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Home , 1960 German Grand Prix, 1961 Pau Grand Prix, 1965 Syracuse Grand Prix, 2003 Macau Grand Prix, 2008 12 Hours of Sebring, Adam Christodoulou

SUMMER 2008 SUMMER

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Volume 29 No 2 2 No 29 Volume Bulletin

Bulletin Of the british racing drivers’ club Volume 29 No 2 • SUMMER 2008 19 July 1958 Accelerating hard out of Club Corner is on his way to second place behind team mate Peter Collins in the with his 246. Mike has arrived at fresh from his fi rst, and as it turns out, only win of the season in the two weeks earlier, in which the great has fi nished fourth in his swansong. The way is clear for two young British drivers to contest the Maestro’s crown. Mike is level on points with and his , beaten into second place in . Peter is intended to act as the hare to break the Vanwall. The plan works, Stirling having to retire after 24 laps with a wrecked . For Mike, delayed by a pit stop for more oil, there is no catching Pete but second place and the extra point for fastest lap puts him for the fi rst time into a clear lead of the World Championship which he is never to lose, despite the best eff orts of Stirling and the Vanwall, for the rest of the year. Ian Titchmarsh

BULLETIN BULLETIN

OF THE BRITISH RACING DRIVERS’ CLUB BULLETIN THE BRITISH RACING DRIVERS’ CLUB Volume 29 No 2 • SUMMER 2008 Volume 29 No 2 • SUMMER 2008 President in Chief HRH The Duke of Kent KG Volume 29 No 2 • SUMMER 2008 President OBE CONTENTS Chairman Robert Brooks 06 PRESIDENT’S LETTER 36 ROAD TEST Directors 10 Damon Hill Rob Barff evaluates the Evolution X Ross Hyett Stuart Rolt 09 NEWS FROM YOUR CIRCUIT 39 MEETING MEMBERS Ian Titchmarsh The latest from the offi ces of SCL The Club Secretary chats with John Blunsden Nick Whale Club Secretary 10 REVIEW 41 BLAST FROM THE PAST Stuart Pringle Tel: 01327 850926 email: [email protected] Peter Windsor writes for the Bulletin Greg Mills looks at the career of Colin Davis Assistant Club Secretary James Beckett Tel: 01327 850925 16 RACING MEMBERS 45 THE STEPHEN JELLEY DIARY email: [email protected] BRDC Members have been on-track around Our man debuts in the BTCC PA to Club Secretary Becky Simm Tel: 01327 850922 24 the world email: [email protected] 46 HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS Club Administrator 18 BRDC SILVER STAR Jim Houlgrave’s images capture the unique Jan Stevenson Tel: 01327 850931 email: [email protected] BTCC aces head the ’08 charge atmosphere of

BRDC Bulletin Editorial Board James Beckett (Ed), Ian Titchmarsh, Stuart Pringle 19 BRDC GOLD STAR 49 CLASS OF 2008 BRDC is still the man to beat The fi eld in the 60th anniversary BGP Towcester Northants 22 BRDC RISING STARS 50 OBITUARY: ARCHIE BRYDE NN12 8TN is a man in form Sponsorship and advertising 28 51 BECKETT’S CORNER Adam Rogers Tel: 01423 851150 email: [email protected] 23 BRDC SUPERSTARS Wayne Boyd is a superstar 53 SECRETARY’S LETTER © 2008 The British Racing Drivers’ Club. All rights in and relating to this publication are expressly reserved. Nothing in this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without prior written 24 54 MEMBER NEWS permission from the BRDC. The views expressed in Bulletin are not necessarily those of the editor, the BRDC or the publishers. The BRDC boys were out of luck at the Brickyard 56 BOOK REVIEWS DESIGN Damion Chew 28 24 HOURS OF THRILLS AT 58 CLUB AND REGIONAL EVENTS PRODUCED BY Barker Brooks Media Ltd Through the day and through the night Barker Brooks House 48 – the Bulletin reports for you… 4 Greengate, Cardale Park Front Cover Harrogate Lewis Hamilton – at his majestic best – reigns supreme in Monaco. On the HG3 1GY Tel: 01423 851150 32 60 YEARS OF SILVERSTONE GRANDS PRIX rain-slicked streets of , he dominates the Grand Prix which he email: [email protected] Silverstone has played host to Grand Prix admits is his “best race ever....” (Photo LAT) www.barkerbrooks.co.uk racing for 60 years Back Cover www.brdc.co.uk Victory salute. scored an emotional victory in the GP2 sprint race 34 UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT at Monaco - his fi rst victory in the Grand Prix-supporting category. (Photo LAT) The Bulletin focusses on

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 3

4 September 1988 Round 10 of the ETCC and a spanner is thrown into the Eggenberger Sierra v Schnitzer BMW title tussle by our very own Touring Car legend Mr . Remember those end of season RAC Tourist Trophies. Three hours of magnifi cent between the best in Europe and the UK. This year we also had Dick Johnson’s red Sierra RS500 over from and taking ! The Brits and Europeans were literally Shell-shocked. In the race, although Dick led for a long time, overheating seriously delayed the Aussie leaving Andy, ably supported by co-driver Alain Ferte, to see off the Eggenberger Sierra of and Pierre Dieudonne by a little more than eight seconds at the fl ag. The win for the Kaliber Sierra kept Steve and Pierre out of enough points to prevent winning the championship for BMW. Here, towards the end of the race, we see Andy heading into Stowe ahead of the Wolf Rac- ing RS500 of and in another Rouse Sierra who fi nished fi fth and sixth respectively, one lap behind. Ian Titchmarsh

4 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2

DAMON HILL OBE PRESIDENT’S LETTER

ear Fellow Member, catching up. Lewis Hamilton’s driving But everyone else gets paid! No. I think it This is the best part of the may be a factor, but it takes a good team is only fair that a professional driver has D racing season for me. The cold, to translate his effect into something a right to be properly rewarded. Perhaps wet winter testing is behind us, for at tangible. the BRDC could play a part in that? Yet least a few more months, and we have Again, British Drivers are making their another crazy idea from your President? a whole bunch of great events to look presence known in all racing categories Perhaps. But… perhaps not? forward to at Silverstone. The Formula around the world. I wish we could do Have a great summer. One Championship looks like becoming more to help ‘The Driver’ generally in this a classic, and the Classic looks like sport of ours. Unlike golf, football, tennis, becoming a stupendous event in its own baseball (you name it!) motor sport right. Touring cars will be back in August, has virtually no representation for the 30 August 1998 (Right) After 127 races since 1991, the year in which Michael Schu- and the F3/GT Championships will Professional Racing Driver amongst the macher had made his brief but sensational Formula 1 debut for his team at Spa, is not only able to celebrate somehow squeeze in there too. organising bodies. The GPDA exists, but his fi rst win at the top level but a remarkable 1-2. At the The response to the World has no recognised offi cial status, as far wheel of the winning car, the -Mugen , is the 1996 World Champion, Damon Hill, without a win since Series event was magnifi cent, and over as I am aware. In a sport which requires Damon Hill OBE his title-clinching victory at Suzuka. He has taken back the 110,000 people in 18,000 cars found millions of pounds to make the cars go, President, BRDC lead after ’s Ferrari F300 has ripped off a wheel by colliding with the rear of ’s out that Silverstone is a great venue for and puts enormous stress on the young McLaren MP4/13. Damon’s team mate, , like Jordan yet to win an F1 race, emerges in second place with the family as well as the race fan. We competitor to fi nd those sums, whilst a car better suited to the conditions. EJ takes the decision to really should be very proud of the event also being expected to devote nearly all tell Ralf to hold station, Ralf obeys, and the dream result is achieved. It is Damon’s 22nd and fi nal Grand Prix victory but management at Silverstone. Over time, his life to preparation, the likely chance what a result! As the race resumes after the fi nal the team is becoming more experienced of him eventually earning a living from period, behind the two Jordans at La Source can be seen the Sauber C17 of , the Williams FW20 of Heinz-Harald and professional. At the time of writing, all that investment is minimal. Some Frentzen, ’s Prost AP01 ( a couple of laps behind) and, in the background, Pedro Diniz’s Arrows A19, just about the British Grand Prix is a sell out for might say we are lucky just to get the the only fi nishers in what has been a challenging race to say the Sunday, with the Saturday fast chance to drive. I can not argue with that. the least. Ian Titchmarsh

6 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 7

10 July 1988. It was the fi rst wet British Grand Prix for 27 years, since Aintree in 1961. An opportunity for to show British fans his supreme wet weather ability which had almost given him his fi rst GP win at Monaco in 1984, the win which came a year later in similar conditions at Estoril. Those races were in and Lotus respectively. Now he was with McLaren, his team mate who had just held on to win in Monaco. It all happened on lap 14 when Ayrton’s McLaren MP4/4-Honda was pressing ’s Ferrari F1/87/88C for the lead through Abbey. Ahead was Alain’s McLaren traipsing disconsolately round. Gerhard hesitated momentarily, Ayrton pounced, took the lead, slithered past his team mate to lap him and drove away to an utterly dominant victory by 23.34 seconds from ’s Williams FW12-. It was the great Brazilian’s fourth win of eight that year in which he won his fi rst World Championship. It was also the last time a turbo car won the British Grand Prix. Was it really 20 years ago? Ian Titchmarsh

8 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 NEWS FROM YOUR CIRCUIT

Want you back for good... The BTCC returns to Silverstone in NEWS FROM YOUR CIRCUIT August after missing 2007. Richard Phillips looks forward to a period of intense activity at Silverstone

he Formula 1 Santander British is gaining momentum, with another Grand Prix is the jewel in the crown of strong line-up of cars, drivers and off-track TSilverstone events and I am delighted entertainment planned for the last weekend that fans, teams, drivers, guests and BRDC in July (25/26/27 July), while we are also Members will be able to enjoy this year’s race looking forward to the return of the British in front of a capacity 90,000 crowd. Tickets for Touring Car Championship at the end of the Sunday of the British Grand Prix were sold August. BTCC will be coming to Silverstone out by the beginning of June, the earliest I can on 30/31 August for the penultimate round of recall, after record levels of demand and an the Championship. increase in turnover for the business. 2008 is a busy year when it comes to The success of Lewis Hamilton, and having anniversaries in . In addition to three British drivers lining up on the start the BRDC and Silverstone celebrating 80th grid, has undoubtedly captured the public’s and 60th anniversaries respectively, 2008 imagination, and the British Grand Prix marks 50 years since the fi rst ever round is once again regarded as one of the most of the British Touring Car Championship. exhilarating and glamorous events on the UK Appropriate celebrations are being planned continues into 2009 with further driving sporting calendar. Our three day, individual for the Silverstone round of BTCC, details events at Silverstone, Nurburgring, Paul day and Family tickets have been extremely of which will soon be available on the Ricard and MIRA. popular this year and all three British drivers Silverstone website – www.silverstone.co.uk. This exciting new contract is a fi rst can look forward to a fantastic reception and On the business front I am also delighted for Silverstone which, along with the vociferous support from their passionate to announce that Silverstone Circuits Ltd development of the new facility, home crowd. has won the contract to launch the clearly demonstrates the expanding portfolio Away from the British Grand Prix, we GT-R super car across Europe. In partnership that Silverstone, as a venue and destination, is enjoyed a healthy crowd at our fi rst promoted with our production agency, DWP, we will able to offer. event of the year, the Silverstone be running an unveil programme, known I do hope you enjoy this year’s Formula 1 Showdown. Despite the April weather, a as the Nissan High Performance Tour, at a Santander British Grand Prix, and that you sizeable crowd enjoyed an action-packed two series of dealerships throughout Europe. are able to join us at our other forthcoming hour feature race, which saw British driver This will be followed by a programme of events. and team mate driving experience days, the Nissan Race win the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Academy, for customers and prospects at Richard Phillips Thanks for the support Trophy in the Jetalliance DBR9. both Silverstone and Nurburgring in August, Managing Director Lewis qualifi ed on pole at Silverstone last year – his ’08 Looking ahead, the Silverstone Classic September and October of 2008. The project Silverstone Circuits Limited performances have seen tickets sales soar ahead of July’s race

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 9 FORMULA 1

Lewis Hamilton declares after winning the , although his Canadian error hands Kubica the advantage. Peter Windsor reviews the season so far…

t’s not often that one driver out of 22 uniquely has a tyre loading problem but I that is exactly what happened to Lewis Hamilton in Turkey. You could blame “style” for this – or perhaps even or McLaren. Me? I think it was further evidence of why Lewis Hamilton is the fastest driver in F1 today. What was the problem, anyway? Hirohide Hamashima of Bridgestone pointed to a difference in “driving style” between Lewis and his team-mate, (and thus, based on the problems Lewis also had in Turkey, 2007, between Lewis and ). Project that a little further, and you’d have to look at a difference in style between Lewis and every other driver in the race. I think the word “style” in this case is misleading. There is absolutely no doubt about the difference in “style” between, say, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso: Fernando rips into the as he approaches a corner, massively loads up the outside front in a millisecond and then lives on a cocktail of car control and phenomenal refl exes; Lewis, by contrast, is silky-smooth with his movements, gentle-and-then-fi rm. He warns the loaded front before he works it. That difference being so – and it is a

10 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 FORMULA 1

Victory salute (far left) difference that exists, too, between Lewis also no doubt that Hamilton was faster than Hoisted aloft by his McLaren team-mates, Lewis celebrates and Heikki, although Heikki is much less Alonso through Turn Eight in 2007 – and his famous Monaco win aggressive with his initial steering loads that he was similarly ahead of Kovalainen Rain main (centre left) than Fernando – it is inconceivable to me in 2008. Like Ayrton Senna, or Michael Out in front and pulling away, that this aspect of Lewis’s “style” is the cause Schumacher in recent times, Hamilton is Lewis heads for victory of the problem. If any drivers were going to one of those rare drivers who can exceed his Rear view (above) ’s season has been overload the fronts in Turkey due to “style” car’s natural on line-locked corners. a mixed bag – in a McLaren – the list would in my view That phrase hasn’t come out exactly as I Man of the moment (left) include Alonso, Massa, Kubica, Webber, would have liked but there is no other way was sensational Glock, Sutil and Piquet. All of these drivers of stating it: Senna once crashed heavily in Canada to take the World Championship lead place much more initial load on the outside at because he knew he could front than Lewis Carl Hamilton. take a crested corner without lifting. He was Grid position (bottom left) Number 22 marks the spot If not “style”, then, what? I think it was right. There was no understeer or oversteer. Something to keep the something more simple. I think it was Ayrton was pin-point accurate. Trouble was snappers happy (bottom “speed”. Speed in a McLaren – in a car with – there was no steering either. With the front centre) more aero effi ciency than any car on the of the car now slightly off the ground, Ayrton Monte Carlo again provided the best that F1 can off er circuit bar the (and thus already simply ran out of road and crashed into a Once, twice, three times a in a higher performance plane than any marshals’ post. No other driver had ever had winner (bottom right) of their opposition). may this problem because no other driver had celebrates victory have been fl at through Turn Eight during ever taken on the challenge of taking the in Turkey qualifying with his -Renault – but crested corner fl at. PushING on (top right) Webber’s “fl at” was by defi nition slower Michael had a similar accident during Fernando Alonso has been a star for Renault than Hamilton’s “fl at”. The McLaren, simply Saturday practice at Interlagos in 2005, (Photos by LAT) put, is a faster car than the Red Bull. There’s when he left the road on the right-hander

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 11 FORMULA 1 behind the pits. No-one else ever crashed here because everyone else allowed for the bumps. Michael’s Ferrari was not good that year but he wasn’t going to let a couple of lumps in the road deter him from entering the corner – a line-locked corner, as at Cadwell – at the speed he (ital) knew (ital) was appropriate for the radius. Thus the accident. And, thus, Lewis’s “problems” at Turn Eight in Turkey. No driver is faster through Turn Eight than Lewis Hamilton – and when I say “faster” I mean “more committed to taking the corner at exactly the speed the physics allow”. That is why, during qualifying, you saw Lewis absolutely at the peak of his ability, perfectly correcting a fl ick-oversteer moment at 155 mph. Other drivers, given frights like this, invariably This track has belonged to Lewis since the day he first raced here in F3

