Classic and Competition car 60 September 2015

September 2015

Issue 60

VSCC Mallory Park

British GT

Formula E

Retro Warwick

Coventry Car Day

Bentley Drivers Club Silverstone

Contents Page 3 Page 7 Page 9 Page 11 Page 17 Page 21 Page 26 Page 31 Page 37 Page 42 Page 43 Page 50 Page 55 Page 61 Page 66

News.

50 Years of Toyota in the UK. Total 24 Hours of Spa. VSCC Prescott Hill climb Long Course.

VSCC Prescott Vintage Speed Hill climb Short course FIA Formula E Pre-season testing 2015-16.

Wythall Carnival Classic Car Show.

British GT Brands Hatch.

Harry Flatters Historic rally.

Archive photo of the month.

Bentley Drivers Club race meeting, Silverstone.

Coventry Car Day. VSCC Bob Gerard Memorial Trophy Mallory Park.

Retro Warwick.

British GT Snetterton.

Front Cover. Edwardian Handicap race at Mallory Park 123 Richard Scaldwell De Dietrich 130 HP ‘Course’ 142 David Ozanne Delage Coupe De L’Auto 81 Mark Walker Darracq 200HP and 75 Tony Lees Vauxhall Viper Special © Simon Wright.

Check out our new updated WEB site at www.classicandcompetitioncar.com regularly for additional photo galleries, wall papers and other additional content and join our Facebook Group Classic and Competition Car. Classic and Competition Car is published by simonwrightphotos.com High View Drive, Kingswinford, West Midlands DY6 8HT E-mail simonwright57@hotmail.com Tel 07905 435973

All content is copyright classicandcompetitioncar.com unless otherwise stated. All photographs are copyright simon and Janet Wright unless the original photographer is indicated, and cannot be used for commercial purposes unless by prior approval of the original copyright holder. We try to ensure accurate and truthful reporting but if you spot an error, please contact us and will we verify and correct accordingly. We do not organise any events which are mentioned and we are not responsible if the event does not take place or is cancelled. Please contact the event organiser before making a long trip.

September 2015

Our Team.

Simon Wright - Editor.

Simon has been photographing and reporting on motor races for many years. Served an engineering apprenticeship many years ago. Big fan of the Porsche 917 Pete Austin.

Pete is the man for Historic racing, with an extensive archive of black and white images covering the last few decades of motorsport in Britain. Very keen on BRM. Mick Herring Mick's first love is GT racing, including Historic, especially the Lola T70. Has an extensive knowledge of all things GT. Janet Wright.

Janet has been taking photographs for many years, and is also very skilled in video. She likes Aston Martins.

Lucy Owen-Moczadlo.

Lucy runs Jucy Rally Photography and joins us to expand our rally coverage. She loves anything to do with Subarus and even tries her hand at a bit of autotesting in her modified Nissan.

Our other regular contributors are Syd Wall, David Goose and Stuart Yates

To Subscribe for free and be notified when the next issue is published please click here. To check out our web site with additional photos please click here Page 2

News

Editorial.

This issue really seems like Ancient and Modern. We have reports from VSCC and BDC competitive events at Prescott, Mallory Park and Silverstone with cars racing over 100 years old. Then we have a report from Donington Park on the preseason testing for the second season of Electric Formula E. We have modern GT racing from Brands Hatch and Snetterton, but will these modern GT cars still be racing in 100 years time? © Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

F1 Champion Villeneuve makes Formula E debut at Donington Park.

The 1997 Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve has joined the ranks of ex-Grand Prix racers who have switched to the all electric racing category Formula E. The French-Canadian has also previously won the World Famous Indianapolis 500 race in America in 1995 and the 1995 PPG Indy Car World Series before switching to Grand Prix racing with the Williams Renault team in 1996.

He won four Grand Prix in his first season and pushed his team mate Damon Hill hard for the championship in his first season. In 1997 he won seven races and took the World Championship. He has joined the Monte Carlo based Venturi Formula E team alongside French driver Stepane Sarrazin. Villeneuve said “What attracted me to Formula E was watching the races and I could see right away that it was professional, with racing on street courses which I love. They’re tough, bumpy, it looks difficult to drive which makes it fun, and the racing looked exciting. I’m looking forward to getting involved in something which will keep getting faster every year. When you look at most racing series they’re trying to make the cars go slower because of the rules, and this is the other way round so that’s a great positive.”

September 2015

© Simon Wright

© Janet Wright

© Pete Austin

© Lucy Owen-Moczadlo

© Mick Herring

© Syd Wall

© Motorsport-imagery.com

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Flying Scotsman is full steam ahead for 2016.

Just two weeks after inviting applications for the 2016 Flying Scotsman Rally, the Endurance Rally Association have already filled its 100 strong entry list. The one hundred entries were snapped up by pre-war car owners in record time, showing that the Historic Rally scene is as strong as ever. Rally Director Fred Gallagher said “The Flying Scotsman is an exceptional event, challenging both car and crew with a series of special tests and regularity sections in the most breathtaking scenery the UK has to offer.

The record time in which all the entries have been taken shows the passion for this event. We’re thrilled to see that exuberance continues to grow in the same way as the event itself.”

The 2016 three day route will start at the stunning Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, travel round the Lincolnshire Wolds before crossing the Humber Bridge in to Yorkshire before heading up into Northumberland. Continuing north to Hadrian’s Wall and a journey along the wild and remote seashore of the North East to the Scottish Borders. The crews will then travel along the Firth of Forth in to the Pentland Hills, one of the least populated regions in the UK. Perth and Kinross will be the backdrop for the final day as competitors take in Loch Lomond National Park on their way to the traditional finish at Gleneagles. The event is scheduled to take place between the 14th and 17th April 2016. For more information see www.endurorally.com

September 2015

Citroen dominate the FIA World Touring Car Championship.

The European part of the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) ended in Triumph for the Citroen Total team which scored two consecutive 1-2 finishes on the streets of Vila Real. In the first race Jose Maria Lopez and Sebastien Loeb built on their qualifying form to take an uncontested onetwo finish. The second race was full of incidents which allowed Chinese driver Ma Qing Hua through to his second career race in the FIA WTCC ahead of Ivan Muller.

As the championship leaves Europe, the top four places are held by Citroen drivers with Jose Maria Lopez on top with 322 points, ahead of Ivan Muller on 267 points, Sebastien Loeb on 230 points and Ma Qing Hau on 146 points.

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Ex Graham Hill Lotus 49 to star at Castle Combe Autumn Classic.

Front runner switches team for Clio Cup Series finale.

Adam Hatfield, multiple Sports Class race winner, has confirmed a move to Team Pyro ahead of the 2015 Michelin Clio Cup Race series finale at Silverstone International circuit.

The 17 year old from Cranworth in Norfolk, is in his first full season of Clio Cup Series action and so far this year has already chalked up eight wins in the Sports Class - a category for first year inexperienced competitors - with a best overall result of 6th place on four separate occasions. Ahead of the Silverstone rounds on the 19th and 20th September 2015, Hatfield has opted to move to Team Pyro from Finesse Motorsport.

“I am delighted to be joining Team Pyro for the season finale at Silverstone”, said Hatfield, “It’s a fantastic team with a great pedigree in Clios over the years, I’m really looking forward to starting this new chapter in my career with them. It goes without saying, I’d obviously like to thank everyone from Finesse for all of their hard work this year.”

September 2015

Castle Combe circuit is delighted to announce that the exGraham Hill Lotus 49 will be making an appearance at its Autumn Classic Historic Racing Festival. The remaining original 1967 car is owned by the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, which will also be bringing the BRM V16 Type 15 to the event.

Castle Combe was also the venue for one of Graham Hill’s earliest races in 1955, a season he spent travelling Europe as a mechanic for the Jaguar C type of Dan Margulies. After winning the sports car race at Castle Combe, Magulies tossed the keys to the young mechanic Hill and let him race it in the Formula Libre race!

The Castle Combe Autumn Classic takes place on Saturday 3rd October 2015. For more information see www.castlecombeautumnclassic.co.uk

Insurance Broker confirms ongoing award sponsorship.

Footman James have confirmed they will be sponsoring the ‘Club of the Year’ award for the third year running at the International Historic Motoring Awards ceremony. The event is now in its 5th year and is recognised globally with nominations already received for the 2015 awards from Europe, the USA, Asia and Australia. The judging panel will include Derek Bell, 5 times Le Mans winner, Ian Callum, Director of Design at Jaguar cars, Ed Gilbertson, Chief Judge at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and Lady Susie Moss.

There will be 14 categories in 2015 including Club of the Year, Restoration of the year, Motorsport event of the year and car of the year. The event evening will be held on the 19th November 2015 at the Renaissance Hotel, London.

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All Electric Audi E-Tron SUV Concept.

After the first ever purely electric Audi SUV revealed at IAA Frankfurt, it appears destined for series production, scheduled for 2018. The vehicle is reported to be capable of more than 310 miles from its electrified quattro drivetrain of three motors.

The Audi e-tron quattro concept profits from the experience gained in the development of the forthcoming R8 e-tron. The Audi e-tron quattro concept has been designed from the ground up as an electric car and follows Audi “Aerosthetics” concept of combining technical measure for reducing aerodynamic drag with creative design solutions. Moveable aerodynamic elements at the front, side and rear improve the airflow around the car. This has resulted in a cd value of 0.25, setting a record for aerodynamic efficiency in the SUV market.

This contributes considerably to the long range of 310 miles (500 kilometres). The large lithium-ion battery is positioned between the axles and below the passenger compartment which provides a low centre of gravity and a balanced axle load distribution, giving the car better driving dynamics and safety.

September 2015

A Ligier JS P3 for Great Britain.

British owner Steve Donovan has confirmed his purchase of a Ligier JS P3 through his company Courier © Frederic Le Floc'h / DPPI Solutions. He has bought an LM P3 Onroak Automotive chassis and has asked YIL Engineering to run it in 2016. The final programme is awaiting confirmation, but the car should run in the various British Endurance series and the V de V Endurance Series.

