HSCC Superprix Brands Hatch GP 13th July 2024
KIWIS BRING F5000 THUNDER TO BRANDS
The annual HSCC Superprix took place on the famous Grand Prix circuit at Brands Hatch over the weekend of the 13th and 14th of July. A group of nomadic New Zealanders made the long journey to the Kent circuit, with a trio contesting the Derek Bell Trophy races in F5000 machinery and the Lotus 23C of Tracey Barrett in Sunday’s Guards Trophy encounter. The group are also staying on to compete at the Oulton Park Gold Cup meeting at the end of July.
Historic Formula Two Interseries
The once popular Historic Formula Two series has not been in such good health in recent times and a lowly seven of the charismatic cars turned out to qualify. Mark Charteris’ newly restored Toleman Group March 782 topped the times by 0.826 seconds from Alex Kapadia’s slightly older March 762. The second row was headed by David Thorburn’s similar car and was within a second of Charteris’ mark, Belgian Marc Devis completed the second row with his March 782. The early two-litre car of Mike Bletsoe-Brown would line up fifth, with Daniel Pyett joining the Chevron B27 on the third row with his wingless 1600cc Tecno. Last to qualify was fellow 1600cc runner Marc Sydow in a Lotus 69. Keith White Atlantic March 76B back of grid.
Race (One): Mark Charteris leapt away from pole and opened a small advantage over Kapadia around the opening lap but the 762 brought gap back down on lap two. The lead car seemed to have the upper hand on the sweeps of the Grand Prix loop but the roles were reversed in the bowl area. Kapadia had a couple of looks into Surtees but couldn’t unseat the leading 782. However, on lap six? Charteris silently dropped out of the lead at Graham Hill Bend to hand first and second to the 762s of Kapadia and David Thorburn. Thorburn hadn’t been able to keep pace with the front pair. Charteris rejoined in third place, just ahead of the soon-to-pit similar car of Marc Devis, after firing the car up again but an off-track excursion at Surtees saw him drop out after the Hart engine cut out once more. Daniel Pyett spun out of the 1600cc class lead at the same place so category win went to Marc Sydow’s Lotus. Devis pitted again, Mike Bletsoe-Brown Chevron disappeared to leave five? finishers..
Sunday: Alex Kapadia scored a second victory on Sunday as just four cars lasted the distance. Chief challenger Mark Charteris went out at around half-distance with a recurrence of his electrical woes to hand second place to Keith White's Formula Atlantic March 76B. Mike Bletsoe-Brown's pretty Chevron B27 and Daniel Pyett's 1600cc Tecno completed the quartet to see the chequered flag.
The annual HSCC Superprix took place on the famous Grand Prix circuit at Brands Hatch over the weekend of the 13th and 14th of July. A group of nomadic New Zealanders made the long journey to the Kent circuit, with a trio contesting the Derek Bell Trophy races in F5000 machinery and the Lotus 23C of Tracey Barrett in Sunday’s Guards Trophy encounter. The group are also staying on to compete at the Oulton Park Gold Cup meeting at the end of July.
Historic Formula Two Interseries
The once popular Historic Formula Two series has not been in such good health in recent times and a lowly seven of the charismatic cars turned out to qualify. Mark Charteris’ newly restored Toleman Group March 782 topped the times by 0.826 seconds from Alex Kapadia’s slightly older March 762. The second row was headed by David Thorburn’s similar car and was within a second of Charteris’ mark, Belgian Marc Devis completed the second row with his March 782. The early two-litre car of Mike Bletsoe-Brown would line up fifth, with Daniel Pyett joining the Chevron B27 on the third row with his wingless 1600cc Tecno. Last to qualify was fellow 1600cc runner Marc Sydow in a Lotus 69. Keith White Atlantic March 76B back of grid.
Race (One): Mark Charteris leapt away from pole and opened a small advantage over Kapadia around the opening lap but the 762 brought gap back down on lap two. The lead car seemed to have the upper hand on the sweeps of the Grand Prix loop but the roles were reversed in the bowl area. Kapadia had a couple of looks into Surtees but couldn’t unseat the leading 782. However, on lap six? Charteris silently dropped out of the lead at Graham Hill Bend to hand first and second to the 762s of Kapadia and David Thorburn. Thorburn hadn’t been able to keep pace with the front pair. Charteris rejoined in third place, just ahead of the soon-to-pit similar car of Marc Devis, after firing the car up again but an off-track excursion at Surtees saw him drop out after the Hart engine cut out once more. Daniel Pyett spun out of the 1600cc class lead at the same place so category win went to Marc Sydow’s Lotus. Devis pitted again, Mike Bletsoe-Brown Chevron disappeared to leave five? finishers..
