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All photographs copyright (c) Kelvin Fagan 2002

As the sprint race got underway the rain started and persisted throughout the race. After starting from 6th on the grid Anthony Reid had moved up into 4th until the safety car was employed on lap four when the Proton of Bennett left the circuit at Taylors Hairpin. Anthony made his way past Thompson and Priaulx up into second place behind Neal. Anthony continued to drive a steady race to secure 2nd place and his 5th podium place of the season. Commenting on his success, Anthony said: “I really enjoyed it. It’s the sort of weather I’m used to coming from Scotland and the MG handles these conditions really well. Just disappointing I couldn’t catch Matt Neal and we didn’t have chance to change the dry set-up but I’m really pleased for MG.” After a difficult qualifying session Warren’s run of bad luck continued when he failed to finish the race. With 11 laps to go he left the circuit and finished the race in the gravel at Duffus. Warren commented: “I’m gutted. It’s been a terrible weekend all-round so far. I made a good start from the middle of the pack and early on I was behind Harvey trying to fight my way through. It was so difficult to see in the wet conditions and when I tried to pass him I locked up and couldn’t stop, ending up in the tyre barrier.”

Feature Race
Weather/Track: Raining / Wet
MG ZS Car no. 11 Anthony Reid Position: 6th
MG ZS Car no. 12 Warren Hughes Position: DNF

The rain continued relentlessly throughout the afternoon, which resulted in the opening five laps of the race were behind the safety car. As it was declared fit to race Anthony Reid set off on what was to be a treacherous race. Anthony said: “I was carrying a lot of ballast which doesn’t help in these conditions. Considering I started out on the front row I’m a little disappointed to finish 6th.” Warren’s race was always going to be difficult when starting from the back of the grid. His weekend troubles continued when midway through the race he came off the circuit at Taylors Hairpin. Disappointed Warren commented: “That race just about sums up my weekend. I made an early pit stop and came out battling with Slight. I couldn’t see where I was going but desperate to make progress. I made a move coming in Taylors (Hairpin), aquaplaned under breaking and went into the gravel trap.” Rob Oldaker, managing director, MG Sport & Racing added: “We managed to secure a second position in the opening race but disappointed with the result from the feature race. With Anthony securing second on the grid I hoped we’d achieve a better result than we did. It was always going to be a lottery in these weather conditions.” Dick Bennetts, managing director, WSR commented: “The Scottish climate came into its own which was beneficial to us in the sprint race with Anthony on the podium, but not so in the feature race. It was nice to see Colin complete his hat-trick getting his third Independents win in a row.”

Team Atomic Kitten:
Colin Turkington had a mixed weekend when finishing 8th overall (Independents Cup win) in the sprint race but failed to finish the feature race. Commenting on the weekend overall Colin said: “ Winning the independents from the rear of the grid in the first race was good, I’m really pleased. In the feature race the balance of the car felt really good. I got clipped by Slight coming out of the Hairpin and it took me out. But, I’m closing the gap in the independents cup.” Gareth Howell’s weekend was much of the same when failing to finish in the sprint race and securing 13th in the feature race following a drive through penalty due to an alleged team pit lane infringement. Gareth said: “I didn’t get a particularly good start in the sprint race. I was leading the independents and was managing to keep Colin at bay when I made an error and loss the car at the Hairpin. I started well in the feature race and at one point led the race. We had an incident in the pit lane which resulted in a penalty and I dropped down the field.”

Report by MG Sport and Racing
http://www.mg-xpower.com/