Steve plans to share the wheel with Richard Bernans who has competed in the V de V series on numerous occasions. It is also possible that the car might run in the European Le Mans Series.

© Frederic Le Floc'h / DPPI

Classic and Competition Car Facebook Group We now have a Facebook Group - Classic and Competition Car - where you can join and keep up to date with additional Photographs, postings, and extra event photo galleries.

Please feel free to add personal postings and your own photos.

Page 6

TOYOTA CELEBRATES 50 YEARS IN THE UK

September 2015

1966 Toyota Corona

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1966 Corona and 2001 Verso In 1965 Toyota made a modest entry into the UK car market, its arrival marked by a small four-car stand at that year’s motor show. Today, Toyota has not only sold almost three million vehicles in Britain, it builds them here, too.

Although a great deal has changed, there remains a constant theme in Toyota’s business that is as true today as it was 50 years ago, as Paul Van der Burgh, Toyota (GB) President and Managing Director, explained: “Toyota entered the UK market with the aim of providing better cars and better service, even if those weren’t the words used back then. But ever since, Toyota has stood out for giving the customer something better – better equipment, better reliability and better service.”

Pride and Clark was the original UK importer and distributor, a South London family firm that launched its enterprise after John Pride travelled to the Far East to see the developing Japanese car industry for himself. His faith in Toyota was shared by a handful of car retailers who set up the first Toyota showrooms, at first with just a single model line – Corona – to offer their customers.

Business prospered as the range of vehicles grew, not least with introduction of the first Corolla in 1966. The name Toyota (GB) Ltd was adopted in 1967 and by 1980 200,000 cars had been sold, securing its September 2015

position as a leading player in Britain’s car market.

Nine years later Toyota announced the UK as the location for a European manufacturing centre. Toyota Manufacturing UK’s Burnaston car plant in Derbyshire and Deeside engine factory in North Wales came on stream in 1992 and have benefited from more than £2 billion investment in technology, skills and jobs. They continue to provide valuable opportunities for more than 200 supplier businesses.

TMUK also has the distinction of being the Toyota’s first hybrid vehicle manufacturing centre in Europe, building Auris Hybrid models since 2010.

In its 50th year in the UK, Toyota has already launched new Avensis and Auris models – all built at Burnaston. Later this year it will also begin marketing the first of its Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicles here, opening a new chapter in zero emissions driving with technology the drivers of those first Corona saloons could never have imagined.

While Toyota’s focus is on the future and the development of ever-better cars, it honours the achievements of some its influential models of the past in a heritage fleet, maintained by Toyota (GB). The classic line-up includes an original Corona saloon, the famous Corolla AE86 that helped inspire today’s GT86 coupe, a first-generation RAV4 and one of the earliest British-built models, a 1992-vintage Carina E.

2015 Toyota Avensis and 1993 Carina E

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Total 24 Hours of Spa winners Nick Catsburg, Markus Palttala and Lucas Luhr driving a BMW Z4

Š COPYRIGHT SRO MOTORSPORTS GROUP 2015

September 2015

Page 9

Ojjeh (15 Boutsen Ginion BMW) went off in to the barrier at the end of the Kemmel staright. At the one hour mark and still behind the Safety car it was Alvaro Parente leading in the Von Ryan McLaren ahead of the two M-Sport Bentleys of Maxime Soulet (8) and Guy Smith (7), none of which had yet made their first pitstop. By the six hour point, after six safety cars and two full course yellows, the first points for the Blancpain Endurance Series were awarded to the 99 car Rowe Racing Mercedes SLS taking full points in Pro Cup, the 51 AF Course got full points in Pro-Am and the 24 Team Parker Racing Audi got full points in the Am Cup.

© COPYRIGHT SRO MOTORSPORTS GROUP 2015

Total 24 Hours of Spa. The 67th running of the 24 hour race at Spa in Belgium greeted the drivers with torrential rain for the start of the race. It was the McLaren drivers Kevin Estre and Alvaro Parente (58 and 59 Von Ryan Team) who made the most of the awful conditions to lead the field up to Raidillon, beating pole man Frank Stippler (2 Audi Sport Team WRT). Various cars were caught out in the conditions and brought out the Safety Car after Gilles Duqueine (90 Duqueine Engineering Ferrari) and © Bentley Motors then Karim September 2015

© COPYRIGHT SRO MOTORSPORTS GROUP 2015

By the end of the 24 hours it was an emotional maiden victory for the Belgian BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS on home soil.

The 46 BMW Z4 driven by Nick Catsburg, Markus Palttala and Lucas Luhr took victory, completing 536 laps and also took fastest lap for good measure. In what had been changeable weather conditions over the 24 hour period, they were a whole lap ahead of the 2nd placed 2 Audi Sports Team. In Pro-Am, victory went to the 47 AF Course Ferrari of Bruni, Pier Guildi, Lemeret and Lathouras who finished 5th overall. The AmCup was dominated by the 24 Team Parker Racing Audi of Loggie, Westwood,McLeod and Simonsen who were 2 laps clear of their nearest rival.

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© Janet Wright

VSCC Prescott Hill Climb - Long Course Friday 31st July 2015.

By Simon & Janet Wright with additional photos by Pete Austin.

© Simon Wright

Tom Waterfield Austin 7 Special was 2nd in class

September 2015

The first weekend in August saw the Vintage Sports Car Club have their annual hill climb event at Prescott, which was first run in 1938, Colin Bullock Lea Francis Cirrus Special only managed Practice over the original short course, which does not utilise the Ettore’s bend.

For their 80th celebrations, they ran an extra one day meeting on the Friday before their annual weekend event, and used the usual long course that is used for the majority of hill climb meetings. The members enjoyed the experience so much that this year the club decided to run the one day long course meeting again. It was classified as a separate event and had a maximum entry of 140 cars, a much shorter entry list than the weekend event on the short course.

This is because they need to fit in two practice runs in the morning and two timed © Pete Austin runs in the afternoon. The Friday event also included a post war class for Pre-1961 Historic racing cars, including Formula 3 (500) cars and 1950s Sports cars.

On a sunny Mike Preston - Bugatti T35B

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Š Pete Austin

September 2015

Fastest driver Nicholas Topliss - ERA R4A gave a red hot performance

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© Janet Wright

Automobile Engined Edwardian Cars and pre 1941 Racing Cars over 3000cc combined class.

The other overall award winner after Topliss was Mrs Sue Darbyshire who took her Morgan 3 wheeler Super Aero to the Fastest time of the day for Vintage cars with a 55.15 second run.

With such a large field, there were plenty of class winners starting with Joe Tisdall in his Austin 7 Ulster who was first in the Standard and Modified Sports Cars up to 750cc unsupercharged.

Frank Ashley in the MG M Type was fastest in the Standard and Modified Sports Cars 751-1100cc unsupercharged and up to 750cc supercharged class. Tim Kneller’s Riley TT Sprite was © Simon Wright

Spike Milligan Connaught A7 leaves the start line

day, Nick Topliss was in fine form taking fastest time of the day in ERA R4A with a 49.73 second run which was well ahead of the next fastest car, the Frazer Nash Single seater of Julian Grimwade with a 52.52 seconds to win his class, the Non© Pete Austin

David Lee 1952 Tojeiro Jap

fastest in the Standard and Modified Sports Cars 1101-1500 cc unsupercharged and up to 1100cc supercharged class. Talbot cars took the next two classes with Mrs Marina PembertonWhiteley in a 95/105 and John Guyatt in a Lago T150c both winning their respective classes.

The Edwardian cars are always some of the most popular at VSCC events, and the automobile engined cars class was won September 2015

Julian Wilton ERA R7B

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© Simon Wright

© Janet Wright

Alan Harrison 1960 Cooper T56 2nd in class on handicap

Anthony Fenwick-Wilson Railton LS Tourer

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

Andrew Wilson 1925/28 Frazer Nash Norris Special

Clive Press 1913 Peugeot 148 © Pete Austin

© Pete Austin

Matt Johnson Austin MG LA Special

September 2015

Stephanie Wilton - Austin Single Seater

Alastair Dent 1952 Cooper Mk VI © Simon Wright

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© Pete Austin

© Simon Wright

Roger Twelvetrees 1916 Buick D45 runs through the gravel at Ettores © Simon Wright

David Hounsell - Alvis 12-50

by Hicky Hickling in his 1911 Sunbeam 16/20.

The other class winners were David Furnell in his Austin 7 The Toy, Dr David Pryke in his Morgan/Riley 4/4, Ian Bingham in the Frazer Nash Geoghegan Special, John Earle Marsh in the Alvis Silver Eagle and Benjamin Enticknap in the GN Special Phoenix.

The ERA proved to be a most capable machine around the long sweeping bends of Prescott, even if Terry Crabb managed to loose ERA R12C at Semicircle, arriving backwards and sliding off on to the grass. He ended up reversing up over the finish line to complete his run in 115.75 seconds. His second run at 54.01 seconds won him his class. The final class for Post-war racing cars was combined with the 1950s Sports Racing Cars class and was won by Ms Phoebe Rolt in a 1960 Elva FJ Type 200 September 2015

Terry Crabb ERA R12C sliding off at Semicircle on his first run

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Vintage cars in the orchard

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

September 2015

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

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Record Breaking VSCC Prescott Vintage Speed Hill Climb Weekend, Prescott.

2nd-3rd August 2015. Photos by Syd Wall.

James Baxter FTD in ERA R4A

© Syd Wall

After the Long Course meeting on the 1st August, the VSCC then staged the 77th running of their regular 2 day Speed Hill Climb meeting using the traditional short course at Prescott, which turns right at Orchard and misses out the Ettore’s bend completely. With the two day format, there was a capacity entry of 260 Pre-war cars competing. There was also a display of original Riley Sprites as part of their own 80th anniversary celebrations.

