AND THEY'RE OFF TO A FLYING START

HSCC JIM RUSSELL TROPHY MEETING SNETTERTON, 25-26 APRIL 2026

MARCUS PYE

A weekend of unseasonably warm, sunny weather at Snetterton greeted competitors from 16-year-old rookie to seasoned veteran of 89, support teams, marshals and officials for the HSCC’s landmark 60th Anniversary season starter.

The Jim Russell Trophy meeting celebrated the Norfolk hero, 1955-1956-1957 National F3 champion, entrepreneurial racing school pioneer and, in 1967, a founding father of the Formula Ford training ground which changed the course of motorsport history. In its Historic [Pre-’72] and Classic [Pre-’82] timelines, FF1600 took centre stage, with strong entries. Everybody present also enjoyed a glimpse of 500cc F3 racing, in which Jim Russell’s 1956 title-winning Cooper-Norton competed.

Another champion of Formula Ford, Merlyn manufacturer Clive Hayward’s contribution to the category was recognised by a Sunday marque parade – led by Benn Tilley in Adam Sykes’ ex-Charlie Kolb 1962 Mk3 Formula Junior – and specially commissioned flags and stickers marking Clive’s 80th birthday next month.

The mechanical engineer loved the racing and paddock camaraderie with his daughter Caroline, son-in-law Jack and young grandsons Christopher and Alex, and graciously presented the HFF winner’s trophy to Jomo driver Benn Simms, who reminded Clive that his first championship title in 1998 was landed in a Merlyn Mk20 he designed.

The 70s & Historic Roadsports contingent also responded strongly to their co-ordinators’ spring bugle call, justifying split grids. Numbers were also promising in Historic FF2000 – in which 1979 EFDA Euroseries Champion Adrian Reynard, 75, netted a podium place as his eponymous cars prevailed once more – and the photogenic Alfa Romeo/Italian Intermarque set. The clashing Monaco GP Historique took away some driver/preparers, but Saturday’s Guards Trophy action was also superb.

SDC CLASSIC FORMULA FORD CHAMPIONSHIP

FROM TOP LEFT CLOCKWISE: JORDAN HARRISON, JESUS SAVES VAN DIEMEN RF79, TOM GADD, NUMANAIR/MIKE MACKONOCHIE RF81, RICK MORRIS, ROYALE RP29, GRAHAM PAYNE, SENNA TRIBUTE VAN DIEMEN RF80

The SDC Classic Formula Ford protagonists provided the event’s closest finish on Saturday, when triple champion Jordan Harrison and Tom Gadd finished thirty one thousandths of a second apart after 15 scintillating

In a change from his Lola T540E, Harrison is driving the Jesus Saves charity’s Van Diemen RF79 which UK-domiciled Brazilian Adriano Medeiros qualified quickest last year. Series sophomore Gadd grabbed pole with a 1m20.072s (89.20mph) lap in the Numanair/Mike Mackonochie tribute RF81. “Having the right ratios helps,” grinned new father Tom, joined on the front row by 79-year-old Rick Morris (Royale RP29), thus reuniting the pair who won last year’s openers here. Cal Bennett (Van Diemen RF80), Harrison - his run foreshortened by a broken gear selector fork - and returnee Simon Toyne, Historic class in his Winkelmann WDF2, were also in the 20s.

Scott Rawlinson was best Merlyn rep, tuition from Tom McArthur – aka ‘Tommy Mac’ – manifesting itself in sixth overall aboard his ‘Green Goddess’ Mk11A run by David Bailey, son of period Titan ace Ken. A remarkable seventh was 16-year-old race debutant George Penlington in the Royale RP26 dad David last raced 20 years ago. A novice, with no karting experience, George’s first sight of Snetterton was on the day, making his performance the more meritorious! Chris Porritt (Titan Mk6) was eighth, ahead of Van Diemen quartet Stuart Kestenbaum (RF81), veteran Swiss visitor Jo Zosso (RF80), Graham Payne – in Bates Motorsport’s Ayrton Senna tribute RF81 which attracted much attention 45 years on – and the on-form Ben Hadfield (RF79).    

In the thick of the pack, Chris Edwards started his rare PRS RH02 13th, in the company of Nick Sheppard (Merlyn Mk11A), Richard Yeomans (Royale RP24) and Coupe des Dames leader Grace Bates in her reliveried Van Diemen RF80 ‘Valerie,’ five places clear of rival Murron Parkington (ex-Eddie Irvine Crossle 32F). Seventeenth placed Russell Giles (RF77), was the last driver within five seconds of pole at this point. Alongside him in the 22 car field sat newcomer Alan Williamson (RF81), with Kevin Williams (Merlyn Mk20A), Mike Saunders (PRS RH01), Parkington and Remy Brooks-Johnson whirly-wheeled Royale RP26 over his shoulder.

