Ferrari 312Ts join bulging historic F1 grid

With a 30-car grid at Monza, the FIA Historic Formula One Championship is enjoying a superb season in 2009, and it is Joaquin Folch who heads the title race after two rounds.

Folch won the season opener at Spa in his Brabham BT49C, but only after a big battle with Andy Meyrick, racing his father Peter’s Arrows A5. Rowland Kinch ran third in his Arrows A4 until sidelined by a broken throttle cable, so the McLaren M23 of Bobby Verdon-Roe completed the podium finishers.

Kinch came good at Monza six weeks later when he took the Arrows to victory, with his progress aided by the fact that Folch had to start the Brabham from the pitlane after gear selection dramas on the grid. While Katsu Kubota worked his March 761 through to second, Folch drove a storming race to battle through to third and retained the overall points lead. Kubota was lucky to make the finish as his Cosworth DFV engine blew up on the slowing down lap.

The Monza race was also notable for the presence of two Ferrari 312Ts on the grid in the hands of Italian racers Walter Burani and Giancarlo Casoli (above). Though neither car finished the race, it is thought to be the first time that two 312Ts have raced together in a classic F1 event.

Meanwhile, the ex-Mauro Baldi Arrows A4/5 is back racing in the hands of David Abbott after a complete rebuild. That car, and around 30 others, will gather at Brands Hatch on July 4/5 for round three of the championship.