F1 LEWIS MATCHES SCHUEY’S POLE RECORD

BELGIAN GP DUEL HAMILTON’S RACE FERRARI’S ‘VICTORY’ Why Vettel’s Spa pace scares Mercedes

BRITISH MOTOGP DUCATI WINS, MARQUEZ DISASTER

COVER IMAGE Etherington/LAT Images

COVER STORY 14 Belgian Grand Prix report and analysis

PIT+PADDOCK 4 Fift h Column: Nigel Roebuck 6 Button plans full-time race return 8 to make BTCC comeback 11 In the service park: David Evans 13 Feedback: your letters

FEATURES AND REPORTS 30 The electric future of rallycross 34 BTCC: Sutton and Turkington move clear 38 MotoGP: Dovizioso wins at Silverstone

RACE CENTRE 42 Formula 2; GP3; Porsche Supercup; Super GT; Blancpain Sprint; Formula Lewis wins, but Ferrari Eurocup; ELMS; IndyCar; IMSA CLUB AUTOSPORT 63 Three Peugeot 908s for new series is not yet defeated 64 Ahmed eyes Euro F3 aft er BRDC title 67 Humble Pye: the voice of club racing MAY HAVE WON LAST WEEKEND’S 68 Rockingham; Oulton Park; Snetterton; Belgian Grand Prix, but the man himself is under no illusions about Kirkistown; Thruxton; Castle Combe; the task he faces for the rest of the season, which perversely now Gurston Down looks harder than it did before his third Spa victory. That’s because the fast, fl owing circuit is one that should have FINISHING STRAIGHT suited Mercedes. There was an expectation that Hamilton (and 78 What’s on this week perhaps team-mate ) would be able to waltz off into the 80 From the archive: 1975 Spanish GP distance, just as at Silverstone. But, as Ben Anderson explains in our 82 Motorsport memory: F1 testing report (page 14), pushed Hamilton to the limit, showing AUTOSPORT SUBSCRIPTION OFFER that Ferrari is keeping up with Mercedes in the development race. 83 Sign up and get a FREE Boombar speaker That said, Hamilton’s victory was superbly judged, particularly when you consider Bottas’s struggles in the other W08. And he is now just seven points behind Vettel in the drivers’ championship, with eight rounds still to go. With Bottas 34 points behind Hamilton, the fi ght for the 2017 world FIND US ON championship looks very much like a duel, with Bottas and Raikkonen in support roles, as many expected after the early skirmishes. Much can change between now and November’s Abu Dhabi fi nale, autosport.com but Ferrari’s form in Belgium suggests the battle will go down to the wire. And if Ferrari and Mercedes can be this evenly matched at other twitter.com/autosport venues, hopefully we will get to see some proper wheel-to-wheel facebook.com/autosport battles between two of F1’s top performers from the past decade. instagram.com/autosportdotcom/

youtube.com/AUTOSPORTdotcom

the Apple App Store

digitalmagazine.autosport.com KEVIN TURNER EDITOR Apple News [email protected] Google Play @KRT917

AUGUST 31 2017 3 FIFTH COLUMN/OPINION NIGEL ROEBUCK Lost magic Even at Spa, the essential appeal of F1 is diminished by the latest generation of cars. For the purest spectacle, there’s always MotoGP…

@autosport

FOR ALL THE MAJESTY OF SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, marooned in ‘dirty air’ for an hour and a half. for all that it off ers more overtaking opportunities than As it was, save on the restart, Vettel could never get within most circuits, still – for no reason I can easily put my 0.999 recurring of Hamilton, and that – in today’s Formula 1 fi nger on – it too often serves up a race that falls short – is the magic fi gure, being the trigger for DRS. With use of of expectations, and last Sunday’s was no exception. the system maddeningly beyond his grasp, Seb could only Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, the two world stare at the back of the Mercedes: those who dreamed up championship protagonists, made the Belgian Grand this latest iteration of grand prix car had made sure of that. Prix weekend their own, both driving beautifully as Don’t get me wrong, I understood why there was a desire they qualifi ed – and fi nished – one-two. And yet… for change. Since we moved into the world of hybrid power There was a moment on lap 34, immediately after the units, the cars had necessarily put on a huge amount of post-safety car restart, weight, becoming lazy when they went through great things that quietly Eau Rouge as one, and on “This emperor of circuits lapped seconds away the following straight, up from 10 years earlier, the hill to Les Combes, and were – by common briefl y ran side by side, is no longer the supreme consent – too easy to but that was the only drive. Something had truly mesmerising challenge it once was” to be done to – forgive moment in a duel that ran me – ‘Spice Up The from start to fi nish. Despite the fact that Hamilton and Show’, and that meant speeding up the cars. Heresy in Vettel were at no stage more than a couple of seconds the time of , perhaps, but viewing fi gures apart, their battle, while tense, was ultimately frustrating. had plummeted, and needs must. “He was waiting for me to make a mistake,” smiled Granted, there wasn’t much awry with the sheer horsepower Lewis, “and I never did…” on off er from the terrifyingly expensive and complex engines, True enough, for although both drivers agreed that the but at the same time nor was there anything to be done about Ferrari had a slight edge on the Mercedes, in eff ect the their horrendous weight. Therefore, if speeds were to go up, matter had been settled 24 hours earlier. “If I’d got pole,” Formula 1 could either increase brute cornering speeds, or – Sebastian said, “it would have been a diff erent story,” and as always advocated – forget any need to justify he was right, for then it would have been Lewis who was its existence, in terms of ‘improving the breed’, and revert to

Marquez at Silverstone: breathtaking

4 AUGUST 31 2017 Senna was one of the rare few able to take Eau Rouge flat SUTTON

lighter cars, with loud, conventional, engines. he said, “you take away why I do this.” The former path was – of course – the one followed, At the time the switchback left-right-left could be taken for, apart from anything else, the FIA would never have flat – just – by Senna, and maybe a couple of countenanced a move away from hybrid technology. others, but that was it. Now it is ‘easy flat’ for everyone on Therefore the ill-named F1 Strategy Group put its heads every lap, and I wonder what Ayrton would have thought together, and imaginatively came up with ‘wider tyres of that. Actually, I think I know. and more downforce’. Duh. Indisputably, therefore, the latest cars have an ability to Had they never heard that fundamental truth of motor make corners go away, but if you’re one of those paying to racing, that ‘more downforce’ means ‘less racing’? Apparently watch, this isn’t necessarily to your taste, for spectacle, not, but the drivers had, because they’re at the sharp end, too, is an essential element, and maybe that explains why and – although they’re never consulted about anything – MotoGP, unlike virtually all forms of car racing, has not they know about these things. In February they began testing lost popularity in the recent past. the new generation of cars, finding them more enjoyable to Tony Brooks memorably said that “a grand prix car drive, but lamenting that overtaking would be even more should always have more power than its can difficult than before. And no-one – save perhaps those in comfortably handle”, but if it is 30 years since we saw the Strategy Group – was surprised. that in Formula 1, the sight of a MotoGP bike still makes At Spa, therefore, Hamilton and Vettel circulated endlessly, you catch your breath. Last Saturday Marc Marquez – never far apart, but always separated by the invisible veil of whom I always think of as on a bike – dirty air that has blighted motor racing, in varying degrees, took pole position at Silverstone, and anyone who saw for more than four decades now. the heartstopping lap will surely have been blown away As expected, the 2017 cars are stunningly quick, but I by Marquez’s genius and staggering bravery. must say I watched with mixed feelings, for this emperor It reminded me yet again that absolute speed is not of grand prix circuits is patently no longer the supreme the whole story, that ‘edge’ remains a crucial element in challenge it once was. How could it be when such as Eau motorsport of all kinds. Marquez’s lap – the first ever Rouge, Blanchimont – even Pouhon, if you were in a Ferrari under two minutes – was more than half a minute from – required not so much as a momentary ‘confidence lift’? the pole lap at the British Grand Prix, but I know which Long ago, when the safety crusaders were muttering will linger in the memory. Motorcycle racing remains about inserting a chicane before Eau Rouge, Ayrton devoutly unpasteurised, and there’s a lesson for Senna was outraged. “If you take away Eau Rouge,” Formula 1. Hope it registers with someone.

AUGUST 31 2017 5 The British favourite took 12th in Suzuka 1000Km with Team Mugen FEEDBACK O OPINION O

SUPER GT Button to race full-time in

JENSON BUTTON’S DEBUT IN ’S successful combinations in Super GT this Super GT Championship at last weekend’s season, with Mutoh and Nakajima effectively Suzuka 1000Km was never likely to net him a propping up the points table in the headlining top result – he finished 12th in the Team Mugen GT500 class. But it did contribute to the car Honda NSX – but he ensured himself of the being the third lightest on success ballast, on headlines by declaring that he will make a just 14kg compared with the heaviest 88kg of

CONTROVERSY full-time return to racing in 2018. the pre-weekend points-leading TOM’S Lexus The 2009 Formula 1 world champion had of James Rossiter and ex-Formula 1 racer O raced just once so far this season, as understudy (Daisuke’s older brother). to the Indy 500-committed Even so, Button’s performance in Q1 with McLaren at the was impressive in what is one Monaco Grand Prix, but of the most competitive racing his statements from “I will definitely series in the world – he ended Suzuka are that ’17 is very up ninth out of the 15 GT500 much a one-off as far do something runners, just one place away as taking a step back from taking the car into Q2, from competition next year for and missing the cutoff by is concerned. just 0.089 seconds. Before the action kicked a full season” The tyre war is a critical

DEBATE DEBATE off at Suzuka, Button said: aspect of Super GT, and it

O “I will definitely be doing something next year appeared that the Yokohamas Mugen was for a full season. Whether it’s here or in America running on had a slight – and unexpected – or somewhere else, I don’t know yet. But the advantage in qualifying at Suzuka, with the discussions are under way. If it goes well and if company’s other two cars taking first and second I enjoy the weekend, which I think I will, then on the grid, also with light ballast: polesitter Joao maybe I could be racing here next year.” Paulo de Oliveira’s Nissan was carrying 6kg, with With Super GT races normally run over the front-row Lexus of on 26kg. 300km, Button joined full-season Mugen drivers The race unravelled for Mugen thanks to a and Daisuke Nakajima at Suzuka’s drivethrough penalty for an unsafe release in

NEWS blue-riband event. This has been one of the least the pits, another penalty for Button overtaking PIT + PADDOCK PIT +

6 AUGUST 31 2017 OBITUARY Don Nichols 1924-2017 DON NICHOLS, THE BOSS OF THE 1973 in the minds of Nichols and UOP. Shadow Formula 1 squad of the 1970s Southgate, recruited from BRM as late as who died last week aged 92, was first and October 1972, was horrified to learn that foremost an ideas man. The American he would also have to design a Can-Am always had a new project on the go, car, and then that Shadow would have oft en to the detriment of the team. to build an extra DN1 for Graham Hill’s The new Shadow- DN5, built new Embassy-sponsored team. for the team’s third season in F1 in 1975, “Don had boundless energy,” recalls appeared to be the class of the field early Harris, who parted company with in the season, Jean-Pierre Jarier taking Nichols at the end of 1970. “He was back-to-back poles in Argentina and always into some new project – he didn’t and winning the Race spend a lot of time looking backwards.” of Champions at . But the Jarier’s early-1975 poles arguably car never delivered on its potential. added up to the high point in Shadow’s The distraction that time was the history, Alan Jones’s freak victory in the chance to use the Matra V12 powerplant 1977 Austrian GP and the 1974 Can-Am in place of the Cossie DFV. Jarier drove title with Oliver aside. Its history might the DN7 in just two races before have been diff erent but for two freak reverting to the Cosworth car. retirements. A crown wheel and pinion “Don couldn’t resist the flirtations failed on the warm-up lap in Argentina of Matra, so we totally re-engineered and a fuel cam seized in Brazil as the the DN5 for that V12,” recalls Tony Frenchman led with seven laps to go. Southgate, the designer of nine Shadows Shadow went into decline aft er the loss over two stints with the team. “But it of the UOP money for 1976. A split when was no quicker than the original car and the core of its staff , Oliver and Southgate had to carry more fuel. Aft er two races, included, left to form Arrows for ’78 Jarier wanted his DFV car back.” didn’t help, nor did the costly court case 2018 season The first idea that Nichols had run that followed when Nichols successfully with was US designer Trevor Harris’s sued the new team for copyright ‘tiny-tyre’ Can-Am concept. Nichols saw infringement over the design of its FA1. behind the safety car, and two separate the mock-up, suggested it could do with Nichols sold his team to Theodore punctures. It was won unexpectedly by a Honda a Chevrolet engine and set up Advance Racing boss Teddy Yip for 1980. He would bearing the hopes of another member of the Vehicle Systems to build and run what return to the paddock in the mid ’90s Nakajima family, father Satoru’s team running would become the AVS Shadow Mk1. and attempted to put various sportscar the victorious NSX of former IndyCar racers That first Shadow wasn’t a success but, teams together without success. and . aft er Nichols landed sponsorship from The ideas kept coming, though. Just So what would Button’s best options for a full Universal Oil Products to promote its 18 months ago, he was in contact with programme be, assuming he stays within the lead-free petrol, a reworked Mk2 version Southgate about building a Shadow Honda fold? The IMSA SportsCar Championship did show form. One of its drivers, Jackie road car “before it’s too late”. in the is on the up, with Team Oliver, sowed the seeds of an F1 entry for GARY WATKINS Penske running DPi prototypes next season as the works team of Acura, the country’s Honda brand. Penske has already confi rmed Juan Pablo MCKLEIN Montoya and the cars and style of racing would suit Button well. So too would Japan’s headlining Super Formula single-seater category, and a seat will likely open up at Team Mugen for 2018 because the current incumbent, , has been parked there for one season by Red Bull. But if Button did this in conjunction with a Super GT programme, that would mean a very busy season of 15 events. IndyCar with a Honda team cannot be ruled out, while longer shots would be the NSX GT3 Shadow favourite Tom programme and the marque’s World Touring Car Pryce won 1975 Race of Championship squad. And as rank outsider, the Champions at Brands US-based Global Rallycross series has a Honda team, and is the branch of the sport where Button’s father John made his name as a driver. MARCUS SIMMONS AND RACHIT THUKRAL

AUGUST 31 2017 7 8 SCOTT MITCHELL my race seat myself”. notice that “Ievenprepared and saiditwas at suchshort Calafat earlier thismonth, FE powertrain at Spanish track Jani tested theteam’s second aft scored abest finishoffift 2016-17 championshipand team butfinishedeighthinthe Formula Efor myself.” at Dragon, Iamlearning about I amnot learning for Porsche expectations are not that high. season last year and because theyhadadiff my first steps at Dragon, an advantage that Ican have fall into place,” saidJani.“Itis will season, theneverything independent deal. Jani to puttogether the its worksFEentry, hasallowed ahead ofthe2019-20arrival of ranks at theendofthisseason, withdrawal from theLMP1 campaign. ButPorsche’s Porsche’s four-season LMP1 extracurricular activity during Sebring –havebeenJani’s only of thisyear –at Daytona and Championship at thestart Racing intheIMSASportsCar the ’17-’18season. Faraday/Dragon squadfor replacement at theAmerican last weekasLoic Duval’s champion was announced winner andWorldEndurance Formula Ein2019. Porsche whenitjoins him aseat withhisemployer E team doesnot guarantee Future Dragon RacingFormula that drivingfor theFaraday LMP1 STAR NEELJANISAYS PORSCHE’ TASTER FOR DEAL ‘NOTA JANI DRAGON PIT +PADDOCK er tyingupwithFaraday. Dragon isa race-winning FE “We’re finishingtheWEC Two outingsfor Rebellion The 2016Le Mans24Hours AUGUST 312017 icult h /NEWS ANDANALYSIS Bourdais comeback after injury comeback after Bourdais Alfa returns to the BTCC round at StPetersburg, buthis following hiswinintheopening of thisyear’s IndyCar standings and abroken righthip. multiple fractures to hispelvis months after beingsidelined with Series round at Gateway, just three comeback inlast weekend’s IndyCar Sebastien Bourdais madehisracing four-time ChampCartitle winner EX-FORMULA 1DRIVERAND INDYCAR CHAMPIONSHIP CAR TOURING BRITISH Simon Belcher. “It’s incredible to have brought everything development forsometime,” saidHandy team principal to theBTCC, withmany people working onthisexciting currently races Handy’s Avensis. but abespoke unitcould bedeveloped infuture. be fi NGTC regulations. Thefront-wheel-drive machinewill deal, withacar already beingconstructed to theBTCC’s dealer-team entry to berunby Handy Motorsport. Touring CarChampionshipnext season through a ALFA ROMEO WILLRETURN TO THEBRITISH Bourdais was theearly leader “It’s beenalongproject to bringanAlfa Romeoback The Giulietta willberaced by RobAustin, who Handy willfi tted withaBTCC TOCA engineinits fi eld aGiulietta aspart ofamulti-year know what was going onbut Igot really complicated restarts. Idon’t car wasn’t perfectandIhadsome “It wasn’t aneasy race. We knew the Frenchman fi after atest at Mid-Ohio, andthe alongside rookie EdJones came Coyne RacingDallara-Honda team Indy 500inMay wrecked hisseason. violent accident inqualifyingforthe rst season, He reported noill-eff Bourdais’s return withtheDale nished 10th. the UKwillbeencouraged to supporttheproject. manufacturer entry, Alfa’s 62-strong dealer network in an Alfa hasappeared ontheBTCC gridsince 2007. ’83 withaGTV6. TheHandy deal willbethefi its maidenseason, while Andy Rousetook thecrown in ’95, withGabrieleTarquini claiming thedrivers’ title in BTCC grid, it’s alsomassive fortheBTCC.” Alfa Romeoto seethelatest Giulietta represented onthe only isthishuge forHandy Motorsport, andfantastic for marque –it’s apassionate brand, steeped inheritage. Not to fruitionandanhonourto berunningtheAlfa Romeo JACK COZENS ects, saying: Although theprogramme willnotbeafully fl Alfa Romeoran aworks team intheBTCC in1994 and IndyCar campaign for next season. The Mexican isworking onafull was stood down from theCoyne seat. fellow ex-F1 driver Esteban Gutierrez salvage somethingthisweekend.” there at theend. It’s agood way to pits andgot usback incontention The guys didareally good job inthe it soIwent to theback ofthepack. loose three times andalmost stuff JIMMY BARRETTJR The return ofBourdais meant that rst time edged edged ed ed

EMMA WRIGHT/MOTORSPORT.TV IN THE HEADLINES F1 PREVIEW

GELAEL GETS TORO ROSSO FP1 RUNS Indonesian Formula 2 racer will drive for Italian Grand Prix Toro Rosso in four Friday FP1 sessions at forthcoming grands prix this season. Gelael, who has taken part in the September 1-3 Bahrain and tests with the team this year, gets runs in Singapore, Malaysia, the US and . DRS DETECTION ZONES DE VRIES AND DELETRAZ IN F2 SWAP DRS ACTIVATION ZONES McLaren F1 protege Nyck de Vries swapped teams 3 with former Renault F1 junior Louis Deletraz for last 1 weekend’s Formula 2 round at Spa. Deletraz switched to 2 5 replace de Vries at Rapax, with the Dutchman taking the Swiss pilot’s seat. Rapax had a new 4 face in its other seat too, with replacing . De Vries scored a second and a fift h, 6 9 with ex-F1 racer Merhi scoring points in both races too. 8 10 CORREA STEPS UP FOR GP3 DEBUT Formula 4 racer made his GP3 race 7 debut with at Spa last weekend. The American-Ecuadorean, a multiple race winner in Italian F4 last season, is ninth in the 2017 German F4 rankings. 11 COOK TAKEN OFF THE MENU WITH BAN British Touring Car Championship racer has been handed a one-race ban to serve next time out at Silverstone. The MG man clashed with and in race two at Rockingham last weekend and was sent to the back of the race-three grid. He LENGTH 3.600 miles NUMBER OF LAPS 53 then collided with Stephen Jelley in that race, his 2016 POLE POSITION Lewis Hamilton 1m21.135s fourth off ence of the season. The Triple Eight-run POLE LAP RECORD 1m20.089s (2004) MG team has appealed the decision. RACE LAP RECORD Rubens Barrichello 1m21.046s (2004)

MCRAE SET FOR WORLD RALLYCROSS Former World Rally Championship contender Alister McRae makes his World Rallycross debut this weekend TYRE ALLOCATION at Loheac in . The Australian-based Scot will race the Loco team’s Volkswagen Polo hitherto campaigned by HARD MEDIUM SOFT SUPER-SOFT ULTRA-SOFT INTERMEDIATE WET Guy Wilks at the final four WRX rounds. “My son has the track on his PlayStation, but I’m not the best at PlayStation so that could be a hindrance rather than a help!” said McRae, who has previous rallycross experience.

ONE SCHUMACHER TO RACE IN F4… - AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE - AVAILABLE AVAILABLE David Schumacher, son of six-time F1 race winner Ralf, will compete in the German F4 Championship next UK START TIMES PREVIOUS WINNERS season. Schumacher had his first test recently at the Lausitzring with US Racing, the team run by his dad and LIVE ON F1 2016 Mercedes ex-Mercedes DTM boss Gerhard Ungar, so unsurprisingly it FRIDAY 2015 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes will be this team the promising karter races with in 2018. FP1 0900 FP2 1300 2014 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes SATURDAY 2013 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull …AND ANOTHER GETS SPA F1 RUN FP3 1000 QUALIFYING 1300 2012 Lewis Hamilton McLaren Meanwhile, David’s Formula 3-racing cousin Mick SUNDAY 2011 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Schumacher drove father Michael’s 1994 Benetton F1 car RACE 1300 2010 Fernando Alonso Ferrari for one lap of the Spa circuit at last weekend’s Belgian GP HIGHLIGHTS ON CHANNEL 4 1745 2009 Rubens Barrichello Brawn (below), commemorating the 25th anniversary of the first BBC RADIO 5 LIVE 1300 2008 Sebastian Vettel Toro Rosso Schumacher F1 win. “I’m just amazed by the car,” he said. 2007 Fernando Alonso McLaren “It was emotional. There is a lot of history here.”

THEMES TO WATCH

TIFOSI HOME DROUGHT FORCE CIVIL WAR MORE HONDA HELL Ferrari hasn’t won its home The simmering rivalry between The McLaren-Honda saga grand prix since Fernando Sergio Perez and endured another difficult Alonso’s 2010 triumph. After turned into all-out war at Spa, chapter last Sunday, so there’s its Spa form, it has a real and they’ll likely be on the same every reason to expect more shot at ending the dry spell. piece of track again at Monza. Alonso unhappiness at Monza.

AUGUST 31 2017 9

OPINION/PIT + PADDOCK

Making citronade Citroen’s return to the WRC has been fraught, but the signs are that the French manufacturer is getting its act together for next year

By David Evans, Rallies Editor @davidevansrally

CRAIG BREEN’S NOT A DRIVER TO HIDE HIS EMOTIONS. “We began looking at the suspension then,” says Matton. His heart takes up so much of his sleeve there’s barely room “Since Sweden we have been working harder and harder, for the sponsors’ logos on his Citroen Racing overalls. When and really looking forward to next season – this is where he got to the end of the Swietajno stage on Rally Poland earlier the focus is for the team now.” in the summer, he didn’t need to say a word – his face was Citroen has long had a reputation for being conservative contorted with anxiety, fear and disappointment. in its approach to development. Nothing came on the car “I’m petrifi ed…” he said. until it was signed off by the technical department; drivers This was a fi rst. We’ve had drivers concerned by the have historically played a secondary role to engineers in the conditions or worried in the wet, but “petrifi ed” was a new one. advancement of the car – it’s the same with Citroen’s “…petrifi ed of crashing.” cross-town PSA Group stablemate Peugeot. Breen’s not afraid of crashing. What he was afraid of was Matton has thrown caution to the wind. “We know we have the undeniable unpredictability of the C3 WRC underneath to take more risks and put more and more new parts on the him. From one wet and muddy corner of Mikolajki to the next, car with less time for validation,” says Matton. “This isn’t the he had no idea what it was going to do. At the apex of this way things are done and it’s the fi rst time that we have really right-hander he had good grip at the front; next left, the rear let done this, but it’s the only way we can work towards the go mid-corner and demanded lock, lock and more lock to keep timetable for the start [of next season].” it out of the trees. Next bend? Roll the dice. It was that bad. Crucial to any fi x is a coherent and constructive ongoing The groans from deep within Citroen’s command centre relationship with Ohlins. The Swedes have fi nally been allowed could be heard from Poland to Paris. to get stuck into what connects the C3 with the road and we’re Change had to come. starting to see some fruit Needed months earlier, already. But the fi ve- the team now stood and “Breen was afraid of the month road to Monte stared into the headlights Carlo is short and Citroen of another juggernaut has to get it right this time. bearing down on its nose. unpredictability of the C3 And woven deep into On the side of this one the detail of that journey were four numbers: two, WRC underneath him” is the identity of the zero, one and eight. driver who will stand 2018. Next year. out front and lead. That’s fodder for another column. A troublesome return season to the World Rally But, while we’ve got Matton on the line, he makes an Championship was beginning to cast a shadow over next interesting point about the general direction of World Rally year – next year being the one when Citroen’s dominance Championship and its 2018 calendar. of the WRC was scheduled to return, and return at the “I think somebody needs to have a global view in the sort of Sebastien Loeb-inspired mid-Noughties levels interest of the championship,” he adds. “We need somebody the French fi rm had grown accustomed to. to look at which event we need to include or not include; The time had come to be brave. And we’re not talking we have somebody who is looking for the fi nancial or the about the sort of bravery required from Breen or Kris Meeke marketing interest, but nobody who is really having the view to give the C3 another gear while off ering a silent prayer in on which event has the highest value for the championship. the hope that it would stick. No, this time the bravery was At the end, this is the only interest.” demanded from Citroen team principal Yves Matton. Asked if this wasn’t the FIA’s job, Matton replies: “I don’t Change was coming, both in terms of the car itself and know. I don’t know the FIA’s contract with the promoter. the hand guiding development, as the man who penned the We know when the promoter chooses the event, there is C3 WRC, Laurent Fregosi, stepped aside to take a more normally only one criterion. This is one of the criteria and ‘technically focused role’, with Christophe Besse (Citroen of I don’t think it’s up to us to judge the value of each of the old, he worked on the Xsara WRC) coming in to replace him. criteria – but, like I say, this is only one.” This is, Matton assures me, part of the new foundations of And once Matton has aligned the WRC’s stakeholders for the team that had been laid after a catastrophic Rally Sweden, next season, Citroen’s 2018 bed will, presumably, be made in when the drivers had reported the car as undriveable. time for a better night’s sleep than it has enjoyed recently.

AUGUST 31 2017 11 $2#$ *1$ ).#'&+ 3.26! .823   29!* !,  < )2  .(  !*# 2)9!

     

'#& % '* '0* ( '0*+ 3 '! & #* ').#'&+

+ 6*< + )-&0.2! + *<3) + 0- +  836)- + !;). + 2=)* + 8 () + !2 - 2)9!23 !36

           ').#'&+ .86! 44 2- -<.- *<3) 1 0- .-8,!-6 **!<  836)- 1 !;). (.!-);       0! !-62!

  /  "  , "  

  7% /$ .( .82 .06).-3 !*# 2)9!  < )2  2)- :)6( ,0)-& .2 .6!*  4       7%     /4(  7>/" ' <6.-  !2)-&  - < $>>

      +    +     +      +    +         +  '' $(    !)"*#&&""  FEEDBACKLETTERS/PIT + PADDOCK

F1 silly season: Alonso to Williams?

I have to admit, I’m loving the idea the rest of the grid were nearly as Has Alonso got his eye to follow a little closer and maybe of Fernando Alonso at Williams. invisible as Lewis Hamilton! Please F1, on a seat at Williams even overtake? Perhaps then they One of the most, if not the most, more of this – it was great to see the for next year? Reader would again be as exhilarating as complete all-round racers going to drivers loving their job. Great for Heathcote would just watching the Red Arrows. love that to happen a team of all-round racers? Sounds sponsors to get the exposure too! Dr Richard Thompson pretty good to me. Daniel Heathcote By email The great thing is they have By email something to hook Alonso in – an Learn lessons from the USA engine known to be strong. Honda Spa sets the bar high I would have to agree with most of just give him lots of bullshit. And A little known fact that helps one what Stuart Warsop said on this page we all know that saying: money understand Spa’s weather: the lowest last week. We are the same age, and I talks, bullshit walks. point of the track is 40 metres higher had been a fan of Formula 1 since I saw Yes, OK, Alonso is going to cost a than the highest point of the M62 my first GP at Brands Hatch when I was dollar or two, but do you think Martini near the Yorks/Lancs border! 16. But no more; there were exciting etc would not chip in a bit more to get Jonathan Moorhouse times and should not be so a megastar? Might just be exciting to York quick to dismiss them. The technology try to get him on a three-year retainer may be advanced, but it has taken the with some tasty bonuses! In any event, Seeing red over F1 aero ‘racing’ out of motor racing. Alonso at Williams would have this I have just been watching the Red For an auditory experience the V10s old-timer hooked right back in. Arrows at Eastbourne Airshow were good, but can’t beat the sound of Just as an aside, I watched some of performing brilliantly. If nine jets can a full grid at the Indy 500 or even the the coverage from F1 Live in – fly in formation and perform the stunts Daytona 500, both of which I have and became a fan. The they do when only 6ft apart, why on had the privilege to see first-hand. way he threw that RB7 around showing earth can’t Formula 1’s aerodynamics be We need to learn a few lessons from off to the crowds in a confined space, redesigned to enable Lewis Hamilton etc the other side of the Atlantic about what purpose motor racing actually serves before F1 becomes a distant memory only remembered by a few diehards. Bruce Bamber HAVE YOUR SAY, GET IN TOUCH By email Time flies when you’re an F1 fan Sheesh! One minute Kimi Raikkonen is Autosport editorial F1’s enfant terrible, the next he’s the old Autosport Media UK Ltd @ 1 Eton Street E-mail Twitter Facebook stager (August 24). I’m feeling my age… Richmond autosport@ twitter.com/ facebook.com/ Frances Stewart TW9 1EF autosport.com autosport autosport London SE12

AUGUST 31 2017 13 Hamilton’s race, but Ferrari is the 14 AUGUST 31 2017 real winner By Ben Anderson, Grand Prix Editor @BenAndersonAuto AUGUST 31 2017 15 F1/BELGIAN GRAND PRIX REPORT

Poleman Hamilton clung on to his advantage at the start

IN THE END THIS WAS THE PERFECT OUTCOME FOR LEWIS HAMILTON’S hopes of overhauling Sebastian Vettel to win the 2017 Formula 1 World Championship. Hamilton converted his -equalling 68th pole position into victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, and slashed Vettel’s 14-point championship lead in half.

But Hamilton had to fight tooth and nail to get the job done. The Ferraris had to work so hard trying to keep up, their He said it took “absolutely everything of me” to beat Vettel at front-left Pirelli tyres exploded. Spa, and feels it will take a mighty effort from now until the But the events of the Belgian GP suggest that Silverstone end of the season for Mercedes to keep him in the title fight. was more of a dark false dawn, rather than a terrifying portent of “I’ve read lots of stories or heard lots of comments about our things to come for Ferrari. Vettel reckoned Ferrari underperformed car being the best, or we have the fastest car,” Hamilton said. at Silverstone anyway, and a clean weekend at Spa with a car that “But I think it’s very difficult for anyone to truly say that, featured some seemingly very useful aerodynamic and mechanical because there are definitely areas where we’re faster and revisions put the team right in the mix. areas where they’re faster, and it varies from race to race. Even negating the estimated two tenths of a second Vettel “They’ve have the most consistent season, hence why they gained from being towed by team-mate Raikkonen in Q3, he have been in a clear lead in the championship. While we’ve had qualified within half a second of Hamilton’s pole time at Spa – a very, very solid, well-put-together weekend, it was only just a clear improvement over Silverstone when you consider enough to stay ahead. I hope we have more to come, and we Mercedes ran new engines in Belgium and Ferrari did not. need more to come in order to win this thing for sure.” Ferrari must surely be planning to throw everything it has at This was not the way it was supposed to play out here. Spa the SF70H for its home race at Monza next time out. If it can close should have been nailed-on Mercedes territory, the sort of fast- the qualifying deficit to Mercedes with its next development, and-flowing track where Hamilton – armed with a new, more then Ferrari stands a real chance of becoming an even bigger powerful, Mercedes engine – should have rammed home the threat on the remaining high-speed circuits that place a premium sort of advantage he enjoyed while dominating the British GP in on the sort of efficiency Mercedes has become renowned for. July. There, on the high-speed sweeps of Silverstone, Hamilton Vettel will most likely need more pole positions if he is to stem was on pole by more than half a second, and could stretch away the flow of the rising Hamilton tide. Spa was Hamilton’s seventh from Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari seemingly at will in the race. pole in 12 races; Vettel only has two, and pole certainly proved

16 AUGUST 31 2017 key to the outcome of this race. Hamilton just about race, but this weekend we definitely didn’t have the race pace. controlled proceedings from the front, after acing the start He [Vettel] was able to follow way too close, and even on the and successfully repelling Vettel’s advances on the first pushing laps he was able to stay within a tenth. So there was no run along the Kemmel straight to Les Combes. room for error – that was the smallest bit of breathing space The surprising thing is that Hamilton then proved unable that I had, and I had to try to utilise it.” to drop Vettel, who spent all bar a couple of the 44 laps of this Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff revealed that his squad race (excluding the pitstop phase) running within two seconds deliberately compromised its qualifying set-up for this grand prix of his main rival. The truncated long running during Friday practice in pursuit of strong race pace. This tactic paid off, but required a suggested Ferrari looked strong in race trim, and Hamilton simply monumental effort from Hamilton to be quickest of all through the couldn’t shake Vettel loose, despite running in clean air at the front. twists of sector two with downforce trimmed out in qualifying, “The car is not quite where we need it,” Hamilton said. “It’s where team-mate Valtteri Bottas was slower than both Ferraris. obviously great in qualifying trim, but in the race generally “It was particularly difficult because we had to balance our struggles. But in the last race qualifying trim was not good, and qualifying performance versus the race performance, and we’ve in the race I was very strong. It’s strange – it varies from race to given up qualifying performance in the second sector in order to

AUGUST 31 2017 17 F1/BELGIAN GRAND PRIX REPORT

Vettel kept the pressure on relentlessly

have that advantage in the race,” Wolff explained. “We opted for Although he applied relentless pressure from behind, Vettel’s a set-up that would be the quicker race set-up. We sacrificed only other real chance to steal this race away from Hamilton came downforce for qualifying, [which] means we left lap time on at the safety-car restart on lap 34, with 11 to go. The leaders pitted the table in the second sector to have a quicker car in sector for fresh tyres under the safety car, which was called so marshals one and sector three, and that proved to be the right decision.” could clear debris from the track after the two Force collided Hamilton was 0.063s per lap faster than Vettel on average spectacularly on the approach to Eau Rouge. through the first stint on ultra-softs, but Vettel enjoyed a 0.099s Hamilton was perturbed by the decision, suggesting it was an edge during the middle stint on soft tyres. During the final sprint “unnecessary”, ‘NASCAR-style’ call designed to spice up the to the flag after the safety-car restart, with Hamilton on soft tyres closing stages of the race, but Wolff reckoned Hamilton’s life and Vettel on ultra-softs, Hamilton was 0.181s per lap faster. would have been even harder without it. This suggests Mercedes judged this race to perfection, giving “It would have been a less comfortable race because we needed to Hamilton just enough from decide whether to pit Lewis his car to keep Vettel at bay, with the blister on the rear despite the compromises “I am very, very happy. tyre,” Wolff revealed. “It was made. But we must also not a critical blister, but consider the Hamilton there were 14 laps left and it factor here. Bottas was I don’t think we have a would have put us in a very nowhere near challenging difficult situation. So, as for victory, and ultimately circuit we should fear” annoying as the safety car finished a lowly fifth after looked at first, it was getting mugged by Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull and the actually optimum for us at that stage of the race for Lewis.” recovering Ferrari of Raikkonen after the safety-car restart. But Hamilton did not face the restart on the optimum tyre Hamilton carried the Mercedes fight single-handed at Spa, compound. Mercedes had run out of new ultra-softs thanks to where Vettel admitted that Ferrari was a team transformed after making an extra run in Q2, so opted for another set of soft tyres the drubbing it suffered at Mercedes’ hands at Silverstone. rather than risking used ultras. The Mercedes is very comfortable “Overall the car was very good,” said Vettel. “We didn’t change on the soft compound generally compared to its rivals, but that tyre too much compared to Silverstone, which shows on the one hand has a high operating temperature range compared to the super-soft that Silverstone was just a bad weekend, but we improved the car and ultra-soft, which makes it difficult to get working if you’re also – especially the race pace, very strong. We were on average a stuck behind the safety car at slow speed… second off, or nearly a second off, at Silverstone, so it’s a big step. No doubt this also played its part in Hamilton’s ire. Bottas I’m very, very happy. I think we are on the right track and I don’t described being on this tyre behind the safety car as “pretty much think we have a circuit we should fear, going from now.” driving on ice”, and it looked as though Hamilton might lose the

18 AUGUST 31 2017 QUALIFYING

LEWIS HAMILTON IS NOW UNSURPASSED AS FORMULA 1’S qualifying king. The Mercedes driver scored his 68th pole position in grand prix racing at the Belgian Grand Prix, equalling the great Michael Schumacher’s record with an outstanding performance. Hamilton trailed Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari by two tenths of a second after the final practice session on Saturday morning at Spa, but moved into the ascendency at the start of qualifying and never looked back. He was 0.091s clear of title rival Sebastian Vettel in Q1 on the super-soft tyre, and impressively broke through the 1m43s barrier for the first time in Q2. Hamilton repeated the feat on his first run in Q3, leading Raikkonen and Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas by more than three tenths of a second. Hamilton found even more time on his second Q3 run, clinching pole with a stunning 1m42.553s effort. He was mighty through the middle sector in Mercedes’ low-downforce trim, quicker than the Ferraris and well clear of Bottas. It was Schumacher-esque. “I remember coming here in 1996 for my first GP and watching Michael coming by out of Turn 1 and the engine shook my rib cage,” Hamilton said. “It was incredible and that is when my love of the sport took another step. Now, to have equalled him on poles is surreal – particularly knowing “Michael is such Michael is such a legend. It is an incredible feat he achieved a legend. I’m so and I am very proud to be up there with him.” proud to be up In many ways, Vettel is there with him” Schumacher’s natural successor at Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton fittingly pushed Hamilton hardest in the end, but it was no real contest. Vettel languished in fourth after the first runs in Q3, but pulled things together on his second run, taking the benefit of a helpful tow from team-mate Raikkonen in the final sector to beat Bottas to second on the grid. “I had a little bit of a light front end, especially through sector two with the medium-speed and high-speed corners,” said Vettel, whose 1m42.795s lap made him the only driver other than Hamilton to lap below 1m43s. “I was lacking a little bit of response, but on the last lap the car was more alive. I admit I was a bit lucky race to Vettel after understeering wide at La Source on those cold Bottas was flummoxed with Kimi, who had to abort the lap. He gave me a very, very nice tyres after the restart. The Ferrari homed in as they blasted up Eau by his lack of pace in tow, which made it a bit more comfortable with Valtteri.” Rouge and drew alongside on the run to Les Combes, but couldn’t qualifying and the Bottas improved to a 1m43.094s best on his own final run, but quite gain enough momentum to make a crucial pass for the lead. race, and could finish was “confused” as to why he struggled for grip in the middle sector no higher than fifth “My restart in the initial part was too good,” said Vettel. “I was compared to Hamilton, despite running near-identical set-ups. too close. We know they have very good straightline speed in their He ended up relegated to the second row. qualifying mode and at the start of the race I obviously felt how As did Raikkonen, who held a provisional front-row spot after the strong they were up the hill, so I did not want to be too far [away] first runs in Q3, despite suffering vibrations from the rear of his car, either. Finding that optimum is difficult.” but messed up on his final Q3 run while “two and a half tenths up” Hamilton revealed he engaged the wrong engine mode at the on his previous lap. A clean lap would have been just enough to initial phase of his restart, as he attempted to give Vettel the slip beat Bottas to third but, knowing it was ruined by “getting sideways by accelerating hard out of Blanchimont. in Turn 9”, Raikkonen aborted and spontaneously decided to assist “I was able to catch him out, as I did in Baku, but didn’t have his team-mate to the front row of the grid instead. Schumacher the right power mode,” Hamilton said. “I pulled away initially, would surely appreciate that sacrifice to the singular Ferrari cause. then he started catching me up into the last corner.