Gadd and Morris leapt ahead as the red lights went out to start Saturday’s race, with Bennett and Harrison in pursuit. Harrison led by lap 5, after which he and Gadd duelled to the chequered flag in sensational style. Having lost the tow, Morris did not expect to better third, but narrowly repelled Bennett who has raised his game with father Jeremy’s support at Nemesis Racing. Toyne finished a Historic class-topping fifth in the orange Winkelmann [a Palliser, rebranded for the US market], 15 seconds ahead of Rawlinson, with Penlington snapping at his heels, confidence growing by the lap.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: RICHARD YEOMANS, ROYALE RP24, JO ZOSSO, VAN DIEMEN RF80, GRACE BATES, VAN DIEMEN RF80,

Kestenbaum, Sheppard – going well in his Nigel Grant-run Merlyn – and Zosso rounded out the top 10, with Payne and Hadfield not far adrift. Giles, Williamson and Bates, recovering from a sluggish start to better her Q-time, were lapped on the penultimate circuit. Everybody circulated comfortably within 1m28s, marking good improvements as only Porritt and Richard Yeomans (engine) dropped out.

On Sunday, Gadd repeated 2025’s 2-1 sequence, besting Harrison by 1.774s in another gripper. Again they traded the lead repeatedly, but Tom, who had misjudged the timing countdown on Saturday, learned from his error. Lappery was the final arbiter, for after Gadd had carved into traffic at Riches, Harrison’s retaliatory efforts were thwarted. “I almost had to stop when Ben Hadfield missed a gear in front of me as we accelerated out of Nelson. That enabled Tom to get away, but both races were great fun,” he said. Both cars were powered by Historic FF title sponsor Barnett Racing Engines [BRE] units incidentally.

Morris, an Formula Ford Festival pioneer in the inaugural BRSCC event at Snetterton in 1972, was third again. Young Cal Bennett returned another fourth, recovering determinedly from a spin at Murray’s on Sunday to pip Rawlinson. With Toyne absent, Scott bagged fifth and Historic honours, finishing ahead of Penlington who showed combative spirit en route to sixth, with fights on his hands, and hooked “a triple tow” to be quickest at 120.6mph down the Bentley Straight for much of the race. Only Harrison’s 121.7mph topped it. Kestenbaum repassed Zosso for seventh, while Payne - who first raced FF1600s in the early 1980s - won the ‘Senna’ scrap with Alan Williamson, who slipped back having led it for much of the encounter.

HSCC HISTORIC FORMULA FORD

FROM TOP LEFT CLOCKWISE: BEN SIMMS, JOMO JMR 7, BUSY HISTORIC FORMULA FORD PACK, DANNY STANZL, CROSDLE 167F, JULIAN STOKES, MERLYN MK20A

The Historic FF races were no less competitive in the thick of things, although quadruple champion – three HFF crowns since 1998 and 2024’s Classic title – Benn Simms ran away with them in his rare Jomo JMR7. Now busy building Kent engines for customers, Simms cut a brilliant 1:19.147 (90.24mph) to land pole, from Toyne and Elden convert Danny Stanzl (Crossle 16F). Returnee Rob Wainwright upheld the Hampsheir brothers’ honour with fourth in his Elden Mk8, entered by local 500cc F3 sage Pete Wright. Rob was joined in the 21s by Chris Porritt (Titan Mk6), Irishman Cormac Flanagan (Alexis Mk14) and Mark Wilkes and Ross Drybrough in their Merlyn Mk20s.

The multi-marque mix harboured Paul Unsworth (Lola T200), David Squire (Hawke DL2), Greville Ball - proud owner of the ex-Emerson Fittipaldi/Colin Vandervell/Jody Scheckter/Frank Sytner Merlyn Mk11 – in his American Caldwell D9, and a fabulous quartet of Lotuses. These gridded together, with the cigar-tube 51Bs of Gareth Jones and Jason Wilkinson sandwiching the 61 wedges of Nigel Adams and Dick Dixon. Among a gaggle of Merlyns, meanwhile, were Kevin Stanzl, 2009 champion Westie Mitchell. Julian Stokes, Chris Willoughby, Nick Sheppard, 18-year-old John Milicevic – making his race debut under dad Jon’s watchful eye – and newcomer Ben Potts. Paul Fines-Allin (Titan Mk6) brought up the rear.  

