HSCC CELEBRATES ITS DIAMOND JUBILEE

HSCC @60 SUMMER HISTORIC FESTIVAL CASTLE COMBE 08-09 AUGUST 2026: MARCUS PYE

Castle Combe circuit, a demobbed WW2 airfield’s perimeter track when it hosted racing for the first time in the summer of 1950, takes its name from the Wiltshire village which abuts it, fabled as among the prettiest in England.

The venue has been the launchpad for several significant entities down the years. Although its use for cars met a hiatus from the late 1950s to the early 1960s, ‘Combe’ [as it is known colloquially] is known as the birthplace of the HSCC in May 1966, the first regional Formula Ford championship three years later and Classic Formula 3 racing in May 1986. Privately owned, the venue has been operated by the Strawford family for 50 years, since patriarch Howard [1935-2013] and his wife Pat took it over in 1976.

All three of those competition elements played key roles within the HSCC’s 60th birthday party, billed as the Summer Historic Festival. Delightfully, the Jaguar D-type in which Neil Corner won the Griffiths Formula race of 1966 – racing photographer Guy Griffiths’ initiative to save obsolete ‘50s’ sportscars from leaving the country – lives nearby, thus was entered by Christian Albrecht, its proud owner since 2013. Built in 1955, XKD 504 was a factory development car used in practice at Le Mans by Mike Hawthorn. Subsequently sold to favoured customer David Murray’s Ecurie Ecosse, it competed internationally in its metallic blue, including at Le Mans in 1958 where it retired. Seventh in the 1957 Spa GP (Jock Lawrence) it finished fifth in the TT at Silverstone later that year with American Masten Gregory alongside Innes Ireland. Prior to Corner’s acquisition it was raced widely by Michael Salmon and Peter Sutcliffe.

GRIFFITHS HAIG TROPHY

A trio of D-types topped the 26-strong Castle Combe entry and two filled the front row after qualifying. Gary Pearson claimed pole, his 1m 19.752s (83.50mph) 0.229s quicker than Albrecht and Wiltshire’s Kyle Tilley - winner of the GTSCC race at last September’s Autumn Classic - on 1:19.981. Behind the iconic aerodynes sat three rapid tiddlers, David Alexander’s Coventry-Climax FWE-powered Lotus Elite, the ex-Howden Ganley Falcon Mk3 [with a BMC B-series engine in place of its original Climax] of father and son Andrew and Tom Smith and Sir John Chisholm’s ex-Lord Angus Clydesdale Lola Mk1, covered by 1.3 seconds.

Ben Eastick’s D-type sat sixth, with ringmaster Bianchi’s ex-Don and Stella Farrell Allard-Cadillac ‘Farrellac’ and the Elva-Climax Mk5 of James Owen and Iain Rowley occupying row four. Past Caterham and Lurani Trophy Formula Junior champion Clive Richards’ Lotus-BMC 7, was next, with the red left-hooker Austin-Healey 100/4 of Jonathan Abecassis - grandson of 1955 Combe international sportscar race winner George - to his left. The top 12 was rounded out by John and Jack Young’s thunderous Kellison-Chevrolet and Jonathan Cobb’s closely matched ex-Tony Crook cycle-winged Cooper-Bristol. Shadowing them was the closed Healey 100M of local husband and wife Mike Thorne/Sarah Bennett-Baggs.

Barry Dye’s Elite – like Alexander’s sporting Team Elite colours – the Triumph-motivated Morgan Plus 4 Super Sports of Richard Plant/Jonny Shears and the contrasting Jaguar-powered cars of Justin Beckett (C-type), Ian Beattie (XK120) and David Brazell/Guy Broad (Lister) were next up. For Broad it completed a circle since his late father Jeremy competed in the 1966 race. The Lola Mk1s of Switzerland’s Jürg Tobler and Robin Longdon/Richard Ferris (ex-Dougie and Graeme Lawrence) sandwiched Gareth Evans’ Sunbeam Alpine. Chris Mann’s magnificent Alfa Romeo PR3000 Disco Volante, John Andon’s MGA, the splendidly patinated ex-Graham Hill 1957 Willment-Climax of Andy and Jonathan Storer, William Richards’ Healey 100/4 and the vivid yellow Elva Courier of journalist Gez Medinger completed the runners and riders. Alas Mann’s Alfa – appositely trucked to the track rather than driven for once – and Medinger’s Elva non-started.   

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LEFT TO RIGHT: GRIFFITHS HAIG TROPHY WINNER LEADS CHRISTIAN ALBRECHT IN THE 1966 RACE WINNING D-TYPE, COMPETITORS ENTERED INTO THE SPIRIT OF THE EVENT. JONATHAN COBB, COOPER BRISTOL Mk2 LEADS A BUSY MIDFIELD PACK

The sight of two Jaguar D-types racing together, tails twitching under power out of the corners, will live long in the memory of onlookers. Pearson led initially in his 3.4-litre car, before Albrecht powered his 3.8 version to the front at Camp on lap 3. When John Young’s hobbled Kellison-Chevrolet conked out a safety car was deployed for its retrieval. Behind Albrecht and Pearson in the crocodile, Alexander’s Elite led Eastick’s D, 2013 Historic FF2000 champion Tom Smith’s Falcon, Abecassis’ Healey and Cobb’s Cooper-Bristol through the three-lap hiatus after which the pit window opened.

