A weekend of action on the Snetterton 200 circuit (April 20-21) marks the start of another racing season from the Historic Sports Car Club, the club that has historic racing at its heart.
Across a very full weekend of 20 races, there will be much to see and enjoy. As the sport comes out of winter hibernation grids are good, notably in the combined race for the Historic Road Sports and 70s Road Sports Championships, with a 20-minute race each day of the weekend.
The historic category caters for cars produced up to 1969 and includes the very quick Morgan Plus 8 of Richard Plant which will exploit the long Bentley Straight as well as its handling through this fast corners. Simon King has another Morgan Plus 8 while rapid Lotus Elans are handled by Robert Rowe, Fraser Gibney, Barry Ashdown and Adrian Gilbert.
Over in the 70s division, a couple of rapid local drivers will be to the fore. Anthony Ross has his very effective TVR 3000M, while Howard Payne’s Lotus Europa will surely be on the pace following a catalogue of problems last year. Current champion Mark Leverett fields his Lotus Elan S4 and John Williams is always quick with his Porsche 911SC.
Topping the single seater action will be the opening race in the Historic Formula Junior Championship with around two dozen of these wonderful late ‘50s and early 1960s single seaters going into battle.
Former GT ace Chris Goodwin is a standout in his Lotus 22 as a likely pacesetter, although Andrew Hibberd will give strong chase in his Lotus 20 along with his father Michael in their Lotus 22. reigning champion Nic Carlton-Smith opens another title bid at his local track having traded his rare but effective Kieft for a later Lotus 20.
Another fine single seater grid is for the Historic Formula Ford 2000 Championship which opens with a double-header and it is young Samuel Harrison who could be the absolute man to beat in the Reynard SF79 on loan from marque founder Adrian Reynard. Current champion Graham Fennymore will open his bid for another title while Jordan Harrison will be well in the mix in his slightly older but very effective Lola T580. Marc Mercer, Benn Tilley, Greg Robertson and Ben Glasswell are all strong contenders for a place in the top six in this quality entry.
More close single seater racing is assured in the opening two rounds of the Classic Formula Ford championship for the cars of the later 1970s. With backing from SDC, the championship is going from strength to strength and the entry includes category veteran Rick Morris, hard chargers Mick Gardner, Benn Simms and Ben Hadfield as well as the hugely experienced Stuart Kestenbaum.
Taking the Formula Ford story back a further generation are the cars in the Historic Formula Ford Championship from the first years of the category back in the period from 1967 up to 1971. Notable front runners should include young star Spencer Shinner, good friends Cormac Flanagan and Ross Drybrough and Chris Porritt in his Titan Mk6. Simon Toyne should also be right up there in his Lola T200.
Racing only on Sunday in a 50-minute two-drive enduro will be a fine grid for the opening round of this year’s Guards Trophy Championship. This race, which also celebrates the Lotus Elan 26R, is topped by the wonderful Chevrons With B6s, B8s and B16s all in action. Among the quickest should be the B8s of Daniel Balfour, Charles Allison and Westie Mitchell as well as the B16 of Ross Hyett
With Lotus 23Bs, Merlyn sports racing cars, Lotus Elands and MGBs, it is a fabulous lineup for the opening race of the year for one of the HSCC’s most popular and enduring championships.
Racing each day will be the cars in the opening round of this year’s HSCC Historic Modsports and Special Saloon series, including the stunning ex-Gerry Marshall Vauxhall Firenza, known as ‘Baby Bertha’ and now in the very capable hands of Joe Ward.
Andrew Willis runs his way-out Ford V8-engined Austin A30 while Ray Rowan (Sunbeam Stiletto) and Steve Watton (Turner) are quick and capable cars. Devonian John Pugsley makes a welcome return after a break from racing with a Davrian Mk6 and East Anglian ace Tony Davies brings out his wonderful Vauxhall Firenza.
Rounding out this weekend’s racing will be two grids from the Monoposto Racing Club for a fantastic array of single seaters from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s and a wonderfully diverse grid for the Darlington and District Motor Club Northern Sports and Saloon Car Championship. These guest races are a very welcome additions to the HSCC programme and bring a fine extra dimension to the weekend’s action.
On Saturday, the first of eight races is at 1350 after qualifying from 0900.
On Sunday, the first of 12 races is at 0940 after qualifying from 0900.