THE HSCC HAVE PUT TOGETHER A TREMENDOUS EVENT TO ROUND OFF THEIR 2025 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON, OFFERING COMPETITORS A WEEKEND OF HISTORIC MOTORSPORT AT ITS BEST.
The annual HSCC Finals Meeting traditionally delivers outstanding racing, season-long battles are finally settled as the season is played out on the National Circuit, featuring all the Club’s Championships, plus guests from the Alfa Romeo & Italian Intermarque Championship and Formula Junior.
It is shaping up to be a great weekend for Formula Fords with the SDC Classic Formula Ford Championship and Barnett Racing Engines Historic Formula Ford Championship already boasting 30+ car grids as both championships continue to attract new and younger competitors.
The Historic Formula Ford Championship has been impressively competitive this season and at times it has been difficult to single out a potential winner from any of the top 10 cars on the grid. As we have come to expect, the race will be keenly fought between Sam Mitchell, Benn Simms, Christian Goller and Callum Grant all in with a shout, although Danny Stanzl and Ben Powney won’t be hanging about! It will be great to see Will Nuthall, Rob Wainwright, Matt Wrigley and John & Nikki Cottrill back for an end of season run.
Recent SDC Classic Formula Ford rounds have been dominated by 2022 and 2023 champion Jordan Harrison in his Lola T540E. Jordan has already clinched the Pre-’82 Classic title, but mathematically could still be pipped to a third overall title by runaway Pre-’72 Historic class leader Oliver Chapman, currently fourth in the combined table. Rik Morris continues to feature strongly at the sharp end of the grid in his black Royale RP29 along with Tom Gadd and Scott Rawlinson.
The HSCC premier championships of Guards Trophy & Derek Bell Trophy will both be ending their seasons in style. In a Derek Bell Trophy grid featuring brutal F5000 and nimble F2 cars, the pacesetter Mark Mercer in his March 79B will have at least 22 competitors hot on his heals in this fast, colourful and loud combination of single seaters competing in a 20minute race on each day. Again featuring the lovely ex Davina Galitza Olympus Chevron B40 of Chris Porritt.
The Guards Trophy appears to be a two man fight for the title (actually a 3 man fight as father and son Ben & Robert Tusting share their Lenham Spider). Ben and Robert suffered from reliability issues mid season whilst the Lotus 23B of Andrew Hibberd continued to collect championship points. Now just 2 points separate the contenders in this title decider to be run over 50minutes on Sunday afternoon. As always the grid features a delightful selection of sports cars including 5 Chevron B8s, Lenham, Lotus and another father and son team of Russell and Elliot Paterson who will be down from Perth competing in their Ginetta G16.
This will be the last event of the 50th Anniversary Historic Formula Ford 2000 season currently with a strong 24 car grid and building nicely. Graham Fennymore takes a 13 point lead to October’s deciders at Silverstone, but for Ben Glasswell it isn’t over until it’s over and he has a pair of races in which he is determined to claw back the deficit. Challenging for third in the championship are Pukka Pies boss Andrew Storer and the ageless Adrian Reynard (Formula Ford 2000 European champion in 1979).
An entertaining edition to the HSCC season has been the Alfa Romeo & Italian Intermarque Championship. Toby Broome is leading the charge in his Alfa Romeo 147 GTA chased by the lovely Alfa 4C of Jack Berry, although based on the previous races this season entertaining battles will rage throughout the grid.
Completing their 2025 season at Silverstone will be Formula Junior (FJHRA) Silverline Championship. Nic Carlton-Smith, Lotus 20 and Adrian Russell Condor S11 share the championship lead, chased by Chris Porritt and Nathan Metcalfe in their Lotus 18 and 20. The weekend programme features separate races for front and rear engine cars on the Saturday finishing the season with a combined celebration for all drivers early on the Sunday afternoon
Historic & 70s Roadsports are following the Junior concept with a combined grid of 37 cars racing into the sunset on Saturday evening looking spectacular with headlights ablaze. On Sunday Roadsports split into their separate championship groups with the Historic grid sharing with Pre ’66 Historic Saloons. Mark Godfrey should be leading the Historic charge in his Lotus 7 challenged by current champion Fraser Gibney in a Lotus Elan whilst the immaculate Anglia of Neil Wood sets the pace for saloons in a diverse grid which includes a Lotus Cortina and a pair of diminuitive but nippy Austin A40s.
Earlier in the year John Williams was generally considered to be 70s Road Sport champion elect with his Porsche 911 but as we enter the Finals weekend the title will be hotly contended by John the Datsun 240Z of George Daws and Porsche 924 of Simon Baines. This will run until the last corner of the final lap of the season, adding further intrigue to the title battle will be the quick TVR 3000M’s of Julian Barter and Antony Ross, potentially taking points from John and George, whilst Simon will need to contrend with a racey Tim Child in his immaculate Alfa Romeo, this promises to be a nail biting conclusion to what has been a fun fuelled season.
Unfortunately the evocative One-Litre F3 Championship will not be on the timetable because they were ‘screaming’ around the Ardennes Forest at the Spa 6 Hour weekend where they presented a terrific 30 car grid, a full report and images will follow shortly.
They will be much missed such is the camaraderie amongst the HSCC Championships that the pit garages will be illuminated late into Saturday evening as competitors celebrate the conclusion of yet another great season of racing together. With our next year’s schedule of events already available they will no doubt be planning renewed sparing, hot pursuits and pit lane celebrations for 2026.