“give up the corner” and run wide onto the Lewis went on to win his Monaco qualities – it was fun to watch from places massive spin zone on the outside; Lewis Grand Prix. I say “his” because this track like the swimming pool section, and into would have none of that. The corner is a has belonged to Lewis since the day he Tabac. line-locked corner – and Lewis lived with raced here in F3. He was instantly at one On Thursday, when the Mediterranean every fl ick and lurch. No-one, in short, put with it in the way that other great drivers was azure blue and the girls lay in bikinis, I more energy into the loaded right front. – Moss, Clark, Stewart, Lauda, Prost, Senna, bet my co-commentators at Speed TV that Two weeks later, at Monaco, as we walked Schumacher – were also instantly at one Heikki Kovalainen would hit the wall before back to the paddock from the pit lane, I with it. He won in F3 (twice); he won in GP2; qualifying started. I said this because Heikki therefore congratulated Lewis on his tyre and now he has won in F1. As you watched has been on a roll recently and I could problem in Istanbul. He smiled sheepishly, the teams pack up after the race, the imagine him thinking that he would be able a little unsure, I think, of what I meant. “You motorhomes melting into the Sunday traffi c to continue that into Monaco. “Kovalainen were too quick for the tyres,” I said. “And you as quickly as the sun set over the Med, you out-qualifi es Lewis at Monaco” is the were the only guy who had this problem. had this undeniable feeling that all is right headline I’m sure he had in mind. You should be fl attered by that. It’s the with the F1 world. Well, Monaco rewards manipulative technology of F1 paying you a compliment.” Monaco being Monaco – being the drivers and penalises reactionary drivers. “Thanks,” he said, relieved. “I never circuit which truly penalizes mistakes and Heikki is of the latter variety – and he was thought of it like that…” therefore highlights both the fl aws and the penalized heavily on Saturday morning

12 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 FORMULA 1

Wave goodbye (far left) (in the dry) when he mis-judged the entry to the very little manipulation in the Hamilton sense of the As for , read minus a DC’s Monaco qualifying session swimming pool, recovered, approached the next word. The establishment love Nico as much as they few levels of performance. He looked out his depth ended moments later with a (tight) right-hander with extra load on the left rear, loved his Dad, Keijo Rosberg. They love oversteer all weekend at Monaco – just as he looked out of crash exiting the tunnel got that entry slightly wrong, recovered – and then drivers like Rosberg and Glock. They wind them up, his depth when he raced there in GP2 in 2006. I wish I could fl y (left) lost the lot on exit. Lewis made similar mistakes into beg for more. What astonishes me still about Nelson is his lack of Giancarlo Fischella’s Kingfi sher Force leads Fernando the fast left-hander…but recovered with minimal And thus, on Sunday, the inevitable happened. self-criticism. It defi es belief that he cannot see the Alonso around the streets of time loss. That is the difference. At other circuits, Nico lost patience in traffi c and fi nally, having relative harshness of his , throttle and steering Monte Carlo Heikki would have spun and re-joined and everyone lived on the refl exy edge throughout the weekend, movements alongside the sharp precision of Rising son (above) would have forgotten about it. At Monaco he hit the he stuffed his car into the swimming pool wall. Fernando Alonso, let alone the fl uidity of Hamilton , son of former wall and it was uphill from there. Wary of making The establishment probably loved that one, too and Kimi Raikkonen. Grand Prix driver, Satoru, has further mistakes, he was out-qualifi ed by Lewis. And – although I doubt the engineers and management Speaking of whom, what happened? In a great impressed so far this season in then came the problem on the dummy grid. were too impressed in the subsequent Williams car, on a dry track, Kimi should have won the his Williams- Nelson Piquet and Nico Rosberg were similarly de-brief. What has been the problem at Williams Monaco pole. And then, in conditions he loves, he Kerb crawler (top right) predictable. Nico’s practice and qualifying speeds post-Melbourne? Has it been that Nico has not got should have won the race. Mark Webber blasts through the Monaco chicane and onto at Monaco refl ected his great ability to throw the the best from the car on open circuits like Sepang, Ok. His team messed things up on the grid. the seafront car around between the walls, driving mainly on Bahrain and – or is there genuinely a What about the pole, however? Again it went to (Photos by LAT) refl ex, bravery and wonderful car control but with “single-lap” problem with the car? No-one knows. Felipe, which suggests that there is a bit of a pattern

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 13 FORMULA 1

emerging of Kimi not being very good at the he usually had to recover from a mid-lap sidewalls more pliable. My old mate Carlos fi rst corner of a Q3 lap. We saw this for the mistake, not a fi rst-corner one (fi rst time at Reutemann would agree with that. fi rst time at Turkey last year. We saw it again Shanghai aside!). I can’t fi nish with Kimi, however, without at Monaco, where he was a little bit “soft” Kimi’s fi rst-corner lethargy would be ok if saying a big “Yes!” in response to the late- on his approach to Ste Devote. It’s almost as it wasn’t for the ebullience of his team-mate, race shunt he gave . Sickening if he’s half-asleep and needs the adrenalin Felipe Massa – and for the blood-in-your- for Adrian, of course – but what a save! rush in order to perform. veins determination of Lewis Hamilton. Kimi made exactly the mistake that David The great thing about Kimi – about his As such, Kimi clearly needs to raise his Coulthard made on Saturday. The difference being a perfectly manipulative driver – is fi rst-corner, single-lap commitment level as was that, while DC went straight into the that he is still able thereafter to put in an the season takes shape. He did so to some wall, Kimi gave us a truly dazzling display of amazing lap – a lap almost good enough, extent in Canada, a fortnight later – but refl exes and car control – and he had been or good enough, for the pole. He doesn’t then lost out to Lewis in qualifying when half-asleep in the fi rst place! You don’t often make the error of trying “make up time” at the grip level deteriorated. Kimi feels that see Kimi having to work like this. In itself, it the next corner or corners. He just drives things have never really been the same since was brilliant to watch. the rest of the lap as it should be driven – as Bridgestone took over the monopoly. Things …as was his demeanor after being the structure in his mind tells him to drive were more sensitive, more rewarding, he rammed from behind by Lewis in Canada: it. Michael used to do this well – but then feels, when compounds were softer and helmet on, he tapped Lewis on the shoulder,

14 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 FORMULA 1

Rain suits Sutil (far left) Adrian Sutil chases round La Rascasse, venue of the Monaco Regional Lunch, during his charge up the order End of the road (centre left) and are unemployed following the demise of Super Aguri Monaco the stuff of (Pulp) fi ction (left) Our man chats with Hollywood producer and director, Quentin Tarantino On the top step (right) Robert Kubica – winner in Canada The long walk home (bottom right) Lewis heads back to the McLaren pit (Photos by LAT) pointed at the lights and quietly walked with his speed over the marbles in Canada away. Can you imagine how Nigel Mansell and then winning his fi rst Grand Prix, you or Michael Schumacher would have have to concede that this guy is blue-chip reacted in similar circumstances? For his class. Now that he no longer has to play part, Lewis had to sit back and accept the around with electronic engine “push”, or public humiliation along with his own traction control, he is emerging as a Jochen disappointment. Running into the back of Rindt to Lewis’s . I love the another car in the pit lane is inexcusable way, too, that he always plays himself down: – and it was a reminder that (a) Lewis is “We are surprised to be on the front row,” he still inexperienced and (b) McLaren are said after qualifying in Canada. “Tomorrow sometimes over-organized. Where was we could have some big problems…” And the voice in Lewis’s ear, reminding him to then, upon winning his fi rst: “Today was watch-watch-watch the red light? very good for us.” And he even manages to The closed-pit lane Safety Car rule keep a straight face… meanwhile exists in order to prevent a mad To end, let me ask a rhetorical question: rush of cars entering the pits the instant the had Lewis not clouted Kimi, who would Safety Car is deployed. Guess what? A mad have won the drag race into turn one – Kimi rush of cars entered the pits when the Safety or Robert? Car was withdrawn… Finally, a word about Robert Kubica Peter Windsor, an Associate Member of (who likes his name in racing circles to be the BRDC, is the award-winning Grand pronounced “Koo-bick-a”. Whether you’re Prix Editor of the world’s biggest-selling F1 looking at the way he is prepared to donate magazine, F1 Racing, and is the pit lane/ his Bahrain pole-winning race overalls grid reporter for Speed TV’s live coverage to raise money for a school in Southern of F1 in the USA and Central America and Sudan, or watching world rally rounds as for Network Ten Australia. When not on an anonymous spectator, or heading up a the road he lives in , Sydney and poker game, or shocking the Ferrari drivers Bogota.

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 15 RACING MEMBERS

The BRDC badge wins again and again in the FIA GT3 European Championship… James Beckett reports on BRDC activities in the world of international motorsport

y dominating the opening two rounds of was not straightforward, as the Jag struggled represented in the Grand-Am series by Robin the FIA GT3 European Championship on the wet Monza track. Tyre wear, and grip Liddell, who has performed well at the wheel B at Silverstone during April, the Matech- levels, a constant problem – but, the much- of a Stevenson Pontiac GXP.R. prepared Ford GT quickly installed itself as loved project took Sharing driving duties with American, a solid drive to the fl ag. Former Indy 500 the ‘must have’ car for the second FIA GT another step forward which is good news for Andrew Davis, Robin – a regular in US-based winner, Honorary Member, , event of the season at ’s legendary Monza all. GT events, has notched up podium fi nishes has also returned to the cockpit in the ALMS Autodrome. Ryan Sharp was unable to repeat his FIA at both Lime Rock and Watkins Glen. His with an -Honda, and fi nished on the Reigning British GT champions, Bradley GT RAC Tourist Trophy victory with a follow- performances have earned him high-praise podium fi rst time out. Ellis and Alex Mortimer, stepped up to the up at Monza in his GT1 Jetalliance Aston and his ‘stock’ as a front-running GT driver British racers in the DTM have been plate to participate in one of the V8 monsters, Martin DBR9. With his Austrian team-mate, has risen accordingly. excelling, as race wins by and and despite the weather’s best efforts to spoil Karl Wendlinger, Ryan did however add to his Victory at the ‘Brickyard’ may have eluded Jamie Green testify, while and their party, the duo ran off with two victories. championship tally by fi nishing seventh. Members of the BRDC, but they continue to have been waving the Union Bradley, one of the Club’s newest Members, After a much heralded switch from the knock on the door of success in the IndyCar Flag in A1GP. The 2007-08 A1GP season was able to scoop maximum BRDDC Gold IndyCar Series to NASCAR, ’s Series. concluded at , and Robbie put Star points from his performances, while Alex, 2008 season hit the wall, literally, at Talladega, looked set for a great Indy in strong patriotic performances, and with a BRDC Rising Star, took another signifi cant when the 2007 Indy 500 winner was injured in 500 result until a damper began to lose the a new Ferrari-based A1GP machine being step towards joing the ranks as a Full Member. a NASCAR Nationwide event. Dario’s will to live during the closing sixty laps. As introduced for the 2008-09 season the A1GP Although not able to record a further suffered a blow-out sending it into the outside his Target Chip Ganassi car began to fade, so world looks bright. victory, Ian Khan maintained his form, by wall, and as the car headed back towards the did his hopes of another ‘Baby Borg’, but he BRDC honour in the FIA World Touring recording a podium position in the second infeld he was collected at high-speed by the remains in contention for overall honours Car Championship had been upheld this race with his co-driver, Thomas Mutsch. Ford of David Gunselman. – despite the fact that his team-mate, Scott year by ’s Rob Huff, BRDC Gold The Apex Motorsport Jaguar squad were The impact was massive, and enough to Dixon, is on a roll. Medal winner, and James also in action at Monza, although for Ben destroy the Dodge and send Dario to hospital Dan’s season challenge continued with Thompson. Clucas the weekend was short-lived. The with broken bones. However, ‘good ‘ole boys’ a fourth-place fi nish at the Texas Motor The RML-engineered Chevrolet has been number 32 XKR GT3 was crashed heavily are made of solid stuff, and Dario has since Speedway, this coming after a practice on the pace all season and Rob has been a during practice, and the car was unable to returned to the tracks and the NASCAR Sprint crash that saw his world turn upside down, regular in the higher positions, winning in continue in the meeting. The number 33 car Cup at the when of the number 40 Chip literally. With damage to his primary , while Andy scored his fi rst victory of was pedalled by GT returnee, and Ganassi Racing Dodge – although an accident preventing it from competing further, the the season around the French streets of Pau. BRDC Superstar Stuart Hall. at Pocono was another slight setback. team worked feverishly to ready the spare One of the performances of the year so far Ray’s return to international GT racing Staying stateside, the BRDC has been well- car – and Dan rewarded the hard work with came from 2006 British F3 champion, Mike

16 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 RACING MEMBERS

I’m back (left) Gil de Ferran has made a comeback in the ALMS The Eagle is fl ying high (below) Robin Liddell is a man in form in Grand-Am Club colours (bottom left) James Thompson wears the badge with pride Champagne moment (right) Paul Di Resta celebrates DTM victory

(Photos by LAT)

Team eff ort (top right) Mike Conway – winner of the GP2 Sprint race in Monaco – with his father, Mike, and management team, and (Photo Sutton Images) Stock car smash-up (right) Dario has been out of action following a NASCAR crash Dancing with delight (below) Bradley Ellis and Alex Mortimer won twice at Monza (Photos by LAT)

Conway, around the streets of Monte Carlo – and score his fi rst category success. in the Grand Prix-supporting GP2 Series Mike made his GP2 debut at Silverstone events. during his F3 season of 2006, and with a full Tipped out of a podium placing on the season under his belt, the Club hopes he will fi nal lap of the weekend’s opening event, follow in the footsteps of Lewis Hamilton Mike bounced back in fantastic fashion to and by winning in front of an win the second GP2 race from pole position appreciative British crowd at Silverstone!

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 17 BRDC SILVER STAR

Please park here (right) is encouraged to line up on the grid Bradley Ellis (below) Along with BRDC Rising Star, Alex Mortimer, SILVER THREADS Bradley won the British GT race at Snetterton The half time whistle has blown – and BTCC racers are in the lead. Ian Titchmarsh reports…

e are now at the halfway stage Although - on the one hand and British F3 and GT in the HiQ MSA British Touring backed and BRDC Superstar drivers on the other. The former, with three W Car Championship and former has been unable to repeat his races at every meeting, offer 30 scoring Champion ’s switch to the VX fi rst round win in the Championship Class opportunities whereas there are only 16 Racing team of Vauxhall Vectras, run by of the British Formula 3 International scoring F3 races and 14 British GT races BRDC SILVER STAR 2008 Associate Member Ian Harrison, has done Series, he has not been a stranger to the under the current system. This apparent STANDINGS AS AT 09 JUNE 2008 him no harm at all in his bid to win his third podium and is continuing to hang on in unfairness is something which the Club BTCC title. The main obstacle in his way is there surrounded as he is by the Touring Committee is resolved to review before 1. Matt Neal (BTCC) 148 his new team mate and reigning Champion, Car contingent. next season. Views from Members are , whose vast touring car Oliver’s plight, if plight it is, highlights welcomed! 2. (BTCC) 119 success, skill and experience are enabling the imbalance between Touring Cars Ian Titchmarsh 3. (BTCC) 116 him to score points in just about every race. 4. (BTCC) 93 But Fabrizio is not a factor so far as the Silver Star is concerned so Matt continues 5. Oliver Turvey (British F3) 61 to lead the way here. 6. Tom Chilton (BTCC) 58 For Colin Turkington it has been a 7. (BTCC) 57 troubled start to the season with an early win at Brands Hatch followed up by some 8. Luke Hines (British GT) 51 less than happy races, but Croft at the 9. Mike Jordan (BTCC) 40 beginning of June saw a return to form for 10. Bradley Ellis (British GT) 35 the Northern Ireland driver in the Team RAC BMW with two more victories. This has 11. Michael Bentwood (British GT) 28 brought Colin into second place ahead of 12. Piers Johnson (British GT) 20 perennial championship contender Jason 13. Stephen Kane (BTCC) 17 Plato and his Seat Leon TDi Diesel. Last year Jason led the BTCC almost all the way 14. Jonathan Cocker (British GT) 16 only to lose out to Fabrizio at the very last. 15. (British GT) 7 This year, it is the Italian’s turn to lead from 16. (British GT) 6 the front but could the fi nal outcome be the reverse of 2007. The penultimate round will 17. Stephen Jelley (BTCC) 4 be at Silverstone at the very end of August 18. (British F3) 1 and could be crucial.