The spectacular entry included in the Edwardian Class the Fiat/ Isotta Frascgini of Mike Vardy as well as regular front runner Mark Walker in his 1905 Darracq.

It was however the ERA R4A that dominated the meeting over the September 2015

© Syd Wall

short course, driven by James Baxter, just as it had on the Friday Long Course meeting when it was driven by owner Nick Topliss to the new VSCC best time for the long course and Fastest Time of the Day. This double win for the ex-Pat Fairfield and Bob Gerard car also gave Baxter a new outright Pre-war hill record as he set David Leigh 1923 GN Spider Fastest Time of Day on Sunday. Baxter was on fine form for the entire weekend, having broken the hill record on both practice runs on Saturday. Not content with just breaking the hill record, he also broke the fabled 40 second barrier with a time of 39.68 © Syd Wall seconds. This finally ended Anthony Mayman’s 26 year old class record which was set in ERA R4D. Baxter took a lap of honour before receiving the Mays Berthon Trophy for the Fastest Time of Day. Julian Grimwade was again second fastest on both Long Course and Short course, setting a new personal best of 41.67 seconds in the Frazer Nash single seater. The fastest time for a Vintage car went to Charlie Martin in the Morgan Special, breaking the 44 second barrier to achieve

John Dennis 1907/16 Berliet Curtiss

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Š Syd Wall

September 2015

Michael Vardy 1905 Fiat/Isotta Fraschini 200HP

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© Syd Wall

© Syd Wall

Christopher Forrest 1934 Talbot 105 1st in class on Handicap © Syd Wall

Gavin Bain 1912 Chater Lea Duo Car/Cycle car

an elusive Vintage Class Record with a time of 43.82 seconds.

More records were broken in the ideal conditions on the Sunday, with William Way becoming the first driver in a Sports bodied Austin 7 to break the 50 seconds barrier to win his class with a time of 49.53 seconds. Another new Vintage class record was set by © Syd Wall Edward Williams driving a Frazer Nash Super Sports to break the 27 year old record set

by Dick Smith a year before Mrs Jennifer Lees 1913/18 Vauxhall Viper Special

September 2015

Richard Scaldwell 1909 De Dietrich 130HP Course

Eddie was born. Eddie completed the course in 45.17 seconds.

Mark Walker took the Clutton Memorial Trophy for the Edwardian Cars in his 1905 Darracq 200 HP and also set a new class record with a time of 47.39 seconds.

On the Saturday evening, several hundred members gathered to remember former VSCC President ‘Steady’ Baker, who had recently passed away, with a Vintage Champagne Reception.

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© Syd Wall

© Syd Wall

Doug Marr 1938 Riley Sprite Replica

© Syd Wall

Thomas Hardman 1935 1.491 litre MG Bellevue Special © Syd Wall

Ian Baxter 1937 Alta 61 I.S. Single seat

© Syd Wall

Andrew Howe-Davies 1911 Scat Racer © Syd Wall

Stewart Rich 1924 GN Anzani

September 2015

David Wood 1929 Triumph Super 7

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© Mick Herring

Lucas di Grassi set the fastest time of the test with a new Electric circuit record - on a much ‘shorter’ course!

FIA Formula E Pre-season test 2015-16.

By Simon & Janet Wright with additional photos by Mick Herring.

The Electric first season of Formula E concluded at Battersea Park in London with Nelson Piquet Jnr being crowned the first Electric series World Champion. Time does not wait for long however, and the second series is now ready to spark in to life.

After travelling the world for the last year, the teams have now © Simon Wright all returned to their bases at Donington Park to begin development on the next generation of cars. There were six preseason test days at Donington, held over 3 consecutive weeks on a Monday and Tuesday, with the public admitted September 2015

free to watch the on track testing. There was also a pit lane walk-about each day at lunch time © Mick Herring for the public, for which a small fee was charged.

These tests are the only chance the teams will have to prepare their second season cars before heading to China in October for the first race of the second series at Beijing. For this second season, the regulations around the powertrain used by the teams has been opened up, allowing teams some variation in this ‘open championship’. This gives approved manufacturers the opportunity to develop new powertrain solutions to fit in to the Lucas di Grassi

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Š Simon Wright

September 2015

Bruno Senna Mahindra Racing leads Sebastien Buemi Renault e.dams through Redgate corner

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© Simon Wright

Loic Duval Dragon racing locks a tyre in to the Melbourne hairpin

existing rolling chassis and battery. There will be ten teams of two drivers taking part again in the 2015-16 season, with several driver changes to last year and a welcome new addition.

Former World Champion Jacques Villeneuve is driving for the Venturi team, joining the many other ex-Formula 1 drivers already taking part in Formula E. The Renault e.Dams team have retained Nicolas Prost and Sebastien Buemi for a second © Janet Wright season. In the tests it was Buemi who was fastest after the first two days of testing, breaking the previous circuit Formula E record with a time of 1 minute 31.05 seconds.

Front running driver Nick Heidfeld has joined Bruno Senna at Mahindra Racing for this new season. Virgin Racing have retained Sam Bird and Jean-Eric Vergne. Bird set the fastest time on the 5th day of testing with a 1 minute 30.451 which was the best time of the Nick Heidfeld

September 2015

© Janet Wright

last two test sessions.

Dragon Racing have Jerome D’Ambrosio and Loic Duval, while former F1 driver Stephane Sarrazin will drive along side Villeneuve at Venturi. The ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport team have retained Lucas di Grassi and Daniel Abt for a second season, and de Grassi was fastest overall after the second two day test sessions with another new circuit electric record time of 1 minute 29.92 seconds, over a second faster than the time set in the first two day session by Sebastien Buemi.

The Trulli team have signed Vitantonio Liuzzi and Salvador Duran as their drivers for this second season. The team didn’t manage to complete many laps during the test with Liuzzi managing 7 laps during the final test session. Current Champion Nelson Piquet stays with the NEXTEV TCR team, who have yet to confirm their second driver but ran Oliver Turvey during the tests. The Andretti team have also only confirmed Simona de © Janet Wright Silvestro as a driver, with the second driver as yet undecided.

Dutch driver Robin Frijinns did get to test the second Sebastien Buemi Renault e.dams heads down the pitlane

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© Mick Herring

Stephane Sarrazin Venturi 5th fastest in the final test

car at Donington. They had major problems during the second day of testing with de Silestro barely able to complete a lap, as everytime she went out, the car would halt on track, then after a few minutes it would start moving again. For the final tests the © Janet Wright Andretti team decided to revert to their season © Simon Wright one McLaren powertrain after failing to complete any meaningful test mileage with their new system, but did intend to retain their status as a constructor and introduce a bespoke powertrain for Loic Duval

September 2015

the start of next season. After changing powertrain, the team managed to complete 68 laps during the final test, after only managing 16 laps in the previous tests, without setting a representative time!

Finally Team Aguri have not made any announcement about either of their drivers, but ran various drivers during the test sessions including Frenchman Tom Dillman who is currently in GP2 and won the German F3 Championship in 2010, GP2 race winner and Toyota driver in the FIA World Endurance Championship Stefano Coletti, Nicolas Lapierre and Nathanael Berthon during the Donington tests.

Woman racer Simona de Silvestro Andretti Formula E 10th fastest in final test

© Janet Wright

Tom Dillman

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© Simon Wright

Andretti driver Simona de Silvestro

© Janet Wright

Jean-Eric Vergne DS Virgin Racing © Mick Herring

© Simon Wright

Jacques Villeneuve © Simon Wright

Nelson Piquet Jnr NEXTEV TCR 12th fastest in the final test

September 2015

Jean-Eric Vergne DS Virgin car is named Bellie

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© Simon Wright

Wythall Carnival Classic Car Show.

16th August 2016.

By Simon & Janet Wright.

Although only a small suburb on the outskirts of Birmingham, the annual village carnival at Wythall, hosts both a dog show and a reasonable classic car show, which regularly attracts over 100 cars.

This year, with the sun shining, there was an excellent turnout of classic and vintage cars, many built around the Midlands.

Most of the former British Leyland marques which were built around the Midlands were represented with a large Jowett selection of MG models lined up along one edge of the display field. Apart from the usual MG B and Midget models, there was a fine example of a pair of old MG TF sports cars and a MG Y

© Simon Wright

Morris Minor line-up

Saloon.Opposite the MG display was a line up of the Triumph Stag V8 sports car, whilst round the corner were three Morris Minor saloons, including a convertible.

The Large display field has several little alcoves around the edges, plus another enclosed section surrounded on three sides by trees. In this area were the American classic cars, which was representative of the history of American popular transport in just a few vehicles. The 1956 Plymouth Belvedere Sport Sedan was typical of American cars of the period, large with plenty of chrome embellishments and fins on the back © Janet Wright

© Simon Wright

1956 Plymouth Belvedere

rear wings and powered by a 4.5 litre V8 engine. The Powerflite automatic transmission has only 2 forward gears and reverse and the car weighs in at 1.5 tons. Coming more up to date was a September 2015

MG TF

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© Janet Wright

is often used as a base for modern Kit car conversions as the major body panels are bolted on and therefore easy to replace with alternative car designs. Finally what appeared to be a typical American pick-up truck was in fact a 1962 Ford P100 pick-up truck from New South Wales in Australia.

Britains answer to the American car during the 1960s was the Ford Zodiac of which three generations were on display, plus the more basic Consol and Zephyr models. © Simon Wright

Dodge Polara Sedan

1965 Ford Thunderbird and a 1968 Dodge Polara Sedan. The Polara is the more unusual model as it completely lacks fins and is the more normal looking of the American cars on display. It is powered by a 6.3 litre Dodge V8 engine fitted with a 4 barrel Eddlibrook 600 CFM carberettor producing 330 Bhp. It has a © Simon Wright Chrysler 727 Torqueflite 3 speed automatic transmission. The 1958 Plymouth Belvedere convertible was a perfect example of the typlcle open car from California in the 1950s while the more modern Pontiac Fiero Dodge Polara engine

September 2015

© Janet Wright

Two models of Ford Zodiac

This year there was a good selection of vintage cars on display. At the entrance to the classic car display was a two tone Jowett saloon. Wythall is only a few miles from Longbridge, where Austin cars were built for almost 100 years, so it was appropriate that there was a large presence of Austin cars on display © Janet Wright from vintage Austin 7 saloons right through to the much loved Austin Mini.