AUGUST 31 2017 19 F1/BELGIAN GRAND PRIX REPORT

“TEAMS HAD TO DESIGN THEIR 2017 CARS AROUND EAU ROUGE”

Pouhon has long been Spa’s great challenge

Pouhon

SPA IS ONE OF GRAND PRIX Hamilton. “It’s a kink. Not racing’s legendary circuits even a corner anymore.” – fast and flowing, the sort Early in last year’s race, of track that should stretch with fuel tanks full, Kevin Formula 1 cars to their limits Magnussen found out the hard and test the bravery and way how fearsome Eau Rouge skill of the drivers. can still be, but the massive In the first instance, this increase in downforce on this is still absolutely true. Force year’s machines, as engineers India technical director Andy predicted, has increased Green says the current breed cornering speeds to the point of F1 car – faster but also where some are eff ectively heavier than ever – generated rendered extensions of the a little more mixed. braking to slow the car Alonso admitted some 30% higher g-forces at Spa straights before them. Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari slightly and help it turn. surprise that Spa didn’t feel this year. According to Green, That was true of Copse at comes through without a hint The Red Bulls, Toro Rossos as diff erent in these new cars teams had to design their 2017 Silverstone (eventually) and of of a lift on a flying lap on ultra- and McLaren- also as places such as the Red Bull cars around Eau Rouge, a Eau Rouge immediately in first soft tyres – really maximising sound close to flat, but they Ring, Silverstone and the corner ingrained in F1 folklore. practice in Belgium. Further the Ferrari’s downforce. approach noticeably slower. Hungaroring, but that doesn’t Eau Rouge may well be around the track at Pouhon Hamilton’s Mercedes also When Fernando Alonso mean it’s lost any of its lustre. more challenging for F1 cars – the fearsome double left - sounds highly committed, finally takes this corner at “It’s always fun,” he says. than ever, but for drivers it hander that has long been but both he and team-mate full throttle in qualifying, his “It’s probably the best circuit is no longer to be feared. Spa’s greatest cornering Valtteri Bottas arrive a gear Honda’s ERS is so confused in the world, so every lap you “It’s very easy,” says Lewis challenge – the picture is lower, using the engine it doesn’t work properly! do here is magic.”

Spa win required maximum eff ort from Hamilton

20 AUGUST 31 2017 Hamilton has good reason to fear Ferrari

“Initially it felt like that’s a mistake, but it was actually a really inconsistent, and Hamilton is having to drive out of his skin to good thing, because if I’d come out of the last corner with that gap, take the fight to Vettel in the title race. Hamilton knows Ferrari’s he would have had the momentum, being three or four car lengths impressive pace on this kind of archetypal Mercedes track behind, to really get a good tow and slip past me. suggests this battle is going all the way. “We got into Turn 1 [La Source], I had very cold tyres, so I had “I know the difficulties that may be ahead,” Hamilton added. a small lock-up. He was on the gas before me, I could hear him, “Ferrari were quicker today, so I’m a little bit cautious mentally, and then as we were going down that straight I didn’t keep it knowing that we might not be the quickest everywhere up ahead, fully lit the whole way, I was at 90% throttle, just to keep him and I’m trying to figure out how we apply positive energy to my as close as possible. guys to encourage them to bring some more magic in these next “I knew he wasn’t going to eight races, so we can come by, because he knows win. It’s going to take I would overtake him at the everything from every top part with the tow. As we “It was like nine or 10 laps single one of us to finish were going up Eau Rouge, these next eight races that’s where I really gave of qualifying – heavy, fast and come out on top.” it maximum power. He had Meanwhile, Ferrari no space to really propel laps to continue that gap” should take enormous himself, so he just pulled encouragement from out alongside. It was a cool this near-miss. As battle, but it was really great to go into Turn 5 [Les Combes] having Raikkonen said in the aftermath of Spa: “People expected done just enough to stay ahead. I was really happy with that. that it would easily be a Mercedes circuit, but it wasn’t, “After that it was like nine or 10 laps of qualifying – heavy, so we’re doing the right things.” fast laps to try to continue with that gap. He was very quick, That’s why Ferrari can feel like it still claimed a victory of he had the better tyre, so I had to pull out some really good sorts in the Belgian GP, defying expectations to put Mercedes laps to stay ahead of him.” under severe pressure on the sort of circuit at which the silver It was clear after this race that Hamilton knew he’d been in a cars should have dominated. real dogfight, that Ferrari’s impressive rate of progress is clear Sure, Hamilton just about won the battle in the end, but the way cause for concern at Brackley. The Mercedes is fast, but still things are going, Vettel may well still end up winning the war.

AUGUST 31 2017 21 F1/BELGIAN GRAND PRIX STORIES OF THE RACE war may mean race ban ESTEBAN OCON DRAMATICALLY disappointed” by Ocon’s comments claimed his Force India team-mate and claimed he was not at fault for Sergio Perez “tried to kill me” in the second incident. Ocon tweeted the Belgian Grand Prix, as two on Monday that he appreciated the on-track collisions at Spa led Mexican apologising. their team to threaten race bans. It was the third grand prix this NOW-OR-NEVER Ocon was sent briefly airborne season in which the drivers have hit on the run down to Eau Rouge on the each other. After a team-orders row MOVE PUTS opening lap when Perez reacted to in they collided in the Renault of Nico Hulkenberg on Azerbaijan, and again at the start RICCIARDO ON his left-hand side and moved right, of the Hungarian GP. pushing Ocon into the inside wall. Force India chief operating officer THE PODIUM But they collided again Otmar Szafnauer said immediately unnecessarily later in the race when after the Belgian GP that the team DANIEL RICCIARDO SAID HE KNEW Perez squeezed Ocon exiting La would no longer let the duo race each he had to pounce on Valtteri Source, as they fought over a net other and would implement strict Bottas at the safety-car restart to seventh, and broke the Frenchman’s orders from the pitwall – but said it “capitalise” on the Mercedes’ tyre front wing. That cut Perez’s right- was willing to go further when asked disadvantage and steal a Belgian rear tyre and forced him into an if it would consider race bans. Grand Prix podium. eventual retirement, while Ocon “Yes,” he said. “If it happens again, In the first stint Ricciardo had to change his wing and we have to figure it out. We would struggled with blistering tyres on eventually finished ninth. have to start thinking about who his underpowered Red Bull, but After the race, Ocon said Perez we would stick in the car. moved from sixth to fourth thanks “risked our lives”, then tweeted “That is it. I am disappointed that to his team-mate Max Verstappen “Perez tried to kill me two times”. they couldn’t sort it out, that the retiring early and a stop/go penalty In a video, Perez said he was “very team has to now play big brother.” for Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen. When the safety car set up an eight-lap sprint at the end, Ricciardo was on ultra-soft s, and, as Bottas complained of “driving on ice” trying to keep temperature Raikkonen serves ‘pointless’ penalty in his soft tyres, Ricciardo set up to attack the Finn immediately. A “POINTLESS” STOP/GO PENALTY CONTRIBUTED been lying fourth at the time, it would likely have been “I knew if we were going to have to Kimi Raikkonen missing out on celebrating his new Raikkonen using ultra-soft tyres to steal the final podium a podium, it was happening on the Ferrari contract with a podium finish at Spa. place from the soft-shod Bottas, not Ricciardo. restart,” Ricciardo said. “Once his The stewards ruled Raikkonen “made no attempt “I knew there was a yellow flag but the car was at tyres got up to temperature it would to significantly reduce his speed” passing yellow flags least halfway behind the barrier,” Raikkonen said. “I have been hard to do something.” for Max Verstappen’s stricken Red Bull on the didn’t go faster but I didn’t lift on the straight. It Ricciardo draft ed Bottas on the Kemmel Straight early on. was pointless to get penalised for that.” Kemmel Straight and moved left , Raikkonen dropped from fourth to seventh after Raikkonen had been stronger than team-mate just before Raikkonen used his tow taking the penalty but repassed Esteban Ocon and Nico Sebastian Vettel through practice and the first two from the Mercedes and the Red Hulkenberg, then went three-abreast with Daniel parts of qualifying, but suffered mystery “vibrations” Bull to attack Bottas on the inside. Ricciardo and Valtteri Bottas after the safety-car restart, in Q3 that limited him to fourth in qualifying but Aft er Ricciardo managed to nicking fourth from the Mercedes at Les Combes. Had he were cured for the race. sweep around the outside of both to take third he held off the Ferrari to score his sixth podium of the season and ensure he left with “no questions or doubts in my head, like ‘if I tried that’ or ‘I should have done this’.”

22 AUGUST 31 2017 Verstappens at Renault angry after finalpractice, while ’s Toro Rosso power-unit change for featured acomplete weekend forRenaultthat or aspark-plug issue”. said looked like “a sensor boss Christian Horner with what RedBullteam eight while runningfifth, out ofthegrand prixonlap season inBelgium. mechanical failure ofthe father Jos after afourth said theDutchman’s poor reliability continues, “won’t last” ifRenault’s relationship withRedBull MAX VERSTAPPEN’S SUTTON It came onatough Verstappen was forced sit down witheach other, and thenmaybe we needto need to calm down forabit season forMax. could besalvaged from this Verstappen said “nothing” channel Ziggo Sport, situation withRenault. Bull can turn around its to question whether Red he andhissonare starting while Verstappen Srsaid needed to “sort itout”, reliability was “dire” andit ahead ofFP3. received new engines both Verstappen andRenault’s He added: “I thinkwe all Speaking to Dutch TV Horner saidRenault’s not at atop team.” able to happen, certainly again. Thisshouldnotbe at thesideoftrack or eightlaps, he’s standing behind theFerraris. team-mate andhe’s just second quicker thanhis he’sin qualifying, halfa are going like this.” whole timewhen things yourself motivated the question everything”. admitted: “You dostart to leave RedBull, Verstappen things keep going like this.” because thiswon’t last if “And then, after seven “He’s doingvery well “It’s tough to keep Asked ifhissonmight

SUTTON Bottas struggles need astrong weekend there. is evenmore low-downforce, sowedefinitely compared to thehigh-downforce tracks. Monza car ingeneral isbetter onthesetypesoftracks Our They haveshowntheyare quickeverywhere. We neverthoughtthiswouldn’t suittheircar. Were you concerned by Ferrari? butit’swins it, abitearly. really make sure that at least oneoftheguys team wants to really go for the championship, well. For sure, at somepointIunderstand ifthe position andescape thenit’s inmyhandsas If Iperform well,ifImanage to get thepole and mayhave to helpLewis? Do you feel you’ve lost championshiphopes at all.Iwasn’t happyaboutit. normally doingandwe’re not workingthetyres we havenow, it’s somuchoff For meitdidfeel slow. like itwentvery Thecars Was thesafety car too slow? took another lapto get thetyres to work. 5 butstill didn’t stop thecar, wentstraight, andit guys came both sides.Itriedto brake late for Turn cover at Turn 1.Ihadpoorgrip, abad exit and the the last corner Ihadpoortraction andIhadto It felt like drivingonice underthesafety car. From What happenedat therestart, losing two places? definitely losingoutontraction. of thelast corner andoutofTurn 1Iwas Vettel and34adriftofLewis Hamilton. but heisnow 41points behindSebastian break hadedged Bottas into title contention, who were onultra-softs. by DanielRicciardo andKimiRaikkonen, mugged onsofttyres at thesafety car restart qualifying andrunningthird before getting toughest races forMercedes at Spa. VALTTERI BOTTAS ENDURED ONEOFHIS Five straight podiumsbefore thesummer The Finnwas offthepace allweekend, MERCEDES DRIVER VALTTERI BOTTAS I was behindKimithat out answers. Icould seewhen I don’t know, Ihaveno where Iwas losingout. It was diff diff Can you explain your Q&A icult race? thepace we’re icult to seeexactly F1/BELGIAN GRAND PRIX STORIES OF THE RACE

Palmer: I was forced off track by Alonso JOLYON PALMER BELIEVES FERNANDO Palmer said a precedent had been set when retired with a suspected engine problem. Alonso deserved a penalty in the Belgian Grand Magnussen was given a time penalty for Palmer was labelled “a different guy” by Prix for a pass that was “identical” to Kevin pushing Hulkenberg wide in the Hungarian GP, Renault as he outpaced team-mate Hulkenberg Magnussen’s controversial move on Nico prompting their “suck-my-balls” post-race row. through practice and qualifying before suffering Hulkenberg in Hungary. Palmer said Alonso “forced me off the track a gearbox failure in Q3. A gearbox-change Alonso passed Palmer for 12th at Rivage pretty clearly… If you ask me there’s nothing penalty dropped him from 10th to 14th on the midway through the race and held the Renault between that and what Kevin did to Hulk.” grid. He had to start on used ultra-softs as he had out wide, which also allowed the Toro Rosso Any penalty for Alonso would have to be made it to Q3 – those around him began on fresh of Carlos Sainz Jr to pass Palmer. retrospective, as the two-time world champion tyres – and he could do no better than 13th.

Alonso slates Honda, parks car FERNANDO ALONSO ‘spec 3.5’ Honda engine in also got retired from the Belgian GP a straight line over the a small reliability update that because of what he called an radio, calling it “really took him to engine ‘spec 3.6’. “engine problem”, but Honda embarrassing” and labelling Then Honda uncovered claims nothing on its data the race “just a test”. a problem after Friday suggested there was an issue. Having dropped to 12th, practice, so gave Vandoorne Alonso made a great start he was told there was no rain a new internal-combustion from 10th to run seventh on the radar, and shortly engine, MGU-K, turbo and early on, but slipped down after he came into the pits, MGU-H, taking his engine Grosjean and Massa the field as other drivers ending an “impossible” race. back to the same spec as easily drafted past him on It was a dismal weekend Alonso’s, and his total grid capitalise on chaos the Kemmel Straight. for Honda. Both drivers penalty for his home race He slammed the had the updated internal- to 65. From last on the grid THE CLASHING FORCE INDIAS MIXED UP THE performance of the upgraded combustion engine, while Vandoorne finished 14th. midfield order and helped steal seventh and net unlikely points. Grosjean was fighting for 10th for the first half of the grand prix, but gained ground as Fernando Alonso dropped back and Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez collided. That allowed the Haas driver through to seventh, while Felipe Massa made the most of other drivers’ strife to rise from 16th on the grid to eighth. It meant the Brazilian banked points at the end of another difficult weekend for Williams that included Massa suggesting it was “going backwards”. Carlos Sainz Jr said 10th place “tasted like glory”, after sneaking ahead of (Haas) and works Renault driver Jolyon Palmer, to steal a point at a tough grand prix for the underpowered, Renault- engined Toro Rosso team.

24 AUGUST 31 2017 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX TECH FOCUS/F1

DRAWING BOARD BY GIORGIO PIOLA

VERSTAPPEN RED BULL’S ‘F3’ WING TESTS

Aerodynamically, Spa challenges for the teams. demands a compromise. The airflow coming off Sectors one and three the front-wing assembly contain long straights, is what dictates the aero while sector two – which performance of the rest of includes dramatic corners the car. Red Bull tried two such as Pouhon – is all diff erent configurations, about downforce and grip. both trimmed at the trailing Reduced rear-wing levels edge of the rearmost flap. are not what anyone wants, This is an area with the but it is the only way to minimum influence on the reduce the aerodynamic bargeboard area and the drag to an acceptable level. wake coming off the trailing The aim is to reach the edge of the wing assembly. top speeds required to By doing this, the team overtake someone into Les hoped the rest of the car’s Combes or the Bus Stop. aero map would perform as If the rear wing is intended, though Daniel trimmed out, the front wing Ricciardo likened the also needs some treatment performance of the set-up to allow the car to remain he tried in practice to that balanced. This is probably of a Formula 3 car. one of the most diff icult GARY ANDERSON RICCIARDO

BIG PUSH FOR FERRARI FRONT- Aft er getting a thrashing turn produces more that would normally be WING FLAP from Mercedes (or at underbody downforce. pulled under the floor TRIM least Lewis Hamilton) Since the underbody is one into the diff user area at Silverstone, another of the most eff icient ways and redirect it around high-speed track, Ferrari to produce downforce, the outside of the rear had a lot of work to do getting more out of it tyre, eff ectively acting in preparation for Spa. allows you to run with like a skirt sealing Firstly, it revised the a smaller rear wing. the underfloor. louvres on the underfloor Ferrari has shift ed from Ferrari also re profiled just in front of the rear tyre. seven slots to six and the its front-wing endplates, This area is very important rear one is now L-shaped a circuit-specific move in allowing the cars to run – very similar to Mercedes’. to balance out the aero. with more rake, which in These reduce the airflow GARY ANDERSON MERCEDES: ‘IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT’ Mercedes knew it had the vortex that improves the upper hand on high-speed eff iciency of aerodynamic circuits, so it didn’t get components downstream. too adventurous at Spa. Interestingly, Mercedes Apart from an engine retained its double- update for both cars, element T-wing at Spa. Mercedes also made Since this is a very simple a small front-wing flap component to remove, trim to get the balance Mercedes must either be required for a reduced happy with the eff iciency level of rear wing. of it, or has decided that REAR SLOT The small slot gap the way it interacts with the L-SHAPED shown in the ‘snowplough’ airflow coming off the rear trailing-edge section under wing remains of value to the the nose was added a few overall performance of the REAR WING NOW HAS SIX SLOTS races ago. The purpose of car at a circuit such as this. this is to set up a small GARY ANDERSON

AUGUST 31 2017 25 F1/BELGIAN GRAND PRIX RESULTS

2 Vettel #5 4 Raikkonen #7 6 Ricciardo #3 8 Perez #11 10 Alonso #14 STARTING 1m42.795s 1m43.270s 1m43.863s 1m45.244s 1m45.090s GRID 1 Hamilton #44 3 Bottas #77 5 Verstappen #33 7 Hulkenberg #27 9 Ocon #31 11 Grosjean #8 1m42.553s 1m43.094s 1m43.380s 1m44.982s 1m45.369s 1m45.133s

Race results / 44 laps – 191 .424 miles Fastest laps

POS DRIVER TEAM FINISH TIME LED TYRES TIME IN PITS POS DRIVER TIME GAP LAP 1 Lewis Hamilton (GB) Mercedes 1h24m42.820s 41 44.394s 1 Vettel 1m46.577s -41 2 Sebastian Vettel (D) Ferrari +2.358s 3 48.093s 2 Hamilton 1m46.603s +0.026s 35 3 Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Red Bull-Renault +10.791s 46.080s 3 Ricciardo 1m47.549s +0.972s 44 4 Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari +14.471s 1m15.869s 4 Bottas 1m47.721s +1.144s 37 5 Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Mercedes +16.456s 45.882s 5 Raikkonen 1m47.730s +1.153s 36 6 Nico Hulkenberg (D) Renault +28.087s 47.046s 6 Perez 1m48.300s +1.723s 27 7 Romain Grosjean (F) Haas-Ferrari +31.553s 45.681s 7 Hulkenberg 1m48.922s +2.345s 39 8 Felipe Massa (BR) Williams-Mercedes +36.649s 45.759s 8 Grosjean 1m49.087s +2.510s 37 9 Esteban Ocon (F) Force India-Mercedes +38.154s 1m16.210s 9 Magnussen 1m49.126s +2.549s 36 10 Carlos Sainz (E) Toro Rosso-Renault +39.447s 48.465s 10 Palmer 1m49.283s +2.706s 44 11 Lance Stroll (CDN) Williams-Mercedes +48.999s 47.806s 11 Massa 1m49.637s +3.060s 37 12 Daniil Kvyat (RUS) Toro Rosso-Renault +49.940s 45.785s 12 Kvyat 1m49.708s +3.131s 39 13 Jolyon Palmer (GB) Renault +53.239s 50.876s 13 Sainz 1m49.709s +3.132s 39 14 Stoff el Vandoorne (B) McLaren-Honda +57.078s 53.081s 14 Ocon 1m49.721s +3.144s 37 15 Kevin Magnussen (DK) Haas-Ferrari +1m07.262s 1m09.473s 15 Vandoorne 1m49.907s +3.330s 44 16 Marcus Ericsson (S) Sauber-Ferrari +1m09.711s 1m11.012s 16Stroll 1m50.543s +3.966s 41 17 Sergio Perez (MEX) Force India-Mercedes 42 laps-damage 1m18.457s 17 Ericsson 1m50.775s +4.198s 25 R Fernando Alonso (E) McLaren-Honda 25 laps-engine 24.158s 18 Verstappen 1m51.022s +4.445s 5 R Max Verstappen (NL) Red Bull-Renault 7 laps-engine - 19 Alonso 1m51.720s +5.143s 12 R (D) Sauber-Ferrari 2 laps-suspension - 20 Wehrlein no time

WEATHER Dry, cloudy; track 32C, air 22C WINNER’S AVERAGE SPEED 135.572mph FASTEST LAP AVERAGE SPEED 147.006mph. New Used Ultra-softSuper-soft Soft Medium Hard Wet Intermediate

4 6 6 21 30 68 100 Hamilton equalled Hulkenberg equalled Both Verstappen and Ocon has now racked Vettel claimed the Hamilton equalled Sainz racked up the record for F1 pole the best result for Alonso notched up up 21 consecutive 30th fastest lap Schumacher’s his 100th point positions at Spa, Renault since it their sixth retirements classified finishes of his F1 career record for pole in F1, making him alongside Michael returned to F1 as a of the season since starting his F1 positions in F1 – in the 77th driver to Schumacher and works team with sixth (including Alonso’s career at Spa last year 43 fewer attempts reach this mark DNS in )

Lap chart / What happened, when

1 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 44 Hamilton Vettel Bottas Raikkonen Verstappen Ricciardo Hulkenberg Perez Ocon Alonso Grosjean Magnussen Sainz Palmer Stroll Massa Ericsson Wehrlein Kvyat Vandoorne

P Pitstop C Crash M Mechanical failure P + Penalty Black Flag Red FlagSafety car Car lapped

26 AUGUST 31 2017 12 Magnussen #20 14 Palmer #30 16 Massa #19 18 Wehrlein #94 20 Vandoorne #2 1m45.400s no time 1m45.823s 1m47.679s no time SEASON 13 Sainz #55 15 Stroll #18 17 Ericsson #9 19 Kvyat #26 1m45.439s 1m46.915s 1m47.214s 1m46.028s STATS

Qualifying 1 Qualifying 2 Qualifying 3 Drivers’ championship POS DRIVER TIME POS DRIVER TIME POS DRIVER TIME 1 Vettel 220 1 Hamilton 1m44.184s 1 Hamilton 1m42.927s 1 Hamilton 1m42.553s 2 Hamilton 213 2 Vettel 1m44.275s 2 Bottas 1m43.249s 2 Vettel 1m42.795s 3 Bottas 179 3 Verstappen 1m44.535s 3 Raikkonen 1m43.700s 3 Bottas 1m43.094s 4 Ricciardo 132 4 Raikkonen 1m44.729s 4 Verstappen 1m43.940s 4 Raikkonen 1m43.270s 5 Raikkonen 128 6 Verstappen 67 5 Bottas 1m44.773s 5 Vettel 1m43.987s 5 Verstappen 1m43.380s 7 Perez 56 6 Ricciardo 1m45.114s 6 Ricciardo 1m44.224s 6 Ricciardo 1m43.863s 8Ocon 47 7 Ocon 1m45.277s 7 Palmer 1m44.843s 7 Hulkenberg 1m44.982s 9 Sainz 36 8 Perez 1m45.244s 8 Hulkenberg 1m45.280s 8 Perez 1m44.894s 10 Hulkenberg 34 9 Sainz 1m45.374s 9 Hulkenberg 1m44.988s 9 Ocon 1m45.369s 11 Massa 27 10 Vandoorne 1m45.441s 10 Ocon 1m45.006s 10 Palmer no time 12 Grosjean 24 11 Palmer 1m45.447s 11 Alonso 1m45.090s 13 Stroll 18 12 Magnussen 1m45.535s 12 Grosjean 1m45.133s 14 Magnussen 11 13 Perez 1m45.591s 13 Magnussen 1m45.400s 15 Alonso 10 14 Alonso 1m45.668s 14 Sainz 1m45.439s 16 Wehrlein 5 15 Grosjean 1m45.728s 15 Vandoorne no time 17 Kvyat 4 18 Vandoorne 1 16 Massa 1m45.823s 19 Palmer 0 17 Kvyat 1m46.028s 20 Ericsson 0 18 Stroll 1m46.915s 21 Giovinazzi 0 19 Ericsson 1m47.214s 22 Button 0 20 Wehrlein 1m47.679s 23 di Resta 0 WEATHER Dry, cloudy; track 33C, air 23C Constructors’ championship Race briefing 1 Mercedes 392 2 Ferrari 348 GRID PENALTIES unit elements used SPEED Force India 213.0mph 3 Red Bull 199 VANDOORNE 65-place PALMER Five-place Mercedes 4 Force India 103 penalty for additional penalty for 211.6mph TRAP 5 Williams 45 power unit elements replacement gearbox McLaren 209.9mph used and Fastest for each 6 Toro Rosso 40 replacement gearbox RACE PENALTIES constructor Haas 208.5mph 7 Haas 35 WEHRLEIN Five-place RAIKKONEN in qualifying 8 Renault 34 Ferrari 206.6mph penalty for 10-second stop-go 9 McLaren 11 replacement gearbox penalty and three Williams 206.3mph 10 Sauber 5 ERICSSON Five-place points on licence for Toro Rosso 206.1mph penalty for failing to slow for Wins replacement gearbox double waved Renault 205.6mph MASSA Five-place yellow flags Hamilton 5 penalty for failing to PEREZ Five-second Red Bull 205.1mph Vettel 4 slow for yellow flags penalty for leaving Bottas 2 KVYAT 20-place the track and gaining Sauber 201.1mph Ricciardo 1 penalty for an unfair advantage additional power Fastest laps Hamilton 6 Raikkonen 2 Free practice 1 Free practice 2 Free practice 3 Vettel 2 Alonso 1 POS DRIVER TIME POS DRIVER TIME POS DRIVER TIME Perez 1 1 Raikkonen 1m45.502s 1 Hamilton 1m44.753s 1 Raikkonen 1m43.916s 2 Hamilton 1m45.555s 2 Raikkonen 1m45.015s 2 Vettel 1m44.113s Pole positions 3 Vettel 1m45.647s 3 Bottas 1m45.180s 3 Hamilton 1m44.114s Hamilton 7 4 Verstappen 1m46.302s 4 Verstappen 1m45.225s 4 Verstappen 1m45.034s Bottas 2 5 Ricciardo 1m46.352s 5 Vettel 1m45.235s 5 Bottas 1m45.230s Vettel 2 6 Bottas 1m46.424s 6 Ricciardo 1m46.072s 6 Ricciardo 1m45.286s Raikkonen 1 7 Sainz 1m47.446s 7 Hulkenberg 1m46.441s 7 Palmer 1m45.491s 8 Ocon 1m47.670s 8 Ocon 1m46.473s 8 Perez 1m45.857s Qualifying battle 9 Kvyat 1m47.851s 9 Sainz 1m46.561s 9 Sainz 1m45.942s HAM 7 5 BOT 10 Vandoorne 1m47.865s 10 Palmer 1m46.670s 10 Alonso 1m46.060s RIC 4 8 VER 11 Palmer 1m47.930s 11 Alonso 1m46.743s 11 Hulkenberg 1m46.064s VET 9 3 RAI 12 Hulkenberg 1m48.037s 12 Perez 1m46.984s 12 Ocon 1m46.179s PER 10 2 OCO 13 Alonso 1m48.252s 13 Grosjean 1m47.285s 13 Grosjean 1m46.196s STR 1 10 MAS STR 1 0 DIR 14 Perez 1m48.452s 14 Vandoorne 1m47.303s 14 Vandoorne 1m46.300s VAN 1 10 ALO 15 Stroll 1m48.541s 15 Kvyat 1m47.450s 15 Stroll 1m46.620s VAN 0 1 BUT Magnussen Magnussen Massa 16 1m48.615s 16 1m47.556s 16 1m46.667s KVY 5 7 SAI 17 Grosjean 1m48.626s 17 Stroll 1m47.861s 17 Magnussen 1m46.690s GRO 8 4 MAG 18 Ericsson 1m50.160s 18 Ericsson 1m49.214s 18 Kvyat 1m47.903s HUL 12 0 PAL 19 Wehrlein 1m51.263s 19 Wehrlein 1m49.725s 19 Wehrlein 1m48.296s ERI 3 7 WEH 20 Massa no time 20 Massa no time 20 Ericsson 1m48.300s ERI 2 0 GIO

WEATHER Dry, sunny; track 23C, air 18C WEATHER Dry, overcast/rain; track 31C, air 22C WEATHER Dry, cloudy; track 23C, air 21C

AUGUST 31 2017 27 F1/BELGIAN GRAND PRIX DRIVER RATINGS Hamilton’s drive of a champion The Mercedes star had to summon all his resources at Spa, hence his top ranking By Ben Anderson, Grand Prix Editor @BenAndersonAuto

MERCEDES RED BULL FERRARI

LEWIS VALTTERI DANIEL MAX SEBASTIAN KIMI HAMILTON BOTTAS RICCIARDO VERSTAPPEN VETTEL RAIKKONEN 10 Given that 6 Bottas was 8 Was well beaten 8 Started the 9Thanked his team- 7Was Ferrari’s Mercedes “confused” by his by Verstappen in weekend on Red mate for the tow strongest sacrificed downforce in lack of pace. He was qualifying, but recovered Bull’s higher-downforce that got him within 0.25s contender until the final qualifying for race pace, 0.475s down on Hamilton brilliantly. Took the set-up, and put it to of Hamilton in qualifying, Q3 runs, so loses marks Hamilton’s pole lap was through sector two in benefit of his team-mate’s good use by trouncing but drove well enough to because of an error at astounding. On the part qualifying, struggling in bad luck and Raikkonen’s Ricciardo and almost beat Bottas to the front Turn 9. Not a great race of the track where he every corner despite no penalty, but was clinically beating Raikkonen’s row regardless. Vettel either, all told. Safety car should have struggled, he discernible difference decisive passing Bottas Ferrari in qualifying. was at his relentless negated his stop/go was fastest of all. Drove a in set-up. In the race, after the restart, showed Was dropping Ricciardo best in the race, pushing penalty for ignoring superb race under huge getting passed ‘Ricardo strong pace to get into the at two tenths per lap in Hamilton hard all the yellow flags, but his pace pressure and defended Zonta-style’ by two cars mix in the middle stint, the race when yet another way in a tense battle, but was also underwhelming expertly when Vettel at once after the race and was quick enough “unbelievable” Renault just couldn’t find a way in pursuit of Ricciardo. attacked at the restart. restart compounded to keep Raikkonen’s engine failure spoiled to crack Hamilton’s Pass on Bottas was A true champion’s drive. a tough weekend. Ferrari at bay too. Verstappen’s party. imperious defences. Hakkinen-esque, though. FORCE INDIA WILLIAMS McLAREN

SERGIO ESTEBAN LANCE FELIPE STOFFEL FERNANDO PEREZ OCON STROLL MASSA VANDOORNE ALONSO 56778Has to take 8Qualified right Was outclassed by Massa’s weekend The Alonso was on the responsibility for behind Perez Massa, despite lurched between worked together same tenth as the throwing away points again, but lost a likely getting way more practice disasters before ending to progress through Q1, Force Indias in Q2, before here. Made a poor start, seventh-placed finish in. Stroll was well off on a high note. He lost where he was slightly Honda’s ERS got confused inadvertently caused when he tried to pass Massa’s pace in Q1, even most of Friday to a silly quicker than Alonso. by him taking Pouhon flat contact with his team- Perez approaching Eau before rear-wing damage FP1 crash, then copped a Started at the back owing for the first time. Chasing mate on the first run to Rouge and they collided. prevented a second run. grid penalty for ignoring to a huge grid penalty the Red Bulls through Eau Rouge, was penalised Being super-critical, The race was a struggle yellow flags in FP3, which and couldn’t progress Eau Rouge on lap one was for going off-track after maybe Ocon should have too. Got jumped by rendered his valiant bid much because of his car’s Alonso’s only highlight. passing Grosjean, then thought twice given the recovering Sainz early on to make Q2 meaningless. massive straightline- Plummeted from the top squeezed his team-mate lack of trust between and lacked pace. Passed Made good ground early speed deficit. Made 10 as faster cars sailed by again as they fought for them. In any case, now Palmer’s draggy Renault, on and drove a decent the flag at least, which “without even activating position. That move the team must step in and but finished adrift of the race, even if the result was “probably the the DRS”, then parked it ruined Force India’s race. finally sort things out. points in a hobbled car. was a little fortuitous. only positive”. with 19 laps left.

