IT S BEEN another successful season for Philip Goddard in the Power Torque Morgan Motor Company Challenge. Driving a class C Morgan, which is more than 20 years old, Mr Goddard won his class championship last year. He has now scooped the overall title,

IT'S BEEN another successful season for Philip Goddard in the Power Torque Morgan Motor Company Challenge.

Driving a class 'C' Morgan, which is more than 20 years old, Mr Goddard won his class championship last year.

He has now scooped the overall title, winning nine races out of nine.

And now he is hoping to make it a clean sweep when he enters the final meeting at Castle Combe this weekend.

Mr Goddard said he had been involved with motor racing since 1991.

"A friend of mine raced Morgans and was always trying to get me to have a drive," he said.

"Eventually he said he'd lend me his car for three months, and offered to sell it to me at the end of that time if I liked it.

"Four months later I was on the grid at Silverstone."

After his success of the past two years, Mr Goddard has set his sights on moving up to the more powerful 'B' class next season.

"Obviously it's gone very well for me this year. I've agreed to buy a 'B' class car for next year, and that will present new challenges as there are a lot of good drivers in that class," he said.

This season Mr Goddard has forged a fierce rivalry with one particular driver - his wife Sharlie.

She has been racing in class 'C' for the first time, although her participation in this week's race is touch and go after she was involved in high speed crash at the last meeting.

"I hit a tyre wall at 90mph. I've hurt my arm a bit, but apart from that I'm OK," she said.

"The car is in the garage at the moment, and we're hoping it will be ready on time."

Mr Goddard says that one of the most enjoyable aspects of racing is the camaraderie between the drivers.

"We always try to make sure everyone gets on the starting grid," he said.

"If someone is short of a part or two, one of the other drivers will usually have a spare they can lend them.

"Once the racing starts it's a different story!