered flag. Victory in class A and second place in the series was safe and a bright future in the new MGF race series awaits the only experienced F, circuit racer in the country.

The Yellow Peril, a 1300 saloon piloted by Alan Botelle won both class C in the race and the title 'Overall Champion of 1997'. The Martin Watters / Jeremy Rogers combination secured second in class C with yet another set of consistent performances.

Race Results (8 Laps)
1..Paul Clarence (1.4 MG Midget) 13m 33.66s @ 69.27mph
2..Dick Trevett (1.3 MG Turbo Metro) 13m 35.76s
3..Andrew Scothern (1.3 MG Turbo Metro)
4..Chris Roche (3.9 MG RV8)

Fastest Lap: Don Kettleborough (1.8 MGF) 1m 27.12mph @ 
80.88mph
 

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