18 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 BRDC GOLD STAR

BRDC GOLD STAR 2008 GOLDEN WONDERS STANDINGS AS AT 09 JUNE 2008 1. Lewis Hamilton (F1) 100 2. Andy Priaulx (WTCC) 79 pologies for the fact that the points table Lewis Hamilton continues to lead the race for the BRDC Gold Star, in the last report was a little obsolete but after a ‘no score’ in Canada the pack aren’t far behind... 3. Rob Huff (WTCC) 65 A by the time the Bulletin appeared. A 4. Dan Wheldon (IndyCar) 60 problem of printing deadlines, I’m afraid. The 5. Robbie Kerr (A1GP-LMS) 58 aim is to make this latest one more up to date although, with qualifying races coming every 6. Ian Khan (FIA GT3) 54 weekend, the picture may have changed 7. Dan Wheldon (IndyCar) 51 again by the time you read this. 8. Paul Di Resta (DTM) 46 What has not changed, however, is that Lewis Hamilton is still at the top, now with 9. Bradley Ellis (FIA GT3) 42 100 points to his name on the strength 10. Oliver Jarvis (DTM-A1GP) 40 of his great drives in Turkey and Monaco 11. Jamie Green (DTM) 40 about which you can read in depth in Peter 12. David (ALMS) 31 Windsor’s piece elsewhere in this issue. However, the pack behind Lewis is well 13. Allan McNish (ALMS) 31 shuffl ed as the ’07 effect recedes and 14. Mike Conway (GP2) 28 this season’s races come into play. 15. (ALMS) 25 Both Andy Priaulx and Rob Huff have now taken wins in the World Touring Car 16. Robin Liddell (Grand-Am) 24 Championship for BMW and Chevrolet 17. Ryan Sharp (FIA GT) 21 respectively, despite the early season 18. Dario Franchitti (Grand-Am) 21 dominance of the Seat Leons, which keeps 19. Mark Webber (F1) 21 our reigning WTCC Champion in particular in touch with the McLaren F1 star. in the Matech Concepts Team of Ford GTs, pair and, if they carry on in their current 20. Guy Smith (ALMS) 20 Although the points are weighted a little in all the more impressive since the cars carry vein, expect to see Bradley rising towards the 21. James Thompson (WTCC) 19 favour of F1, Le Mans 24 hour and Indy 500 the largest available BRDC badges on their top of the table. 22. (Super GT) 17 success, the wide diversity of categories in fl anks! The fi rst two races, at Silverstone in In the DTM both Jamie Green and Paul di which Members compete is well illustrated April, saw wins for Ian Khan and his German Resta, former winners of the BRDC McLaren 23. David Coulthard (F1) 16 by the successes of Dan Wheldon in the IRL co-driver Thomas Mutsch whilst at Monza Autosport Award, have already taken wins 24. (Super GT) 12 and by Robbie Kerr, in both the Le Mans one of our newest Members, Bradley Ellis, for Mercedes and are currently lying second 25. () 10 Series for the team accompanied by BRDC Rising Star Alex and third in the series. More of the same is 26. Darren Turner (Grand-Am) 9 and in A1GP, which are giving them good Mortimer, joint winners of the 2007 Avon probable and there is every reason to suppose helpings of points. Tyres British GT Championship, took the fl ag that they will be moving up the charts in time 27. Jenson Button (F1) 7 The FIA GT3 Championships are also fi rst both times. As they showed last year in for the next report. 28. Justin Wilson (IndyCar) 5 seeing notable BRDC Members’ successes the UK,Bradley and Alex are a well matched Ian Titchmarsh

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 19 The total solution

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Aon has been heavily involved The Aon Motorsport team is a Tailor-made cover including: To discuss your requirements in the world of motorsport, highly specialist resource, providing s/NTRACKPHYSICALDAMAGE please call Roger Clark on classic cars and exclusive owners’ cover for race teams, drivers, s0REMISESANDSTORAGE clubs for decades. We provide circuits, federations & associations. s4RANSIT 0845 026 4408 or email: specialist insurance solutions for: s,IABILITIES [email protected] UÊ œÌœÀÊëœÀÌÊ UÊ*ÀˆÛ>ÌiʓœÌœÀ UÊ œÌœÀÊÌÀ>`i 4QFDJBMJTU$BSTt)JHI7BMVF)PNFt*OWFTUNFOU1SPQFSUZt)PMJEBZ)PNF Aon Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in respect of insurance mediation activities only. Telephone calls may be recorded or monitored. FP4609.04.08 BRDC RISING STARS

Clap your hands! On his 21st birthday, Tom Onslow-Cole tasted British Touring Car Champtionship success by RISING steering his VXR Racing Vauxhall to victory around the high-speed airfi eld circuit that is Thruxton. By winning, Tom carried on his success fi rst enjoyed at Snetterton last season when he secured victory at the wheel of a BMW. Tom is now a fi rm contender for the overall 2008 title. Thumbs up at Brands Tom Bradshaw scored a maiden Formula Palmer victory at Brands Hatch, in this his STARS second season in the category. The youngster is no stranger to winning, however, as proven in

the North West 1600 Champion- Tom Onslow-Cole BTCC ormula Renault UK has a habit of unearthing some massive ship. A regular victor at Oulton Park, Tom has driving talent, but you wouldn¹t expect a white van man to be been seen in action this year at the wheel of F sat on top of the pile. But that’s what’s happened in 2008 with the all-new DP08 FF1600. Adam Christodoulou. Wave your fans in the stands During the week, he pilots a Mercedes Sprinter van for his dad’s Under a scorching Silverstone sun, reigning clothing fi rm. At the weekend, he is doing 140mph around the UK’s British Formula Ford Champion, Callum tracks in his CR Scuderia machine. Adam Christodoulou UK MacLeod drove Speedsport’s 1971 Merlyn in a round of the HSCC Historic Formula Ford Adam’s calling card is not only his speed, but it is the way he Championship at the International Trophy race delivers it. He explains: “I have always just tested karts as much as I weekend – just for fun. He won in impressive can – all the time. And from that, it’s helped me get the consistency style, and hasn’t ruled out driving the same car you need to perform in Renault.” in November’s Trophy – some- But he says that is not his only secret. “I am also good at getting thing to look forward to! to the limit straight away,” he adds. “If I go out in qualifying and, (Photos by Jakob Ebrey and James Beckett) let’s face it, Formula Renault is all about qualifying I will do a quick Tom Bradshaw lap and then maybe try one more and then park it. I will know that I have done my best straight away.” Adam is in the strange position of having cousin, , a BRDC Superstar, as an on-track rival and that extends to the Mercedes Sprinter run on the motorway too. But, as you’d expect, it adds an extra edge to the rivalry (especially when they crashed into each other at Thruxton last season). “He’s just another competitor,” says Adam. “But, after a qualifying session, I will always ask how he’s doing. If I am not quickest, it’s usually him anyway!” But it’s Adam that’s sitting pretty on top of the championship standings, just shy of the half-way point of the season, and the title seems a formality despite strong pressure from his cousin. Talk about keeping it in the family. Callum MacLeod Matt James Adam Christodoulou FORMULA RENAULT UK

22 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 BRDC RISING STARS

RIKI CHRISTODOULOU FORMULA RENAULT UK I like winning in my car… If it isn’t BRDC Rising Star Adam Christo- doulou winning rounds of Formula Renault Superstars Boyd UK (see opposite page), then it’s his BRDC Super star brother Riki. Riki has been in fi ne form this year driving and winning races by success for Richard Dutton’s Daventry-based squad.

Yes, Max is a Superstar… WAYNE BOYD BRITISH FORMULA FORD CHAMPIONSHIP Pole position qualifi er at Rockingham during late May, 17-year old is a Formula 3 sensation. The Hitech Racing driver is showing vast maturity during this, his fi rst full season of British Formula 3. Oliver’s career will go far… ayne Boyd has hardly put a foot wrong during his Victory at Oulton Park on Easter Monday set domination of this season’s British Formula Ford Oliver Turvey’s British Formula 3 off on the W Championship. right foot. The former McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year is Britain’s It’s hard to believe that the 17-year-old BRDC Superstar is only top prospect in the British F3 International just over a year into his car racing career. MAX CHILTON BRITISH FORMULA 3 Series driving a - The racer from Templepatrick in Northern Ireland cut his teeth in Mercedes Benz. the regional Formula Ford 1600 Championship before switching to the Duratec-powered machines and he simply hasn’t looked back (Photos by Jakob Ebrey) apart from when he wants to spot his rivals in his mirrors. He’s getting all the advice he needs, too, from the reigning champion and Jamun Racing Services driver coach Callum MacLeod. Ironically, Boyd is well on target to beat MacLeod’s benchmark of 14 wins in a season. But the learning process is something those who have worked WAYNE BOYD BRITISH FORMULA FORD CHAMPIONSHIP with the teenager say marks him out as a star talent - it is his ability OLIVER TURVEY BRITISH FORMULA 3 to absorb new situations quickly and get on top of them. And so it has proven this season. “Callum’s been invaluable,” says Boyd. “But there’s a lot to live up to there. I know how good he is and I just need to listen to everything he says.” Boyd remains coy on the future, preferring to concentrate on the task at hand. “I am just looking at the next round, the next race and that’s it. But I would dearly love to win the . I was leading the Final in the Kent section last year when I was taken out by Peter Dempsey, and that still stings. Going back to Brands Hatch in October, there will be unfi nished business for me. That’s what I have got my heart set on.” Given the form he has shown so far this year, it’d be a brave man to bet against him. Matt James

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 23 INDY 500 FROM POLE TO GOAL DIXON RIGHT ON TARGET

cott Dixon earned a record $2,988,065 from a Wheldon, Dixon’s Target team- record overall purse of $14,406,580 for his victory mate fi nished twelfth. Dan’s pace, from the front row, S in the 92nd Indianapolis 500-Mile Race on May was strong, but it dropped off due to a damper leak 25th. and after the fi nal round of pit-stops he was out of Dixon, a fi rst-time “500” winner, became the fi rst contention for victory. native of to win the Indianapolis 500 in Justin Wilson, making his “500” debut found the an exciting, hard-fought race. Dixon, an Indianapolis wall in his McDonald’s Fast Food entry, while Alex resident, started from the PEAK Motor Oil Pole in the Lloyd’s Indy dream ended with a crash on the exit of No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Honda/ Turn 4 in the closing third of the race. Firestone, and he led the race seven times for a race- BRDC new boy, , like Wheldon enjoyed high 115 laps, beating ’s Vitor Meira to a front-row start, but the Aussie’s day ended when his the fi nish line by a margin of 1.7498 seconds after 200 Penske-Dallara was involved in a pit-lane collision laps. with the Andretti Green Racing Dallara of Danica Dixon successfully avoided the six accidents and Patrick, putting both out on the spot. other incidents responsible for the eight caution periods that slowed the race average speed to 143.567 Words by www.indy500.com and James Beckett mph, but despite the slow average the green fl ag Photos by LAT running produced eighteen lead changes among nine I’m the one (left) drivers. celebrates victory By fi nishing second, Meira earned him $1,273,215, at the Indianapolis Motor the fi rst time anyone other than the winner of the Speedway Indianapolis 500 has won more than $1 million - far Target to beat (right) exceeding the previous second-place record payout of Chip Ganassi cars out in front, $739,665 to Helio Castroneves in 2003. with ’s duo and fi nished third, with two-time Indy the rest in hot pursuit (Photos by LAT) 500 champion, Helio Castroneves, in fourth position. Ed Carpenter, the step-son of Indianapolis Motor Speedway chief, Tony George, was fi fth – a career best. While Dixon celebrated in ‘Victory Lane’ the BRDC Members at the Brickyard were left to refl ect on mixed fortunes. 2005 BRDC Gold Star and Indy 500 winner, Dan

24 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 INDY 500

Lloyd lucks out (left) Alex’s Indy 500 ended in the Turn 4 wall Rookie drive (right) Justin Wilson leads into Turn 1 Out in front (far right) Dan Wheldon leads into the Short Chute at the head of the pack Down the front stretch (below) Scott Dixon leads the Indy500 (Photos by LAT)

Indy 500 RESULTS Indianapolis Motor Speedway May 25, 2008

1. Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 200 2. Vitor Meira, Dallara-Honda, 200 3. Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 200 4. Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 200 5. Ed Carpenter, Dallara-Honda, 200 6. Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 200 7. Hideki Mutoh, Dallara-Honda, 200 8. , Dallara-Honda, 200 9. , Dallara-Honda, 200 10. Townsend Bell, Dallara-Honda, 200 12. Dan Wheldon, Dallara-Honda, 200 Did not fi nish 23. Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 171 25. Alex Lloyd, Dallara-Honda, 151 27. Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 132

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 25

LE MANS TTTOMOOMM TTTHEHHEE EEEIGHTH…IIGGHHTTHH…… As others around were losing their heads, kept his to drive to victory in the Le Mans 24- Hour Race again… James Beckett was at trackside to witness a memorable Grand Prix d’Endurance

n amazing 258,500 spectators lined the small problem in the early hours, and heavy while Martin Short’s Rollcentre Racing track to watch the raging battle between rain prior to dawn, then it would more than Pescarolo-Judd, with , Stephane A Audi and at the 2008 Le Mans likely have been a French car declared as Gregoire and Joao Barbosa behind the wheel 24-Hour Race. winner this year and not a German. fi nished eleventh. Rollcentre’s Pescarolo Six diesel-powered cars, three from each Gene drove for over three hours in the was the fi rst British-entered car home, and manufacturer, went head-to-head in a day- night to keep the Peugeot in contention, but Rollcentre were also the fi rst privateer entry long battle around the most famous race the car’s requirement to visit the pits more to reach the fl ag at 3pm. track in the world, and after 381 laps – for frequently eventually proved its downfall. most of it at record distance breaking pace, Villeneuve’s desire to equal as the number 2 Audi R10 TDi driven by BRDC winner of the F1 World Championship, Indy Top of the Pops – number 1 again (right) Members Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen 500 and Le Mans must wait for another year Tom Kristensen takes the Audi R10 he shared with Allan McNish and along with Dindo Capello, was at the head of at least. Dindo Capello across the fi nish-line to score an incredible eighth Le the pack. Peugeot did claim the moral high ground Mans 24-Hour Race victory (Photo Jakob Ebrey) With torrential rain falling on one-third by fi nishing third with the number 9 Yes! (below) of the circuit during the fi nal hour, and with car of , Ten years after his fi rst victory at Le Mans, Allan McNish was back on tyre choices all-important, Audi, and Danish and , but at Le Mans who the top step of the podium at La Sarthe (Photo Jakob Ebrey) ace Tom Kristensen, kept level heads when remembers who fi nishes second or third? the conditions could have forced an error, to Not only in this the 80th anniversary year retain the top spot and drive to victory. of the BRDC, at the Club’s spiritual home, did The fi nal lap may have looked calm, but Members win overall, they were also drinking the race was nothing of the sort. Run at a champagne as winners of the GT1 class. For frantic pace, it was Peugeot who set the pace, the second year on the trot, Aston Martin and their 908 Hdi FAP machines streaked Racing, sporting the legendary colours of away from the Audi R10s to take an early Gulf Oil, were triumphant. Club Members advantage. and Darren Turner with With two of the Peugeot cars (the number Spaniard Antonio Garcia were top of the class 8 and 9) experiencing problems that slowed – thirteenth overall. their pace, it was left to the number 7 car of Honorary Member had Marc Gene, and 1997 FIA the honour of one of his F1 World Champion, , to cars being the fi rst petrol-powered machine pick up the baton and run. home, in seventh, driven by Harold Premat, And run they did. If it had not been for a and Benoit Treluyer;

