Silverstone GP circuit welcomes HSCC racers
Marcus Pye reports
Celebrating the British Racing Drivers’ Club’s Daily Express International Trophy races of yore, the HSCC showcased four of its race sets – the Griffiths Haig Trophy, Derek Bell Trophy, SDC Classic Formula Ford and Guards Trophy championships – on the Historic Grand Prix circuit at home base Silverstone on May 31/June 1.
Third stop on the 2025 calendar, the Silverstone Circuits Ltd promoted event, the on-track element of which the club was contracted to run, also marked the return of the GT & Sports Car Cup and welcomed two 750 Motor Club enduro grids, for which a switch to the F1 track layout’s tighter Vale/Club section was implemented.
Harking back to the landmark Griffiths Formula Trophy race for sports and GT cars at Castle Combe in May, 1966, which sowed the seeds of the club, the entry featured several welcome newcomers. Competitors were saddened to learn of the passing, on May 3, of Penny Woodley – daughter of renowned motor sport photographer Guy Griffiths, whose vision it was to offer owners of obsolete and/or newly outmoded cars a playground in the first place. Penny, who owned the prototype Jaguar E2A for many years, was an enthusiastic supporter of the Griffiths Haig initiative (remembering the input of versatile pre- and post-WW2 racer Betty Haig, who co-drove a Ferrari to 15th place at Le Mans in 1951), from the HSCC’s 50th anniversary season of 2016. Indeed, Penny dropped the union flag to start the inaugural retro race.
The Silverstone field starred cars at opposite ends of the pack of 15. Graham Moss was competing for the first time in a Lister-Jaguar Knobbly rooted in the car, registered by the works as MVE 303, in which Stirling Moss won the 1958 British GP support race here. Andy Storer, meanwhile, arrived with the green 1500cc Willment-Climax last raced by future double F1 world champion Graham Hill at Silverstone in September 1957. A labour of love, inspired by the Willment family, the rebuild has taken HSCC Classic F3 and sportscar stalwart Andy many years! The last time your scribe saw the car, a decade ago, its tubular chassis had been cut in two!
Moss qualified on pole, with Ben Eastick (Jaguar D-type) alongside, but only 0.336s up on Charles Angrave (Lotus Mk6, with 1100cc Climax FWA engine) in the catchweight contest. Series co-ordinator Tony Bianchi (Allard Farrellac), Gary Pearson (Microplas Mistral-bodied Jaguar XK120) and Switzerland’s Juerg Tobler (Lola-Climax Mk1) rounded out the top six. Malcolm Harrison (ex-John Coombs Cooper-Bristol T25, a 1955 Goodwood 9 Hours combatant), Tania Pilkington’s Maserati 300S, Chris Mann’s Alfa Romeo PR3000 Disco Volante and Norwegian Arne Soedal’s Lola Mk1 were split by the GT cars of Marc Gordon (Jaguar XK140) and Pia Bianchi (Lotus Elite). James Owen (Elva Mk5) and Charlie Richardson (AC Ace-Bristol) qualified but sadly non-started.
Tony Bianchi’s thunderous bolide, a winner at Snetterton’s double header a month ago, refused to pull and was retired within a lap. Out front Moss, with a 4.7 second advantage in qualifying, was content to keep pace in reserve and watch Eastick and Angrave squabble in his mirrors. Charles dived ahead repeatedly into tighter corners, only to be out-dragged on the subsequent straights, but the cat and mouse tussle entertained onlookers. With his 3.8-litre wide-angle headed Jaguar engine enjoying over Eastick’s 3.4 narrow head version, Moss ran out the winner by 7.623s over Eastick, shadowed by Angrave. Pearson, Harrison and Pilkington completed the top six, pursued by Canadian Avery Baker (Cooper T39 ‘Bobtail’) who started from the back. Mann, Tobler, Gordon and Soedal remained on the lead lap, with Storer achieving his aim of a finish in the patinated Willment warhorse.
Starting without Pearson or Tobler, the second race had similarities, but behind Moss, restorer Richard Hodson managed to beat Eastick into third, beating Angrave’s best lap by four tenths. Bianchi rumbled from the back to finish fourth, ahead of Harrison and Baker. Mann lost sparring partner Pilkington towards the end, thus was the Italian victor. Gordon, Pia Bianchi, Soedal and Storer all made it home. Moss’ best lap of 2m30.811s (86.87mph) was a tenth shy of his Q time.
On home ground for championship sponsor SDC [Survey, Design, Construction], the progressive Bedford-based company which first backed FF1600 in the 1970s, Classic Formula Ford’s racers put on their customary fine show. Jordan Harrison had no need to brush up on his slipstreaming skills for – emulating 1978 BRDC Esso champion the late Peter Morgan’s prowess in a Lola T540E – the double titlist ran away and hid in both races. Harrison broke the 2m20s barrier in Saturday qualifying and both of Sunday’s races, setting his best lap of 2:18.538s (94.57mph) two-thirds of the way through the weekend’s finale.
