When you have a race that features vehicles from a V12 powered Jaguar to an MG Metro Turbo, through VW Golf GTis and Triumph Dolomite Sprints, you know it will be interesting. Especially if the driver mix also includes ex-Touring Car Champions such as Robb Gravett, Steve Soper and Patrick Watts.
This the opening race of the Donington event last weekend proclaimed loud and clear that proceedings had begun…
Chris Ward and Gary Pearson put the thunderous Jaguar XJS Group 44 on pole but faltered off the line allowing the Ford Capri of Steve Soper and John Young to storm into the lead – a position they held to the flag. Behind them the MG Metro Turbo pedalled by the redoubtable duo of Patrick Watts and Nick Swift made the best of being 8 cylinders down on the leader.
Gremlins strike…
Rapidly climbing through the field was the Jaguar Broadspeed XJ12C with Chris Scragg and Matt Nicoll-Jones at the helm. Qualifying issues meant they started at the back of the grid on row 9, but were making progress up the order. Despite recovery efforts from the highly experienced Ward/Pearson in the Jag XJS 44 the gremlins struck with 3 laps to go and forced retirement, and regrettably they were unable to participate in the return match on Sunday. The final positions were first place Soper/Joung Ford Capri, second Watts/Swift MG Metro Turbo, and third Scragg/Nicholl-Jones Jaguar Broadspeed XJ12C.
In the second race held on Sunday the Scragg/Nicholl-Jones Jaguar Broadspeed XJ12C romped home. Despite starting from row 2 of the grid they took the lead from lap 1 and that was how it stayed. The Capri of Soper and Young had a bad start and was forced to retire on lap 6, so Richard Postins solo driving the Marlboro-liveried Rover TWR Vitesse took second and the plucky MG Metro Turbo of Watts and Swift finished third.
Link: Full coverage of Donington Historics here on Goodwood Road & Racing
Pictures: Chris McEvoy
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