Magic Merlyn’s…

On the Sunday at Snetterton 26 April, we will be celebrating Clive Hayward of Merlyn’s 80th birthday.

We will have the two famous HFF and HFJ Magic Merlyn’s who will lead the parade, but we would like to gather together as many Merlyn’s of different marks as we possibly can. If you want and can bring your car, or if you know another owner who would be interested please let Donna know in the HSCC Office.

Let’s give Clive a great day.

Images feature 2025 Historic Formula Ford Champion Sam Mitchell, Merlyn Mk20 and Charles Cook, Guards Trophy Merlyn Mk4A

105-Cup: The Italians are coming…

The 105 Drivers Club together with the HSCC are introducing a new series running within the 70s Road Sports Championship for 2026, the 105 Cup©. The 105-Cup is a race series exclusively for Alfa Romeo type 105 cars built between 1963 and 1977. 

Alfa Romeo 105’s enjoyed an illustrious racing career in the shape of the GTA’s and the GTAm’s, many of which were finished and prepared by Autodelta. The Alfa Romeo GTA won the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) in 1966, 1967 and 1969.  The later Alfa Romeo GTAm won further ETCC titles in 1970, 1971 and 1972.

The 105-Cup will include three classes, the GT class for cars with engines up to 1600, the GTV class for cars with engines up to 2000 and staying very close to original specification, and the GTA class for cars modified in the spirit of the Autodelta GTA’s – lighter and more powerful.

Racing will be close and exciting, with grids at the Silverstone Classic, Oulton Park Gold Cup and the Legends of Brands Hatch Superprix alongside HSCC 70s Road Sports.

HSCC 105-Cup 2026 Calendar

25 APRIL: HSCC SNETTERTON AUTOSPORT SPRING TROPHY

31 MAY: HSCC DONINGTON PARK RACE WEEKEND

13-14 JUNE: HSCC CADWELL PARK WOLDS TROPHY

11-12 JULY: HSCC LEGENDS OF BRANDS HATCH SUPER PRIX

24-26 JULY: BRDC SILVERSTONE CLASSIC

09 AUGUST: HSCC 60TH ANNIVERSARY CASTLE COMBE

29-31 AUGUST: OULTON PARK GOLD CUP

10-11 OCTOBER: HSCC SILVERSTONE FINALS

Andy Dee-Crowne, CEO of HSCC said “the Alfa Romeo 105 has always been a favourite, such an iconic shape and with such a strong racing heritage. Bringing them all together to share one grid and watching them race together in one of the strongest event programs of 2026 will be quite a sight”.

Full details of the 105 Cup can be found at www.hscc.org.uk/105_cup

For more Information contact Series Coordinator Nigel Musto: nigel@nigelmusto.com

OBJECTIVE: To continue in perpetuity a legacy of Simon’s ethos in recognising and encouraging the next generation of young Heritage Apprentice Engineers through opportunity in Motorsport.

As the HSCC approaches it’s 60th birthday the club is extremely honoured to have been selected to lead the The Simon Diffey Heritage Motorsport Apprentice Award into the future, reaching out to the next generation of young enthusiasts, engineers and competitors helping and supporting them as they develop skills to forge a career motorsport.

Many of us discovered our love of motorsport from early experiences in our youth, the sights, the sounds, the excitement of competition. Everyone at the HSCC, from the board to the teams and the racers, embraces the opportunity to encourage young people into the sport that we love to ensure it has a strong and sustainable future.

The Simon Diffey Heritage Motorsport Award has already proved the ideal platform as it supports young people to grow, learn and prosper and we look forward to taking it forward through 2026 and beyond.

JOINT PRESS RELEASE

The Simon Diffey Heritage Motorsport Apprentice Award

AN EXCITING NEW CHAPTER

Award Patron, Mrs Sarah J Adams-Diffey  &
Mr Andy Dee-Crowne, CEO, Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC)

As Patron of ‘The Simon Diffey Heritage Motorsport Apprentice Award’, I am delighted to announce that the Historic Sports Car Club, (HSCC), will from January 2026, take over the organisation and responsibility of the Award.

