MCR at the Autosport Show 2012
We had a great time at the Autosport Show, we met lots of new and old faces and got a great response.  Below left to right, Luciano Mottin - first MCR team owner in Brazil, Ken James - MCR UK machine shop technician, Andriana Marques - Partner Luciano, Cindy Pearce - MCR Director, Luiz Fernando Cruz - Brazilian Designer, MCR race cars and Clive Hayes Director/Manufacturer.

Below our carbon fibre bodywork withs its beautiful red tinted laquer by Matt Manderson of First Place Finish was a great attraction and right a young admirer at the show in the pink and white MCR.

Just down the isle was the Sports 2000 Championship stand with the red and yellow MCR owned by Mike Turner and John Owen.  Sports 2000 were promoting the new 1 hr Mini Enduro Series as well as the Duratec and Pinto Championships.


Autosport Show 2012
Come and see us at the Autosports Show at the Birmingham NEC on 12th to 15th January, we have stand number 6405.  We also have an MCR on the Sports 2000 stand number 7445.  We will have the MCR S2 Sports 2000 spec car, a new S2 carbon fibre body car and the new MCR O2 supercharged Duratec engined car.  The MCRs are great for circuit racing, track day cars, sprints and hillclimbs and race schools.

Sports 2000 Awards Dinner Dance 2011 - MCR Table


Birkett 6 hour Relay Race - Silverstone Historic GP Circuit
We decided to put an MCR team together for the Birkett 6 hour relay race.  Clive Hayes, Patrick Sherrington, Matt Manderson, Mike Turner, Steve Head and Peter Williams, Patrick was not well enough a few days before the race so we invited the charming Mr. Scott Guthri to join us with his Van Diemen.
Clive and I turned up at Silverstone Friday afternoon, Scott had already arrived.  People were still testing, including Steve Mole and the pinto team so we helped ourselves to their coffee and biscuits.  We were allowed to get three of the cars scrutineered that evening and sign on.
Very early Saturday morning the rest of the team turned up, we had the fourth car scritineered then it was time to qualify.  Scott Davies in holding area with battery giving directions, Anna-Marina Head (maiden-name Ferrari, how cool is that) on the pit wall timing, Paul Sherrington, refuelling, tyres and safety checks on each car, Ken James on maintenance, Margaret Williams on food and I was team manager.
We sent each driver out one at a time to qualify, as each car completed its test session the car was refuelled and sent out with the next driver.  Great result, we qualified 2nd on the front row of the grid with a Radical V8.
Race time, lights out and Clive has a great start and jumps into the lead but a car further back on the grid tries to dodge a slow starter on the grid and a slight pile-up stopped the race.  After a good 1/2 hour clearing the track it was decided to start the race again for the full 6 hours.  Again lights out and Clive jumped into the lead for the next two laps then he was overtaken by the Radical on the straight and remained on 2nd position for the next 55 minutes.  You have to keep keep total concentration, there was such a variety of cars and speeds, bike engines, sports prototypes, Hillman Imps, Minis (see link below for race times and car teams).  Clive came in after 55 minutes and Scott Guthrie and his Van Diemen went out, he was going really well.  Sports 2000 cars are small and low and at the briefing saloon cars were asked to lower the view from their wing mirrors so they could see us coming up behind them.  Scott was trying to overtake a Caterham and the marshalls kept waving the blue flag lap after lap, eventually the Caterham seemed to pull over so Scott went to pass but the Caterham pulled out in front of him and took him off.  Anna-Marina on the pit wall was timing every lap and when Scott didn't come around Mike Turner was sent out but this put us back a few laps and we were now running in 8th position.  Mike managed to get back a place and after a 1/2 hour slot he handed over to Peter Williams.  Margaret was busy dishing out bacon sandwiches and nibbles.  Peter