Sunday: Alex Kapadia scored a second victory on Sunday as just four cars lasted the distance. Chief challenger Mark Charteris went out at around half-distance with a recurrence of his electrical woes to hand second place to Keith White's Formula Atlantic March 76B. Mike Bletsoe-Brown's pretty Chevron B27 and Daniel Pyett's 1600cc Tecno completed the quartet to see the chequered flag.
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Derek Bell Trophy
A bumper field of twenty eight 1970s and early 1980s single seaters turned out to qualify. Alex Kapadia avenged missing out on pole position in the Historic Formula Two qualifying session to head his conqueror Mark Charteris as the Formula Two Marches beat all the F5000 cars to form the front row, split by 0.570 seconds. The smaller-engined 1600cc Formula Atlantic Modus of Henry Chart also bettered the 5-litre stock-block monsters to line up third, ahead of the leading F5000 Chevron B28 of Christian Pittard. The third row comprised the first two visitors from the New Zealand F5000 series, with Steve Ross’ McRae GM1 besting fellow countryman Glenn Richards’ Lola T400. Next up were two British F5000 cars as Neil Glover’s one-of-a-kind Chevron B37 bettered Paul Campfield’s immaculate Chevron B24. The top ten was completed by Martin Woods’ Formula Atlantic March 73B and the much larger F5000 Lola T332 of New Zealander Dave Banks.
A bumper field of twenty eight 1970s and early 1980s single seaters turned out to qualify. Alex Kapadia avenged missing out on pole position in the Historic Formula Two qualifying session to head his conqueror Mark Charteris as the Formula Two Marches beat all the F5000 cars to form the front row, split by 0.570 seconds. The smaller-engined 1600cc Formula Atlantic Modus of Henry Chart also bettered the 5-litre stock-block monsters to line up third, ahead of the leading F5000 Chevron B28 of Christian Pittard. The third row comprised the first two visitors from the New Zealand F5000 series, with Steve Ross’ McRae GM1 besting fellow countryman Glenn Richards’ Lola T400. Next up were two British F5000 cars as Neil Glover’s one-of-a-kind Chevron B37 bettered Paul Campfield’s immaculate Chevron B24. The top ten was completed by Martin Woods’ Formula Atlantic March 73B and the much larger F5000 Lola T332 of New Zealander Dave Banks.
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The first attempt at getting Saturday's race underway ended under a red flag after Gary Lapidus’ ex-Mark Dwyer Coca Cola Lola T400 was stranded in the gravel. The restart would be in original grid order and of eighteen minutes duration, the stoppage had saved Steve Ross and Henry Chart’s bacon after the pair collided whilst contesting fourth place at Surtees. Alex Kapadia held sway from Mark Charteris but the Hart-engined 782 came back at the 1976 March-BMW in traffic. Incredibly, both Marches cut out within seconds of each other and Kapadia fell back before pulling out, whilst Charteris was caught by Henry Chart’s 1600cc Modus and the duo went side-by-side onto the GP loop but the F2 car held firm. The race was red-flagged again with three minutes to go with Neil Glover’s F5000 Chevron prostrate at Hawthorn. Charteris' March had cut out again and Chart sailed past just before the reds flew but the F2 car got the win on countback. Chart's Formula Atlantic Modus had gone underneath Christian Pittard into Paddock Hill Bend for the first time to establish himself in third, with Pittard's VDS Chevron B28 F5000 car doing likewise in fourth. There was a tremendous dice for fifth place between a train of five F5000s as Kiwis Steve Moss led Glenn Richards, in their McRae GM1 and Lola T400 respectively, and were chased by British trio Neil Glover aboard his Chevron B37, Mark Dwyer in the ex-Jody Scheckter Trojan T101 and Paul Campfield's glorious Chevron B24. They were being caught by a sixth five-litre behemoth as Dave Banks was almost with them at the stoppage, the Magnum Wheels Lola T332 was close to missing the race after a hasty rear upright change was completed just in time with the help of fellow competitor Frank Lyons. Glenn Richards and Paul Campfield both went off turning onto the GP loop to force a red flag of Sunday's race after four laps. Henry Chart had just taken the lead in his Formula Atlantic car from the Steve Ross F5000 McRae when a halt was called. The rerun would be held over ten minutes, with Ross and Mark Dwyer booming into the top two places off the line before Chart sped around the outside of the recently-acquired Trojan to regain second at Paddock Hill Bend. The nimble Formula Atlantic car also made a bid for the lead at Druids but Ross got his elbows out to fend Chart off and rumbled 1.673 seconds clear by the end of lap one. The orange Modus in second was quicker in the amphitheatre but couldn't live with the McRae in a straight line so Chevrolet V8 power took the win by 1.123 seconds as the chequered flag came out a minute early. Dwyer’s Winston Delta Tyres Trojan took a highly promising third as he gained experience with the car, whilst Martin Wood's Formula Atlantic March fended off Neil Glover’s unique Chevron B37 F5000 for fourth. The other remaining Kiwi Dave Banks climbed to sixth overall from the pitlane with his F5000 Lola. The two F2 Marches of expected pacesetters Alex Kapadia and Mark Charteris had each run into difficulties during the early stages before the stoppage so didn't feature in the results.