The Award’s Lead Judge, Mr Andy Dee-Crowne, CEO of the HSCC will become the Chairman of Simon’s Award.

Andy Dee-Crowne commented: I am immensely proud that HSCC and I have been entrusted with the responsibility of running such a significant and respected award. We are honoured to continue Simon Diffey’s legacy and ensure the Award remains a cornerstone of heritage motorsport for future generations.

We are also pleased to confirm that Karen Coe of Flywheel Communications has accepted an administrative role, and will work alongside the HSCC, handling organisation of the Judging day, the Award presentation event at Pall Mall and the Award’s Social media coverage.

I am delighted that the Award has such strong support and look forward to seeing it grow from strength to strength helping more young apprentices to go racing.

Thank you to all involved in helping the Award to thrive.

Mrs Sarah J Adams-Diffey

Sarah Diffey with 2024 Simon Diffey Heitage Motorsport Apprentice Winner Jamie Marriott

Returning champion Jordan Harrison was the runaway winner of this year’s Classic Formula Ford championship, but…but there was much more to the season than the points table suggests.

…but there was much more to the season than the points table suggests, reports Chris Sharples.

Harrison, back after a couple of years in Historic FF2000, claimed his third championship by taking eight wins from a possible twelve, including what his children called a “Grand Slam” at Silverstone in May: a clean sweep of pole position, race wins and fastest laps. He did have his challenges, however, as his Lola T540E did not always want to behave itself, particularly during qualifying.

He also had Rick Morris snapping at his heels (exhaust?) at any available opportunity. Formula Ford veteran Morris and his familiar Royale RP29 showed that experience and sheer competitive instinct are sometimes all you need. His three wins at Snetterton and Silverstone bookended the season and his performances at Silverstone were part of some of the closest, most exciting races of the year.

Relative newcomer Tom Gadd also picked up a win at Snetterton. His Numanair-liveried Van Diemen RF81 has been competitive in the hands of both Tim Harvey and Henry Chart, but Gadd’s consistency as well as his outright pace meant that he was a regular podium finisher, and third in the championship.

Age being nothing but a number was also proved by Oliver Chapman, driving a Lola T200 to Class B victory and fourth overall. One of the oldest cars on the grid was right up there on speed and the tight and unforgiving asphalt of Mallory Park was Chapman’s happiest hunting ground. He was third and second there.

Class B runner-up Scott Rawlinson was making a comeback to HSCC racing in his Merlyn Mk11 and was fifth overall. He was often found scrapping with Chapman and the Crossles of Gislain Genecand and Grace Parkington. Genecand picked up three second places mid-season and Parkington was one of the most improved drivers of the year, becoming a regular top-ten finisher and challenging her rivals hard.

Parkington was not the only female driver in action this year, nor the only one called Grace. Grace Bates got quicker and quicker in Valerie the Van Diemen RF80 in her first season, and the younger of the Parkington sisters, Murron, in a Crossle 32F, also improved her times over the year.

Forty-three drivers raced at least once in 2025, with thirteen different makes of car. Newcomers in new cars included Christopher Edwards in his PRS RH02. The winter rugby player built the car himself, giving Colin Williams’s familiar PRS a new “friend”. Jake Barritt shared his Lola T202 with his father, who took on the Historic races. In his second year, Max Warburton did the same thing with the family Caldwell. Warburton was another much improved driver, scoring points in all but one of his races. Freddie Lillingstone-Price was another young competitor who shared a Merlyn Mk11 with dad Chris.

The future looks bright with the new drivers, but Morris will be back in 2026 to try and show them how it should be done…

HSCC Historic Formula Ford 2026 Calendar

25-25 APRIL: HSCC SNETTERTON AUTOSPORT SPRING TROPHY

30-31 MAY: HSCC DONINGTON PARK RACE WEEKEND

13-14 JUNE: HSCC CADWELL PARK WOLDS TROPHY

11-12 JULY: HSCC LEGENDS OF BRANDS HATCH SUPER PRIX

08-09 AUGUST: HSCC 60TH ANNIVERSARY CASTLE COMBE

10-11 OCTOBER: HSCC SILVERSTONE FINALS

Images: Motorsport Classics Media

Peter de la Roche in his family run Alexis Mk17 produced a dominant season of driving to scoop both the HSCC Historic F3 Championship and the Historic F3 European Championship.