The indefatigable Rick Morris, BRDC champion in 1982 – driving a Royale RP31M, 10 years after his first FF race in a Hawke DL2B – chased Harrison home in race one, albeit 20 second adrift. “He’s very good,” said the 78-year-old, whose current Royale RP29 is a clone of his 1981 works example. As so often, Royale boss Alan Cornock was in attendance to offer support to Rick and his chassis preparer Don Hardman, back in action after a spell in hospital.
Merlyn drivers Scott Rawlinson (Mk11A) and Mark Wilkes (Mk20) scrapped for third overall and Historic division honours for much of the way. Wilkes was eventually shaken off and passed by late entrant Simon Hadfield (ex-Gary Magwood Hawke DL2B), teenager Cal Bennett – in the Van Diemen RF80 his mum Sheelagh (Todd) used to race in her native Northern Ireland – and Oliver Chapman (Lola T200). Having all started at the back, Bennett due to a cracked inlet manifold, patched up by dad Jeremy, the trio traded places at every opportunity and finished in that order, ahead of Wilkes and 18-year-old Grace Parkington, who qualified her ex-Tiff Needell Crossle 25F fifth.
Harrison scarpered again in the second race, pitching his talent against the clock in another faultless display. Morris led the pursuers for much of the distance, while banzai Bennett, Hadfield and Chapman continued where they had left off in the morning. Chapman spun out in the Becketts complex when he and Bennett found themselves abreast through the left-handed middle element, but Cal repassed Hadfield then deposed Morris for second in the closing stages. Hadfield was followed home by Rawlinson and Grace Parkington down into the 2m22s.
Six chassis marques – Lola, Van Diemen, Royale, Hawke, Merlyn and Crossle – thus coloured the top six places. Indeed, behind Classic FF chairman Stuart Kestenbaum (Van Diemen RF81) in seventh, first race Stowe spinner Colin Williams (PRS RH01) and Max Warburton (Caldwell D9B, built by Autodynamics in the USA) made it eight in the top 12.
As at Snetterton in April, Grace Parkington, who has added a modern Medina to her growing repertoire in recent weeks, was joined in the field by younger sister Murron (ex-Eddie Irvine Crossle 32F). Murron welcomed another 16-year-old, Grace Bates (Van Diemen RF80), who debuted at Mallory Park two weeks earlier, to the CFF fold. Both enthusiastic novices survived spins but bested at 2m33.4s over the three track sessions. Watch for them to move forward as their experience broadens, before they can drive on the road.
Marc Mercer maxed his ex-Billy Gowdy F2 spec Ralt RT1’s cornering speeds to seize Derek Bell Trophy pole with an excellent 1m58.890s (109.28mph) shot on Saturday. Christian Pittard’s 2m00.712s in his ex-Team VDS/Teddy Pilette F5000 Chevron-Chevrolet B28 put him second, clear of Ben Stiles, re-equipped with the ex-Ted Wentz Wella Lola T360B last raced with the HSCC by Steve Maxted. Calvin Bainbridge (Brabham BT35), John Murphy (F5000 Crossle 15F) and Robin Lackford (ex-Dolly Indra GRD 272) completed the top six.
After two green flag laps behind a safety car there was drama at the rolling start when Murphy grunted down the inside into Copse, rode over Stiles’ right front wheel and flicked left over the Lola’s nose into Bainbridge. All three were out on the spot and, as Pittard led Lackford by a country mile, Mercer limped back to the pits with his clutch slipping. Red flags flew for the clear up and with the Ralt trailered too, 11 runners remained, among them Chris Porritt who arrived with his ex-Ray Mallock/Divina Galica F2 Chevron B40 after practice.
The starting procedure was repeated, over the scheduled 20 minutes, and Pittard blasted into the distance, finishing 44.111s before Porritt with Dave Sheppard (B27) third in a Chevron 1-2-3 in the marque’s 60th anniversary year. Matthew Wurr (ex-Peter Gethin/Keith Holland F5000 McLaren M10B) and Lackford both ran out of fuel, leaving Richard Cooke (F3 March-Toyota 793) and Mike Coker (ex-Gus Hutchison F5000 Lola T300) fourth and fifth on the lead lap. Having pulled 162.8mph through TSL’s Hangar Straight speed trap, 156mph on the Wellington Straight and 145.8mph over the start/finish line, Pittard was “gutted” to miss his sub-two minute target on TSL’s official system. “I backed off when I saw 1:59.9 on my VBOX,” he said afterwards.
Sunday’s race resulted in the same Chevron podium lockout, with Lackford and Cooke – briefly third after a bold start – fourth and fifth ahead of former modified Morgan +8 ace Wurr. Stiles bravely set out at the start, but suspension and chassis damage from Saturday’s incident was immediately evident, so he withdrew.
The Guards Trophy pack grew since Snetterton, debutants being Ross Drybrough/Max Bartell in Ross’ ex-David Forsbrey Chevron B8, Le Mans prototype racers Alan Purbrick/David Brise in the former’s B16, Scottish Morgan converts Russell and Elliot Paterson (ex-George Douglas Ginetta-BMW G16), 1000cc F3 stalwarts Francois Derossi/Roland Fischer (Elva-BMW Mk7S) and Henry and Martin Stephenson (Ford GT40). It was also good to see Stephen Reece bring his Lotus Elan out, reminding others that GT classes are still available. Graham Moss’ Lola T70 Mk2 Spyder was a non-starter, as was Graeme and James Dodd’s Ginetta which qualified eighth of 22.