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: JOHN MILICEVIC, MERLYN MK20, ROB WAINWRIGHT, ELDEN MK8, CHRIS WILLOUGHBY, MERLYN MK20

Simms scarpered out of the blocks on both days, calmly rattling off the laps while rivals chased in vain. His 1m19.731 (89.58mph) fastest lap was six tenths better than those of his well-matched pursuers. Wainwright and Toyne swapped places numerous times in his wake on Saturday, Rob getting the verdict by 0.357s. Danny Stanzl ran fourth throughout, while Flanagan, Wilkes and Drybrough disputed fifth and the Over 50s division. Wilkes prevailed over Drybrough and Unsworth after Flanagan parked with overheating. First of the five novices was Milicevic, 14th, ahead of Jones, Ball, Wilkinson and Potts.

Sunday’s race saw Wainwright runner-up again, this time under pressure from kerb-hopper Wilkes who had aced a super tussle with Danny Stanzl and Drybrough as Flanagan rocketed up the order from the back. Cormac wound up fifth, with Kevin Stanzl and Unsworth classified next after Drybrough – sixth past the chequer – was penalised five seconds for exceeding track limits and fell to eighth. Mitchell and Willoughby were next home, while the super consistent Jones earned the novice award, beating Ball and Milicevic.

500CC FORMULA 3

FROM TOP LEFT:CLOCKWISE: JAMES HUNT, COOPER MK6, GEORGE SHACKLETON, COOPEWR MK11, DOUGLAS MCLAY, COOPER MK8, CLAUDE CRESPIN, COOPER MK9

The 500cc F3 races were utterly dominated by George Shackleton in his Cooper-Norton Mk11 which arrived in a superb period Ford Thames van bedecked in Cooper Car Company signwriting. George and father Robin’s preparation work appeared to pay dividends as rivals from the 13 – including 1970s Dorset Racing Lola sportscar racer Claude Crespin from Belgium with buddy Jean-Claude van Gucht’s ex-Paul Swaelens Cooper-Norton Mk9 – fell to wholesale mechanical recalcitrance. Having qualified P2, a second from Shackleton’s 1:37.318 (73.39mph) pole, reigning champion Alex Wilson did not get a race lap in as magneto issues bedevilled his Guernsey-flagged Cooper’s Manx Norton on its out laps.

Third qualifier Richard Kelly – in Jim Russell’s 1956 championship winning Cooper-Norton Mk10 - was quickest through the Bentley Straight speed trap at close to 100mph on Saturday. Despite coasting from the pit entrance to the finish line, out of methanol, so far ahead of the rest was Kelly that he still finished second, a minute and a quarter behind the flying Shackleton. Andy Raynor and - from the back following magneto problems – former F3000 Lola racer Richard Fuller also went the distance.

Jonathan Morris, quickest of the JAP-engined runners in his South African Waye, miscued to find the assembly area gate closed, thus non-started along with Brian Jolliffe, 89, in his Cooper-JAP. On ANZAC day, RAF 29th Squadron veteran Chris Wilson – Alex’s jet engine specialist father – earned class honours in his ex-works ‘all black’ 1948 Cooper-JAP Mk2, a New Zealand barn find he restored. A super Saturday evening paddock barbeque underlined the 500 Owners’ Association’s special camaraderie. 

Sunday’s race lost Wilson Jr and Kelly before it started, while Jolliffe tripped in the paddock and headed home with his crewman to Southampton. That left 10, and Shackleton outran Raynor by 65 seconds. Fuller chased hard, finishing third with his yellow Cooper-Norton behind Raynor’s unpainted one. Morris won the early JAP division in fourth, ahead of Chris Wilson after an early tussle with Chas Reynolds’ forward control Kieft, which slowed and retired. Cooper-mounted James Hunt, Crespin, Doug McLay (ex-Bob Gerard Mk8) and Simon Hewes (ex-Stuart Lewis-Evans Mk8) – for whose late father Paul’s trophy they raced – also reached the chequered flag.  

HISTORIC FORMULA FORD 2000

Two more winners’ trophies went back across the county line into Suffolk when the Lackford Engineering Historic FF2000 Championship brigade hit the track. From Bury St Edmunds – like half-litre star Shackleton – last year’s runner-up Ben Glasswell started his 2026 campaign with a perfect score. On pole with a 1:16.494 (93.37mph) effort, he was 0.214s swifter than Pukka Pies boss Andrew Storer as combatants reacquainted themselves with Avon [Nova] tyres, having run American Hoosiers in recent seasons. If Glaswell looked super confident on home soil, Jonathan Hair’s Friday testing pace kept him focused.

