Packed grids set for MGLive! 2017

The MG Car Club is bringing its biggest ever racing grids to Silverstone for the annual MGLive!, celebration next month. With 16 races taking place on the famous Northamptonshire track’s Grand Prix circuit over the weekend of 17-18 June, visitors will see around 550 race entries.

‘Expect two days of Club racing at its very best,’ said Ron Gammons, MG race committee chairman.

The MG Trophy Championship will boast 30 entries, with Matt Turnbull looking to extend his lead over rivals Paul Luti and Jack Roberts. Turnbull is currently 12 points ahead of the pack but as the Brand Hatch meeting proved, anything can happen and its still all for the taking. Luti and Roberts will have their own battle as just two points split the pair currently in second and third place.

With races from the MGCC Iconic 50s Series, the Watt Electrical BVC8 Championship with MGCC Thoroughbred Sports Car Championship and Cockshoot Cup, and the Lackford Engineering Midget and Sprite Challenge, there’s no shortage of variety out on track.

The club's various MG championships are joined by the pre-1966 Touring cars from the Masters Series, giving visitors the chance to see BMW 2002s, Alfa Romeos, Lotus Cortinas, Ford Falcons and Mustangs battling it out against the ever competitive Mini Coopers.

But the biggest grids of the weekend will be from the eclectic mix of Equipe GTS, with a range of vehicles from Alfa Romeos to TVRs and of course MGs – with Midgets and MGBs completing a varied line-up. Such is the demand to take part, the organisers have sanctioned four races over the weekend with a total of 80 Equipe entries including two genuine ex-works MGBs.

There will also be action from the single-seater Radical Challenge Championship, with its 30-35 strong grid featuring previous Radical champions including 2016 Radical Challenge victor Steve Burgess, multiple Radical UK and European champion Bradley Smith and current reigning European Masters champion Marcello Marateotto.

The Petro-Canada Lubricants Porsche Club Championship with Pirelli joins MGLive! with around 25-30 cars on the grid. With former champion and father Mark McAleer and his son Jake both leading their classes, Mark in the 996 C2 and Jake in the Boxster S, both will be looking to keep their rivals at bay.

For those who prefer to be part of the action rather than just spectate, drivers can take part in the California Cup Autotest, the MGLive! Autosolo and a Sprint held on the Stowe Circuit. There's also passenger rides and a chance to take to the GP circuit in the lunchtime parade lap.

MGLive! ticket prices start from £18 for MG Car Club members, £25 for non-members for a one-day pass when booked in advance. Weekend tickets start at £28 for members, £40 for non-members, and children aged 15 years and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. For more info, visit wwww.mglive.com.