Jonathan Sharp reports on the highlights of the year.

• Supporting the prestigious Spa 6 Hours as a non-championship event in September. Picture thirty “Screamers” on open pipes charging into La Source before plunging downhill into the flat-out Eau Rouge.
• Watching hundreds of spectators milling about these charismatic Formula 3 cars in the Sunday morning pit lane walk about at the Oulton Park Gold Cup.
• Trying to visually split Peter de la Roche and Enrico Spaggiari on circuit at the Gold Cup. They looked like an eight-wheeler as they circulated in a hard but fair battle which typifies this series.

Favourite car of the year? Whilst already previously seen, the charismatic Enrigo Spaggiari’s period correct and unique ex John Miles Lotus 41X, evocative in its GLTL colour scheme, probably still wins more hearts than most other, no less desirable one-litre F3 cars.

The season began at Snetterton in April and traversed HSCC events each month at Cadwell Park, Zandvoort (Historic Grand Prix), Brands Hatch (Superprix) and Oulton Park (Gold Cup). Jason Timms (Brabham BT21), Peter de la Roche and Ross Drybrough (Merlyn Mk 17) fought hard to claim podium spots at Snetterton and they continued to populate top spots all year.

Cadwell Park was a partly wet event and first round for the European Championship with several teams crossing the channel. Charlie Martin appeared in Paul Waine’s rare De Sanctis as did last year’s champion Andrew Hibberd in his family Brabham BT18, but  Peter de la Roche carried off the Justin Haler Trophy.

Zandvoort was also another European Championship round with Peter de la Roche now well into his stride, winning. Both Jason Timms, Ross Drybrough gained podiums with Frenchman Ludovic Ingwiller (Pygmee) and German Roland Fischer (Tecno) bagging third places.

Two more quick racers showed in the results for the Brands Superprix – the aforementioned Enrico Spaggiari who won Race 2 and Richard Trott (Brabham BT28). At 72, Richard has lost little of the speed which made him a period frontrunning Ralt F3 driver.

Spaggiari, de la Roche and Timms were again the dominant trio in a spectator delighting Gold Cup before everyone packed up for the August holiday period. The end of term points gave an overwhelming win to de la Roche from Ross Drybrough (who also won a race at Spa) and Jason Timms.

These cars raced between 1964 and 1970 pedalled by numerous British and foreign drivers, some to become F1 superstars. It’s fitting that competitors from Argentina, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland raced in some or all events this year.

In period, there was a well-established Nations’ Cup – a prestigious trophy raced for every year with packed grids. It is still fought for, this year at Zandvoort where the Great Britain team of Jason Timms, Jonathan Sharp (Chevron B17) and Keith Messer (Vesey) just beat France by dint of final lap place changing.

HSCC Historic Formula 3 2026 Calendar

18-19 APRIL: GOODWOOD 83RD MEMBERS MEETING

30-31 MAY: HSCC DONINGTON PARK RACE WEEKEND

11-12 JULY: HSCC LEGENDS OF BRANDS HATCH SUPER PRIX

08-09 AUGUST: HSCC 60TH ANNIVERSARY CASTLE COMBE

29-31 AUGUST: HSCC OULTON PARK GOLD CUP

10-11 OCTOBER: HSCC SILVERSTONE FINALS

Images: Motorsport Classics Media

Well, that turned out to be a great year for the Barnett Historic Formula Ford Championship.

Our grids were well up on 2024. Our average qualifying number was 25, making us the most popular FF championship in the UK. Moreover, the biggest grid of 31 was at the last round, the Silverstone Finals. This is a very good omen for 2026 – so let’s celebrate our success, reports Chris Sharples.