28 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 LE MANS

Heading for home (above) Heartbreak (above) As the spectators return to the After a solid performance at the track early on a wet Sunday wheel of the Virgo Motorsport morning, the 009 Aston Martin Ferrari, a trio of Members’ Racing DBR9 sweeps through hopes of a GT2 podium fi nish The Esses on its way to GT1 were dashed in the closing stages when the car developed victory terminal engine problems Roll out the barrel (right) Early exit (left) Vanina Ickx acknowledges Peter Dumbreck’s Le Mans the fl ag as she drives the 24-Hour Race did not go past Rollcentre Racing entry past Saturday evening the chequered fl ag. Martin Short’s team fi nished eleventh overall, the leading privateer (Photos by James Beckett) entry and the fi rst British team across the line Wearing the badge (left) The Vitaphone Racing Aston Martin DBR9 displayed the BRDC badge, courtesy of its lead driver, Peter Hardman Back in the race (right) Dindo Capello takes the number 2 Audi back into the race after a routine pit-stop Determined drive (far right) Marc Gene climbs out of the number 7 Peugeot after a triple stint behind the wheel

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 29 LE MANS

Flying the fl ag (left) A patriotic Embassy Girl prior to FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT start of the race On the grid (centre left) Hawaiian Tropic girls added to FOR LE MANS SUPERSTARS the pre-race spectacle All the fun of the fair (below) The atmosphere Le Mans off ers he 76th edition of the Le Mans 24-Hour confi dence ahead of their Le Mans debut. is unique. The Team Race saw two BRDC Superstars take Joining Joey in the WF01 was Warren Aston Martin DBR9 fl ashes past T to the track, and despite both being Hughes and BRDC Member the big wheel involved in crashes at some point during and the trio made sure that the Zytek- The right crowd and the event, the Le Mans future for Stuart powered car ran strongly. After all three crowding (right) Hall and Joey Foster looks bright. drivers had taken a stint at the wheel, Crowds fl ood on to the track, On the back of his near-podium fi nish the number 45 car was running fourth and pack the grandstands, to last season, when he fi nished fourth for in LMP2 – and a dream result looked share in the post-race podium celebrations with the winning Rollcentre Racing, Stuart arrived at La possible. drivers Sarthe as lead driver for the Poundon- In this, his debut year of Le Mans based Creation Autosportif team. With prototype racing, Joey was at ease in the Five star performance (bottom right) BRDC Member and car and it was an unfortunate error as it Henri Pescarolo’s number 17 former F3 race winner was getting light in heavy rain on Sunday entry was the fi rst petrol- joining him, hopes were high ahead of the morning that saw Joey hit the barriers on powered car home event for a strong fi nish for the Japanese the exit of one of the Mulsanne chicanes. (Photos by James Beckett) Aim-powered car. A rejoining car appeared in front of Joey, However, everything went wrong for the resulting in the WF01-Zytek leaving the team, when Stuart was spat off the track in track. Impact with the Armco was hard, the Esses during practice. It was crash that and although Joey was able to bring the damaged the car badly – almost beyond car back to the pits the WF01 was too repair, and sent Stuart to hospital for scans badly damaged to continue, and his race and medical checks. was over. Only after a meeting with track doctors Tim Harvey, Director of BRDC the following day was Stuart signed off to Superstars, said, “Stuart and Joey both race, and race he did. The Creation-Aim displayed star qualities during this year’s may have suffered its fair share of problems Le Mans 24-Hour Race. The event was during the 24 hours, but the car, with Stuart not easy for them, and both experienced at the wheel, crossed the fi nish line twelfth the highs and lows that international in class, 24th overall. sportscar racing can offer.” The number 45 Embassy Racing WF01- He added, “Stuart and Joey are great Zytek that Joey Foster made his Le Mans ambassadors of BRDC Superstars and I am debut in, arrived for race week fully sure that they will both be racing in the Le repaired following a pre-race test shunt, Mans 24-Hour Race for many years to come.” and Jonathan France’s team were full of James Beckett

30 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 LE MANS

1 LE MANS 24-HOUR RACE 14-15 JUNE 2008 RACE RESULT: 381 laps 1. Capello/McNish/Kristensen Audi Sport North America Audi R10 TDi LMP1 2. Gene/Minassian/Villeneuve HDi +4m 31.094s LMP1 3. Klien/Montagny/Zonta Total Peugeot 908 HDi +2 laps LMP1 4. Luhr/Premat/Rockenfeller Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R10 TDi +7 laps LMP1 5. Lamy/Sarrazin/Wurz Team Peugeot Total Peugeot 908 HDi +13 laps LMP1 6. Biela/Pirro/Werner Audi Sport North America Audi R10 TDi +14 laps LMP1 7. Primat/Tinseau/Treluyer Pescarolo Sport Pescarolo 07-Judd +19 laps LMP1 8. Groppi/Ayari/Duval Team Matmut Courage-ORECA LC70-Judd +24 laps LMP1 9. Mucke/Charouz/Enge Lola-Aston Martin +27 laps LMP1 10. van Merkstein/Verstappen/Bleekemolen van Merksteijn Motorsport Porsche RS Spyder LMP2 11. Ickx/Gregoire/Barbosa Rollcentre Racing Pescarolo 04-Judd +29 laps LMP1 12. Neilsen/Elgaard/Maassen Team Essex Porsche RS Spyder +34 laps LMP2 13. Brabham/Turner/Garcia Aston Martin DBR9 +37 laps GT1 14. O’Connell/Magnussen/Fellows Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R +37 laps GT1 15. Beretta/Gavin/Papis Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R +40 laps GT1 16. Frentzen/Wendlinger/Piccini Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin DBR9 +42 laps GT1 17. Alphand/Policand/Moreau Luc Alphand Aventures Corvette C6.R +46 laps GT1 18. Ragues/Lahaye/Cheng Saulnier Racing Pescarolo 06-Judd +48 laps LMP2 19. Melo/Salo/Bruni GT +55 laps GT2 2 20. Amaral/Pla/Smith Quifel-ASM Lola B05/40-AER +56 laps LMP2 21. Goueslard/Blanchemain/Pasquali Luc Alphand Aventures Corvette C6.R +56 laps GT1 22. Malucelli/Ruberti/Babini BMS Scuderia Italia Ferrari F430 GT +63 laps GT2 23. Kaffer/Nielsen/Ehret Farnbacher Racing Ferrari F430 GT +64 laps GT2 24. Hall/Goossens/Mowlem Creation AIM Creation CA07-AIM +65 laps LMP1 25. Ferte/Aucott/Daoudi JMB Ferrari F430 GT +69 laps GT2 26. Nicolet/Hein/Faggionato Saulnier Racing Pescarolo 05-Judd +70 laps LMP1 27. Davison/Henzler/Felbermayr Felbermayr-Proton Porsche 997 GT3 RSR +72 laps GT2 28. Bouchut/Bornhauser/Smet Larbre Competition -R +75 laps GT1 29. Barazi/Vergers/Moseley Barazi Epsilon Zytek 07S-Zytek +77 laps LMP2 30. Menten/Fittipaldi/Borcheller Team Modena Aston Martin DBR9 +79 laps GT1 31. Rostan/Devlin/Jeannette Bruichladdich Radical Radical SR9-AER +84 laps LMP2 32. Bergmeister/van Overbeek/Neiman Flying Lizard Motorsport Porsche 997 GT3 RSR +92 laps GT2 33. Itoh/Tachikawa/Kataoka Racing Team Dome S102-Judd +109 laps LMP1 34. Kox/Rusinov/Hezemans IPB Spartak Racing Murcielago GTR +115 laps GT1 NC. Terada/Takahash/Katohi Terramos Courage Mugen +157 laps LMP1 3 RETIREMENTS KEY: BRDC Members BRDC Superstars Bell/Sugden/Mullen Virgo Motorsport Ferrari F430 GT 289 laps – engine GT2 Boullion/Collard/Dumas Pescarolo Sport -Judd 238 laps – engine LMP1 Lewis/Bryan/McMurry Autocon Creation Judd 224 laps – gearbox LMP1 Kane/Hughes/Foster Embassy Racing WF01-Zytek 213 laps – accident LMP2 Pompidou/Belicchi/Zacchia Speedy Racing Team Sebah Lola B08/80-Judd 194 laps – accident LMP2 Burgueno/de Castro/Valles Epsilon-Euskadi Epsilon Euskadi-Judd 189 laps – mechanical LMP1 Suzuki/Kageyama/Kurosawa Tokai University-YGK Power Courage Oreca-YGK 185 laps – LMP1 Gounon/Johansson/Nakano Epsilon-Euskadi Epsilon Euskadi-Judd 158 laps – transmission LMP1 Panis/Pagenaud/Fassler Team ORECA Matmut Courage-ORECA LC70-Judd 147 laps – accident LMP1 de Pourtales/Nada/Simonsen Kruse Schiller Motorsport Lola- 147 laps – mechanical LMP2 Pickett/Graf/Lammers Charouz Racing System Lola-Judd 146 laps – engine LMP1 Vilander/Biagi/Montanari AF Corse Ferrari F430 GT 111 laps – driveshaft GT2 Erdos/Newton/Wallace RML MG Lola EX265-MG 100 laps – damage LMP2 Evans/Berridge/Stretton Chamberlain Synergy Lola B06/10-AER 87 laps – engine LMP1 Hardman/Leventis/Negrao Vitaphone Racing Aston Martin DBR9 82 laps – engine GT1 Chiesa/Leuenberger/Alexander Speedy Racing Team Spyker C8 GT2R 72 laps – engine GT2 Vasiliev/Dumbreck/Kelleners Spyker C8 GT2R 43 laps – engine GT2 Narac/Lietz/Long IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 26 laps – accident GT2 Ojjeh/Gosselin/Sharpe Trading Performance Zytek 07S-Zytek 22 laps – accident LMP2

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 31 SUPERSTARS TEAM BUILDING TANKS FOR THE MEMORIES… May 28 2008, BRDC Superstars undertake team building exercises courtesy of the Royal Tank Regiment Tim Harvey, BRDC Superstars Director, reports from Salisbury Plain.

t was with a mixture of excitement and mechanics and specialists. trepidation that 6 of our 2008 BRDC Following an enlightening and at times I Superstars arrived at the 2nd Royal Tank humbling briefi ng by Major Charles Regiment at Tidworth near Thruxton, for Burbridge, our host for the day, our drivers a day they would never forget. Jonathan were ‘kitted up’ with some fetching overalls Adam, Stuart Hall, Joey Foster, , and helmets, although there were no Ricki Christodoulou and were Arai or labels to be seen! This was joined by Members Ian Titchmarsh, Derek strictly business and left our Superstars in Warwick, Matt Neal, , Johnny no doubt as to what lay ahead. Apart from Mowlem, BRDC Secretary Stuart Pringle and going out on patrol where drivers were told BRDC Superstars Director Tim Harvey to expect the unexpected, and a drive in a who spelt out what was in store for the Challenger 2 tank, the remaining activities youngsters and their slightly older and more all took place against the clock. Track pad illustrious Members! The purpose of the changing on a 7 tonne tank track, wheel day was to build teamwork amongst the changing, crew extraction and emergency drivers by exposing them to the military camoufl age drills all exposed the effort and ethos and submitting them to a physical and competitive nature of the Superstars who competitive day within regimental teams. were anxious not to let down the regular In the driving (above) As guests of Egypt Squadron, part of the crews or each other. The opportunity to do The ultimate driving machine? 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, the Superstars this alongside members who could advise Eyes left (below left) and members were placed in one of 4 groups and discuss there current programmes was Stuart Hall and Duncan Tappy on parade including up to 8 regular tank crews. They another key element of the day. Thumbs up (below) then took part in a series of competitive The highlight of the day, the log run Riki Christodoulou shows his appreciation exercises designed to test both their strength had to be cancelled due to the monsoon and fi tness as well as their teamwork and conditions but it was a happy, exhausted and leadership skills. The synergy between a tank more learned team who assembled for crew and a race team is uncanny and the the announcement of the winning troop Superstars were able to see the dymanics including Stuart Hall, Duncan Tappy and of this in opperation as each crew has a Johnny Mowlem at a and barbeque commander, driver, gunner and loader fi nale. mirroring a race teams’ team manager, Tim Harvey

32 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 SUPERSTARS TEAM BUILDING

Listen in (right) Club Secretary, Stuart, tells Joey Foster, “In my day, we did it like this....” Watch your back (top right) Stuart Hall – sharp shooter (far left) Le Mans Series to the Tank Regiment in one easy step... A long and lonely road (above) Superstars on patrol With thanks (left) A momento from the BRDC is handed over to the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment by Tim Harvey Photographs by Mike Hoyer/Jakob Ebrey Motorsport Photography

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 33 UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

The car was a tenth birthday present from UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT: his parents; it arrived on a Tuesday and by Saturday he was racing. Two months later Out in front (below) Jamie had won the British Championship, This is the view of Jamie’s a one off event rather than a season-long Mercedes that his DTM rivals have been seeing affair. For the next two years Jamie and his rather a lot of recently lorry driving Dad campaigned Ministox (Photos by LAT) at such places as Brayfi eld, Long Eaton, JAMIE GREEN Crewe, Skegness, and Hartlepool with ever increasing success. lsewhere in this edition of the Bulletin Then Jamie discovered karting during you will be reading about the latest an enforced temporary absence from E exploits of Lewis Hamilton at the top Ministox. He was instantly hooked, his of the Formula 1 World Championship, two (one for shale, one for tarmac and looking forward to the prospects of in case you’re wondering) were sold, and Lewis winning the British Grand Prix. As the proceeds ploughed back into a couple a counterpoint to Lewis’s outstanding of karts, one for Jamie and another for achievements, this piece is about another his younger brother. From 1995 to 2001 young Member whose early career in cars Jamie rose through the ranks of karting, mirrored but outshone that of Lewis but his extraordinary talent fi rst attracting who, by force of circumstances, is now some sponsorship from Trucks plying his trade for Mercedes at the front of and then catching the eye of passionate DTM races rather than in F1. karting enthusiast Paul Fletcher. With Paul’s Consider that in their fi rst car racing support Jamie was able to progress to the championships, the 2001 Formula Renault highest level in international , Winter Series and the 2002 Formula Renault his successes including a win at the Valence UK Championship, Jamie Green fi nished circuit in a round of the European Formula ahead of Lewis Hamilton both times A championship, a rare achievement for a – fourth as against fi fth and then second British driver. against third. At the end of that fi rst full By 2001 Jamie’s thoughts and ambitions season of car racing Jamie won the Formula were turning to car racing but, convinced Renault race at Macau by over two minutes, that Paul Fletcher’s passion for kart racing a week later fi nished ninth in his fi rst would preclude any move to racing cars, he Formula 3 race in Korea, and then received had no means of progressing. Enter Trevor the McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver Foster, Race Director of , of the Year Award, an accolade rarely won whose son was also kart racing. Trevor, by a driver after just one season of car whose years with Eddie Jordan both in racing. Formula 1 and before had given him the Not that Jamie, any more than Lewis, had opportunity to assess many young drivers, not been racing something on four wheels saw something in Jamie which convinced before. In fact it had begun for him with him to arrange a test session with Member an 850 in Junior National Ministox. Richard Dutton’s Fortec Motorsport

