NORTHWICH racer Mike Newton was a winner at Le Mans - for the second year running!
The 46-year-old shared the wheel of his MG Lola EX264 with Brazilian Thomas Erdos and Andy Wallace, who won the 24-hour event outright in 1988.
Between them they triumphed in the LMP2 'baby' prototype class, registering Britain's first successive victory. It was an impressive performance in the endurance race at what is the most famous sports car venue in the world.
The car is owned and sponsored by Antrobus man Newton's company AD Group, Warrington-based manufacturer of CCTV systems.
The signs were positive from the start, with Erdos posting the fastest LMP2 time during qualifying thus securing top grid position in class.
During the race proper the MG led the LMP2s for all but a handful of laps, proving fast, rugged and reliable.
AD Group executive officer Newton was driving the car when it crossed the line to take the chequered flag.
He actually managed to overtake a close challenger on the final lap for eighth position overall - the highest finishing position for an LMP2 car.
Newton said: 'It really was a fantastic moment, the stuff from which dreams are made, to repeat last year's success and be in the driving seat right at the very end.
'It's a great feeling to be able to show that last year's win was no fluke and to have dominated the class throughout the race.
'Only Audi with their massive manufacturer's budget achieved the same domination of their class and our winning margin was more than three times theirs.'
On the pit wall to welcome him home were Newton's co-drivers and the rest of the team. It was an emotional moment for everyone with 280,000 fans looking on - not only because the class win of 2005 had been repeated but also because this time they had done it from the front.
AD Group director Adam Wiseberg added: 'It is a testament to the preparation of the team and the drivers and our total domination of the class is underlined by the gap of over an hour to the second-placed car.'