The racing was tremendous. Brilliant battles up front- and throughout the grid. Just ask Ian Fernihough and he will tell you he had good dices in every race. AND. A big round of applause for driving standards. Despite the intensity of competition, the driving was good and clean and race control handed out zero, zilch, nil penalties all season (apart from the odd race limits excursion). AND. Our Chief Scrute, Nigel Jones, awards us a gold star for eligibility and compliance. AND. Our grids were well up on 2024. Our average qualifying number was 25, making us the most popular FF championship in the UK. Moreover, the biggest grid of 31 was at the last round, the Silverstone Finals. This is a very good omen for 2026. It is difficult to believe we could have had a better season- so let’s celebrate our success.

All praise to our champions. Having been building towards a commanding lead all season. Sam Mitchell gave Mallory a miss, then suffered a race ending throttle cable failure in the first Finals race. Then, in a scenario that could have been scripted in Hollywood, starting the second race from the back row, he did just enough to take the championship by just 6 points. Benn Simms, was second having suffered some unfortunate DNFs earlier in the season. Christian Goller strung together a good set of result to come third.

1 Sam Mitchell 193
2 Benn Simms 187
3 Christian Goller 136
4 Ben Powney 125
5 Danny Stanzl 120
6 Oliver Chapman 107

The over 50 championship was tightly competed between Gislain Genecand and Mark Wilkes, with Mark taking first at the Finals meeting.

1 Mark Wilkes 206
2 Gislain Genecand 160
3 Kevin Stanzl 156
4 Ross Drybrough 122
5 Ian Fernihough 98
6 David Squire 96

Top Novice went to George Townsend. In mid-season we invented a new ‘class’ which we called ‘Legends’, really for over 65s! Tracking back through results, if we had put this in the regs, this would have been won by Ian Fernihough.

Looking back over the calendar this seemed to have worked well. The only question mark was Mallory Park which attracted a poor grid. Possibly it is a Marmite track. Those that raced there loved it and the racing was brilliant, but a lot of people stayed away. An end of season straw poll suggested that the drivers’ favourite was Silverstone Finals. The quality of the entry was great; the slipstreaming compression kept the packs tight so for spectators the racing was awesome’. There was some comment on the benefit of taking in ‘new’ circuits. This we will do in 2026 by taking in Castle Combe and Oulton Park.

Now there is a lot to look forward to. In total 56 drivers competed this year, we hope the vast majority will be out next season. In the last 12 months 16 cars have changed hands, Most have yet to join our grids. Currently there are 5 drivers looking to acquire a car. We can expect our new Lotus 51 class to bring new cars to the grid. We anticipate that a handful of drivers who sat out 2025 will be back next year. Finally, as we approach the FF 60th anniversary in 2027 it is quite possible that people may buy cars to join in the fun.

So, it was a great 2025, next year could be even better.

Our deepest thanks go to Josh Barnett of Barnett Racing Engines, John Pearson of Nova/HPT, Les Weller of Weller-for-Wheels and artist Alan Fernihough for their support through 2025.

HSCC Historic Formula Ford 2026 Calendar

25-25 APRIL: HSCC SNETTERTON AUTOSPORT SPRING TROPHY

30-31 MAY: HSCC DONINGTON PARK RACE WEEKEND

13-14 JUNE: HSCC CADWELL PARK WOLDS TROPHY

11-12 JULY: HSCC LEGENDS OF BRANDS HATCH SUPER PRIX

08-09 AUGUST: HSCC 60TH ANNIVERSARY CASTLE COMBE

29-31 AUGUST: HSCC OULTON PARK GOLD CUP

10-11 OCTOBER: HSCC SILVERSTONE FINALS

Images: Motorsport Classics Media

The move across to the HSCC for the 2025 season was the injection of change & improvement the new Panel running the Championship required…

– and through hard work and commitment from a dedicated group of Alfa Romeo race car owners (with a couple of Fiat Punto’s thrown in) the grid numbers averaged out at 24 per weekend, and a total of 45 drivers came out to race with us during the season, reports Andy Hancock.