Glasswell break at the start of Saturday’s race was nullified by a full course caution. Not for the recovery of John Moore’s Delta, live snatched onto a flatbed truck having clonked the outside barrier after Riches on lap 3, but for HFF2000 chairman Colin Wright’s green Reynard, beached on the apex kerb at Wilson [aka “The Searpin”] with a buckled wishbone, having been squeezed during lappery. At the green Glasswell tore clear again, finishing 3.785s ahead of Storer who narrowly repelled Jonty Hair to the chequer.

Fresh from his first race at Zandvoort since the cars were new, Adrian Reynard – quickest through timing partner TSL’s Bentley Straight speed trap at 126.9mph with a narrow chord wing – was fourth ahead of Reece Wood and Ian Pearson’s Royale RP30,  the first non-Reynard. Class B victor Andy Lancaster (Swan Lager Hawke DL16) finished an excellent seventh, ahead of Paul Crosbie and fabrication legend Ken Thorogood, 77, who had Mark Harrison – Jordan’s father, in their Lola T580 – and Oliver Gemmill in his slipstream. Neils Bowman (Van Diemen RF88) and Jenkins (ex-Nick Foy Reynard SF77) completed the B podium, ahead of East London Racing Organisation legend Jeff Williams’ Classic Van Diemen RF82. Glasswell’s 1:15.768s (94.26mph) lap constituted a record following the tyre changes.

FROM TOP LEFT:CLOCKWISE: BEN GLASSWELL LEADS FROM THE START, ADRIAN REYNARD, REYNARD SF81, JEFF WILLIAMS, VAN DIEMEN RF82, STEPHEN GLASSWELL, REYNARD SF79

Sunday’s round was plain sailing for Glasswell, for contact between the Reynards of Storer and Hair at Chapman’s, the left kink onto the Bentley Straight, eliminated Jonty on the spot. Andy, who spun and continued way down the order, took responsibility and apologised profusely afterwards. An important issue which coloured the race was the sun which, from a low spring angle, reflected off the light panels at the Riches marshals’ post, making a yellow and red slippery-surface warning appear solid red. Adrian Reynard and Harrison were among those caught out, braking to comply with MSUK regulations, only to find no repeats at subsequent posts and the race continuing. Flag signals were implemented for the remainder of the day.

Wood passed Reynard at the ‘false alarm’ and remained beyond Adrian’s grasp in second to the chequer. Pearson, Stephen Glasswell – Ben’s dad from the back after retiring the previous afternoon – and Lancaster completed the top six, with Harrison’s Lola on the Hawke’s tail. Thorogood, Crosbie and the Delta T78/80 of Alasdair Graham, a Coram spinner on Saturday, were next, pursued by Wright and Jonathan Lucas. Behind Williams’ Senna-era Van Diemen, Jenkins got the better of Bowman to claim silver in class B. Lancaster reduced its target to 1:19.522 (89.81mph).

HSCC GUARDS TROPHY

FROM TOP LEFT:TO RIGHT: SAMUEL HARRISON, LOTUS 23B, GRAHAM RIDGWAY, LOTUS ELAN, ELLIOT PATERSON, GINETTA G16

Saturday’s Guards Trophy sportscar opener was short on numbers, but not on quality or entertaining battles. John Davison qualified his stunning ex-Digby Martland Chevron-BMW B6 on pole with a 1:18.504 (90.98mph) shot despite a miscalculation with gear ratios, rectified for the race. He was half a second quicker than Elliot Paterson in the Ginetta-BMW G16 shared at that point with dad Russell.

The Scots’ long trip south from Perth looked in vain when Friday testing exposed a gearbox input shaft bearing bodge, which allowed oil to leak into the clutch. Fortunately help and know-how was at hand. From neighbouring Formula Ford pits Nigel Grant, David Bailey and Ian Parkington dived in, removed the Hewland and, working until 0200 on Saturday, made a spacer to fix it and reassembled the Ginetta’s drivetrain. Russell stood down leaving former Morgan Challenge champion Elliot to go solo in the race.

Debutants Samuel Harrison (Lotus-Ford t/c 23B) and Mark Gillies/Benn Tilley (Elva-BMW Mk8) lined up third and fourth in the 19s and 20s respectively. Triple HSCC champion (Historic FF, F3 and FF2000) Harrison arrived with shakedown mileage on the duck egg blue car, while Classic FF and F3 titlist Tilley was seconded to help ERA ace Gillies, whose US import was first seen at Goodwood last September and lacks development. For Tilley, 26, the Elva marked his first experience of BMW M10 power. Leading

Sunday’s Merlyn parade in Adam Syles’ Mk3 Formula Junior chalked the 30th race car on his sparkling 10 year CV. 

