The Historic Saloons tackled Donington twice on Saturday (21st June) in the stickiest of the afternoon heat, leading to a pair of wins for John McGurk in his Ford Lotus Cortina.
\nThe Lotus Cortina was the quickest car on the grid, with his closest rival the Jensen CV8 of David Lloyd ahead of Heritage Skills Academy Apprentice Jamie Marriott in a Mini Cooper S previously raced by Anthony Reid.<\/p>\n
After a brief shower the first race began on a damp track with a damp track and it initially looked as if there might be an upset, with Stephen Chapman\u2019s little Fiat 600 Abarth getting a good start and James Marriott\u2019s Mini grabbing second spot. Unfortunately the potential challenge disappeared at the Old Hairpin along with the ability to select gears in the Mini forcing Jamie\u2019s retirement.<\/p>\n
After Jamie\u2019s departure, David Lloyd retook second place and stayed there. Although Stephen Chapman tried valiantly to keep his Italian machine ahead of Anthony Warnes\u2019s Austin A40. After a tough and entertaining contest, Warnes secured third at the flag. Chapman was fourth and Geoff Mackrill\u2019s interesting Triumph Vitesse fifth.<\/p>\n
John McGurk was the victor again in Race 2, on a much drier track where everyone was much faster, not least McGurk himself. Having sorted out the gear box full of mostly neutrals that had troubled Jamie Marriott earlier he started strongly from the back of the grid and quickly carved his way into second position behind McGurk, but Lloyd wasn\u2019t giving up easily, the rumbling V8 Jensen swapping positions with the screaming Mini before the Jensen secured second on the 7th lap and held it to the flag despite the Mini getting alongside on a couple of occasions. Jamie finishing a competitive third, with Anthony Warnes fourth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"