Abecassis and Cobb were first of the frontrunners to stop, but Pearson continued after Albrecht relayed Tilley after 16 laps. Pearson completed 20 before pitting and, when the stagger unwound and Smith put his longtime Marcos racer dad into bat a lap later, found himself back ahead of the Ecurie Ecosse Jag and pulling away. By the chequered flag Gary was almost 33 seconds ahead of his team-mate, managed from beneath the Pearsons Engineering awning by Andy Brown. Alexander’s Elite was a fine third, remarkably on the lead lap.

A lap behind, Eastick, Cobb, the Smiths, Bianchi’s Farrellac and Richards’ diminutive 7 were next in, well spaced. Dye, Tobler, Beckett’s Jaguar C-type and its XK120 forebear of Beattie covered 33. The Brazell/Broad Lister, Evans’ Sunbeam Alpine, Andon’s MGA, the Storer pere-et-fils Willment and Richards’ Healey - the marque’s only survivor on the day - completed the finishers. The Plant/Shears Morgan’s fresh engine failed mid-race by which time the other Lolas and the Elva Mk5 were already out. 

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: CHRISTIAN ALBRECHT LEADS GARY PEARSON. DAVID ALEXANDER FINISHED AN EXCELLENT 3RD OVERALL IN HIS LOTUS ELITE. 118 THE JAGUAR C-TYPE OF JUSTIN BECKET. TONY BIANCHI'S FARRELAC-ALLARD Mk11.

CLASSIC FORMULA 3: TILLEY TRUMPS HADFIELD IN THRILLER

The British Formula 3 Championship by-passed Castle Combe after 1973, the end of its three-season 1600cc era, thus the first time the two-litre cars visited was in May 1986 when the newly-formed Classic F3 Association’s members debuted within a BRSCC Formule Libre race. Combe devotee Tony Broster [operations], Jackie Stewart’s triple F1 World Championship-winning crew chief Roy Topp [technical] and Autosport journalist Marcus Pye [publicity and PR] were the driving forces behind the initiative, which created a welcome home for the dozens of chassis rendered obsolete when former Brabham design guru Ron Tauranac’s Ralt RT3 ‘wing car’ was finally sorted at the end of 1980, its second year.

Swede Stefan Johansson’s gamble to switch from a March paid off when, under legendary Kiwi team manager Dick Bennetts’ expert guidance, he outpointed Northern Ireland’s Kenneth Acheson (March) and Colombian Roberto Guerrero (Argo) to win the coveted title. With teams beating a path to Ralt’s factory for a slice of the RT3 action over the winter, the value of uncompetitive rolling stock plummeted, creating a buyers’ market for Argo, Chevron, Lola and March cars, plus Tauranac’s slab-sided Ralt RT1 - a model in which Australian Larry Perkins landed the European F3 title in 1975, the marque’s maiden year – and others.

Forty years on, Classic F3’s fortunes have ebbed and flowed under the wing of the HSCC and event organisers in France, Germany, Italy and Scandinavia. The 40th anniversary double-header races refired the enthusiasm of owners, who subscribed to the strongest field in more than a decade. A couple of cars fell in testing, some engines were not ready and a family emergency obliged one former champion to withdraw, but more than 20 cars, most powered by Toyota Novamotor 2TG twin-cam engines, turned out at Castle Combe. Competing for the Marcus Pye Trophy – an honour bestowed upon the writer, early Donington race winner and event commentator because his Tony Broster Trophy preference was outvoted – certainly focused allcomers. “Tony passed away in 2021, so I got the nod, probably because I was available to present the superb trophy,” said Pye.

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LEFT TO RIGHT: JAMES HADFIELD MARCH 743 LEAD BENN TILLEY MARCH 803B INITIALLY IN BOTH RACES WITH BENN WINNING THE MARCUS PYE TROPHY ON AGGREGATE BY JUST 1.6SEC AFTER A STUNNING DISPLAY OF RACING BY BOTH DRIVERS.

The atmosphere before Saturday’s race was sublime as Marcus embarked on a grid walkabout with a radio mic, interviewing the drivers and describing the histories of their cars, immaculately presented in period liveries, as spectators mingled in the blazing sunshine. Lancastrian Chris Hodgen, nephew of five time CF3 champion Rob Moores, qualified his ex-Derek Warwick Chevron B38 on pole, his 1m07.323s (98.92mph) shot 0.527s quicker than F3 debutant James Hadfield’s in the BAF March 743. Hadfield, 33, had tested the ex-Brian Henton/Rupert Keegan 1974 and ’76 British championship winner before, many moons ago, but collected it from three years in the Silverstone Museum five days before the event, prepped it and acclimatised in Thursday testing. His 1:07.850 on ancient tyres was impressive.

Benn Tilley, 26, 2020 CF3 champion in the BAF March, had not sat in Vic Nutter’s ex-Mike White Autowindscreens/Bob Gerard Honda March 803B until race morning. The versatile Lincolnshire driver was delighted to line up third on 1:08.404, ahead of period F3 racer Gary Ward in his ex-Didier Theys Ralt-VW RT3, first of the post-’80 cars mandated to run flat floors to negate their chassis ground-effect properties. Former champions Simon Jackson (ex-Quirin Bovy Chevron B43) and Steve Barlow (ex-Neto Jochamowitz Ralt-Alfa Romeo RT3) were next up, ahead of CF3 pioneer Iain Rowley (ex-Michael Bleekemolen March 793) and Fraser Gray (ex-Andrew Gilbert-Scott Racing for Britain Ralt-VW RT3). Neil Jenkins (ex-Beppe Gabbiani Chevron B38) and Geoff Hoodless (ex-Terry Perkins Ralt RT1) both did really well to bag top 10 slots.