Row three comprised Nick Fennell (ex-Robin Widdows Lotus-Ford t/c 23B) and Charlie Allison (Chevron-BMW B8, Yorkshireman Trevor Twaites’ 1970 British Sportscar Championship winner). The Crossle 9Ss of David Kelly (two-litre) and the Gemmills, Andrew and Oliver (1600cc), shared the fourth rank. The grid was completed by the well-matched Lotus Elans of Graham Ridgway and Rupert Ashdown. Michael Richings’ rebuilt Merlyn Mk4A was present but its Ford t/c refused to run cleanly for reasons which defied former Guards champ Dan Cox, down to share it, and engine specialist Craig Beck.

FROM TOP LEFT:CLOCKWISE: JOHN DAVISON, CHEVRON B6, BEN TILLEY, ELVA MK8, ELLIOT PATERSON, GINETTA G16, CHARLIE ALLISON, CHEVRON B8  

Thus 10 cars formed Saturday’s grid, with Ashdown’s 26R spec Elan now running open, a pragmatic solution signed-off by scrutineers after its windscreen popped out. The race was down to nine cars on lap 2 when Fennell’s fifth placed Lotus slid off at Riches, but as Davison, Harrison, Paterson and Tilley found their equilibrium evolved into a cracker. John eked out a 1.7s lead over the first three laps, but once Elliot had growled past Samuel on lap four the blue Ginetta began to reel in the leading Chevron.

Davison demonstrated strong pace, but a few laps in sensed a front brake issue. Initially he felt he could manage it, but as pressure mounted it became apparent it was worsening. After Paterson overtook him on lap 11, John backed off to get to the pit window, but that did not help. When he had no front brakes at Riches and Brundle he wisely retired, subsequent investigation discovering a master cylinder was compromised.

When Paterson made his scheduled stop after 19 laps, with a 1:18.557 (90.92mph) fastest lap on his slate, Tilley moved ahead, the Elva marginally quickest through the speed traps on the Bentley Straight (138.2mph) and at the Senna Straight timing line (126.3mph). When the stagger unwound, a slower stop with a belt drama hindered owner Gillies’ departure. Thus only Harrison remained on the same lap as Paterson, whose accomplished victory rewarded the many hands who got him into the race. 

Allison reeled in Gillies in the closing stages, grabbing third on the final lap. “I’m doing the same lap times I was when I was winning, but they are not good enough now,” grinned Charlie. Kelly’s Gulf hued Crossle was fifth, also on 36 laps, ahead of the Elans – three-wheeling Ridgway enjoyed chasing Ashdown, before the latter’s stop and go penalty for a short pitstop – and the Gemmills. Ashdown amusingly described driving his Elan al fresco as “like a combination of a Mazda MX5 and a dune buggy, with flies in the teeth!”    

ALFA ROMEO & ITALIAN INTERMARQUE

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: TONY BROOME, JACK BERRY & SCOTT AUSTIN, SCOTT AUSTIN, 156, STACEY DENNIS, GIULIETTA

The Hitek Alfa Romeo and Italian Inter-Marque Championship field continues to strengthen, with several more cars due out at Donington on May 30-31. Of the 20+ arrivals, Irishman Barry McMahon’s muscular 2.9-litre Giulia fell to ECU problems in Friday testing. Much excitement surrounded defending double-champion Toby Broome’s new Revs Italia-built 4C – the tricolore liveried beauty the third to be seen in the competition – as returnee Jack Berry put his blue example on pole position with a 1:18.939 (90.48mph) charge. Jamie Thwaites’ ex-Romeo Ferraris team Giulietta TCR was barely a second slower, ahead of 147 graduate Broome by a similar margin. Scott Austin snared P4 with his 156, also from the Modified division.

Horsham football goalkeeper Stacey Dennis’ Giulietta headed the Power Trophy class on row three with 1:24.203. Andy Page’s remarkable old Giulietta 116, omnipresent for the past 30 years, sat alongside. Second season racer James Powell, now in a 147, sat a Turismo class-topping seventh on 1:29.468. Bianco Motorsport boss Paul Plant’s 156, Twin Sparks leader on 1:29.537, joined Powell on the fourth rank. Mark Purcell’s superb and gruff-sounding ex-ETC 156 and Turismo convert George Warren’s GTV completed the top 10. 