Castle Combe 1 hour Endurance Race

This years Sports 2000 endurance race at Castle Combe race circuit started with a test day on the Thursday.  We had four MCR's racing with two drivers in each car.  Patrick Sherrington / Mike Jenvey, Peter Williams / David Pittard, Mike Turner / John Williams and Sebastien Bamsey / Eddie Waring.
Patricks report " For the endurance race I was to be joined in the car by fellow frontrunner Mike Jenvey who was interest to see how much the car has changed since we last ran together in 2009. With the weather finally improving we were hoping for a strong result.
Qualifying Mike went out first in order to reacquaint him with the car and was soon putting in some strong times. Mike Turner and John Owen were also running strongly in their MCR S2 and Seb Bamsey and Eddie Waring were also up in the top 5 despite this being their first ever car race!
Mike handed over and advised the car was under steering a little due to a broken roll bar link (we later found out) and I set out to try and get pole in the dying minutes. The final 2 laps were good enough and into the 1.07s with the final lap putting us on pole from Peter Williams and David Pittard in Peter’s trusty MCR.
Race It was decided that I would take the start and we also took the decision to start on full tanks meaning we wouldn’t have to risk refuelling at the half way point. Thankfully I managed to see the red start lights in time as they were neatly hidden behind the mirror. Got a great start and blasted into the lead. Craig Mitchell was in close attendance for the first lap but as the race moved on I began to build a gap.
I managed to stretch the gap to about 13 seconds until losing 5 seconds on just one lap thanks to Louis Jones defending his line as I came round to lap him.
I handed the car over to Mike at the halfway point and he set about getting back the lead as Craig Mitchell had stayed out on his stint and therefore taken the front running slot at the changeover. Mike was busy chasing him down with a hard charging David Pittard (although a lap down) right behind him when disaster struck as the rear upright cried enough and we were out.
A shame because the win was on but well done to Craig Mitchell who took a well deserved in the Lola and with Peter Williams and David Pittard in the MCR third. A special mention to Seb Bamsey and Eddie Waring who were 4^th overall in their MCR S2 not a bad start for your first ever race.

The famous Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb with Mike Turner and John Owen

Mike and John have taken their Sports 2000 spec MCR to the oldest operational motorsport venue in the world to participate in the famous Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb.  After the practice day on Saturday John wrote " The car went well today in practice (not competitive in Sports 2000 spec. but fun) and Mike enjoyed his first run up the hill at Shelsley. He tells me that he first spectated there in 1953 so it was high time he had a go. The car attracted huge attention in the paddock".  Have fun both, we will get a report off the dynamic duo at the end of the day.  http://youtu.be/t59tkvPjB24 

Donington Test Day – MCR makes further speed tweeks



Following the superb looking bodywork upgrade over the winter we were keen to make the most of the new modifications so it was off to Donington Park for a test day to try various set up changes.

MCR were delighted to be able to host former Williams and Toyota F1 aero guru Frank Dernie, who as well as suggesting a few tweeks kept us all entertained with a wealth of F1 tales of years gone by.

The weather was not kind so running was limited but conversations with Frank Dernie resulted in some interesting changes to the aero balance which saw the car lapping under the current lap record so with 3 rounds at the Donington circuit this year we are hopeful of recovering ground in the championship but time will tell.

Spa-Francorchamps European race 2011

Everyone had a great time again in Spa-Francorchamps with the Sports 2000 Championship.  The weather conditions were much more comfortable this year although a few showers were thrown in throughout the long weekend.  Top photograph of Patrick Sherringtons MCR with his sponsors ADI Group and Turner/Owen MCR with their team mechanics.

On the grid blue/yellow MCR Peter Williams, red/yellow/temporary blue MCR shared by Mike Turner and John Owen and new to the MCR group, our youngest driver, 17 year old Craig Mitchell driving the ex mike Turner Lola.
Our latest MCR is the blue/white/yellow car driven by Clive but will be hired out for the rest of the season.  Testing on Thursday did not turn out so well. Patrick Sherrington achieved the fastest laps at Spa this year but had to retire when he damaged his engine.  We just about got Clives blue/white/yellow hire MCR ready for Spa but it was not the ideal place for her first test session, she handled very well from the start but a sudden split in the oil (thingy watsit, I will check on the word) left us with a very sick engine.  Turner Owen Motorsports had great fun with their new MCR and their lap times kept improving as the day went on. Results of race 1 Saturday, Peter Williams 4th, Craig Mitchell 5th and John Owen 7th.  Results of Race 2 Sunday, Craig mitchell 2nd (what a birthday present for dad Charlie Mitchell) and Peter Williams 6th.  Take a look at our drivers blog for the individual drivers race reports. 


