DEREK BELL TROPHY: SILVERSTONE FESTIVAL ’25
Walking into the assembly for the start of qualifying of the Derek Bell Trophy Race you looked at some of the names waiting to take part, Jody Scheckter, Peter Gethin, Marc Surer, James Hunt, Vittorio Brambilla, Divina Galica, J.P Beltoise.
The cars of racing legends collected for what the commentator described as the Final Silverstone Festival. It would be the clash of the titans. American muscle power versus the high revving European engines. The Derek Bell Trophy races labelled as Formula 5000 versus Formula 2. The entry of 37 cars making a spectacular sight and sound.
Qualifying on the Friday was interrupted by a safety car intervention to retrieve a car that had broken down by the Pit Wall in the International Pits. In what became a short qualifying sprint session. Micheal Lyons in the family Lola T400 dominated topping the timing sheets by 3.3 seconds ahead of Dan Eagling in his customer John Evan’s recent acquisition of a March 742. Mark Charteris was just over half a second behind Dan in his March 782, with Alex Kapadia completing the March domination of the F2 class in Mach 762. Christian Pittard in the ex Teddy Pillette Chevron B28 was second of the F5000, with Lee Dwyer getting reacquainted with the ex Jody Scheckter Trojan T101 completing the top 3 F5000. Tom Smith in the March 74B headed the Formula Atlantic classes recording 4th fastest time of the session.
The race prior to the Derek Bell Trophy reported a very slippery track, with a one and a half lap rolling start it was hoped all competitors would establish where the tricky bits were. Three cars failed to complete a lap Graham Ridgway crawling back into the pits Mark Dwyer and Paul Dibden stopping out on circuit. True to form Michael Lyons took an easy win from Dan Eagling a safe second and Alex Kapadia third. The stand out performance of race one was Lee Dwyer who came up from 13th to finish 6th.
Neil Glover and Paul Campfield had a close race in their Formula 5000 Chevrons, Neil in the unique Chevron B37 and Paul in the Chevron B24. Neil claiming the position on lap 10 of the 11 lap race. Mark Charteris was an unfortunate retirement on lap 8 having held 3rd place for most of the race before a bolt securing the front wishbone came undone.
Whilst there had been many retirements in the first race only two cars were uable to take part in race 2. One of which was Mike Bainbridge who hurt his foot in the paddock. With a grid set by race one finishing order action was to be found at the front and rear of the grid. At the front Michael Lyons and Dan Eagling quickly resumed their positions from race 1 with Tom Smith in the Atlantic March holding 3rd place for two laps before Alex Kapadia took over the final Podium place. Calvin Bainbridge was the next to run out of Festival luck when he brought his car into the pits with a car that appeared to be stuck in one gear.
Lee Dwyer after a brilliant 1st race progressing from 13th to 6th found himself at the back by lap 2, whilst father Mark who missed the first race had progessed from 34th to 16th by lap 3. Mark Charteris from his 30th place start was 13tth the F2s were really carving through the field with Christian Pittard Chevron B28 and Graham Adelman March 782 both making progress too.
With 7 minutes on the clock the race was brought to a Red flag halt. When Jago Keen spun and was unable to immediately restart from his position in the middle of the track. As the cars slowed to filter in Jago was able to restart, with the cars being re-gridded in the pit lane and the race was restarted for a final 6 minutes.
Michael Lyons assumed his position at the head of the field taking an untroubled win. What should have been an easy second place for Dan Eagling when the race resumed did not happen. The March refusing to restart, leaving a disappointed and frustrated driver in the pits. The 4 lap race giving Alex Kapadia second place on the podium with a well earned third place going to Tom Smith in the March 74B.
Mark Charteris came home in 4th place after a very frightening incident happening in front of him. The rear suspension on Jake Shortland’s March collapsing pitching the car into a dramatic exit from the circuit. Jake luckily stepping out of the car. Mark Mercer in his March 782 finishing 5th with Lee Dwyer after another drive through the pack finished 5th and second of the F5000 with Christian Pittard in the VDS Chevron B28 finishing 3rd of the F5000 having started from 33rd in the original grid.
Report: Alan Jones
All images: Motorsport Classics Media