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Historic Formula Three
Twenty eight of the impossibly pretty 1000cc Historic Formula Three cars turned out to contest the King Hussein Trophy and concurrent Nation’s Cup races. Hotshoe Michael O’Brien placed his Tecno on pole position by 0.997 seconds from Jon Milicevic’s Brabham BT21. Habitual winner Andrew Hibberd had to make do with a spot on the second row with his Chequered Flag Brabham BT18 and he was joined by Ross Drybrough’s Merlyn Mk14A, which caused a mid-session stoppage after rotating into the Westfield gravel trap. Monoposto racer Jason Timms’ Brabham BT21 and Italian Enrico Spaggiari’s beautiful Gold Leaf Lotus 41X lined up on row three, with former Classic Formula Three racer Richard Trott’s Brabham BT28 and the earlier BT18 of Christoph Widmer on the fourth row. The top ten was completed by Francois Derossi’s easy-on-the-eye Chevron B15 and the March 703 of Andy Jarvis.
The first outing for the MAE-powered machines on Saturday saw Jon Milcevic lead onto the GP loop for the first time but Michael O’Brien had towed up to the Brabham by the end of the lap, with Andrew Hibberd going with them. The Chequered Flag Brabham of Hibberd slipped up the inside of O’Brien’s Tecno for second at Surtees on lap two but their squabble had allowed Milicevic to get away. Hibberd and O’Brien worked to bring the advantage down but sadly the polesitting Tecno took the back way into the pits on lap four with a loss of drive, just as the top two were sat nose to tail. Hibberd got in front for the first time on lap five as a classic 1000cc F3 ‘slipstreamer’ ensued, time and again Milicevic got back in the lead in the woods but Hibberd swiftly retook top spot as they crossed the start/finish line. The pair couldn’t be separated until Mark Linstone beached his Brabham in the Clearways gravel with five minutes remaining and forced a red flag that ended the encounter. Hibberd took the win on countback from Milicevic and the pair of Brabhams were split by just 0.378 seconds. Ross Drybrough was a lonely third in his Merlyn after O’Brien’s departure and fourth place went to Spaggiari’s Gold Leaf Lotus after a similarly solo drive for the first of the continental drivers. Jason Timms and Christoph Widmer’s Brabhams completed the top six, with Widmer a slim 0.243 seconds ahead of Francois Derossi’s Chevron in seventh. Austin Widmer’s unusual De Sanctis, Peter Hamilton’s ‘Derek Bell’ Tecno and the rare Pygmee of Ludovic Ingwiller rounded out the top ten finishers. Seventh qualifier Richard Trott was late to the assembly area before the Brabham pulled off onto the Indy circuit link on the formation lap and missed the race. The results for Sunday's bout showed that Andrew Hibberd ran away to win by 15.583 seconds from Jon Milicevic and the second-placed Brabham finished over twenty seconds ahead of Ross Drybrough's Merlyn in third. However, Michael O’Brien had streaked through the pack to take the fight to Hibberd but the Tecno spun off at Stirlings and eased the victorious Brabham’s path to glory.
Twenty eight of the impossibly pretty 1000cc Historic Formula Three cars turned out to contest the King Hussein Trophy and concurrent Nation’s Cup races. Hotshoe Michael O’Brien placed his Tecno on pole position by 0.997 seconds from Jon Milicevic’s Brabham BT21. Habitual winner Andrew Hibberd had to make do with a spot on the second row with his Chequered Flag Brabham BT18 and he was joined by Ross Drybrough’s Merlyn Mk14A, which caused a mid-session stoppage after rotating into the Westfield gravel trap. Monoposto racer Jason Timms’ Brabham BT21 and Italian Enrico Spaggiari’s beautiful Gold Leaf Lotus 41X lined up on row three, with former Classic Formula Three racer Richard Trott’s Brabham BT28 and the earlier BT18 of Christoph Widmer on the fourth row. The top ten was completed by Francois Derossi’s easy-on-the-eye Chevron B15 and the March 703 of Andy Jarvis.
