The Historic Racing Drivers Club will present a package of races in 2012 to celebrate 50-years of the MGB as a competition car.

After an approach by Barry Sidery-Smith - the acknowledged ‘Godfather’ of MGB racing in the U.K, the HRDC will host a collective of 30-minute, single-driver races for FIA-Appendix ’K’-type historic MGB cars with an invitation class for historically interesting MGB-derived race cars such as the WSM MGB and the Jacques Coune-built MGB Berlinette.

HRDC founder and race director, Julius Thurgood, was upbeat about this new project. "I was thrilled to be asked to help stage these events by Barry. ’Sideways’ got me into racing in the first place and made sure that I bought the right car to start with - the ex-Neville Marriner Prodsport MGB, which I ran successfully in the first Willhire 24-Hours some 30-odd years ago. Like so many would-be competitors that Barry has helped and mentored over the years, Barry took me under his wing and introduced me to circuits such as Spa, Nurburgring, Zandvoort and Chimay. From a personal point of view - and like so many other competitors racing today - I owe Barry a great debt of gratitude for that great start in motor sport. Helping Barry to properly celebrate 50-years of the MGB in racing is a fabulous way to say ’Thank You’ to a man whose generosity of spirit has helped so many enjoy this great sport".

The inaugural race for the HRDC ’MGB50’ will take place at Castle Combe on the 9th April 2012 at the HRDC ’Historica’ race day in association with the Castle Combe Racing Club.

Barry Sidery-Smith - who started racing MGBs at an International level in 1965 - will of course be entered in his famous ex-Works Le Mans MGB ’DRX 255C‘, which will be supported by many of the ex-Works and Works-associated MGB racers.