Lurking among the mid-fielders were the intriguing Ford Duratec-powered Ferrari Dino clone of Charlie McCarthy, lead singer of Norwich-based rock band Blind Tiger. Third generation race debutant Sam Kay – father Roger was the 1990 AR champion, grandad Terry an Autoitalia regular from the ’80s – in the ex-Nathan Bignell 33 sat alongside local Porsche racer Rob Hollyman’s 147. Further back series co-sponsor, Irideum’s David Pickup, qualified his 147 just ahead of newbie protege Richard Wadlow-Smith in the team’s new-build car. Meanwhile, boldly joining the fray for his race debut, at the tender age of 75, Jasper Gilder was finding his feet in a Coastal Motorsport-run 33.

FROM TOP LEFT:CLOCKWISE: TONY BROOME, 4C, JAMIE THWAITES, GIULIETTA, JACK BERRY, 4C, GRAHAM SEAGER 147

Broome made a fine initial getaway in Saturday’s race, bustling up behind Berry’s sister 414bhp 4C as Thwaites’ heavier Guilietta gathered momentum. But as Toby hit the gas pedal hard his two-litre turbocharged engine lapsed into limp mode [a safety feature!] and was almost last into Riches. Having switched off to reboot the system he was at the back when the four-cylinder power unit chimed in and he set about salvaging a podium finish. Tenth at the end of the first lap he was fourth within three – when Thwaites was monstering Berry - and third three laps later having sizzled past Austin.

Thwaites’ efforts to oust Berry were in vain, for his turbo disintegrated on the penultimate lap, presaging retirement. Broome was thus promoted to second, albeit 35 seconds adrift of Berry in a 4C one-two. Austin gratefully grabbed a distant third ahead of PT class winner Dennis, lapped on her 11th circuit. Page finished fifth, ahead of Powell who snatched Turismo honours having hounded Warren’s GTV until it ran out of brakes at Brundle on the final lap. George recovered, but finished almost eight seconds behind in seventh. Next back were Twin Sparks victor Plant, with Kay’s Turismo 33 in tow. McCarthy and Ford also covered 14 laps. Berry’s best lap was a sub-pole 1:17.970s (91.60mph) - the weekend’s quickest lap of the 200 circuit - which Thwaites failed to match by 0.009s! In the Turismo and Twin Sparks sets.

Powell improved by 1.3s to 1:28.251 (80.93mph) and Ford chipped a couple of tenths from his Q-time. 

Without Thwaites, who plans to run both his TCRs at Donington, Sunday morning’s race saw an early tussle between Berry and Broome, who led before a front puncture ended his fun after five laps. Austin, Dennis – who remained unlapped in achieving her Power Trophy double – and Page were promoted to second, third and fourth, ahead of Turismo winner Kay, who outran Powell first time out. Warren’s brake dramas resulted in an off at Murray’s, but the hobbled GTV’s race ended when it took a crump in its rump from Purcell’s 156, which pitted for its dislodged front bumper/splitter to be taped up. Ford took TS gold, but only Dennis improved on the event’s class race best, circulating in 1:24.326s (84.70mph). 

70s ROAD SPORTS

The Road Sports brigade galloped in with sufficient numbers to warrant a ’70s and Historic split on Sunday, supported by small complementary groups. The later cars ran first, and a scant 0.305s blanketed the three quickest combos in qualifying. A diverse trio too, for Richard Plant wound his Morgan Plus 8 up to secure pole in 1:26.592 (82.48mph), shadowed by class leaders John Williams (Porsche 911SC) and 2015 champion Jim Dean, back in his Lotus Europa. Hampshireman Martin Pratt (Morgan Plus 8) was 0.659s shy of Plant, with 2024 titlist Howard Payne (Europa) and George Daws (Datsun 240Z) on the third row and Andrew Long’s Moggie next up.

Nigel Musto headed the inaugural [Alfa Romeo] 105 Cup quartet with 1:32.442 (77.26mph) in his two-litre Giulia GTV, pursued in the set by Alex Toyne (1750 GTV), Nick Peart (Guilia Super Ti) and Paul Wallis (Giulia Sprint GT). Wallis’ engine shed some carburettor parts, but he managed to borrow spares to get out. Having burned the midnight oil for several weeks to recommission his father’s long dormant car, Toyne’s engine blew in Saturday’s Alfa qualifying session, but he accepted Musto’s kind offer of his spare. Following a nine-hour round trip to Salisbury to retrieve it, he was ready for free practice on Sunday. Between Musto and Toyne sat Nic Strong - displaced since he parked his Marcos 3000GT at Coram with a split fuel line in qualifying - and Mike Eagles’ MGB GTV8. Two TVRs completed the grid, Tom Owen’s 1600cc Vixen S2 ahead of Pete Connell’s 3000M.

