HSCC Legends Of Brands Hatch Superprix

Brands Hatch was bathed in glorious sunshine along with high temperatures at the weekend (29-30/06/2019) and the Historic Sports Car Club delivered a packed race schedule and some superb track entertainment on the famous Grand Prix circuit.

HSCC Historic Formula Ford :- 31 cars lined up on the grid for the first of the weekends two races. From pole Cameron Jackson in the Winkelmann WDF2 stormed ahead and remained out in front for the duration of the race to claim the top step of the podium beating rival Richard Tarling in the Jamun T2, who was hampered by an earlier racing incident, to the line with a gap of just under 10 seconds. Ed Thurston in a Merlyn Mk20 finish 3rd just 0.170s behind Tarling. Jackson was on pole for Sundays second Historic Formula Ford race with Tarling starting along side. Jackson took the lead at the start but lost it on lap three when Tarling put the Jamun down the inside at Paddock Hill Bend. From that moment on the lead would swing one way then another, the pair battling right to the very end, Tarling eventually taking the chequered flag with just over a second between them. Again Ed Thurston finished 3rd.

Tarling and Jackson Battle at Paddock

Historic Grand Prix Car Pre’61 :- In the Pre ’61’s Richard Wilson in the Ferrari Dino BR01 took the first win of the weekend crossing the line with a gap of 14 seconds over Rod Jolly who brought the Lister Jaguar home in 2nd followed by Steve Hart in the Maserati 250F. Rod Jolly won the second meeting on Sunday taking the flag just ahead of Wilson, 2 seconds behind. Steve Hart again made the podium with another 3rd place.

Historic Grand Prix Car Pre’66 :- Andy Middlehurst in the Lotus 25 took the race lead starting from pole but would suffer a DNF on lap 5. This handed the race lead to Rudi Friedrichs in a Cooper T53 who would lose out to Barry Cannell in the Brabham BT11A, taking the lead on lap 9. Tom Dark in the Cooper T51 crossed the finish line 3rd. Barry Cannell again brought the Brabham across the line in 1st place during Sunday’s Pre ’66 second outing but not without a challenge for the win from Andrew Beaumont in his Lotus 18 who would eventually finish 0.183s behind Cannell. Tom Dark once again took 3rd to complete the podium.

Barry Cannell’s Brabham BT11A

Jaguar Classic Challenge :- Gary Pearson drove his E-Type to victory in this one hour endurance race which took place in Saturdays high temperatures. With 33 laps under his belt, crossing the finish line with a gap of more than a minute over Ben Short, also in an E-Type. The Simon Butler/Martin Rich pairing crossed the finish line 2nd on the circuit but were handed a 5 second time penalty for exceeding track limits, dropping them down to 3rd.

Gary Pearson’s E-Type

HSCC Guards Trophy :- The Chevron B8 of Charlie Allison battled his way through the field after starting on the forth row. The Max Bartell/Calum Grant Elva Mk7 led for much of the race but would be hampered with brake issues and later handed a 5 second penalty for track limits.

XL Aurora Trophy :- Michael Lyons drove the stunning Lola T400 Formula 5000 to victory twice over the weekend. Nothing could keep up with Lyons and the Lola, crossing the line 21 seconds ahead of his closes rival Timothy De Silva in a Chevrom B35 in the first of the weekends races with a repeat performance during Sunday’s second. Lyons stormed ahead leaving the pack in his dust. De Silva retired on lap 2 handing 2nd to Andy Smith in a March 724.

HSCC Historic Formula Junior :- Timothy De Silva drove his Brabham BT2 to victory in the only formula Junior race of the weekend covering 12 laps of the GP circuit. From pole position De Silva lost out to the Lotus 22 of Andrew Hibberd and the Lotus 20 of Sam Wilson at the start which relegated De Silva down to 3rd. Sam Wilson took the lead away from Hibberd on lap 3 only to lose out on lap 8 as De Silva stormed ahead and maintained his lead until the flag. The final standings Hibberd took 2nd place with Wilson 3rd.

HSCC Thundersports :- John Burton piloting a Chevron B26 scored a double over the weekend. The first race was halted after 13 laps because of many on track incidents leaving John Burton being declared the winner. Sunday’s second race Burton brought the Chevron home covering 20 laps of the GP circuit. Tony Sinclair in a Lola T292 finished 2nd and Richard Parker not far behind in 3rd.

Highlights :- The HSCC Dunlop Saloon Car Cup Michael Lyons took both the weekends wins in the Eggenberger Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500. The HSCC 70’s Road Sport victory went to Jeremy Clark in his Lotus Elan S4 while Kevin Kivlochan drove his AC Cobra to the top of the podium in the Historic Road Sports.

Many thanks to Tom Arron and Colin Mann at MSV for their help and support and to the marshals for keeping everyone safe.

TSL timing

HSCC

Words and Images by Gary Hand