The first outing for the MAE-powered machines on Saturday saw Jon Milcevic lead onto the GP loop for the first time but Michael O’Brien had towed up to the Brabham by the end of the lap, with Andrew Hibberd going with them. The Chequered Flag Brabham of Hibberd slipped up the inside of O’Brien’s Tecno for second at Surtees on lap two but their squabble had allowed Milicevic to get away. Hibberd and O’Brien worked to bring the advantage down but sadly the polesitting Tecno took the back way into the pits on lap four with a loss of drive, just as the top two were sat nose to tail. Hibberd got in front for the first time on lap five as a classic 1000cc F3 ‘slipstreamer’ ensued, time and again Milicevic got back in the lead in the woods but Hibberd swiftly retook top spot as they crossed the start/finish line. The pair couldn’t be separated until Mark Linstone beached his Brabham in the Clearways gravel with five minutes remaining and forced a red flag that ended the encounter. Hibberd took the win on countback from Milicevic and the pair of Brabhams were split by just 0.378 seconds. Ross Drybrough was a lonely third in his Merlyn after O’Brien’s departure and fourth place went to Spaggiari’s Gold Leaf Lotus after a similarly solo drive for the first of the continental drivers. Jason Timms and Christoph Widmer’s Brabhams completed the top six, with Widmer a slim 0.243 seconds ahead of Francois Derossi’s Chevron in seventh. Austin Widmer’s unusual De Sanctis, Peter Hamilton’s ‘Derek Bell’ Tecno and the rare Pygmee of Ludovic Ingwiller rounded out the top ten finishers. Seventh qualifier Richard Trott was late to the assembly area before the Brabham pulled off onto the Indy circuit link on the formation lap and missed the race. The results for Sunday's bout showed that Andrew Hibberd ran away to win by 15.583 seconds from Jon Milicevic and the second-placed Brabham finished over twenty seconds ahead of Ross Drybrough's Merlyn in third. However, Michael O’Brien had streaked through the pack to take the fight to Hibberd but the Tecno spun off at Stirlings and eased the victorious Brabham’s path to glory.
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Historic Formula Ford and Classic Formula Ford
Benn Simms’ rare Jomo led an early five-car Historic Formula Ford train but Cam Jackson moved into the lead as the front trio began to get away after Spencer Shinner spun and split the group. Poleman Benn Tilley, Jackson and Simms fought ferociously throughout and Tilley was ahead heading into the late stages but Jackson slipstreamed past the Merlyn as they went onto the penultimate tour. Jackson briefly broke away as Simms attacked Tilley but the polesitter held on as the trio went onto the last lap, having passed the timing line with just three seconds left on the clock. The race boiled down to Jackson vs Tilley to the line and the victorious Winkelmann took the flag by just 0.041 seconds. Simms was cast adrift on the last lap out the back and finished 1.679 seconds off Tilley in third after a superbly close and clean race. Benn Tilley triumphed on Sunday in another photo finish from the Kent-engined machines by just 0.038 from Cam Jackson. Spencer Shinner, Ross Drybrough and Cormac Flannagan fought over the last podium spot in the absence of Benn Simms with damage, with the former taking it by 0.135 seconds from Drybrough after charging up from the back of the grid and the trio were covered by 0.314 seconds.
The opening Classic Formula Ford race was a virtual action replay of the Historic thriller earlier, with Benn Simms and Cam Jackson fighting hammer-and-tongs for victory before a mid-race Safety Car and a red flag soon after the restart ended proceedings. Jackson’s Winkelmann got the verdict by a narrow 0.132 seconds from Simms’ Jomo and a closely following Jordan Harrison Lola, with 0.389 seconds covering the trio. Cam Jackson and Benn Simms contested another grandstand finish on Sunday as the Winkelmann defeated the Jomo by a tiny 0.029 seconds, with Jordan Harrison not as close this time in third.
