Zandvoort, Historic Grand Prix ’25
The Historic Grand Prix Zandvoort is the most important historic racing event in the Netherlands celebrating the history of the circuit which dates back to the first official race in 1948. A friendly and unique atmosphere offers competitors a thrilling weekend of historic racing in a vibrant festival atmosphere, with live DJ sets and a variety of food courts providing a terrific summer celebration of historic motorsport! Both the Derek Bell Trophy and One-Litre F3 Historic Racing Association ventured across the North Sea to the seaside circuit nestling in the sand dunes.
DEREK BELL TROPHY
Competitors from the Derek Bell Trophy combined with the HVM Classic F2 Interseries to create a 24 car grid. In qualifying Tom Smith in the March 74B would be the top Derek Bell Trophy runner 10th overall in the running order from Mike Bainbridge Chevron B29 and Daniel Pyett having one of his occasional outings in his Tecno F2 car.
Race 1 Saturday: Tom Smith overtook, three of the Formula 2 runners, moving from 10th to 7th, eventually finishing 5th in the overall standings to claim the top step of the Derek Bell Trophy podium. Mike Bainbridge finished second with his son Calvin in the Brabham BT35 completing the podium. Daniel Pyett held the third place initially before retiring on lap 7.
Matthew Wurr in Mark Longmore’s Mclaren M10B was the winner of the F5000 class from Frank Lyons in his Lola T332.
Race 2 Sunday: Unfortunately Daniel Pyett was announced as a non-starter before a brief cloudburst interrupted the start of Sundfay’s race. rthe March 74B of Tom Smith was again the Derek Bell Trophy winner having another good race lying third overall in the combined race until the very last lap when he was overhauled by Manfredo Rossi but remained ahead of Matthew Watts March 772 which had finished 3rd overall in Saturday’s race.
Mike Bainbridge was again second in the Derek Bell Trophy and 8th overall, whilst 3rd place and 10th overall went to Matthew Wurr who had started a long way down in 16th place overall moving impressively through the field to taking the final Derek Bell Trophy podium position from Calvin Bainbridge.
Next race: 12/13 July, Legends of Brands Hatch Superprix
Image:
Derek Bell Race 1 Podium with Tom Smith (centre) Mike & Calvin Bainbridge,
Historic F3 Podium Peter de al Roche (centre), Ross Drybrough and Roland Fischer
HISTORIC FORMULA 3
The One-Litre F3 racers rolled into town on Thursday setting up camp in the tented part of the paddock. Thanks to Swiss racer Christoph Widmer, this was specially set up by the organisers in honour of the F3 brigade who on this occasion were also racing for the prestigious Nations’ Cup. Much friendship renewing was interspersed with car and clothing scrutineering on the Thursday before the action commenced on Friday.
Qualifying on Friday afternoon, Peter de la Roche in the recently acquired Alexis Mk17 went straight to top of the timing sheets with a 1:52.3 a surprising 1.5 seconds ahead of the always quick Christoph Widmer in his faithful and battle hardened Brabham BT18A. Mark Carter’s ex Ian Walker Racing BT21B now running under the Speedsport banner was third ahead of Francois Derossi (Chevron B17), Jason Timms (BT21B), Ludovic Ingwiller in his rare Pygmee. Rounding out the top ten were Roland Fischer (another quick series stalwart in his Tecno 169), Max Blees (BT28), Jonathan Sharp (B17), and Charlie Martin in Paul Waine’s De Sanctis F3/69.
Sadly, Andrew Tart’s Merlyn Mk9 boiled out its water presaging a difficult weekend, whilst Ross Dryborough had no 4th gear and a worryingly loose steering column, sensibly confining him to the pits after only a couple of laps.
Race1 Saturday: As the late afternoon race time approached the air temperature had risen to over 30C with track temperatures at over 50C resulting in drivers adopting various means to keep cool before getting in their cars, whilst some teams made set up changes to deal with the tyres likely to get overheated, making the cars more like driving on bubblegum.
