BRIT WINS MX-5 GLOBAL CUP PLACE

Allwood will race at Laguna Seca

Mazda MX-5 racer Oliver Allwood has won a place in the Global MX-5 Cup event at Laguna Seca in September after a shootout at Barcelona earlier this month.

Allwood was leading the points in the BRSCC’S MX-5 Mk1 championship at the end of May and therefore won a place in the European final. He was then one of five successful racers to secure a drive in the American event.

“I was a little surprised to get a place but I’m really excited about it,” said Allwood, who is in his second full season of racing MX-5S. “The weekend in Barcelona was quite nerve-wracking and tough – there were a lot of good drivers so to get selected is pretty special.

“My expectation was it was going to be who was the fastest but they had multiple disciplines. There was drifting, short circuit racing, sim racing, fitness tests as well as driving the Global Cup car. It was all about consistency and making progression. The difficulty was knowing how far you needed to push because I didn’t want to make a mistake.

“The other drivers weren’t complete novices, even those that had won the sim racing competition, so I am very pleased to get a place.”

He had to quickly turn his attentions back to Britain as he took part in the latest Mk1 races at Brands Hatch last weekend, finishing sixth and fifth.

Allwood was one of two AB Motorsport drivers to take part in the event, with Jack Sycamore from the 750 Motor Club’s MX-5 Cup also competing. Team boss Ali Bray said: “This year is unbelievable for the team. It’s good to have a large amount of great drivers.

“I said to Oliver and Jack regardless of what happens, they still need to think about winning [their own] titles!”

Alan Henderson, from the MX-5 Supercup, was the other driver to make it to Barcelona.