Benn Simms’ rare Jomo led an early five-car Historic Formula Ford train but Cam Jackson moved into the lead as the front trio began to get away after Spencer Shinner spun and split the group. Poleman Benn Tilley, Jackson and Simms fought ferociously throughout and Tilley was ahead heading into the late stages but Jackson slipstreamed past the Merlyn as they went onto the penultimate tour. Jackson briefly broke away as Simms attacked Tilley but the polesitter held on as the trio went onto the last lap, having passed the timing line with just three seconds left on the clock. The race boiled down to Jackson vs Tilley to the line and the victorious Winkelmann took the flag by just 0.041 seconds. Simms was cast adrift on the last lap out the back and finished 1.679 seconds off Tilley in third after a superbly close and clean race. Benn Tilley triumphed on Sunday in another photo finish from the Kent-engined machines by just 0.038 from Cam Jackson. Spencer Shinner, Ross Drybrough and Cormac Flannagan fought over the last podium spot in the absence of Benn Simms with damage, with the former taking it by 0.135 seconds from Drybrough after charging up from the back of the grid and the trio were covered by 0.314 seconds.
The opening Classic Formula Ford race was a virtual action replay of the Historic thriller earlier, with Benn Simms and Cam Jackson fighting hammer-and-tongs for victory before a mid-race Safety Car and a red flag soon after the restart ended proceedings. Jackson’s Winkelmann got the verdict by a narrow 0.132 seconds from Simms’ Jomo and a closely following Jordan Harrison Lola, with 0.389 seconds covering the trio. Cam Jackson and Benn Simms contested another grandstand finish on Sunday as the Winkelmann defeated the Jomo by a tiny 0.029 seconds, with Jordan Harrison not as close this time in third.
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Super 60s
The Dutch Super 60s series brought with them an eclectic mix of saloons and sports cars. The gruff TVR Griffith of Jamie Boot and the thunderous Corvette Grand Sport of Michiel Campagne powered past the polesitting Rhea Sautter E-Type Jaguar on the opening lap and settled into a race-long duel. Boot couldn’t drop the Corvette until traffic put a second between them as the compulsory pitstops approached and Campagne blinked first to take his stop. When the TVR came in a lap later, the Chevrolet had powered into the lead by a couple of seconds. The gap ebbed and flowed with traffic and the mighty Corvette took the victory by 0.982 seconds. The fastest-qualifying Jaguar had fallen to sixth place before its stop but second driver Andy Newall drove like the wind to fight up to third, removing the Lotus Elan of Luc De Cock from the podium with five minutes remaining. An almighty scrap for fifth place was won by the Shelby Mustang Fastback of Roelant De Waard by just 0.184 seconds from Oliver Douglas' Shelby Cobra Daytona, with Christophe Germain's TVR Griffith, the Nigel Winchester/Chas Mallard giant-killing Ginetta G4R and Rob Rappange's raucous Porsche 904 in ninth all covered by 2.050 seconds. Carlo Hamilton's spectacular Ford Falcon was only another 1.293 seconds down on the group in tenth. Sunday saw a repeat of Saturday's result as Boot trailed the Corvette over the line by a narrower 0.718 seconds, as the Sautter/Newall E-Type grabbed third once again.
The Dutch Super 60s series brought with them an eclectic mix of saloons and sports cars. The gruff TVR Griffith of Jamie Boot and the thunderous Corvette Grand Sport of Michiel Campagne powered past the polesitting Rhea Sautter E-Type Jaguar on the opening lap and settled into a race-long duel. Boot couldn’t drop the Corvette until traffic put a second between them as the compulsory pitstops approached and Campagne blinked first to take his stop. When the TVR came in a lap later, the Chevrolet had powered into the lead by a couple of seconds. The gap ebbed and flowed with traffic and the mighty Corvette took the victory by 0.982 seconds. The fastest-qualifying Jaguar had fallen to sixth place before its stop but second driver Andy Newall drove like the wind to fight up to third, removing the Lotus Elan of Luc De Cock from the podium with five minutes remaining. An almighty scrap for fifth place was won by the Shelby Mustang Fastback of Roelant De Waard by just 0.184 seconds from Oliver Douglas' Shelby Cobra Daytona, with Christophe Germain's TVR Griffith, the Nigel Winchester/Chas Mallard giant-killing Ginetta G4R and Rob Rappange's raucous Porsche 904 in ninth all covered by 2.050 seconds. Carlo Hamilton's spectacular Ford Falcon was only another 1.293 seconds down on the group in tenth. Sunday saw a repeat of Saturday's result as Boot trailed the Corvette over the line by a narrower 0.718 seconds, as the Sautter/Newall E-Type grabbed third once again.
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The Derek Bell Trophy and Historic F3 cars reconvene at Oulton Park next for the prestigious Gold Cup meeting on the 27th - 29th of July before the Derek Bell Trophy joins the Historic Special Saloons and Modsports at Croft on the 10th and 11th of August.