Previous champion Keith White (ex-Elio de Angelis Ralt RT1), Clive Wood (ex-Patrick Gaillard Chevron B43, Broster’s ’87 CF3 title winner), Richard Cooke (ex-Michael Korten March 793), Roger Newman (ex-Barrie Maskell 1600cc Dastle-Ford/Lotus t/c Mk10), Paul Dibden (ex-David Sears/Jan Thoelke Argo JM6), Matthew Sturmer (ex-Tiff Needell Ralt RT3), Hugh Price (ex-Luciano Pavesi Ralt RT1, sporting Derek Warwick tribute livery) and Louis Hanjoul (ex-Arie Luyendijk Argo JM1) completed the F3 runners. The FF2000s of Geoff Pashley (ex-Charles Barter Delta T81, originally Hartwell Imp powered) and Steve Connor (Van Diemen RF82 in Ayrton Senna-esque colours) augmented the line-up.

Unfortunately Rowley, friend, mentor and mechanical wizard to so many in Historic paddocks for decades, was taken ill at the circuit and subsequently hospitalised – we wish Iain a full and speedy recovery – and White withdrew, leaving 18 starters for Saturday’s race.   

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From the rolling start Hadfield (on Hodgen’s well used Q tyres) got his nose ahead of poleman Chris as the pack accelerated through Folly, then jinked left over the brow of Avon Rise before braking and turning hard right into Quarry. Tilley’s red March split Hodgen’s Warwick Trailers car and Hadfield at the end of the opening lap as the trio began to put daylight between them and Jackson, Ward and Barlow. Gray, Cooke, Hoodless and Dibden – making up ground from a lowly grid position – were next in a busy gaggle with Wood. Jenkins had a fright when a lurid spin exiting Old Paddock took his bright blue Chevron back across the track through traffic, miraculously without contact!

Abreast through Camp on lap 4, Hodgen and Tilley now had Hadfield in their slipstream. Benn, confidence growing in Nutter’s March all the while, dived ahead through Camp a couple of laps later. As Chris’ handling went off, Hadfield – mighty through the chicanes – shot past at the Esses and pressured Tilley to the chequered flag. They crossed the line 0.839s apart, Benn having clocked fastest lap at 1:07.859s (98.14mph). Hodgen was 25 seconds behind. Unbeknown to him, a cracked rear crossmember and sagging wing evident to spectators had caused “horrendous understeer,” so he nursed the Chevron to the finish. “It wouldn’t stop or  turn-in to the chicanes,” he rued.

Jackson, shadowed by Ward in the quickest RT3, were fourth and fifth, ahead of GBR team mates Barlow and Gray. Wood narrowly got the better of Cooke and Dibden in their Chevron-March-Argo tussle for eight – a proper period multi-marque battle. Sturmer, Hoodless and Newman completed 17 laps to be classified ahead of Pashley, Hanjoul, Jenkins and Connor. Price spun into retirement on the exit of the Esses.

Sunday’s decider saw 15 competitors come under orders, Hodgen, former Pine City Racing proprietor Wood – whose racing career began in a Formula Ford spec Mallock at Combe 50 years ago - and 1970s FF1600 Image racer Hoodless the non-starters. Hadfield, on another set of used tyres kindly donated by Graham Brunton, made a cracking start to lead, with Ward providing an early buffer to Tilley. Second by lap 2, Benn chiselled back his 1.2 second deficit to James over three laps to bring the Marches – with architecture six years apart, thus making their lap times in very different ways – back together.

Tilley charged ahead on lap 6, but Hadfield did not stint in his pursuit, probing through the Esses and Bobbies to make up the ground which Benn made in the quicker parts, particularly under braking for Quarry. The 0.832s gap at the chequer earned Tilley the Marcus Pye Trophy by 1.6 seconds after a stunning display by both talented drivers.

Out of the cockpit for a while, thus race rusty, veteran Ward chased them from a distance. Jackson and Cooke were fourth and fifth at five second intervals, with Dibden, the bold Newman, Hanjoul and Jenkins getting stuck in behind them. Price, Connor and Pashley completed the finishers, after Barlow and Sturmer retired.    

CAL BENNETT, VAN DIEMEN RF80 and TOM GADD VAN DIEMEN RF81 SHARED THE CLASSIC FORMULA FORD SPOILS AT CASTLE COMBE

CLASSIC FORMULA FORD: BENNETT BAGS BREAKTHROUGH WIN

Rounds 9 and 10 of the SDC Classic Formula Ford Championship attracted a super-competitive 21-car field showcasing eight chassis marques of the 1967-’81 era. Ollie Chapman (Lola T200) grabbed pole position, his 1m13.475s (90.64mph) effort a scant 0.107s quicker than Stroud’s Cal Bennett (Van Diemen RF80), racing at his local circuit for the first time, but it was points leader Tom Gadd and Bennett who emerged victorious.

Remarkably, the top eight were blanketed by a second, with Van Diemen RF81– mounted Rick Morris – guesting in Stuart Kestenbaum’s car following his Royale RP29’s impromptu aerobatics at Brands Hatch – and Gadd in the ‘13s,’ 0.004s apart. Brazilian Adriano Medeiros, recalled to the Jesus Saves charity’s RF79 raced by Jordan Harrison and Grace Partington to date this term, was fifth quickest on 1:14.036. Scott Rawlinson (Merlyn Mk11A), Crossle duo Gislain Genecand (16F) and Parkington (25F) and 20-year-old Daniel Whear (in a Royale RP21, the marque’s first FF design from the pen of F1-bound South African Rory Byrne in 1975) circulated within five tenths, which augured well for the races.

