Snetterton - Event Report

The 2026 Miata Trophy season roared into life on Saturday 14 March, with the technical Snetterton 300 circuit hosting the opening two rounds of the year.

It would prove to be a day to remember for Hills Motorsport’s James Cossins, who battled hard to win two highly competitive races and start the year in the best way possible. Both Oliver Allwood (AB Motorsport) and Declan Lee (Hills Motorsport) will also look back fondly on the weekend, with the pair both recording double podium finishes.

Qualifying

2024 Miata Trophy Champion John Langridge (Project 29:7 Racing) was amongst those to hit the ground running in qualifying, trading fastest lap times with Cossins in the early stages. It looked to be Cossins who would end the session on top and, on his final lap, a strong time of 2m12.639s confirmed it would be the #24 driver who would be the first polesitter of 2026.

Allwood pipped Langridge’s best time by a mere 0.007s to start on the front row, while Lee would start the day’s first race from fourth on the grid.

Simon Baldwin, James Blake-Baldwin, Tyler Mcalpin, Jack Brewer, Kamal Kalsi and Max Brown rounded out the top ten fastest qualifiers.

Race One

A stellar opening lap by Allwood saw the AB Motorsport driver storm into the lead. Cossins was immediately hot on the leader’s heels looking to reclaim the position, while having to be wary of a number of fast-starting rivals behind – such as Langridge, Lee and Baldwin. Only 0.865s covered the top five over the line after the first lap, signifying that Miata Trophy was shaping up to be as competitive as ever in 2026.

Despite Allwood’s best efforts, Cossins had managed to retake the race lead, but still with a train of cars all jostling for the three podium spots. There was action aplenty as the race progressed, with drivers such as Elliot Lettis (Lettis Racing) and Damon Wellman (Fillies Mazda) making solid progress through the field.

As the race reached its latter stages, Cossins had utilised the battling cars behind to build a solid buffer to win the opening round of the 2026 Miata Trophy season!

Allwood fended off rivals to finish second, while Lee managed to keep Langridge behind by only 0.185s to finish the race third in an exhilarating dash to the finish line. Mcalpin, Kalsi, Max Brown, Brewer, Drew Fletcher and Baldwin completed the top ten.

Cossins recorded the fastest lap of the race, courtesy of a time of 2m13.431s.

Race Two

A twist to Miata Trophy’s format in 2026 sees the grid for the day’s second race determined by the initial qualifying session, but with the top-15 reversed. This saw NorthWest Racing’s Jack Hodges start from pole position, alongside Alex Miller (Project 29:7 Racing).

Miata Trophy has become known for its close-quarter, competitive racing and the refreshed format only added to the excitement. There was overtaking aplenty as the field all battled around the opening lap, with Brewer storming from seventh on the grid to lead the field. Fletcher was in hot pursuit behind, just 0.298s off the leader, while Allwood and Lee had made stellar progress through the field.

By the end of the third lap, Allwood and Lee’s charge saw them directly behind Brewer, with all three cars within 0.500s of each other.  Things would then heat up further, with previous race winner Cossins joining the battle for the front, with Mcalpin in tow.

The quartet battled hard for the remainder of the race, putting on a fantastic spectacle for those watching on at Snetterton. Positions continued to trade until the very last lap, when James Cossins took the checkered flag first to secure an excellent double victory. It was the first time in the race that Cossins had led a lap over the line, eventually only pipping Allwood by 0.690s. Lee only just missed out on second by a mere 0.180s, but will be pleased with a solid points haul and double podium.

Mcalpin held on to fourth by only 0.150s over Brewer, while Langridge, Brown, Antrobus, Kalsi and Fletcher rounded out the top ten.

Lee posted the fastest lap of the race with a 2m13.566s, while the MX-5 Owners Club in attendance awarded Hills Motorsport’s William Antrobus the Driver of the Day award for two solid performances on championship debut.

Miata Trophy returns in less than a month (Sunday 12 April) on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit for Rounds 3 & 4.

Ensure your space on the grid by entering today.

Photo: Gary Hawkins Photography