28 AUGUST 31 2017 Verstappen was flying until his engine failed

TORO ROSSO HAAS RENAULT

DANIIL CARLOS ROMAIN KEVIN NICO JOLYON KVYAT SAINZ JR GROSJEAN MAGNUSSEN HULKENBERG PALMER 7Kvyat’s weekend 8Sainz dialled in 8Spa’s rough 687Was slightly quicker Was strangely off You must feel for was ruined by immediately and asphalt and Pirelli’s than Grosjean Palmer’s pace, Palmer, who was engine problems and produced a mega lap to aggressive tyre choice initially in Q2, but suspecting his car’s aero rapid until his gearbox he struggled to “know go ninth in Q1. Matching it alleviated Haas’s chief overdrove at Les Combes was iffy after turning the broke in Q3. Struggled where to put my wheels” in Q2 would have beaten weakness, and Grosjean and fried the tyres, so set-up “upside down, left, to progress after the in qualifying thanks Magnussen’s Haas, so it qualified strongly. Felt ended up adrift. Struggled right, upside down again”. subsequent grid penalty. to lack of track time, was slightly disappointing Q3 was possible but for in the first stint, but Still qualified best of the First stint on worn tyres reacting to his car rather he couldn’t. Recovered losing downforce behind compared well against rest after Palmer’s Q3 was tough, as Massa and than anticipating its well from a tough start to a pitting Vandoorne at the Grosjean on the super- misfortune. Stayed strong Sainz shuffled him back, movements. Was in touch score a point. Had a bit of chicane. Recovered well soft. Lost out to Massa through some “hairy” then got bullied by Alonso with Sainz for much of help from others going from a tricky first lap in in the safety-car-pitstop three-abreast racing with and overtaken by Sainz the race, but kept getting awry, but also made the race to bag a decent phase, then threw points Ocon and Alonso after a (again), Stroll and Kvyat. stuck behind Stroll, then his own luck with two haul of points. A good away by going off at the poor start to easily finish Saturday’s fine form had to fight off Palmer. crucial passes on Stroll. weekend’s work. Bus Stop at the restart. best of the rest again. rescues his score. SAUBER TOP 10 AVERAGE RATING

MARCUS PASCAL ERICSSON WEHRLEIN 8Sauber was in a N/A It’s impossible race of its own to rate his given the deficit of its weekend fairly, given his outdated engine. Ericsson problems. Recovered was generally quickest, from trouble in FP1 to but comparison is hard squeak ahead of Ericsson given Wehrlein’s issues. in FP3 – but Ericsson only Felt like a strong weekend did three laps in that 7.7 7.6 7.6 7.8 7.8 7.5 8.7 8.6 8.4 8.5 from Ericsson, who was session owing to his own not too far off Vandoorne’s technical issue. Suffered OCON OCON SAINZ pace (admittedly on an an engine problem in PEREZ VETTEL VETTEL Hamilton knows BOTTAS offset strategy) before qualifying before broken ALONSO

this was not HAMILTON RICCIARDO RICCIARDO

picking up damage in suspension put him out an easy win VERSTAPPEN HULKENBERG the final stint. two laps into the race.

AUGUST 31 2017 29 RALLYCROSS/GOING ELECTRIC Battery and assault Electric rallycross is on its way soon. But how did Austrian company STARD develop its prototype for this all-action branch of the sport?

By Hal Ridge, Rallycross Correspondent @HalRidgeRX

our years ago, when the funding was outside a specialised technical sphere. But on the back of the pulled from beneath its feet on its 2015 emissions scandal, VW Group marques Audi (World top-secret project, Austrian firm Endurance Championship) and Volkswagen (World Rally STARD thought it had reached the Championship) ended long-term motorsport programmes, and end of the road in its dream to produce focus began to shift towards competing using alternative energy. an electric rallycross car capable of As the leading electric championship, Formula E has attracted taking on the sport’s existing machinery. a raft of manufacturers, boosted in recent months by Mercedes, But the company owned by former Porsche and BMW. But noises are also coming from the dual- Production World Rally champion surface discipline of rallycross to the effect that at least part Manfred Stohl did eventually manage to make up the of its future could lie in electric propulsion too. Fshortfall and complete the first incarnation of its dream: Having previously been tight-lipped on the subject, World the HIPER fully electric rally and rallycross prototype, Rallycross Championship promotor IMG recently revealed that which was officially revealed late last year. it is working with the FIA and several manufacturers on the Many believe that things happen for a reason. Had HIPER introduction of electric rallycross – independent from the been launched when initially intended, the concept may well current two-litre turbocharged World RX Supercar category have arrived too soon to grip the imagination of an audience – which could happen from 2020.

30 AUGUST 31 2017 Rallycross’s short- drivetrain (right) Super 2000shell blast races suit electric power conceals 4WD fully electric Peugeot 207

RALLY RX ALEXANDER TSCHEPPEN the equivalent of544bhp and560lbft. example, 570bhp and480lbftoftorque; HIPERhas Motorsport’s dominantPolo GTI thisseason are, for World RXmachine. Thepublicised figures ofVolkswagen comparable to thoseofacurrent, conventionally powered car inexistence. Itproduces performance figures directly of Vienna ontheconcept’s development. and STARD isalsoworking withtheTechnical University project was initially supported by government funding, are already moving forward withit.” at today. Thisconcept highlights ourcapabilities andwe a lotofwork, butit’s very exciting to beat thepointwe are components that are unmodified, ithasbeenalongtimeand bigger view oftheproject. Intheend, there are nothird-party finances andthird-party components, butthat alsogave usa time to get offtheground, and we hadsomesetbacks, with rallycross,” says STARD CEO MichaelSakowicz. “It lookalong it notbepossibleto make aproper electriccar forrally, or the Austrian Rally Championship. rally campaigns withcompressed natural gas (CNG) cars in the electricdrivetrain. was chosensimply because ofavailability, withthefocuson axles independently. Theplatform onwhich thecar isbased uses aseparate 200-kilowatt motor to drive the front andrear is based onaPeugeot 207 Super2000chassisandcurrently an electricsupportcategory from 2018. based Global Rallycross Championshiplast year that itplans being usedrelate to thecars that you seeevery day ontheroad.” motor racing, because theraces are over quickly andthecars They understand how rallycross lendsitself perfectly to electric rallycross because it’s what themanufacturers are askingfor. will sitintheWorld RXweekend. We’re lookingat electric concept mighttake, what thecars willbelike andwhere it the earliest, butwe’re indiscussions aboutwhat format the says WRXmanagingdirector Paul Bellamy. “It willbe2020 at with theFIA aboutwhat it[electric rallycross] mightlooklike,” cars could run at their maximumcapability 100% ofthetime. four andsixlaps (alapbeingaround akilometre inlength), is theperfectfitforelectricvehicles. With races runbetween endurance. Therein lies oneofthemainreasons why rallycross in Formula Eby therequirement to change cars mid-race, is operate at maximumcapacity foraduration of15 minutes. in-house at Stohl’s facility just outside Vienna. Itcan sits inacage behindthecrew’s seats, hasbeendeveloped differentials at each axle strong enough to deal withthedemands. process, inmakingthesingle-speed and caused some ofSTARD’s biggest headaches inthedevelopment 0-60mph times. Butthat kindofinstant delivery has also internal-combustion rallycross Supercars, renowned forsub-2s is oneofthehuge bonuses ofelectrictechnology, even over deliver 90% ofits maximumtorque. Blink-of-an-eye delivery seconds from torque request (application ofthethrottle) to As things stand, thisistheonly fully electricrallycross The firmhasnotbeentotally aloneinits venture. The “I hadseensomeotherconcepts andthoughtwhy could The idea was conceived in2008, following Stohl’s successful STARD’s fully electricfour-wheel-drive rallycross concept That news followed anannouncement from theAmerican- “We’re talking to anumberofmanufacturers andworking “My emotionforelectric cars was quite poor, and that One ofthekey issues withcurrent EV technology, highlighted The lithium-ionbattery, which incurrent configuration Impressively, ittakes theconverted Peugeot just 0.034 AUGUST 312017 31 RALLYCROSS/GOING ELECTRIC

1 No gear lever, 1 so handbrake 3 takes its place

2 Battery runs at max capacity for 15 minutes

3 Trick third pedal in place of clutch

4 200kW motor puts out 560lb ft of torque

2 4

wasn’t made any better by how hard it was to complete this The fire-breathing monsters of the 1980s are a far cry from project,” says Stohl. “But, when we had the first rollout of the the prospect of significantly quieter electric competition, car, I changed my mind quickly. Five-hundred horsepower but reigning World RX champion Mattias Ekstrom finds is nothing special, but 500 horsepower with no noise… comparisons between the two. “I still remember like yesterday the first time I drove the “Group B in rallying is what many people think about as car. I was so impressed by the torque and the speed it came at, the ‘good old days’,” says the double DTM champion. “For me, especially with no gearchange. Even when testing on a proper rallycross is the good coming days. Here the cars are really rallycross track, it feels like a normal [rallycross] car. Especially fast; the only thing I hope for in the coming years is for cars in dry conditions, I felt it very well straight away. In slippery to become electrically driven, with 1000 horsepower. I think conditions we needed to improve in some areas, but we have that would be the dream for any driver, to have even more done that, which is all part of the development.” power and drive with electric cars because the format suits Putting aside one of the perpetual arguments against electric it perfectly. People want to see fast cars and extreme things vehicles – the lack of noise compared to their fossil-fuelled and I think rallycross offers this today and can also in the brethren – there is no reason why electric rallycross can’t be future with electric cars.” as spectacular, or even more so than with existing machines. Petter Solberg, who won the first two World RX titles in With British and French 2014 and ’15, also believes governments aiming to ban that electric rallycross is the sale of new petrol and now necessary in order to diesel cars from 2040, “What I hope for is for maintain the investment of manufacturers need to manufacturers. “I think it’s develop and promote cars to be electrically going in that direction, for alternative technologies. sure,” he says. “There are With its appeal of enticing driven, with 1000bhp” a lot of meetings going viewers with door-to-door on about it and a lot of action and undulating discussions. I think we circuits with big jumps, rallycross is an ideal arena for such an have to respect that this is how it’s going for the future – not exercise, especially with a younger generation of fans than you that this is going away. If we’re going to keep having support find in some other areas of motorsport. from manufacturers to do the sport, this is the way to go.” Stohl is delighted by the recent announcement that EV The World RX promoter and the FIA will have to work hard technology is going to be adopted into the World RX structure. to ensure, as Formula E has done, that the electric formula is “I think our showcase car is something they [IMG and the FIA] strictly controlled so costs cannot spiral, particularly in light of can take ideas from,” he says. “Things are moving quickly and the pace of development. STARD, for example, is already well we are working hard on this technology. The interest is massive down the road with the next stage in its concept: producing now. Our small company invested a lot of money in the project a four-motor system so each wheel can be driven totally [funding came from a number of sources for a total investment independently, allowing for a huge amount of controllable of almost €2million in research and development, including chassis dynamic characteristics, including torque vectoring. in-house batteries]. In the beginning people were laughing; why Regulations still have to be rubber-stamped, but the do you need this car? But more and more manufacturers are of electric rallycross is coming fast. Just a handful of weeks looking into it and we are happy that it goes in this direction.” ago, it was a question of whether it would ever materialise; The Group B era is arguably what rallycross is best-known for. now it’s only a matter of when.

32 AUGUST 31 2017 ALL PICS: ALEXANDER TSCHEPPEN the noise of silence Behind the wheel: the gear leverto beinamore exactly where you’d expect the car, thelevermounted handbrake isrequired to rotate out byanengine. makes, usually drowned competitionevery car Soundsthat everything. ball joints, brake bells… the transmission, dampers, clunking andknockingfrom are abigger surprise.The the windowonamotorway. like sticking yourhead outof intense windnoiseisbizarre; venue. AndasIget going, the Rallycross Championship the former European the start straight at Greinbach, buttons before Iset offdown HIPER’s various switches and rallycross car. the world’s first fullyelectric noise I’m noticing asIdrive attention; it’s other every motors that grabs my sound emitted from the controlled-car on steroids’ IT’S NOT THE‘RADIO- For the hairpin, a tug of the For thehairpin, atugofthe But theother noises I’m givenaninduction into like something’s missing.It’s without changinggear, itfeels and slowfor corners, but left foot to balance thechassis sensation –braking withmy have to doit! balance, untilyoudon’t under braking effects chassis how muchchangingdown I’ve neverfullyappreciated fundamentally automatic. reminds itself that thecar is gear lever, before my brain heading for theimaginary involuntarily leaves thewheel, particular, myrighthand medium-speed corners in Under braking into the need for agear leverat all. thiscarsingle-speed, hasno conventional machine.Being a motorway” the window on head out of sticking your noise islike “The wind Driving thiscar isastrange torque variations front-to-rear, driven withvarious amounts of laps weundertake. Once I’ve test monkey for someofthe13 most from either. and Icertainly don’t get the Super2000car works-spec good asyou’d expect from a The brakes andchassisare as responsive to throttle inputs. linear andalsoequally isincredibly power delivery the joltofgear changes. The the surge ofturbo-boost or it’s alsosurreal not to feel driven WorldRXSupercars, towards thefirst corner. throttle andI’m hurtling a case ofstanding onthe launch procedure. It’s simply button to holdto initiate the clutch bite-point to find,no inside thecabin, there’s no the fan cooling theelectronics aside from thehummingof start. Surrounded bysilence, acclimatised, Idoa‘launch’ of three-laprunsto get acceleration. After a couple a similarfeeling under I’m honoured to beSTARD’s having This isquickbut, rear-wheel drive. effectively makingthe car to take driveoffthefront axle, the throttle at thesametime can usetheleftpedalwhile on get myhead around it. my few lapsisnot enoughto experience, andI’ll admitthat It’s another peculiarnew the torque to thefront axle. on thethrottle, itdecreases at thesametimeasbeing braking. Butwhenapplied a form ofengine(motor) right foot), italsoworksas at thesametime(with when depressed andbraking energy-regeneration facility the clutch wouldbelocated. third pedal,where traditionally Thonet-Drechsel initiate the chief technical officer Philipp CEO MichaelSakowicz and To balance thechassis,you Not onlydoesthisact asan – willbeevenmore interesting. which willalready be exciting be madeandtheracing – mistakesabout, willinevitably they’ll haveplentyto think third pedalinrace situations, with factors suchasanthe speed are seriouslyimpressive. lap, whiletheacceleration and changes innote around the as adriver–themotor still sound isofnoconsequence is pulledinstantly straight. axle (in0.034s)andthecar full torque goes to thefront wildly sideways;it, asIliftoff the ‘regen’ pedal andgot loose section, I’vedepressed heading onto thecircuit’s remarkable. Ononeoccasion, sensation, buttheresult is on thethrottle isabizarre AUGUST 312017 If drivershaveto contend For me,thelackofengine Pushing theleftpedalwhile chance to bea Ridge relishes ‘test monkey’ 33 Sutton again as title race slims to two- man bout The momentum is with the Subaru man, and it seems that only Turkington can stop him

By Jack Cozens, BTCC Correspondent @JHCozens

n a weekend ‘roval’ for a rear-wheel-drive car. Bizarre. where two “I didn’t expect that,” said Cole. “We mismatched saved all our new tyres for qualifying – super- that’s the reason why [we’re on pole]. I welterweights thought if we got everything right we’d be went head in the top 10. I’ve got a front-wheel-drive to head in a car next to me, which is always good.” fight for the Sure enough, Cole held his lead without ‘Money Belt’, trouble at the start of the race and, it seemed only appropriate that the although chased hard in the OBritish Touring Car Championship’s early laps in his Eurotech Honda Civic EBREY/LAT ALL PICS: title fight was effectively narrowed to a Type R, Cole was afforded a comfortable two-horse race between two cars that are run to his first win as Goff’s tyres went off fundamentally very different machines. in the second half of the race. Cole headed Ashley-Cole! Race two extra two points, which could prove Seven drivers remain in mathematical a BMR one-two, with Sutton, who had winner and new series crucial come the final count at the Brands contention for the crown. But, of the four started fourth, grabbing an unexpected leader heads surprise Hatch finale. Ifs, buts and maybes, but who headed to Rockingham with realistic bonus of second out of the Tarzan hairpin poleman and race-one Cole’s job was another well done. victor at the front shots, it’s the two differing approaches on the final lap after Goff had slewed While Sutton had no chance of of the juggernaut-like Ash Sutton in his wide. With Turkington sixth across the catching his team-mate in race one, he Team BMR Subaru Levorg and smooth, line, Sutton assumed the points lead stamped his authority on race two almost consistent WSR BMW ace Colin – one he would add to over the weekend. immediately, driving around the outside Turkington that sent them clear in the Cole had failed to score a point this of everyone at the Deene hairpin to race points, while problematic events for season before last month’s Snetterton into the lead. The 23-year-old ended the and left round, but four consecutive fifth-place first lap more than two seconds clear of the two almost out for the count. finishes preceded his first triumph. It the rest – no mean feat considering he For all that’s at stake, though, you’d was surely further vindication – beyond was on the harder tyre – and, although have been forgiven on Saturday afternoon Sutton’s meteoric rise up the order – his advantage was wiped out by the for forgetting that there was a title to be of the progress BMR has made with its safety car shortly afterwards, he raced won as James Cole set the timing screens Levorg since the early part of the season. away once more on the restart as those alight. The qualifying pace of the BMR That was as good as it got for the behind him tripped over one another to Subarus has clearly come on in the 29-year-old, who added a 13th and a clinch a sixth win of the season. Next up second half of the season, but many retirement later on, but his moment was the Motorbase Ford of Mat Jackson, might have expected Sutton or Jason in the searing Bank Holiday sun was who in turn just held Turkington at bay. Plato to lead the way in qualifying instead deserved. And although Plato has long Fifth in the finale was, incredibly, of Cole, who had only scored his previous suggested he is keen to play the game Sutton’s worst finish since May’s third best qualifying result of sixth at to assist team-mate Sutton’s bid for round of the season at Thruxton, but Knockhill a fortnight earlier. the title, it was Cole’s roadblock-like it was still enough for him to end the Pole even came after a boost reduction presence in front of Turkington for a weekend with a 12-point championship for the Levorgs for Rockingham and was good chunk of the second Rockingham lead. It was another hugely impressive also the first in qualifying at the Corby race that arguably cost the WSR man an performance from Sutton. He will now

34 AUGUST 31 2017 ROCKINGHAM/BTCC

“Since Brands I’ve really changed my way of racing and I’ve homed in on that” face a different challenge – entering a pulled out a lap right when it mattered to race weekend for the first time with the secure a third-row berth for the opener pressure of leading the points and having – just the sort of lap under pressure that maximum ballast – but said he has no has become expected of the cool-headed plans to alter his approach: “Since Brands Northern Irishman. “We reacted to the [round one] I’ve really changed my way track; the track moved, as everyone felt, of racing and homed in on that. It seems from free practice to qualifying,” he said. to be working! I’m not going to change “We made a quick change and found the that. We’ll rethink that at Brands Hatch, lap time – the car was difficult to drive, maybe, but at the minute I’ll just but we only needed the one lap from it.” continue what I’m doing.” But while that provided an important As had been the case at Knockhill a leg-up for Turkington’s consistent fortnight earlier, consistency was key scoring on Sunday, two sixth-place to Turkington’s weekend. He and WSR finishes and a third weren’t quite up A disconsolate team-mates Collard and Andrew Jordan to scratch for the man who won twice Shedden trudges had typically low-key practice sessions. at the circuit on his way to his most away from his While all three struggled for pace in the recent title in 2014, particularly in damaged Honda early part of qualifying, Turkington the context of Sutton’s 51-point haul.

AUGUST 31 2017 35 Jordan (left) beat Morgan in final COLE ON POLE – AND race of the day BREAKS WIN DUCK

THE BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP unearthed its 11th different winner of the season at Rockingham when James Cole carried the momentum from qualifying on pole position to control the opening race. There were some raised eyebrows up and down the pitlane when Cole managed to plant the estate-shaped Subaru Levorg on pole, but there really shouldn’t have been. He is in one of the most sorted chassis on the grid – as proved by multiple race winner Ash Sutton and Knockhill victor – and he was carrying no success weight into the event as a legacy of his struggles earlier this season. The Liverpudlian had recorded a fifth-placed finish in race three at Snetterton at the end of Turkington had briefly been ahead of one of whom is his team-mate. July, and then three more fifths last time out his adversary for third on the run off the Shedden had all but written off his at Knockhill. The momentum – and crucially, startline in race one, only for Sutton to chances of retaining his title (again) at the confidence – was building. lunge around the outside of the Deene the previous round at Knockhill. But it Looking at the data form his benchmark time at hairpin. Thereafter they went opposite was with his disheartened trudge away Rockingham, Cole’s pole lap was up there among ways through the order, Turkington from his Civic after another retirement in the best. It was no fluke, and nor was it as a result dropping to sixth, but he then displayed race two – this time after contact with of a car that is miles better than the rest in terms a masterclass in perseverance in race two at the Deene hairpin – that of turbocharger boost, as some envious eyes by biding his time behind Cole before it appeared he realised the full extent in other teams were suggesting. pouncing and later clearing Adam of his predicament. Cole was forced to look to his mirrors to hold Morgan and Goff. He finished sixth Last year, it was a stellar Rockingham off a determined Jack Goff early on, but held his again in the finale, albeit crucially after round for Shedden – he scored a win ground until the Dunlops on his rear-wheel-drive allowing Sutton past in the closing laps. and a second – that thrust him back car were fully up to their working temperature. “It’s not easy coming into an event into title contention and kick-started his Once there, he powered away and didn’t look leading the championship with that (successful) bid for a second straight title. like losing his advantage. weight,” reflected Turkington. “I’m But as impressive as his rise to 12th in The turnaround was due a change in attitude pleased with the points we’ve scored, but race three was, the four points Shedden from the driver himself. “When we were searching I’m still a little frustrated; we still have to achieved last weekend leave him 55 for the secrets to unlock the speed from this car, find more pace. We’re still lacking a little behind Sutton with only six races to go. which we struggled with at the start of the season, to properly challenge at the moment. The Subarus didn’t have things all then we were seeking engineering solutions. “There’s no magic, the car is working their own way on Sunday, but Andrew We were trying things that were very different,” well and we’re maximising what we have; Jordan did ensure RWD cars won all three explained Cole. “But then we got the car into an we’re just shy of ultimate pace. It’s going races at the track for the first time since operating window, and then it was time to focus to be tough – all we can do at this stage 2014 with a composed drive to victory in on myself. My engineer [Steve Farrell] decided to is be consistent and keep on scoring.” race three in the third WSR 125i M Sport. stop tweaking the car and focus on me driving it Turkington may well find it tough to Like Collard, Jordan had started the first and getting the most from it. Once I was on top of stop the freight train that is Sutton’s race from outside the points, but kept his it, then we could start looking at pushing on from current form, but he is now likely nose clean to finish 12th, then advanced there. This has been a tough journey in the BTCC, the only man capable of halting the to seventh in race two and was drawn on but finally I feel things are beginning to click.” BMR man after testing weekends at pole for the reversed-grid finale. A month MATT JAMES Rockingham for Collard and Shedden. after the cruellest of electrical failures Both qualified down the order – with prevented him from winning the reversed- Shedden 16th in his Dynamics-run Honda grid race at Snetterton, Jordan banished Civic and Collard a further four places that nightmare and, having eventually back – before coming to blows during seen off what at one point had been a the first encounter. Collard continued to seven-car chasing pack, eased away after a muted 17th in his BMW 125i M Sport, a safety car restart to clinch a third win while Shedden was classified a lap down of the season ahead of Morgan and Plato. in 30th after visiting the pits to change “I couldn’t get the front tyres in, I a flat right-front tyre. couldn’t get the rears in, so I was having Collard fought through the field to go defensive, and when you go on the in typical fashion to finish race two tighter line you’re asking more of the in eighth, which included a brusque tyre to get the car rotating, and I just late-race scrap with Jordan, but was couldn’t lean on it,” said Jordan. “It was eliminated from the finale when he hard work. But then four laps in I came and Goff touched on School Straight, off the chicane with about two car Collard coming to a stop in the Brook lengths and I thought ‘no defending, gravel trap with broken suspension. get your head down and just get The WSR veteran was insistent after into a rhythm’, and I did. the race that life remains in his title bid, “The car was quite difficult to drive, but he now faces an uphill struggle to so I was just keeping a little bit back

ALL PICS: EBREY/LAT ALL PICS: get back on terms with the top two, because it was unpredictable.” ROCKINGHAM/BTCC

RESULTS ROUND 8/10, ROCKINGHAM (GB), AUGUST 27 RACE 1 (16 LAPS – 31.040 MILES)

POS DRIVER TEAM / CAR TIME Consistent Turkington, 1 James Cole (GB) Team BMR · Subaru Levorg 22m49.936s here leading Jackson, 2 Ash Sutton (GB) Team BMR · Subaru Levorg (66kg) +2.571s is still in the chase for the 2017 title 3 Jack Goff (GB) · Honda Civic Type R (15kg) +3.167s

4 Josh Cook (GB) · MG6 +3.308s

5 Matt Neal (GB) · Honda Civic Type R (33kg) +4.946s

6 (GB) WSR · BMW 125i M Sport (75kg) +5.245s

7 Mat Jackson (GB) · Ford Focus (21kg) +7.937s

8 Adam Morgan (GB) Ciceley Motorsport · Mercedes A-Class +8.458s

9 Josh Price (GB) Team BMR · Subaru Levorg +8.698s

10 Jason Plato (GB) Team BMR · Subaru Levorg (9kg) +10.157s

11 Tom Chilton (GB) · Vauxhall +14.234s

12 Andrew Jordan (GB) WSR · BMW 125i M Sport (27kg) +14.976s QUALIFYING 13 (GB) BTC Norlin Racing · Chevrolet Cruze +15.839s 1 Cole 1m23.187s; 2 Goff 1m23.235s; 3 Ingram 1m23.269s; 4 Sutton 14 (GB) AmD Tuning · Audi S3 Saloon +22.248s 1m23.308s; 5 Turkington 1m23.382s; 6 Morgan 1m23.385s; 7 Neal 1m23.450s; 8 Cook 1m23.482s; 9 Chilton 1m23.569s; 10 Plato 1m23.622s; 15 Michael Epps (GB) Team Hard · Volkswagen CC +23.693s 11 M Jackson 1m23.654s; 12 Price 1m23.668s; 13 Taylor-Smith 16 Aron Taylor-Smith (IRL) Triple Eight Racing · MG6 +23.903s 1m23.672s; 14 O Jackson 1m23.680s; 15 Epps 1m23.696s; 16 Shedden 1m23.699s; 17 Newsham 1m23.705s; 18 Jordan 1m23.737s; 19 Whorton- 17 Rob Collard (GB) WSR · BMW 125i M Sport (48kg) +24.200s Eales 1m23.751s; 20 Collard 1m23.824s; 21 Butcher 1m23.861s; 18 Ant Whorton-Eales (GB) AmD Tuning · Audi S3 Saloon +24.870s 22 Proctor 1m23.929s; 23 Austin 1m23.976s; 24 Jelley 1m24.001s; Smiley Smith Simpson 19 (GB) Laser Tools Racing · Mercedes A-Class +31.478s 25 1m24.012s; 26 1m24.111s; 27 1m24.157s; 28 Moffat 1m24.259s; 29 Depper 1m24.299s; 30 Burns 1m24.858s; 20 (GB) BTC Norlin Racing · Chevrolet Cruze +32.048s 31 Hill 1m24.983s; 32 Lines 1m25.520s. 21 Senna Proctor (GB) Power Maxed Racing · Vauxhall Astra +33.655s RACE 2 (18 LAPS – 34.920 MILES) 22 (GB) Motorbase Performance · Ford Focus +35.254s 1 Sutton (66kg) 26m57.861s; 2 M Jackson (27kg) +2.438s; 3 Turkington 23 Will Burns (GB) Team Hard · Volkswagen CC +35.506s (33kg) +2.730s; 4 Plato (9kg) +7.110s; 5 Goff (57kg) +9.513s; 6 Morgan (21kg) +10.101s; 7 Jordan +10.569s; 8 Collard +10.756s; 9 Ingram 24 (GB) Team Hard · Volkswagen CC +37.687s +14.802s; 10 Smiley +15.349s; 11 Proctor +15.913s; 12 O Jackson 25 Rory Butcher (GB) Motorbase Performance · Ford Focus +39.334s +18.138s; 13 Cole (75kg) +18.466s; 14 Moffat +19.262s; 15 Taylor-Smith 26 Stephen Jelley (GB) Team Parker · Ford Focus +40.884s +20.029s; 16 Chilton +20.261s; 17 Hill +21.624s; 18 Whorton-Eales +22.278s; 19 Butcher +23.389s; 20 Depper +24.479s; 21 Burns +29.679s; 27 Brett Smith (GB) Eurotech Racing · Honda Civic Type R +43.747s 22 Jelley +30.884s; 23 Newsham +31.330s; 24 Smith +35.011s; 25 Lines 28 Matt Simpson (GB) Team Dynamics · Honda Civic Type R +44.264s +43.605s; 26 Austin -1 lap; R Epps 15 laps-accident damage; R Cook (48kg) 13 laps-accident damage; R Neal (39kg) 11 laps-accident damage; 29 (GB) Team Parker/Maximum · Ford Focus +51.271s R Simpson 9 laps-accident; R Shedden 2 laps-accident damage/ 30 Gordon Shedden (GB) Team Dynamics · Honda Civic Type R (57kg) -1 lap suspension; R Price (15kg) 1 lap-accident damage. 31 Rob Austin (GB) Handy Motorsport · -1 lap Winner’s average speed 77.70mph. Fastest lap Sutton 1m24.011s, 83.13mph. R (GB) · Toyota Avensis (39kg) 0 laps-burst brake pipe Winner’s average speed 81.56mph. Fastest lap Neal 1m24.130s, 83.01mph. GRID RACE 2 Decided by result of Race 1.

RACE 3 (17 LAPS – 32.980 MILES) 1 Jordan (27kg) 24m59.347s; 2 Morgan (33kg) +1.724s; 3 Plato (48kg) +2.025s; 4 Goff (39kg) +5.214s; 5 Sutton (75kg) +5.561s; 6 Turkington (57kg) +5.908s; 7 Proctor +6.506s; 8 Ingram (15kg) +6.786s; 9 Smiley (9kg) +7.331s; 10 Newsham +7.775s; 11 O Jackson +9.328s; 12 Shedden +9.621s; 13 Neal +9.874s; 14 Butcher +10.285s; 15 M Jackson (66kg) +10.643s; 16 Hill +10.980s; 17 Moffat +11.477s; 18 Simpson +11.836s; 19 Epps +12.151s; 20 Taylor-Smith +12.414s; 21 Smith +14.412s; 22 Lines +14.888s; 23 Depper -1 lap; 24 Chilton -2 laps; R Austin 14 laps-misfire; R Collard (21kg) 12 laps-accident; R Cook 12 laps-wishbone; R Jelley 9 laps-accident; R Price 3 laps-steering rack; R Cole 2 laps-accident damage; R Whorton-Eales 1 lap-accident damage; R Burns 0 laps- accident damage. Winner’s average speed 79.18mph. Fastest lap Sutton 1m24.788s, 82.37mph.

GRID RACE 3 Decided by result of Race 2, with top seven reversed. Goff, leading Collard, was quick again and CHAMPIONSHIP netted podium 1 Sutton 312; 2 Turkington 300; 3 Shedden 257; 4 Collard 256; 5 Ingram 219; 6 Jordan 192; 7 Neal 187; 8 M Jackson 169; 9 Goff 169; 10 Plato 145.

