MG Owners Club (MGOC) Race Championship – race report Rounds 12 and 13: Snetterton 18th September

As the headline sponsor of the championship, we share a race report for the penultimate meeting of the season.

The drivers headed into Norfolk for two races on the 2.97 mile Snetterton 300 circuit, this being the longer of the two main track configurations, which uses most of the old circuit with extra distance added by twisty infield section.

It was a high profile two-day BARC meeting featuring the ever-popular truck racing with the MGOC championship on a supporting programme with Legends, Pickups and a variety of events from the Classic Touring Car Club. The entire meeting was being live streamed by BARC and can be viewed on:

With some of the regular drivers missing, the field was boosted to 20 cars by the Invitation class entries, including Peter Head’s MGB, Jonathan Upchurch’s ZR160 and the FIA spec MGB of Max Cawthorn.

Qualifying

The front row of the grid was taken by ZR’s, with Fergus Campbell on pole with Steve McDermid alongside him on the front row. Will Sharpe was on row 2 with Mark Baker who was the leading MGF. Row 3 was occupied by Stuart Plotnek and the ZR of Jack Woodcock with the ZR of Walker and the MGF of Wisbey on row 4.

The MGB of Dave Amphlett lead the Classic class cars and was on row 6 ahead of Jim Baynam, Chris Pollard and Ashley Barnes. The Maestro Efi of Alan Forster was the sole entry in Class B.

Round 12

When the lights went out it was the ZR of McDermid that got off the line first but Campbell had the inside line and held the lead into Riches, with Sharpe following him though on the inside line to take second place ahead of McDermid with the MGF of Baker in fourth place ahead of Woodcock with Wisbey in sixth place ahead of Plotnek.

On lap 2, McDermid slipstreamed Sharpe along the Bentley Straight and moved into second place under braking into the Esses. He then closed in on Campbell and looked to have taken the lead into Riches on lap 2, but Campbell held the inside line and kept the lead. But McDermid was challenging and in a repeat of the move a lap earlier, slipstreamed Campbell along the Bentley Straight and took the lead.

Baker had an excellent start and held fourth place and the Class F lead, with a fast-starting Wisbey taking second place ahead of Plotnek. Baker put in two quick laps and by the end of lap 2 had a 40 metre lead over Wisbey who dropped to third place when Plotnek outbraked him into the Wilson Hairpin. Baker was embroiled in a good battle with Woodcock for fourth place, but this ended when Woodcock retired with a mechanical problem on lap 5 leaving Baker with a comfortable lead.

McDermid controlled the race and went onto take his ninth win of the season from Campbell with Sharpe taking third place with Baker taking fourth place and the Class F win ahead of Plotnek and Wisbey.

In Classic class, Amphlett made a good start but was passed by the Cawthorn and Robinson but had a clear run into Riches and maintained his early lead but Baynam was close behind and closed in on the run toward Agostini and made a move towards the inside but locked-up and spun onto the infield and dropped down the order behind Amphlett, Pollard and Barnes. By mid-race, Amphlett had a clear track and he reeled off the remaining laps to take the Classic class win by 7 seconds from Baynam with Pollard taking third place ahead of Barnes.

Alan Forster was the only entry in Class B but was pleased to finish the race without further problems.

Round 13

As in the earlier race, McDermid got away first but Campbell held the inside line to take the lead into Riches with Sharpe following close behind to move into second place. The opening lap saw Campbell holding the narrowest of leads from Sharpe but that changed at the start on lap 2 when Sharpe took the lead with a very late outbraking move into Riches to demote Campbell to second place with McDermid a few lengths further back and stalking the two leaders.

The action continued with Sharpe holding the lead but McDermid close in along Bentley Straight and take second place from Campbell with a brave move around the outside into the Esses. Campbell then retook second place from McDermid at Oggies on lap 4 and the three leaders were three abreast on the run towards the Esses but by the time they’d reached the Esses Sharpe had dropped to second but he feigned a move to the left then cut back to sweep around the outside and take the lead from McDermid into Brundle. Sharpe then lost a bit of momentum exiting the final part of the Esses and Campbell retook the lead at the Bombhole.

The breathless pace continued and McDermid retook second place from Sharpe on lap 6 and began to close in on the leader but Campbell is a highly experienced racer and calmy reeled of the final two laps and after nine laps of incredibly close but clean racing took his third win of the season by 0.56 secs from McDermid with Sharpe dropping back in the final couple of laps to take third place.

In Class F, Baker initially lead away but found himself on the outside line at Riches and Plotnek took the tighter inside line and moved into the lead ahead of Baker and Wisbey before it was reduced to a two car battle when Wisbey retired on lap 4. Plotnek held a narrow lead from Baker who was challenging for the lead but Plotnek was driving well however the pressure finally told on lap 5 when he spun off onto the grass at Coram handing Baker a huge lead and he reeled off the remaining four laps to take his second Class F win of the weekend.

In Classic class, Amphlett again got away well to take the lead and with the ZR’s of Upchurch, Robinson and Golhar behind him on the opening lap had a chance to break away from Baynam. The first two laps saw the faster ZR’s begin to pass the MGB but this inevitably delayed Amphlett and Baynam began to close in before taking the lead along Bentley Straight on lap 3. Over the next two laps Baynam opened up a lead on 50 metre lead but had a repeat of earlier brake problems and locked-up into Riches on lap 5 and ran wide on to the grass handing the lead back to Amphlett. Baynam lost some time but began to fight back and when Amphlett ran wide at Williams and lost momentum he closed in and retook the lead along the Bentley Straight on lap 6. Amphlett fought back well but Baynam reeled off the final two laps to take the win.

The Maestro Efi of Alan Forster has suffered a number of problems since its re-introduction to the championship but Alan was rewarded for his considerable efforts by finishing both races without incident and with ever-improving lap times.

Driver of the Day

This was awarded to MGF driver Mark Baker for pole position, two wins and two fastest laps in Class F. Visit the MGOC Championship website to see the full race results and current Championship positions. To view in-car footage of all 2021 MGOC races take a look at their Youtube channel.