1997 Series result

Silverstone International - 30 August 1997

The final round of the Morgan Motor Company Challenge at the Silverstone Summerfest was on Saturday and Sunday 30/31st August. Highly publicised as the ‘Party in the Pits’, attractions included live bands, ballooning, an attempt on the lap record by Ricardo Zonta in the 1998 F1 Jordan and a Kart marathon. The whole event was to raise money for the Lord’s Taverners and over 30,000 people were expected to attend.

In four days, and with the generous support of Peter Morgan, the Morgan Motor Company and Mark Baldwin in particular had assembled some 23 drivers to form a Morgan team for the 6 hour Kart marathon – the first session to be driven by a celebrity.

Qualifying for the Challenge race was on Saturday afternoon and once again it was Peter Garland who set fastest lap. He needed just 5 points from the last race to secure the 1997 Championship from Peter Horsman who would have to win his class and see Peter Garland fail to score the required points in order to take the title. So with 24 entrants, including Matthew Wurr who would start from the back of the grid after racing his Tuscan at Oulton Park on Saturday, the stage was set for an interesting final round of the championship.

By 8.30 on Sunday morning most people in the Paddock were aware of the tragic events which had taken place in Paris during the early hours and, approximately one hour later, we learned that the entire Silverstone event had been cancelled as a mark of respect to Diana, Princess of Wales.

During the following week attempts were made by the BRDC to find us a replacement for the final round of our Championship before the end of the season, but this proved impossible. The Championship standings after the Bentley Drivers’ meeting on the 9th August have therefore determined the final results.

I would like to thank all our drivers and their teams who made such tremendous efforts to be at the Silverstone SummerFest and produce an excellent grid so late in the season.

Thank you too to the Kart team, most of whom were turned away at the gates, and to Kate Orebi Gann for supplying the hospitality.

And so, after a near-perfect season and some brilliant driving, congratulations to the Champion of 1997 – Peter Garland. Second place, and Class E, goes to Peter Horsman – an excellent result in only his second season of racing. And, after their season-long battle, Class D goes to 1996 Champion Martin Kurrein just 1 point ahead of James Paterson. Class B was won by Malcolm Paul and Class C by Peter Sargeant.