34 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

Formula Renault team at Silverstone, Mercedes-powered car in the F3 Euroseries. UK Championship in his second season. after leading much of the way, when he ran followed by an entry in the 2001 Formula After careful consideration it was decided For 2004 Jamie and Lewis both landed wide out of Graham Hill Bend. Although Renault Winter Series with the results to have a season of British F3 with Carlin in the F3 Euroseries and it was Jamie who he still fi nished second behind the Audi of already mentioned. Motorsport in the knowledge that Mercedes utterly dominated the championship Mattias Ekstrom, to this day Jamie reckons The manner in which Jamie won the 2002 would support him into Europe the which, with seven wins, he had secured that that small error may have cost him the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award had so following year. with four rounds still to run. He fi nished chance of a return to single seaters at the impressed Mercedes, who used to provide First time out at , Jamie 51 points ahead of Alex Premat (139 to the highest level. a DTM car for the fi nalists’ test days, won both races. Second time out, at Frenchman’s 88) and behind him were Let’s hope he’s wrong because make no that they were keen for Jamie to drive a Snetterton, Jamie ran over the kerb too Nico Rosberg (4th), Lewis (5th) and Robert mistake Jamie Green has all the credentials Kubica (7th), all of course now highly rated and talent required to succeed in Formula Formula 1 drivers. 1. By the time you read this he will have just Jamie was now at a crossroads in his turned 26. He keeps a toehold in Formula career. Without the budget to move into 1 by occasional straightline testing for GP2 or World Series by Renault, and with McLaren. And perhaps most importantly the need to earn a living, the offer from of all he has a new manager this year in aggressively exiting Riches in qualifying Mercedes to move into the DTM was an the person of none other than Anthony which launched the car into a monumental irresistible option. A string of pole positions Hamilton, father of his old rival. This is accident. Carlin worked wonders to was soon racked up but it took until nearly the result of a conversation at last year’s repair the car for the following day when the end of his third season, last year, for the British Grand Prix and the confi dence a somewhat battered and bruised Jamie fi rst win. This was immediately followed and guidance which Anthony was already managed to secure a fi fth and a second by another while this year there has been providing, Jamie believes, helped him to place. It is diffi cult to resist the conclusion a third which sees Jamie currently lying those two DTM wins at the end of 2007. We that this shunt took the edge off the rest third in the championship after fi ve races should be hearing much more about Jamie of the season which still saw Jamie fi nish with another seven still to go including the Green over the next few years. second in the championship. Meanwhile Brands Hatch round on 31st August. It was Lewis was dominating the Formula Renault there in 2006 that Jamie lost his fi rst win, Ian Titchmarsh

Leader of the pack (top left) Jamie scored victory in the European Formula A Champion- ship, and here he leads Lewis Hamilton (yellow helmet) Round the bend (centre left) Jamie at speed in the stunning V8 DTM Mercedes-Benz Crowd favourite (left) On his way to F3 Euroseries glory Race winner (right) Jamie on the DTM podium (Photos by LAT)

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 35 ROAD TEST A Shark in Wolf’s Clothing ROB BARFF DRIVES THE MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO X FQ 300 SST

s someone who grew up in the 1980’s short wheel based aggressive stance but all the right places however personally I’d idolising rally cars I’ve always now sports a distinctive boxy, bull nosed like to be sat a little lower in the car and be A had a fondness for this genre of snout. The latest incarnation of the EVO able to get the steering wheel closer to me, vehicle. Cars designed by engineers with still resembles a thinly veiled rally car, it’s a but perhaps that’s due to the strange shape a motorsport history tend to go down in mean looking bit of kit. of my body! The internal design springs no the book of legend and I’ve always been The route I have chosen to assess the surprises; however the feel and usability a big fan; the Sport S1, the Mitsubishi is a mixture of environments, of the controls are good and the voice Delta Integrale and more latterly, I’m going to begin on some bumpy activated Bluetooth integration system the Subaru Impreza WRX. Over the last sinuous B roads, progress to a fl owing quickly pairs with your telephone. two decades one of the major Japanese single carriageway A road, move onto the My initial response to driving the EVO challengers to Subarus crown has been motorway and dual carriageway A43 before X was one of surprise, it was just so well Mitsubishi. Since its introduction in the Stability Control, a system to be left on arriving at the 3.2 mile Silverstone Grand mannered, perhaps too well mannered? It 1970’s when Mitsubishi began a successful for regular road driving and de-activated Prix Circuit where I hope to do some big may look like the automotive equivalent of campaign with the Lancer, and for circuit misbehaviour! My vehicle is slides later! Unfortunately the weather has a hoody wearing thug however at no point more latterly since the iconic EVO name the automatic gearbox version, or Dual not been kind and is did I feel like it was going to thump me, well was fi rst introduced in 1992, the cars have Clutch Sports Shift Transmission; with all blanketed under dark skies and heavy April not yet anyway! The ride quality was good, always enjoyed a certain reputation. 16 the even gears on one clutch and the odd showers, however this will give me a chance the spring rate suffi cient to ensure a fi rm years since the original EVO was launched, gears on the other, designed to maximise to really get a feel for the benefi ts of the four ride with the damping doing well to absorb the latest incarnation, the Mitsubishi the speed of gear changing and minimise wheel drive system. the bumps and surface imperfections. The Lancer EVO X FQ300 SST costing £35,999, is the time lost between gears. The system has So I’ve had my morning coffee, read the 18 inch wheels and slightly taller profi le the car I have to test today. three modes, a Normal mode for relaxed owners manual, had a quick glance at the tyres give you a really good feel for the As a competition driver myself I’m driving, Sport mode for more spirited Mitsubishi website and been briefed by a road without the nervousness of perhaps keen to portray how this car drives and road use and Super Sport for aggressive rather nervous member of the Mitsubishi a more fashionable 19 inch rim and lower not to get bogged down in acronyms and shifts, designed to be used on circuits only. PR team before heading out with car profi le tyre combination. And with the unnecessary technicalities however be It’s powered by a 2.0 litre turbocharged in its least aggressive guise; I’m keen to gearbox in its normal automatic mode the assured that the latest EVO is bristling with 4 cylinder unit producing 295PS and a assess, and then portray, all the different car looked to change up into sixth gear intelligent Japanese technology; “S-AWC”, healthy lump of torque; 416Nm. Resting characteristics of this car and plan to build as early as possible, fl icking to the Sports Super All Wheel Control – integrating Active on 18 inch alloy wheels you can see hints up steadily. mode dropped it down to fourth ensuring Yaw Control, Active Centre Differential of other manufacturers detailing in the The ‘de rigueur’ Recaro are no turbo lag upon corner exit. As you would and the ABS system & “ASC”, and Active styling however the car retains it’s classic extremely comfortable and support you in imagine, in terms of country lane handling,

36 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 ROAD TEST

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 37 ROAD TEST the car is mighty. It has a vast depth of grip the SST mode change switch forwards for braking into slower corners will gently and even leaning on the car perhaps harder three seconds changes the car to the Super promote very progressive oversteer and than the conditions would ideally advise Sport gearchange setting and gives the as you climb onto the power to exit again the car remains poised and comfortable. driver an extra 500rpm to enjoy. I also turn the car produces a powerslide that Richard On the greasy lanes you can feel the off the ASC to avoid excessive mechanical Burns would have been proud of! This is stability programs cutting in and out yet intrusion and head out of the pitlane up a car that, with the systems turned on, they do so unobtrusively. When you choose towards Maggotts. will lap the greasy circuit almost as fast to change gear manually, either by using Yikes!! The change in the car is Jekyll & as anything else here (and there is some the sequential lever situated in the tradition Hyde like; it’s fair to say that I was a little seriously exotic competition!) and with position, or the steering column mounted the systems turned off allow a professional paddles, the gear change is perfectly driver to have a great deal of fun indeed. It effi cient but I’d still prefer to have a true The rate of acceleration develops so much grip you can even use the manual gearbox than the SST. The SST and the speed of the kerbs in the wet! system is good but my jury is still out… One Approaching 140mph on the Hangar point worth noting is that manual shifting gearchange is ferocious Straight there is surprisingly little wind lever is mounted in the correct manner, noise from the A pillars or wing mirrors with the driver pushing the lever away to underwhelmed with the road performance and even after a number of laps the , change down and pull back to change up. however the car has completely changed although very hot and a little spongier than Why all manufacturers don’t mount their in character now. The rate of acceleration, earlier still shed the speed well. sequential levers like this is a complete thanks to the traction of the four wheel I’m left with the feeling that this is one mystery to me? drive and the speed of gearchange, is of a new breed of roadcars (a la BMW M5 / Deceleration is taken care of by ferocious, and once into the bends I have IS-F) that enjoy a dual personality. It brakes and as you would imagine the car never driven a car where the power is being provides subtle, understated performance is comfortably overbraked for regular road so obviously passed from wheel to wheel. It on the road, yet is extremely capable on use with a fi rm and progressive feel to the is a curious feeling initially, however with a the track. It’s also good news that the pedal. Powering out of wet roundabouts couple of laps under my belt I can predict manufacturer’s development engineers are the power delivery is smooth and linear to how the cars balance will change mid fi nally developing control / safety systems the 7000rpm red line with no noticeable corner as the S-AWC attempts to recover that work well on the road yet allow the lumps in the torque curve or any turbo mid corner slides and get the power down driver to enjoy the very outer edges of the lag. Although I can’t help feeling a little as effi ciently as possible. Through the faster car performance capabilities within the underwhelmed, for a car with such a corners the car has huge capabilities, there’s confi nes of a circuit. sporting pedigree I perhaps expected a like a tiny little bit of understeer as you load The latest Mitsubishi EVO is a very more punch out of the corners. Hopefully the Yokohama’s into the corner, however good car and a worthy successor to its allowing the car off the lead around a split second lift will regain the grip and predecessors. I’ve been impressed with Silverstone will change my opinion? then the car grabs the road surface for both sides of it character, it represents And after a quick splash and dash we are you. Keeping the throttle balanced to the intelligent technology and I haven’t sitting in the pitlane at Silverstone. The car clipping point will ensure the car remains mentioned the abhorrent fuel consumption has signifi cant presence and gets admiring settled, then as you accelerate from apex to once. But that’s the Golf diesel driver in me glances from many of the other track users, exit the transmission delivers more power I’m afraid! and with the track surface still wet I feel to the rear wheels ensuring that long lazy a spot a giant killing might be in order on powerslides are the order of the day. Rob Barff this BRDC members track day! Holding And speaking of powerslides... Trail Photos by Jakob Ebrey

38 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 MEETING MEMBERS John

Stuart Pringle meets John Blunsden – Member number 649 Quiet contemplation (left) John readies himself for a stint behind the wheel of the JCB Club Secretary Stuart Pringle continues Handshake (right) John, the fully-fl edged his quest to fi nd out more about the journo, with ‘The Members who make up the British Commendatore’, . (Photos courtesy of Racing Drivers’ Club. John Blunsden)

hope that through the Meeting Members of Egypt. He decided to write to Raymond successful 1955 season with his own features the sheer depth of talent and Mays, asking for advice about how to Ford 100E, he was invited by a friend, Bill I experience that makes up the eclectic become involved, and had a courteous reply Lambert, to buy a half share (for the princely membership of the British Racing Drivers’ suggesting an apprenticeship, but this was sum of £650!) in the ex-Leslie Johnson C- Club is starting to become apparent. It is unaffordable because of his need to earn a Type Jaguar (car No 8) which Bill had just certainly far more varied than purely racing salary instantly on demobilisation in order bought, but whose wife was forbidding him drivers… Having featured a designer, doctor, to support his somewhat impoverished to race. Being unmarried at the time, John manufacturer and engineer, this time I have family. was a free agent in this respect, and was the chance to meet a writer and publisher. So he joined the motor trade in 1950 able to scramble a late entry for the 15-lap As has proved the case with all interviewees and had various jobs including those of MartinheTrophy race at the Boxing Day to date, there is of course much more to John salesman, buyer (during which he bought Brands meeting. Blunsden than these simple descriptions... several cars from BRDC Member John Habin John took the car (MHP 825) down there John is a modest and extremely youthful of 500cc F3 fame) and sales manager with for a practice session, introduced himself 78 year old who is still active in his working his career, though it has involved several different companies around London and to Archie Scott Brown, who was testing his life. The quickest point of reference for most changes in direction, has been entirely until, with some backing from a disc-braked and Weber-carb’ed C-Type for Members is that he is the man behind the concerned with cars, motorsport and the friendly customer, he was able to start his the same race, and asked him to have a BRDC Anniversary books of the last thirty millions of words either written or spoken own modest used car showroom in West few laps in his early SU and drum-braked years or so. He is yet another Member who about them. Wickham, Kent in 1955. model to see what he thought of it. “It’s has been immersed in a way of life that has Having narrowly survived the blitzes of By then he was active in motorsport perfectly safe, but of course quite slow,” revolved around motor cars and was clearly Bristol and then London, John’s interest in through membership of various clubs, was his verdict after a few tail-sliding laps. far more than just a job. motor racing was sparked in 1949 by the including the London Motor Club (mainly With people like Archie, Mark Lund, Mackay Looking back John describes his as a life discovery of a well-worn copy of Motor competing, with considerable success it Fraser, Berwyn Baxter, Chris Threlfall and fi lled with words and wheels. He was car- Sport magazine while on National Service has to be said, in rallies, driving tests and Cliff Davis in the entry list, he was certainly mad from as early as he can remember, and with the Royal Engineers in the Canal Zone hill-climbs). Then, following a particularly jumping in at the deep end, so John rightly

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 39 MEETING MEMBERS

Track testing for Moto Racing became the in the early-Seventies pointed MRP most popular feature of the magazine… towards marque histories and a long series of Collector’s Guides, of which around 60 titles have been published since the fi rst. well as serving newspapers, magazines Amongst the latter have been volumes and radio stations far and wide from their marking the BRDC’s Diamond Jubilee and base at Brands Hatch and later from their Silverstone’s: Fifty Golden Years. respective homes until Alan’s death in In the public domain, the most recent 1996. additions have been Ian Wagstaff’s The Ready for another track test (left) Track testing, which John had introduced British at Le Mans, the third volume of This time in a during his time on Motoring News, was a Doug Nye’s multiple award-winning BRM: Organisation car. Sitting on ‘natural’, of course, for Motor Racing. The Saga of , and Phil the rear wheel, John goes It was in 1968 that John decided that Kerr’s new autobiography To Finish First: through fi nal procedures he needed a second string to his bow and His Years Inside Formula One, Can-Am with (centre) before taking to the track contemplated starting a book publishing and Indy 500. Appropriately, Sir Jack has (Photo courtesy of company. But before doing so he received a provided a glowing Foreword, and Bernie John Blunsden) call from a former colleague, who was part Ecclestone the Final Word in Phil’s book. of a consortium who had bought Anthony No change there, then, by Bernie! feels it was something of an achievement magazine Commercial Vehicles. So for a Salmon’s trade magazine company (Tony I ask John to look back on his career that in his fi rst race he managed not to be year or so John was learning and writing wanted to sell Garage and Motor Agent so and try and identify the real high points lapped over those 15 laps! about and subbing stories on HGVs – all as to devote all his time and energy to being – something which is always and unfair John candidly admits that he thought fascinating stuff, but not really his scene. So Secretary of the BRDC) and discovered that question. He makes the point that life as at the time that this might have been the when the call came from the newly launched in doing so they had inherited a moribund a motoring journalist in the was beginning of something good, but alas it Motoring News, asking if he wanted to book company, Motor Racing Publications. unique in that he and his fellow wordsmiths was not to be. Shortly afterwards, Bill was become their Associate Editor, John didn’t John was asked if he would be interested built genuinely close friendships with many diagnosed as suffering from cancer and was hesitate. in giving the new owners a help in re- of the drivers of the day. told he had only a few weeks to live. So they John took over the editorship of the paper establishing MRP and running it for them? Track testing for Motor Racing became had to unscramble their joint ownership of at the end of 1958, when Cyril Posthumus John agreed to do so on the understanding the most popular feature of the magazine the car in a hurry; Bill bought John’s share resigned to go freelance, and then he that he would have complete editorial and compilation book followed. He drove back and resold the car into the trade, from followed suit in the spring of 1961 having freedom - in due course he bought a many more cars than actually appeared where it went to John Bekaert, who had decided that his modest salary might have majority shareholding, and ultimately in print and (100+ for 60-70 printed) and considerable success with it after it had been been just about tolerable for a bachelor, but became the company’s sole owner. sites the Brabham BRM, GT40, works uprated to Webers and discs. was woefully inadequate for an about-to-be- John’s fi rst MRP book was Marathon: Aston, F2 , Ferrari 250LM amongst Another blow in 1956, of course, was the married man. Around the World in a Cloud of Dust, by the highlights. John modestly admits that Suez Crisis, and John decided it was a good Soon after, John formed a business the late Nick Brittan, which was Nick’s he unoffi cially broke lap records at Brands time to get out of the motor trade. He had partnership with and former News story of competing in the fi rst London- on more than one occasion whilst testing been writing a column for the Croydon Chronicle motoring correspondent Alan Sydney Marathon of 1968. Then came these cars and feels that this recognition Advertiser, and was also helping Dick Brinton, the Motor News & Features the fi rst of a series of Motor Racing Years, that he was a driver who could hold his Twelvetrees to edit the London Motor Club’s agency taking over the editorship of Motor continuing a run which had previously own was a factor in him being elected an magazine, and it was through Dick that he Racing and Sportscar magazines amongst been published by Knightsbridge Associate Member of the BRDC in 1973. “It was introduced to Teddy Vacher, who was others, at the request of Knightsbridge Publications until that company’s closure. really was such an honour; I can’t tell you looking for an assistant editor of his monthly Publications’ proprietor John Webb, as The emergence of the scene how chuffed I felt”.