There was a large red Austin 12/4 Clifton Tourer convertible, a Austin 12/4 Clifton Tourer

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© Janet Wright

1931 Austin 7 Box saloon and a 1937 Austin Hereford 18HP saloon

four door saloon with a fabric hood to cover the passenger compartment. The Austin Ten Drivers club had 4 large Austin saloons on display, including a pair of Austin Six saloons, one red and black and the other green and black, plus a 1934 Austin 12/4 Harley in black and an Austin Ascot in blue and black, showing luxury cars from the 1930s. There were a couple of © Simon Wright 1930’s Austins parked together which appeared to be very similar in design, but the one was a 1931 Austin 7 Box Saloon while the other was a 1937 Austin Hertford 18 HP Saloon which had a large fabric section to the roof, which appeared to be an early 1948 Jaguar 3.5 litre L Saloon Mk4

September 2015

sunroof. Jaguar were also built very near by, and there was a good turn out of the big cats, ranging from luxury classic saloons like the 1948 Jaguar 3.5 litre L Saloon (Mk 4) through to the more modern Jaguar XJS sports car. © Simon Wright There was a Frazer Nash and a much more unusual 1929 Swift 10 HP Fleetwing saloon, plus a 1920s Bentley and a Jaguar XJS 1928 Chrysler Type 65 saloon which had competed on the Peking to Paris historic rally in 2007. The interesting and unusual vehicles were displayed in the centre of the field. The first car was a rare 4 door Aston Martin, then a modern and Vintage Rolls Royce which clearly showed how much car design has improved over the last century. There was also a pristine 1911 Talbot © Janet Wright Model M. At the other end of the line were two interesting conversions on cars to produce a camping solution Sierra and Cambridge campers

Page 28

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

© Janet Wright

BMW Z3 sports car and Healey sports car

Rare 4 door 1974 Aston Martin Lagonda 4 dr V8. Only 7 were built. © Janet Wright

© Simon Wright

Ford Classic Capri

September 2015

Military vehicle line up

Page 29

without the need for a caravan. One was a conversion based on an Austin estate car which had a hard roof which lifted up with material sides, to give an approximate 6 foot standing space inside the rear of the vehicle. The other was a more modern option which was fitted above a Ford Mondeo. The rear hatchback had been removed and a plastic moulding body was mounted above the car on a roof rack type fitting and it then came down in to the rear boot to form a rear door.

You would step in to the boot through the door and then climb a ladder to sleep above the car.

Among the more modern convertible sports cars lined up together were a Healey from the 1950s, next to a modern equivalent BMW M3. There were also Austin Healey, Triumph, Alfa Romeo, AC and Mercedes sports cars which reflected this popular type of car through the years.

At the far end of the field was a display of Army vehicles which ranged from a Land Rover right up to very large Army recovery vehicles and a caterpillar tracked troop carrier. © Simon Wright

September 2015

1911 Talbot Model M

© Janet Wright

A late arrival was a most interesting replica of the Rover gas turbine car Jet 1 © Simon Wright which was built in 1949 and was modified to a more aerodynamic style in 1952. The original held a World speed record for a gas turbine powered car in 1952 with a speed of 152.691 mph. The original is on display at the London Science Museum. This is a fully working replica complete with the gas turbine engine mounted at the rear.

© Simon Wright

Page 30

British GT Brands Hatch August 2nd. By Mick Herring.

Š Mick Herring

Alistair McKinnon - Lewis Plato Mercedes SLS

September 2015

Page 31

© Mick Herring

Joe Osborne backs up the field as 3rd safety car pulls off

Bright sunshine throughout the 2 hour, points and a half, British GT race thriller on Brands Hatch's Grand Prix circuit yielded a hard won victory for championship leaders Marco Attard and Alexander Sims BMW Z4. The Beechdean Aston Martin of Andrew Howard and Jonny Adam claimed their fourth pole position ahead of Lee Mowle/Joe Osborne's 888 BMW Z4 and the Ross Wylie/Andrew Watson Von Ryan McLaren 650S. In GT4 a jubilant Jamie Stanley and Paul McNeilly broke the Kershaw/Yusuf Lotus stranglehold in their Ginetta G55 with

Aleksander Schjerpen/James Birch 3rd in their G55.

Early race mirrored grid order with Attard close behind, the race closed up with the first safety car at twenty minutes for an incident involving the McLaren.

When the pit window opened, Howard and Mowle pitted together but Howard's Spa win made sure the Aston spent an extra twenty seconds stationary before Adam resumed. Thus it became a BMW 1-2 with the 3rd and final safety car being judged to perfection by Joe Osborne (Mowle BMW Z4) © Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

Lee Mowle 888 BMW Z4

September 2015

Much improved Aston Derek Johnston Matt Bell 3rd

Page 32

© Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

Phil Keen Jon Minshaw battle back to 8th after pit drive through

establishing a huge lead that Sims (Attard Z4), much better on the brakes, would take twenty exciting minutes to eradicate.

Ten minutes from the end, with his tyres about finished, Osborne slid wide at Graham Hill Bend and Sims was through to take the win by 3.6 © Mick Herring seconds.

The hugely improved Aston Martin of Derek Johnston and Matt Bell scored their best result of the year in third with Beechdean climbing back to fourth ahead of Adam Carroll/Gary Eastwood's Ferrari.

Sixth was Liam Griffin/ Rory Butcher's Oman Aston Martin with the September 2015

Rosso Verde Ferrari of Hector Lester and Benny Simonsen a worthy seventh, their best result since the death of Allan Simonsen, in their now aged car.

Top two GT4 positions were Ginetta G55s, David Pattison/Luke Davenport taking their convincing first win in 11th, and Graham Johnson/Mike Robinson 2nd/12th overall.

GT4 leaders Jamie GT4 Echelon exiting Graham Hill Bend Chadwick and Ross Gunn brought their down on speed Beachdean Aston Martin in 3rd/13th overall.

1st and 2nd GT4 David Pattison, Luke Davenport Ginetta G55 GT4

BookaTrack.com Caterham Superlight R300-S Championship leader, David Robinson, won both 20 minute races on Brands Hatch GP with a commanding 13.4 seconds and fastest lap in Saturday's race 1.

Sean Byrne, third in championship, took Page 33

© Mick Herring

Caterham close racing Sean Byrne defends second place

second in race 1 ahead of Jonathan Mortimer and Lee Wiggins. On Sunday, with a DNF in race 1, Aaron Head did his best to maintain his championship second place by finishing just 2.3 seconds behind Robinson plus fastest lap, for which a championship point is awarded. Third was Lee Wiggins ahead of Sean Byrne and Jonathan Mortimer.

Duo BRDC Formula 4 Championship leader, Will Palmer, © Mick Herring

scored two out of three twenty minute race victories and fastest laps during all three encounters at Brands Hatch GP circuit over the weekend.

Taking Saturday's first race by 3.44 seconds from Ciaran Haggerty, Tom Jackson, Harrison Newey, Jack Lang and Omar Ismail.

With race 2 on Sunday being based on the reversed top eight from Saturday, the win went to Jordan Albert by the closest margin of 0.313 seconds ahead of Harrison Newey, Tom Jackson, Will Palmer, Rodrigo Fonseca and Ciaran Haggerty.

F4 Heading the signals, double winner Will Palmer

© Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

September 2015

F4 Sisa Ngebulana, Rodrigo Fonseca, Chris Mealin

Page 34

The final F4 race of the weekend, based on fastest laps in the previous two, allowed Will Palmer to almost double his first win margin to 6.6 seconds ahead of Omar Ismail, Ciaran Haggerty, Jack Bartholomew, Tom Jackson and Rodrigo Fonseca. © Mick Herring

Fuel Protect Porsche Club Championship with Pirelli, split into 3 classes, saw Gary Duckman's Boxster S take the first race by 0.284 of a second from reigning champion and current leader, Pete Morris, who set fastest lap, ahead of former British GT and Blancpain driver Craig Wilkins from Paul Winter and Kevin Harrison, all in 996 C2s.

Class 2 leader, Dave Botterill, suffering with down on power engine was 16th/8th in class with his older 964 C2.

The experienced Craig Wilkins won race two by 0.423 seconds, the other 996 C2s being split by Gary Duckman's Boxster (fastest lap) in second, leading Pete Morris, Mike Johnson and Kevin Harrison over the line. © Mick Herring

GRDC Twice winner Adrian Campbel-Smith goes inside Richard Elliker

Protyre Ginetta GT5 Challenge (including GRDC+ competitors) race one gave Ollie Chadwick the first of his two victories by 0.453 of a second ahead of series leader James Kellett, (fastest lap), Ryan Hadfield, Luca Hirst, James Robinson and Callum Pointon. Sunday's morning race netted Chadwick's second win by 0.187 of a second from Pointon, Kellett (another fastest lap), Hadfield, Robinson and Stewart Linn.

The final race went to Kellett by the largest of the close margins at 1.11 seconds from Chadwick, Pointon (fastest lap), Linn, Robinson and Nick Zapolski. © Mick Herring

VW Druids Hill Aaron Mason holds off Phil House for second win

Porsche Andy Toon 968 CS class 2

September 2015

Milltek Sport Volkswagen Racing Cup, held two 20 minute races on Sunday. Aaron Mason won race one by 0.65 of a second from Phil House, guest BTCC and GT driver Tom Onslow-Cole and Lucas Orrock all in Sciroccos ahead of the first Golf of Howard Fuller. Joe McMillan's Scirocco took fastest lap in eighth.

Race 2, with race 1 top six reversed on the grid, provided victory for Michael Epps' Golf by 0.576 from Tom Onslow-Cole (fastest lap), Lucas Orrock, Phil House and Aaron Mason.