AUGUST 31 2017 37 MOTOGP/SILVERSTONE Marquez’s lead blown away by Dovi A rare Honda engine failure shook up the championship order, and it was Ducati rider Dovizioso who took advantage

By Edd Straw, Editor-in-Chief @eddstrawf1

ven when dealing Whether or not Marquez wins the Dovizioso leads part of racing. The most important with the disaster crown, that moment will be of huge Vinales and Rossi in thing is we were fighting for victory.” that struck while he significance. It left the way clear for the closing stages, Important as that was, merely was travelling down Dovizioso to win and take the points having taken the lead challenging for a victory isn’t worth a Silverstone’s Hangar lead and, even before the final quarter of single point. Just like taking pole position Straight at around the race had played out, the Honda rider with a record-breaking sub-two-minute 180mph, the wider knew exactly what a golden opportunity lap isn’t, or escaping a savage high-side significance of the this failure was for his rivals. in high-speed Becketts during Friday’s moment did not “The engine was working perfectly, second practice session that, in Cal escape Marc Marquez. On the 14th lap but suddenly when I arrived at the end Crutchlow’s opinion, would have bitten Eof the British Grand Prix, he was running of the straight it just broke,” said another rider more viciously. a very comfortable third behind Yamaha’s Marquez, who had never retired from “If that was anyone else, he’d have Valentino Rossi and Ducati’s Andrea a MotoGP race with mechanical trouble two broken legs and a dislocated Dovizioso and had everything well under in his previous 83 starts. “I pulled the shoulder,” he joked. “I have no idea how control. He was looking after his tyres, clutch immediately because I started to he gets away with it.” But come race day, had correctly identified Dovizioso as the feel that the rear wheel was locking and, Marquez very much did not get away man to beat for victory and was gearing at 300km/h, I don’t want a flight! with it, as a problem that wasn’t of his up for the business end of the 20-lap “At that moment, I was not thinking making intervened. Only time will tell if race. When his Honda engine blew, about what happened, I was thinking he gets away with it in the bigger picture. nobody was more aware than Marquez about the championship. The small Marquez certainly reckoned he was in that it had also blown apart the world advantage we had before the race, you with a very good shout of victory before championship that he was leading. don’t like to lose that advantage, but it’s his motor lunched itself. While he had

38 AUGUST 31 2017 SILVERSTONE/MOTOGP

CRUTCHLOW’S ‘WIN’

THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX HASN’T GIVEN HOME fans a great deal to shout about in recent decades. Last year, Cal Crutchlow’s pole position and second place was the best home performance seen since the days when Britain’s round of the world championship was the Isle of Man TT, and again it was left to the LCR Yamaha rider to carry home hopes this year. The 31-year-old’s fourth place may sound a little disappointing, but he was the best satellite-team rider and it was always going to be difficult to beat all of the factory bikes. In the circumstances, a strong fourth, just 1.679s off winner Andrea Dovizioso, was as good as a win. “The other guys were quicker than me today, the front tyre was too soft for us, as always, and this was the reason we were struggling with the rear tyre in the end as I was having to spin a lot to turn the bike,” said Crutchlow. “But I did the best job I could and today that was fourth.” For the other three British riders on the grid, there were mixed feelings. Sam Lowes crashed his Aprilia early on and described his off as “the smallest crash of my life”. But with compatriot Scott Redding, who had a good run to eighth on the Pramac Ducati, signed to replace him for 2018, the big win of the weekend for Lowes was finalising a deal with the Interwetten Moto2 squad in place of MotoGP-bound Tom Luhti. A step back, but possibly one designed as a means to take two forward longer term. “What I’m trying to do is go back to Moto2, try to become world champion, try to win the British Grand Prix,” said Lowes. “For whatever reason, it’s not going great this year; 90% of that is probably me not gelling with the situation, and next year we’ll go back and try to find the formula we had before, or even better it, and come back.” For KTM rider Bradley Smith, it was a weekend to forget. A change of crew chief to Esteban Garcia, previously on the test team and who filled that role for Mika Kallio’s wildcard entries in and Austria, didn’t prevent him finishing 17th and last. lost ground early on, dropping from pole “I felt the rear tyre was good, but the The pressure is very much on for Smith. position to second behind Rossi at the front is our biggest problem. Even like start before being passed by Maverick this, I was able to be behind Vinales Vinales into Copse on lap three and then comfortably. I saw that Valentino was Dovizioso into Stowe on lap six, this was there but he was not going away, he very much in the gameplan. The evidence was in sight. Then, when Dovi overtook for this is that, when the man he me, I started to realise he was the guy. Crutchlow had identified as his main rival – Dovizioso So I started to control Dovi. When the crowd on – passed Vinales for second on lap 11, he overtook Vinales, I immediately his side Marquez effortlessly followed him past overtook Vinales.” the Yamaha rider into third. And this It’s a compelling argument, supported early caution was all because of the tyre not only by Marquez’s pace (he had degradation created by a high-speed track already made sure of fastest lap of the that all riders were wary of at an race when he retired), but by Dovizioso’s unusually warm Silverstone. Just as own assessment. The Italian knew he Marquez was able to calculate the points wasn’t the fastest on the day, at the very toll of his engine failure before he’d even least no faster than anyone else, and he got the bike under control, he’d run the admitted as such. But with Marquez numbers on the race he was in and come gone he was unquestionably the best. up with a likely number one at the end. The Ducati rider’s British GP “I was trying to control the race in a performance was a masterclass in way to save the front tyre,” said Marquez. racecraft from sixth on the grid. MOTOGP/SILVERSTONE

He dispatched team-mate Jorge Lorenzo at Copse on lap two to move up to fifth. Crutchlow was his next victim, at Stowe on lap three, before that sixth- lap move on Marquez. Second-placed Vinales proved a little more difficult, as Dovizioso’s initial dive up the inside into Abbey on lap 11 didn’t yield a decisive edge. He was briefly ahead, before Vinales repassed him at the Village right-hander, only to be lunged by the Ducati at the left-hander leading onto the Wellington Straight. But Vinales’s defiance – moving back ahead into Brooklands – only delayed the inevitable, as at Copse Corner Dovizioso breezed past into second to conclude the most dramatic scrap of the race. Later that same lap, Marquez moved effortlessly past Vinales at Stowe, tracking the man he knew he had to beat to win the race. Unaware of the drama unfolding in the four-man group behind him (Crutchlow hung onto this battle throughout the race but was rarely able to attack those in front), Rossi was still up front on his headed, even though Vinales, who Rossi (46) takes the “I’m a little bit surprised because I own. This led to something of a change dispatched Rossi at Brooklands on the lead at the start from had a good feeling after the warm-up, of heart for the Italian, who had same lap, came close in the final stages polesitter Marquez (93) but not to win the race,” said Dovizioso. confidently predicted on Saturday that by capitalising on the grip provided by – he stayed there for “I expected Honda to be really 17 and a half laps third was the best he could do. This after the soft-option rear tyre that he was competitive, but it didn’t happen and qualifying second, within a tenth of the only frontrunner to use. While not during the race we had to ride in a Marquez, with a lap that only fell short dramatically softer than the other completely different way than practice. of pole thanks to wheelspin in the final compounds, there were still question “I was very comfortable in the race, sector. But with Marquez gone on lap 14, marks about its durability. I was able to save the tyres like I saw Rossi soon started to dream that victory “It was not a gamble, we were working Maverick and Marc do, and I was with might be on the cards despite his really hard with the soft all weekend, them. In some corners I lose a lot but repeated references to how difficult the trying to make the tyre life longer,” said I was able to improve a little bit in late laps are in races for Yamaha. Vinales. “I was just trying to save tyres some because I saw how they make “We were a little bit worried because I until the end. It was quite hard when those corners, and with the grip I know that we suffer a bit in the last laps, Dovi and Marc overtook me because I was able to overtake the riders quite but sincerely speaking, with five laps to knew my strongest point was at the end, easily and put my position in the go I think that I can do [it],” said Rossi. the last 10 laps, I was just trying to save right place at the right moment. “But unfortunately, I slowed down a bit and push at 100% in the last five laps.” “This was the key to the race because in the last laps. I suffered a bit too much Even though Dovizioso ran wide at I wasn’t faster than the competitors, and Dovi and Maverick overtook me.” Brooklands on the final lap, he was in but I was in the right position in With Vinales having lost a little control and executed his fourth win the right moment.” ground to Dovizioso, thanks to checking of the season to ensure he was the one It was an accomplished performance up when Marquez’s Honda let go in his that most capitalised on Marquez’s but, just as Marquez identified face – a “scary” moment – it was clear misfortune. He, too, was concerned Dovizioso as his main rival, the reverse that the Ducati man was favourite. On about looking after his tyres and, despite was also true. The absence of the Honda lap 18, he made his move to the inside the more brutal power delivery of the Dovizioso challenge, with Crutchlow never a of Rossi at Stowe. It was an effortlessly potent Ducati, ensured he had plenty of counts his 2017 serious threat despite a strong weekend executed pass, and he was never again life in the when he needed it. MotoGP wins and Dani Pedrosa on the second works bike an anonymous seventh, was clearly attributable to the engine failure. Had Marquez made the end, there’s little doubt he’d have been with Dovizioso, and who knows how that would have ended? With Lorenzo still struggling to adapt to life on a Ducati and finishing a distant fifth, prevailing in a tight battle with star rookie Johann Zarco, there’s no doubt Dovizioso will be the team’s spearhead in the final six races with every chance of a title bid. And with Vinales only four points behind Marquez, and even Rossi – downplaying his title chances – 26 points off the lead, the stage is set for a thrilling title showdown. Marquez will be hoping he doesn’t rue that engine failure in terms of the world championship come the season finale at Valencia in November.

40 AUGUST 31 2017 Marquez was let down by his Honda engine IN THE HEADLINES

NEW FLAG-TO-FLAG RULE IN PLACE A new system for bike changes in flag-to-flag races was put in place at Silverstone, although weather conditions meant it wasn’t used. The system, which requires a rider to park their first bike in a specific place relative to the second to prevent riders making rapid changeovers, was trialled at the end of Friday practice.

TECH3 GETS 2017 AERO FAIRING The satellite Yamaha Tech3 team had the manufacturer’s first iteration of its 2017 RESULTS ROUND 12/18, SILVERSTONE (GB), AUGUST 27 (20 LAPS – 73.322 MILES) aero-fairing design available for the first time last weekend, but riders Johann Zarco and POS DRIVER TEAM TIME Jonas Folger chose not to use it aft er practice. 1 Andrea Dovizioso (I) Ducati 40m45.496s Only Folger tried it before discarding it.

2 Maverick Vinales (E) Yamaha +0.114s FOLGER MISSES RACE AFTER CRASH 3 Valentino Rossi (I) Yamaha +0.749s Folger did not start the British Grand Prix, having 4 Cal Crutchlow (GB) LCR Honda +1.679s qualified 10th. The 24-year-old German crashed his Tech3 Yamaha at Stowe during the morning 5 Jorge Lorenzo (E) Ducati +3.508s warm-up, subsequently reporting dizziness. 6 Johann Zarco (F) Tech3 Yamaha +7.001s

7 Dani Pedrosa (E) Honda +10.944s IANNONE WIPES OUT PETRUCCI Danilo Petrucci was eliminated from the British 8 Scott Redding (GB) Pramac Ducati +13.627s GP by Andrea Iannone while running 10th. Both 9 Alex Rins (E) Suzuki +15.661s crashed out when Iannone dropped his Suzuki at Abbey, sliding into the Pramac Ducati. 10 Alvaro Bautista (E) Aspar Ducati +25.279s

11 Pol Espargaro (E) KTM +30.336s ESPARGARO SHUNTS AFTER FINISH

12 Tito Rabat (E) Marc VDS Honda +31.609s Pol Espargaro crashed aft er crossing the line to finish 11th when the revs of his KTM dropped 13 Karel Abraham (CZ) Aspar Ducati +31.945s unexpectedly at Copse. He was unable to grab 14 Hector Barbera (E) Avintia Ducati +33.567s the clutch in time to prevent a fall, and escaped injury despite falling on his elbow. 15 Loris Baz (F) Avintia Ducati +33.901s 16 Jack Miller (AUS) Marc VDS Honda +43.012s MOTO2 TRIUMPH FOR NAKAGAMI 17 Bradley Smith (GB) KTM +48.683s Takaaki Nakagami took his first Moto2 win of the year at Silverstone. He passed Franco R Aleix Espargaro (E) Aprilia 18 laps-engine Morbidelli to take victory, with Mattia Pasini R Danilo Petrucci (I) Pramac Ducati 17 laps-accident coming through to second. Morbidelli earlier battled for the lead with Marc VDS team-mate R Andrea Iannone (I) Suzuki 17 laps-accident Alex Marquez, who crashed out while leading. R Marc Marquez (E) Honda 13 laps-engine

R Sam Lowes (GB) Aprilia 5 laps-accident CANET WINS IN MOTO3 Honda rider Aron Canet (below) claimed victory NS Jonas Folger (D) Tech3 Yamaha warm-up crash in Moto3 from a starting position of 16th in a Winner’s average speed 107.936mph. Fastest lap Marquez 2m01.560s, 108.571mph slipstreaming thriller that was brought to a premature end by a red flag caused by a last-lap QUALIFYING 2 crash at Brooklands involving Juan Guevara 1 Marquez 1m59.941s; 2 Rossi 2m00.025s; 3 Crutchlow 2m00.106s; 4 Vinales 2m00.341s; 5 Lorenzo and Bo Bendsneyder. Canet crossed the line at 2m00.399s; 6 Dovizioso 2m00.572s; 7 Pedrosa 2m00.578s; 8 Zarco 2m00.622s; 9 A Espargaro 2m00.764s; the start of the final lap 0.063s clear of Enea 10 Folger 2m00.829s; 11 P Espargaro 2m01.378s; 12 Redding 2m01.994s. Bastianini and Jorge Martin.

QUALIFYING 1 1 Pedrosa 2m00.830s; 2 Folger 2m01.162s; 3 Rins 2m01.285s; 4 Bautista 2m01.340s; 5 Iannone 2m01.567s; 6 Barbera 2m01.669s; 7 Miller 2m01.672s; 8 Petrucci 2m01.770s; 9 Smith 2m02.017s; 10 Abraham 2m02.037s; 11 Baz 2m02.185s; 12 Rabat 2m02.211s; 13 Lowes 2m02.787s.

RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP 1 Dovizioso 183; 2 Marquez 174; 3 Vinales 170; 4 Rossi 157; 5 Pedrosa 148; 6 Zarco 109; 7 Lorenzo 90; 8 Crutchlow 89; 9 Folger 77; 10 Petrucci 75; 11 Bautista 58; 12 Redding 45; 13 A Espargaro 43; 14 Miller 43; 15 Baz 39; 16 Iannone 33; 17 Abraham 28; 18 Rabat 27; 19 P Espargaro 26; 20 Barbera 23; 21 Rins 19; 22 Smith 8; 23 Pirro 7; 24 Kallio 6; 25 Lowes 2; 26 Guintoli 1.

MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP 1 Yamaha 231; 2 Honda 224; 3 Ducati 212; 4 Suzuki 52; 5 Aprilia 45; 6 KTM 34. Leclerc’s fifth feature race win was taken away INDYCAR O

History books miss out BLANCPAIN SPRINT CUP BLANCPAIN O Leclerc’s Spa brilliance

FORMULA 2 Then, after fending off Rowland at La Source SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS (B) – driving over his title rival’s front wing in the AUGUST 26-27 process, but there were no hard feelings from ROUND 8/11 the Briton – he simply shot away from the pack. Rowland briefly threatened to make an undercut THE HISTORY BOOKS WILL STATE THAT pit strategy work, but by the finish Leclerc was came away from Spa in 2017 with 26.6 seconds clear out front, taking a crushing SUPER GT just 10 points, pole and a fifth-place finish to his sixth win of 2017. O name. But that would not even be scratching the finished second, less than surface of the saga of this Formula 2 weekend. 0.1s ahead of Rowland after using a contra- Leclerc arrived in Belgium after a month strategy – medium-to-soft tyres – to hunt “really disconnected from racing” and no doubt down P2. The pair, each mindful of their recent hoping that his disqualification from qualifying clashes at Silverstone and in Hungary, were in Hungary and his mechanical dramas in the respectful right up until the last corner.

GP3 second race there were but a blot in the past. Rowland rather rudely, if cunningly, used up

O But in practice the Ferrari Formula 1 junior all the track at the exit of the left-hander, while encountered his first issue. Running through Markelov immediately took to the run-off and Eau Rouge early in the session his cockpit fire used his superior traction to steal the place on extinguisher went off, which cost him a huge the line. Both were given penalties that cancelled chunk of running and left him relying on each other out, so didn’t affect the result. team-mate ’s set-up feedback. When asked if the drive had been the best No matter, the 19-year-old still took a of his season so far, Leclerc agreed that it seventh pole of the season in a wild wet session, “probably” was, but asked to wait until the end ahead of DAMS duo Nicholas Latifi and Oliver of the weekend before he declared it his most Rowland. Same old story. accomplished two-race performance overall. That familiar theme continued in the feature That turned out to be a wise choice, but not in race. First the luckless, but impressive in the way he and Prema Racing surely hoped. qualifying, Latifi failed to start, undone by a As darkness fell on Saturday night, whispers “broken valve that went into the piston, [which] emerged that the podium results could be

FORMULA 2 exploded”, per DAMS boss Francois Sicard. changed following scrutineering, and they were, RACE CENTRE

42 AUGUST 31 2017 Stunning start was AT A crucial to Sette GLANCE Camara’s win

RACE 1 1 Markelov 2 Ghiotto Russian Time 3 Fuoco Prema

RACE 2 1 Sette Camara MP Motorsport 2 De Vries Racing Engineering 3 Ghiotto Russian Time

P52 RESULTS

Markelov’s second place was later upgraded

in comprehensive style. Leclerc and Rowland the end of the first lap from 20th and 19th on who lost the initial lead with a slow getaway, were ejected from the feature race results when the grid, they both made superb passes going a “very happy” Leclerc, Merhi, and Fuoco, with the underfloor planks on their cars were found to through on Eau Rouge – Rowland on Nabil Rowland in the final point-paying place. Merhi have worn excessively on Spa’s kerbs and bumps Jeffri and Leclerc on had been on his way to watch the Vuelta a – with the unnamed Turn 9 and Blanchimont – in their charge up the order. Espana cycling race near his home when he got chiefly among the suspected areas. Leclerc got past his rival by blasting by on the call to replace Sergio Canamasas, who had Prema boss Rene Rosin declared that Leclerc the Kemmel Straight, which left Rowland to miss the weekend for personal reasons, and had, understandably, taken the news “not as incredulous about his straight-line speed, he left Spa with 10 points for his efforts. good as Budapest”, a feeling he shared. and then set about catching the Fuoco- So Leclerc heads to Monza with a 59-point “We need to make sure that as a team these Markelov-Ghiotto-Merhi scrap up ahead. championship lead over Rowland – actually up mistakes cannot happen any more because they Fuoco pulled off his own sensational move from the advantage of 50 he held arriving back are silly mistakes that are not performance – a Max Verstappen-esque pass around the after the summer break. As has become another gains,” he said prior to race two. “There could be outside of Blanchimont – to temporarily theme of his weekends, it was a case of what performance gains if you go really low, that’s get ahead of Markelov, who retired with an might have been for the prodigious rookie. true, but when we are speaking about 0.2mm in exhaust problem after being passed by Leclerc. But after his own breathtaking charge in the one out of the seven holes [checked to measure The intense action was brought to a sprint race, Rowland was philosophical about plank wear] and all the others were far inside frightening halt when Matsushita had “the his performances, especially the plank problem: the measurements, that’s not performance.” biggest crash of my life” at Raidillon after losing “You’re pushing the limits, so you want to try Markelov was therefore promoted to the win the rear of his car going through Eau Rouge and run low – and that’s where you wear the ahead of his Russian Time team-mate Luca behind Malja. The Japanese driver escaped the plank, and if it’s on the limit then you get Ghiotto, Fuoco, Gustav Malja, Nyck de Vries, wreckage immediately and only sustained a disqualified,” he said. “I don’t have anything Sergio Sette Camara, ex-F1 driver Roberto Merhi burned left hand as hot water spilled from against that. I like to be on the limit – I like to and , who inherited race two pole. the smashed radiators. “My body is ok, so I’m be pushing things as much as I can. It’s not the In the sprint event, Sette Camara shot off lucky,” he said afterwards. end of the world – it actually helps me out to the line from third to seize first at Turn 1, and Sette Camara had been coming under some Charles, which is my target.” edged clear in a lead he would not lose. His tyre pressure from de Vries – who had swapped seats On to Monza then, with DAMS vowing to concerns turned out to be thermal in nature with Louis Deletraz in the run up to the event take the fight to Leclerc on Prema’s home turf. and the rubber came back to him. – but Matsuhsita’s crash brought out the safety “We are pretty good in Monza,” said Sicard. Starting at the back, Rowland and Leclerc were car and sealed the Brazilian’s maiden F2 triumph. “And we will try to push him once again.” again the stars of the show. In 12th and 14th by Ghiotto completed the podium ahead of Nato, ALEX KALINAUCKAS

AUGUST 31 2017 43 RACE CENTRE/REPORTS

Aft er going pointless in Hungary, Russell scored 45 of them at Spa

Rocket Russell restores points lead

GP3 SERIES Combes run-off kerbs and sent her Maini – who was happy to seal third in SPA (B) DAMS team-mate Bruno Baptista qualifying – not far behind in fourth. AUGUST 26-27 barrier-bound when rejoining – cost Dorian Boccolacci, , ROUND 5/8 the Japanese his advantage. and Julien Falchero Russell needed no further opportunity. completed the top eight. IT’S HARD TO ARGUE WITH Now right behind Fukuzumi – with the In the reversed-grid race, Alesi – the George Russell’s assessment that his fast-starting also tucked up winner of the equivalent bouts at both performances in Spa amounted to “an in third – the Briton closed up using his Silverstone and the Hungaroring – almost perfect weekend”. The Mercedes first DRS activation. On the following rocketed past Falchero to lead into La Formula 1 junior took pole, scored two lap, he blasted by on the run up the Source. From there he set about building fastest laps, the race-one win and second Kemmel Straight and shot off into a another race-winning advantage. “It’s a in race two – a brilliant response to his lead he would not lose again. really nice feeling winning at such a disastrous weekend in Hungary. Behind Russell, his squad-mates mythical track like this one,” he said. Russell was the driver to beat engaged in a thoroughly entertaining Behind Alesi, Russell cantered through throughout the wet qualifying, upping fight for second. Renault F1 junior Aitken the pack with a series of decisive moves his game across the session as the track first got past his Honda counterpart by AT A to come home second, lamenting only dried. His pre-race-one prediction that making one of the moves of the weekend the lack of a safety car or VSC, “which it would be tough for the second-placed at Les Combes. After getting alongside GLANCE would have helped things for me”. But driver – his ART Grand Prix team-mate in the braking zone, Aitken opted for a you can’t have everything and an – to follow closely “squirt of throttle”, thinking he could RACE 1 extended 36-point lead, up from nine, enough through Eau Rouge to pass at always bail out if the pass went wrong. 1 Russell ART in the standings is pretty good going. Les Combes early on was one of the few But he and Fukuzumi judged it perfectly 2 Aitken ART Tveter made it two Trident drivers off-note moments of his weekend. and there was no contact. 3 Fukuzumi ART on the podium in third, while Fukuzumi Fukuzumi did seize first approaching The scrap ebbed and flowed as Aitken also put in an eye-catching display – Les Combes on lap one, and for the next – who later called the race “stressful” RACE 2 particularly keeping his foot in with two few tours it looked like he would race – could not put in a Russell-esque 1 Alesi Trident wheels on the grass racing along the clear in the lead. But a slight mistake escape. Fukuzumi got back past with a 2 Russell ART Kemmel Straight after Niko Kari swung judging when to slow down for the bold late move at the Bus Stop but was 3 Tveter Trident over and earned himself a five-second virtual safety car – triggered when eventually overhauled again, and they penalty – to come home fourth. Tatiana Calderon bounced over the Les finished 7s adrift of Russell, with Arjun P50 RESULTS Aitken was left wondering what might have been as he retired after “misjudging” a pass on Boccolacci while ahead of Russell on the run to Les Combes early on, which effectively ended both of their races. “I feel my mistake cost me a win with our pace,” he said after apologising to Boccolacci. Falchero was fifth, ahead of Maini and the other charging ART driver – Race one was , who climbed from an all-ART 19th on the grid after retiring from race aff air, again one with a blocked radiator. ALEX KALINAUCKAS

44 AUGUST 31 2017 PORSCHE Baguette/Matsuura upstage Button Baguette/Matsuura upstage from fourthandMatsuura moved year. Thewinning duostarted superseded by a10-hourrace next Suzuka after 45 years, asitwillbe fi a tough category debut. NSX, asJenson Button endured 1000Km, aboard theirHonda race inSuperGT, theSuzuka Kosuke Matsuura won thelongest BERTRAND BAGUETTE AND second despite race-long on thefi went off Saturday evening. Mattia Drudi fl to Friday, butOlsenledfrom lights climate disrupted qualifyingon the damage withtwo podiums. Ammermuller, who ameliorated slipstream ofpoints leader Michael brought DennisOlseninto the A COMMANDING DOUBLE WIN ROUND 6/8 26-27 AUGUST SPA (B) PORSCHE SUPERCUP ROUND 6/8 27AUGUST (J) SUZUKA GT SUPER nal running of the 1000km at nal runningofthe1000kmat Last Sunday’s event was the The capricious Ardennes Double for Olsen despite trouble despite Olsen Double for ag inthedry onasunny trying to pass Olsen rst lap, butheldonto GT-R came homesecond andtook Matsuda intheNismo-run Nissan a fi series triumph fortheBelgianand Nakajima Racingteam, amaiden was thefi later shunted dueto atyre failure. erased theiradvantage, andthey big-time assafety-car periods which shared – NSX, butbad luckcost the car – lead early on in theReal Racing when theleading Hondacrashed. into thelead with24lapsto go Pereira followed himthrough. wide at Pouhon andDylan Ammermuller pushedYelloly Perfetti andRoar Lindland– ridiculous shuntbetween Egidio a stalled car, thesecond fora two safety-car periods–onefor initially from Yelloly, butafter farcical. Olsenledfrom poleagain, driving standards rendered it promised muchbutlamentable fourth at LaSource onlapfour. lap, before passing NickYelloly for seventh to fi pressure from Ammermuller. rst since 2013 forMatsuura. Ronnie Quintarelli andTsugio Baguette’s andMatsuura’s win Kodai Tsukakoshi hadtaken the Cammish hadlongsince parked A scrambled gridforrace two Dan Cammishrose from rst since 2007 forthe fth place onthefi wait for awin ended along rst rst race to endbefore injuries ensued. the fact that itwas timeforthis Fagnes onthe fi Walilko. Amulti-car shuntat up, having beennerfedoff fourth inthestandings. ninth, and theBriton falls to involved inanother. They were penalty forone clashandwas with KazukiNakajima received a as theTOM’S Lexus heshared carrying heavy success ballast Rossiter hadahard timeofit p6). Pre-race series leader James Hideki Mutoh, fi Honda withDaisuke Nakajima and the lead ofthestandings. 4 NickYelloly; 5Campbell;6Lukas. 2 Ammermuller+1.231s;3DylanPereira; Race 2 Race 1 RESULTS STUART CODLING 5 Tachikawa/Ishiura 43;6Nakajima 41. 48; 3Oshima/Caldarelli 48;4Rossiter 47; 1 Matsuda/Quintarelli 59 Tachikawa/Hiroaki Ishiura (Lexus). Nakajima/James Rossiter (Lexus); 10Yuji Nojiri/Takashi Kobayashi (Honda);9Kazuki Oshima/Andrea Caldarelli (Lexus); 8Tomoki 6 RyoHirakawa/(Lexus); 7Kazuya 5 DaikiSasaki/Joao Paulo deOliveira (Nissan); Kunimoto/ (Lexus LC 500); Izawa (Honda);4Yuhi Sekiguchi/Yuji GT-R) +12.150s;3NaokiYamamoto/Takuya Tsugio Matsuda/Ronnie Quintarelli (Nissan (Honda NSX-GT) 1 Bertrand Baguette/Kosuke Matsuura RESULTS JIRO TAKAHASHI 6 Pereira 84. 3 Cammish100;4Campbell91;5Lukas 86; Points Lukas; 6Matt Campbell. 4DanCammish;5Robert Ammermuller; 2 Mattia Drudi+1.213s;3Michael Button, who shared Mugen’s

1 Ammermuller150 1 Olsen 1 DennisOlsen 11 laps in 30m06.656s; 11lapsin30m06.656s; 171 laps in 5h51m16.244s; 171lapsin5h51m16.244s; nal lap underlined nal lapunderlined nished 12th (see nished 12th(see 11 laps in 26m59.917s; 11 lapsin26m59.917s; ; 2Hirakawa/Cassidy ; 2 Olsen 142; ; 2Olsen142; by Igor Points

REPORTS IN BRIEF claimed therunner-up spot. Krumbach andNico Menzel, Georg Weiss,OliverKainz,Jochen fielded a488GT3 inthehandsof Team Monschausquad,whichalso circuit. The WochenspiegelAlgarve the inaugural 24hourrace at the Kral andMatteo Malucelli won GT3 Josef drivenbyJiriPisarik, The ScuderiaPraha Ferrari 488 PORTIMAO 24HOURS by Tsunoda andToshiki Oyu. Miyata 13points back, followed leads thechampionshipwith fourth onthegrid.UkyoSasahara For hiswin,Miyata rose from started from third, inrace one. followed homebyMiyata, who pole inboth races andhewas at Suzuka. Tsunoda started from shared thewins and2016champion JAPANESE FORMULA 4 weekend at Watkins Glen. at theseries’ 2017finalethis looks set to winthechampionship podium ahead ofKyle Kaiser, who laps. Colton Herta completed the Uruguayan’s favour intheclosing battle that was onlysettled inthe to thewinat Gateway after along Santi Urrutiabeat JuanPiedrahita INDY LIGHTS Under-28 Championship. secured theERCJunior Griebel, alsodriving aSkoda, podium inhisSkoda. Marijan claimed thelast spot onthe Ex-WRC driver Roman Kresta fractures inatesting crash inMay. struggling after suffering multiple Alexey Lukyanuk, whois still-injured andin-pain Russian after fending offtheFord of Barum RallyintheCzech Republic, Skoda hero JanKopecky wonthe ERC recover to thewin.Tiffttook third. over thenthird-placed Annett to Clements hadenoughofagap Tifft onthepenultimate lap. Annett after colliding withMatt at Road America ahead ofMichael Jeremy Clements took thevictory NASCAR XFINITY row withtheirLamborghini. GT classfor thesecond race ina Busnelli andFabio Babiniwonthe in theirNorma,whileEmanuele Alex Toril wontheprototype battle at Paul Ricard. Jean Glorieuxand leads intheLMP3andGT3 classes extended theirchampionship DKR EngineeringandEbimotors LEMANSCUP AUGUST 312017 / RACE CENTRE 45 RACE CENTRE/REPORTS

Two wins for Fassler and Vanthoor

BLANCPAIN SPRINT CUP five-second gap to Bortolotti in the opening While enjoying his best weekend in a GT3 car HUNGARORING (H) stint, and he brought home the bacon on old to date after qualifying fourth, Dennis resisted AUGUST 26-27 tyres in the feature event, half a second clear Bortolotti for the remainder of the race to ROUND 4/5 of Formula 3-convert . finish in a career-best second place. After being 27 points behind HTP Mercedes Bortolotti’s attentions soon turned from IT’S BEEN A WHILE, BUT MARCEL FASSLER pair Maxi Buhk and Franck Perera before the attack to defence, as loomed ever has got that winning feeling once again. After weekend, Fassler and Vanthoor’s maximum larger in his mirrors. One of few drivers to pull he had a winless campaign in Audi’s final points haul puts them just four adrift heading off an on-track overtake – around the outside of season in the World Endurance Championship, to the final round at the Nurburgring, which Turn 1 no less – during a static qualifying race, you had to go back to the Sebring 12 Hours – in is not bad considering that they had only the Dutchman caught Bortolotti napping with a a Chevrolet Corvette – last March for the Swiss scored points in two of the previous six races. late lunge at the same corner, but struggled to driver’s last victory and then look even further Fassler was entrusted with starting duties get his Audi stopped and ran wide. The grateful back – to Bucharest 2008 in FIA GT – for his in the feature race and, despite struggling with Bortolotti ducked back underneath on exit and most recent triumph at an SRO-sanctioned event. oversteer, duly held Bortolotti’s team-mate went on to secure third, closing to within three But Fassler ended that drought with aplomb Christian Engelhart at bay until the pit window points of the Sprint Cup table lead in doing so. at the Hungaroring last weekend, following up a opened. The Lamborghini was brought in first, At the flag, the top four were separated by comfortable lights-to-flag win in the qualifying its crew hoping to make the undercut work on just 1.5 seconds, while and Markus race with his first Blancpain Sprint Cup victory fresher tyres, but Engelhart overshot his marks Winkelhock recovered from an average run to in the main event, putting himself and WRT entering his box and lost out to Dennis, who 11th in Q3 to make it four Audi cars in the top team-mate firmly in the running took over the WRT Audi that had been five. Their damage-limitation run ensures five for the title with just one round of the series left. started by Pieter Schothorst. crews will head to the final round with a realistic In truth, that first win owed much to the stunning performance of Vanthoor, who is starting to emerge from the shadow of elder brother Laurens as a seriously quick driver in his own right, and led JMW Motorsport to GTE-Am honours at Le Mans. VISION SPORT AGENCY VISION After being fastest out of the traps in both Friday practice sessions at this most Audi- friendly of circuits, the 19-year-old laid the foundations for a weekend of dominance with his first series pole – almost two tenths ahead of Mirko Bortolotti’s Grasser Lamborghini. Remarkably, Vanthoor had only cracked Q3 once before this season, with 12th in the Dennis scored Misano curtain-raiser his previous best result. his best Sprint He then gave Fassler the simplest of tasks result in race two to wrap up the qualifying race after building a

46 AUGUST 31 2017 REPORTS/RACE CENTRE

AT A Shwartzman GLANCE

VISION SPORT AGENCY VISION loses double RACE 1 1 Fassler/Vanthoor Audi triumph 2 Engelhart/Bortolotti Lamborghini EUROCUP Shwartzman’s 3 Schothorst/Dennis PAUL RICARD (F) wins would Audi AUGUST 26-27 not stand ROUND 8/10 RACE 2 1 Fassler/Vanthoor R-ACE GP DRIVER AND TITLE position, he was able to pull a comfortable Audi contender lost both of lead from the rest of the fi eld before taking 2 Schothorst/Dennis his wins in the the chequered fl ag. Audi races at Paul Ricard last weekend. But Shwartzman was later disqualifi ed for 3 Engelhart/Bortolotti The Russian driver was fi rst to cross having a modifi ed regulation part inside his Lamborghini the line both times, but was given a anti-oil-surge plate, which made his car 25-second penalty in race one, and was non-compliant. Fenestraz was gifted the win, P51 RESULTS disqualifi ed from the second encounter. helping him to extend his championship lead On the last lap of race one, Shwartzman over , who came away with a made an optimistic move on leader Sacha third and a fourth, to 27 points. Fenestraz, which fl ipped the Frenchman upside down and put him out of the race. RESULTS Shwartzman was handed a drivethrough for Race 1 1 13 laps in 28m41.132s; 2 Yifei Ye the incident, converted into a 25s penalty. +0.439s; 3 Will Palmer; 4 ; 5 ; That dropped him to 23rd and handed 6 Charles Milesi. Race 2 1 13 laps in Max Defourny the win. 27m29.124s; 2 Defourny +0.702s; 3 Gabriel Aubry; 4 Palmer; Shwartzman led from the off in race two, 5 Daniel Ticktum; 6 Fewtrell. Points 1 Fenestraz 260; briefl y coming under pressure from Fenestraz 2 Palmer 233; 3 Robert Shwartzman 208; 4 Defourny 193; on lap one. After successfully defending his 5 Aubry 168; 6 Fewtrell 127. chance to win the title – the Zolder winners are just two points behind Fassler/Vanthoor and Frijns/Stuart Leonard (who are level on 56 points Orudzhev and apiece), and just six off the outright lead, with Isaakyan were 34 points still on the table. unstoppable Last year’s Hungary winner Buhk was latched in France to Stevens’ bumper at the fl ag, but the day had promised much more than a third sixth place from as many rounds. After trailing Schothorst for the entirety of his stint in the qualifying race, Perera wasted no time in getting past on the fi rst lap of the feature to run third until the stops. But any hopes Buhk had entertained of jumping Bortolotti in the pits and mounting a challenge for victory were dashed by a recalcitrant wheel change. In a fl ash, another SMP smashes dominant win podium had slipped through the net, their once-commanding points advantage was now victory over Inter Europol Competition wafer-thin and that opening round double PAUL RICARD (F) and M.Racing-YMR after a lively race. at Misano seemed a long time ago. AUGUST 27 The Spirit of Race Ferrari team took Still, it could have been worse – as Buhk’s ROUND 4/6 back-to-back wins as its crew stormed 2015 Sprint Cup co-champion Vincent Abril to victory by a lap in front of TF Sport found out. After a strong showing at the Spa SMP RACING’S and JMW Motorsport. 24 Hours, the M-Sport man arrived in and Egor Orudzhev took their fi rst European Hungary with a slim lead in the overall Blancpain Le Mans Series victory by almost 90 seconds RESULTS GT Series classifi cation and a mathematical in just their second endurance race outing. 1 Matevos Isaakyan/Egor Orudzhev (-Gibson chance of winning the Sprint title with Steven The pair, who race for the same squad in P217) 115 laps in 4h00m16.217s; 2 Leo Roussel/Memo Kane. But he came away staring at a 17-point Formula V8 3.5, won with ease at Paul Ricard Rojas/Nicolas Minassian (ORECA-Gibson 07) +1m27.817s; defi cit to Bortolotti/Engelhart after Kane was in a race where none of their fellow LMP2 3 Enzo Guibbert/Eric Trouillet/Paul Petit (ORECA-Gibson 07). forced to retire while running outside the top 10. competitors could keep up with the pace LMP3 Sean Rayhall/John Falb (Ligier-Nissan JSP3). GTE In fact, it was a disastrous weekend for both of the Dallara. Aaron Scott/Duncan Cameron/Matt Griffin (Ferrari 488 GTE). Bentleys, as Andy Soucek clipped the lapped G-Drive Racing fi nished a lonely second Points 1 Rojas/Roussel 80; 2 Hugo de Sadeleer/Filipe Ferrari of Stephen Earle while running sixth as Leo Roussel couldn’t close the gap to Albuquerque/Will Owen 68; 3 Enzo Guibbert/Paul Petit/ and suff ered a broken steering rack. the race winners. But he did build up a Eric Trouillet 49. LMP3 1 Falb/Rayhall 70; 2 Romano Ricci/ In this most unpredictable of seasons, lap advantage over the Graff ORECA Alexandre Cougnaud/Antoine Jung 58; 3 Francois Heriau/ the Nurburgring fi nale simply can’t come that completed the podium. Jean-Baptiste Lahaye/Matthieu Lahaye 53. around soon enough. There was double success for United GTE Euan Hankey/Nicki Thiim/Salih Yoluc 77; 2 Jody JAMES NEWBOLD Autosports as its LMP3 drivers secured Fannin/Rob Smith 68; 3 Griffin/Cameron/Scott 64.