Sports 2000 - one of Britains best open sports racing car championships with rounds at some of the top British and European circuits.
We have 7 MCR's (so far) racing in this great championship for 2011.
  Duratec Championship.  Fast, exciting, competitive, close racing with large grids.
   Pinto Championship.     34 years of fast, competitive, close racing with large grids.
   Historic Championship.  Competitive close racing for the wonderful historic cars still
                                        racing in the championship.
   New in 2012.  Sports 2000 Mini Enduro Championship with 5 x 1 hour rounds for two
                         drivers at some of Britains top circuits.  Duratec, Pinto and Historic,
                         some seriously fast, close racing with large grids.
   www.sports2000-srcc.com  email.  srcc@dial.pipex.co.uk
   Phone. evening 01767 689863 daytime 01707 358666
Take a look at at this Sports 2000 race at Brands Hatch.
 

MCR at the Autosport Show 2011
 
MCR race car manufacturers were at the Autosport Show again this year.  We had a great show, test drives are about to take place for the drivers who showed interest at the show.  Unfortunately the new MCR was not quite ready for the show in time, we had a complete MCR with Duratec engine and Elite transmission and a rolling chassis with a Hewland JFR transmission on the MCR stand.  Latest MCR owner Paul Martin will join the Sports 2000 Duratec Championship this year and had his orange and grey MCR on display on the Sports 2000 stand.

MCR in Brazil
Luiz and his Brazilian MCR's have just completed the 2010 12 hour Tarauma Endurance Race and what a result, again. The first MCR debuted in the Taruma 12 hour in 1999. MCR's cars have won 8 times since then.

The 2010 Taruma winner, MCR No 5, with a Volkswagen 1.9L turbo 340 HP engine, Hewland FT200 with Kuhmo F3 tyres.  Drivers: Tiel Andrade / Bruno Justo / Eduardo Dieter.

2nd place finish went to MCR Hoerlle Team car No.99, powered by a Volkswagen Golf 2.0L Turbo, Sadev 6 speed sequential gearbox, Michelin F3 tyres.  The car was driven by Paulo Hoerlle / Alexandre Hoerlle / Mateus Castro.  This team have been front runners, they won the race in 2002 with an MCR.

 
One of the MCR team owners Luciano showed off his latest MCR P-2, with a Volkswagen 2.0L turbo 400 HP engine, Hewland FTR, Pirelli  tyres 285x18 front 305x18 rear, BBS wheels, 6 pot Wilwood calipers, 14" front 13" rear discs and carbon fiber high downforce bodywork.  Drivers: Christian Castro / Vitor Genz / Carlos Kray / Joao Santana.  Although the car lacked testing the team had to race in the Taurma 12 hour race.  They started from the back of the grid due to an engine problem in the qualify session, the car soon overtook everyone and built a 2 lap gap by the second hour.  It was a fantastic performance.  Unfortunately another engine problem ended the show.

Well done Brazilian MCR guys, great results.  Lucianos car is going to be amazing.  Keep up the hard work Luiz.

 Another 1st place win for MCR in the 1 hr Endurance Race - Oct 2010

Drivers Patrick Sherrington and Matt Manderson drove a spectacular race to take 1st place on the podium for MCR race cars for the second year running at the Sports 2000 1hr endurance race at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit, the race was won in 2009 by MCR driver Chris Yarwood.  Taking 3rd place on the podium for MCR were drivers Chris Snowdon and Clive Hayes. 

Great end to the 2010 Sports 2000 Championship - 2nd Overall

Patrick Sherrington and his sponsor Alan from 'ADI Group'
It was the final round of the Sports 2000 Championship 2010, both Patrick Sherrington and Neil Burroughs were leading on 91 points, unfortunately you have to drop your worst score, Neils worst score 1 point, Patricks worst score 12 points, it was still possible to grasp 1st place.  On the start line, Patrick shot into the lead with Neil Burroughs hot on his tail, Patrick held the lead for a few laps then ran a little wide and Buroughs passed, it was evident we made an error with 5th gear with Patrick hitting the limiter every lap well before the end of the start/finish line.  After a very exciting, nail biting race Patrick passed the finish line in 2nd position which put him an excellent 2nd overall in the 2010 Sports 2000 Championship.