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© Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

Ginetta GT5 Andrew Marshall holds off midfield pack

Now in its second year the Ginetta Racing Drivers Club, for drivers in their first season of racing, saw Adrian Campbell-Smith take both victories by 1.658 seconds plus fastest lap in race one.He was followed over the line by Richard Elliker, Richard Smith, Mike Jarvis and Peter Digby.

GRDC Adrian Campbell-Smith fastest lap in race 1

Closing the meeting, race 2's margin was 0.747 ahead a trio of Richards, namely Smith (fastest lap), Evans and Elliker with Mike Jarvis and Peter Digby in 5th and 6th. © Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

Porsche Mark McAleer chases race 2 winner Craig Wilkins

September 2015

F4 Midfield gravel trap visit most avoided it

Page 36

Š Lucy Owen-Moczadlo

Winners Jason Pritchard and Phil Clarke Ford Escort RS1800

SGC Printing Harry Flatters Historic Rally.

26th July 2015. Epynt. Photos by Lucy Owen-Moczadlo The first Harry Flatters Rally was first staged in 1985 by the Brecon Motor Club with support from Stephens & George Print Group, who have remained as main sponsor for the event for the last thirty years. The event is now part of the British Historic September 2015

Rally Championship, as well as the Welsh Historic Championship, the Welsh Tarmac Championship and the King of Epynt and FMP Challenges.

The event started at 8:30 on the Epynt ranges, covering approximately 170 miles with 15 Special Stages of around 75 miles on private land. The heavy rain made driving conditions Page 37

© Lucy Owen-Moczadlo

2nd overall on the Historic rally Melvyn Evans and Patrick Walsh Ford Escort RS

tricky but did not stop Jason Pritchard and Phil Clarke in their Ford Escort Mk2, from claiming an important victory on the fifth © Lucy Owen-Moczadlo round of the Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship. The weather conditions meant that the FIA specification cars were able to exploit their asphalt tyre advantage.

They also won the Holton Homes Category K for cars running under the FIA Appendix K regulations and also took a 33 point lead in the championship. Their overall time was 1 hour 7 minutes and 28 seconds which would have placed them 7th overall in the modern category event.

While Melvyn Evans and Patrick Walsh took 2nd place September 2015

overall in their Ford Escort RS, just 27 seconds behind the winners, it was 3rd placed Neil Williams and Peter James in another Ford Escort RS1800 who were 2nd of the British Historic Rally Championship contenders. They were lucky to get to the finish as on the penultimate road section they had a wheel bearing failed and locked the wheel. The crew had to dismantle the bearing and fix it to get the car back to the service area. This meant that 3rd place in the Championship contenders went to 4th overall finishers Richard Hill and Iwan Jones in their class winning Ford Escort Mk2. Their main rivals Nick Elliot and Dave Price driving another Ford Escort were only 29 seconds behind at the finish to take 2nd in their class and 6th overall.

Local driver Malcolm Rich and Jonathan Hawkins won their class in 23rd place overall, driving a Ford Anglia on Rich’s first visit to Epynt in 25 years. They were lucky to win after the class leading Ford Cortina Mk 2 of Bob and Dale Gibbons retired with around a mile to the finish with a broken halfshaft.

Another crew to take a last minute class win were father and son Ernie and Will Graham in a Ford Escort Mk1 after class leaders David Stokes and Guy Weaver were forced to retire their

Jimmy McRae and Pauline Gullick Firenza Can-AM Finished 1st in Class C5

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© Lucy Owen-Moczadlo

Ford Escort Mk 1 before the last stage, due to driver illness.

Only two seconds behind the Grahams were Neal James and Kevin Jones in a Pinto powered Ford Escort Mk1 who won class C3 in 11th overall, not bad when they had contested the entire rally on one set of forest tyres!

One of the oldest competitors was 72 year old Terry Brown, who with Den Golding, got their FIA specification Ford Escort RS1800 to the finish in 5th place overall. For Brown, this was his first full Epynt event for seven years. © Lucy Owen-Moczadlo

David Stokes and Guy Weaver Escort RS1600 unable to finish due to driver feeling unwell.

Other noteable retirements were Chris Skill and Captain Thompson who suffered a broken halfshat on their Ford Escort Mk2 and Robin Shuttleworth and Ronnie Roughhead who hit a big rock on the Burma road in their Ford Escort Mk1.

The modern Rally cars competing on the Harry Flatters Rally saw Damian Cole and Jack Morton emerge as victors in their Ford Fiesta RS WRC with a time of 1 hour 5 minutes and 32 seconds. They were 49 seconds clear of class winners Mark Jones and Terry Martin in a BMW E36 M3, while 3rd overall © Lucy Owen-Moczadlo

3rd overall but 2nd of the Championship contenders Neil Williams and Peter James Ford Escort RS1800

The first non-Ford Escort finisher was former British Champion Jimmy McRae and Pauline Gullick driving a Vauxhall Firenza Can-Am, who finished 9th overall to win their class.

The Porsche 911 of Rikki Proffitt and James Whitaker failed to start after electrical problems put them out before they even left the start line. The other Porsche 911 of Dessie Nutt and Geraldine McBride lost more than four minutes on stage 2 when the carburettor linkage fell apart. They then decided to continue the rally as a shakedown for the Isle of Man event in September.

September 2015

Modern winner Damian Cole and Jack Morton Ford Fiesta RS WRC

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Š Lucy Owen-Moczadlo

2nd overall in the modern car event Mark Jones and Terry Martin BMW E36

went to Elan Pritchard and Steve McPhee in a Ford Focus WRC. Only 3 seconds behind the 3rd placed car were Simon Chapman and Paul Wakely in their class winning Proton Satria.

The other class winners included Kevin and Charles Tappin in a Ford Escort, Philip Burton and Mal Capstick in another Ford Escort, Wayne Watkins and Sherryn Roberts in a Subaru September 2015

Impreza, Richard Bliss and Jamie Vaughan in a Honda Civic, Lloyd Morgan and Marc Clatworthy in a Nissan Micra, Leighton Smith and Mark Powell in a Peugeot 205 GTi, Neil Griffith and Aled Rhys Lewis in a Ford Escort and Malcom Bayliss and Siobhan Pugh in a Ford Escort Mk1.

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© Lucy Owen-Moczadlo

Eian Pritchard and Steve McPhee Ford Focus WRC © Lucy Owen-Moczadlo

© Lucy Owen-Moczadlo

Malcolm Bayliss and Siobhan Pugh Mk1 Escort

September 2015

Rachael Patterson and Tom Wood Pug 106 return to rallying after a break but hit a mobile Page 41 chicane also known as a sheep

Archive Photo of the month.

By Pete Austin

Watching the antics of the touring car drivers on the TV recently made me think about what that category of racing was like in the 60s and 70s. This months image was taken during the Race of Champions meeting at Brands Hatch in 1973. Race winner Frank Gardner is shown in his Chevrolet Camaro leading the field ahead of Brian Muir (BMW 3.0 CSL) who finished fourth and runner up Dave Brodie in his Ford Escort RS 1600.

Š Pete Austin

September 2015

Page 42

© Simon Wright

Jock Mackinnon Bentley 3 litre 5th Ron Warmington 11th and Tom Commander Bentley Mk VI Special 4th take brooklands 3 abreast

Bentley Drivers Club, Silverstone. 1st August 2015.

By Simon & Janet Wright.

The annual Bentley meeting at Silverstone always draws © Janet Wright

Robson Austin Healey 100M leads Cameron Austin Healey Ashley Sprite GT and Shepherd AC Ace Bristol September 2015

a large number of this famous British marque to both the track and the car park. After the lunch time parade by Bentley members, the track action started with the Bic Healey Trophy & AC Team Challenge race. Martyn Corfield took pole position in © Janet Wright his Austin Healey 100/4 and took the lead, chased hard by Richard Woolmer in his left hand drive Austin Healey Sebring Sprite. The pair pulled clear of the rest of the field and Corfield was in control until he had a nearside rear tyre Winner Richard Woolmer Austin Healey Sebring Sprite failure at Luffield, spinning, but managed to keep the car on the track and get back to the pits. He lost 2 laps in the process but returned to the track and finished in 9th place. This left Page 43

Š Simon Wright

September 2015

Corfield had a tyre failure while leading the first race in his Austin Healey 1004

Page 44

Woolmer with an easy victory with Andy Shepherd driving an AC Ace Bristol in 2nd overall and first in the AC Team Challenge © Simon Wright

Grahame Bryant Morgan +8 and Tom Andrew Morgan Aero 8 head the chasing pack

class. The other class winners were 5th placed Graham Robson in an Austin Healey 100M and 6th placed Allan Cameron driving an Austin Healey Sprite MK 1.

The next series to take to the track were the Aero Racing Morgan Challenge Series with Oliver Brynt on pole position in a Morgam +8 in a 20 minute race he led from start to finish. By the chequered flag he was nearly 13 seconds ahead of Keith Ahlers in another +8. The class winners included 4th placed Tom Andrew in an Aero 8, 6th placed Tony Hirst in a Morgan ARV6, 14th placed John Henry Williams in a 4/4 and 15th placed Tim Ayres in a +8. The final class winner was Roger Whiteside in

33rd place driving a 4/4.