40 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 BLAST FROM THE PAST FROM SICILY TO CAPE TOWN

BRDC badged and raring to go ‘Which winner resides in Cape Town, ?’, asks Greg Mills… Colin, prepared for battle at Le Mans (Photo Greg Mills)

t’s no trick question. But the answer is more mother, who had trained as a singer in Italy race!’ It was a great shame that they went out of than just a name. For the story of BRDC before the war and was fed up with the weather business with the car, the only bad I member Colin Davis’ motorsport career in and in poor health, wanted to OSCA I ever drove. After driving it I said that it and accomplishments covers the story of the move to the continent. I had borrowed my old lack directional stability, but Ludovicio Scarfi otti pre- and post-war motor racing in Britain Cooper back to win the Gran Premio di Roma said that it was wonderful and, believing him, and Europe, and of a more innocent if more Castelfusano, witnessed by three of the racing they pushed it into production to the ultimate dangerous, and certainly less commercialised brothers Ettore, Ernesto and Bindo. I fi nancial downfall of Fratelli Maserati.’ era. It also has an unusual path, far from the was introduced to them, and they said ‘Please In Italy, Colin drove for , for beaten racetracks of England. if you come to Italy maybe we can arrange in Grands Prix and Son of the legendary Le Mans winner (with something’. They were good to their word, and sportscar races, and, from 1960, for Scuderia Dudley Benjafi eld and in 1927) and when I returned to Italy to assist my mother I Serenissima. Colin competed in two World Sports Editor of Autocar SCH ‘Sammy’ Davis, was given a test at Modena where I set fastest lap Championship Formula One Grands Prix, Colin, now 74, began his career in 1954 with in the OSCA 1.5 litre.’ fi nishing 11th in the 1959 in a Cooper Norton 500, before switching to After the successful test he was signed on a a Scuderia Centro Sud -Maserati. sportscars in long-distance events. While his race-by-race contract, only for the team’s season His GP start may, however, have come sooner father was a doyen of the British racing scene as to be suspended after Alfonso de Portago’s fatal and taken his career in a different direction. both a Bentley Boy and one of the founders of accident. ‘I was offered a drive in While still based in the UK, he fi nished second the Vintage Car Club of Great Britain, Colin made that Mille Miglia, but said I could not do so in in Tommy Atkins’ F2 Connaught at Goodwood Europe, and Italy in particular, his racing base. full conscience as I did not know a metre of the in 1956, earning him a fi ve lap test in the F1 car As Westminster-educated Colin recalls, ‘I road. After the Fon’s and Eddie Nelson’s accident at Silvertone. ‘I knew I had only a few laps to always wanted to race, but my father was unable which claimed the lives of 15 spectators too, make an impression, and knew, too, that the F1 to assist fi nancially. I bought the Cooper from racing was stopped, leaving me standing around drivers took Maggotts fl at. I put my foot down to pass judgement on the car, but like dear old a legacy left by my grandmother of £1,000 – at without enough money for postage stamps.’ and aimed the car at the apex but instead of Stirling Moss I was not happy with the central the time it bought something! In fact my father Towards the end of 1957, with the ban on hitting a paint mark, they had put a kerb there a throttle.’ asked my mother where ‘the boy’ had got the racing relaxed, he won the Coppa d’Oro della fortnight before. The car spun and ended up in a In 1958 he shared his OSCA with Alessandro money from, although he did attend many of my Sicilia at Syracuse and also at Vallelunga, both ditch with a broken windscreen that cut my face. de Tomaso to a second overall in the 12hrs of early races. At the 100 mile event at Silverstone in an OSCA. ‘The Maserati brothers were There was no possibility of any further laps in the Messina and an index win and 11th overall at in 1954 in which I made my debut [and fi nished very pleasant people, except that they would F1 car after that.’ And in 1957 he drove Horace Le Mans. He proved one of the stars of the new second] he was in the pits giving me signals.’ sometimes sell a car which I was supposed to Gould’s 250F Maserati in the Modena GP, but on , winning at Albi, Pau, Naples and It was force of family circumstance that led be racing. Then they would say to me, ‘We could Horace’s instructions ‘I only did fi ve laps to get Reggio Calabria in 1959 and at Pau, the Monza him to Italy. ‘My parents split up in 1956. My not shut up shop to provide you with cars to the start money. I did not really have enough laps Lotteria, Messina, Syracuse, Salerno and Reggio

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 41 BLAST FROM THE PAST

Calabria in 1960 mostly in a Taraschi and OSCA. During his successful inaugural 1959 season in the Juniors which culminated in his winning the Trofeo Mondiale – World Championship – for the Formula, ‘Gugliemo Dei who ran Scuderia Centro Sud [literally ‘Central South’, denoting the region south of Rome] offered me a drive in their F1 Cooper- alongside Ian Burgess. But Dei was only interested in starting money. As soon as he could retire the car, the happier he was. I was let down by Dei at the British GP when he sold the drive to a South American, Fritz d’Orey. I did the Italian event only after [Centro Sud member] Sabbatini had intervened on my behalf, but thereafter Dei, who I was no longer on speaking terms with, said that I would be a piede – on foot – and without a drive more or less until hell froze over. Not only would he not provide me with a car, but he also prevented me from driving for others. Then , the son of Mussolini’s former minister of fi nance, and an extremely wealthy man, who ran [literally, ‘the most serene’] bought me out of my Centro Sud contract and essentially saved my racing career. I was then free to race anything, which I did.’ In 1960 he fi nished fi fth in the in a Serenissima Cooper-Monaco, shared a Ferrari to a class win in the Nurburgring 1000kms, and fi nished sixth in the TT. The following year his results included a fi fth in the 1000kms and fourth in a Ferrari 250GTO with Carlo Maria Abate in the Nurburgring 1000kms, while he retired the OSCA from Le Mans and the Targa. In 1962, he retired from the Sebring 12-hour and Le Mans with the time. There was a great deal of conservatism the romance and drama we enjoyed. Perhaps busy having pneumonia. Huschke was a great Ferrari, but fi nished third in the Paris 1000kms in sponsorship. My father, for example, was this is because it has become too technical, not disciplinarian, rather like a director of a movie sharing the same Scuderia Serenissima car not allowed to race again for Bentley lest it having the human element it once had.’ in the way he conducted the racing team, with Scarfi otti. ‘I drove whatever came my compromise his journalistic independence, He was recruited by Porsche team-manager, but since he had been a driver himself and way, from 750cc cars to four-litre sportscars, and nor was my mother allowed to drive a Huschke von Hanstein, after the Baron had had won the Mille Miglia, he understood a in order to make a living – just – from it. You non-British car when they were married.’ Little seen him drive in the Osca. The offer came driver’s needs.’ Colin had already gained some must remember that this was a different wonder he says that the modern era ‘is missing through in the winter of 1963 ‘when I was experience with Porsche having driven Jean

42 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 BLAST FROM THE PAST

Behra’s F2 car at Reims in July 1959. were also more dangerous in that era, and we Through the streets (far The partnership soon brought results. In expected that there would be very bad crashes left) 1964 Colin won the 1964 Targa Florio in a works with fatalities. And the ultimate incentive of Colin at the wheel of a Porsche during the famed Targa Florio GT with Antonio Pucci, and earned going that little bit faster diminishes if you are third in the Paris 1000kms with , happily married’ – which he remains today to The star’s in the car (right) Colin was mighty during the though he retired the 904 GTS (with Barth) from his charming Czech-born wife Eva. The two met 1959 Formula Junior season the Nurburgring 1000kms and the 904/8 (again during Colin’s ‘gap’ year between school and (Photos by Greg Mills) with Barth) from the Reims 12-hour and (with national service, when he sat next to her during ) from Le Mans. This was the fi rst a language course in London. He changed from of three happy years with the team, journalism in order to pursue the romance. further highlights of which were his second- Problems with the Alfa T33 which, by then, place in the 904/6 in the 1965 Targa with Mitter, he was driving for , also helped him and fourth at Le Mans in 1966 in the 906L with to make up his mind. ‘We were practising on . South African Peter de Klerk, a team- the old Mugello road course with the Alfa, and mate at Le Mans, who fi nished sixth in another experienced all sorts of problems. Coming out of anonymity in Cape Town. Colin freelanced for prove himself quickest.’ works 906 partnering with Udo Schutz, says of the pits, with a stone wall embankment on one 15 years with the state broadcaster as a fi lm It is notable that four of Colin’s team-mates Colin that he was ‘A bloody good, quick driver, side and a precipice on the other, the steering and book critic, while Eva continues to work from his most successful period in the mid- and a most likeable guy. But that is not all. An column broke just as a lorry was coming towards as a translator and foreign language teacher. 1960s – Scarfi otti, Mitter, Bobby Klass and Siffert event at Le Mans is very hard work, especially me. I dared not touch the brakes as I did not Colin has largely left motorsport behind, – were all killed in racing cars. It is a measure in the rain and especially if you are driving four- know which way it would veer. The car managed going to the local race-track at Killarney ‘a of the man that Colin Davis not only survived hour stints like they did.’ to get itself to a clearing without any danger. few times with old friends like David Piper’, a most dangerous era, made a decent living After the ’64 Targa victory, Colin sent his introduced me in the pits to the head though he continues to follow Formula One as a professional driver in the days before the father a telegram which read ‘What fun! You Le of Autodelta, and I explained that the car had in the media. The only pointers of this modest commercialisation of the sport, and was able Mans. Me Targa.’ ‘’What fun’ was a well-used the horsepower but too many problems to beat man’s racing career are a living room in their to progress in spite of often turbulent and interjection of my father’s,’ he explains. The Porsche. That did not go down too well. Come the Oranjezicht home dotted with spectacular nationalist team politics, but won one of the two also shared a common helmet design, grey race, the car broke a steering arm. After making silverware recently polished by their four toughest races of all in so doing. with the heraldic Davis wolf above the peak, it back to the pits, despite my protestations, Chiti admiring grandsons visiting from Canada and ‘but I added the ‘E’ to denote the eldest son, told me that it was just a puncture and refuelled his encyclopaedic recollection of events, tracks, Dr Mills heads the Brenthurst Foundation in whereas my father raced with the heraldic cross the car, installing [co-driver] Spartaco Dini in cars and people of nearly half a century ago. South Africa, dedicated to strengthening African as well on his.’ Sammy Davis died on his 94th the driver’s seat. Eventually it took the Clerk of His best circuit? ‘It would be either the Targa economic performance. In his spare time he has birthday in 1981. the Course to force them to lift the bodywork to or the Nurburgring. But it would have to be the authored four critically-acclaimed books on By 1967, the year of his racing retirement, discover the broken part.’ Targa. 72km and nearly 900 corners per lap, Southern African motorsport (all published by Colin had ‘reached a point where I had the best Colin was ‘told afterwards that the car had it was so diffi cult to learn, and had so much Ecurie Zoo in Johannesburg – [email protected] car I was likely to get for some time. I had also been reengineered from top-to-bottom by diversity, going from sea level up into the – for the benefi t of the SA Motor Racing Legends seen other drivers go on too long, ending their Autodelta, and I was asked to test it. However, I Sicilian hills.’ Fund): For the Love of It: John Love and an Era of careers in disaster or pity. I watched someone did not believe it likely as they did not have the And the best driver? ‘Stirling Moss was Southern African Motorsport (2005); Springbok of the calibre of Graham Hill trying to qualify time to do all of this. Subsequent events proved undoubtedly the best driver I drove against. Series: An Era of Sports and Saloon Car Racing in at Monaco in the mid-, just squeezing me right.’ was like Stirling; someone who Southern Africa (2006); ‘Love First, Tingle Second!’: on the grid of a race he had won many times. Tired of political and economic instability should have won the World Championship. Jo ’s Motorsport Scrapbook (2006); and This was probably not down to him, but rather in 1970s Italy, Colin, Eva and the 11-year old Siffert was probably the best co-driver I had ‘PIPES!’ David Piper and the Springbok Series that he was not getting the cars. I was also the Francesca emigrated in 1976 from their home – someone who was quick but did not indulge (2007). He is currently working on a book on BRDC father of a small daughter. The cars and circuits on the Mediterranean coast to a life of relative in internecine struggle with his team-mates to member Paddy Driver.

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 43 A.C. Special Projects Ltd.

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A.C. Lighting Ltd are proud to be patrons of the BRDC Rising Star programme. We would like to congratulate the BRDC on its 80th Anniversary and the British Grand Prix on its 60th Anniversary.

A.C. Lighting Ltd and A.C. Special Projects Ltd are sister companies within the "A.C. Lighting Group". THE STEPHEN JELLEY DIARY

The beginning of the season was not helped packed up. by dovetailing GP2 Asia and the BTCC. My The inside of a touring car in the wet is what last GP2 weekend was also my second BTCC I imagine the inside of a kettle is like just before weekend, and I ended up racing in Dubai boiling. It was raining inside the car from a on the Friday, fl ying over night to Heathrow, combination of condensation and the roof landing at 7am and arriving at Rockingham rack holes letting water in. This was bearable fi ve minuets before the start of the fi rst while driving in clean air. but the safety car practice session. My normal preparation came out and the team thought I should turn for driving a race car is to be very prepared. off the heated screen to save battery power as Sleep correctly, eat correctly, and make sure the alternator is not too beefy, I won’t turn that I’m well hydrated. I had slept for a couple of off again! I may as well have had my helmet hours, crammed into my economy seat, eaten on backwards and at the re-start I arrived at go well in the BMW. I found driving the car a British Airways omelette at around 5am the fi rst corner having to guess where to break. Tin tops....why not? round Pembrey very different and although consumed some orange juice and a sip of Unfortunately guessing wrong, I went straight Part 2 this ‘ratio’ may be similar it’s all done at much water in the car. I would have stopped to buy on ruining any chance of points. lower speed, meaning I was over driving, and more but I had to run from the plane to the car BTCC meetings are different from F3 egotiations had been on-going for some sideways often. The other thing I found was and from car to race car; timings were tight. meetings – the fan base is huge. F3 is not about time as to what I would be doing for that the BTCC car compared to anything else I was confi dent after a night’s sleep. The car the spectator, it’s about developing drivers and the summer racing season. The plan at I have driven has no brakes! This makes the suffered power steering failure in a big way at some meetings the drivers out-number the the end of 2007 was that I was going for GP2, braking distances long, making overtaking during race one, spraying oil over my front crowd. It’s a great feeling having a big crowd and we would just have to fi nd the money possible and the championship good to brakes, making both steering and braking watching and the crowd gets the chance to somehow. GP2 Asia became a possibility and watch. All in all the car is a nice thing and very tough. In the last race I experienced my interact with the drivers. Nobody has a bad everybody agreed that to be competitive in although derived from a road car it is very fi rst proper wet race in the touring car and word to say and everybody is very positive. GP2 maximum time was required in the car much a racing car, small changes to roll bar or one of the wettest I have ever experienced. I’ll try my best to give them something to so Asia made sense. For the summer season camber settings can be immediately felt and Rockingham is a low grip circuit, the rain was watch!! however all the teams’ views were different. although there may not be the large amount pouring, and my heated screen had all but Stephen Jelley No teams wanted a ‘rookie’ driver and no of car changes available (as in a single seater) teams were willing to move on the budget. this means the driver has more to do and the Towards the end of last year I tested a DTM engineers have to get creative. car and although I would have loved to do In the end joining West Surrey was an it the team still wanted loads of money. My easy decision, a professional team, with an management and my F3 team boss ‘Boyo’ excellent major partner in RAC and the scope had spoken about the possibility of testing to learn a new category and add another the -Team RAC BMW string to my bow. and the parties had been talking. I have to Whatever I drive, whenever it is, I’ll give it my admit that at fi rst I was not sure as the S2000 all. Not because of commitment or whatever, specifi cation cars didn’t sound that appealing but because I’m a racing driver and we are all next to a GP2 or a DTM. We agreed to do the competitive individuals who love to drive and test, and meeting at the WSR workshop. do anything to win - be it an F1 car or a soap The test went very well. I just got in and box I cant think of a better job. drove the thing. Dick Bennetts told me that After some encouraging pre-season tests, he had thought that an able F3 driver would when the racing started it got bloody tough.