The quality of the “Class of 2025” was evident for all to see, throughout the grid, and the show produced each weekend by an exceptional group of drivers, ensured the Championship enjoyed a stellar 44th year.  The quality and presentation of the cars at the very sharp end of the grid – Jamie Thwaites TCR car, the 4C’s of Jack Berry & Mike Hilton’s and the 147 GTA of (now) 2 time Champion Toby Broome & Stacey Dennis’s Giulietta – are as good/better than any other Tin Top Championship in the UK currently.  Add to that other superb examples of slightly older Alfa Romeo models throughout the classes which are still mixing it with the newer cars… George Osborne’s 75, Nathan Bignell’s 33, Gareth Heywood’s GTV and Andy Page’s Giulietta which has seen nearly two thirds of the all the seasons since the Championship began!

Racing was super competitive all year in most of the classes –  the trusted Twinsparks putting on a great show all year, with the Ford brothers, Richard & James, at the sharp end and being challenged on a regular basis by newcomers George Warren, James Powell, Ian Fenwick, Andy Winterton & Dave Pickup. The class will continue to provide a super cheap way into Alfa Romeo racing.  The Turismo class was dominated by Nathan Bignell, but Robert Hollyman and his team were welcome additions to the Championship.  Power Trophy is where returning Champion Toby Broome could be found, and he had 13 class competitors during the course of the season – close racing from Stacey Dennis, George Osborne & Dave Messenger made great viewing & all season entrants Steve Godfrey and Mark Skeggs were welcome competitors on & off the track.  And finally the Modified Class – we saw wins for Jamie Thwaites, Jack Berry and James Parker in his Ferrari 458 who guested at the Festival Italia round but the best was saved until the last race of the season, when Snetterton winner Barry McMahon pulled off a real Dick Dastardly late tyre change to wets – and won the race by nearly a full lap!

For those who raced and were not mentioned, your contributions were no less appreciated by those inside and outside of the Championship – thank you.  But the last word has to go to the only full season non Alfa Romeo entrants – Chris and Simon McFie.  They firmly established themselves as fans favourites in their little Fiat Punto’s & what they lacked in power, they made up for it in skill, guile & commitment.  We look forward to seeing their new Fiat models out next season & hope the racing remains just as clean & close!

2026 promises to be even more exciting & busy and with three of the 2025 Class winners moving up a Class with new cars, we have no idea who is going to come out on top!

Hitek Alfa Romeo & Italian Intermarque Championship 2026 Calendar

25-25 APRIL: HSCC SNETTERTON AUTOSPORT SPRING TROPHY

30-31 MAY: HSCC DONINGTON PARK RACE WEEKEND

13-14 JUNE: HSCC CADWELL PARK WOLDS TROPHY

11-12 JULY: HSCC LEGENDS OF BRANDS HATCH SUPER PRIX

09 AUGUST: FESTIVAL ITALIA BRANDS HATCH INDY

29-31 AUGUST: HSCC OULTON PARK GOLD CUP

10-11 OCTOBER: HSCC SILVERSTONE FINALS

Alfa Romeo Pre ’85 2026 Calendar

25-25 APRIL: HSCC SNETTERTON AUTOSPORT SPRING TROPHY

13-14 JUNE: HSCC CADWELL PARK WOLDS TROPHY

09 AUGUST: FESTIVAL ITALIA BRANDS HATCH INDY

31 OCT-01 NOW: WALTER HAYES TROPHY

Images: Motorsport Classics Media

2025 has been a season of highlights, notably celebrating the formula’s 50th anniversary.

The inaugural FF2000 race was held at Mallory Park in 1975 and won by Ian Taylor in his Dulon.  In recognition, the 2025 Championship was competing for the Ian Taylor Memorial Trophy which ensured the anniversary theme ran through the entire racing season, reports Colin Wright.

The Snetterton season opener provided an indication of what to expect.  Ben Glasswell was dominant on this occasion.  Graham Fennymore challenged but engine problems  necessitated a trip back to Bicester to change engine for Sunday’s encounter.  Michael Moyers, making his Championship debut in the ex Sam Harrison Championship winning car, proved he would be a force to be reckoned with.