The FISCAR race was a thirty minute race for Fifties Sports Cars which saw a wide variety of cars on circuit including Lotus, Aston Martin and Sunbeam plus Allard, Lancia and Alfa Romeo to add to some of the Austin Healey and AC cars seen earlier. It was the Allard J2 of O&T Llewellyn that was fastest in practice, but the car failed to take the start which left Martyn Corfield in his Austin Healey 100/4 keen to make up for his first race tyre problems to take a convincing win by over 14 seconds. Robin Ellis in the Lotus Elite did challenge Corfield for the lead in the early stages of the race, and did lead for a couple of laps before settling for 2nd place and a class win with smoke coming off the tyres as it rounded Luffield near the end of the race, well ahead of Ted Shepherd in the AC Ace Bristol in 3rd place. The other class winners were Paul Griffin driving an Austin Healey 100S and K & L Kennedy in the pretty Lancia Aureila GT. One of the more unusal cars in the race was an MG George Phillips TC Special driven by Simon Evans which was classified as the last © Janet Wright

© Janet Wright

Alex Quattlebaum Leco Sport failed to finish the Fiscar race

September 2015

Paul Forty Bentley Mk VI Special won the Scratch race for Pre-1966 cars

Page 45

Š Simon Wright

brown Bentley Mk IV Special. The race was red flagged after the first lap after a nasty accident at Brooklands corner. Clive Morley in a Bentley 3/4 1/2 and Sue Shoosmith in a Bentley Mk VI/Sq Special touched wheels under braking for Brooklands at the end of the first lap which launched Morley in to a double barrel roll. He was dragged from the car as it went over for the second time and he was left at the track side. The marshalls and medical team were on the scene in seconds to aid the driver. After a short time he did sit up, but was laid down again by the Doctor and was stretchered off in the ambulance to the circuit medical centre. The air ambulance arrived to take him to hospital in Oxford with broken femur, collar bone and two small bones in his back, while the track was cleared of the smashed Bentley. It was a big accident and he was lucky to survive. The Shoosmith car appeared to have damage to the front nearside wheel and had just stopped at the track side. With both drivers being taken to hospital, neither with life threatening injuries, the race was eventually restarted, but the remaining races were all shortened in length after the delay. The shortened restarted scratch race was won by Forty from David Freeman in an Aston Martin 2 litre Speed and Michael Haig Š Janet Wright

Clive Morley thrown clear of his rolling Bentley 3/4 1/2

finisher in 16th place, five laps behind the winner, while the Leco Sport of Alex Quattlebaum failed to finish.

Now it was time for the first Bentley action on track with a fifteen minute Scratch race for pre-1966 cars and pre-war team challenge. In practice, Paul Forty was fastest in a September 2015

Ron Warmington Bentley 4 1/2 Supercharged

Page 46

© Simon Wright

was 3rd in a Bentley Mk VI Special.

The Allcomers Handicap race for faster cars was scheduled for 8 laps and saw a couple of clubman cars fastest in qualifying with Steven Dickens Mallock Mk 29 ahead of Graeme Smith’s Mallock Mk 26. After the earlier delays, the race was shortened to six laps and Dickens won but by only just under 2 seconds ahead of the Morgan +8 of David Rushton. There was another first lap incident at Luffield in this race when Philip Ledger went off on the exit to Luffield in his Crossle 95 and hit the wall, but the race was able to continue as the car was recovered by the efficient snatch squad. © Simon Wright

Peter Campbell Wingfield Bristol Special finished 6th in the Allcomers Handicap race for slower cars

The next event was the Allcomers Handicap race for slower cars and saw Oliver Llewellyn on pole position in the Ginetta G20J but after six laps it was Jim Mackie who won in his Austin Healey Sprite by over eight seconds ahead of John Gray in a Lotus Eleven, while Nick Wilkins was third in an MG A. The Bentley Handicap race saw the multicoloured Bentley GT September 2015

© Janet Wright

of Simon Worthington qualify fastest and he maintained that performance through the six lap race to win even after a ten second penalty for a false start.

Paul Forty was second in his Bentley Mk VI Special and Jock Mackinnon was third in a Bentley 3 litre.

The combined MG T Register, AC and Morgan race saw Richard Plant on pole position in his Morgan +4 Supersports.

This race was run over its Simon Worthington Bentley GT

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© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

Peter Cole special bodied MG MGA

Richard Plant Morgan +4 Supersports won the MG T Register, AC and Morgan race after a battle with James Sumner Morgan 4/4

original 15 minute duration and saw Plant win by over 14 seconds from James Sumner in a Morgan 4/4 and Simon Orebi Gann in a Morgan +4SS. The first MG home was 6th place Nick Wilkins in an MG A after Alan Kyson, who finished 2nd on © Simon Wright the road was disqualified after a technical infringement in his MG Twin Cam. There were no AC cars in the race.

The final race of the day was the Allcomers and Bentley Scratch race for Post 1966 cars which saw a real mix of cars entered. Steven Dickens in his second race of the day was fastest in his Mallock Mk 29 from Philip Ledger in the Crossle 95, Steven Dickens Mallock Mk29

September 2015

but Ledger did not start after his earlier accident in the Allcomers Handicap race for Faster cars. This gave Dickens an easy win by nearly 23 seconds from David Rushton who went one better than the earlier race to finish 2nd in his Morgan +8. Rick De Blaby was third in a Crossle 95 sports car. © Janet Wright

Richard Frankel Bentley TT

Page 48

© Simon Wright

Bentley Owners lunch time parade

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

September 2015

Page 49

Š Simon Wright

Singer, Jaguar and Triumph, just three of the many Coventry marques celebrated during Coventry Car day

Coventry Car Day. Coventry Transport Museum.

15th August 2015. By Simon Wright.

Organised by Coventry Transport Museum and Culture Coventry, this special event was to showcase the unique motoring heritage of the City of Coventry. With cars dating back to 1901 right up to the present day, it was possible to see the development of the motorcar over the past century. The city has seen many major manufacturers build cars in the area, and many were represented both outside the Transport Museum in Millennium place and in the heart of the city in Broadgate.

Many of the famous names in British motoring history have links to Coventry including Jaguar, Triumph, Standard, Singer, September 2015

Armstrong Siddeley, Lea Francis, and Chrysler including Hillman and Sunbeam, and they all made an impressive sight in the bright sunshine. The newly revamped museum has a vey large display of vehicles representing the history of the motor vehicle in the UK, with an obvious emphasis on Coventry vehicles. The museum had also provided the oldest car on display in Millennium place, a 1901 Godiva model made by Payne & Bates, which is thought to be the only one which has survived as they did not make many cars. This was one of the original Horseless Carriage as the wooden body is styled like a horse and cart with 4 seats, back to back (Dos-a-Dos). The 7 hp engine, with 2 horizontal cylinders and atmospheric inlet Page 50

© Simon Wright

valve, is mounted under the seats.

It is connected to the gearbox by belts which then use chains to drive the rear wheels. In 1901, George Bates, the father of one of the owners of the company, fell out of a Godiva which was being driven by his son 1901 Godiva Harry. He suffered a broken thigh and many other injuries and died. The family then decided to sell the company.

Another eye catching car provided by the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust was the 1907 Daimler TP 35 finished in bright yellow. The British Daimler company owes its existence to the © Simon Wright German Gottlieb Daimler who began experimenting with the internal combustion engine in 1872.

In 1882 he was joined by Wilheim Maybach.

During this period Daimler was taking out 1907 Daimler TP 35

September 2015

patents on his new engines before using one to power his first motor carriage in 1886. A British engineer, Frederick Simms bought the patent rights for the British Empire, excluding Canada and founded the Daimler Motor Syndicate Limited in London in 1893. The company manufactured Daimler engines in Britain. It was during this period that motorists would buy a chassis which would be sent to a coachbuilder to build and fit a body. Many were one off specials built on the same chassis.

This 35 horsepower car which belongs to the Heritage Collection has a four seat tonneau body, possibly built by Daimler, while King Edward VII took delivery of a landaulette body on a similar chassis in 1907. This yellow car is one of the earliest examples of a car built by the oldest surviving British Car Company, which by 1907 employed more than 2,000 people and was earning nearly £200,000 a year in profits.

Not all the cars on display were anywhere near as old as these two, but they all shared the same proud history of having been built in Coventry. Another unusual but much more modern car was an Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire 236. They were built © Simon Wright

Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire 236

Page 51

between 1955 and 1957 and used the 6 cylinder 2.31 litre engine previous used in the Armstrong Siddeley Whitley. It used a single downdraught Stromberg carburetter and produced 85 bhp. It was supplied with a manual gearbox, but many were fitted with a Lockheed Manumatic Clutchless transmission with overdrive an option on both transmissions. The car was a conventional front engine rear wheel drive layout. The car had a maximum speed of 85 mph. Only 603 were produced. There were various other Armstrong Siddeley models on show in Millenium place, all distinguished by the special Sphynx badge emblem used by the company on all their cars. Armstrong Siddeley also produced aircraft engines after merges with Hawker aircraft and Bristol Aero Engines and some of the last cars produced used a spynx with twin jet engines mounted either side of the sphyx. Car production ceased in 1960 and the company was absorbed in to Rolls Royce. © Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

Daimler and Jaguar are part of Coventry

Coventry’s most famous car producer, with which the city is most associated, is Jaguar and there were a mixture of classic and modern Jaguar sports cars and saloons scattered throughout the display, with classics like the iconic E-Type and © Simon Wright XK120 sports cars, plus the Mk II Saloon.

Standard were another mass produced manufacturer from Coventry, that later merged with Triumph. There were vintage and classic standards on display in Millenium Place,

September 2015

Standard Charlecote Coupe

Page 52

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

1935 Triumph Gloria

© Simon Wright

Rover

Armstrong Sideley Sapphire 346 Mk II © Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

Sunbeam Stilletto © Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

Humber Sceptre

September 2015

Talbot Sunbeam Lotus

1929 Austin 7 Swallow

Page 53

© Simon Wright

Jaguar line up

while the Triumph cars were on display with the more modern vehicles located in Broadgate, in the city centre.

Under the watchful eye of Lady Godiva, some of Coventry’s more modern vehicles were lined up to catch the attention of the busy Saturday shoppers milling around the city centre shops. Along one side of the square were Triumph sports cars and saloons, ranging from the Herald and 2000 series saloons through the Triumph Stag and TR sports cars. Pride of place between the rows of cars was a 1952 Triumph Mayflower, while at the other end of the display

was a 1935 Triumph Gloria Vitesse and a Triumph Gloria sports car.