FROM TOP LEFT:CLOCKWISE: PAUL WALLIS, ALFAS ROMEO GT, NICK PEART, ALFA ROMEO GILULIA SUPER, NIGEL MUSTO 2000GTV, ALEX TOYNE 1750GTV

Plant and Williams disputed race one, in which Richard rumbled clear of the Porsche over the course of 14 tours courtesy of successive fastest laps, the best 1:26.997 (82.10mph). Pratt overpowered Dean at the start for third, and hung on to Williams until half way. Dean finished fourth, with Strong closing in towards the finish. After a cautious start, wary of his gearchange - the Europa’s Achilles heel - Payne used its handling to claw back past Daws and Long for sixth. Musto won the 105 Cup contest by a lap from Wallis, as Eagles, Owen and Connell beat Alfisti Toyne and Peart in. Class singletons Owen, Toyne and Peart all beat their practice best times.

Second time out Williams led initially, but Plant thundered ahead at half-distance. Strong muscled past rival Williams, his 911 smoking slightly, to win class B, but failed by just 0.700s to preclude Plant’s double. In slightly cooler conditions than before, Richard improved his best race lap to 1:26.654 (82.42mph). Strong’s competitive 1:26.681 (82.40mph) proved the aerodynamic Ford V6-powered Marcos’ credentials. Pratt finished fourth, joining classmate Plant in the 26s too.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: RICHARD PLANT, MORGAN PLUS 8, JOHN WILLIAMS, PORSCHE 911SC, NIC STRONG, MARCOS GT3000

Dean was caught and passed, briefly, by Payne who carried more momentum out of Chapman’s onto the Bentley Straight. Howard’s engine ailed in the closing stages and with oil light flashing ominously, he pitted on the penultimate lap to be classified eighth - having fallen behind Long and Daws - on the ‘wrong’ side of the pit wall. Dean lapped faster in class C, besting at 1:27.555 (81.57mph). Having outfumbled Musto at the start, then pressured him into spinning off having retaliated, Wallis won the Alfa sub-race from Toyne, who lapped almost a second quicker than before, and Peart, under 1:40 for the first time. They were split by Owen’s TVR, after Musto, with head gasket failure, joined Eagles in retirement.

HISTORIC ROADSPORTS

FROM TOP LEFT:CLOCKWISE: RICHARD OWEN, TR2 GIVES CHACE TO RIVAL & FRIEND MERVYN SELWYN, MARTIN SYOWE's DELIGHTFUL TVR GRANTURA, THE RUMBLING MUSTANG OF MARK WATTS, MARK GODFREY, LOTUS 7 GIVES CHASE TO THE LOTUS ELAN OF FRAZER GIBNEY.

The excellent Historic Road Sports field was bolstered by a couple of ill-starred Historic Touring Cars and a quintet from the Alfa Romeo Italian Intermarque Pre-’65 group. Frazer Gibney’s 1:26.513 (82.56mph) established his Lotus Elan S1 on pole, from defending champion Mark Godfrey’s 1500cc Lotus 7, a mere 0.170s down. Former champ John Shaw’s rejuvenated Morgan Plus 8 was third on a stout class-leading 1:27.452, with ARIIC invitee Rob Hollyman’s Ford Duratec-powered Ferrari 246 Dino evocation - dubbed “ForRari” by the commentator - alongside, half a second slower. Peter Micklewright (Elan S1) and Mark Watts (Ford Mustang) bagged row three, ahead of Jonathan Stringer (Lotus 7) and mainstream ARIIC pacesetter George Osborne (Alfetta GTV), the last competitors inside 1m30s.

Barry Ashdown’s faithful Elan and Sam Fish’s immaculate blue-nosed Alfasud made for a colourful fifth row, but James Wright’s Alfa 75 lost its partner when Neil Wood’s Clean Machine Ford Anglia 105E’s was sidelined by an engine disaster in qualifying. Couriers had “lost” his superb cylinder head and Holbay downdraught carburettor between the engine builder in Bath and his Essex base, and a hurriedly acquired stopgap replacement let Neil down, leaving him distraught and heading for home, having finished the installation on Saturday afternoon.

Close to their Suffolk birthplace, Oliver Slater’s closed Ginetta G4 lost its open stablemate when Dr Patrick Ward-Booth’s open version expired in qualifying. Andy Walton’s Porsche 911, Ant Reeley’s Elan S3, David Lloyd’s thuggish Jensen CV8 and Martin Stowe’s pretty TVR Grantura were packed together ahead of Mervyn Selwyn’s Elan S3 and expat Australian Richard Owen’s beloved Triumph TR2, with its very rare experimental quad SU-carbed cylinder head. Jasper Gilder (Alfa 33), Tom Waite (Alfetta) and local buddies Tony Davis - in his very pretty Austin-Healey Sprite coupe - and Peter Chappell in one of Air Vice Marshal Don Bennett’s Buckinghamshire-built Fairthorpe Electrons rounded out the field.