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 45 HISTORIC MONACO

Black Beauty (left) less illustrious; in a previous iteration it Julian Bronson had already won at Monaco had been disqualifi ed from the 1936 Coupe in 2002 with ERA R14B and was therefore Prince Rainier when was a natural choice to repeat the feat in the pushed to restart after a spin. A previous famous ex-Raymond Mays R4D, currently visit to a Monaco Historique had seen the HISTORIC owned by Mac Hulbert. Expectations were car withdrawn before the race. This time, high but Julian had the chance for no more after a tremendous tussle with the Alfa, than a few laps around Silverstone in the Julian prevailed by just 2.9 seconds to add car before heading for Monaco. Principal a Monaco win to R4D’s remarkable cv. Here opposition came from Matt Grist in the the two cars are seen heading up Beau Tipo B (P3) with which Louis Rivage just after the start chased, but Chiron had fi nished second in the 1934 Mo- not for long, by Paddins Dowling in R11B MONACO naco GP. R4D’s Monaco record was rather which retired on this fi rst lap.

ince 1997 the Automobile Club de over 2-litre sports cars, and a Formula Junior Monaco has held one of the most race. S authentic historic motor racing events in This year sees the 50th anniversary of that the world. Usually the Grand Prix Historique most seminal of single-seater categories, de Monaco takes place over the weekend Formula Junior, and so a capacity grid was before the Formula 1 Grand Prix but this year assembled of very early, mainly front-engined it was brought forward by a further week cars such as would have taken part in the to allow for the Cannes Film Festival taking 1st Grand Prix de Monaco Formule Junior in place just down the coast in between. 1959. The ACM goes to considerable trouble to Every race has its highlights, some of which try to ensure that the cars which compete we hope will be conveyed by Jim Houlgrave’s in the seven races refl ect the history of the photographs on these pages, but for many Monaco Grand Prix since it was fi rst run in the sight and sound of 3-litre Formula 1 cars 1929. Thus we have races for pre-1947, front- being driven with real skill and commitment, engined 1947 to 1960, rear-engined 1954 to and overtaking , is second to none. 1965, 1966 to 1974 and 1975 to 1978 Grand For the record, the winners were as per the Prix cars together with a pre-1953 table below. race to recall the fact that in 1952 the Monaco Ian Titchmarsh Grand Prix was run as two races for up to and Photography by Jim Houlgrave

Pre-1947 Grand Prix Cars Julian Bronson (GB) ERA R4D Front-engined Grand Prix Cars 1947 – 1960 Duncan Dayton (USA) Lotus-Climax 16 Pre-1953 Sports Cars John Ure (GB) Le Mans Replica Tony G in the lead (above) 1960 American-built Mk 1 BMC (for British Motor Car Distributors) of Full Member Dr Tony Goodwin, now in his 70s and threatening to Professor John Monson. Tony led initially but could not keep the more Pre-1960 Formula Junior John Monson (IRL) BMC-BMC Mk 1 retire, fi rst raced at Monaco in 1964 with his Lola Mk 2 with which sophisticated American car behind him indefi nitely and eventually Rear-engined Grand Prix Cars 1954 – 1965 Simon Hadfi eld (GB) Lotus-Climax 21 he came 12th in the fi nal of the fi rst Monaco Formula 3 race (won by had to settle for second. Here the Gemini leads the BMC into Rascasse Jackie Stewart in the Tyrrell Cooper-BMC T72). These days Tony races a on the fi rst lap, closely followed by the untypically blue Stanguellini- Grand Prix Cars 1966 – 1974 Duncan Dayton (USA) Brabham- Ford BT33 DFV Gemini Mk 2 in Historic Formula Junior events, a car which dates back of Simone Stanguellini, grandson of Vittorio who founded the Grand Prix Cars 1975 – 1978 Paul Edwards (USA) Penske-Ford PC3 DFV to 1959 and was therefore very eligible for this year’s FJ race. Tony took celebrated Italian company. The Stanguellini car is blue as the car with pole position by a typically tiny FJ margin of just 0.047 sec from the which Henri Grandsire won the French FJ Championship in 1960.

46 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 HISTORIC MONACO

A Yard apart (left) A classic Monaco overhead shot of a Grand Prix car in action in the streets of the Principality off ers the opportunity to appreciate the lines and design of an early 70s Formula 1 car. This is the ex-/ 1971 McLaren M19A with which fi nished fi fth in the very wet 1972 Monaco GP. Brian was deputising on that occasion for Revvie who was on Indianapolis duty and he was present again this year. He recalled how he and Denny in the other YardleyMac had together visited the escape road at St Devote on the fi rst lap and dropped to the back of the fi eld. Brian then set about passing as many of the 26 cars as he could on his way to fi fth place, three laps behind the winning BRM P160B of Jean-Pierre Beltoise but in turn three laps ahead of his team mate. Denny never liked racing in the rain and fi nished a lowly 15th. In 2008 this superb machine is now raced by Italian Roberto Crippa who, in pleasantly warm and dry conditions, brought it home eighth, one lap down on the Dayton/Folch battle.

Red Square (left) Applause (above) OK, so the Lotus 16s were way up the On their slowing down lap around the Swimming road but don’t these two Italian cars Pool Duncan Dayton and Joaquin Folch deservedly epitomise the last of the front-engined acknowledge the tumultuous applause from the era of Formula 1! Barrie Baxter in the large crowd who had just witnessed one of the TecMec-Maserati and Tony Smith in his best races ever seen at a Monaco Historique. The ex-, Italian Grand prix-winning gap at the fl ag was 0.243 sec and it had been Ferrari Dino 246 power their way in a little more than this at any stage as the American glorious blare of sound though Casino and the Spaniard summoned up all their skill Square during their race-long battle. and experience to defeat each other. Duncan led Initially they were disputing third away from pole position in his 1970 ex-Rolf Stom- place, which would have meant so melen/ Brabham BT33 and just, but much to Tony who, unlike Barrie, had only just, kept Joaquin’s 1974 ex-/ never been on the podium at Monaco McLaren M23 behind him throughout before. Tony tigered his way past only the 10 laps. The win, his second of the weekend for Barrie to move back ahead a few and a record eighth at Monaco Historiques, was laps later. By then both were destined all the sweeter for Duncan for the fact that he had for the podium anyway following the barely raced since sustaining a very serious neck retirement of Joaquin Folch’s Lotus. injury at his swimming pool last July.

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 47 HISTORIC MONACO

What’s happened to the V8s? (right) Simon Hadfi eld in Bob Tabor’s ex-Jimmy Clark 1961 leads Full Member Alan Baillie’s ex-Gerard Racing 1964 Cooper T73, powered by four cylinder -Climax and Lotus-Ford respectively, into St Devote at the start of the pre-66 rear-engined GP car race. The V8s follow, headed by James Hanson in the Scirocco-BRM which rarely found itself so near the front in period. While Simon, in only his second ever race at Monaco, led all the way to a convincing win which recalled in a minor key Sir Stirling’s defeat of the V6 Ferraris in 1961, Alan fell back to fourth at the fl ag behind the Scirocco and the -BRM of Marcus Mussa after some cars had been excluded controversially for running out of period ignition systems. The only other occasion when a Scirocco fi nished so well up was in the 1963 , courtesy of Tony Settember. But don’t be fooled: it was a non-championship race back then, Sir Jack’s winning Brabham was fi ve laps ahead, and there was only one other fi nisher.

Brian Red – the man (left) Bottomless tank (below) on the descent to the Chicane being particularly Our Brian in a Formula 1 No, this isn’t a Ferrari lapping a little British spectacular, only for the Italian car to power Ferrari may be an anachronism sports car. It is the dice for fi fth place between past on the next straight stretch. The run from but this image is irresistible. the very well driven 1950 America of Anthony Noghes to the fl ag along the Boulevard This is the 312B2 with which German enthusiast Michael Willms, a car once Albert 1er left the 1250 cc MG engine of the gave the Scuderia raced in the Mille Miglia by as a Cooper just a tad breathless against the 4-litre its only Grand Prix win in 275S, and the 1952 ex-Horace Gould Cooper-MG V12 Ferrari which, despite Simon’s best eff orts, 1972, followed home on the T21 in the grip of the irrepressible Simon Diff ey. crossed the line just 1.74 secs in front. After- Nordschleife by the late Clay Time after time Simon would outbrake the wards Simon revealed that he had completed Regazzoni. Brian did in fact Ferrari into corners, his eff orts from way back the whole event on one tankful of petrol. drive a monoposto Ferrari at the ’Ring – in the 1968 Formula 2 on the long lost Sudschleife – but in 1972 he was fi nishing fi fth, as at Monaco, in the M19A McLaren. Although Jacky was on hand in Monaco both as Race Director and to drive the 1998 Crosthwaite & Gardiner replica of a 1936 V16 C-type, it seems that Audi weren’t too keen on him demonstrating “his” Ferrari. However, now as then in the World Sports Car Championship, Brian Redman was ready to take over a Ferrari from the great Belgian.

48 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 BRITISH GRAND PRIX RUNNERS AND RIDERS CLASS OF 1 DRIVER: Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) 2 DRIVER: Felipe Massa (BR) 9 DRIVER: David Coulthard (GB) 10 DRIVER: Mark Webber (AUS) TEAM: TEAM: SCUDERIA FERRARI MARLBORO TEAM: TEAM: RED BULL RACING CONSTRUCTOR: FERRARI CONSTRUCTOR: FERRARI CONSTRUCTOR: RED BULL RENAULT CONSTRUCTOR: RED BULL RENAULT 22008008 The Santander British Grand Prix takes place at Silverstone ‘The Home of British Motor Racing’ on July 6. 3 DRIVER: (D) 4 DRIVER: Robert Kubica (PL) 11 DRIVER: Jarno Trulli (I) 12 DRIVER: (D) TEAM: BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM TEAM: BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM TEAM: PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING TEAM: PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING In this, the 80th Anniversary of the British Racing Drivers’ CONSTRUCTOR: BMW SAUBER CONSTRUCTOR: BMW SAUBER CONSTRUCTOR: TOYOTA CONSTRUCTOR: TOYOTA Club, Silverstone celebrates its own 60th Anniversary. For 60 years Grand Prix racing has been the cornerstone of racing action at the circuit, and these 20 gladiators follow in the footsteps of those before them – all ensuring that Silverstone’s heritage is maintained for another year.

Photographs by LAT 5 DRIVER: Fernando Alonso (E) 6 DRIVER: Nelson Piquet (BR) 14 DRIVER: Sébastien Bourdais (F) 15 DRIVER: (D) 20 DRIVER: Adrian Sutil (D) 21 DRIVER: (I) TEAM: ING RENAULT TEAM: ING RENAULT TEAM: TEAM: SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO TEAM: FORMULA ONE TEAM TEAM: FORCE INDIA FORMULA ONE TEAM CONSTRUCTOR: RENAULT CONSTRUCTOR: RENAULT CONSTRUCTOR: STR FERRARI CONSTRUCTOR: STR FERRARI CONSTRUCTOR: FORCE INDIA CONSTRUCTOR: FORCE INDIA

7 DRIVER: Nico Rosberg (D) 8 DRIVER: Kazuki Nakajima (J) 16 DRIVER: Jenson Button (GB) 17 DRIVER: Rubens Barrichello (BR) 22 DRIVER: Lewis Hamilton (GB) 23 DRIVER: Heikki Kovalainen (FIN) TEAM: AT&T WILLIAMS TEAM: AT&T WILLIAMS TEAM: HONDA RACING F1 TEAM TEAM: HONDA RACING F1 TEAM TEAM: VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES TEAM: VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES CONSTRUCTOR: WILLIAMS TOYOTA CONSTRUCTOR: WILLIAMS TOYOTA CONSTRUCTOR: HONDA CONSTRUCTOR: HONDA CONSTRUCTOR: McLAREN MERCEDES CONSTRUCTOR: McLAREN MERCEDES

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 49 OBITUARIES

in the car at Dundrod. He also had Hawthorn in the whose fuel tank had been leaking. The car caught fi re, car at the Grand Prix de France at Reims, where the and Archie escaped with minor burns. partnership fi nished seventh, and the French Grand Archie eventually sold the car to , Prix at Rouen, where he retired. ending his career as a driver – however he was to Hawthorn also drove the Cooper Bristol in the Ulster remain involved with motoring and motor sport. Obituaries Trophy, while also took a turn behind the As Aston Martin importer to Italy, Archie wheel winning at Boreham and fi nishing seventh in the completed a deal with whereby Archie’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Swiss company Autonautica and Aston shared the ARCHIE BRYDE Archie’s man at the wheel The Cooper Bristol was hard-driven, and started to production costs of twenty-four Aston Martin Zagato Reg Parnell at speed in Archie By James Beckett Bryde’s Cooper Bristol during suffer numerous retirements with one unfortunate cars. The fi rst car was delivered to Jean Kerguen for the 1952 British Grand Prix at incident happening at the Daily Express International competition at Le Mans, and many of the cars can still rchie’s career in motor sport began Silverstone (Photo by LAT) Trophy, where Archie had been following Louis Chiron, be seen in historic racing events throughout Europe. in 1939 when he finished sixth in A the Saloon Car class of the RAC Rally. He also contested the Lewes Speed Trials in an SS100 while also undertaking practice sessions at in an Alta, although a gearbox problem prevented him from actually lining-up on the grid. Immediately after the war, Archie contested races at the wheel of a Jaguar XK120, and also raced a Cooper 500cc in 1951. Handed an Allard J2X for 1952, Archie raced the car at Monaco, Reims and Boreham, while in the same year Ward Thomas drove Archie’s Cooper 500 to victory in the Grand Prix des Frontieres. Archie acquired the prototype Cooper- Bristol, with basically a wartime BMW engine installed, which had debuted at Goodwood in the hands of Juan Manuel Fangio. Archie drove this car at Silverstone in the Daily Express International Trophy, the Ulster Trophy at Dundrod, Brands Hatch, Goodwood, Charterhall, Boreham, Castle Combe and in the Grand Prix de France at Comminges where the car was not fast enough to challenge the cars from Scuderia Ferrari and Renault . Archie recognised, that although he was not a bad driver, there were others who were faster, and he placed Mike Hawthorn