AUGUST 31 2017 47 RACE CENTRE/REPORTS

AT A GLANCE

1 Newgarden Penske 2 Dixon Ganassi 3 Pagenaud Penske

P51 RESULTS

Pagenaud (#1) has lost trust in team- mate Newgarden Penske team-mates in war of words after

INDYCAR SERIES than simply move right, Newgarden sat in me a lane to work with,” he explained. “I had a GATEWAY (USA) Pagenaud’s tow and, when the leader moved good tow, I put my car in the opening and got AUGUST 26 slightly to the right to take a less compromised about halfway alongside of him. I didn’t want ROUND 14/16 line into Turn 1, his rival squeezed into the to touch him too hard and I think if I would gap on the inside, running over the white have stayed too far left, I would have jumped IN THE CLOSING LAPS OF THE POCONO 500, line and kissing the kerb. the kerb and taken both of us out. Will Power demonstrated his understanding of But a disbelieving Pagenaud wasn’t in a hurry “Fortunately it worked out well for us on team-mate Josef Newgarden’s mindset these to give him any more room, so Newgarden’s the #2 car [Newgarden’s] side. Pagenaud didn’t days. Heading down to Turn 3, he kept swinging right-rear tyre nuzzled Pagenaud’s left-rear, get up into the wall or anything like that, so dramatically low to force Newgarden to take which sent the reigning champion’s car up I would say it worked out OK for him too. the higher and riskier line should he wish to into the grey. The lost momentum allowed If you leave me a lane, I’m going to take it.” make a pass. Afterwards, Power explained: Chip Ganassi Racing’s overperforming ace If it was any consolation to Pagenaud, his error “You know if you leave a gap on the inside, Scott Dixon to grab second, a position that was by far the smallest made by a non-winning that guy’s gonna go for it.” he held to the chequered flag. Penske driver in this race. Helio Castroneves had It was Simon Pagenaud who found that has traditionally been the best been running in second place behind Newgarden out the hard way last Saturday at Gateway team at hiding its intra-team rivalries from the and ahead of Pagenaud in the first stint, and then Motorsports Park, the 1.25-mile oval in media and public, but this time Pagenaud was moved into the lead following a slick pitstop as Madison, Illinois, that had been absent from still fuming as he arrived in pitlane after crossing the race went past the 100-lap mark. He had a the IndyCar schedule for a 14-year gap since the line in third place. When he was told that three-second lead when he next pitted, but 2003. The 40,000-strong crowd unfortunately Newgarden had said there was racing room down forgot to grab neutral as he came to a halt in his was not treated to a classic encounter, but on the inside during the pass, Pagenaud fired pitbox, thereby stalling and dropping to fourth. Newgarden made the race memorable with back: “There was room from me. Anyone else Although he’d managed to make it back past just one move. As the dominant driver of the and he would have been in the fence right now.” Dixon when the four-time champion made a day, he’d lost the lead to Penske team-mate Later the French driver remarked that he now failed attempt to pass Pagenaud, Ganassi’s #9 Pagenaud in the final stops, which took place didn’t trust or respect Newgarden and said: “It crew flipped their man back ahead of the under yellow flags, and clearly felt aggrieved. was way too close to be quoted a fair pass.” Brazilian in the final stops, which is why it At the start of the 218th of the 248 laps, and Possibly rather foolishly, he then handed was the New Zealander who benefited from four laps after a restart, Pagenaud adopted the a future psychological advantage to his rivals the Newgarden/Pagenaud tango. traditional defence of swinging low on the front by adding: “I would not have put a pass on Power, meanwhile, demonstrated how rapidly straight to force his opponent to take the high a team-mate like that.” racing drivers can go from hero to zero. In the line into Turn 1. This time, however, rather But Newgarden didn’t care. “Simon gave warm-up laps ahead of the race, all of the field

48 AUGUST 31 2017 Newgarden flanked by Dixon Magnussen and Pagenaud and Garcia inherit win

IMSA SPORTSCAR VIRGINIA INT’L RACEWAY (USA) AUGUST 27 ROUND 10/12

THE TOPSY-TURVY NATURE OF this year’s IMSA Championship for GT Le Mans cars was perfectly exemplified on Sunday in Virginia. Joey Hand dominated qualifying Daly produced an aboard one of Chip Ganassi’s potent impressive display Ford GTs, but barely featured during an to take fifth place enthralling 160-minute GT-only race unencumbered by full-course cautions. Instead, the BMW of Alexander Sims and Bill Auberlen seemed to be an irresistible force. Sims, who qualified second, romped away to a 20-second lead and had matters in hand until an additional late stop to change a deflating tyre dropped him to fourth. By rights, that should have handed the advantage to the Risi Competizione Ferrari, which made a welcome return after a four-race absence. and Toni Vilander recovered from seventh to second before the former tangled with a GTD car. Corvette pairing Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia unexpectedly picked up the slack following Sims’ late stop and dramatic passing move were able to extend their championship lead with a third win of the season. struggled to get heat in their tyres on the slick As punishment, he was sent to the back of the A late clash involving Tommy surface in the evening temperatures, which field, but recovered to finish in 12th place. Milner (Corvette) and Dirk Muller was a problem demonstrated by Tony Kanaan Sebastien Bourdais’s remarkable comeback (Ford) allowed the Ford of Richard crashing at Turn 2 before the pack had even from his Indy 500 injuries was a difficult one. Westbrook/Ryan Briscoe to inherit taken the green flag. Having captured his sixth He admitted that he didn’t have enough faith second ahead of the recovering Ferrari. pole of the season and the 50th of his IndyCar in his Dale Coyne Racing-run car during Jeroen Mul/Corey Lewis led career the day before, Power chose the inside line qualifying, but he gritted it out and from flag to flag in GTD, although for the start but he went down to the white line eventually took 10th in the race. their Lamborghini was shadowed at Turn 1, slowed enough to allow Newgarden to But the real hero of the day, besides throughout the closing stages by pass him around the outside, and then in Newgarden, was his fellow former Team USA the Road America-winning BMW his team-mate’s dirty air Scholarship winner, Conor of Jesse Krohn/Jens Klingmann. the #12 car got loose and Daly. He had got his set-up JEREMY SHAW spun into the wall. Right “It worked out wrong in qualifying and behind him, Takuma Sato started several places behind RESULTS and Ed Carpenter made well. If you leave his AJ Foyt Racing team- 1 Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia (Chevrolet contact, and the latter’s mate Carlos Munoz, but Corvette C7.R) 93 laps in 2h41m17.089s; 2 Richard spinning car slid backwards, me a lane, I’m proved at least as fast as Westbrook/Ryan Briscoe (Ford GT) +12.031s; up and over Power, the Colombian in the race. 3 Giancarlo Fisichella/Toni Vilander (Ferrari 488 GTE); thankfully without hurt going to take it” He also became more 4 Alexander Sims/Bill Auberlen (BMW M6 GTLM); to either, except pride. aggressive when Charlie 5 Joey Hand/Dirk Muller (Ford); 6 Tommy Milner/ Dixon wasn’t the fastest Honda driver in Kimball blocked him yet escaped punishment, Oliver Gavin (Corvette). qualifying, but as ever he salvaged the best but soon afterwards Kimball made a late pass GTD 1 Jeroen Mul/Corey Lewis (Lamborghini HPD-powered finish, despite strong challenges on Munoz that sent the #14 car into the grey, Huracan GT3); 2 Jesse Krohn/Jens Klingmann mid-race from two cars which allowed Daly through too. (BMW M6 GT3); 3 Jeroen Bleekemolen/Trent (Alexander Rossi, who would go on to finish At the final pitstops, the Foyt crew got Hindman (Mercedes-AMG GT3). sixth, and Ryan Hunter-Reay who slid into a wall Daly ahead of the Ganassi driver. He then Points GTLM 1 Magnussen/Garcia 274; 2 Sims/ on lap 203), as well as the Schmidt Peterson jumped to fifth on the restart, and spent Auberlen 258; 3= Hand/Muller & Westbrook/ Motorsports machine of James Hinchcliffe the remaining laps hassling Castroneves Briscoe 257; 5 Dirk Werner/Patrick Pilet 240; (eventually eighth) and Graham Rahal (Rahal for fourth place. This was easily the most 6 Laurens Vanthoor 239. Letterman Lanigan Racing), who tried to leave impressive drive of Daly’s IndyCar career. GTD 1 Christina Nielsen/Alessandro Balzan 282; from his final pitstop with his fuel probe still in. DAVID MALSHER 2 Bleekemolen 269; 3 Klingmann 252.

AUGUST 31 2017 49 RESULTS ROUND-UP

FORMULA 2 CHAMPIONSHIP GP3 SERIES ROUND 8/11, SPA (B), AUGUST 26-27 ROUND 5/8, SPA (B), AUGUST 26-27 RACE 1 (25 LAPS – 108.725 MILES) RACE 1 (17 LAPS – 73.908 MILES) 1 Artem Markelov (RUS) Russian Time 52m55.172s 1 George Russell (GB) ART Grand Prix 37m47.103s 2 (I) Russian Time +1.057s 2 Jack Aitken (GB) ART Grand Prix +7.460s 3 Antonio Fuoco (I) Prema Racing +1.446s 3 Nirei Fukuzumi (J) ART Grand Prix +7.807s 4 Gustav Malja (S) Racing Engineering +14.912s 4 Arjun Maini (IND) Jenzer Motorsport +9.259s 5 Nyck de Vries (NL) Racing Engineering +16.149s 5 Dorian Boccolacci (F) Trident +14.409s 6 Sergio Sette Camara (BR) MP Motorsport +24.356s 6 Ryan Tveter (USA) Trident +15.106s 7 Roberto Merhi (E) Rapax +28.479s 7 Giuliano Alesi (F) Trident +15.502s 8 Norman Nato (F) +30.611s 8 Julien Falchero (F) +23.361s 9 Santino Ferrucci (USA) Trident +37.735s 9 Niko Kari (FIN) Arden International +26.210s 10 Robert Visoiu (RO) Campos Racing +39.133s 10 Kevin Jorg (CH) Trident +26.514s 11 Nabil Jeff ri (MAL) Trident +42.608s 11 (I) Arden International +27.620s 12 Alexander Albon (T) ART Grand Prix +54.552s 12 (I) Jenzer Motorsport +29.201s 13 (CH) Campos Racing +55.217s 13 Steijn Schothorst (NL) Arden International +35.149s 14 Louis Deletraz (CH) Rapax +56.070s 14 (ZA) Campos Racing +38.400s 15 Sean Gelael (RI) Arden International +1m09.082s 15 Juan Manuel Correa (USA) Jenzer Motorsport +38.625s 16 Nobuharu Matsushita (J) ART Grand Prix -1 lap 16 Tatiana Calderon (CO) DAMS +43.005s EX Charles Leclerc (MC) Prema Racing +-31.635s R Marcos Siebert (RA) Campos Racing 14 laps-wishbone EX (GB) DAMS +0.072s R Matthieu Vaxiviere (F) DAMS 7 laps-accident damage R Jordan King (GB) MP Motorsport 1 lap-puncture/diff erential R Anthoine Hubert (F) ART Grand Prix 4 laps-blocked radiator NS (CDN) DAMS engine R Bruno Baptista (BR) DAMS 2 laps-accident Winner’s average speed 123.272mph. Fastest lap Markelov 2m00.204s, 130.340mph. Winner’s average speed 117.361mph. Fastest lap Russell 2m08.433s, 121.989mph.

QUALIFYING QUALIFYING 1 Leclerc 2m20.842s; 2 Latifi 2m21.510s; 3 Rowland 2m21.578s; 4 Malja 2m22.069s; 5 Fuoco 1 Russell 2m27.042s; 2 Fukuzumi 2m27.316s; 3 Maini 2m27.741s; 4 Aitken 2m28.039s; 5 2m22.073s; 6 de Vries 2m22.534s; 7 Ghiotto 2m22.952s; 8 Merhi 2m23.132s; 9 Markelov Vaxiviere 2m28.474s; 6 Boccolacci 2m28.593s; 7 Tveter 2m28.814s; 8 Schothorst 2m28.857s; 2m23.180s; 10 Albon 2m23.409s; 11 Sette Camara 2m23.424s; 12 Ferrucci 2m23.459s; 13 Deletraz 9 Falchero 2m29.110s; 10 Calderon 2m29.118s; 11 Lorandi 2m29.267s; 12 Alesi 2m29.270s; 2m23.470s; 14 Boschung 2m23.737s; 15 Matsushita 2m23.788s; 16 King 2m24.127s; 17 Visoiu 13 Jorg 2m29.461s; 14 Siebert 2m29.546s; 15 Pulcini 2m29.744s; 16 Kari 2m29.766s; 2m24.215s; 18 Nato 2m24.437s; 19 Gelael 2m25.039s; 20 Jeff ri 2m27.008s. 17 Hubert 2m29.882s; 18 Hyman 2m29.925s; 19 Baptista 2m29.981s; 20 Correa 2m30.587s.

RACE 2 (18 LAPS – 78.260 MILES) RACE 2 (13 LAPS – 56.500 MILES) 1 Sette Camara 39m40.215s; 2 de Vries +0.623s; 3 Ghiotto +2.403s; 4 Nato +3.109s; 5 Leclerc 1 Alesi 27m50.961s; 2 Russell +3.323s; 3 Tveter +7.089s; 4 Fukuzumi +10.902s; 5 Falchero +3.820s; 6 Merhi +4.894s; 7 Fuoco +5.448s; 8 Rowland +5.828s; 9 Latifi +6.690s; 10 Ferrucci +12.670s; 6 Maini +14.395s; 7 Hubert +14.667s; 8 Jorg +18.291s; 9 Kari +18.544s; 10 Hyman +9.202s; 11 Malja +9.629s; 12 Deletraz +10.556s; 13 Boschung +10.865s; 14 King +11.095s; +19.419s; 11 Pulcini +21.689s; 12 Schothorst +22.074s; 13 Calderon +22.490s; 14 Lorandi 15 Jeff ri +12.070s; 16 Visoiu +13.709s; 17 Gelael +14.121s; 18 Albon +17.543s; R Matsushita +23.413s; 15 Vaxiviere +27.895s; 16 Baptista +30.361s; 17 Boccolacci +1m37.635s; 14 laps-accident; R Markelov 12 laps-exhaust. 18 Aitken -2 laps; R Siebert 10 laps-oil temperature; R Correa 9 laps-engine. Winner’s average speed 118.366mph. Fastest lap King 1m59.965s, 130.600mph. Winner’s average speed 121.726mph. Fastest lap Russell 2m06.961s, 123.404mph.

GRID FOR RACE 2 GRID FOR RACE 2 Decided by result of Race 1, with top eight finishers reversed. Decided by result of Race 1, with top eight finishers reversed.

CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP 1 Leclerc 218; 2 Rowland 159; 3 Markelov 150; 4 Ghiotto 123; 5 Latifi 115; 6 de Vries 96; 1 Russell 137; 2 Aitken 101; 3 Fukuzumi 95; 4 Alesi 87; 5 Hubert 80; 6 Lorandi 63; 7 Matsushita 91; 8 Nato 91; 9 Albon 65; 10 King 49. 7 Boccolacci 54; 8 Maini 53; 9 Tveter 52; 10 Kari 28.

Sette Camara took first F2 win on his 16th series start

Alesi and Tveter shared race-two podium for the second round in succession

50 AUGUST 31 2017 1 OVERALL BLANCPAIN GT Stevens 1 Buhk/Perera 60 CHAMPIONSHIP Q3 QUALIFYING Winners’ average speed 1m42.799s; 11 1m42.620s; 6 Dam 1m43.253s; 20 Salaquarda In each car, first-named driverstarted race. Caldarelli 12 Mies/Ide R 1m43.571s; 29 +54.662s; 16 13 +1m06.101s; 22 19 R Splunteren/Zochling Williamson/Kodric 1 Vanthoor/Fassler 1h00m04.789s RACE QUALIFYING Winners’ average speed NS Perera 14 1 RACE MAIN 26-27, (H),AUGUST HUNGARORING 4/5, ROUND 19 21 8 4 R 24 16 15 5 3 17 25 12 10 7 2 22 23 11 20 6 R 18 9

BLANCPAIN GT SPRINTCUP Bortolotti/Engelhart Eng/Palttala van Dam/Bhirom Bhakdi 1 Vanthoor 1m42.359s Nicolas Pohler Felix Serralles Raff Stephen Earle Clemens Schmid Frank Stippler Marcel Fassler Lorenzo Case Jean-Luc Beaubelique Jules Szymkowiak Stuart Leonard Steven Kane Ben Barnicoat Piti Bhirom Bhakdi Alexander Mattschull Markus Winkelhock Christian Engelhart Rob Bell Andy Soucek Michael Meadows Klaus Bachler Dominik Baumann Pieter Schothorst Christophe Bourret Markus Palttala Christopher Zochling Franck Perera Martin Kodric Enzo Ide Romain Monti 1m43.339s. +10.513s;5 aele Giammaria 54;7 +31.706s;9 71. 1m43.418s;25 Estre/Bachler

Gounon (GB) (B) Kane/Abril Stevens Perel Crestani /Case

+47.975s; 13 Christopher Mies Q1/2

Andrew Watson

(GB) ; 2

(E)

(I) Frijns/Leonard (USA)

(HR) (A) +1m26.233s;26 (F)

(USA) (F) (GB) (CH) (D) (D) 1m43.275s;21

(34 LAPS – 92.556 MILES) –92.556 LAPS (34

Bortolotti/Engelhart (GB) Marciello/Meadows

Phil Quaife Maxime Soulet (FIN)

1m42.648s;7

Vincent Abril Kevin Estre Maximilian Buhk +1m43.082s; 29 Christopher Haase

(A) 16 Kevin Ceccon

1m42.873s;12

128;2 Lewis Williamson (NL)

1m43.576s;30

(GB) Alvaro Parente Daniel Juncadella

(I) Dries Vanthoor

(NL)

(A)

David Perel (T) Robin Frijns 92.432mph. 31;8 Filip Salaquarda (F)

89.392mph. (D) (D) Juncadella Ezequiel Perez Companc Philipp Eng

; 2

+58.666s;17 (A)

Jimmy Eriksson (D) Jake Dennis Ceccon

Carlo van Dam Raff

Jean-Philippe Belloc

(F) Mirko Bortolotti Will Stevens +1m04.412s;20 +1m12.048s; 23 Abril/Kane

Bortolotti Max van Splunteren Daniel Keilwitz Abril

Schothorst/Dennis Jules Gounon aele Marciello (GB)

(F) +18.311s;6

(GB) 1m43.419s;26 (D) 110;3 Mies Schiller

; 2 Ceccon/Stippler (F)

Attempto Racing 1m43.083s;17 AF Corse Fastest lap (I) (ZA) (B)

Fastest lap

WRT (NL) Belloc/Bourret Haase

Bortolotti/Engelhart (A) van Splunteren M-Sport Strakka Racing ISR

(P)

M-Sport (B) Salaquarda/Schmid (D) +49.106s;14 (GB) 1m42.530s; 3

1m42.666s;8

Kessel Racing Rowe Racing (I)

(GB)

WRT +33.822s; 10 Buhk/Perera

(GB) (D) (E) 57;3

Strakka Racing ·

(CZ) · WRT HTP Motorsport (NL) Team Lazarus 1m43.356s;22

uiR M +31.678s Audi R8LMS

(D) uiR M +28.281s Audi R8LMS (S) WRT 1m42.900s;13

Auto SportPromotion Parente/Barnicoat Crestani/Pohler Sainteloc Racing

(I) WRT

(F)

· Strakka Racing

(D) Soulet/Soucek ·

ISR

· (I) Kessel Racing HTP Motorsport HTP Motorsport

err 8 T +40.475s Ferrari 488GT3 GRT Grasser Racing Team ·

Vanthoor/Fassler uiR M +1.477s Audi R8LMS · Auto SportPromotion ete otnna T 6laps-brakes Bentley Continental GT3

Auto SportPromotion Rinaldi Racing · Audi R8LMS (RA) Vanthoor Buhk

ete otnna T 23laps-steering Bentley Continental GT3

Belloc (F) 27;9 · ·

uiR M +0.570s Audi R8LMS (NL) Audi R8LMS uiR M +3.458s Audi R8LMS

Eriksson Auto SportPromotion GRT Grasser Racing Team +1m26.763s; 27

Schiller/Szymkowiak

· · Buhk +1m45.248s; 30 ·

Marciello

Haase/Monti 1m43.956s. · Attempto Racing 100;4 osh 1 T- +24.219s Porsche 911GT3-R 1m43.591s, 94.602mph. cae 5SG3 +31.378s McLaren 650SGT3 M 6G3 +25.408s BMW M6GT3 Palttala err 5 tlaG3 22laps-puncture Ferrari 458Italia GT3 1m43.456s;27

·

·

Williamson abrhn uaa T +53.603s Lamborghini Huracan GT3 · cae 5SG3 +53.834s McLaren 650SGT3 1m42.542s;4 1m43.874s, 94.345mph. Keilwitz +2.758s;3

ecdsAGG3 +3.764s Mercedes-AMG GT3

· 1m43.136s;18

· +58.995s; 18 +22.652s;7 · +1m17.125s; 24 Winkelhock err 8 T +29.067s Ferrari 488GT3

· cae 5SG3 0laps-spin McLaren 650SGT3 ·

uiR M +10.495s Audi R8LMS · 24;10 ecdsAGG3 +5.421s Mercedes-AMG GT3 ecdsAGG3 +9.303s Mercedes-AMG GT3 +1m05.779s; 21 1m42.668s; 9

(33 LAPS – 89.833 MILES) –89.833 LAPS (33 · err 8 T +28.696s Ferrari 488GT3 56; 4 ecdsAGG3 17laps-accident damage Mercedes-AMG GT3 1m42.995s;14 +39.998s; 11 Gounon/Beaubelique

· Perel/Earle

1m43.373s;23 · Dennis/Schothorst Jesse Krohn

ecdsAGG3 +46.774s Mercedes-AMG GT3 Leonard Perez Companc · ecdsAGG3 +25.549s Mercedes-AMG GT3 · abrhn uaa T +40.721s Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Dennis

Stevens/Winkelhock · Keilwitz/Mattschull 84;5 abrhn uaa T +0.894s Lamborghini Huracan GT3

· ecdsAGG3 +47.843s Mercedes-AMG GT3 +49.473s; 15 Parente Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Watson/Bell Soucek Soulet/Soucek Perez Companc/Giammaria 1m42.620s;5 56; 5 Eriksson/Baumann -1 lap. Eng 24. 1m43.217s;19 Frijns Estre 1m42.760s;10 1m43.540s;28 1m43.085s; 15 Juncadella/Serralles +10.124s;4 +1m18.242s;25 qualification race Dennis at start of +1m33.176s;28 1m43.388s; 24 56;6 Vanthoor leads Bortolotti and Frijns +1m00.523s; +23.854s;8 1h00m17.776s 80;6 Winkelhock/ Quaife

Andrea Abril +40.119s; +27.964s Buhk/ van Watson

van BEROUD / VSA

Fastest lap 7 6 2 15 8 1 Newgarden 547 CHAMPIONSHIP 181.846mph; 20 182.271mph; 17 14 183.528mph; 11 7 4 1 Power 189.642mph QUALIFYING Winner’s average speed 464; 6 16 14 19 13 21 17 10 9 5 3 1 26 AUGUST (USA), GATEWAY 14/16, ROUND 12 11 4 20 18 Dixon Pagenaud INDYCAR SERIES Hunter-Reay Newgarden water their Penske people up titlehopes second to keep Dixon grabbed Charlie Kimball Alexander Rossi Scott Dixon Ryan Hunter-Reay James Hinchcliff Tony Kanaan Marco Andretti Takuma Sato Ed Jones Ed Carpenter Max Chilton Sebastien Bourdais Carlos Munoz Simon Pagenaud Josef Newgarden Graham Rahal Sebastian Saavedra Helio Castroneves Will Power JR Hildebrand Rahal 183.848mph;8 Newgarden 186.747mph; 5 436; 7

(UAE) Andretti (AUS) Kanaan Daly (NZ) (USA) 182.529mph; 15

(GB)

; 2

(BR) (J)

Rossi (USA)

(CO)

(USA) Dale Coyne Racing (USA)

e

(USA)

Dixon Chip GanassiRacing C 183.283mph;12

Andretti Autosport Team Penske (USA) AJ Foyt Enterprises (USA)

; 2 (CDN) Chip GanassiRacing (F)

hip GanassiRacing AJ Foyt Enterprises (USA)

Munoz

(USA) Ed Carpenter Racing

(BR) Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

182.195mph;18 (CO) Newgarden 24.6317s, 182.691mph. Ed Carpenter Racing

422; 8 Team Penske (F) 139.465mph. 181.191mph; 21 Andretti Autosport

Chip GanassiRacing

Andretti Herta Autosport 516;3

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports

Carpenter

Dale Coyne Racing Team Penske Schmidt Peterson Motorsports

Team Penske Andretti Autosport 183.620mph;9 Sato Hildebrand Castroneves ·DlaaCerlt 5laps-accident ·Dallara-Chevrolet 410;9 188.316mph;3 ·DlaaHna +12.3444s ·Dallara-Honda Jones

alr-hvoe +0.9743s · Dallara-Chevrolet 184.528mph; 6 alr-od 6laps-accident damage · Dallara-Honda ·DlaaCerlt +1.7446s ·Dallara-Chevrolet ·DlaaCerlt +1.5668s ·Dallara-Chevrolet ·Dallara-Chevrolet Kimball alr-od +0.6850s · Dallara-Honda ·DlaaHna 164laps-accident ·Dallara-Honda Saavedra alr-hvoe +7.8832s · Dallara-Chevrolet ·DlaaHna 168laps-retired ·Dallara-Honda Kanaan ·DlaaCerlt 5laps-accident ·Dallara-Chevrolet alr-od +19.8702s · Dallara-Honda 182.900mph;13 ·Dallara-Chevrolet 100 laps-accident AUGUST 312017 182.499mph; 16 Rossi ·DlaaHna 205laps-accident ·Dallara-Honda alr-od +8.1831s · Dallara-Honda alr-od +4.2365s · Dallara-Honda (248 LAPS – 310.000 MILES) –310.000 LAPS (248 505;4 182.137mph;19 ·DlaaHna +2.9101s ·Dallara-Honda 365;10 183.578mph; 10 177.700mph. Castroneves Pagenaud Sato Sato ·Dallara-Honda ·DlaaHna +4. ·Dallara-Honda ·DlaaHna +8.6604s ·Dallara-Honda Hinchcliff 184.186mph; Rahal Chilton 2h13m22.0358s 504; 5 187.457mph; Bourdais 182.830mph; Hinchcliff e

351. Power +8.8457s 8498s

e 51

WEB DIRECTORY

AWNINGS EXHAUSTS GEARBOXES

No1 for Inflatable Structures. With you from the Paddock to the Podium. www.aireshelta.com

HELMET GRAPHICS MEMORABILIA MOTORSPORT LEGAL ADVICE

Motor Sport Legal Advice Tudor Alexander, Ll.B Solicitor tudor@fletcherday.co.uk 07887 713512 Fletcher Day 56 Conduit St Mayfair London W1S 2YZ

MOTORSPORT LEGAL ADVICE RACE PARTS

MOTORSPORT CONTRACTS AND LEGAL ADVICE (NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL) CALL JAMIE CHAMPKIN 07880 965001 PASSIOANTE ABOUT MOTORSPORT [email protected] - www.champkin.uk.com www.jjcraceandrally.com

RACE RADIO RACING

RACING WEB DIRECTORY

www.demon-tweeks.co.uk

RACING RALLY PREPARATION TRAILERS & TRANSPORTERS

Luxury designs for custom vehicles [email protected]

TRAILERS & TRANSPORTERS

TO ADVERTISE IN THE WEB DIRECTORY PLEASE CALL 0203 405 8109 OR EMAIL [email protected]

52 » Connected to you

www.brianjames.co.uk TRAILERS & TRANSPORTERS

Black-and-White The benefit of a protective transport is always valued when moving precious vehicles. Its now over 20 years since Brian James Trailers were the first to design a stylish, light and durable enclosed trailer using a GRP body construction, the original Race Shuttle.

The Race Transporter range is the third generation in the lineage and for the double decade landmark in MY2017 trailers we have introduced a host of new features, including a professional vehicle restraint system as well as fresh external styling.

Choosing a Brian James Trailer as your enclosed transport solution has always guaranteed black-and-white certainty.

Race Transporters are now available in Black or White.

Range starts from £ 6,750 + vat

BJT also offers a wide range of open trailers. For more information on our trailer range or to find your nearest dealer visit: www.brianjames.co.uk/dealer T +44 (0)1327 308 833 For more information and details on the Brian James Trailers range, please contact our head office.

53 TRAILERS & TRANSPORTERS 54 SOUTH LONDONTRAILERCENTRE BLENDWORTH TRAILERCENTRE E: [email protected] W: www.blendworthtrailers.co.uk W: www.southeast-trailers.co.uk QUALITY THAT WEAREPROUDOF 4VIPSL  >HSSPUN[VU:\YYL`:4)1 6ɉ VINTAGE &PRESTIGEFINE E: [email protected] >VVKMVYK.97JV]LYLK[YHPSLYZ=HS\LMVYTVUL`:\WLYPVYPUKL Hackbridge StationDepot SOUTHEAST TRAILERS JL Tel: +44(0)2392412731 E: [email protected] 4VI!  E: [email protected] ;LS!  W: www.vandp.net SOUTH LONDON 498 LondonRoad Tel: 07933842719 LONDON-KENT POTHSMOUTH MOTORCARS London Road Ditton, Kent TLIa LONDON Woodford Trailers Limited DEALERS WANTED -AllWoodford Trailers havefullEuropean Type Approval WOODFORDTRAILERSDEALERSUK E: [email protected] W: www.berkshirecountytrailers.co.uk www. HALF MOONBAY (LEISURE)LTD BERKSHIRE COUNTYTRAILERS HIGH QUALITYTRAILERSFORCLUB, PRIVATE ANDPROMOTORSPORTS W: www.1stoptrailers.co.uk E: [email protected] Storrington, West Sussex E: [email protected] ‹ W: www.smart-tow.com ;LS!  Tel: +44(0)1787249737 Winchester, Hampshire 4VIPSL!   14Great CentralWay E: [email protected] Smart-Trailers.co.uk Micheldever Station 1 STOPTRAILERS ;LS!   ;LS!    TRAILERTEK LTD Monastery Lane WINCHESTER Warren Farm BRIGHTON SO21 3AS RH20 4LR SLOUGH WOODFORD ESSEX Telephone: 01327263384 ‹ Daventry E: [email protected] TRAILERS.com MARSDEN BARNTRAILERS HUMPHREYS &FOULKES APPLEYARD TRAILERS 4VI!   ‹ ;LS!   ;LS! 4VI!  ;L!  Woodford Halse Stoney Stanton NOTTINGHAM Huncote Road Marsden Barn MID WALES LEICESTER The Kennels Nottingham Lion Works :@(. 5. 7+ Newtown Leicester Pool Rd, 3, +1 Main St Strelley Powys Unit 1 HRLÄ LOVELL TRAILERS Tel: 01132887179 Tel: 01183240403 .YHaLSL`.YLLU 1HTLZ-HYT 1HTLZ3HUL READING 3::) RG7 1NB Rothwell Reading LEEDS Leeds LSK9VHK UPZO OFFERED FOR SALE Hospitality Suite | Driver’s Suite | Team Office

72 m2 living/office + 75 m2 hospitality + 27 m2 service = 174 m2 Manufactured in 2014 | German registered | Warehoused in Bespoke interior with carbon fi ber elements throughout Visit HusligCollective.com/Autosport for full details TRAILERS & TRANSPORTERS

55 TRAILERS & TRANSPORTERS 56 TRAILERS & TRANSPORTERS

Having retired from motor racing, offer for sale Seddon Atkinson T22129, 3 axle, race car transporter

Year of Manufacture 1987 Eaton twin splitter 12 speed gearbox Dhollandia DH-VO 2,000 kg swl tail lift There is a full canopy on the side with the pedestrian door. With our MONSTER The vehicle has a sleeper cab.

