Just days out from the 2019 MG Racing Australia season kicking off the full 28 car entry list has been revealed.
The field for the season opening round at Melbourne’s Sandown Park will be one of the best quality fields in recent times with some star cars lining up with a very good field of vehicles throughout and no less than 12 four cylinder MG B’s to contest the coveted Peter Lee Memorial trophy.
MG Racing has a number of key turnouts for the weekend including series activation at the event, including the launch of MG Racing and MG Cranbourne’s partnership with MG Cranbourne set to join the paddock setup on both Saturday and Sunday. The series will also feature for the first time a stand alone race for the ‘Peter Lee Trophy’ for the first 4 cylinder MG B, this will be contested over 10 laps on Sunday with a field of 12 MG B’s to line up. “It’s a unique opportunity and something that will be fantastic to watch, for those not in a B I am sure they will be watching, and for those with a B it will be a great experience” commented captain Paul Vernall.
Further forward the series will see a number of returnee’s, Peter Owen will debut his Group T log booked MG B with period racing history from the 70’s, on debut Peter has realistic expectation, “it’s just about getting back out and in the swing of things, I am realistic where the car will be so I am just hoping to mix it with the other b’s and have some fun”.
Joining Peter will be Jane and Richard Vollebregt, the mother and son due could be in their last run for a while together with Richard expecting his first child and it could be a swansong. Also joining the strong field of MG B’s is Gary Bulmer in his MG B returning for the first time after having an injury sidelining him for 2018. The 12 strong contingent of MG B’s will be having a fantastic feature race that is sure to attract people to the fence.
The Open V8 world will see one of the strongest grids in recent times, reigning champion Phil Chester in his MG B GT V8 will be joined by former champion Robin Bailey in a similar GT V8, but this year will also see the first full season campaign from Ben Muller in the ex Whitwell V8 and Vince Gucciardo in the multiple championship winning C V8. In a first in the southern hemisphere Rhys Howell will debut an MG SV-R, a very unique car with period racing history with the factory and has undergone a significant rebuilt in Australia. The car will add to the depth of the field and variety that has made MG Racing great.
Also returning is Andrew Howell in the MG ZR Judd, the ex factory endurance race car has had varied success locally before being rested for the last two years before returning for a full season campaign in 2018, Howell will face competition from Paul Vernall in his ZR Turbo during 2019 in what could be the two fastest ZR’s in the world going face to face.
A sweltering weekend is forecast with 38 degree temperatures on Saturday and 35 on Sunday but the racing will still be fantastic
The season kicks off with a strong 28 car field with some of the best quality in recent times, a testament to the competitors and strength of the series.