50 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 BECKETT'S CORNER CORNER 24 HOURS ARE NOT ENOUGH

BECKETT’S James Beckett makes his annual pilgrimage to the Mecca of motorsport…

t was a good plan. We would go to Le Mans. An idea that looked set to dominate. was conceived in the pub. Four weeks later the plan was a However, problems forced the number 8 and 9 cars to lose I reality, and with my friend James in the co-driver’s seat of time and it was left to the number 7 of Marc Gene, Nicolas the Mini, off we set for France. Minassian and Jacques Villeneuve – a man looking to equal It was that trip across the Channel, and a drive through Graham Hill’s unique triple crown of winning the F1 World France, that cemented my love affair with visiting the world’s Championship, the Indy 500 and Le Mans – to uphold French most famous motor race. honour. That was 1996, and it is now 2008 and I am fresh back from And number 7 did a good job until time was lost in the making my thirteenth trip to La Sarthe. small hours, and when the rain began to fall Audi made The magnifi cent eighth Little has changed in many ways for me on my trips. I their move. The R10, more nimble and more versatile in 2008 – win number eight for TK enjoy the drive to the circuit, I arrive early enough to watch the conditions than the ‘twicthy’ Peugeot, made up ground The race is on the all-important qualifying sessions and I try, but usually to take the lead. It was then role reversal. Instead of being Peugeot lead the way fail, to stay awake for the entire race. I love it, and long may chased, it was up to Peugeot to do the chasing. Big wheel, big fun it continue. I can’t help but think with 365 days in a year, 24 They did, and crowds returning to the circuit after a night Joey Foster doesn’t have time to hours are just not enough! of frivolity in the campsites or at the fun fair, were treated to a enjoy Le Mans’ night life as he The talking point for all ahead of this year’s race – the 76th right royal battle as the number 7 Peugeot attempted to hunt fl ashes past the fairground edition – was the battle for supremacy that would take place down the number 2 Audi. Under the fl oodlights between Audi, the German company who have made the The battle wasn’t decided until the fi nal lap. Audi blocked The unique atmosphere of Le Mans race their own in recent years, and Peugeot, the French lion Peugeot’s offensive, and at the centre of the battle was a (Photographs by James Beckett) with a patriotic home crowd on their side. man who is as cool as the world’s coolest cucumber – Tom Head-to-head races in rounds of the Le Mans Series this Kristensen. year have gone Peugeot’s way, so Peugeot arrived at Le Mans TK just got on with his job and his job is winning Le Mans with an all-star driver line-up consisting of former Grand – a job he is very good at. At 3pm Tom Kristensen was at the Prix and established sports car stars for their three cars, while wheel of the leading car when the chequered fl ag was waved. Audi’s team had a familiar Le Mans look to it. With Peugeot less than a lap back, Audi claimed a Lines were drawn, and with three diesel-powered cars memorable victory in a memorable race, victory adding apiece battle commenced. Peugeot, who set the pace during another chapter to their fabulous Le Mans record book. It the pre-race test, claimed fi rst blood and the pole position was win number eight for the German manufacturer, win with a stunning performance by Stephane Sarrazin at number three – a hat-trick – for the R10 diesel, win number the wheel of the number 8 car during the fi rst evening of two for Allan McNish, win number two for Dindo Capello and qualifying. amazingly win number eight for TK himself – stuff that would On race day the three held off the challenge of get the Hollywood scriptwriters excited, now there’s an idea… Allan McNish to lead at the start. Incredibly fast, incredibly Am I going back again next year for my fourteenth? You bet! nimble and with the French tricolours fl ying, the Peugeot trio Only 364 days to wait.

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wrote in the last Bulletin of the need to ensure international stage in the past. Club can benefi t from your generosity and a little prior new Members joining the Club were given a warm I know there are many other such interesting tales out planning. I welcome. I have been heartened to have received there within the membership and I would urge those for The BRDC 80th Anniversary Display and Parade is a number of comments back from Members agreeing whom modesty prevents an approach to the Bulletin to proving popular and I am pleased to say that there will that this is an important point for any Club. That is not think again! The Editor wants to hear from you and he be a strong turnout of cars representing the 80 years of to say, however, that there should be a switch of focus wants to be able to share your story, both in words and the Club. If you would like to enter a car there are still solely onto the new (and therefore it follows younger) in pictures (we are aware of some exceptional personal spaces – and surprisingly more from the 80’s, 90’s and Members of the Club at the expense of those who have photographic collections) with your fellow Members 2000’s than one would expect – please do complete the made up the membership for up to and including six who share your interest in your sport. Booking Form which was sent with your Grand Prix decades. On a similar theme of the maintenance of history, information or request another one from the offi ce. The BRDC is a broad church indeed and seeking to the BRDC Archive and Library is home to not just I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at offer a Club which appeals to all of its membership Club history, but also some more personal artefacts the Grand Prix – it should be another memorable event equally is a challenge indeed. donated by individual Members keen to ensure their in this Silverstone’s 60th Anniversary year. I hope that you will agree that over the last year, future survival and appreciation. I’m aware that many a revamped Bulletin has gone a long way towards Members have extensive libraries and records of their Stuart Pringle combining contemporary reportage of motorsport racing activity. It is possible that your passion of motor Secretary, BRDC events featuring Club Members together with a more sport is not shared by your wife, or possibly even fulsome dip into the history of the Club though the your children, and given that the average age of the activities of its older Members. membership of the Club is 62 years old there may be a The welcome contribution from Paul Frere number of Members wondering what to do with these – tragically, the last thing he wrote – and the feature most comprehensive collections built up over many on Colin Davis, this month, are the types of stories years. that not only make eye opening reading in themselves, Please do not forget the BRDC Archive and Library but also set an example to the generation that follows when making your will! One hates to be morbid about them of the humility and sportsmanship with which these things, but there is certain inevitability and it BRDC Members have conducted themselves on an would be remiss of me not to remind you that your

BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2 53 MEMBER NEWS

ARE YOU READY FOR THE CHALLENGE? As announced in the last issue of the Bulletin, the fi fth-running of The Secretary’s Challenge will take place on Sunday 2 MEMBER NEWS November at the Walter Hayes Trophy. The end-of-season spectacular plays host to this special race for Club Members, BRDC Superstars and BRDC Rising Stars. The BRDC Benevolent Fund available from statutory or voluntary bodies and her The 15-lap epic around the Silverstone National Circuit experience is proving invaluable when advice and attracts a wide-variety of cars, and it is hoped that the 2008 The Benevolent Fund was established by way of a practical help have been required in a number of cases. running will see the biggest entry to date. Charitable Trust in November 2000 and its registration Please use the Benevolent Fund. It is here to help The rules are simple, the race is open to individuals from number is 1084173. people who, for whatever reason, may need it. all categories of the Club who hold a valid 2008 competition Currently the Trustees of the BRDC Benevolent Fund The Trustees, BRDC Benevolent Fund licence, and their car must be a sports or saloon. Please put the are David Richards, Chris Bliss and Michael MacDowel, c/o Mrs. Ruth Ritchie (Facilitator) date in your diaries and prepare for action! who are all Members of the BRDC. 45 Beech Tree Road Entry Forms will be available from the Club website – We were fortunate that two generous benefactors Holmer Green www.brdc.co.uk – from 1st September. provided initial funding, the late Mr. Ken Tyrrell and Mr. High Wycombe HP15 6UR The podium of 2007 (Photo Jakob Ebrey) John Britten who both donated £25,000. The BRDC club Tel/Fax: 01494 712330 made an initial contribution of £25,000. In addition, Sir Email: [email protected] Jackie Stewart OBE, generously donated £25,000 in May 2002. Michael MacDowel The name of the Trust is the `BRDC Benevolent Fund’ and the objects of the Trust are the relief of fi nancial Ecurie Ecosse in Scotland need among: (1) Members of the British Racing Drivers’ Club Ltd and There was a large turnout of BRDC Members on the their families and dependents: and annual Ecurie Ecosse Tour held in May. (2) persons involved with motor sport generally and their They all gathered in brilliant sunshine at the Forss families and dependents. House Hotel in Thurso and were joined by the Club’s The Trustees are conscious of the fact that most people most northerly Member, Ronnie Mackay who has a are reluctant to ask for help if they are in diffi cult fi nancial dealership in Thurso. circumstances due to ill health or bereavement within the The Members (pictured bottom right) were, back family. Pride plays a pivotal role in this reluctance as does row, Michael Wheatley, Stuart Graham, Neil Corner, a dislike of one’s personal affairs becoming widely known. Nigel Corner, Adrian Hamilton, Paul Michaels, Martin For this reason confi dentiality is assured for those who Colvil, Willie Tuckett, Andrew Fletcher, Sir Paul Vestey make contact with the Trust Fund and the Trustees are (Part hidden) and Ian Skailes. Sitting are, left to right, hopeful that `word of mouth’ will play an important role , Hugh McCaig,Ronnie Mackay and in bringing possible cases to their attention. Graham Gauld. Our facilitator, Mrs. Ruth Ritchie, who has over 20 years The only member on the Tour missing from the experience in Social Services, will on a case by case basis, photo is Colin Pearcy who had gone to visit John visit and discuss details with potential benefi ciaries and O’Groats when the photo was taken. prepare a report for the Trustees consideration and action. Ruth Ritchie is fully conversant with the benefi ts Graham Gauld

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award”) and culminating some 15 years most memorable of all, the extraordinary GENTLEMAN JACK: The Offi cial later at the 1965 Oulton Park Gold Cup “red mist” drive from the pit lane after Biography of meeting where Jack fi nished “3rd overall, being black fl agged to win in the Willment Graham Gauld 2nd in Class” in a Cobra , the stories and the pictures Veloce Publishing PLC (behind ’s Ford Mustang and are all here in this absorbing book. ISBN-13: 978-1845841515 team mate Jimmy Clark incidentally). Such Jack retired from racing after a was the company Jack used to keep! In fact serious accident while testing a Lotus Whether by design or accident, publication the record is not 100% complete because 40 at Silverstone in September 1965 but of this long-awaited biography of the this reviewer can distinctly recall seeing no sooner had he recovered than he BRDC’s former President, has neatly Jack driving a Healey 3000 at Snetterton at found himself prevailed upon to lead coincided with the 50th anniversary of a Historic Sports Car Club meeting in the the organising team for the London to the British Touring Car Championship of late 80s, memorable not least because Jack Sydney Marathon of 1968. Of course which, when it was known as the British was power sliding the Big Healey through Jack’s involvement in motor sport did not Saloon Car Championship, Jack Sears Russell as if he had never been away. end there as he became a long-serving was the fi rst winner with his Austin A105 For someone who discovered motor director of the BRDC, Chairman of the Westminster. racing during the heyday of Jack’s career Board of Silverstone Circuits Ltd and of In his opening paragraph author and this book is completely and utterly course ultimately the Club’s President in Associate Member Graham Gauld says: fascinating. Here are the images of Jaguar succession to Gerald Lascelles. He also “One of the great pleasures of working 3.8 Mk 2s and Lotus Cortinas on full found time to chair various RACMSA with Jack Sears on a book like this is that opposite lock (and one or two wheels in contemporary single seater, the fi rst of committees and to be a Steward of the he is the possessor of the most accurate the air in the case of the latter), of the which produced a third place and joint Royal Automobile Club. Oh yes, and he is memory of any racing driver I have ever vast Willment with which fastest lap in a Formula 2 Yeoman Credit currently Chairman of the Ferrari Owners’ met, as well as being the most erudite.” And Jack won his second British Saloon Car Cooper-Climax T51 in 1960 at Crystal Club. it shows. Graham makes it clear that Jack Championship in 1963, of the open and Palace, so that his career never took him The book concludes with chapters on was meticulous in his co-operation and coupe Cobras and so on. Speaking of in the direction of Formula 1, he certainly Jack’s son David and his achievements in supervision of the book’s production. Cobras, it was of course the AC Cars Coupe had a habit of becoming a centre of racing, whether as driver, entrant or driver Not only is the story of Jack’s life totally which Jack tested, totally legally, at speeds attraction at British GP support races. manager, and an appendix describing the authentic but it is supplemented by a of up to 185 mph at 4 am on the M1 in Whether it is the scrap at Aintree between collection of very valuable cars assembled marvellous array of photographs from the the summer of 1965 in preparation for Le Michael Parkes and Jack in Tommy by Jack’s father, Stanley. family archive and by an exhaustive list Mans. When the story leaked to the press, Sopwith’s Equipe Endeavour-entered If there is a disappointment with the of every competitive motor sport event in questions were asked in the House of Jaguars against the remarkable Australian book it is the lack of any colour pictures which Jack took part, beginning in 1950 Commons and national speed limits were star , or a year later at Silverstone but that said, it is worth every penny of the with an MG TC in the BARC Eastbourne on their way. when he locked horns with Colin £24.99 cover price. Rally (“5th overall, 2nd in Class, 1st Class Although Jack had just two races in a Chapman in a pair of 3.8 Mk 2s or, perhaps Ian Titchmarsh

56 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2

CLUB & REGIONAL EVENTS

19 July 1958 (opposite) Peter Collins blasts through Woodcote to take the chequered fl ag for CLUB AND REGIONAL EVENTS the last time, and win the British Grand Prix. Just over two weeks later he is to lose his life in the . From the fall of For the latest details please visit: www.brdc.co.uk the fl ag Peter has rocketed his Ferrari Dino 246 off the second row of the 4-3-4 grid to lead into Copse Corner, never to be headed. He has JULY SEPTEMBER returned to the peak of his form and is totally uncatchable. Stirling and the Vanwall do all they can but have to retire with engine failure. Peter’s Ferrari never misses a beat, unlike team mate Mike 4 BRDC GRAND PRIX BALL 17 BRDC SOCIAL LUNCH Hawthorn who has to stop for more oil. It is unlikely it would have BRDC CLUBHOUSE CLUBHOUSE made a diff erence to the result. This is Peter Collins’s day. Tragically CONTACT: Club Offi ce Tel: 01327 855922 CONTACT: Aspire Hospitality Tel: 01327 855100 there are no more. 5 BRDC BBQ 26-28 BRDC HISTORIC SPORTSCARS Ian Titchmarsh BRDC FARM SPA FRANCORCHAMPS, SIX-HOURS CONTACT: CLUB OFFICE TEL: 01327 855922 CONTACT: Duncan Wiltshire Tel: 01379 678101 6 BRDC POST GP ‘GET-TOGETHER’ BRDC FARM OCTOBER CONTACT: CLUB OFFICE TEL: 01327 855922 14 BRDC TRACK DAY 1 BRDC CLAY SHOOT CHAMPIONSHIP SILVERSTONE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT E.J. CHURCHILL’S WEST WYCOMBE SHOOTING GROUND CONTACT: Jan Stevenson Tel: 01327 850931 CONTACT: Club Offi ce Tel: 01327 855922 16 BRDC SOCIAL LUNCH 15 BRDC MEMBERS’ LUNCH CLUBHOUSE CLUBHOUSE CONTACT: Aspire Hospitality Tel: 01327 855100 CONTACT: Aspire Hospitality Tel: 01327 855100 25-27 BRDC HISTORIC SPORTSCARS SILVERSTONE CLASSIC NOVEMBER CONTACT: Duncan Wiltshire Tel: 01379 678101 27 80th ANNIVERSARY DISPLAY AT THE SILVERSTONE CLASSIC 1 WALTER HAYES TROPHY FORUM BROOKLANDS TO SILVERSTONE CLUBHOUSE CONTACT: Club Offi ce Tel: 01327 850922 CONTACT: James Beckett Tel: 01327 855925 19 BRDC SOCIAL LUNCH AUGUST CLUBHOUSE CONTACT: Aspire Hospitality Tel: 01327 855100 3 SCOTTISH GOLF DAY Tba DECEMBER 20 BRDC MEMBERS’ LUNCH CLUBHOUSE 8 BRDC ANNUAL AWARDS CONTACT: Aspire Hospitality Tel: 01327 855100 CAFÉ ROYAL CONTACT: Club Offi ce Tel: 01327 855922 17 BRDC CHRISTMAS LUNCH BRDC CLUBHOUSE CONTACT: Aspire Hospitality Tel: 01327 855100

58 BRDC Bulletin Vol 29 No 2