The annual test expires 31st May, 2018. The tachograph has been inspected and selection, we are the current certificate expires 3rd May, 2019. It is taxed as private with a current annual cost of £165.00. Europe’s largest Contact Geoffrey Marsh on Tel 023 9248 2323 or [email protected] supplier of New Lane, Havant, Hampshire PO9 2LZ American RVs! TRAILERS & TRANSPORTERS

NEW DESIGN ? COMING SOON

www.EmpireRV.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 1761 300 489

SALES QCORPORATE RENTALS VEHICLE MANAGEMENT QSERVICING

57 58                           

   !$"    " " ' !  !   " $ !%  '$ %!    " ' !&!" %   !!"    " $$ &! $  ! " %$$   ( !  &   $ ! $ $"

""$                13$   13$+                           .  ) #!// 2 #( 2(/( !#( /#!  #"  % "# "%! !& #! 3*0$ + *+, 3$" * #(   %2 / ('2)&#

     

 # "  ! #     ! "         !                  $ $ $ $           

 MARKETPLACE

RACE PRODUCTS SPECIALIST GARAGES

0844 375 2196 www.demon-tweeks.co.uk LOW CALL RATE CALLS MAY BE RECORDED FOR TRAINING PURPOSES

MEDIA CODE: NZ252A EXPERT ADVICE • MASSIVE STOCK • RAPID DELIVERY 7HNQRÀEUD+HDW 0DWHULDO RACE PRODUCTS

&RPSHWLWLRQ 6SHFLÀFDWLRQ:KHHO 6WXGVDQG1XWV

STORAGE MARKETPLACE

60   ĐŽŶĐĞƉƚ ͗ ĚĞƐŝŐŶ ͗ ŵĂŶƵĨĂĐƚƵƌĞ ͗ ƚĞƐƚ ͗ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉ ͗ ƌĂĐĞ

sE E'/E Z^Z, >d Z ĂƌĞ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞƌƐ͕ ŵĂŶƵĨĂĐƚƵƌĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ďƵŝůĚĞƌƐ ŽĨ ĂǁĂƌĚ ǁŝŶŶŝŶŐ ƌĂĐĞ ĞŶŐŝŶĞ ƐŽůƵƟŽŶƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂǀĞ ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĂLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƚŽƌ ƐƉŽƌƚƐ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ͘ ƐƚĂďůŝƐŚĞĚ ƐŝŶĐĞ ϭϵϵϳ͕ Z ŝƐ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƐƐĞdžͬ>ŽŶĚŽŶ ďŽƌĚĞƌ͘ dŽ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ŽƵƌ ĞdžƉĂŶĚŝŶŐ ĐĂƉĂďŝůŝƚLJ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ƐĞĞŬŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĂƉƉŽŝŶƚ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞĚ ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌƐ ƚŽ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ĞdžŝƐƟŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŶĞǁ ĞŶŐŝŶĞ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚƐ͘ ^ĞŶŝŽƌ ĞƐŝŐŶ ŶŐŝŶĞĞƌ ͬ ĞƐŝŐŶ ŶŐŝŶĞĞƌ ZĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďůĞ ĨŽƌ ĚĞƐŝŐŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶŝŶŐ Ăůů ĐŽŵƉŽŶĞŶƚƐ ĨƌŽŵ ŽƵƌ ŚŝŐŚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ƌĂĐĞ ĞŶŐŝŶĞ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚ ƌĂŶŐĞ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ĐLJůŝŶĚĞƌ ďůŽĐŬͬƐƵŵƉ ĂŶĚ ŚĞĂĚ ĐĂƐƟŶŐƐ͕ Žŝů ĂŶĚ ǁĂƚĞƌ ƉƵŵƉ ĂƐƐĞŵďůŝĞƐ͕ ĐĂƌďŽŶ ĮďƌĞ ĐŽŵƉŽŶĞŶƚƐ͕ ŵƵůƟƉůĞ ŵĂĐŚŝŶĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ƐŽůŝĚ ĂŶĐŝůůĂƌŝĞƐ͕ ƚŚƌĞĂĚĞĚ )/ /*  1 -/$.  ĨĂƐƚĞŶĞƌƐ ĞƚĐ͘  ĂŶĚ ĚƌĂŌŝŶŐ ǁŝůů ŵĂŬĞ ƵƉ ƚŚĞ ŵĂũŽƌŝƚLJ ĚĂŝůLJ ǁŽƌŬ ůŽĂĚ͘ ĞƐŝŐŶ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŶŐ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ŝƐ ĂƟĂ sϱ͕ ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ƉĂĐŬĂŐĞ ŝŶ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶ ƚŽ & ĐĂƉĂďŝůŝƟĞƐ ĂƌĞ ƉƌĞĨĞƌƌĞĚ͘ ^ƵŝƚĂďůĞ ĐĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞƐ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĚĞŐƌĞĞ ƋƵĂůŝĮĞĚ Žƌ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ŝŶ Ă DĞĐŚĂŶŝĐĂů ŶŐŝŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ ĚŝƐĐŝƉůŝŶĞ͘ (*/*-.+*-/ %*Ѽ ^ĞŶŝŽƌ dƌĂĐŬͲ^ƵƉƉŽƌƚ ͬ dƌĂĐŬͲ^ƵƉƉŽƌƚ ŶŐŝŶĞĞƌ ZĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďůĞ ĨŽƌ ĞŶŐŝŶĞ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂĐŬ ŽĨ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ Z͛Ɛ ĞŶŐŝŶĞ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚƐ͘ ^ƵŝƚĂďůĞ ĐĂŶͲ ĚŝĚĂƚĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĚĞŐƌĞĞ ƋƵĂůŝĮĞĚ Žƌ ĞƋƵŝǀĂůĞŶƚ͕ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞĚ ŝŶ ĞŶŐŝŶĞ ƚƌĂĐŬͲƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ͕ ƉƌŽĮĐŝĞŶƚ ǁŝƚŚ ĞŶŐŝŶĞ ŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ƐLJƐƚĞŵƐ ͬ ĐĂůŝďƌĂƟŽŶ ͬ ƐĞŶƐŽƌƐ͘ Ɛ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌͲĨĂĐŝŶŐ Z ƌĞƉƌĞͲ ƐĞŶƚĂƟǀĞ͕ LJŽƵ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĂŶ ĞdžĐĞůůĞŶƚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƚŽƌ͕ ŚŝŐŚůLJ ŵŽƟǀĂƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ǀĞƌLJ ǁĞůů ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ƌŽůĞ ǁŝůů ŝŶǀŽůǀĞ ĞdžƚĞŶƐŝǀĞ ƚƌĂǀĞů ƚŽ /ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů ĂŶĚͬŽƌ ƵƌŽƉĞĂŶ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ͘ ĞŶĞĮƚƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ͗ WĞŶƐŝŽŶ ƐĐŚĞŵĞ ;ŽŵƉĂŶLJ ŵĂƚĐŚĞĚ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶ ƵƉ ƚŽ ϱй ŽĨ ƐĂůĂƌLJͿ ! 4*0 - - -0$/$)" $) ϮϱͲĚĂLJƐ ĂŶŶƵĂů ůĞĂǀĞ ^ĂůĂƌLJ ĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚ ŽŶ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ dƌĂĐŬͲƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ĐŽŵƉĞŶƐĂƟŽŶ ƐĐŚĞŵĞ (*/*-.+*-/ ) 2$.# /* ůů ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂďŽǀĞ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƐ ĂƌĞ ĨƵůůͲƟŵĞ ĂŶĚ ůŽĐĂƚĞĚ ŝŶ ĂƐŝůĚŽŶ͕ ƐƐĞdž͘ WůĞĂƐĞ ƐĞŶĚ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ ǁƌŝƟŶŐ ;ĐƵƌƌŝĐƵůƵŵ ǀŝƚĂĞ ĂŶĚ ĐŽǀĞƌͲůĞƩĞƌͿ ƚŽ  1 -/$. 2$/# 0/*.+*-/ $) ŝŶĨŽΛĂĞƌůƚĚ͘ĐŽŵ ĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ŶŐŝŶĞ ZĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ >ƚĚ͕ hŶŝƚ ϲ ZĞƉƚŽŶ ůŽƐĞ͕ +-$)/ ) *)'$) +' . ƵƌŶƚ DŝůůƐ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů ƐƚĂƚĞ͕ ĂƐŝůĚŽŶ͕ ƐƐĞdž͕ ^^ϭϯ ϭ>͘ *)// *)/#)ѵ&$)"ҽ   (*/*-.+*-/ѵ*( ,-"': !- ' -22#' 2! -2', #' ,#' (, (6, );; 9,- ' 2! *- '' ,-"  2,('- (,&5% '3 & ('2#'5- 2! *,(5 !#-2(,9 ( 2! % ',9 #%6, ,,(7-+

пспт упф чррпѵ             )./4

 !6 8#2#' (**(,25'#2#- (, !# !%9 ,#6' # #2% ' #',#' !'  ' ,- 7(,$#' #' (5, '7%9 ,2 # #2% ' #',#' ,'-(,&2#(' *,2&'2+ #2!  -2,(' &# ' *,2#% $ ,(5' #' ' #',#' !'  &' &'2 '#2- 7#%% ' 2( !6 %,9 &('-2,2 2! -5--5% %#6,9( -# '#'2 !'  &' &'2 *,( ,&&- #'  '5&, ( -2 * ' #',#' % (, '#-2#('-+          ).//

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ѵ0/*.+*-/ѵ*( %%- (, ,2 ,-,6- ( &(2#62#(' ' ,-#%#'+ 7' 9(5, 2'2! (  -('+ %9 9(5, *,2+ (#' 5-+ ( ' (52 &(, 6#-#2 !22*00,,-+&,-& )+(&0

%(-#' 2 ) *2&, 4;).

 MG CAR CLUB PRESENTS FOUR HOUR CLASSIC RELAY

BRITISH MOTOR HERITAGE SNETTERTON 200 CIRCUIT SUNDAY 1ST OCTOBER QUALIFYING - 11AM RACE - 2PM

£930 entry per team CLOSED WHEEL CARS ONLY open to all MIN OF 3 CARS, MAX OF 6 marques UP TO 6 DRIVERS - £155 EACH LIMITED TO 26 TEAMS AWARDS FOR CLASSES, SCRATCH & HANDICAP RESULTS PERFORMANCE CONTROLLED TO NO LESS THAN 1MIN 20S

Book your entry now Contact John Hutchison on 01235 849738 or [email protected] 24HOUR RACERS ARE YOU READY, STEADY, LET’S GO DAYTONA MILTON KEYNES SEES THE INAUGURAL DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL 24 HOUR ENDURANCE RACE TAKE PLACE ON OCTOBER 7TH AND 8TH.

QDaytona are inviting teams from across the UK, Europe and further afield to race over 24 Hours at the UK’s premier venue. Daytona will provide everything required to race: A race-prepared kart, race-suits, helmets and gloves, two hours practice, qualifying and space to pitch a tent or park your motorhome. QDMAX Team Entries cost just £2295 inc VAT QSodi World Series Class Team Entries costs just £1595 inc VAT

WITH 29 TEAMS ALREADY BOOKED AND JUST 13 SPACES ON THE GRID REMAINING, YOU ARE ADVISED TO BOOK EARLY BY CALLING MARK WIMBLETT ON 033 033 278 70 (OPT 9) CLUB AUTOSPORT

NATIONAL RACING O HISTORICS O HILLCLIMB O TRACK TESTS O FEATURES

IN BRIEF

BRDC RISING STARS REVEALED Seven new drivers have been announced as BRDC Rising Stars, including Will Tregurtha, Sandy Mitchell, Jack Mitchell and Stuart Middleton from British GT. Also included are (Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup), Ben Hingeley (British F3) and Jamie Caroline (British F4).

NEW FRENCH F4 PRIZES The French Formula 4 Championship will be FIA certified in 2018, with €100,000 (£92,500) on offer for the winner. As well as the prize money, the successful driver will win entry into the Minassian will return Academy and points towards an FIA to action in a 2011 superlicence. The series will run Mygale Peugeot at Spa chassis with two-litre Renault engines. GRIFFITHS/LAT

MASTERS ENDURANCE LEGENDS CHADWICK RETURNS TO TRACK Ginetta GT5 Challenge champion Ollie Chadwick returned to racing at Minassian in Peugeot seat Snetterton last weekend in a Caterham 7. He shared the car with business partner Jason Garrett in the 7 Series races. Chadwick qualified on pole before he for classic enduro pilot race and Garrett took seventh place overall. NICOLAS MINASSIAN WILL BE REUNITED “It’s wonderful that they are coming back PIASTRI STILL BELIEVES with a Peugeot 908 LMP1 turbodiesel in the for people to enjoy again.” British Formula 4 title contender Masters Endurance Legends pilot event at He stressed, however, that because he is the has not given up on the Spa-Francorchamps next month. series director the Peugeot will be given a time championship this year, despite a The Frenchman, who raced for Peugeot penalty during its pitstop. disastrous weekend at Rockingham where throughout the five seasons of its P1 programme The Peugeot is one of multiple cars, including he only scored one point over three races. from 2007, will drive a 2011 V8-powered earlier V12-engined 908 HDi FAPs, which have He now sits 74.5 points behind title rival 908 entered by Group C and GTP specialist been purchased from the factory by a consortium Jamie Caroline, and said: “I’ve just got Chamberlain Synergy Motorsport. He will share led by Bob Berridge. His team will run them to forget about this weekend.” the car, the unraced chassis #6 which tested under the Peugeot Sport Classique by extensively over the winter of 2011/12, with Chamberlain Synergy banner. Mercedes C11 Group C driver Kriton Lendoudis Berridge said: “We have full technical support in the one-hour race September 17. to run these cars. They did 36-hour tests flat-out, Minassian, who is also director of the new so running them for two or three seasons without series for LMP and GT machinery built between a rebuild won’t be an issue. 2000 and 2011, said: “I can’t believe I’m going “We have bought a full complement of spares to drive that car again. I’m so excited about it; and have had to take a warehouse to put them in.” I’m even going to get my old Peugeot overalls If the pilot event proves successful, it will be

out of the cupboard to wear. followed by a six-race schedule in 2018. EBREY/LAT

AUGUST 31 2017 63 CLUB AUTOSPORT/NEWS

Ahmed (r) took his first overall championship in car racing EBREY/LAT EBREY/LAT

EUROPEAN FORMULA 3 Ahmed to test Euro F3 car after title win NEWLY CROWNED BRDC BRITISH FORMULA 3 Norris into the lead of the 2017 European F3 Euro F3 frontrunners. Norris is also a BRDC champion is to test an F3 European standings, said: “He’s hit a high level and should British F3 graduate after completing a half- Championship car this week with a view to just be aiming for European F3 – he’s absolutely season in the series last year. stepping up to the series for 2018. ready for it. If he did a race now he would be The 17-year-old clinched the British F3 title at super-competitive, so with a winter of testing OTwo more BRDC British F3 frontrunners, Snetterton last weekend with a round to spare behind him he’ll be very strong.” Ben Hingeley and Cameron Das, will make thanks to his 12th win of the season for Carlin, Carlin will also give a test to James Pull, who their debuts in the Euroformula Open series and will step up to an FIA-spec F3 car with the is third in the British F3 rankings as team-mate this weekend at Silverstone. same team on Thursday at Silverstone. to Ahmed, and is contention for the runner-up Hingeley will contest the British round of the “I want to go to European Formula 3 and I’m spot at the final round. series, which uses current-generation Dallara F3 trying to get some sponsors,” said Ahmed. “Trevor If Ahmed competes in European F3 next season, chassis with spec Toyota engines, with Fortec [Carlin, team boss] believes I’m good enough and he would follow in the footsteps of Motorsports, the same team he races with in I believe him – I’m not saying I’m going to win and George Russell, who won titles in the current British F3. American Das has joined Campos but let’s see how testing goes.” British F3 series’ predecessor – the BRDC F4 Racing and will contest the final four rounds, Trevor Carlin, whose team has taken Lando Championship – before going on to become none of which clash with the British F3 finale.

GT4 SUPERCUP Drivers bemoan Ginetta team switches for Rockingham

GINETTA GT4 SUPERCUP PAIR GEORGE successfully appealed the decision at as well [as the Juniors]. It was what OGinetta Junior title contender Kiern Gamble and Seb Perez have voiced the National Court, Ginetta declared Ginetta wanted to do, but with three Jewiss was plagued by engine issues at their frustration at having to find a new that the probe was not “sufficiently rounds to go it’s not ideal.” Rockingham last weekend, leaving him team ahead of the Rockingham round comprehensive” and opted to suspend Two more of the ex-JHR Junior unable to score a podium in any of the following JHR Developments’ JHR from all Ginetta classes. racers found alternative drives for three races and his title hopes in tatters. suspension from Ginetta categories. GT4 pair Gamble and Perez were Rockingham, so seven of the eight The Douglas Motorsport driver is now JHR’s suspension stems from an forced to find a new team, and both JHR racers have found new berths. 78 points off leader Tom Gamble. investigation into its Ginetta Junior settled at Rob Boston Racing. Matt Luff joined Richardson Racing An overnight engine change failed to team after three of its Junior drivers “It’s a bit chaotic,” Perez said. “JHR while Finley Green – who is now rectify the problem after power issues were excluded at Thruxton in May for have been really helpful trying to sort competing for a third team this season in two tough races on Saturday. Jewiss engine irregularities. Although JHR things out. It’s kind of knackered us – landed with Elite Motorsport. took a best finish of seventh on Sunday.

LEADERS IN MOTORSPORT INSURANCE A service driven broker for a fast moving world

www.integrogroup.com

Integro Insurance Brokers Ltd. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Offi ce: 100 Leadenhall Street, London EC3A 3BP. Registered Company No. 2957627 .

64 AUGUST 31 2017 tuk debut Rivett to make TRUCK RACING when Iwas akidanditlooks somuchfun.” forward to it. Iusedto watch thetrucks onTV raced anything like thisbefore. knowI don’t what to expect –I’ve never is avery different track to Brands Indy so third intheCliostandings. “But Snetterton off thepoletime,” saidRivett, who iscurrently and onthesecond Iwas only acouple oftenths tested ittwice buthasnever raced itbefore. by hisClioteam boss, Wayne Eason. Hehas the MANTGA Division 2trucknormally raced racing debut at Snetterton next week. champion Paul Rivett willmake histruck THREE-TIME RENAULT UKCLIOCUP HAWKINS “It’s going to beinteresting, I’mreally looking “I’ve hadtwo goes at Brands Hatch Indy Rivett willcompete onSeptember 10-11in one. Theteam isstill workingontheengine. the seriesnowthat Vukovic Motorsport hasbuilt calendar in2017.Races will belivestreamed. TCR seriesisexpected to runasixorseven-round series haselected to form its ownpackage. The understands that talks didtake place, butthe on theBritishGT support bill,andAutosport heats andan‘A’ and‘B’-final format. confirmed that itisconsidering runningtwo British Touring CarChampionship. a licensing system similarto that usedbythe have ruledoutacap ongridsizes oremploying cars onthegridcould beaproblem. Organisers expected to riseover30,accommodating allthe races perweekend. Butbecause entriesare format asTCR International, withtwosprint grids ofmost UKcircuits. are expecting entriesto exceed space onthe adapt its format for 2018since organisers THE TCR UKSERIESISLOOKING AT WAYS TO headachegrid TCR UK expects TCR UK A Renault Megane TCR car could compete in It hadbeenrumoured that TCR could appear In abulletin to competitors, theseries The serieshadplannedto usethesame Eason’s MANtruck Rivett willrace at Snetterton BGT frontrunner Keen to GT Open Piquet to drive father’s RT1 ZANDVOORT HISTORIC GP with the40-year-old Raltandits owner, Amersfoort Racingandwillmeetup F3 European ChampionshipwithVan Grand Prixthisweekend. Formula 3car duringtheZandvoort Historic will get to drive hisfather’s 1978 RaltRT1 THE YOUNGEST SON OFNELSON PIQUET in theLeMansCup andRatcliffe inaBritish this season, Keen sharingwith LeeMowle will partner Ratcliffe forthefirst time. Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan GT3, and Tuning Mercedes-AMG GT3. at Silverstone thisweekend inanAmD one-off International GT Openentry and Ryan Ratcliffe will ateam upin BRITISH GT REGULARS PHILKEEN GT OPEN LAT , 19, currently races inthe Both drivers have raced thecar already Keen issecond inBritishGT inaBarwell Brancatelli for full season in RS500 SUPER TOURING TROPHY Zealander Peter Sturgeon. in thecar ownedbyNew ace hasguested thissummer years, the67-year-old Italian the 1989Spa 24Hours. Sierra RS500 heusedto win the former Eggenberger Ford European season in2018 hopes to tackle afullUKand GIANFRANCO BRANCATELLI WALKER Back racing after a gap of16 Oulton Park onSunday. Super Touring Trophy race at a third place overall inthe next year,” saidSturgeon after car here, anddosomemore next season. race thecar more regularly finalised for Brancatelli to “Rudi Eggenberger, who “We’re going to leave the Now plansare being in Mexico that weekend. his brother, NelsonJunior, isbusy racing will beinBrazil, andPedro reports that it intheClassicF3encounters. car onbothdays, while Shaw willrace weekend. Heissetto demonstrate the David Shaw, duringtheZandvoort joined by RikiChristodoulou. Silverstone event, withCraig Dolby Gallardo willalsobeentered inthe champion Ratcliffe. car isonform,” said 2013 BritishGT4 damage], soitwas abigjob, butnow the and rewelded back in[after theSilverstone after sustaining chassisearlier intheyear. GT campaign withMowle that was curtailed Nelson Seniorisnotavailable since he The Wessex Vehicles Lamborghini “The front-right corner had to becutout a very demandingtrack.”a very circuit, commenting: “It’s experience oftheCheshire Brancatelli hadhisfirst the car at Oulton Park as could youhave?” continued. “What better and that was fantastic,” he came onboard viaGianfranco built andran thecar inperiod, AUGUST 312017 Eggenberger was with raced Europe outings wants UKand the Ralt in1978 Brancatelli 65          

œ (.+)*65 .10&10 ʼn #$7 &*#$+ ʼn .10&10 œ*16'.ʼn  0+)*65

œ #$7&*#$+)2 6+%-'65 ʼn5#6570

œ #(6'44#%' %10%'465 ʼn5#6570

œ4#%'2#%-ʼn ( .6& '&+6+10 5*+46 $#)  %#2

œ 6*'/' 2#4-5 ʼn 70.+/6'& #%%'55 61 ('44#4+ 914.& #$7 &*#$+  ;#5 9#6'4914.&

(.+)*65 (41/ /#0%*'56'4 #0& '&+0$74)* #8#+.#$.'

  (* ' +#" "* #'  ,( %,, !!

),!$     !       

 $     $ ## $     $                     " ' * !' ( ' *' !' ( # #'!+  " "("   #'!+  $ #!%"-&  '*( '(',& Formula target – from September 1998, with a Reliant aReliant 1998, with September –from target Formula aff to play. wet 2006–avery 750MC since The visited hadn’t out came swarms angry six as remained, vista green The accomplished. mission heroically, another to return away its from base, whirred Ambulance Air Hampshire yellow-and-green the overhead, and chugged aircraft airfi green the of tranquility the lull, eerie almost an in Irelaxed As it’s horizons, absolutely the idyllic. spanning sunshine relentless Yeta few of afternoon, them. onaglorious day. I’ve to windswept been and onarain-lashed bleak miserably HQis BARC’sWar the aerodromes, Thruxton year, event per every to savoured. is be racing of days 12 only with And machine. and test of competitor awesome an still is circuit –Britain’s fastest to club sport F2 F5000 –from and features of racing some its greatest factors. PA donethe venue and all are for decades at the Ford) ’81, Formula instructed in (in debut there my racing I’ve made 1973, That it frequented since me to refl enabled break Saturday’s marshals’ during complex Campbell-Cobb-Segrave at box the commentary OUTSIDE ASANDWICH GRABBING capable ofwinningraces incertain conditions. lapsonFridaysub-1m20s andreckons it thecar withPauldeveloped Nightingale, did engined RGBchampionshipcar. TimGray, who on Saturday demonstrated thelatest front- sixth-place finishesintheSpire GT-F at Thruxton Former motorcycle racer Richard Webb’s FRONT-ENGINED SPIREAT THRUXTON air, I recall – thus for many it was a day of discovery. aday it was for many –thus Irecall air, Unsurprisingly, lap records tumbled. Mick Harris’s 750 Harris’s Mick records tumbled. lap Unsurprisingly, dynamic. the clerk’s of changed the car passing The A fl World Second from hewn circuits traditional all Like witnessed having because special be always But it will astonish at Thruxton y buzzed through the box, the occasional small small occasional the box, the through y buzzed ect on why I have always loved Thruxton. loved Thruxton. onwhy always Ihave ect eld was interrupted but occasionally. butoccasionally. interrupted eld was Rapid RGB cars By Marcus Pye, thevoice ofclubracing

THE THE tribute-liveried sister car. Bland/Andre d’Cruze retired theMarlboro/ the ex-Fabien Giroix car to 10th,butShane in aUKrace. Paul BeddowandSteel drove Challenge at Oulton Park, theirfirst appearance of BMW635sinMonday’s Historic Touring Car Geoff Steel RacingfieldedDuncan Arthurs’s pair BMW 635sMAKEUKDEBUTAT OULTON

@autosport afoot to turn it around for for 2018. arebrand? it around Time to turn afoot to much off has series vibrant for the to ground, front-engined cars intriguing other the to have driven appears it at 1m17.20s (109.87mph).leaving Sadly, Spire GT-F the rival’s race-one best, his shaving in Albone’s slipstream in 141mph MC-53) pulling (Mittell records, Mittell lap traded Mittell driver/constructor Scott (Spire) local Albone and Billy by17s!1970s astonished racewinner Double –butwas late the in White broken byFF2000 racerMike Delta a barrier – 1m20s inside ever. lap as would they Iknew sensational as were prototypes 1000cc motorcycle-engined the down, well fi the putand stay veterans why many cheap-thrills class is aff this that suggests themselves, enjoying pack, the racers in are corner. Radical former That Campbell got round ofmost them fi its undeterred. continued and formation, tight launched off car) was (kit MEV autilitarian up front. Abit as close, too regulations. class onthe take sleek fi 7engine, Austin an 1960s with the in late granddad by his championship. club longest-running country’s celebrate the to number healthy now Fiat-powered in arrived which posse, bythe plundered –was owns 877 hestill Darvi the in engine nished second both times to a modern and somewhat less less somewhat and to amodern times both second nished For me, the RGB cars stole the show. Although numbers are are numbers show. stoleFor RGB the cars me,the Although for cover on mediving had almost pack ToyotaThe MR2 action Cars) (formerly tight provided Kit Specials Sports Cowley’s originated mount, Points Bill leader eponymous rst outing, but instead of the anticipated bomb-burst bomb-burst anticipated of the butinstead rst outing, the third of the sleek Eclipse SM1s, running in in running SM1s, Eclipse sleek of the third the winner JimTiller’s Allard-Chevrolet J2. Drive. Amongthefavourites are multiple is contested overaquarter mileonMadeira in 1905,Brighton &HoveMC’s seafront event Brighton SpeedTrials onSaturday. First run intheFrost’ssportscars joinaneclectic entry Some oftheworld’s fastest production SPORTSCARS JOINBRIGHTON SLOPE ordable, fun and sustainable, doubtless doubtless sustainable, and ordable, fun HUMBLE PYE/ elds remain large. remain elds AUGUST 312017 er. Work is CLUB AUTOSPORT

ALL PICS: MAWP+SPORT 67 CLUB AUTOSPORT

RENAULT UK CLIO CUP Pattison cuts down points gap to Bushell

IT WAS ALWAYS A LONG SHOT THAT Mike Bushell would wrap up the title at Rockingham. In his words, he needed a “perfect weekend”. But a throttle problem in qualifying put him on the back foot from the very start, and he left Corby with his points advantage marginally cut after two less-than-perfect days. something to get excited about!” Pattison (#5) won at the top of the standings may have been That qualifying car failure – the There was no shortage of excitement race two to narrow slashed. Instead, it is now 82 points with Team Pyro racer’s first of the season – for Coates himself in race two. He was points deficit to leader just 136 up for grabs, Pattison now being meant Bushell could only start seventh outmuscled by Pattison and Bushell Bushell (#21) his closest challenger after a mixed for the opener. And it soon got worse. through Chapman on lap one but was weekend for Rivett. A good initial getaway did not last, as not settling for a podium. Rivett was docked a time good enough he got caught up in an incident out of He remained on the tail of Bushell and for second on the grid for race two and Deene that left him 13th. He then had briefly got ahead at Deene on the third had to start in seventh. This left him in “one of my most exciting races for a tour. Then on the seventh of 14 laps he the thick of the first-corner commotion, while” as he fought hard to climb to tried again but this time ran wide, losing dropping him to 15th. He fought back to 10th after an intense scrap with team- out to James Colburn and Lucas Orrock. seventh but is 99 points behind Bushell, mate Nathan Harrison. Coates quickly repassed Orrock who is in a commanding position to seal While Bushell was mired in the before getting past Colburn at Brook his second Clio crown at Silverstone. midfield, some of his title rivals were able with three laps to go. STEPHEN LICKORISH to profit. Lee Pattison nearly passed both “I’m happy because I got a podium front-row starters – and Paul but I’m not happy because we didn’t RESULTS Rivett – as they struggled with wheelspin, win – we had the pace,” he said. “Mike but Coates was just able to hold on. He kept changing direction into the braking RACE 1 (14 LAPS) 1 Max Coates; 2 Lee Pattison stayed in front throughout to claim his zone, which put me off.” +0.594s; 3 Jack McCarthy; 4 Paul Rivett; 5 James first win since April, while Jack McCarthy Bushell said Coates’s off was a “critical Colburn; 6 Daniel Rowbottom. Fastest lap Pattison finally took his maiden podium in third. error” and, although he was unable 1m30.108s (77.50mph). Pole Coates. Starters 20. “I was just going as fast as I could – to prevent Pattison winning, he was RACE 2 (14 LAPS) 1 Pattison; 2 Mike Bushell +0.625s; I was trying to manage the tyres in the pleased to end his weekend on a high. 3 Coates; 4 Colburn; 5 Lucas Orrock; 6 McCarthy. early stages,” said Coates. Pattison closed But it could all have been very FL Coates 1m30.306s (77.33mph). P Coates. S 20. dramatically on the final tours and different. Had Bushell’s car problem POINTS 1 Bushell 400; 2 Pattison 318; 3 Rivett 301; Coates joked: “You’ve got to give them occurred in one of the races, his lead 4 Coates 298; 5 Rowbottom 241; 6 Colburn 238.

BRITISH F4 Disastrous weekend for Piastri TO SAY THAT OSCAR PIASTRI HAD then, to cap a woeful weekend, he collided a bad weekend at Rockingham would be with Linus Lundqvist in the finale and an understatement. The title contender suffered more car troubles. scored just a solitary point over the It wasn’t smooth sailing for Caroline, three races, allowing Jamie Caroline either. He could only manage third in the to extend his advantage. opener, after a combination of old tyres Piastri notched up RESULTS Piastri’s first race was wrecked by and whacking the wall hampered his just a single point contact with Arden team-mate Ayrton progress. He then retired from race two across three races RACE 1 (15 LAPS) 1 Linus Lundqvist; 2 Oliver York Simmons early on, and he then retired after the Piastri clash, having already +1.895s; 3 Jamie Caroline; 4 ; to the pits with a technical problem. hit team-mate Logan Sargeant, and had to 5 Ayrton Simmons; 6 Alex Quinn. CW Hampus A fresh engine for race two didn’t settle for another third in race three. But Ericsson. FL Lundqvist 1m19.629s (87.70mph). bring rewards either as a controversial that still leaves him with a 74.5-point lead. P Lundqvist. S 16. RACE 2 (15 LAPS) 1 Quinn; collision with Caroline at Tarzan Their problems enabled other drivers 2 Patrik Pasma +1.531s; 3 Simmons; 4 Sargeant; speared him into the gravel and he to shine. Lundqvist claimed a comfortable 5 York; 6 Ericsson. CW Ericsson. FL Oscar Piastri could only salvage 10th. win in the opener, a move on Patrik 1m19.854s (87.45mph). P Pasma. S 16. RACE 3 (15 “At the hairpin, he was defending Pasma around the outside at Chapman LAPS) 1 Sargeant; 2 York +3.235s; 3 Caroline; 4 the inside line so I went to the outside,” sealed Alex Quinn the race-two triumph, Simmons; 5 Lundqvist; 6 Ericsson. CW Ericsson. FL Piastri explained. “But he just moved while Sargeant claimed a dominant Caroline 1m19.961s (87.34mph). P Sargeant. S 16. across and there was nowhere I could go.” maiden win in the finale. POINTS 1 Caroline 364; 2 Piastri 289.5; 3 Sargeant It was deemed a racing incident and STEPHEN LICKORISH 283; 4 Quinn 255; 5 Lundqvist 239.5; 6 York 215.5. ALL PICS EBREY/LAT ALL PICS

68 AUGUST 31 2017 TOCA SUPPORTS, ROCKINGHAM, AUGUST 26-27

GINETTA GT4 SUPERCUP Green drops back despite brace TWO WINS FROM THREE RACES a confident move on Pointon at for title challenger Ben Green Deene to snatch second, finishing marked a good weekend at 0.789s off Green. Rockingham, but the trademark A lights-to-flag win from pole in race consistency Callum Pointon has two may have sounded easy for Green, employed from day one meant he but two safety-car periods with a rapid left the Corby circuit with a 91- Pointon behind kept him sweating. point lead – one point more than Green managed both restarts well, he had heading into the weekend. but wasn’t able to break away from Declan Jones did the business the championship leader. in qualifying to start on pole, but a “It was hard work keeping Callum horrendous start as a result of not behind, because I had a bit of a problem being able to see the lights dropped with the clutch off the start so couldn’t him out of contention and allowed get away very well,” Green said. Green into the lead ahead of Pointon. Pointon added: “It was probably our But while Green held his own hardest race we have ever had trying to Green (ahead) racked RESULTS out front, it was George Gamble, get past, and especially with the safety up two wins in Corby running in his first weekend with cars. But it was a really good race and but was made to fight RACE 1 (12 LAPS) 1 Ben Green; 2 George Gamble the Rob Boston squad – following Ben deserved that win.” +0.789s; 3 Callum Pointon; 4 Charles Ladell; 5 Jack JHR’s suspension – who was the Fresh from a storming drive from Mitchell; 6 Reece Somerfield. Fastest lap Gamble star of the race. 10th to fourth, Jones was keen to 1m22.837s (84.31mph). Pole Declan Jones. Starters A snapped power-steering belt make amends for his first-race 19. RACE 2 (16 LAPS) 1 Green; 2 Pointon +0.598s; in qualifying meant he started disappointment in the finale. He made 3 Mitchell; 4 Jones; 5 Carl Boardley; 6 Gamble. down in 19th, but with fresh tyres a good start to take a lead he would FL Pointon 1m23.381s (83.76mph). P Green. S 19. from the lack of Saturday morning never relinquish and cross the line RACE 3 (16 LAPS) 1 Jones; 2 Mitchell +3.763s; running he performed a comfortably ahead of double podium 3 Boardley; 4 Gamble; 5 Pointon; 6 Tom Hibbert. masterclass in overtaking. finisher Jack Mitchell, while Green FL Gamble 1m23.546s (83.59mph). P Jones. S 19. By the end of lap one he had made could only manage 11th. POINTS 1 Pointon 458; 2 Green 367; 3 Gamble 340; fifth, and by lap 10 was able to put JASON NOBLE 4 Hibbert 305; 5 Jones 301; 6 Mitchell 283.

GINETTA JUNIOR Bets are off as Gamble edges title race

TOM GAMBLE AND DANIEL HARPER dominated the Ginetta Junior proceedings at Rockingham, as their title rivals floundered and Gamble moved into the series lead. Seb Priaulx, championship leader heading into the meeting, admitted the pair were “on another level” as he was left to pick up the podium scraps. Wheelspin off the line for poleman Harper allowed Priaulx into the lead briefly, before the Douglas Motorsport for second through the hairpins. Big winnings as RESULTS driver stole back through at Deene A clean move for Harper into Deene Gamble (left) took the and held off Gamble for the win. on the third lap settled it in his favour, championship lead and RACE 1 (8 LAPS) 1 Daniel Harper; 2 Seb Priaulx +0.509s; Harper (right) a brace Not to be outdone in race two, Gamble before making a similar move on 3 Tom Gamble; 4 Tom Wood; 5 Adam Smalley; 6 Harry King. got the better start to slip into second Gamble five laps later to claim his Fastest lap Wood 1m39.523s (70.17mph). Pole Harper. behind Harry King, taking the lead with second win of the weekend. Starters 19. RACE 2 (10 LAPS) 1 Gamble; 2 Harper +2.368s; a slick move on the inside at Deene. “On Friday we struggled with pace 3 Priaulx; 4 Wood; 5 King; 6 Jordan Collard. FL Gamble Harper had dropped to third but but we have been able to turn it 1m38.854s (70.64mph). P Harper. S 19. RACE 3 (10 LAPS) made a daring lunge into Tarzan on the around,” Harper said. “To pull two 1 Harper; 2 Gamble +0.155s; 3 Priaulx; 4 King; 5 Collard; second tour to snatch second. wins, two poles and a second – it 6 Luke Browning. FL Harper 1m38.884s (70.62mph). Gamble made a fine getaway in race doesn’t get much better than that.” P Gamble. S 19. POINTS 1 Gamble 500; 2 Priaulx 493; three while Harper and Priaulx squabbled JASON NOBLE 3 Harper 484; 4 Kiern Jewiss 422; 5 Wood 415; 6 King 347.

