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Home : Travel : Motorsport Magic :

Motorsport Magic

AA teams feel the need for speed

Fans of the track will be pleased to hear that the AA has two racing teams, and they're competing in a raft of events this year. Why not show your support and go along to a race or two.

Historic Racing Team

The AA's Historic Racing Team was established in 2000, largely to give our patrols a fresh platform to display their mechanical skills. Patrols Ian Gillespie, Tony Knott and Andy McMorran provide valuable support.

The team has two drivers – AA Technical Information Specialist Rory Stockbridge competes in 1970s Roadsports championships, in his Lotus Europa FAX 158K. Former AA manager Peter Shaw races in Historic Roadsports, for pre-1970s cars, in his Lotus Elan 423 VHX. The team has even enjoyed success in many competitions, including the Formula 2 championships.

AA historic racing events

30 March, Donington
Stockbridge (70s Roadsports) - 4th

13 April, Cadwell Park
Stockbridge (70s Roadsports) - 3rd
Shaw (Historic Roadsports) - 1st

10-11 May, Silverstone
Stockbridge (70s Roadsports) - 1st
Shaw (Historic Roadsports) - 7th

31 May-1 June, Snetterton
Stockbridge (70s Roadsports) - 2nd
Shaw (Historic Roadsports) - 5th

28-29 June, Brands Hatch
Stockbridge (70s Roadsports) - 3rd
Shaw (Historic Roadsports) - DNF

25/26 July, Silverstone Classic invitation race (non championship)
Stockbridge (Europa) - 6th and 5th
Shaw (Elan) - DNF

3 August, Castle Combe (70s Roadsports race only)
Stockbridge (Europa) - 3rd
Shaw (TVR Tuscan) - 4th

23-25 August, Oulton Park (70s Roadsports race only)
Stockbridge (Europa) - 5th
Shaw (TVR Tuscan) - 7th

13 September, Brands Hatch
4-5 October, Donington Park
18 October, Silverstone

www.aaracing.co.uk - the website for the AA Historic Racing Team

Caterham Roadsport Challenge Team

Last month the AA also launched its Caterham Roadsport Challenge team, who'll be racing in eleven events at seven of the UK's top motor circuits this year.

Sponsored by LSUK, Avis car rental, J&J Conversions, Panasonic, and Selection one recruiting, the Caterham team's novice racing drivers are Steve Ives, the AA's manager of Road Operations Public Sector Development and Scott Illman, a Southampton patrol and former 'AA patrol of the year'.

And then there were four (May 2008)

In May the AA Caterham team doubled in size as Steve and Scott were joined by two "AA associated" drivers, Amit Patel and Graham Tavender.

Though not directly sponsored by the AA, Amit and Graham will share facilities at race meetings and their cars carry the AA race team logo. The picture below shows the whole team (left to right) Steve, Amit, Scott and Graham.

And with expansion came success as Amit scored his first, and the AA Team's first podium position with a first overall at a wind hammered and rain drenched Castle Combe meeting at the end of May.

AA Caterham Roadsports Challenge events

26 May, Castle Combe
Patel - 1st
Tavender - 11th
Illman - 21st
Ives - 26th

22 June, Cadwell Park
Patel - 8th
Tavender - DNF
Illman - 9th
Ives - 16th

12 July, Oulton Park
Patel - 10th (2nd overall in championship)
Tavender - 7th
Illman - 13th
Ives - 23rd

9-10 August, Silverstone
30-31 August, Donington Park
17-18 October, Brands Hatch

Wherever you're heading...

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