Hawcrofts claim debut class success in HGTCC

Brothers Rich and Don Hawcroft achieved a series of firsts during the second round of the Heritage Grand Touring Car Challenge at Donington Park last weekend (May 20/21).

Having joined the HGTCC this season in their 1071cc Mini Cooper, the brothers from Hull are racing the least powerful car in the series.

However, a class D victory in the soaking wet race on Sunday was tribute to their determination. Poor handling dogged Saturday's dry race and the brothers were still working on the Mini at 9pm on Saturday evening.

However, it all came together on Sunday, which was Don's first ever race and Rich's first race in the wet!

"Don was very, very nervous and it was also my first ever race in the wet," reported Rich. "But we both loved it! By the end of the race there was three inches of water sloshing around inside the car and I was soaking wet, it was like being inside a washing machine! There was even water dripping from the roof!"

Despite the conditions, they claimed a fine class win and finished eighth overall and were able to head some of the more powerful cars as the terrible conditions suited the Mini very well.

"It's nice to be able to go out in the smallest car, with the smallest engine, and get in amongst the bigger cars," said Rich. "There was so much spray coming off the larger cars that you couldn't see them until you got within about 10 feet of them. What a great race!"