A second adrift, Graham Payne lined-up seventh in the Shaws Motorsport RF81 – a faithful copy of Ayrton Senna’s 1981 mount – separated from Alan Williamson’s paler version by Remy Brooks-Johnson (Royale RP26) and Genecand’s Swiss compatriot Jo Zosso (RF80), both in the ‘16s.’ Russell Giles’ McLaren-esque Van Diemen RF77 sat 11th, the last combo inside 1m20s, ahead of Chris Edwards’ PRS RH02, visiting Swede Peter Sikstrom (RF79) and Phil Attwood’s side-radiatored Crossle 32F.

The Lola T342s of Rhys Coulson and Hawke convert Tim Bennett – the latter’s with curious longitudinal aero strakes on its nose’s flanks – were separated by Mike Saunders’ PRS RH01. Carburettor problems blighted rapid youngster George Penlington, who would start his Royale RP26 at the back with a replacement loaned by FF legend Don Hardman, overseeing Stuart Kestenbaum’s cars.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: TOM GADD STRENGTHENED HIS CHAMPIONSHIP CHALLENGE WITH A VICTORY AND SECOND PLACE. OLLIE CHAPMAN LEADS RACE 2 VICTOR CAL BENNETT. TOM GADD LEAD CAL BENNETT HOME IN RACE 1. GEORGE PENLINGTON ROYALE RP26

Chapman led Saturday’s race away, but Bennett’s audacious overtaking manoeuvre round the outside of Camp on the opening lap caught everybody’s eye, not least that of father Jeremy watching from the pit wall. Genecand, Morris and Gadd were tucked in behind, pursued by Medeiros, Parkington, Rawlinson, Whear, Brooks-Johnson and the ‘Senna twins’ Payne – after a cautious start - and Williamson. Thirteenth, up eight places, was Penlington as anticipated.

Gadd was on the move and having hurtled his Numanair clone RF81 past Chapman relieved Bennett of the lead on the long run to Quarry. As Ollie and Cal traded second, Tom was able to ease away to a comfortable 4.688s victory, his seventh from nine rounds. Bennett prevailed in the tussle for second – his top result of the season equalling his personal best. When Chapman spun back to fifth lapping traffic, Parkington gratefully dashed through to third, her first podium, having got the better of sixth-placed Morris mid-race, then passed Historic class winner Genecand who went rallycrossing from Old Paddock to Gooch’s.

Whear, Medeiros, Rawlinson and Penlington rounded out the top 10, clear of Brooks-Johnson, Payne and Williamson. Giles was classified 11th, a lap down, with Edwards right behind and Sikstrom, Attwood and Saunders completing the finishers. The Lolas of Bennett and Coulson joined Zosso in retirement, the Swiss’ race over by the Esses on the first lap. Gadd and Chapman set the fastest laps at 1:13.262s (90.90mph) and 1:13.419 (90.71mph) in the Classic and Historic groups respectively.

Sunday’s stanza started without teenager Penlington, who showed great presence of mind to push his Royale from the grid with marshals when its engine overheated. “It’s an original steel radiator, unlike most, but we’ll have an aluminium one for the next race,” he shrugged.

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The race was stopped four minutes in for a chain-reaction incident at the Esses which eliminated Parkington, Chapman and Morris. Leader Gadd had skated onto the dry grass exiting Quarry and seen Bennett and Parkington go by as he rejoined. Grace, to the right of the circuit, tried to thread the needle into the right-left flick-flack from an oblique angle, whereupon her Crossle was unsettled by the kerbs and gyrated. Chapman and Morris could not avoid being collected. Thankfully, all three drivers alighted from their battered cars uninjured.

Bennett led from the restart until the Esses on lap 2 where Gadd slipped past. They pulled clear of Whear, who had outfoxed Genecand, but Nemesis Racing’s Bennett snatched victory on the last lap. “I got a slipstream and sent it up the inside with a couple of corners left. It was my last chance and I took it. To score my first win at my nearest circuit [in proud mum Sheelagh Todd’s car]  is special.”

Gadd, who extended his lead in the title race, was relieved to finish second. “I’m lucky to be here with four wheels on the car after going off. Fair play to him for his first win,” said Tom. Whear was speechless in third, beyond his wildest dreams on his Combe debut.

Historic winner Rawlinson, Genecand, Payne – a personal best seventh – with Williamson chasing, were next in, then Medeiros and Giles who completed the top 10 in their earlier Van Diemens. Edwards, Coulson, Sikstrom and Saunders also took the chequer, but Attwood and Zosso, after a frustrating weekend, fell by the wayside. Tim Bennett did not take the restart incidentally.

BENN SIMMS WAS HAPPY TO LEAVE CASTLE COMBE WITH TWO FURTHER HISTORIC FORMULA FORD VICTORIES.

HISTORIC FORMULA FORD: TWO MORE FOR MR SIMMS

Four weeks on from the sensational 37-car field on Brands Hatch’s GP circuit, the Historic Formula Ford Championship drew only 13 runners to the West Country, many deciding to keep their powder dry for the Oulton Park Gold Cup, at which HFF will provide the HSCC’s solus Kent field. Points leader Benn Simms qualified his Jomo JMR7 on pole with a 1m12.988s (91.24mph) lap, a remarkable achievement, as 0.643s covered the top six drivers – in different chassis marques!

