If you have been following the Drivetribe YouTube channel recently, you will no doubt have seen one of Richard Hammond’s latest project. Hammond recently revealed that he still owns the last car he ever drove on Top Gear, which was an MG MGB. This stunning little car was something he had big plans for. Together with his team at The Smallest Cog, he was going to turn it into a little race car and take it classic car racing.
Over a few videos, Hammond has revealed his plans for the car and then DriveTribe presenter Mike Fernie took it for a shakedown. That shakedown revealed a few niggling issues, but for the most part the car looked absolutely fantastic. Now though, it's time to get serious. The Smallest Cog team and Drivetribe have taken the car to Silverstone for its debut race. Hammond is to become team manager while drivers Abbie Eaton and Anthony Greenhouse will be behind the wheel. This is a big moment for Hammond and his team, as the car makes its debut at one of the world's most challenging race circuits.
A Rocky Road To The MGB’s Debut
As Fernie says in the video, it's been a rocky road to the car's debut event. Race one should have been at Donington, but it had a few issues at that event mainly with the engine. So Silverstone has become its debut event. After scrutineering, the team get the engine warmed up and there is a slight mad rush around the car to get it out on track. Despite that rush though the car does make it out on track with Greenhouse driving first followed by Eaton.
The car does look spectacular out on track, and Fernie manages to grab a quick chat with Hammond after the session. Hammond says it was a bit of a nightmare, after it failed with the belts in the car after scrutineering. It was mad to try and get the car scrutineered again, but they did and Greenhouse put a stunning lap time in of around 1:13:02. That is a couple of seconds quicker than he got the car going in testing. So Hammond is happy as punch with that, and Eaton went out to drive a bit slower to qualify with Greenhouse’s time.
Hammond Seeks A Podium On Their Debut
Hammond starts fifth out of eleven cars in his category meaning there is a chance the team might actually get a podium on debut. Before the race though, Fernie takes us through the little RV that is housing the team over the weekend. It's not the grandest place in the world, but it will certainly do for a race weekend. We even have a dining area with sofa that can serve as a double bed! Hammond himself has plenty of pillows and blankets too, ready for the rest he needs this weekend.
Fernie even catches up with Marcus, the director of the show about Richard Hammond’s workshop. He mentions how it has been a journey, to get the car ready in the first place and to the racetrack. They have all probably underestimated it a little bit both from the production side and the racing side. Marcus says It's probably been a little bit scary for the team, and the issues at Donington were a bit of a reality check for ‘The Cogs’ and the production crew. So they really hope that this race weekend goes well for everyone involved.
The Smallest Cog Goes Racing At Last
Finally, the team go out for their first race. It’s a nerve wracking time, but the car does indeed start the event and Greenhouse is giving it all he can give in the car’s debut. Lap one is all completed without an issue and from then on the team set about doing the best job possible. Greenhouse hands over to Eaton, and Hammond congratulates Greenhouse after his first stint. Eaton, the test driver on The Grand Tour and a W Series driver, gets her foot down and then…sadly, the little MGB expires and brings out the safety car.
Not Quite The Debut That The Team Wanted
This follows some great passes by Eaton to get the car up a couple of places, but sadly she and the car has stopped out on track. The car is then recovered, and they have a look at the engine. It turns out, it did overheat, and it caused the car to cut-out. So luckily, the engine isn’t dead. The car needs some work, but it could have been worse. Eaton sadly only got about three laps in, so it wasn’t the debut she, Greenhouse or the whole team wanted. Hammond though was happy to see how well things went up to the point of the engine cutting out. Hammond and the team have firmly got the racing bug, and they can’t wait to go out again next season. And it should be a full season with the MGB too.
Source: DriveTribe YouTube Channel