The first race start was delayed while marshals pushed Stringer’s green 7 off the grid, its clutch AWOL, although quite why Jonathan and row mate Osborne’s positions were reversed remains a mystery. Gibney and Godfrey shot into the lead, pursued by Shaw, Hollyman, Reeley - a ballistic first lap from 15th on the grid to fifth - Osborne, Watts and Micklewright following a cautious getaway. The Mustang was gone early, the sole TC starter’s bonnet having opened and broken the screen. Mark pulled off at Chapman’s. The leading Alfa of Osborne also retired as the race continued.

Godfrey forged ahead on lap 6, but former Historic F2 racer Gibney pulled off four circuits later with suspected diff failure. As Shaw and Hollyman were promoted to second and third, there was chaos on the Bentley Straight when Lloyd’s Jensen’s engine grenaded, leaving an oil slick described by one marshal as “like the Torrey Canyon” through the Brundle/Nelson complex to the Bombhole where the Anglo-American coupe was parked. Several drivers gyrated on the droppings and all got away with it bar poor Ashdown, whose Elan smote the barrier rear corner first. The race was red-flagged. “Kermit” looked bruised and bedraggled, but initial inspection suggested that the damage was localised, confined to the fibreglass shell.

Godfrey won from class A victor Shaw by a distance, with ARIIC standout Hollyman, Reeley, the recovering Micklewright and the impressive Fish completing the top six. Fish - son of former Renault saloon team boss Mark - overhauled Wright for Alfa gold by almost 10 seconds. Slater was the last competitor to cover the leader’s distance in his Ginetta.. Davis won his class, but Stowe, Walton and Owen were sole starters in theirs. Gibney’s souvenir was fastest lap at 1:26.521 (82.55mph).

A depleted pack of 14 turned out for the second race, for which poleman Godfrey misunderstood marshals with yellow flags on the direct route to the grid. Realising his mistake, and not wishing to incur a penalty for stopping and reversing, he proceeded round a full lap and started from the back, which “made it more fun.” He was fourth by the Bombhole, behind Reeley, Hollyman and Wright, whose sparring partner Fish was late on parade. Having not been informed of the race order switch, bulletined on the HSCC event app, Sam started from the pitlane a lap and a half late.

Godfrey was leading inside four laps, with Hollyman in tow, but Mark’s race ended abruptly on lap 14 when his engine failed. “The old girl decided she was going to spit a couple of valves out,” as put it. Parked at the Bombhole he had only a 1:26.160 (82.89mph) fastest lap to show for his endeavours. Hollyman thus took the chequered flag in the “ForRari,” with Reeley 10 seconds back, surprised and delighted to have won his first HRS race in the strikingly liveried 717 Elan previously raced by hillclimb convert Chris Merrick. Micklewright progressed to claim the last podium step, with Wright’s big Alfa in his mirrors. Slater and Stowe also remind on the lead lap. Best of the rest was Fish, who improved his best lap time to 1:30.043 (79.32mph) en route to seventh in the immaculate Sud. 

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: THE IMPRESSIVE ALFA SUD OF SAM FISH AMD EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE 'FORRARI' OF ROB HOLLYMAN, JAMES WRIGHT ENJOYED SOME GOOD TUSSLES IN THE FAMILY 75

MUTTON TAGINE

From 44 runners at Silverstone in November, the Mutton Grand Prix field shrank to three ‘On Tour,’ but the club kept the faith as two competitors had entered uniquely. Actually it proved rather entertaining, challenging the commentator over half an hour.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: NIC STRONG'S FLAMETHROWER NISSAN, SEAMUS DOYLE, LOTUS 2-ELEVEN AND THE REMARKABLE AUSTIN A35 OF STEVE DUNN

Nic Strong (Nissan Skyline R32), former Historic FF2000 Lola racer Seamus Doyle (Lotus 2-Eleven) and the gallant Steve Dunne (Austin A35) each qualified 10 seconds apart. No prizes for guessing their finishing order, but in what was more a slow-cooked lamb tagine time trial than a race, each driver found a couple of seconds and the cars even eclipsed towards Riches after 10 laps, when Strong’s turbocharged four-wheel-drive flamethrower passed Doyle’s open Toyota turbo-powered machine, based on an Exige platform, in full view of Dunne. Steve’s consistency in the little Austin was a remarkable talking point.

MAWP: APRIL 2026

IMAGES: ©MOTORSPORT CLASSICS MEDIA