Dan Eagling put Dan Pickett’s ex-Jamie Boot B16 on pole with a 2m13.835s (97.89mph) best lap on Sunday morning, but Ben Tusting was only 0.474s slower in the 1600cc Ford Lotus twin-cam engined Lenham P69 Spider in which he and father Robert won last year’s championship. Adam Sykes earned P3 in Andrew Wareing’s McLaren-Chevrolet M1A despite it jumping out of third gear in the corners. The box was sorted for the race, in which Neil Fowler was a late sub for Drybrough, tending to a family commitment. BMW M3 racer Nick Bartlett joined Joe Gomm in his B8, while former Guards champion Dan Cox shared Michael Richings’ Merlyn Mk4A.
Sykes thundered ahead from the rolling start, chased by Andrew Hibberd – who made a flying start from P5 in the family Lotus 23B – Tusting Sr, Ted Pearson (ex-David Purley B8), Pickett, Charlie Allison (ex-Trevor Twaites B8), Bartell and triple Historic Formula Junior champ Nic Carlton-Smith, sharing his 23B as last year with Sam Wilson. Purbrick’s B16 slipped back into the pack, white and orange helmeted Brise (son of former Historic Formula Fordster Tim and nephew of the late F1 driver Tony) having landed P7 in the preliminaries.
While Pearson and Tusting squabbled over second – Rob was ahead when he installed son Ben after seven laps, one before Ted relayed Callum Grant – soloist Sykes’ McLaren led to his mandatory stop, with Hibberd a distance behind him in the little Lotus. Tusting Jr was around 18 seconds ahead of Eagling after the frontrunners had pitted, a deficit too great given Ben’s consistency. The silver Lenham took the chequered flag 11.734s ahead, Tusting’s best lap of 2m14.459 shading Eagling’s. Third placed Grant was 50 seconds down, best of the B8s.
Sykes, who pulled 150.8mph through TSL’s Hangar straight speed trap, 138.9mph on the Wellington Straight and 132.8mph over the timing line, was classified fourth. The remarkable Hibberd was next, ahead of the red B8s of Fowler – delighted by his first race in Chevron founder Derek Bennett’s iconic design – and Allison. All 20 starters finished, meaning no delay in getting the curtain-closing Formula Fords on track and a 1657 finish for the hard-working marshals.
Saturday’s 120-minute GT & Sports Car Cup race resulted in victory for seasoned AC Cobra crew Chris Chiles and former International Supersports Cup champion father Chris Sr, who turned 81 in the week before the event, yet drove a customarily stout half-hour middle stint. Junior battled the Jaguar E-types started by Richard Kent (ex-Dick Protheroe FHC, CUT 7) and John Pearson (hard-topped roadster), then chased them with Chris Ward and Gary Pearson up. When Pearson’s brakes locked on and Ward’s engine suddenly cut out within two laps of each other around three-quarters’ distance, the younger Chiles brought the blue Cobra home more than a minute ahead of the E-types of Alistair Dyson/James Dorlin and Mark Burton/Jason Minshaw.
Engine failures stopped the fabled ex-Le Mans Austin-Healey 3000 ‘DD300’ of Dutchman Christiaen van Lanschot/Julian Thomas and David Smithies’ home-brewed version, but the marque still finished 1-2-3-4 in the GT3 division, won by Crispin Harris/James Wilmoth by a lap from Swede Nils-Fredrik Nyblaeus/Jeremy Welch. In GT2, Rick Bourne’s central stint in Malcolm Paul’s TVR Grantura put it just beyond reach of Olly Bryant, finishing Michael O’Sullivan’s Lotus Elite.
Two very well-supported 750 Motor Club races contrasted well with our focus, and different sightlines for marshals at Vale/Club who switched circuits between the Historic and modern genres. TCR cars ruled the roost, Saturday’s 40-minute, 54-car. Tegiwa Roadsports contest and Sunday’s two-hour Club Enduro both won by former rally driver Simon Mauger in his SEAT Cupra. In what proved to be a benefit for Volkswagen AG group products, Scott Parkin (Audi TT diesel) hept Mauger in sight as Claire Norman/Alan Blencowe in the latter’s Cupra and Wayne Lawson’s hand-controlled Audi RS3 chased throughout.
Mauger had to fight for his double, for the Cupra of Chris Bialan/Simon Mason was in his mirrors after pit strategies unfolded and a scant 2.167s behind at the chequered flag. Dylan Brychta/Parkin in the TT and Lawson, now paired with former single-seater ace James Pickford, also finished on the lead lap. Mark Burton (BMW E46 330ci), William Puttergill/Chris Nylan (Honda Civic Type-R EP3) and Daniel Perry (Ginetta G40) won their classes, defined by power-to-weight ratios.
Report: Marcus Pye
Images: Motorsport Classics Media