Our main event was the 50^th Anniversary celebration race at Cadwell Park and a magnificent entry of 40 cars battled through heats to make the final.  Entries included four previous champions and a few foreign competitors from the HMR Championship.

To mark the occasion, we commissioned a souvenir programme with text by Marcus Pye and graphics by Jim Nairn.  Marcus charted the history from Formula Super Ford through to the birth of  HFF2000 in 2007 at Cadwell Park. The impact of the formula was highlighted with several drivers having enjoyed success in FF2000, progressing to careers in F1.

Significantly, influential designers were a rich vein of talent such as Patrick Head (Delta) and our own Adrian Reynard.  It is a real bonus that Adrian is still enjoying HFF2000 and proving to be immensely competitive and supportive.

The weekend provided a number of standout performances, Antony Denham winning his qualification race being one.  Probably the drive of the season was Ben Glasswell’s drive from 21^st to 3^rd place in the final following problems in qualifying.  A personal memory for me was witnessing Ben’s commitment and speed over the Mountain and into Hall Bends.

The final was a real intense battle between Graham Fennymore and Michael Moyers – this was his first visit to Cadwell Park and 0.3 seconds separated them at the finish. A nice touch was the winner’s trophy which was provided by Jonathan Palmer on behalf of MSV.

Also worth noting was our party with catering kindly provided by Barbara Hayes-Harlow. Thanks also to our sponsors: JAR, Damico, URS and TMJ whose contributions helped to make this a special event

Donington provided one of those difficult decisions due to rain showers just before our races.  Yours truly managed a dry race on wets and a wet race on slicks. There was a win each for Graham Fennymore and Ben Glasswell and a standout was Adrian Reynard’s second place in race  two.

Brands Hatch saw the lead battle contenders, Graham and Ben, again with a win apiece. Race debutant Reece Wood proved he had speed to be a contender and a sterling drive by Benn Tilley, despite engine problems, was significant.

It was good to return to Mallory Park where we enjoyed a more club like atmosphere, reminiscent of earlier times. Again, a win each for Ben and Graham. What was particularly interesting was the battle for Class B honours between the two Neils, Jenkins and Bowman. Significant drives were by Andrew Storer and Reece Wood.

So, onto Silverstone finals. Disappointingly, Ben Glasswell was unable to make the event due to a collision at Mallory Park- this left Graham almost certain to be champion. The first race was quite special as Silverstone specialist, Michael Moyers after an intense battle crossed the finishing line first. However, Graham reversed the finishing positions in the second race.  Behind them was a tense battle involving Adrian Reynard and Andrew Storer in their fight for third place in the Championship with Adrian just pipping Andrew to be one point ahead of him in the Championship.

All in all, it has been a successful year and thanks must go to our Championship sponsor, Lackford Engineering. We have also taken the opportunity during the year to review our technical regulations to properly reflect that we are an historic racing championship and special thanks for this are due to Simon Hadfield and Jonty Hair.

HSCC Historic FF2000 2026 Calendar

25-25 APRIL: HSCC SNETTERTON AUTOSPORT SPRING TROPHY

30-31 MAY: HSCC DONINGTON PARK RACE WEEKEND

13-14 JUNE: HSCC CADWELL PARK WOLDS TROPHY

11-12 JULY: HSCC LEGENDS OF BRANDS HATCH SUPER PRIX

08-09 AUGUST: HSCC 60TH ANNIVERSARY CASTLE COMBE

10-11 OCTOBER: HSCC SILVERSTONE FINALS

Images: Motorsport Classics Media

In 2026 the ‘HSCC Twin-Cam Cup’ will be introduced for cars powered by 1600cc Lotus Ford Twin-Cam engines.

Conforming to Guards Trophy Regulations and running on Dunlop Historic L or M section tyres. Running as a separate championship within The Guards Trophy the ‘TWIN-CAM CUP’ will provide any Ford twin-cam cars the chance to race for their own podium and championship trophies.

