Once again Wigton Motor Club has broken new ground in 2018 by sponsoring two young drivers in their differing motorsport disciplines.
The Club, which is the biggest motor club in the north with over 700 members, sponsored Sam Kirkpatrick from Brigham in racing and 18-year-old Jack Palmer from Maryport in autotesting.
Wigton Motor Club draws most of its members from the northern half of Cumbria but has many from a wider area as well. It has twice been the UK Motorsport Motor Club of the Year and its well known for innovative approach to getting more enthusiasts involved in most of the dozen different motorsport disciplines.
Seventeen-year-old Sam Kirkpatrick has just completed a very successful first year in senior motorsport the graduated after five years in karting and he raced in the ultra-competitive Millers Oils MG Trophy: one of the best supported one make saloon car series in the UK. Sam drive an MG ZR in the class B 170 bhp class. Although giving away 20 bhp to the class A cars in race tyres Sam of usually in the leading group.
The season started badly at Silverstone national circuit where he was victim of a first corner incident, resulting in his car being written off. After unfortunately missing the Brands Hatch round, the car was re-shelled, and Sam was finally ready to resume. There were four double header rounds left in the series: Silverstone GP, Donington, Oulton Park and Snetterton. Sam immediately challenged the regular front runners and ended the season with two wins and three second places. He was consistently on the front row in qualifying, including four pole positions.
Sam will continue in the MG Trophy next season with the aim of winning the championship, despite it being his final A-level year. He also aims to race his dad’s historic MGB later in the season in the ultra competitive Equipe GTS series.
Sam has been awarded the Wigton Motor Club External Championship Award for 2018.
2018 was the first year entered in the BTRDA Autotest Championship for Jack Palmer from Maryport running a Vauxhall Nova in class B. Jack entered 5 rounds during the season with much appreciated support from Wigton Motor Club. The rounds were held in Curborough Lichfield, Hartlepool, Wrexham and Shrewsbury with one round closer to home actually in Maryport! Results through the year were mixed but Jack managed 3rd in class on 2 occasions and 1st novice also on 2 occasions.
At the end of the season there is a inter country event that is invitation only and Jack was invited to be the Reserve Nova driver for the England squad, quite an honour for your first year. In 2019 the plan is to enter the BTRDA championship again.
