Around the tracks
HSCC Superprix: Brands Hatch
Gary Pearson’s big cat laps up the double cream
The 15th running of the annual HSCC Superprix at Brands Hatch in July will be remembered for the stunning Group C/GTP and Orwell Supersports races in which Gary Pearson (Jaguar XJR11) and John Burton (Chevron B26) both scored notable double victories.
Among a fabulous Group C/GTP entry, Pearson in the JD Classics car had two mighty tussles with Charlie Agg’s Nissan R9OCK — less than 1sec covered them in Saturday’s race. Nigel James was a distant third, a fine effort nevertheless as he was holding the driver’s door shut on his Porsche 962C after its catch broke mid-race.
Agg finally headed Pearson at the end of a safety car period on Sunday, but Pearson reasserted himself a few laps later to draw clear. David Mercer (Spice SE90C) made up for his Saturday DNF by taking second from Agg. James was out of luck this time, coasting to a halt with a dead engine.
Burton won the Supersports races, the Chevron driver up against a tough rival in Steven Arnold, whose wingless Chevron B19 had a straight-line speed advantage. It took 11 laps of the GP circuit for Burton to get ahead on Saturday. Richard Piper and Mike Catlow rounded out the top four in their Bl9s.
Rain curtailed Sunday’s race, which Burton won after Arnold’s fightback from a poor opening lap was undone with a spin. MSA chairman John Grant (B19) took second with Arnold third ahead of Catlow.
Among the support races, the most notable result was Michael Schryver’s victory in the Derek Bell Trophy on his first outing in an F5000 Trojan T101. He also claimed the FJ race in his Lotus 22. John Harper (Cooper) beat Philip Walker (Lotus 15) for BRDC Historic Sports spoils, and Dan Cox kept his Anglia ahead of the V8s to win the Historic Racing Saloons.
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BRDC Silverstone 500
Talbot heads Brooklands 500 recreation
Richard Pilkington and John Guyatt won a fascinating BRDC 500, a 60-minute recreation of the club’s pre-war sportscar races.
Despite a safety car period costing Pilkington time in the Talboarracq T26SS, and a spin from Guyatt, two triumphed from Pat Blakeney-Edwards who went solo in his BMW 328 and Josh Sadler/Marcus Pye in John Ruston’s Talbot 105.
Ian Jacobs won a thrilling Classic F3 race in his Martini MK31, despite having to work past the Ralt RT1 of Richard Trott. The latter seemed to have the advantage but Jacobs grabbed the lead after half-distance.
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Schumacher and Hardman!
Peter Hardman scored Ferrari’s second win of the day when he raced his 246S to victory in the historic sportscar race that supported the British GP. Although the Ferrari lost out to Julian Bronson’s Lister-Chevrolet at the start, Hardman coolly hunted down the leader and swept ahead for a commanding victory.
Nick Linney’s Lister Knobbly chased them home in third, while Johnny Herbert starred by racing Nigel Webb’s Jaguar D-type to fourth.
Two stunning BRDC Historic Sportscar Championship races went to Philip Walker (Lotus 15) and Julian Bronson (Lister-Chevrolet). Bronson led the first from John Harper (Cooper Monaco) and Walker, before Walker came into his own, reeling in the top two to grab the win. Bronson won the second race despite intense pressure from the nimble 2-litre cars, rumbling away from them in a straight line.
Frank Sytner won the Group 4 Sportscar race in his Lola T70 having toyed with Craig Jones’ similar car, whilst Vincent Rivett won an evocative, if poorly supported, 1-litre F3 race for the Peter Hanson Trophy. Les Ely fended off Ian Guest’s similar Jaguar E-type to win the 30-minute Sports and GT Challenge race.