Launched at Silverstone last October, the Generations Trophy has enjoyed meteoric success. The numbers speak for themselves: there were 20 entries at the inaugural race, and there will be 37 at the Donington Historic Festival!

The Generations Trophy was born out of a desire to offer families a competition where they can share the experience of motor racing, at the wheel of a fun and relatively affordable car. The concept is simple: a pre‑1966 MGB, two generations of drivers, a 60‑minute race with a mandatory pit stop (between the 25th and 35th minutes).

At the Donington Historic Festival, 37 crews will line up on the grid, representing 74 drivers, including many debutants. Some pairings will be very evenly matched and quick, such as Rick and Joseph Willmott, Patrick and Aimee Watts, or James and Harvey McBrien, the three families who shared the podium at Silverstone.

The real focus lies elsewhere, however, as Motor Racing Legends Chief Executive Officer Pierre‑Antoine Lecoutour explains (quote below). The series was specifically designed to attract newcomers, allowing them to discover motor racing in a reassuring and safe environment. At Donington, there will be twelve drivers under the age of 25, including 16‑year‑old George Fraser Ker, partnered with his father Nigel. At the other end of the spectrum, Tom Commander (quote below), 80, will introduce his son Matthew, 57, who has never contested a single motor race.

The Generations Trophy was born out of a desire to offer families a competition where they can share the experience of motor racing, at the wheel of a fun and relatively affordable car. The concept is simple: a pre‑1966 MGB, two generations of drivers, a 60‑minute race with a mandatory pit stop (between the 25th and 35th minutes).

At the Donington Historic Festival, 37 crews will line up on the grid, representing 74 drivers, including many debutants. Some pairings will be very evenly matched and quick, such as Rick and Joseph Willmott, Patrick and Aimee Watts, or James and Harvey McBrien, the three families who shared the podium at Silverstone.

The real focus lies elsewhere, however, as Motor Racing Legends Chief Executive Officer Pierre‑Antoine Lecoutour explains (quote below). The series was specifically designed to attract newcomers, allowing them to discover motor racing in a reassuring and safe environment. At Donington, there will be twelve drivers under the age of 25, including 16‑year‑old George Fraser Ker, partnered with his father Nigel. At the other end of the spectrum, Tom Commander (quote below), 80, will introduce his son Matthew, 57, who has never contested a single motor race.

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Pierre-Antoine Lecoutour, Chief Executive Officer, Motor Racing Legends: We are extremely pleased with the enthusiasm the series has generated. It welcomes a large variety of drivers, from the vastly experienced to those making their first steps in the world of motorsport. Winning the race is fantastic, but the core of the series remains in experiences more than podiums. We have no interest in creating an expensive race to the last tenth in car preparation, and to ensure that the series remains true to its ethos, every car competing in the Generations Trophy will be dyno-tested and weighed, every race weekend. Spending money on engine builds to gain a few seconds on track will not pay off. Elite drivers may also serve additional time penalties to help keep the competition balanced.

Lee Maxted-Page, 61, sharing the #8 MGB with his daughter, Lauren, 20: This will be the first ever race for my daughter Lauren, who has just completed her ARDS. We had one day’s testing together at Donington. I was worried what she might think about driving on racing tyres, but after watching her drift through the Craner Curves, the smiles said it all! My only advice to her will be to find her own rhythm and enjoy every minute of the race and the weekend in the paddock, as these are special memories to be able to make together.

Patrick Watts, 70, sharing the #17 MGB with his daughter Aimee, 31: Usually it was me racing with Aimee supporting from the sidelines; now it’s the other way round, with me supporting her in the Porsche Sprint Challenge and advising from the pit wall. So, with the Generations Trophy races, who will be advising whom? Have I taught her too much? We did already race together a couple of times a few years ago in our Mini. For now, I’m getting the car properly sorted and stocking the motorhome with steaks for the barbecue! We can’t wait for Donington. It’s going to be a fun, social weekend, doing our best and heading home with big smiles.

Karsten Le Blanc, 60, sharing the #21 MGB with his son Fabrice, 30: It will be my son Fabrice’s very first race. It’s wonderful for him to get his first taste of racing in such a friendly environment, alongside others for whom Donington will also be a first. We have done a few test days to get him used to running on track with other cars around him, but there’s no doubt that the moment the lights go green will be a nerve‑racking one. The MGB is a great little car to start out in: it handles well, isn’t too powerful, and is eligible for many other racing series. We’re looking forward to a fun weekend, enjoying the whole experience of qualifying and racing, and hopefully seeing the chequered flag, before reliving it all afterwards over a few beers with our fellow competitors. Let’s see just how thick his book of racing drivers’ excuses turns out to be!