Simms had repaired his Jomo’s chassis – found to be bent following the unfortunate Brands incident, which embroiled Marc Wilkes’ Merlyn and took out Danny and Kevin Stanzl’s cars - with three days to spare, leaving no time to address its engine, short of compression in one cylinder. Supported by Historic 500cc F3 veteran Pete Wright, Rob Wainwright (Elden Mk8) ran Benn closest on 1:13.052, but returning Dane Mads Gravsen, 27, out in Uncle Chris Sharples’ Palliser WDF1 for the first time since Brands last season, FF legend Joey Foster in Stuart Kestenbaum’s Crossle 16F, young Jacques Jensen (Merlyn Mk20A) and Oliver Chapman (Lola T200) were on the pacemakers’ heels.

The first duplicate car was the Crossle 16F of Over 50s leader Swiss Gislain Genecand, who cooked up a combative 1:14.784. Novice John Milicevic III (Merlyn Mk20), David Squire (Hawke DL2), Legend class stalwart Dick Dixon (Lotus 61) and Combe regular Pete Lavender (Merlyn Mk11A/17) were next up, followed by Gareth Jones and welcome race debutant Jack Bradley, finding their feet at the challenging circuit in Lotus 51B and 61 respectively.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: OLLIE CHAPMAN LEADS OLIVER WAINWRIGHT TO FINISH 2ND & 3RD. 52 JACQUES JENSEN LEADS RETURNEE JOEY FOSTER. 50 PETER LAVENDER. LEGEND DICK DIXON PARKED AT QUARRY LATE IN RACE TWO.

Aware that he probably did not have the grunt to stem rivals, three-time champion Simms was out of the start blocks like a hare at a greyhound race in Saturday’s round, but he couldn’t shake off Wainwright or Foster who went round Gravsen to grab third on lap 2. Wainwright in the short wheelbase forward-control Elden slipstreamed past Simms between Folly and Avon Rise to take the lead, watched at close quarters by Foster who had wriggled free from Gravsen.

As Simms and Wainwright took it in turns to cross TSL’s timing line ahead, Foster briefly went ahead of Benn before the heat began to sap his engine’s power and he fell back behind Gravsen, Chapman and Jensen. Having made it three for the lead again, Ollie dived past Rob into Camp two laps from home and set about Benn who remained 0.368s beyond reach as the chequered flag fell with Wainwright in the Lola’s tow. A couple of seconds later Gravsen crossed the line fourth, with Jensen and Foster on his tail. As in qualifying, the competitiveness of individual chassis was proven as 0.443s separated the top six’s best laps, Simms’ 1:12.990s (91.24mph) the quickest.

“An epic race,” summed up Benn. “Rob was quicker than me in places and Ollie was quicker than me in places, but [because we don’t race here often] we were all basically looking to see where the limits were.” Wainwright agreed: “Me and Benn were trying desperately to break the tow, and nearly did it, but then Foster managed to being the others back to us. Unhappy with his qualifying run, runner-up Chapman was buoyant after the race on what he described as “a great scrapping circuit.”

Seventh placed Genecand beat Squire and Lavender in the O50s set, while Milicevic bested Jones for Novice honours. The matching Lotus 61 wedges of Dixon – who parked at Quarry - and Bradley, who pitted at the end of lap two, were the only non-finishers.

Sunday’s sequel promised more of the same, and was even more intense – at least behind leader Simms. Having opened a gap of 0.8s over Chapman on the opening lap, Benn stretched his advantage to 15.452s as Wainwright kept Olly more than occupied in the initial fight for second, with rivals ganging up behind. “Things were getting busy behind me so I thought I’d leave them to it,” he said. The excitement went all the way. Once Jensen had relieved Gravsen of third and Foster started to impose himself again, the peloton grew to four, then six before Joey’s Crossle started to sweat in the heat and the pacy continentals Gravsen and Genecand eagerly picked him off.

Sixth at the end of the opening lap, Jensen looked increasingly feisty as he jostled to the head of the queue, with Chapman, Wainwright, Genecand, Foster and Gravsen buzzing around in his mirrors. Mads’ Palliser’s nosecone was flicked off in the heat of battle, after which, ironically, it was quicker in a straight line and exhibited improved cooling. “It suggests they knew little about aerodynamics in Formula Ford’s infancy,” grinned owner Sharples as the young Dane clawed back to fourth behind Chapman and Jensen, Ollie having lunged past Jacques to grab second on the final traverse of Camp, within sight of the flag.

Genecand, seventh overall, again had the legs on Squire and Lavender, while Jones beat Bradley in the Novice division after leader Milicevic pulled off at Quarry on the penultimate lap. Unusually, Dixon’s Lotus expired again, at the Esses on the opening lap. Simms set another fastest lap, his 1:12.922 (91.33mph) fractionally quicker than his Saturday best, with his six closest challengers’ efforts bookended by Wainwright’s 1:13.370 and Genecand’s 1:13.681. The Historic Formula Ford championship resumes at the Oulton Park Gold Cup meeting over the August Bank Holiday weekend.   

HISTORIC ONE-LITRE F3: DOUBLE TOPS FOR DE LA ROCHE

Reigning Historic One-Litre F3 champion Pete de la Roche followed the pattern set by Jason Timms and Donington and Richard Trott on Brands Hatch’s GP circuit by scoring a double victory at Castle Combe. The screamers did not visit the venue – then without chicanes – often in their 1964-’70 contemporary era, but Rodney Banting (‘64), Chris Lambert and Derek Bell (’65) and David Cole (’70) won its national championship counters.

