GT Cup Media Day 2026

GT Cup Media Day – A Day with Triple M Motorsport

I’ve recently struck up a friendship with owner/driver Grahame Tilley, having featured his Ligier LMP3 car in a report a few weeks ago. During that day, he suggested I join him and the Triple M Motorsport team for the GT Cup Championship media launch. I didn’t need asking twice—and so here I am again at Donington Park.

Unfortunately, since that earlier meeting, Grahame has taken ill and made the decision to step back from driving for the time being. Stepping into his seat for this season are two very capable drivers, Mike Taylor and Charlie Digby. The championship features a mix of sprint races and longer endurance events, where both drivers will share duties.

Despite stepping away from the cockpit, Grahame was keen for me to still experience a full day with the team. Triple M were running two cars: Grahame’s Lamborghini Super Trofeo and a Ginetta G56 GT4 driven by Harry Yuill, whom I’ve also featured previously.

Behind the Scenes with Triple M Motorsport

Alan Mugglestone runs Triple M Motorsport with his wife Angela, and their son Nick. Nick has now taken on much of the team’s day-to-day management. However, Alan is far from retired—he was hands-on throughout the day, and it took some persistence to catch him for a chat.

When we did speak, he explained how the team began work on the Lamborghini back in November. As a second-hand car, it required a full strip-down and rebuild. Engine troubles from last season meant a complete rebuild there too. By Christmas, the engine was back in the car, but poor weather delayed proper testing. Thankfully, the eventual shakedown went smoothly.

Alan’s background is remarkable—race winner in British karting, Formula 3 team owner, Formula Ford engine builder, and even an F1 mechanic. Over the past 25 years, he and Triple M Motorsport have supported teams across all levels of racing. Alan has contributing to more than 40 British, European, and World titles, including two victories at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

He also casually mentioned working with a young driver during his Ginetta Junior days—none other than Lando Norris. Not a bad name to have on your CV.

Preparing the Cars

The team had arrived the evening before to set up—garages filled with tools, equipment, and carefully arranged workspaces. Watching the preparation process was fascinating.

Before heading out, the cars are warmed up using a surprisingly sophisticated method. Laptops are plugged in to monitor sensors, and the cars are run in gear—with rear wheels fitted without tyres—to warm both engine and gearbox. A clever and slightly nerve-wracking setup, given the cars sit raised on air jacks.

Once warmed, it’s a full inspection: fluids checked, components tightened, and wheels fitted properly before the drivers head out.

What made things even more impressive was that both Mike Taylor and Charlie Digby had never driven a Lamborghini Super Trofeo before. Yet by lunchtime, they were the fastest car on track—a testament to both their ability and the team’s preparation.

Timing and Technology

While standing on the pit wall, I noticed Alan constantly checking his phone. Not watching videos—but monitoring live timing via the TSL app, which tracks every car’s position and lap times down to a thousandth of a second. It’s available to anyone and gives a fascinating insight into the action in real time.

A Close Call

Mid-morning brought a brief moment of concern. The Lamborghini came to a halt on track, triggering red flags. Given last season’s engine troubles, fears immediately turned to the worst. Fortunately, the issue was far less serious—low fuel meant the pickup couldn’t supply the engine. A relief for everyone involved.

Another interesting detail: every time the car returned to the garage, it was lifted, wheels removed, and tyres taken to warmers. This ensures they stay at optimal temperature, avoiding wasted laps bringing them back up to heat.

Driver Insights

During the lunch break, I spoke with both drivers.

Charlie Digby began his career in Ginetta GT5 before stepping away for several years to focus on university and career. Returning last season, he finished third overall in Ginetta GTA with multiple wins and podiums. His performances led to an opportunity with Triple M and a drive in the Lamborghini this year. When asked how he felt, he simply said:
“The weather is good, I’m driving a Lamborghini—life doesn’t get any better.”

Mike Taylor followed a different route, joining the Ginetta GT Academy and winning the championship in his rookie year. After moving up a class and facing some tough racing incidents, he stepped back briefly before returning strongly. Now offered a seat by Grahame, he described the opportunity as beyond his expectations and is clearly eager for the season ahead.

The Final Challenge

Back out on track in the afternoon, things were going well. Unfortunately a small pool of oil appeared beneath the Lamborghini in the garage.

Nick made the call to bring the car in. Diagnosing an oil leak in a tightly packed Lamborghini engine bay—barely a foot off the ground—is no easy task. Body panels were removed, and both Nick and Scott worked tirelessly to locate the issue.

Eventually, the culprit appeared to be the sump plug with a likely stripped thread. Not worth the risk of catastrophic engine failure, the team made the sensible decision to end the day’s running for the Lamborghini.

Meanwhile, the Ginetta, driven by Harry Yuill, ran faultlessly all day. Giving Harry valuable seat time with the upgraded engine ahead of the season.

Photographic Post Script

It was an enjoyable and insightful day, and I’m grateful to Triple M Motorsport for allowing me to be part of it. Hopefully, I stayed out of the way!

Best of luck to the team for the upcoming season—and from everyone at Triple M, Mike Taylor, and Charlie Digby, we wish Grahame Tilley a speedy recovery.

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