If you own a Lotus, Merlyn, Elva, Crossle & Piper. If you have an Elan, Ginetta or TVR with a twin-cam give it a thought. Join us for a race, join us for a championship.
We are offering competitors the opportunity to compete in a 6 event UK based championship between April & October at classic events, including the Legends of Brands Hatch SuperPrix, Oulton Park Gold Cup and the HSCC 60th Anniversary Celebration at Castle Combe.

To register your interest please email including an image of your car to:
Donna Peters: Membership & Race Admin
Chris Sharples: Guards Championship Chairman

HSCC Twin-Cam-Cup 2026 Calendar

25-25 APRIL: HSCC SNETTERTON AUTOSPORT SPRING TROPHY

30-31 MAY: HSCC DONINGTON PARK RACE WEEKEND

11-12 JULY: HSCC LEGENDS OF BRANDS HATCH SUPER PRIX

08-09 AUGUST: HSCC 60TH ANNIVERSARY CASTLE COMBE

29-31 AUGUST: OULTON PARK GOLD CUP

10-11 OCTOBER: HSCC SILVERSTONE FINALS

31-01 NOVEMBER: BRDC WALTER HAYES TROPHY

Images: Motorsport Classics Media

Revived by the HSCC at this year’s Walter Hayes Trophy, The Mutton Grand Prix provided a thrilling season finale for both competitors and spectators.

In September 1947 a group of friends set up an impromptu race around the runways of the deserted RAF Silverstone airfield, without an appropriate warning flag or track limit regulations for drivers or farm animals, local resident Maurice Geoghegan had an unfortunate collision with a sheep. During the post-race celebrations, (most likely in the White Horse pub, Silverstone village), the group declared the most appropriate name for their event should be The Mutton Grand Prix.

Revived by the HSCC at this year’s Walter Hayes Trophy, The Mutton Grand Prix was held in the spirit of the original (without an errant sheep), providing a thrilling season finale for both competitors and spectators. A wonderfully eclectic grid featured the Nissan GTR of Charlie Kennedy and Lamborghini Huracan GT3 of Pecora Nera at the loud end. Slightly quieter but as equally interesting was the Austin A35 of Steve Dunne and in-between were historic Lola and Tiga Sports 2000s, a delightful Lotus 6 resplendent in unpainted aluminum, assorted Minis, a swarm of Alfa Romeos, a ‘cruise’ of hot-hatches and David Farrow’s beautifully presented BMW Series 1.

From the rolling start the Nissan, piloted by Charlie Kennedy, wasted little time in putting some distance between himself and everyone else. Even the mighty Lambo of Pecora Nera was 3.5sec behind the Nissan by the end of the first lap which Charlie completed in 59.6sec. The Nissan GTR and Pecora Nera’s Lamborghini were the only competitors to drop under the magic 1 minute lap in any race over the entire weekend: 57.064s and 59.630s respectively. With Charlie Kennedy spiking the speed trap counter at over 150mph and cars towards back of this very busy 40 car grid car grid barely reaching 100mph, the race was remarkably incident free, a testimony to the awareness of all the competitors who we also involved in their own personal on-track battles. Incredibly by the end of the 25-minute encounter David Farrow had managed to keep his BMW 1 Series on the lead lap to finish third and did a good job of keeping Nera in sight throughout, if not within overtaking range.

Fourth place went to Dave Williams Lola T492. He had spent the middle part of the race scrapping with the other Historic Sports 2000 on the grid, Charlie Besley’s Tiga SC82. Both William’s and Beasley had passed the quick Honda Integra of Russ Hird early in the race, but after Charlie Beasley received a track limit penalty Russ claimed an impressive fifth in his very standard looking Honda. Retired lumberjack Tom Owen was seventh in his remarkable Peugeot 205 the hottest of the ‘hot hatches’ finishing in front of a trio of Lotus having grabbed a couple of places in the first half of the race, including a move on Seamus Doyle’s ‘track day dominator’ Lotus 2-11. Behind eighth-placed Doyle, was the Lotus Super 7 driven by John Muirhead and the Mk6 of Charles Angrave, who squabbled over ninth for the duration of the race, honours going to the newer Lotus of Muirheadon ahead by just a couple of tenths as they crossed the line.