Spa Summer Classic 2nd 3rd 4th July 2010 - 1st place podium finish
And a great time was had by all.  Clive and I left for Spa as soon as the Silverstone Sports 2000 race finished on Sunday 27th June.  We arrived at Spa Franchorchamps Race Circuit Monday afternoon, drove straight in and parked up.  From Monday to Thursday the circuit was hired to different Porche Clubs.  There was no testing available but we got chatting to the Paragon team, they got Clive signed up and he got lots of lovely passenger rides around the circuit in all the different types of Porsche, thank you Paragon.

It was 35 degrees, we walked the circuit twice during the week (in the evening) but none of the photos I took showed how high and twisty the circuit is.

The Sports 2000 boys started to turn up on Thursday afternoon, the atmosphere was electric, the F1 garages were huge, we were next to the Swedish boys with their imaculate pinto cars, they spent the whole time tinkering with their cars or eating (they bought a monster BBQ and a full size fridge and freezer, party time).
Qualifying Friday was so exciting, 39 on the grid, tons of Sports 2000 Duratecs and Pintos and some growling prototype cars. Great surprise, we thought we would be left for dust but overall on the grid, not spliting the cars into classes, Rick, Patrick, Chris, Harry and Mike qualified in front of the prototypes, Chris Snowdon and Peter Williams in the other MCRs qualified 9th and 10th behind two prototypes.
Saturday race, wow, very laid back, all the pit crews standing on the track and me hanging over the pit wall taking photos as the cars drove past for the warm up lap. A rolling start and at this stage we were not allowed near the pit wall until after they completed the first lap and what a long wait.  The cars kept thundering past lap after lap, battles going on everywhere all the way through the race and at the end woopee, Patrick 1st, Chris 2nd and Harry 3rd with a prototype 4th (after the Duratecs of course). 

Sunday 40 cars on the grid, positions were determined by the outcome of the Saturday race.  Everyone excitied and again the long wait until we can get to the pit wall to watch.  One prototype shot through to take the lead, Patrick following close behind, Chris and Harry jostling 3rd and 4th, position changes throughout the grid then as the last laps approach, Patrick blows up big time and catches on fire, Rick thunders into 2nd position but the large prototype remains in 1st and Chris finishes 3rd, Peter and Clive in the other MCR's came 10th and 11th overall.  In the Sports 2000 classes overall Chris Yarwood finished 2nd on the podium on both days, well done.
We all celebrated at the wonderful cafe at the bottom of the paddock with its chips and mayonnaise, chocolate/vanilla ice-creams, beer and pic-n-mix shop (yum). The weather was so hot that the very heavy hot downpour of rain was welcome.  Everyone had a wonderful time including the families.

Chris's son Jack Yarwood proudly holding dads champagne / Patricks children, Jasmine and James won't let go of dads trophie / Jasmine dancing in the hot rain

Brands Hatch Circuit 23rd May 2010

Yet another good result for MCR, Patrick Sherrington took another 2nd position, Chris Yarwood 6th, Adrian Langridge 9th, Clive Hayes 13th.  Peter Williams was running 10th but had a puncture in the last laps so didn't finish.

Snetterton Circuit 25th April 2010

Sports 2000 Championship Duratec Class 24 cars on the grid.  Great start to the year for MCR.  Patrick Sherrington took 2nd position (see drivers blog for race report), Chris Yarwood 5th, Peter Williams 12th and Tim Matthews 14th.  Adrian Langridge didn't finish due to damaged gearbox.

2010 Drivers of MCR Race Cars
Patrick Sherrington No.66 MCR car, Chris Yarwood No.5 GPS Engineering car, Peter Williams No.88, Adrian Langridge No.75 SiTech car, Tim Matthews No.8 Anglo American car, Clive Hayes No.12 MCR car.