The other side of the square was occupied

© Simon Wright

Triumph line-up

by Chrysler models with the Hillman Imp, Sunbeam Chamois and even a Husky van dominating most of the area, An unusual vehicle in this display was a 1951 Lea Francis 14hp Estate car. © Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

September 2015

Coventry Imps

1951 Lea Francis 14HP Estate car

Page 54

© Janet Wright

The start of the Edwardian race

The Bob Gerard Memorial Trophy race meeting, Mallory Park. Saturday 22nd August 2015.

By Simon & Janet Wright with additional photos

by Pete Austin & Mick Herring.

The Vintage Sports Car Club (VSCC) returned in August to Mallory Park after no race at the circuit in 2014 due to change in circuit ownership. This year the circuit has been restoring its 4 wheel race calendar and the VSCC were happy to return the © Mick Herring Bob Gerard Trophy meeting to its normal home.

The meeting comprised a full 12 race programme, adding F3 (500), Formula Junior and Pre 1961 Racing Cars Races 1 winner Jonathan Cobb Frazer Nash Ford special

September 2015

to the normal VSCC categories.

The first race was the Mallory Park Trophy for Special Pre-War Sports Cars and was run before lunch in glorious sunshine.

Jonathan Cobb in the Frazer Nash Ford ran away from the start and was already well clear of the rest of the field by the time they reached the hairpin for the first of ten laps. He was never headed and won by over 16 seconds from Richard Iliffe in a Riley Kestrel 12/4 Special and Charles Jones at the wheel © Pete Austin of an MG L Magna.

The handicap winner was Marcus Frieder in a Riley 12/4. Tim Kneller had finished 2nd on the road but Page 55

© Janet Wright

© Simon Wright

was excluded from the meeting .

The second race, the Bob Gerard Memorial Trophy race for Pre-1961 Racing Cars was held after lunch on what was turning out to be one of the hottest days of the year.

Frederick Harper led from pole position in the Kurtis IndyRoadster to take a flag to flag victory. He was chased hard

by Duncan Ricketts in the Alta 2 litre who was 2nd at the flag, and winner of the Bob Gerard Memorial Trophy. Nicholas Topliss had been running 3rd in his ERA early on but it was Frederick Harper Kurtis Indy-Roadster won Matt Ricketts who finished 3rd race 2 in his Cooper Type 41. The first Post war Formula 2 car was Steve Russell in a Cooper Bristol MkII who won the Robert Ashley Trophy. The winner on handicap was Robert Cobden in a Riley Falcon Special who had driven a spirited race with several power slides on the rear end round the tight Mallory © Simon Wright

Park hairpin. Race 3 Jo Blakeney-Edwards Frazer Nash Super Sports on her way to 5th Race 3 was a short handicap race for pre-war cars (Set 6) over 6 laps. Norman Pemberton lead the field round the first lap in his Talbot 95/105 followed by Steve Allen in a Bentley 4 3/4 but by the end of 6 laps they were the last two cars on the result sheet.

Julian Grimwade had started well down the order in the very fast Frazer Nash single seat but by the finish he had won and by over 17 seconds from Justin Maeers in the fabulous little GN Parker, with Anthony Fenwick-Wilson only a couple of seconds © Mick Herring

Duncan Ricketts in the Alta 2 litre won the Bob Gerard Memorial

September 2015

Races 3,7,12 podiums for Justin Maeers GN Parker

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© Pete Austin

behind in 3rd driving the Railton LS Tourer.

Race 4 was the Dick Baddiley & Edwardian Racing Trophies Gillian Carr - Mors 2 Seater Edwardian race handicap race for Edwardian cars. These cars are a real crowd favourite.

Big brute like engines that sound like tractors, not much braking, but all old and unique and driven to their fullest capacity. Always spectacular in this category is Mark Walker and his Darracq 200HP, but this time he had to settle for 3rd place, but did win the © Mick Herring

Race 4 Tom Walker Hispano-Suiza Alfonso heads winner Jonathan Miller Stutz Bearcat

September 2015

Edwardian Racing Trophy for the fastest average race speed.

With the first three covered by less than a second after 6 laps, the winner was Jonathan Miller in the Stutz Bearcat who won the Dick Baddiley Trophy by just 0.19 of a second from Richard Scaldwell in the De Dietrich 130HP ‘Course’. Walker was only 0.94 of a second behind the winner in 3rd. © Simon Wright

David Biggins Daimler Mercedes Rennw rounds the hairpin during the Edwardian race

The Formula 3 (500) put on their usual spectacular race with a grid of 16 cars taking the start. Peter De La Roche had pole position in his Cooper Mk V but it was Simon Brown in a Cooper Mk4 next to him on the front row that grabbed the lead at the start and won by just over 2 seconds after 10 laps. The pair had pulled © Janet Wright well clear of the rest of the field, with Stuart Wright in another Cooper Mk XI finishing 3rd over 28 Rodney Delves Kieft F3 500 battled with Richard de la Roche Smith Buckler single seater for 4th in the 500 race

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© Pete Austin

Simon Brown - Cooper Mk4 winner of the 500 race

seconds behind. The other class winner in the race was Shirley Monro in a Cooper IV. Race 6 was for the Mallory Mug for Standard and Modified PreWar sports cars (VSCC set 3). Andrew Mitchell ran out a convincing winner in his HRG 1 1/2 litre, over 20 seconds ahead of 2nd placed Maek Brett in the Ballamy-Ford (LMB) V8 Special, who was also 1st in the un-supercharged car over 3000cc class with Andy Bush 3rd in the Riley TT Sprite Replica. The 1st Vintage car in the race went to John Everett in his Austin 7 Ulster Sport while the winner on handicap was Fred Boothby in © Janet Wright

Norman Pemberton Talbot 95/105 won his class in race 6

September 2015

an MG J2. David Ozanne in 4th driving the Aston Martin Speed Ulster was 1st in the un-supercharged car 1500-2000cc class and Norman Pemberton in a Talbot 95/105 was the 1st in the un-supercharged car 2001 to 3000cc class.

Race 7 was for Vintage Racing cars (VSCC Set 1) and saw Tom © Pete Austin Walker win in the AmilcarHispano Special from Robert Carr in the AC/GN Special, while Justin Maeers picked up Hughie Walker - Thunderbug beat Mark Walker -Darracq in race 7 another podium in 3rd driving the GN Parker. The first VSCC ‘Standard’ car was Chris Hudson in a Bugatti T35B, while Ralf Emmerling in a Riley Brooklands was 1st in the up to 1100cc class and © Simon Wright Hughie Walker in Thunderbug was 1st in the 1101 to 1500cc class.

Winner on handicap was Nick Leston in the Lovell Elkhart Sprint Racer.

Race 8 was a short scratch race for Pre-War cars (VSCC set 5) which saw the lovely Wolselely Hornet Special of John Seber win by just over 4 Race 8 Seber Wolseley Hornet Special leads the charge to the hairpin

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© Simon Wright

Race 9 was the John Taylor Memorial Trophy for Formula Junior Cars and saw Chris Drake win by just over 4 seconds in his Terrier Series 1 Mk IV from Mark Woodhouse and John Arnold both driving Elva 100 cars. The other class winner was Martin Sheppard in a Stanguellini.

Race 10 was a short handicap race for Pre-War cars (VSCC Set 6) incorporating the Burghley Trophy for Austin 7s. Geoff Toms collected another trophy with an easy win in his Fiat 508s.

He was nearly half a minute ahead of Roland Woodtli in his Riley 15/6 Special who was just ahead of George Parkinson in the Rosengart KR2 Torpedo who also won the Burghley Trophy. © Simon Wright

Class winning Andrew Kellock Fiat AC was 2nd overall in Race 8

seconds from Andrew Kellock in his Fiat AC (also first in class B) and 3rd place went to Malcolm Underwood in the Delahaye 135 (also 1st in class D). The Class A winner was Geoff Toms in the Fiat 508S and the first ‘standard car’ was Philip Bewley in a Bugatti T35.. Finally the winner on handicap was Angus Frost in an Austin 7 Special. © Simon Wright

Race 10 2nd and 3rd Woodtli Riley 15/6 Special and Burghley Trophy winner Parkinson Rosengart LR2 Torpedo

Mark Woodhouse Elva 100 held an early lead over winner Chris Drake Terrier Series 1 Mk IV in the formula Junior race

September 2015

The heat of the day was slowly starting to dissipate and thunderstorms could be seen and heard in the distance as the Triple M Register race for Pre-War MG cars took to the circuit.

Thomas Hardman took a close win in his MG Bellevue Special just ahead of Mike Painter in an MG Kayne with Harry Painter a long way back in 3rd place in an MG PA. The other two class winners were Fred Boothby in an MG J2 and Andrew Morland in an MG L1 4 seater, while the winner on handicap was Chris Jones in an MG L Magna.

The final race of the day was a short 8 lap scratch race for PrePage 59

War cars (VSCC set 5) which saw Julian Grimwade take another win in his Frazer Nash Single Seat, with Justin Maeer taking his third podium of the day in 2nd place with the GN Parker, while Robert Cobden was 3rd in a Riley Falcon Special and also won his class, The other class winners were Gregan Thruston in an Austin 7 Special and Tony Seber in a Wolseley Hornet Special, while Richard Iliffe in a Riley Eld won on handicap.

The storms held off and the hot and sunny day saw plenty of hot action round the Midland Speed bowl.

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

Race 11 Harry Painter MG PA holds a tight line at the hairpin as Charles Jones MG L Magna tries to overtake.

Race 12 Julian Grimwade Frazer Nash Single Seat won the last race of the day

© Janet Wright

© Simon Wright

Anthony Fenwick-Wilson rounds the hairpin in his Railton LS Tourer in Race 6

September 2015

Peter Butler at speed past the lake in his Bentley 1/4 1 1/2 during Race 8

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© Simon Wright

Retro Warwick.

9th August 2015.

By Simon & Janet Wright.