AUGUST 31 2017 69 CLUB AUTOSPORT/RACE REPORTS ALL PICS: WALKER ALL PICS:

OULTON PARK GOLD CUP HSCC AUGUST 27-28 Smith strikes gold in F2 March

FORTY-FIVE YEARS AFTER RONNIE Shinner and Rob Smith were the Darwin Smith (above) Shephard’s 1981 Silverstone TT class Peterson won the last Formula 2 race at over-fifties standouts as the top took two victories in win in it with Jim’s father, John. Oulton Park in a March 722, Northern five finished the finale together. the Formula 2 races Suffolk teenager James Clarke was Ireland’s Darwin Smith drove a sister The opening laps of Sunday’s Derek overjoyed to land a fine Historic Touring car to a scintillating double victory Bell Trophy race were mesmerising Car victory in John Kyle’s Lotus Cortina over Richard Evans’s 742. as Neil Glover (Chevron B37) and on Monday, chased by Rick Belcher’s It was a wonderfully evocative FIA Greg Thornton ( TS11) threw two-litre version, then receive the trophy International Series feature, enjoyed everything F5000 V8 power could offer from 1966 British champion John by a large and appreciative audience, to hold Andy Smith (March 79B) at bay. Fitzpatrick. Top qualifier Jack Drury and topped the best HSCC Gold Cup Driveshaft failure stopped Thornton, missed the first leg with oil-pressure event so far. but it took Smith a couple of goes to issues, but dad Terry’s team changed The colourful double-header brought round Glover. When clonking the the Falcon’s engine for the afternoon back international interest with Knickerbrook apex tyre stack spelled race, which he won from the back. In one competitors from the US, France, instant retirement for Smith, Glover of the weekend’s most enduring scraps, Sweden, Switzerland and Germany. It took a well-deserved first F5000 points leader Steve Platts (Singer included Paul Bason’s March 712, in win in the VDS car. Chamois) staved off the Imps of David which finished third in Despite not having raced at the Heale and triple title winner Simon 1972, and the ex- circuit this century, Steve Soper and Benoy, plus Rob Wainwright’s Austin Lotus 69 of Roger Bevan in a 23-car Chris Ward trumped the Historic A40, for another brilliant double. field showcasing nine marques, Touring Car Challengers in JD Classics’ Seventeen-year-old Benn Tilley took and three chassis eras celebrating TWR Rover, a period Soper mount. his first Formula Junior win stylishly in champions Bruno Giacomelli, Jochen Fuel-starvation problems dropped initial Paul Smeeth’s Lotus 22, then added a Rindt and Gilles Villeneuve. leaders Mark Wright and Dave Coyne second later on Monday. Dundee’s John Evans pursued Smith for all he was – invitees with Wright’s Ford Sierra Fyda, 72, who debuted at Oulton in the worth on Sunday and Monday, his RS500 – to fourth behind Ric Wood’s 1960s, driving an Imp, led the chase both BDG engine blunted by a misfire in latest new-build Ford Capri-GAA and times, deposing Peter de la Roche, who the opener, with Chevron drivers Chris Mark Smith’s ex-Soper BMW M3. Jim was in Pat Barford’s Lola Mk3 this week. Lillingston-Price (B40) and Michael Morris and Tom Shephard drove their Circuit debutant Katsu Kubota enjoyed Bletsoe-Brown chasing. Behind the gallant VW Golf GTI to a resounding his Lotus 20/22, boldly repassing sub two-litre cars, American James King Tony Dron Trophy Group 1 victory, Ben Mitchell for a second fourth. – revelling in his first visit to Oulton humbling Capris and Rovers to mirror Ben Short fired Nick Riley’s E-type since his British F3 season in 1977 – from eighth to second at the Jaguar inflicted rare 1600cc defeats on Classic Challenge start, then ousted reigning quadruple champion Graeme Dodd from the lead at Old Hall. Robert Simac in a similar 712. His efforts came to nought after the Richard Tarling proved the master stops when Riley retired, leaving James of defence in narrowly winning both Dodd to shake off hairy Druids spinner Historic Formula Ford finals from Alistair Dyson. Again the XK-class Callum Grant, although his Jamun contest was sensational, Paul Kennelly, sounded like a jalopy in the first. Tarling Marc Gordon and Chris Scholey has won four from 10 now, but fourth finishing less than three seconds apart, and third for Michael O’Brien eased him Tilley heads split by Roger Cope’s Mk1 saloon. closer to the crown. Sam Mitchell netted to Formula James Dodd grappled with fellow third in the first points payer. Swede Junior win Honda Accord exponent Stewart Whyte Roland ‘Rockcrusher’ Svensson, Neil in Super Touring, but the charging Scot

70 AUGUST 31 2017 CW Whyte leads RESULTS Brancatelli; Tony Absolom Dodd (E-type); 2 Alistair Dyson (E) Dodd in Honda (Vauxhall Cavalier); Jason Hughes +13.790s; 3 Jamie Boot (E); 4 Mark tin-top battle FORMULA FORD QUALIFICATION (MG ZS); Mark Smith (BMW M3); Russell/Tony Jardine (E); 5 Robert RACE 1 (5 LAPS) 1 Dan Eagling Ric Wood (Ford Capri). FL Whyte Gate (E); 6 Martin Melling/Jason (Lotus 61MX); 2 Neil Shinner 1m47.081s (90.50mph). P Dodd. Minshaw (E FHC). CW Russell/ (Merlyn Mk20) +7.395s; 3 Greg S 17. RACE 2 (11 LAPS) 1 Whyte; Jardine; Melling/Minshaw; Paul Thornton (Titan Mk3/4); 4 David 2 Dodd +5.244s; 3 Jones; 4 Jason Kennelly (XK150S); Roger Cope Wild (Lola T204); 5 Kevin Stanzl Minshaw (Volvo S40); 5 Darren (Mk1). FL Ben Short (E) 1m58.626s (Crossle 20F); 6 Cormac Flanagan Fielding (Mondeo); 6 Brancatelli. (81.69mph). P Dyson. S 20. (Alexis Mk14). Class winner CW Brancatelli; Hughes; Smith; HISTORIC TOURING CAR Shinner. Fastest lap Flanagan Absolom. FL Whyte 1m47.739s CHALLENGE (26 LAPS) 1 Steve 1m53.009s (85.75mph). Pole Wild. (89.94mph). P Whyte. S 15. Soper/Chris Ward (Rover Vitesse); Starters 32. CHAMPIONSHIP GUARDS TROPHY GT CARS 2 Ric Wood (Ford Capri) +19.781s; RACE 1 (11 LAPS) 1 Richard (19 LAPS) 1 Mike Whitaker 3 Mark Smith (BMW M3); 4 Mark Tarling (Jamun T2); 2 Callum (TVR Griffith); 2 John Spiers Wright/Dave Coyne (Ford Sierra Grant (Merlyn Mk20A) +0.125s; (Griffith) +7.530s; 3 David Pittard/ RS500); 5 Steve Dance (Capri); 3 Sam Mitchell (Merlyn Mk20); 4 Oliver Stirling (Lotus Elan); 6 Tom Houlbrook (M3). CW Wood; Michael O’Brien (Merlyn Mk20SS); 4 John Davison (Elan); 5 Peter Smith; Wright/Coyne; David Tomlin 5 Benn Simms (Jomo JMR7); Thompson/Mark Hales (Griffith); (Ford Escort RS1800); Jim Morris/ 6 Max Bartell (Merlyn Mk20A). CW 6 Robert Bremner (AC Cobra). Tom Shephard (VW Golf GTI); Roland Svensson (Merlyn Mk17). CW Pittard/Stirling; Jamie Boot James Hanson/Paul Pochciol FL Grant 1m50.665s (87.57mph). (Jaguar E-type); Andrew Bentley (Capri). FL Coyne 1m51.769s P Simms. S 32. QUALIFICATION (MGB). FL Whitaker 1m55.512s (86.70mph). P Soper/Ward. S 28. RACE 2 (8 LAPS) 1 Shinner; (83.89mph). P Mike Gardiner/ HISTORIC TOURING CARS (BOTH 2 Flanagan +0.059s; 3 Rob Smith Dan Cox (Griffith).S 21. 10 LAPS) 1 James Clarke (Ford (Merlyn Mk20); 4 Wild; 5 Alistair GUARDS TROPHY SPORTS- Lotus Cortina); 2 Richard Belcher Littlewood (Merlyn Mk20A); RACING CARS (18 LAPS) 1 Philip (Ford Lotus Cortina) +5.070s; 6 Harvey Sykes (Crossle 20F). CW Nelson (Chevron B8); 2 Rob 3 Jonathan Lewis ( Cooper S); in his ex-Tom Kristensen car – an Ben Short exercises Flanagan. FL Flanagan 1m53.832s Wainwright/Nick Pancisi (Elva 4 Chris Middlehurst (Cooper S); Oulton BTCC winner – scored both Nick Riley’s E-type; (85.13mph). P Shinner. S 28. Mk7S) +43.731s; 3 Vicky & Bob 5 Robyn Slater (Ford Anglia); days. Gianfranco Brancatelli took the car later retired CHAMPIONSHIP RACE 2 (11 Brooks (Merlyn Mk6); 4 Brian Casey 6 Steve Platts (Singer Chamois). Group A honours and third overall LAPS) 1 Tarling; 2 Grant +0.242s; (Lenham P69); 5 Darren Wilson CW Belcher; Lewis; Platts; Peter in his -winning Ford 3 O’Brien; 4 Simms; 5 Mitchell; (Lotus 23B); 6 Katsu Kubota/Andy Hallford (Ford Mustang); Roger Sierra RS500, brought from New 6 Benn Tilley (Merlyn Mk20). Middlehurst (23B). CW Wainwright/ Godfrey (Cooper S); Nigel Cox Zealand by Peter Sturgeon. CW Smith. FL Grant 1m51.133s Pancisi; Brooks/Brooks; Casey; (Cortina). FL Clarke 2m04.802s Lotus versus Morgan +8 battles (87.20mph). P Tarling. S 34. Michael O’Shea (Cooper Maserati). (77.65mph). P Jack Drury (Ford characterised Sunday’s splendid Road 70S ROAD SPORTS (10 LAPS) FL Nelson 1m53.776s (85.17mph). Falcon). S 27. RACE 2 1 Drury; Sports miscellanies. In the absence of 1 Russell Paterson (Morgan +8); P Nelson. S 10. 2 Clarke +13.376s; 3 Belcher; Elan arch-rival Peter Shaw, John Davison 2 Julian Barter (Lotus Europa) DEREK BELL TROPHY/CLASSIC 4 Hallford; 5 Lewis; 6 Middlehurst. repelled a resurgent Will Plant in the +3.121s; 3 Charles Barter (Datsun RACING CARS (13 LAPS) CW Clarke; Belcher; Lewis; Platts; Historic set. After ’70s points leader 240Z); 4 Will Leverett (Europa); 1 Andrew Smith (March 79B); Godfrey; Katsu Kubota (Cortina). Charles Barter (Datsun 240Z) had gone 5 Stephen Cooke (Lotus 7); 2 Neil Glover (Chevron B37) FL Drury 2m02.574s (79.06mph). mowing, Scot Russell Paterson’s Moggie 6 James Dean (Europa). CW +23.847s; 3 Michael Bletsoe-Brown P Clarke. S 27. rumbled past, but Julian Barter carved J Barter; C Barter; Peter Bowyer (Chevron B27); 4 James King (March FORMULA JUNIOR (8 LAPS) Shaw’s Europa through from the stern (MGB); Neil Brown (Lotus Eclat); 712); 5 Marc Mercer (March 73B); 6 1 Benn Tilley (Lotus 22); 2 John – having misconnected its battery David Tomkinson (Triumph Torgny Johansson (March 782). CW Fyda ( BT6) +13.365s; in qualifying – and took up the hunt Spitfire). FL J Barter 2m01.305s Glover; Bletsoe-Brown; King; Adam 3 Peter de la Roche (Lola Mk3); before its brakes faded. (79.88mph). P Paterson. S 25. Simmonds (Lola T142); Dan Pyett 4 Katsu Kubota (Lotus 20/22); John Harrison kept Mark Charteris HISTORIC FORMULA 2 (BOTH ( F2); Andy Jarvis (Palliser 5 Chris Milner (Lotus 20/22); 6 Iain behind for all but the crucial part of 13 LAPS) 1 Darwin Smith (March WDB2); Phil Nelson (Hawke DL2). Rowley (Lola Mk5). CW de la Roche; the Classic Clubmans race, which drew 722); 2 Richard Evans (March 742) FL Smith 1m35.053s (101.95mph). Alex Morton (Condor S2); Andy a season’s best field. With a run on +17.365s; 3 Chris Lillingstone-Price P Smith. S 18. RACE 2 (11 LAPS) 1 Harrison (Envoy Mk1); Nicholas Harrison out of Old Hall, Charteris (Chevron B40); 4 Mike Bletsoe- Glover; 2 Bletsoe-Brown +19.278s; Daunt (Taraschi). FL Tilley squeezed past over the brow of Dentons Brown (Chevron B27); 5 James 3 King; 4 John Murphy (Crossle 1m54.970s (84.29mph). P Tilley. to win, while Barry Webb atoned for King (March 712); 6 Marc Mercer 22F); 5 Johansson; 6 Julian Stokes S 20. RACE 2 (11 LAPS) 1 Tilley; a feeble start to oust Clive Wood in (March 73B). CW King; Mercer; (Tecno F2). CW Bletsoe-Brown; 2 Fyda +17.709s; 3 de la Roche; their B-Sport tussle. Stephen Weller (Elfin 600B). King; Murphy; Stokes; Jarvis; 4 Kubota; 5 Ben Mitchell (Brabham An unfortunate brush between FL Smith 1m35.559s (101.41mph). Simmonds; Roger Fowler (Lola BT2); 6 Laine Martin (Lotus 20). former champions Mike Whitaker and P Smith. S 22. RACE 2 1 Smith; T60). FL Glover 1m40.189s CW de la Roche; Morton; Ian Mike Gardiner at the Shell Oils hairpin 2 Evans +1.823s; 3 Lillingstone- (96.72mph). P Smith. S 16. Simmonds (Envoy Mk1). FL sidelined the latter from the Guards Price; 4 Bletsoe-Brown; 5 King; HISTORIC ROAD SPORTS Tilley 1m54.949s (84.30mph). Trophy GT race, defusing an exhilarating 6 Robert Simac (March 712). CW (11 LAPS) 1 John Davison (Lotus P Tilley. S 19. TVR Griffith slugfest with John Spiers, King; John Murphy (Crossle 22F); Elan); 2 Will Plant (Morgan +8) CLASSIC CLUBMANS (12 LAPS) in which he was headed by a recovering Weller. FL Smith 1m35.450s +1.426s; 3 Kevin Kivlochan (+8); 1 Mark Charteris (Mallock Whitaker. David Pittard and Oliver (101.52mph). P Smith. S 19. 4 Larry Tucker (Shelby Mustang Mk20/21); 2 John Harrison Stirling (sharing Graham Wilson’s Elan) SUPER TOURING TROPHY GT350); 5 Keiron Baillie (Lotus 7); (Mallock Mk21) +3.666s; 3 Alan outran reigning champion John Davison, (12 LAPS) 1 Stewart Whyte 6 Tim Pearce (+8). CW Plant; Cook (Mallock Mk20/21); 4 Steve Stirling’s cousin, in a tense battle for (Honda Accord); 2 James Dodd Tucker; Jonathan Rushton Chaplin (Phantom P79); 5 Mike third. Once Rob Wainwright relayed (Accord) +8.002s; 3 Gianfranco (Morgan +4); Laurie Tucker (MG Lane (Mallock Mk18); 6 Mike Elva Mk7S owner Nick Pancisi, the thin Brancatelli (Ford Sierra RS500); Ashley GT). FL Davison 1m58.065s Evans (Mallock Mk27). CW Evans; Sports Racing set saw a walkover for 4 Mark Jones (Renault Laguna); (82.08mph). P Davison. S 21. Barry Webb (Mallock Mk16BW). poleman Philip Nelson (Chevron B8). 5 Dave Jarman (Nissan Primera); JAGUAR CLASSIC CHALLENGE FL Charteris 1m42.494s MARCUS PYE 6 Roger Lavender (Ford Mondeo). (20 LAPS) 1 Graeme Dodd/James (94.55mph). P Charteris. S 19.

AUGUST 31 2017 71 CLUB AUTOSPORT/RACE REPORTS

SNETTERTON MSVR AUGUST 26-27 Ahmed storms to F3 title with Norfolk brace ENAAM AHMED WRAPPED UP the BRDC British Formula 3 title at Snetterton in emphatic style with a pair of wins to take his season total to 12. The 17-year-old came into the meeting 106 points clear of Carlin team-mate James Pull in the standings with only 190 available from the remaining six races. Ahmed looked assured of taking the title during the course of the weekend after winning the opening race from pole, withstanding race-long pressure from Lanan Racing’s Toby Sowery, while Pull completed the podium in third. In the part-reversed grid for race two, Brazilian initially led from pole – the driver competing with a fractured left hand sustained during a Brazilian Formula 3 crash the weekend before. Douglas Motorsport’s Jordan Cane was on a mission, though, having started second, and a move around the outside of the right-hand Wilson hairpin put But once again this year, Ahmed didn’t Enaam Ahmed’s Burgess, but withstood pressure him on the inside of Samaia heading put a foot wrong, taking the win and the championship-winning from the reigning champion to claim towards Palmer on lap two. championship, while Pull could only double took his season win number one. Cane swept into a lead that he would manage seventh, having started 11th. tally of wins to 12 While Burgess spun off chasing Barker comfortably hold until the flag, claiming “It’s surreal, it’s my first title since in race two, a resulting safety car closed his second win of the season. karting [CIK FIA European and world the field up and put Barker in the firing Samaia took second for Double R – junior champion in 2014] and I’m really line of those behind. A late engine his best British Formula 3 finish – ahead happy to win my first championship in problem meant he had to nurse the car of Fortec’s Ben Hingeley in third. cars,” said Ahmed, who is scheduled home and only just held on for the win. Fifth place for Ahmed – who’d started to test a European Formula 3 car with His earlier success meant he needed eighth – meant he only needed to finish Carlin at Silverstone today (Thursday). to remain in the pits 15 seconds longer race three to be crowned champion after “I couldn’t be here without the team, than his rivals during the mandatory his Carlin team-mates Pull and Cameron they helped me so much, I’m glad I could pitstops of race three, thanks to a success Das collided on the opening lap, which win it for them.” penalty. Although he rejoined behind earned the latter a five-place grid penalty It was also the perfect weekend for Dominik Jackson, Barker capitalised on for the final race. Oliver Barker in the Radical Challenge a mistake to retake the lead and romp Das’s penalty meant Ahmed started Championship, as he took a hat-trick of to his third victory. race three from pole and, in similar wins to put himself in title contention. Also clinching a championship was fashion to the opening race, he was In race one, poleman Barker rubbed Jerome de Sadeleer in the Radical SR1 shadowed throughout by Sowery. wheels off the startline with Steve Cup, after title rival James Pinkerton was forced to retire in the opening race when the chain on his car broke on the grid. He bounced back in the second race by taking victory, though, after Kristian Jeffrey took the win in the first race. With his main rivals absent at various points over the weekend, Chris Hodgen (Dallara F304) took advantage in the Monoposto F3, 2000, FR2000 and Classic 2000 series by finishing second in both races, but might feel aggrieved having started from pole in both. Championship leader Ashley Dibden was unable to take part during the De Sadeleer weekend after the engine in his Dallara clinched the F301 blew up during testing. Reigning SR1 Cup title champion Ben Cater (Dallara F306) did READ win Saturday’s opening race but missed

72 AUGUST 31 2017 KIRKISTOWN allowing Sam Mansfield’s SEAT to take the win from a reversed-grid start, with Murray 500 MRCI AUGUST 26 next. Peter Barrable was the top Supercar pilot both times, while Stephen Traub (Honda Integra) topped Northern Ireland Saloons. Comeback gives Johnston also won the first Roadsports race from Jim Larkham’s distant Radical, who won the second race as Johnston was again absent. Murray crown BOSS Ireland was all about attrition. Peter A PACKED KIRKISTOWN PROGRAMME Dwyer’s Lola-Nissan started race one from produced two mighty comeback drives, one pole but Eamon Matheson’s MM2 was ahead securing the Northern Ireland Formula Ford at half distance, by which time they had been 1600 championship and a coveted Mazda joined by Donal Griffin’s Rover-powered Road to Indy Shootout place for Niall Murray. F3000 Reynard. Griffin just got his nose in Murray started the first race from the front front when the Reynard ground to a halt with row, but a monster start from the second row an oil leak, while Matheson lasted until the by David McCullough allowed him to get up final lap before stopping with a broken hub. the inside of leader Murray as they arrived This allowed Dwyer – now cruising with at Colonial, only to outbrake himself, forcing a broken throttle – to take victory, before himself and Murray to take the long way heading the four-car race two grid. round, emerging at the very tail of the field. Brian Hearty’s Formula Sheane challenge This left poleman Jordan Dempsey to get lasted only as far as the first corner in race on with the business of dealing with regular one before a torpedo attack from behind rivals Alan Davidson and James Roe. left him beached and the rest following the But Murray wasn’t finished yet. Lap by lap, safety car. When they were released, Dave the white climbed through the Parks grabbed the lead and went on to win order to make it a four-way scrap in the final from Richard Kearney and Mark Dunleavy. stages. There was a brief flurry of side-by- The trio repeated the result in race two. side action in the last few turns and Murray The lead battle for the Formula Vee B & C was ahead at the flag by just a couple of race ended on the back straight when Gavin tenths from the feisty Davidson, while Buckley and Jack Byrne came together McCullough followed Dempsey for fourth. allowing Luke O’Faolin to score victory. Race two was less intense as Murray cleared The ‘A’ race began as a two-car affair

EBREY/LAT off to score his second win of the day by 6s. between Ray Moore and Colm Blackstone Mike Johnston in the Closed Cars series (Leastones) but they were soon joined by Dan also scored a comeback win. Having missed Polley’s Sheane for a dice. Moore emerged in Ahmed qualifying with his rapid Opel Tigra, he front, but only by 0.030s from Blackburn. exuberantly started from the back of the 21-car grid and In the absence of new champion Jonny celebrated title scythed through to emerge in front, with a Forsythe, who had domestic duties to new lap record to boot. Behind him the SEAT perform, Dan Conlon and Paul Stewart Cupra battle went the way of Eoin Murray. took a close Ford Fiesta win apiece. Johnston gave the second race a miss, RICHARD YOUNG

RESULTS Dawson (Supercar). CW Traub; Allen; 6 Leslie Shaw. FL Allen 1m01.950s NORTHERN IRELAND FORMULA Barrable. FL Murray 1m01.571s (87.86mph). P Kearney. S 10. FORD 1600 (BOTH 16 LAPS) 1 Niall (88.40mph). P Murray. S 18. RACE 2 (13 LAPS) 1 Parks; 2 Kearney Murray (Van Diemen LA10); 2 Alan ROADSPORTS (BOTH 13 LAPS) +0.432s; 3 Dunleavy; 4 Allen; 5 John

STYLES Davidson (Mondiale M89S) +0.360s; 1 Mike Johnston (Opel Tigra); 2 Jim Linnane; 6 Shaw. FL Dunleavy and Allen 3 Jordan Dempsey (Van Diemen RF00); Larkham (Radical PR06) +7.329s; 3 Paul 1m02.331s (87.32mph). P Kearney. S 9. Sunday’s encounter to spend time with 4 David McCullough (Van Diemen RF01); Conn (Crossle 47S); 4 John Benson FORMULA VEE CLASSES B & C his son for his birthday. Neil Harrison 5 James Roe (Van Diemen RF99); (37S); 5 Maurice McClay (Westfield SE1); (6 LAPS) 1 Luke O’Faolin (Sheane in his Dallara F302 took the race two win. 6 Stephen O’Connor (Van Diemen 6 Steve Morris (Van Diemen Multisports). FV01); 2 Tadgh Sharkey (Leastone Jeremy Timms (Dallara F301) took a RF90). Class winners Davidson; Nicky CW Larkham. FL Larkham 1m00.513s JH002) +8.071s; 3 Ken Brown (Sheane comfortable brace of wins and clinched Gibson (Crossle 40F). Fastest lap (89.95mph). P Larkham. S 8. FV); 4 Mark Miller (Leastone JH004); the Monoposto 1400 title, while his Murray 1m01.515s (88.48mph). RACE 2 1 Larkham; 2 Conn +1.449s; no other finishers. FL Brown cousin, Jason, was not in action due Pole Dempsey. Starters 17. 3 Benson; 4 McClay; 5 John McCandless 1m08.194s (79.82mph). P O’Faolin. S 7. to car problems. RACE 2 1 Murray; 2 Davidson +6.430s; (47S); 6 Morris. CW Larkham; McClay. CLASS A (9 LAPS) 1 Ray Moore In the Sports 2000 race, there was an 3 McCullough; 4 Roe; 5 Dempsey; FL Larkham 1m00.81s (89.51 mph). (Leastone JH004); 2 Colm Blackburn intense battle between the top three cars, 6 Andy O’Brien (Van Diemen RF00). P Larkham. S 7. (Leastone JH004) +0.030s; 3 Dan Polley which were covered by less than 3.2s at CW Davidson; Gibson. FL Davidson BOSS IRELAND (12 LAPS) 1 Peter (Sheane FV01); 4 Kevin Grogan (Sheane the flag, with Paul Trayhurn (Gunn TS11) 1m01.813s (88.06mph). P Murray. S 16. Dwyer (Lola-Nissan); 2 Fergus Faherty FV); 5 O’Faolin; 6 Anthony Cross winning from Tom Stoten (Gunn TS11) CLOSED CARS (BOTH 13 LAPS) (Dallara-Toyota) +7.522s; 3 John Stewart (Sheane FV94). FL Polley 1m06.894s and Michael Gibbins (MCR). 1 Mike Johnston (Opel Tigra); 2 Eoin (Mygale M12); 4 Eamon Matheson (81.37mph). P Grogan. S 12. Chris Wright and Lee Wiggins won the Murray (SEAT Cupra) +17.915s; 3 Shane (MM2); 5 Colin Lewis (Dallara F397); FIESTA ZETEC (11 LAPS) 1 Daniel 7 Race Series contest, decided over two Murphy (Cupra); 4 Barry English (Cupra); no other finishers. FL Dwyer 56.151s Conlon; 2 Mark Stewart +0.276s; 3 Paul one-hour races, having taken victory 5 Peter Barrable (ASK Supercar); 6 Sam (96.94mph). P Dwyer. S 7. Stewart; 4 Eorann O’Neill; 5 Roy Smyth; in the opener and third later on. Mansfield (Cupra). CW Stephen Traub RACE 2 (13 LAPS) 1 Dwyer; 2 Stewart 6 Desi McGlade. FL M Stewart 1m17.222s Darren Goes won the MSVT Trackday (Honda Integra); Murray; Barrable. +2.533s; no other finishers. FL Dwyer (70.49mph). P Conlon. S 11. RACE 2 race aboard his SEAT Leon Cup. FL Johnston 58.743s (92.66mph). 1m01.130s (89.04mph). P Dwyer. S 4. (10 LAPS) 1 P Stewart; 2 Conlon STEFAN MACKLEY P Murray. S 21. RACE 2 1 Mansfield; FORMULA SHEANE (10 LAPS) 1 David +0.979s; 3 Desi McGlade; 4 M Stewart; 2 Murray +0.26s; 3 English; 4 Rod Parks; 2 Richard Kearney +0.217s; 5 O’Neill; 6 Ricky Hull. FL M Stewart P76 FULL RESULTS McGovern (Cupra); 5 Barrable; 6 Alan 3 Mark Dunleavy; 4 Tim Smail; 5 Robbie 1m17.808s (69.96mph). P M Stewart. S 9.

AUGUST 31 2017 73 CLUB AUTOSPORT/RACE REPORTS

THRUXTON 750MC AUGUST 26 Second title on the spin for Clio man ‘Patch’

VICTORY FOR PATRICK FLETCHER in the second Clio 182 race at Thruxton sealed back-to-back championship wins, with two races of the series remaining. Fletcher, whose usual title rival James Bark is missing from the championship this year, took his fourth win of the season from seventh on the reversed grid, having led by the end of the first lap. Ryan Polley was second after a move on Mark Balmer into the Club chicane, while Matt Digby took the final podium place ahead of Don de Graaff, who had taken a dominant win from pole in race one ahead of Polley and Digby.

Excluded from second in race one after JONES his clutch assembly failed scrutineering, Nick Garner battled from the back of in the MR2 championship, a pattern that Fletcher (29) wrapped Hudson, with the duo enjoying another the grid to sixth in race two. looked set to continue after he secured up 182 title with two two epic battles. Hudson led race one off With commanding MX-5 pole position for race one. Contact on the races remaining the line, but went wide at Campbell, championship leader Ben Short absent, opening lap while battling for the lead allowing Boyd through. Ali Bray was able to dig into the sizeable with Paul Cook dropped him to fourth, Their race-two dice was dominated by points gap with victory in race one, but he got back past Cook the next time the slipstream up Woodham Hill, with doing so in a car borrowed from series around to take third behind winning title another Eclipse piloted by Martin champion Brian Chandler after Bray rival Lewis Ward and Cam Walton. Gambling getting in on the action. It was suffered an engine failure during testing. Ward did the double in race two, Gambling’s first race in the Eclipse, after Bray’s poor start dropped him to boosting his championship chances, mechanical issues prevented him from fifth, but he quickly recovered and was while Traynor spun on the opening lap competing at Anglesey, but it ended when attacking Paul Maguire into Club for at Church. He dropped to the back he hit the barriers at Church, admitting he the lead by lap three. Maguire held on of the pack, but recovered to ninth. was distracted while adjusting his mirror. to second in the non-scoring guest Title contender Ben Rowe spun in Pre-weekend championship leader car, running Hankook rather than race one after contact with Martin Fahy, Charles Hall (Locost) won Class B in the regulation Davanti tyres. but fourth in race two meant he too race one, but retired from the second Race two was even more hotly overtook Traynor in the standings. bout with a gearbox issue, giving contested. Once again Maguire led off Cook spun at the final corner following Boyd the points lead. the line, using the Hankook rubber’s a close fight with Shane Mansbridge, Billy Albone took pole in RGB in better grip to his advantage. He and Bray who received a five-second penalty a depleted effort for Spire, after John swapped positions into Club lap after for avoidable contact earlier in the race, Cutmore suffered a wiring-loom fire lap until the final corner; Bray was just promoting Tim Heron to second. during testing. Albone was hounded ahead, but he missed a gear on the exit, Paul Boyd took a step towards the by Scott Mittell (Mittell MC53) for the allowing Maguire to claim the spoils. Sports Specials title with back-to-back lead until Mittell spun at Village. This Shaun Traynor had been the form man wins ahead of fellow Eclipse driver Clive dropped him behind team-mate Paul Smith, who then allowed him through on the final lap for second place. Albone and Mittell resumed battle in race two, but Mittell was unable to find a way past the Spire. Albone extended his overall championship lead, but Mittell is ahead after taking dropped scores into account with two meetings remaining. Smith had no drive off the line in race two, forcing him to retire. David Bartholomew took victory in both 750 Formula races in his PRS 1b, in each instance ahead of Bill Cowley (Cowley MkIV), who extended his championship lead over the absent Bray (76) and Robin Gearing. Repairs are still being Maguire (20) made to Gearing’s Darvi P88 following battled in MX-5s his Cadwell Park clash with Cowley.

JONES CHRIS STEVENS

74 AUGUST 31 2017 (Centaur Mk16). (97.42mph). (93.39mph). 6 NickGarner. 2 Polley +0.15s;3Digby;4deGraaff; 5Balmer; 1m31.98s (92.21mph). CW 6ChrisThomas. 4 BenRowe; 5Cook; 1 Ward Pole Kemp (Racekits Falcon). 4 Barley;5BobSimpson(SS/F 750F);6Martin 1 Bartholomew FL CW (Locost); 6MartinGambling(Eclipse SM1). 4 Anton Landon(Cyana Mk2);5CharlesHall SM1) +0.43s;3JohnMoore (FRS Arrow 2); Boyd (Eclipse SM1) Fastest 6SimonDonoghue. 5MarkBalmer; Fletcher; 2 Ryan Polley +4.56s;3Matt Digby;4Patrick P FL CW Rutter (Batten 3);6Peter Mk4/5). Bove(Darvi Falcon); 4IanBarley(Racekits Falcon); 5Bill (Cowley MkIV)+3.67s;3MarkGlover(Racekits Bartholomew (PRS 1B) P CW (Sabre 12a);6Richard Webb(Spire GT-F). Rogers (Contour RGB09);5TimHoverd +8.38s; 3Paul Smith(Mittell MC53);4Paul (Spire GT3) 1m23.45s (101.64mph). Buckland (STM Phoenix);Mutch. Brown (Sylva Phaser);6Mutch. Cooper (Procomp LAGold);4Moore; 5Nigel (93.13mph). Gallacher (Roadster). 750 FORMULA (7LAPS) (Spire GT3); 6Webb. +0.11s; 3Rogers; 4Hoverd; 5Stephen Dean RGB (BOTH 11LAPS) RACE 2 SPORT SPECIALS (BOTH 10LAPS) Brooks; 6ShaneMansbridge. +0.96s; 3ShaunTraynor; 4Paul 5Josh Cook; MR2 (10LAPS) FL 4 Paul Bateman; 5Stewart; 6Leach. RACE 2 MX-5 CUP (BOTH 11LAPS) CLIO 182(BOTH 10LAPS) 1m17.20s (109.87mph). FL Tomlinson; 5Scott Leach; 6DanielStewart. 2 Paul Maguire 4Ian +0.14s;3BenHancy; Bartholomew. Albone. Maguire 1m34.19s(90.05mph). Boyd1m23.71s(101.32mph). Bartholomew 1m27.32s (97.13mph). Bartholomew1m27.32s(97.13mph). Bray 1m34.42s(89.83mph). RESULTS JamesWatson (Roadster). Hall;Stewart Mutch (MEVMX150R). Christopher Johnson(Racekits Falcon). Webb. deGraaff. ; 2 Tim Heron +9.15s; 3 Mansbridge; ; 2TimHeron +9.15s;3Mansbridge;

lap 1 Boyd 1 Maguire S FL Fletcher 1m30.28s(93.95mph). 12. ; 2Scott Mittell (Mittell MC53) P P P Albone 1m17.33s (109.68mph). Albone1m17.33s(109.68mph). Bartholomew. Marcin Wisniewski. Traynor. FL Starters ; 2 Hudson +0.09s; 3 Adrian ; 2Hudson+0.09s;3Adrian RACE 1 Lewis Ward FL ; 2 Cowley +8.67s; 3 Glover; ; 2Cowley+8.67s;3Glover; S de Graaff 1m30.82s deGraaff 1m30.82s 19. ; 2 Bray +0.33s; 3 Hancy; ; 2Bray +0.33s;3Hancy; Bartholomew 1m27.06s Bartholomew1m27.06s ; 2 Clive Hudson (Eclipse ; 2CliveHudson(Eclipse CW

FL 2 RACE 2(10LAPS) 1 Billy Albone 1 BillyAlbone P

15. S 1 Albone P P Walton 1m31.07s Webb. Walton. ; 2 Bill Cowley ; 2BillCowley CW 29.

1 David 1 David Hudson. Mittell. RACE 2

1 DondeGraaff Conway Daw Conway Daw 1 AliBray RACE 2(8LAPS) S CW Albone (33) ; 2 Cam Walton ; 2CamWalton beat Mittell (53) inRGB FL 17. P CW FL Bray. ; 2Mittell P S FL William William Ward Ward S P Mittell S Boyd. 28. 28.

11. 1 Fletcher Martin Martin S Bray. 16. Hudson Hudson

22. 22. 1 Paul ; S 15. 15.