First of the Alfas was the GTV6 of West Sussex Alfa Romeo specialist Chris Snowdon who enjoyed a good race with the nippy Alfa Romeo 33 of Nathan Bignell securing eleventh place by just four tenths. The rare Reliant Sabre Six of John Leslie was the meat in a Renault Clio sandwich with Mark Witherington ahead and Wayne Bowcock behind, hotly pursued by ‘snapper’ Jakob Ebrey in his Porsche 944. He would like to find the time to race more often but finds his talents behind the camera are in greater demand than his skills as a wheel jockey!.

Ben Brain and Antony Ross brought their classic Alfa Romeos home in seventeenth and nineteenth, Ben’s GTV finishing ahead of Antony’s charismatic Duetto Spider sandwiching the Mini R53 of Ben Heywood. Incorrigible enthusiast Nic Strong qualified in his regular Marcos 3000GT eighteenth but having recently imported a classic Opal Manta GS/E from Norway just couldn’t resist the temptation to race it. Content to start from the back of the forty-car grid the V6 powered car sounded glorious as Nic negotiated his way smartly through the field to finish an impressive twenty third.

The ’66 Mini Cooper S of Jamie Marriott (2024 Simon Diffey Heritage Motorsport Apprentice Award winner) was able to enjoy a moment of TV glory when picked up by the Safety Car, initiated to remove a vehicle stranded on the exit of Brooklands. The growling Nissan towered over the miniscule Mini before Jamie was released and set about efficiently and confidently joining the back of the crocodile tail followed by the TV cameras. Emilia Brown (2022 Apprentice winner) was back on the grid in her MGB-GT hoping for a better result than in 2024 but unfortunately mechanical issues forced her retirement on lap nine.

Whilst Charlie weaved through the cars down the Wellington Straight with the youthful enthusiasm of a slalom racer on Ski Sunday, Pecora was slightly more circumspect, lapping almost two seconds slower than his qualifying time, although still impressive at around sixty seconds, a pace he might later have regretted as the race held a sting in its tail for Charlie Kennedy, Holding a tight line around the outside of Tim Hendrie’s Alfa Sud the Nissan was tagged into a half spin, in an exuberant application of power to bring the wayward Nissan back into line the track was swathed in a dense cloud of rubber smoke and 20sec disappeared from the Charlie’s lead over the charging Huracan although he quickly re-established a comfortable advantage.

As the laps wound down hidden amongst the colour and excitement were some great performances, Steve Dunne’s tiny little Austin A35 climbed from 40^th in qualifying to finish twenty seventh ahead of the equally compact Fiat 127 of Martin Riman. Regular Walter Hayes All-Comers competitor Nicola Burnside brought her MG Midget home twenty ninth after qualifying forty second. The remarkable Adele Hunt whose motor racing adventure only began in September held her nerve whilst giving all she had got, lapped five times, both car and driver emerged unscathed from the experience with a great result from the diminutive Mini and it’s determined novice driver.

Whilst not quite as wild as the Formula Libre races from the 1970s which allowed a mix of saloons and Formula 5000 cars to racing in the same event, the overall view was that the HSCC had created a terrifically fun event providing a great paddock atmosphere and some exceptionally entertaining racing.

Report edited from original text written by Rachel Bichener  Images: Motorsport Classics Media

HSCC 2025 Calendar

25-25 APRIL: HSCC SNETTERTON SPRING TROPHY

30-31 MAY: HSCC DONINGTON PARK RACE WEEKEND

13-14 JUNE: HSCC CADWELL PARK WOLDS TROPHY

11-12 JULY: HSCC LEGENDS OF BRANDS HATCH SUPER PRIX

25-26 JULY: SCL SILVERSTONE CLASSIC

08-09 AUGUST: HSCC 60TH ANNIVERSARY CASTLE COMBE

29-31 AUGUST: OULTON PARK GOLD CUP

10-11 OCTOBER: HSCC SILVERSTONE FINALS

31-01 NOVEMBER: BRDC WALTER HAYES TROPHY