MCR Race Cars are now suppliers for Varley Red Top Batteries
Designed and engineered to a high specification for motorsport use, Varley Red Top Batteries offer very high performance for race and rally applications.  *  Exceptionally high cranking power  *  High shock and vibration resistance  *  maintenance free sealed construction  * lightweight and compact  *  no topping up  *  can be installed upright or on its side  *  no electrolyte leakage (even if the outer case is damaged)  *  over 50 years motorsport heritage  *  expert technical support.

Sports 2000 Chamionship 2010 provisional dates
Pre season race    27/28 March   Brands Hatch
Championship - 24/25 April - Snetterton,   22/23 May - Brands Hatch,   5/6 June - Cadwell Park
26/27 June - Silverstone,   31 July - Oulton Park International,   29th August - Rockingham,
1/3 October - Silverstone GP,   16/17 October - Brands Hatch Formula (Ford Festival).
Winter Warmer  23/24 October - Brands Hatch or 30/31 October - Snetterton
TBA   1 hr Endurance Race and European Race

Autosport International Show January 2010

MCR Race Car manufacturers joined the Autosports Show once again with MCR’s on the MCR stand and the Sports 2000 Championship stand and had a very successful show.  Visitor numbers seemed to have increased and Thursday and Friday were very fruitful.  Testing has been arranged for January and February and we should see more MCR’s on the circuits for racing, race schools and track days for 2010 season.

Race Car Live 2009
We will be at the Race Car Live Show at Brands Hatch with two of our cars on 21st and 22nd November, come and see us.

30th August 09 - Snetterton 1 hr Endurance Race
The Sports 2000 1 hour Endurance Race was a very exciting race to watch.  Unfortunately we ran the three MCR's on full tanks as we couldn't use the type of refueling can we were expected to use for the stop.  Clive Hayes shared car No.12 with John Hayman of Track and Race Car Magazine and Patrick shared his car with Mike Jenvey from Jenvey Dynamics and  Chris Yarwood drove the race on his own.


Swansea Metropolitan University buy an MCR race car

Secretary of State for Wales, Peter Hain, got behind the wheel of Swansea Metropolitan University's newly aquired MCR Race Car during a visit to the University's new facilities at the famous Pembrey Circuit.

Mr Hain followed in the tracks of the greats of world motorsport when he took to the Carmarthenshire circuit. He was given a tour of Swansea Met's Vehicle Dynamics Centre and officially launched the university's new BSc (Hons) degree in Motorsport Technology.

During his visit, Mr Hain drove the university's latest acquisition, an MCR Sports 2000 racing car which is manufactured in St David's, Pembrokeshire.

Silverstone 1 hour Endurance Race - June 09.

MCR had a very successful Endurance Race run by the Sports 2000 Championship.  MCR took the podium with 1st place Chris Yarwood No. 5 MCR and 3rd place Patrick Sherrington/Mike Jenvey in No.20 MCR.

Race Retro Show - 13-15 March 2009.


Autosport Show 8-11 January 2009 at the Birmingham NEC.
Yet again another very successful show for MCR sports racing car manufacturers, this year we were joined by Luiz Fernandoz Cruz from Brazil, designer of the original MCR.

Track and Race Car Magazine.
MCR joined 2 other race car manufacturers at Bruntingthorpe for a test day.  Track and Race Car Journalist and driver John Hayman tested the three cars for an article to promote the Sports 2000 Championship.  The feature is in the December issue of Track and Race Car magazine. 

Race Car Live Show 22-23 November 2008 at Brands Hatch.
This was a great opportunity for new drivers to see the MCR on the circuit.  Plenty of people enjoyed a passenger ride around Brands Hatch circuit in the MCR with racing driver/MCR Director Clive Hayes behind the wheel.  A very promising young driver Matt Cherrington was let loose in the MCR to test on the circuit. 

Autosport Show 14-17 January 2008 at the Birmingham NEC.
MCR's first show was a great success.  Everyone loved the cars and the first car was sold at the show to Peter Williams a Welsh driver from Brecon.  MCR also took the award for 'Autosport 2008 Best National Motorsport Stand'. This is a great show for British Race Car Manufacturers.