S S 15. 22. 22. ; ;

Harvey takes surprisefirstHarvey serieswin and hisfirst winof2017. came a wily Orgee to take thechequered flag Both retired onthespot. Through thedrama came to blows, thistimeat theexit ofQuarry. succession thechampionshipprotagonists closed thegap and forthesecond meetingin had pulledclear ofhisrival, butMoyers soon Diemen from Quarry. Ontherestart Fisher rescue Andrew Higginbottom’s stricken Van lead after anearly safety car, necessitated to to reigning championRoger Orgee inhisRay. lost momentum andendedupceding second of Moyers’s Spectrumat theexit ofCamp, but lap FisheraimedhisVan Diemenfortheinside championship leader Josh Fisher. Ontheninth Ford race, having initially fendedoff both fourthandfifthgears. encounter when hisVauxhall Astra lost been prevented from taking part inthefirst position andclaimedvictory from Prebble, having in only hissecond race intheseries. Harvey (HondaCivic) to steal hisfirst victory at Tower andthrough thedrama came Josh as heslowed suddenly, Prebble spuninavoidance Southcott hadbodywork foulingthesuspension; brought outthesafety car. Ontherestart accident forJosh Hignell(Citroen Saxo) at Tower 205s foughthard inthefirst race untilasizeable Saloon championGary Prebble intheirPeugeot Holiday Monday. produced apair ofthrillingraces onBank THE CASTLE COMBE HOT HATCH SERIES READ In race two Fisherstarted well andheldthe Michael Moyers won theopeningFormula Mark Wyatt started thesecond race from pole GT contender ChrisSouthcott and2002 first winof2017 recorded his Orgee (1) CCRC CCRC CASTLE COMBE AUGUST 28 allowed himto pulloutanearly advantage. Steve Collier at thestart ofthesecond race was won by Stephen Watkins, after contact with LEE BONHAM LEE BONHAM wins) to maintain hischampionshiplead. recovering to apair ofsecond places (andclass Leon, withThornton-Norris’s Mitsubishi Prebble to claimabrace ofwinsinhisSEAT Thornton-Norris inbothraces allowed Gary picked upthevictory inhisCaterham R300. collapsed onthegreen-flag lap. Tony Bennett exited thesecond event when hisrear suspension opening race, buthisVauxhall Tigra Silhouette twice inherSEAT Leon. Oliver Bullwon the with ClassDdriver IlsaCox, who won herclass championship hunt. Henow shares thelead a pair ofpodiums ensured heremains inthe Mitsubishi Lancer sufferingabroken wheel, but ended upoffthe road in qualifyingwithhis Harrington took thesecond Mighty victory. found himselfinthebarriers at Camp. Damien race-one Mighty MiniswinnerMark Burnett when therace was brought to anearly end, after Tuckley andGreg Jenkins. Tuckley was ahead between Kendall, reigning championAdrian the openinglap, preceded a tremendous dice safety car, withRobertThrelfall notsurviving reversed gridto lead thesecond race. Abrief took just onelapto climbfrom eighthonthe victor inthefirst SuperMighty Minirace, and Tardy starts forSaloonspolemanSimon GT championshipleader Bradley John Championship leader Scott Kendall was the The Midget andSprite Challenge double-header P77 FULLRESULTS AUGUST 312017 Harvey’s Honda Hatch honours claimed Hot 75 READ

CLUB AUTOSPORT/RACE REPORT

WALDER RESULTS

Drew-Williams (Lola). CW Crisp; SNETTERTON MSVR Tootell; Peter Whitmore (Reynard BRDC BRITISH FORMULA 3 (ALL 913). FL Hodgen 1m51.944s 10 LAPS) 1 Enaam Ahmed; 2 Toby (95.47mph). P Hodgen. S 18. Sowery +0.942s; 3 James Pull ; 4 Ben RACE 2 (8 LAPS) 1 Harrison; Hingeley; 5 Krishnaraaj Mahadik; 2 Hodgen +0.645s; 3 Drew-Williams; Menzies was one of 6 Cameron Das. Fastest lap Ahmed 4 James Densley (Tatuus Formula four drivers to secure 1m44.118s (102.65mph). Pole Renault); 5 Tootell; 6 Mike Hatton the same points haul Ahmed. Starters 15. RACE 2 (Dallara F301). CW Densley; Tootell; 1 Jordan Cane; 2 Guilherme Samaia Whitmore. FL Hodgen 1m51m052s +6.431s; 3 Hingeley; 4 Sowery; (96.24mph). P Hodgen. S 17. GURSTON DOWN 5 Ahmed; 6 Mahadik. FL Das MONOPOSTO 1800/1600/MOTO BRITISH HILLCLIMB CHAMPIONSHIP 1m43.099s (103.66mph). P Samaia. 1400 AND MOTO 1000 (BOTH 8 S 15. RACE 3 1 Ahmed; 2 Sowery LAPS) 1 Jeremy Timms (Dallara +0.455s; 3 Cane; 4 Callan O’Keeffe; F301); 2 Richard Gittings (Jedi Mk6) 5 Mahadik; 6 Chase Owen. FL Sowery +4.770s; 3 Andrew Gordon- Hall and Menzies share wins 1m44.847s (101.93mph). P Ahmed. Colebrooke (Dallara); 4 Mark Reade S 15. POINTS 1 Ahmed 575; (Leastone 1000); 5 Peter Lague (Jedi TWO DIFFERENT WINNERS AND he will miss the meeting at Doune, 2 Sowery 432; 3 Pull 430; 4 Das 375; Mk6); 6 Matthew Walters (Mygale). four drivers racking up 17 points Mourant looks set to hold on 5 Hingeley 372; 6 O’Keeffe 349. CW Gittings; Walters; Geoff Fern RADICAL CHALLENGE (11 LAPS) (Van Diemen RF98). FL Timms apiece exemplified a dramatic to seventh in the points. 1 Oliver Barker; 2 Steve Burgess 1m51.523s (95.83mph). P Timms. S 20. Gurston Down meeting. Paul Haimes’s turbo Gould +2.125s; 3 Dominik Jackson; RACE 2 1 Timms; 2 Gordon- Will Hall and Wallace Menzies continues to improve, although 4 Richard Baxter; 5 Elliot Goodman; Colebrooke +23.928s; 3 Gittings; split the victories and took the it has taken the best part of five 6 Jason Rishover. Class winner Peter 4 Jonathan Reed (Jedi Mk6); joint highest points score, but failed seasons to perfect. Haimes Tyler. FL Barker 1m50.765s (96.49mph). 5 Mick Kinghorn (JKS JR01); 6 Lague. to encroach on Trevor Willis’s lead qualified fifth each time and P Barker. S 23. RACE 2 (10 LAPS) CW Gittings; Chris Lord (Van Diemen because he secured a matching finished fifth and sixth. He 1 Barker; Jack +0.406s; RF82); Eddie Guest (Lola T640). reward. Hall set the best time in cited having a different clutch 3 Jackson; 4 Mark Richards; 5 Baxter; FL Timms 1m52.625s (94.89mph). round 27 and Menzies was only arrangement since Shelsley 6 Jack Lang. CW Tyler. FL Burgess P Timms. S 17. 0.06 seconds slower in round 28. Walsh as the latest step forward. 1m52.031s (95.40mph). P Barker. SPORTS 2000 (15 LAPS) The 2015 champion, Alex Having spent nine seasons S 24. RACE 3 (21 LAPS) 1 Barker; 1 Paul Trayhurn (Gunn TS11); Summers, crashed very heavily chasing his first championship 2 Jackson +5.613s; 3 Manchester; 2 Tom Stoten (TS11) +2.420s; exiting Hollow in Q1, and as a points, Tony Hunt and his 4 Lang; 5 Baxter; 6 Burgess. CW Tyler/ 3 Michael Gibbins(MCR); 4 Tim Tudor Tom Gladdis. FL Barker 1m50.723s (MCR); 5 Nick Bacon (TS11); 6 David precaution he was taken to hospital co-driver Terry Graves got scores (96.52mph). P Barker. S 23. Houghton (MCR). CW Stoten; Paul for overnight observation. He was on the board. Graham Wynn scored RADICAL SR1 CUP (BOTH 10 LAPS) Streat (Lola T87/90); Joshua Law found to have sustained fractures a point in his almost identical 1 Kristian Jeffrey; 2 Jerome de (Shrike P15); Jeremy Knight (Tiga to his collarbone, knee and a small Gould-Cosworth HB. Sadeleer +7.924s; 3 Rob Courtneidge; SC80). FL Trayhurn 1m55.746s bone in his pelvis. Summers’ It was confirmed that David 4 Andrew Ritchie; 5 Andy Chittenden; (92.34mph). P Gibbins. S 28. partner Debbie Dunbar finished Uren’s Gould is unlikely to have 6 Nigel Paine. CW Chittenden. 7 RACE SERIES (55 LAPS) third in the 1100cc class, only its engine repaired this season, so FL Jeffrey 2m01.041s (88.30mph). 1 Chris Wright/Lee Wiggins; 2 Phil slightly off the pace of class winner his co-driver Nicola Menzies – P James Pinkerton. S 9. RACE 2 Jenkins +13.105s; 3 Anthony Barnes; Steve Owen and second-placed Wallace’s wife – shared with Sean 1 Pinkerton; 2 de Sadeleer +11.226s; 4 Steve Day/Stephen Collins; 5 John Harry Pick. Summers’ badly Gould, improving her times on 3 Jeffrey; 4 Courtneidge; 5 Ritchie; Reid/David Briault; 6 Paul Browse. damaged Firestorm is unlikely to be each successive run. Ed Hollier 6 Paine. CW Paine. FL Pinkerton FL Jenkins 2m03.872s (85.73mph). seen again in competition this year. was another notable non-starter, 2m00.698s (88.50mph). P Jeffrey.S 9. P Ollie Chadwick/Jasen Garrett. S 19. Championship leader Willis since his Empire Evo is still to be MONOPOSTO F3/2000/FR2000 MSVT TRACKDAY (20 LAPS) had a close escape during the reassembled following his heavy AND CLASSIC 2000 (6 LAPS) 1 Ben 1 Darren Goes (SEAT Leon Cup); Cater (Dallara F306); 2 Chris Hodgen 2 Simon Clark (Porsche Boxster S) second run-off. “I really ought crash at Shelsley Walsh. (Dallara F304) +1.607s; 3 Richard +2.700s; 3 Callum McDougall/ to have won,” he said, “but I All of this is likely to protect Crisp (Formula Renault); 4 Neil Ben Simonds (Caterham 1400 thought I saw something on the defending champion Scott Moran’s Harrison (Dallara F302); 5 Bryn Supersport); 4 Jason Jones/Tony track at Hollow and slowed, then sixth position overall – the Tootell (Van Diemen RF01); 6 James Jones (Toyota MR2 Roadster); 5 David saw it was a mere ball of grass. six-time champion is only making “I was so annoyed that I went one more appearance this year. into The Karousel far too hot and He is considering his options nearly threw it all away going off over the next couple of seasons, the edge of the track, but my time believing that the GR61X has still got me third place.” several more titles in its grasp. Menzies’ Gould-Cosworth Kelvin Broad and Oli Tomlin enabled him to set a speed of ensured that the once-dominant 160mph through the finish. Hall Pilbeam marque was represented in was next best, clocking 157mph. each round. For the second event The fourth driver to score 17 in succession, OMS marque points was Jason Mourant. Now constructor Steve Owen took a approaching the end of his second valuable 25 Hillclimb Leaders season in his four-litre Gould, he is points in the car of his own design. Chris Wright and properly dialled in with the car. He EDDIE WALDER Lee Wiggins won was fastest overall in four practice first 7 Series race runs over both days, and, although FULL RESULTS STYLES

76 AUGUST 31 2017 ROUND-UP

Mark Burnett rolled his Mighty Mini at Castle Combe READ READ

Gardner/Chris Mills (BMW M3); 6 Tony (Honda Civic). CW Bawtree; Rideout. CW Mark Burnett. SALOONS (BOTH 15 LAPS) 1 Gary Gould- GR55) 26.67s; Hobson/Jonny Sharp (VW Golf). Channing; Sutton. FL Wyatt FL Tuckley 1m25.273s (78.10mph). Prebble (SEAT Leon Cupra); 2 Simon 4 Wallace Menzies (3.3 Gould- CW Clark; Gary Burstow (BMW 328i); 1m15.159s (88.61mph). P Wyatt. S 21. P Tuckley. S 29. RACE TWO (8 LAPS) Thornton-Norris (Mitsubishi Colt Cosworth GR59M) 26.73s; 5 Paul Neil House/Andy Tate (Renault Clio CASTLE COMBE FF1600 (BOTH 15 1 Tuckley; 2 Kendall +0.268s; Ralliart) +9.985s; 3 Will Di Claudio Haimes (1.3t Gould-Suzuki GR59) 172); John Cooper/Alastair Kellett LAPS) 1 Michael Moyers (Spectrum 3 Jenkins; 4 Inch; 5 Comis; 6 Neven (Peugeot 106 GTI); 4 Geoff Ryall 27.62s; 6 Oli Tomlin (4.0 Pilbeam- (Ford Fiesta Zetec S). FL Goes 011c); 2 Roger Orgee (Ray GR17) Kirkpatrick. CW Damien Harrington. (Peugeot 106 GTI); 5 Oliver Cook Judd MP97) 28.14s; 7 Richard 2m10.843s (81.68mph). P Goes. S 24. +0.929s; 3 Josh Fisher (Van Diemen FL Kendall 1m25.054s (78.30mph). (Renault Megane); 6 Spedding (1.6 GWR-Suzuki Raptor) JL14); 4 Michael Eastwell (Spectrum); P Kirkpatrick. S 29. (Vauxhall Astra). CW Thornton-Norris; 28.83s; 8 Terry Graves (3.5 5 Luke Cooper (Swift SC16); 6 Nathan CASTLE COMBE GT (16 LAPS) Di Claudio; Alex Kite (Citroen Saxo). Gould-Cosworth GR55) 28.91s; CASTLE COMBE CCRC Ward (Spectrum 011c). CW Richard 1 Oliver Bull (Vauxhall Tigra FL Prebble 1m13.827s (90.21mph). 9 Tony Hunt (3.5 Gould-Cosworth CASTLE COMBE HOT HATCH (13 Morris (Swift SC92); Andrew Silhouette); 2 Tony Bennett P Thornton-Norris. S 28. RACE TWO GR55) 28.96s; 10 Kelvin Broad (1.3s LAPS) 1 Josh Harvey (Honda Civic); Higginbottom (Van Diemen RF89). (Caterham R300) +13.375s; 1 Prebble; 2 Thornton-Norris Pilbeam-Suzuki MP101) 28.97s; 2 Chris Southcott (Peugeot 205) FL Orgee 1m10.802s (94.06mph). 3 Bradley John (Mitsubishi Lancer); +4.945s; 3 Tony Hutchings (Audi TT); 11 Sean Gould (1.6 Gould-Suzuki +3.074s; 3 Michael Harris (Peugeot P Moyers. S 15. RACE TWO 1 Orgee; 4 Steve Hall (Audi TT RS); 5 Ilsa Cox 4 Di Claudio; 5 Ryall; 6 Cook. CW GR59) 29.05s; 12 Lee Griffiths 205 GTI) 4 Nick Adams (Honda Civic); 2 Cooper +0.143s; 3 Eastwell; 4 Ward; (SEAT Leon Cupra); 6 Chris Southcott Thornton-Norris; Di Claudio; Kite. (1.3s OMS-Suzuki 25) 38.63s. 5 Matthew Bawtree (Honda Integra); 5 Matt Cox (Spectrum 011b); (MG Midget). CW Lee Frost (BMW M3); FL Thornton-Norris 1m14.781s ROUND 28 1 Menzies 26.07s; 6 Paul Hatton (Ford Focus). CW 6 Richard Morris (Swift SC92). Iain McBay (Davrian Mk8). FL Bull (89.06mph). P Thornton-Norris. S 27. 2 Mourant 26.62s; 3 Willis 26.63s; Bawtree; Izaac Channing (Peugeot CW Morris; Steve Bracegirdle (Van 1m08.764s (96.85mph). P Bull. S 15. MG MIDGET AND SPRITE 4 Hall 27.07s; 5 Tomlin 27.61s; 106 GTI); Mark Sutton (MG ZR). Diemen RF89). FL Orgee 1m11.100s RACE TWO (15 LAPS) 1 Bennett; CHALLENGE (BOTH 16 LAPS) 6 Haimes 27.87s; 7 Gould 28.38s; FL Southcott 1m16.077s (87.54mph). (93.67mph). P Moyers. S 15. 2 John +4.808s; 3 Hall; 4 Cox; 5 Lucky 1 Stephen Watkins (MG Midget); 8= Broad & Graves 28.45s; 10 Graham P Mark Wyatt (Vauxhall Astra). S 22. SUPER AND MIGHTY MINIS Khera (BMW M3); 6 Jordan Billinton 2 Steve Collier (Midget) +5.090s; Wynn (3.5 Gould-Cosworth GR55) RACE TWO (16 LAPS) 1 Wyatt; (14 LAPS) 1 Scott Kendall; 2 Adrian (Lamborghini Gallardo GT3). CW Cox; 3 Martin Morris (Midget); 4 Sam 28.50s; 11 Spedding 28.60s; 12 Hunt 2 Prebble +7.096s; 3 Southcott; Tuckley +1.452s; 3 Greg Jenkins; Khera; McBay. FL John 1m09.809s Healey (Austin-Healey Frogeye 29.38s. CW Richard Brant (2.0 4 Harvey; 5 Bawtree; 6 Nick Adams 4 Alex Comis; 5 Paul Inch; 6 Steve (95.40mph). P Bull. S 14. Sprite); 5 Carl Chadwick (Midget); Renault Clio 172) 38.50s; Steven 6 Stephen Pegram (Midget). Darley (2.4t Subaru Impreza) 33.51s; CW Chadwick; Paul Campfield David Warburton (2.5 Caterham- (Frogeye Sprite); Tom Walker (Mk1 Duratec) 32.93s; Brad Drowne Sprite); Andy Wolf (Midget). FL Collier (1.4 Citroen AX) 37.18s; Colin Satchell 1m15.209s (88.55mph). P Watkins. (2.0 Peugeot 205) 34.06s; Joe Cross S 21. RACE TWO 1 Watkins; 2 Collier (2.0t Subaru Impreza) 32.47s +3.775s; 3 Morris; 4 Edward Reeve record Simon Jenks (1.6 Caterham (Midget); 5 Richard Perry (Sprite); Suzuki) 31.20s; Allan McDonald 6 Chadwick. CW Perry; Chadwick; (2.4t Morris-Mitsubishi Mini-Evo) Walker; Wolf. FL Watkins 1m14.867s 30.37s; Steve Owen (1.0 OMS-Suzuki (88.95mph). P Watkins. S 17. 28) 29.78s; Gould 28.51s; Tim Elmer (2.0 Dallara-TKD F303) 29.75s; Haimes 27.49s; Menzies 26.48s. GURSTON DOWN BHC POINTS 1 Willis 205; 2 Menzies 170; Gary Prebble (middle, BRITISH HILLCLIMB ROUND 27 3 Hall 142; 4 Spedding 138; 5 Alex SEAT) headed another 1 Will Hall (2.0 Force-AER/XTec WH) Summers 130; 6 Scott Moran 122; strong Saloons grid 26.01s; 2 Trevor Willis (3.2 OMS-RPE 7 Mourant 108; 8 Dave Uren 77;

READ 28) 26.45s; 3 Jason Mourant (3.5 9 Gould 73; 10 Ed Hollier 48.

AUGUST 31 2017 77 FINISHING STRAIGHT WHAT’S ON

The MP4/4 was the clear winner over the FW14B

Results are in from F1 world cup

THERE AREN’T MANY BETTER after their vote closed. The 1993 summer sporting spectacles to enjoy Williams just got the nod, and a than a world cup, and with football not penalty shootout wasn’t required. providing one this year, Autosport That car’s predecessor, the FW14B, decided to fi ll the void with a world just beat the car it lost to on track in cup of our own, to fi nd exactly out its original incarnation, the McLaren what Formula 1 fans consider their MP4/6, while the 2005 McLaren favourite car of all time. MP4-20 sailed through Group G, We came up with a shortlist of cars, and the fi nal V12 F1 car, 1995’s Ferrari and threw the top 32 into a pot to draw 412 T2, defeated the Tyrrell 006 by eight groups to kick the tournament off . 1% of the vote to win the fi nal group. The original list, compiled from votes The winners went into two semi-fi nals cast by members of Autosport staff , the following day the 1990 Cars from the early made up of four cars each, with the top our Autosport Academy for budding narrowly defeated the iconic Lotus 72, generations of F1 did two from each contest progressing to the motorsport journalists, and social media which was as close as a pre-1988 car not score highly in the fi nal. Extra time was needed again, with polls [outrageous! – ed] responses, was not that short. In total would come to showing well in the the Brawn and the 1992 Williams tying 148 cars were nominated, from dominant competition. The performance of some for second behind the MP4/4 in the world-title winners to utter no-hopers old favourites, such as the Eagle T1G opening semi, and ’s world from Life, , Simtek and Andrea (fourth in that group) Lotus 49 (third in title winner defeated ’s. Moda: a reminder of the diff erence Group C) Tyrrell P34 (fourth in Group E) The ’90 and ’95 Ferraris were no match between asking people to nominate the and Ferrari 156 (third in Group H) made for the McLaren MP4-20 and Jordan ‘best’ F1 cars and their ‘favourite’ cars. it clear that – on social media at least 191 in the other contest, so the fi eld Our focus was on the latter. – this was not a competition that would for the fi nal was set. The draw was random and, unlike in favour cars beyond a certain generation. The fi nal honours went to the football’s world cup, only the group But newer cars didn’t always win, with dominant /Alain Prost winners progressed to the next stage. Michael Schumacher’s dominant Ferrari McLaren, taking 35% of the vote against The Brawn BGP 001 was a dominant F2002 losing out to the MP4/4, while the 27% for the Williams, 20% for the winner of the opening group, seeing off Jordan 191’s Group D victory over world Jordan, and the rest going to the the McLaren MP4-16, Leyton House championship winners from Williams more modern McLaren. CG901 that so nearly won the 1990 (1996 and ’87) and Brabham (’83) proves Yesterday (Wednesday) would have French GP and the Brabham BT55 that is that a car doesn’t have to be successful been Bruce McLaren’s 80th birthday and, often credited as being the predecessor to capture fans’ imagination. while his F1 team hasn’t had much to to a car that would do very well in this In true world cup fashion, we even had celebrate of late, its rich history clearly competition – the McLaren MP4/4. ‘extra time’ to decide Group D, with the remains fresh in the minds of fans. Each group vote ran for 24 hours, so Renault R26 and Williams FW15C tied GLENN FREEMAN

78 AUGUST 31 2017 DOWNLOAD HOT ON THE WEB THIS WEEK AUTOSPORT ON THE SCHU JR WALKS IN FATHER’S SHOES MOVE Search for Honours Michael With Spa Demo Run autosport.com Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time world champion Apple App Store Michael, commemorates the 25th anniversary of his father’s maiden Formula 1 victory by driving his 1994 title-winning Google Play at last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix. INTERNATIONAL MOTORSPORT NEXT WEEK ON SALE THURSDAY ITALIAN GRAND PRIX WORLD ENDURANCE FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP Rd 5/9 ITALIAN Rd 13/20 Mexico City, Mexico Monza, Italy September 3 GRAND PRIX September 3 TV Live Motorsport.tv, TV Live Sky Sports F1, Sunday 1745, BT Sport 2, Reaction to Sunday 1230. Radio BBC Sunday 1730 all the action Radio 5 Live, Sunday 1300. Highlights Channel 4, WORLD SERIES from Monza Sunday 1745 FORMULA V8 3.5 Rd 7/9 FORMULA 2 Mexico City, Mexico Rd 9/11 September 2-3 Monza, Italy TV Delayed BT Sport 3, September 2-3 Saturday 2230. Live BT TV Live Sky Sports F1, Sport 2, Sunday 1530 Saturday 1455, Sunday 0925 INDYCAR SERIES Rd 15/16 GP3 SERIES Watkins Glen, New York, Rd 6/8 USA Monza, Italy September 3 September 2-3 TV Live BT Sport ESPN, NASCAR CUP SUPER TC2000 WEC MEXICO CITY TV Live Sky Sports F1, Sunday 1800 Rd 25/36 Rd 8/12 Saturday 1645, Darlington, Santa Fe, Argentina Sunday 0815 INDY LIGHTS South Carolina, USA September 3 Rd 10/10 September 3 PORSCHE SUPERCUP Watkins Glen, NY, USA TV Live Premier Sports, SCANDINAVIAN Rd 7/8 September 3 Sunday 2230 TOURING CARS Monza, Italy Rd 6/7 September 3 TCR INTERNATIONAL WORLD RALLYCROSS Anderstorp, Sweden TV Live Eurosport 2, Rd 8/10 Rd 9/12 September 3 Sunday 1030 Buriram, Thailand Loheac, France September 3 September 2-3 TV Live Motorsport.tv, TV Live Motorsport.tv, Sunday 1800 Sunday 1300

UK MOTORSPORT THRUXTON BARC BRANDS HATCH MSVR SILVERSTONE MSVR DONINGTON PARK September 2 September 2-3 BARC FF1600, Lotus Elise, Lotus International GT Open, September 2-3 Cup, Trackday Trophy, Euroformula Open Britcar Endurance, All-Comers, Lotus Sprint TV GT BT Sport 2, Junior Saloons, FISCAR, Saturday 1500, Sunday Tin Tops, Kumho OULTON PARK MGCC 1300. Euroformula BT BMW, Hyundai Coupe, September 2 Sport 2, Saturday 1400, Intermarque MG Cup, MG Metro, BCV8, Sunday 1200 Thoroughbred Sportscars, THRUXTON BARC Cockshoot Cup, MG ANGLESEY BARC September 2-3 Trophy, Equipe GTS September 2-3 VW Cup, Clubmans, Clios, Sports/Saloons, Ferrari Classic, VAG Touring Cars, Group 1 Touring Cars, Pre-2005 Thunder Saloons, Pre- Karts, Global Lites Trophy, Track Attack, Touring Cars, Pre-1993 Production Touring 2003 Classic VWs, Honda MaX5, Pre-1966 Touring Cars, Pre-2003 Cars, Blue Oval Saloons, VTec, Smart 4Two

AUGUST 31 2017 79

FROM THE ARCHIVE

The Shadow DN5s of Jean-Pierre Jarier and Tom Pryce are closest to camera as the F1 pack files around the picturesque Montjuich Park circuit ahead of the ill-fated 1975 Spanish Grand Prix. Shadow team principal Don Nichols passed away last week at the age of 92. latimages.com @latimages MY FIRST MOTORSPORT Autosport Media UK Ltd, 1 Eton Street, Richmond, TW9 1EF Tel +44 (0) 20 3405 8100 Email [email protected] MEMORY Individual email [email protected] Website www.autosport.com Twitter @autosport

Editorial Editor-in-Chief Edd Straw Editor Kevin Turner Deputy Editor Marcus Simmons Photography Grand Prix Editor Ben Anderson Steven Tee F1 Correspondent Lawrence Barretto Glenn Dunbar Assistant Editor Alex Kalinauckas Sam Bloxham Chief Sub-Editor Peter Hodges Zack Mauger Executive Editor Stuart Codling Group National Editor Jack Benyon Rallies Editor David Evans BTCC Correspondent Matt James Special Contributors Art Editor Lynsey Elliott Gary Anderson Senior Designer Michael Cavalli Alan Eldridge Office Manager Joanne Grove Rob Ladbrook Stephen Lickorish Autosport.com Stefan Mackley Editor Glenn Freeman David Malsher Deputy Editor Matt Beer Marcus Pye Autosport Plus Editor Scott Mitchell Dieter Rencken International Editor Jack Cozens Nigel Roebuck Social Media Editor Fatema Chowdhury Caroline Stammers Technical Team Leader Geoff Creighton Jim Utter Senior Digital Designer Amar Vijay Gary Watkins

Correspondents Argentina Tony Watson Australia Phil Branagan Austria Gerhard Kuntschik Belgium Gordon McKay Brazil Lito Cavalcanti Finland Esa Illoinen Germany Rene de Boer Greece Dimitris Papadopoulos Italy Roberto Chinchero Japan Jiro Takahashi New Zealand Bernard Carpinter Russia Gregory Golyshev Spain Raimon Duran Sweden Tege Tornvall USA Bruce Martin, Jeremy Shaw UK & Ireland Pete Allen, Lee Bonham, Stephen Brunsdon, Jonathan Crawford, Dom D’Angelillo, Kerry Dunlop, Charlie Eustice, Joe Hudson, Jake Jones, Samarth Kanal, Matt Kew, Mark Libbeter, Stefan Mackley, Dan Mason, Damian Meaden, Lucy Morson, Will Moulton, James Newbold, Jason Noble, Mark Paulson, Brian Phillips, Graham Read, Hal Ridge, Peter Scherer, Ian Sowman, Chris Stevens, Oliver Timson, Ian Titchmarsh, Eddie Walder, Rob Watts, Richard Young

Advertising STEPHEN LICKORISH Tel +44 (0) 20 3405 8106 Email [email protected] Sales Manager James Robinson Display Advertising Don Rupal, Karen Reilly, Jamie Brooker @sdlickorish Classified Advertising Fran Hall, Ben Kavanagh Autosport.com Sales Manager Fiona Bain Online Advertising Chris Hermitage Sales Director Matthew Witham UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL AT SILVERSTONE TESTING Advertising Production Tel +44 (0) 20 3405 8131 Production Controller Abbey Gunner [email protected]

Subscriptions ormula 1 testing is certainly not the most interesting spectacle. But, for UK +44 (0) 344 848 8817 Overseas +44 (0) 1604 251451 a seven-year-old getting a fi rst taste of the sport, it was amazing. Email [email protected] Back issues 0344 8488817 In May 2001, any thoughts of an in-season testing ban were many years away, Sunita Davies +44 (0) 20 3405 8134 so Silverstone would regularly host F1 test days, which were free to watch. I was Autosport, ISSN number 0269946X, is published weekly by Autosport Media UK Ltd, 1 Eton Street, already a massive fan of F1 by this point, but had never seen a car on-track before. Richmond, TW9 1EF, . Airfreight and mailing in the USA by agent named Air As soon as we arrived, I was instantly blown away by the glorious sound of the Business Ltd, c/o Worldnet Shipping Inc., 156-15, screaming V10 engines. The sight of the cars threading their way through the 146th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11434, USA. F Periodicals postage paid at Jamaica NY 11431. Brooklands/Luffi eld complex and then blasting out of Woodcote was incredible – Subscription records are maintained at Autosport CIRCULATION TRADE Media UK Ltd, 1 Eton Street, Richmond, TW9 1EF. ENQUIRIES I spent the whole day with a massive grin on my face. And I was hooked. Living just Air Business Ltd is acting as our mailing agent. Seymour Distribution Ltd, 25 minutes from Silverstone, we made many more visits to test days over the next few years. 2 East Poultry Avenue, Licensing and Syndication London, EC1A 9PT. The trouble was, there was no way of knowing beforehand how many teams or drivers would Stuart Williams Tel: +44 (0) 20 7429 4000. Printed by William Gibbons attend. I remember one day only Williams and Jordan turned up. Other times we struck gold, Management & Sons Ltd, 28 Planetary seeing rare glimpses of the cash-strapped Prost and Arrows squads in their fi nal seasons. Managing Director Tim Bulley Road, Willenhall, Wolverhampton WV13 3XT. Stuart Williams But my favourite memory of all those trips came at the pre-British Grand Prix test of 2005. Publishing Director ISSN 0269-946X. Autosport European Editor-in-Chief Damien Smith is published weekly by For just £10 we could get into the paddock during the lunch break – a massively unexpected Editorial Director Anthony Rowlinson Autosport Media UK Ltd, bonus. Even with Liberty’s plans to take F1 to the fans, the thought of paying such a modest Group Publishing Manager Sunita Davies 1 Eton Street, Richmond, TW9 1EF. amount for such incredible access is unrealistic these days. Special Events Manager Laura Coppin Digital Product Manager Simon Grayson © 2017, AUTOSPORT Despite there only being a few hundred people at Silverstone for the test, there was still MEDIA UK LTD We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are Trading as Autosport Media a huge crowd around the Ferrari motorhome because Michael Schumacher was present. committed to upholding the highest standards of UK. Publishing, trade and Realising it was pointless waiting there, we instead headed over to Red Bull, my dad spotting journalism. If you think we haven’t met those further subscription details standards and want to make a complaint, on www.autosport.com. Vitantonio Liuzzi on the way. Again, there was a crowd outside the front entrance to the Red Bull contact 0203 405 8100. While due care is taken to ensure the contents of hospitality area waiting for to emerge. But I noticed there was also a side exit, Autosport are accurate, the publishers and printers and sure enough that was where DC emerged – and I was fi nally able to get his autograph after cannot accept liability for years of unsuccessful attempts at Autosport International! errors and omissions. Advertisements are accepted That proved to be my fi nal visit to Silverstone before F1 testing restrictions kicked in for IS POWERED BY for publication in Autosport only upon Autosport Media 2007. Now, the thought of spending a day just watching F1 cars pounding relentlessly around UK’s Standard Terms of a track does not fi ll with me the same joy; but for a seven-year-old, fi nally seeing those Acceptance of Advertising, which are available from the machines up close was simply a dream come true. Advertising Department.

82 AUGUST 31 2017 SUBSCRIPTION OFFER/AUTOSPORT KITSOUND BOOMBAR FREE SPEAKER WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TO PLUS SAVE UP TO 29% ON THE COVER PRICE

WORTH £40 *Phone not included

This portable Bluetooth speaker delivers a beautifully rich sound thanks to its passive bass radiator. It offers up to 20 hours of play time, yet only takes three hours to charge. ONLINE AT www.autosportmedia.com/offer/ASPAUG17 OR CALL 0344 848 8817 AS817MP FOR PRINT ONLY OR QUOTE THE PROMOTIONAL CODE OVERSEAS +44 (0)1604 251 451 AS817MB FOR PRINT AND DIGITAL ACCESS

UNLIMITED ACCESS FOR JUST PRINT SUBSCRIPTION ACCESS + FREE GIFT £3.15 PER ISSUE SPREAD THE COST – PAY JUST £34.99 EVERY FULL ACCESS TO AUTOSPORT.COM 13 ISSUES BY DIRECT DEBIT AUTOSPORT IPAD EDITION GREAT SAVING – 29% ON THE COVER PRICE SUBSCRIPTION

FREE P&P – EVERY ISSUE DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR GREAT SAVINGS OF 26%

TERMS AND CONDITIONS This off er is open to UK residents only. Overseas rates are available on +44 (0)1604 251 451. Please allow 35 days for delivery of your first issue. Direct Debit rates are valid for one year aft er which they are subject to change – should prices change we will inform you in writing. Should you wish to cancel your subscription it will be cancelled on expiry of the current term, which will not be refundable other than in exceptional circumstances. Details of the Direct Debit Guarantee are available on request. If your subscription includes access to autosport.com and the Autosport digital magazine, you can set up your Autosport online account by visiting www.autosport.com/subs/magazine.html. You’ll need to enter your subscriber number along with your email address to access your content. You will be emailed instructions on how to gain access to your iPad edition within 24 hours of your order being processed. The gift will be sent under separate cover from the magazine and will not be dispatched until your first payment has cleared. Should we run out of gift s, you will be off ered an alternative gift – there is no cash alternative. Savings are based on standard UK print cover price of £3.90, digital cover price of £2.99 and autosport.com subscription rate of £5.50 a month. Off er ends September 7 2017.

AUGUST 31 2017 83 ///%  +'% )-

" + "' '  ( +0' /+  ((+0      '0  + (

  /+  . + 

   0'     '

+' (     

       /(0 '.  '+ ( -((( '  .+'0  '+ "+ (' !!   %%   & #1$!,! !