Tom Commander, 80, sharing the #68 MGB with his son Matthew, 57: My son Matt has never raced anything before, although he has attended quite a few race meetings. This will be new for me as well, as I’ve never driven a 1960s car. I’ve raced Clubmans cars for many years, so my advice to Matt is simply to avoid accidents like the plague and, above all, to have great fun. I know a few of the Generations Trophy drivers, and it will be good to see how we all get on. Preparations have included new tyres and a significantly depleted wallet. I think the series is a brilliant idea.

Chris Chiles, 74, sharing the #74 MGB with his daughter, Molly, 23: Molly has been coming to race meetings with me since she was a baby, being pushed around the paddock in her pram with earmuffs on. This will be her very first race. We’ve completed a track day to familiarise ourselves with the car and the circuit, and we’ve also studied the regulations. Molly is excited for her first drivers’ briefing, and then we’ll head into qualifying together. Fingers crossed the car runs smoothly, as this is our first event in our recently acquired MGB. My advice to Molly is to concentrate on her lines, watch the flags, drive within her limits, respect others, listen to the car, and enjoy herself. We’re really looking forward to meeting the other teams while enjoying the fantastic hospitality of the MRL Drivers’ Club. Race weekends can have long periods of downtime, and having a space like that to relax and recharge is great. We’ve invited our family to come along and watch the debut of both Molly and the MGB.

Roan Lundy, 24, sharing the #88 MGB with his father, Paul, 62: My dad is still very much a novice racer, and without me being a car‑mad son, I’m not sure he would have ever even sat in a race car. I suppose we slightly contradict the typical “lad and dad” pairing, where the father’s passion is passed down, but that’s what makes it fun. My dad’s first ever time on track was when he was 60 years old — turns out you can teach an old dog new tricks! My father retired to somewhere much sunnier than the UK, without a single race track in the whole country, so his preparation has been very limited. However, I’ve been told he has been visualising the track layout with his eyes closed, often after a few beers. This is the first round of the first season, and we have a full grid. I think that just shows what a great idea Shaun (Lynn) has come up with, and I’m really looking forward to being part of it.

Beanie Reece, 19, sharing the #111 MGB with her father, Mark, 65: My earliest racing memories date back to Castle Combe, when I was about nine years old, watching my dad compete in his rather prehistoric MG. Those moments truly ignited my passion for motorsport and left a lasting impression on me. This is actually my first season racing on four wheels, in the Mini Challenge Trophy Championship. I’ve never driven our MGB, or any historic car, so this will be a completely new experience. It will also be the first time my dad and I have raced together, which is something I’m really looking forward to. Racing alongside my dad is a rare and special opportunity, and I want to embrace it fully and take in every moment.

Sebastian Perez, 63, sharing the #146 MGB with his son, Sebastian, 21: We used to race against each other in the same classic bike race series, but that was on different bikes! I think the MGB is the best classic car for us to get into classic car racing. It is fairly economical, easy to work on, and very friendly and brilliantly fun to drive. We’ve been thoroughly preparing since the start of the year, going through everything with the car, making sure we meet the regulations, testing the car and trying to get up to speed, and ensuring the pit stop will go smoothly. It has taken a bit more preparation than we expected, but now it’s down to making sure we know what we are doing.

Rod Adlington, 60, sharing the #166 MGB with his son, Toby, 26: I last raced in 2008, so it’s been quite a while, and my son has never raced. Toby has just finished a semi‑professional rugby career in Australia, and I’ve used that as an excuse with my wife, and his mother, for us to go motor racing together. The MRL Generations Trophy feels like the perfect series for us. We only bought the car at auction six weeks ago and have managed just one track day at Donington, so it’s going to be a bit of a wild ride. The car is just fantastic to drive on circuit, so much fun and incredibly forgiving. The whole family has fallen in love with Maggie the MG, and she already feels like part of the family. Toby has decided that all racing drivers should be like James Hunt, so he’s invited a lot of friends to come and watch, and he’s also organised a big after‑party. He’s fully embracing the whole experience!

Abigail Simmonds, 31, sharing the #173 MGB with her father, Ian, 63: I’ve grown up spending many a weekend at the track, watching as my dad moved from Radicals, to a Ligier and then into the deep end with a historic F1 car. There’s something special about being at the track in the centre of it all, surrounded by the smells, noise and buzz! The Generations Trophy at Donington Park will be my first race. I am very excited and nervous! I want to gain experience and confidence behind the wheel. All I aim to do is go out, improve, have a good time, and hopefully not be too far behind the rest. My sister and I both passed our ARDS earlier in the year. Since then, we’ve done a few track days in the MGB with my dad. It’s been really useful doing this alongside him and being able to compare data. It’s helped to give me some clear areas on the track where I know I can do better.