Peter de la Roche got a flyer when the Grand Prix style lighting sequence went out – astonishingly he was 7 seconds clear before the end of lap 1 enroute to an emphatic and well-deserved win, easing off towards the end but still being over 32 seconds clear of Jason Timms. Always quick, Jason really pulled the plug and propelled his BT21B to a well-deserved 2nd place. Much of this was down to the usual friendly but hard Euro scrap featuring Christoph Widmer and Francois Derossi joined this time by Ludovic Ingwiller, who now has his Pygmee going really well. Ludovic finished a popular 3rd behind Jason and ahead of a charging Ross Drybrough, making amends for his unrepresentative starting spot.
Ross made rapid progress before catching a fast-starting Jonathan Sharp with whom he swopped places a couple of times before breaking free and setting some very quick times that would put him 2nd on the grid for Race 2 (grid positions determined by Race 1 fastest laps). Behind Ross were a couple of B17s – Francois Derossi ahead of Jonathan Sharp.
Max Blees finished 7th, having initially had a tussle with Jonathan Sharp. Charlie Martin (another fast starter) was 8th ahead of Francis Falconer in 9th (B15C – on his first visit to Zandvoort). Rounding out the top ten was a slowing Andrew Tart, his Merlyn deciding once again to boil its water.
Clas Muller (BT28), not having raced for a long time, was slowly getting his mojo back, finishing ahead of Stefano Caminati and his technically interesting and well prepared BWA332. Leiff Bosson (BT28) was a welcome returnee after surgery. Calvin Widmer’s invitation class Lotus 61M made it two Lotus together ahead of Tony Wallen’s pristine ex Carlos Pace 59A. Series newcomer Carles Ischi (March 703) made up for his first race disappointment at Cadwell Park just pipping Simon Etherington’s beautiful blue BT15 who was delighted to finish ahead of Mark Carter (hampered by a loose plug lead) and Alejo Perez-Monsalvo and his Alexis Mk12.
Roland Fischer didn’t finish, stopping out on circuit, Martin “How Hard Can It Be” Whitlock retired when he sensed something was amiss suspension-wise and Christoph Widmer crashed his BT18A exiting Turn 12 rendering the car a non-starter for Race 2.
Saturday evening was rounded off with wine and nibbles generously provided by Team Germany and no doubt much supported by European colleagues. Racing on track might be hard and competitive but the F3 screamers remain a very close community of competitors across Europe.
Race 2 Sunday: Much to everyone’s relief Sunday dawned much cooler. Once again, Peter de al Roche drove an impeccable race, despite having to cope with two safety car events resulting in him having to deal with potential attacks on the restarts. Ross Drybrough’s fast Race 1 laps put him best placed to challenge Peter but to no avail, having to settle for a nonetheless well deserved second place. Roland Fischer made rapid progress through the field from the back. The two safety cars played to his advantage but his 3rd position at the end was well deserved.
Close behind was Jason Timms (4th), who was only just ahead of Jonathan Sharp (5th), who didn’t attempt an overtake being conscious they were both on the same Nations’ Cup team. Ludovice Ingwiller was unable to repeat his Race 1 podium, finishing 6th ahead of Derossi (7th), Blees (8th) and Falconer getting quicker in 9th. Rounding out the top 10 was Clas Muller ahead of fellow Swede Leiff Bosson.
Sadly, Tony Wallen’s immaculate Lotus 59A lost a wheel, “fortunately” at the exit of the slower Turn 1. Anywhere else and the outcome might have been different. Mark Carter spun out at Turn 4, whilst other retirees included Simon Etherington and Charlie Martin. Andrew Tart joined Christoph Widmer as a non-starter, deciding to uncover why his car was boiling rather than risking his engine.
Rounding off a great weekend at the beach, the Nations’ Cup was awarded on the podium to Great Britain’s Team B of Jason Timms, Jonathan Sharp and Keith Messer.
Next race: 12/13 July, Legends of Brands Hatch Superprix
#15 Mark Carter
#17 Stefano Carminati
#28 Jason Timms
#59 Anthony Wallen
#63 Christopher Widmer
#75 Peter De La Roche
#77 Francois Derossi
#93 Roland Fischer
Images:
Cover image, Rob Faloon, Historic F3 images David Marshall