Twenty competitors, including past champion Leif Bosson from Sweden, turned out and de la Roche set the qualifying pace, his 1m11.827s (92.72mph) lap in the ex-Ken Sedgley Alexis Mk17 ousting Timms (Brabham BT21) from pole by 0.216s. Impressive open-wheel rookie Ollie Musgrave was a fine third on 1:12.708 in his ex-Rene Ligonnet Chevron B15. Trott (ex-Erkki Salminen Brabham BT28), Jeremy Timms (ex-Reine Wisell Chevron B15) and Ben Colburn on his second single-seater appearance in a Merlyn Mk10 ran the top three closest, pursued by Jonathan ‘Josh’ Sharp (ex-Sedgley Chevron B17), Chris Dunster – flying in his early Lotus 31 - and Brabham men Steve Seaman (BT21) and Mark Pangborn (BT28).

Jeremy Rollason (BT21), Andrew Tart (Merlyn Mk9), Bosson (ex-Sten Gunnarsson BT28), Mark Linstone and Martin Whitlock (BT21s), Clive Buffey (ex-Giorgio Pianta Jolly Club Milan/Oliver Speight Racing Chevron B15), 1996 Castle Combe Special GT champion Keith Messer (Vesey VF3), Simon Etherington (Brabham BT15) and Gil Duffy (BT21B) were next up, having outrun multiple champion Simon Armer’s troubled March 703, the ex-Tom Walkinshaw Petonyer Aviation team car.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: RICHARD TROTT BRABHAM BT28, PETER DE LA ROCHE FACED A DOUBLE CHALLENGE FROM JASON TIMMS BRABHAM BT21 AND RICHARD TROTT. THE DELIGHTFUL CHEVRON B15'S OF CLIVE BUFFEY & OLIVER MUSGRAVE.

Trott was quickest away from Sunday’s start, but de la Roche quickly passed the 1980 Combe FF2000 winner and subsequent contemporary F3 racer, as did the Timms cousins, Jason initially ahead. As de la Roche repelled Jeremy Timms the top three remained atypically static as the race progressed, with Musgrave a strong fourth. Despite its engine being far from sparkling, Colburn motored his Simon Brown/Trackstar-tended Merlyn past Trott and held sway in fifth in a scrap with Richard and ‘Pangio’ until the final lap when Trott grabbed the place back. 

A lap adrift, Rollason, Dunster, local former Saab rallycrosser Linstone and Armer rounded out the top 10. Buffet, Bosson, Whitlock, Messer and Etherington completed the finishers, Seaman, Sharp and Duffy having retired. Jeremy Timms logged fastest lap at 1:11.369 (93.31mph), half a second inside the morning’s best Q-time. Sadly, Tart was unable to start following a fuel fire en route to the assembly area. While the conflagration was extinguished, it made a mess of the immaculate Merlyn from which Andrew escaped with burns to his hands. Sportingly, he offered the undamaged silencer to Mark Carter to enable the SpeedSport Titan Mk3 driver – a previous Combe Formula Junior winner – to join Sunday’s grid. 

The Timms cousins ran first and third at the start of the second race, Jason leading de la Roche, Jeremy and Musgrave, the quartet clear of Trott, Pangborn, Rollason, fast-climbing Armer and Seaman. Linstone posted a smoky retirement at the Esses and was joined on the sidelines by Jeremy Timms, Armer and Colburn who pitted his increasingly spluttery car from sixth. With a strong engine behind him Ben is tipped to be a winner.  

Jason Timms and de la Roche swapped the lead in the early laps, Pete towing past at Folly, only to be usurped into Quarry a lap later. The pair were inseparable thereafter, Timms ahead until de la Roche ambushed him into Quarry on the penultimate tour. Former Honda Civic EP3 Type-R racer Musgrave held third from lap four, when Jeremy pitted, and was overjoyed with his first podium. Trott, whose car lacked its Brands Hatch poise, Pangborn, Seaman, Dunster - going great guns again - and Rollason all finished on the lead lap. Whitlock, Bosson and Carter’s flat-sounding Titan were one down, with Buffey, Etherington and octogenarian Messer two circuits adrift at the chequer.     

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LEFT TO RIGHT: SIMON ARMER, MARCH 703. LEIF BOSSON, BRABHAM BT28. MARK LINSTONE, BRABHAM BT21

HISTORIC FORMULA FORD 2000: HARRISON BREAKS GLASSWELL'S MONOPOLY

After eight wins from eight rounds of the Lackford Engineering Historic Formula Ford 2000 Championship, including a post-stoppage reprieve at Donington, regular rivals were beginning to wonder whether Ben Glasswell could be beaten. The answer was emphatically yes, but it took returnee Jordan Harrison making a “one-off” appearance in father Mark’s Lola T580 - Brands Hatch winners in 2024 – to make headline news, if not derail the Suffolk driver’s Reynard SF77 campaign.

Triple Classic Formula Ford champion Harrison beat Glasswell to pole by 0.735s, 1:08.624s (97.05mph) to 1:09.359, with their pursuers strung out behind on a circuit unfamiliar to many. The vastly experienced Andrew Storer netted third from the ever-improving Greg Robertson and Stephen Glasswell, all in Reynards, and Hampshireman Roger Price in his Delta, designed by the great Patrick Head of Williams F1 fame. Fraser Collins (Royale RP30) and Class B leader Andy Lancaster (Hawke DL16) did well to get into the top 10 of the 19-strong pack, outpacing Paul Crosbie (Reynard) and local stalwart Ian Pearson (RP30).