The county town of Warwick is a major tourist attraction, bring thousands of foreign tourists to the heart of England each year. Most come to see the famous Warwick Castle and nearby Stratford upon Avon, but now there is another reason to visit.

Retro Warwick is now in its 6th year and attracted over 200 cars and, it is estimated, over 1,000 spectators to view the Vintage, Classic, retro, hot rod and custom cars that © Janet Wright

were displayed in the Market place and surrounding roads. The event prides itself on keeping things simple. There is no need to prebook to attend, just turn up on the day, but if you want to display a classic or custom car you will need to arrive early, as the spaces are soon filled. The glorious sunshine again this year helped to swell the crowds and brought out an interesting selection of vehicles. As you approached the Market Place September 2015

© Simon Wright

there were intersting cars parked up on the approach roads with classic British cars like the Austin A40 Cambridge parked opposite to a 1956 Buick Century, and a Vauxhall Cresta parked next to a Jaguar Mk II saloon.

Across the top of the square was a 1930s Standard and Morris saloon parked next to the Heritage Motor Centre display which had a line up of Austin Healey Sports cars on show. This was because the Warwick Healey Motor Company Archive has been offered for sale to Warwickshire County Record Office, as the company, which was founded in 1945 was based in Warwick. It was hoped that public donations might help towards this purchase.

Due to the nature of the event, the cars are not grouped in to any kind of order, so you would find a classic Porsche 911, AC Cobra and E-Type Jaguar parked together outside the Library, while just opposite was a Ford Model A Hotrod. The delight to Page 61

© Janet Wright

orange 1950s Chevrolet hotrod and the micro VW camper van.

There was also a very professional Morris Minor hotrod. I say Morris Minor, but probably the only bit from a Morris minor was the Chassis number plate. The V8 engine was very low down and far back in the engine bay that it seemed to be half way back in to the cockpit. The drivers seat was where the rear seat would normally be and the body panels had massive wheel arch extensions to cover the large wheels and tyres fitted. It was also © Simon Wright

1925 Ford Model T Raceabout

these kind of events is that as you wander around, you suddenly come across an interesting vehicle, something unusual, or something that brings back old memories of days gone by. There were plenty of modern classics like the Austin Mini, various triumph TR sports cars, then there were the unusual like the 6 wheeled Ford Granada estate car, the bright © Simon Wright

a lot lower than a standard Morris Minor. It did however retain the silhouette of a Morris Minor and I’m certain it was a lot faster than a Morris Minor and was a true credit to its builder.

For the vintage car enthusiast, there was a 1934 British Salmson sports car with a 1500 Twin ohc engine and a Bugatti body, a restored 1925 2.8 litre Ford Model T Raceabout, a 1913 Ford Model T Speedster which had competed in the 2011 Flying September 2015

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© Simon Wright

© Janet Wright

© Simon Wright

© Janet Wright

September 2015

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

© Janet Wright

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

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© Janet Wright

Scotsman Rally and a 1928 Chrysler 65 which competed on the 3rd Peking to Paris Rally in 2007.

Coming much more up to date was an Audi Quattro Rally car in full works colours, which was probably the most powerful car on display. Although there were several classic American sports cars that © Simon Wright may challenge the Audi in terms of horsepower.

There were a couple of Pontiac Trans Ams, one was a 1970s second generation Firebird Trans Am, while the second was a September 2015

© Janet Wright third generation Trans Am Firebird in the guise of KITT from the Knightrider TV series.

There were also a couple of Ford Mustangs, both in orange, plus a nice red convertible. One was a 1969/70 Boss Mustang, while the other was a newer 1973/74 Mustang Sportsroof. Chevrolet were represented with a nice classic Corvette Stingray. Just off the Market place were a couple of modified Volkswagens. One was a raised VW Beetle which looked like it had been built for off © Simon Wright

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road use, while next to it was a special, which looked like a hotrod, based on VW running gear, with a beetle bonnet covering part of the front mounted engine. Finally in the not seen everyday category were an Opel GT sports car, a mid-engined Renault 5 Turbo and a Saab Sonnet coupe. For 2016 this event is planning the very first Warwick 100 classic car scenic drive which will start and finish in Warwick town centre, cover 100 miles around the Warwickshire countryside and will be limited to just 50 cars. For further information see the Retro Warwick web site at www.retrowarwick.co.uk

© Simon Wright

© Simon Wright

1956 Buick Century © Janet Wright

Piper

© Janet Wright

September 2015

Saab Sonnet coupe

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Š Mick Herring

Race 1 Aston Martin top 4 places plus McLaren

British GT Snetterton 23rd August 2015.

By Mick Herring.

English summertime at its best provided two totally contrasting British GT races on Snetterton's 300 circuit. The first one hour race started as a five way battle, four Aston Martins and a McLaren chasing the lead. Von Ryan's McLaren of Ross Wylie and Andrew Watson was demoted to sixth for a short pit stop, leaving the top four Astons battling to the flag.

Liam Griffin's popular first victory, with Rory Butcher, saw the Oman Aston Martin win by 13.1 seconds from GT3 poleman Andrew Jarman and Jody Fanning. Another podium for Derek Johnston and Matt Bell, third again, behind the sister TF Sport Aston. Beechdean's Aston Martin Vantage of Andrew Howard and Jonny Adam was fourth from 888's BMW Z4 GT3 of Joe Osborne and Lee Mowle. Gavan Kershaw and Oz Yusuf's September 2015

Lotus Evora took GT4 by 17.5 seconds from Will Moore/Denis Strandberg's Aston Martin GT4 Challenge ahead of Aleksander Schjerpen/Fredrik Blomstedt's Ginetta G55. Š Mick Herring

Race 1 Local Lotus GT4 winner Gavan Kershaw and Oz Yusuf

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© Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

Race 2 conditions worsen for Mike Robinson and Graham Johnson Ginetta Gt4

Race 1 3rd Derek Johnston Matt Bell TF Sport Aston Martin

The expected torrential rain arrived to start race two, which culminated in a red flag as soon as full points could be awarded.

Alexander Sims led from pole in the Barwell Motorsport Ecurie Ecosse BMW Z4 GT3 he shared with Marco Attard but Jonny Adam took him at the first corner in the Aston Martin, Sims tried to regain the lead but went off at Melbourne, puncturing a tyre after hitting the Aston Martin of Rory Butcher as he returned to the track, which © Mick Herring resulted in Sims and Attard finishing in 10th place in the BMW Z4.

The Beechdean pairing of Howard and Adam were untroubled in their Aston Martin, September 2015

dramatically reducing the reigning champion's lead in the championship with their 10 second win. Jon Minshaw and Phil Keen's BMW Z4 GT3 was second from Jon Barnes and Mark Farmer's Aston Martin Vantage GT3. Re-united 2013 GT4 champions, Rick Parfitt and Ryan Ratcliffe's Ginetta GT3 was fourth.

Ginetta G55s took the first three GT4 slots, Jamie Stanley and Fulvio Mussi nearly one minute ahead of Aleksander Schjerpen and Fredrik Blomstedt with David Pattison and Luke Davenport in third. Fourth place was enough for Jamie Chadwick and Ross Gunn's Beachdea n Aston Martin GT4 Challenge to sew up the GT4 champions hip with one round still left.

Race 2 Aleaxander Sims BMW collides with Rory Butcher Aston Martin

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© Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

Race 1 Popular first win for Liam Griffin with Rory Butcher

Race 2 2nd Jon Minshaw Phil Keen BMW Z4 © Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

Race 2 GT4 winner Jamie Stanley and Fulvio Mussi © Mick Herring

Race 2 start Jonny Adam round the outside of Alex Sim into Riches © Mick Herring

Change of luck for Jon Barnes and Mark farmer Aston Martin Re-united champions Rick Parfitt and Ryan Ratcliffe Ginetta

September 2015

© Mick Herring

4th place enough for Ross Gunn and Jamie Chadwick

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© Mick Herring

Ollie Chadwick mirrored his sister's success with two wins and two fastest laps in Protyre Ginetta GT5 at Snetterton.

Race 3 mirrored race 1 but with a larger gap with James Kellett and Callum Pointon following him home on both occasions.The middle race allowed James Kellett a victory with Chadwick and Pointon half a second behind him. © Mick Herring

F4 Faisal Al Zubair heads the pack whilst Ameya Vaidyanathan runs wide at murrays

Support races Will Palmer scored two convincing BRDC F4 victories and fastest laps from the weekend's three races at Snetterton. A safety car at the start of race 2 and a later suspension breaking tangle with another car meant DNF for Palmer with victory to Tom Jackson.

Harrison Newey scored two second places and third in race 3. Jackson stood on all three podium steps over the weekend.

© Mick Herring

Ginetta GT5 Ian Robinson heads this group

An eclectic multi-class mix of cars in the Northern Saloon and Sportscar Championship enjoyed two races on Sunday in the same opposing weather conditions as British GT.Four wheel drive and turbo power provided wins and fastest laps in both races for Peter Cook's Mitsubishi Evo. Luke Armiger's Vauxhall Tigra Silhouette was second in race 1, ahead of Mike Cutt's BMW M3. The runner up positions were reversed in race 3, Cutts BMW 0.774 seconds behind the winner on the wet track. © Mick Herring

F4 Jack Bartholomew heads slipstreaming bunch

© Mick Herring

F4 Tom Jackson Will Palmer and Harrison Newey

September 2015

NSSC best sounding andy Wilson Holden Monaro V8

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© Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

F4 Race long battle Zubair Hoque heads Jack Bartholomew

NSSC Andrew Wareing Lotus Europa

Ginetta GT5 Callum Pointon three consistent third places © Mick Herring

© Mick Herring

Norther Saloon and Sportscar Championship eclectic mix of cars © Mick Herring

NSSC Luke Armiger Vauxhall Tigra 2 litre, 2nd and 3rd places

September 2015

Ginetta GT5 Glen Broster at Riches

© Mick Herring

NSSC Peter Cook Mitsubishi Evo two victories

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