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In a season filled with some highly impressive performances
at MSV circuits and in MSV-run championships, we've
picked ten of our heroes from a memorable 2017.
The drivers and riders on this list have helped make
2017 another great year for MSV. Many have won races and
championships, wowing the crowds along the way. The
list is in alphabetical order rather than by merit, and we're sure
everyone featured here will have much to celebrate over
the holiday season. We look forward to seeing many of them back in
2018!
Enaam Ahmed
The 2017 BRDC British Formula 3 Champion won the title in
emphatic style, but it was the manner of Enaam Ahmed's progress
through the season that impressed so much. From winning all three
races at Oulton Park, a successful start at Rockingham turned sour
in the following two rounds. Enaam's response was to work on his
qualifying and avoid mid-pack clashes in races. He cracked this at
Snetterton, then halted the challenges of first Toby Sowery, then
Ben Hingeley, as well as Carlin teammates James Pull and Cameron
Das.
Rod Birley
West Kingsdown's serial race-winner chalked up his
600th victory in the spring, but this wasn't enough for
Rod Birley. The veteran racer had his sights set on cult hero Gerry
Marshall's record of 625 wins, although he didn't think it would
come in 2017. By the autumn the target was within reach, and Rod
entered as many races as possible at his local circuit so he could
break the record 'at home'. The dream seemed to be over when he
crashed on the run to the line at the Truck Racing and Fireworks
meeting in November, almost destroying his Escort WRC. Rob had a
backup car, however, a Honda Integra prepared by the Bevan family
that worked on his first race car. Despite still being in recovery
from his high-speed smash, Birley claimed the record at the final
meeting of the year, November's Britcar 'Into the Night' event.
Shane Byrne
Shakey may have entered the 2017 season as a five-time British
Superbike Champion, but he'd never successfully defended a title in
the series. It looked as though this run was set to continue at
various points in the season, such as the warm-up shunt that ruled
him out of the Donington opener. Rival Leon Haslam led the Showdown
by 33 points heading into the Brands Hatch finale, but Shakey kept
his cool, whittled the gap down to two points and was in prime
position to capitalise when Haslam crashed out of the decider. He
now holds six titles, three more than any other rider in the
championship's history.
Leon Haslam
Shakey wasn't the only hero in the BSB field this year. A double
victory in the opening rounds at home circuit Donington Park handed
Haslam the initiative in the championship. He lost ground at Oulton
Park, but on the crucial Showdown phase he took control of the
title standings. A useful 33-point lead meant he headed to Brands
Hatch set to lift his first major motorcycling championship, but
instead he ended the weekend in hospital after a high-speed crash
at Hawthorns in the finale. Nevertheless, he insisted on
congratulating his rival on the grid after the race, despite a
broken ankle - true grit.
Mika Makinen
Surely the owner of the fastest name in motorsport, Mika Makinen
brought Finnish flair to British Truck Racing this year. He'd
already served notice of intent at 2016's Truck Racing and
Fireworks event, but still surprised with his 'win from anywhere'
style at the season-opening event in March. The victories kept
coming, and no-one in his Division 2 class was able to consistently
beat Makinen, so he arrived at Brands Hatch in November already
confirmed as the category champion. Unsurprisingly this did nothing
to stop him from entertaining once again on the final weekend of
the season. We hope to see more from him in 2018.
Billy Monger
The story of Billy Monger's 2017 was undoubtedly the most
inspiring of the year. Already a regular in the BTCC support
paddock, he was competing in the British F4 Championship at
Donington Park on Easter Sunday when involved in a horrific crash.
Thousands of viewers saw his accident live on TV and before his
condition was confirmed a charity effort had already raised almost
£1M. Just days shy of his 18th birthday both his lower
legs had to be amputated, but within weeks he was back in the
paddock, soon behind the wheel of a racing car and was walking
again by the end of October. Billy now plans to race at Le Mans,
and we very much suspect this will be just the beginning of his
ambitions.
Rick Parfitt Jr
Bentley boys Rick Parfitt Jr and teammate Seb Morris were
crowned British GT Champions after a typically dramatic season
finale at Donington Park. In doing so, Parfitt became the first
driver to have claimed both the GT3 and GT4 titles, the latter won
with Ginetta back in 2013. For Parfitt Jr, it was a great personal
triumph, coming just months after the death of his father, Status
Quo legend Rick Parfitt, as well as his ongoing battle against
Chrohn's Disease.
Special mention should also go to Morris, whose performances as
the pro driver in the team ensured that the Bentley crew beat GT
experts that included Jonny Adam and Phil Keen.
Jonathan Rea
The Northern Irishman won his third consecutive World Superbike
Championship title, with a remarkable 16 victories from the 26
rounds. The most treasured of these will surely be the win at
Donington Park in May, only his second home success in the series.
It didn't look especially likely in race one when he crashed at the
Craner Curves after losing the lead to teammate and serial
Donington winner Tom Sykes, but Rea held his nerve and got his
revenge in the second encounter, beating Sykes to top the
podium.
Several months later, Rea was nominated for the BBC Sports
Personality of the Year award and was delighted to be placed
runner-up in the public vote.
Ash Sutton
New British Touring Car Champion Ashley Sutton was the undoubted
star of the tin-top season. Whilst Colin Turkington and Gordon
Shedden were as impressive as ever in their title challenges,
Subaru's young charger took no prisoners on his way to his maiden
title. A literally pointless weekend at Brands Hatch was quickly
turned around with a gritty drive at Donington Park and his title
attack kicked off with a win at Oulton Park. A stunning Snetterton
weekend netted two wins and (briefly) the title lead, before
fending off Turkington's late challenge on the Brands Hatch Grand
Prix circuit to lift the coveted trophy.
Tom Sykes
This was the year that Tom Sykes finally lost a World Superbike
Championship race at Donington Park, but that takes nothing away
from the Yorkshireman's stunning performance. A remarkable
nine-race winning streak at the East Midlands venue ended with a
second-place finish to Kawasaki team-mate Jonathan Rea. Whilst the
2013 champion may have been disappointed not to get the new record
for consecutive wins at a single circuit (previously held by Carl
Fogarty) into double figures, he'll have been pleased with the
manner in which he achieved it. Kicking off with pole position, it
included a fight back from an early error, a lead battle with Rea,
and ended with a 16-second lead of local hero Leon Haslam and Alex
Lowes. Not a bad afternoon's work.
You can enjoy many more great moments with MSV's range
of 2017 Season Passes, available from £85. Click here for more information or to purchase
a pass.
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