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: JORDAN HARRISON TOOK TWO WINS IN HIS FATHER'S LOLA T580, BEN GLASSWELL EXPERIENCED A DIFFICULT WEEKEND. CLASS B RUNNER-UP NEIL BOWMAN. ROGER PRICE, DELTA T78 DESIGNED BY PATRICK HEAD OF WILLIAMS F1 FAME.

Harrison commanded Saturday’s race from the lights, chased by Ben Glasswell who took two laps to find a way past the fast-starting Robertson. Storer moved his Pukka Pies car past Robertson into third before half-distance, by which time Collins and newcomer Ian Johnson (Reynard) had parked at the Esses. and Oliver Gemmill’s Reynard was circulating with a tattered nose. With the track increasingly slippery - “I didn’t know what to expect corner to corner,” said winner Harrison – Glasswell spun into the Recticel cushioning at Gooch’s on lap 15. Storer was thus promoted to second and Robertson elevated to the podium. Glasswell Sr, Pearson and Price completed the top six, ahead of Crosbie, Lancaster, Gemmill and Class B runner-up Neil Bowman (Van DIemen RF78).

Damage to both ends of the championship leader’s car was remarkably light and repaired overnight for Ben to take up his grid position. While Harrison’s repeat victory was never in doubt, Robertson was ecstatic to snatch second from Storer in the closing stages. Ben Glasswell finished a subdued fourth, grateful for a clutch of points, ahead of his dad and Gemmill who usurped Price from sixth towards the end. Crosbie, Collins and Lancaster were next back. Legendary fabricator and FF2000 supporter Ken Thorogood was 11th and 750 Formula convert Bill Rutter, 12th in his ex-Graham Ridgway Reynard. Harrison’s best lap of 1:09.119 (96.18mph) was an improvement on Saturday’s, as was Lancaster’s sub Class B pole 1:12.796 (91.48mph).     

70S & HISTORIC ROADSPORTS: HISTORICS RULE THE ROOST

Derbyshire’s Mark Godfrey (Lotus 7) and Dorset’s John Shaw (Morgan Plus 8) stormed to victory in Sunday’s spectacular Road Sports double-header. From a whopping 38-strong field, showcasing 13 marques, Historic specification cars beat their ’70s’ counterparts home both times.  

Rupert Ashdown topped the timesheets after qualifying in his family’s long-serving Lotus Elan S1 ‘Kermit,’ but his 1m18.409s (84.93mph) poleshot was but 0.466s quicker than HRS leader Martin Pratt in his grey Morgan Plus 8, with Godfrey also ensconced in the ‘18s.’ Shaw, fellow former HSCC champion Julian Barter - taking a belated seasonal bow with his trusty TVR 3000M - and Cotswolds-based Richard Plant (HRS Morgan) were sub-1m20s too.

George Daws (Datsun 240Z), John Williams (Porsche 911SC), Dr Patrick Ward-Booth (Ginetta G4) and Jonathan Stringer (Lotus 7) were next, with previous 70s champions Jim Dean (Lotus Europa) and Mark Leverett (Elan S4) in close attendance. Quickest of the 105-Cup Alfa Romeos was Andy Hill in his pale blue GTAm, 13th overall on 1:23.029, with Alex Childs (two-litre GT Junior) and Ben Brain (1750 GTV) within three quarters of a second, with Robert Rowe’s Witchampton Elan S3 in their midst, overseen by Larry Kennedy and Historic champ of yore Paul Tooms.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: THE MORGAN OF JOHN SHAW WAS VICTORIOUS IN RACE 2. JOHN WILLIAMS PORSCHE 911SC LEADS THE CHASING PACK. MARTIN STOWE TVR GRANTURA & ANDY HILL ALFA ROMEO GTAm ENJOYED A GOOD BATTLE IN RACE 2. JULIAN BARTER TVR 3000M WAS BEST OF THE 70S RACERS.

Pratt, Shaw and Plant stampeded their Rover V8-poweed Moggies ahead at the red lights were extinguished to get the first race under way. Godfrey “bogged at the start and had to clutch it twice” having been swallowed by the pack, but soon refound his mojo. He was fifth at the end of the opening lap, between Barter’s Ford V8 engined TVR and Williams’ Porsche, which had Stringer’s wasabi green 7 under its whale tail. After the lightest of brushes which dislodged Pratt’s exhaust, presaging retirement, Shaw and took up the cudgels on lap two, by which time Ashdown was gone, having clattered a kerb at one of the chicanes and broken an exhaust bracket. As the order settled, Dean, Rowe Ward-Booth and Mike Eagles (MGB GTV8) got into the chase, with Brain heading the Alfas just outside the top dozen.

Godfrey’s nippy 7 hit the front on lap four and with a 1:19.298 (83.98mph)  fastest lap already on his slate stayed there for the duration, beating Plant to the chequered flag by 10 seconds. “I had to shift but backmarkers played in for me to get past John, after one of the biggest fights I’ve had in a long time,” said Richard. Barter and Stringer finished third and fourth, with Williams and Daws in attendance. A moment for Shaw dropped him to seventh, ahead of Rowe, Dean [not girls’ school proprietors but landscape gardener and farmer respectively!] and Ward-Booth.

Brain and Childs headed the Alfisti, a mere 0.299s apart, with third-placed James Whelan’s GT Junior a lap behind, Hill having pulled off at Quarry. Steve Skipworth (Europa), Mark Bennett (MGB GTV8) and Martin Stowe (TVR Grantura) split the second and third Alfas at the end.

Godfrey’s sequel lasted seconds for as he accelerated away from the grid the A-frame locating his Lotus’ rear axle snapped. Plant led the subsequent gripper until half way round what turned out to be the final lap when he slithered off piste on the exit of Old Paddock and was powerless to prevent Shaw from capitalising as he yumped down the greensward on the outside Howard’s Way towards Gooch’s.

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FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: MIKE EAGLES LED THE BATTLING ALFAS OF ALEX CHILDS & BEN BRAIN EARLY IN RACE ONE, BEN BRAIN WAS THE VICTOR IN BOTH 105-CUP RACES. GEORGE DAWS DATSUN 240Z JOINS THE CHASE OF MARK GODRFEY'S NIMBLE LOTUS 7.

“I really enjoyed that until I hit the oil and as I parted the grass John came rumbling past.” Shaw was chuffed at the bonus. “I love to race my old mate Richard. We have scrapped lots of times and always have great fun,” said John, twice an HRS champion in his Porsche 911 days. Plant’s bonus was the 1:18.980s (84.32mph) fastest lap on his slate.

Barter watched the lead change and was third again, ahead of the closely-matched Williams and Dawes. “It was very difficult to overtake when Julian and John were side-by-side,” remarked George. Burning from the stern, Ashdown shot through the field to a strong sixth, ahead of Rowe, Stringer, Dean and double Alfa vincitore Brain.

The race ended prematurely and in dramatic fashion when Skipworth, lapping Stephen Chapman’s Sunbeam Alpine Harrington, spun languidly through Camp. The Europa ended up perpendicular to the outside of the track, still on the asphalt, where Childs did well to pull his Alfa up short of the Lotus with Stephen looking at him wide-eyed. Alex’s hot twin-cam engine stalled and he couldn’t get it refired until just after the red flags flew, bringing down the final curtain on the HSCC’s Diamond Jubilee party.

KACEY BURGESS MADE THE MOST OF HER PRIZE DRIVE QUALIFYING 30TH AND FINISHING 23RD

Mention must be made of  21-year-old apprentice vehicle technician Kacey Burgess, fourth recipient of the Simon Diffey Memorial Scholarship prize, who made her race debut as an invitee in Sarah Adams-Diffey’s gold MGB GT, the scheme’s first car. In at the deep end against hugely-experienced competitors, Kacey acquitted herself well and was accorded Driver of the Day honours to the unanimous approval of her peers.

GUARDS TROPHY: SCOTS GUARDSMAN MAKES IT THREE

Elliot Paterson’s 830-mile round trip from Auchterarder was rewarded with a third Guards Trophy victory of the season in the family Ginetta-BMW G16, previously in the winner’s circle at Snetterton and Brands Hatch. Alas the Castle Combe round, between the cornerstone Superprix and Oulton Park Gold Cup events, proved a bridge too far for competitors. Eight teams turned out for the 50-minute race, six regulars plus Swiss visitor Jürg Tobler (Lola Mk1) and Ian Beattie (Jaguar XK120) from the Griffiths Haig Trophy to maximise their weekends, the latter enlisting Tom Poulton as co-driver.

It was very tight at the top in qualifying, Mark Colman in father Hugh’s ex-David Good Chevron-BMW B8 pipping Paterson to pole by 0.016s with a 1m14.307s (89.62mph) lap. Renowned Combemeister Dan Cox was in touch having lapped Michael Richings’ Ford twin-cam engined Merlyn Mk4A round in 1:15.298.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: MARK AND HUGH COLMAN TOOK THE FIGHT TO ELLIOT PATERSON EARLY IN THE RACE. JURG TOBLER IN THE DELIGHTFUL LOLA MK1. ELLIOT PATERSON TOOK THE RACE WIN AND FASTEST LAP. THE GREMMILL / GREMMILL CROSSLE 9S RETIRED AT MIN DISTANCE.

Peter Thompson hedged his GT bets with two entries. His TVR Griffith, co-driven by Jon Payne, led the preliminaries on 1:17.527 with the Shelby Cobra of Charlie Allison – which old buddy Thompson would finish – on 1:19.434. The Ford V8-powered monsters, orchestrated by Steve Mace, were split by the Crossle 9S of Oliver and Andrew Gemmill. Tobler’s Lola and the Jag completed the grid, barely a second apart.

The duel between Mark Colman and Paterson entertained with the distinctive cars passing and repassing each other until the mandatory pitstops, after which Elliot – whose previous visit to Combe was “10 years ago” for Morgan Motor Company Challenge races – stretched away from Hugh Colman, setting fastest lap at 1:14.161 (89.80mph). On a scorching hot Sunday afternoon on which Paterson saw the Colmans roast, he was “delighted not to have a roof. I had my own air conditioning!”

From a delayed start, the Cox in the Merlyn was lapping swiftly before he was black-flagged for a fuel leak long after the Crossle retired. The last podium place was the TVR’s for it was never threatened by the Cobra, a lap down. “I’m a little warm, but not as warm as the brakes. They are cooked,” said Thompson, “but we’ve had a good day out at a brilliant circuit.” The consistent Jaguar and Lola completed the finishers.

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FROM LEFT: ELLIOT RECEIVES THE VICTORS TROPHY, THE MICHAEL RICHINGS/DAN DOX MERLYN MK4A WAS LAPPING QUICKLY BEFORE RETIRING WITH A FUEL LEAK. MARK & HUGH COLMAN ENDURED A HOT AFTERNOON IN THE CLOSED CHEVRON B8

Full results available from: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/263268

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