A venomous AC Cobra stunned Jaguar E-types in Saturday’s scintillating two-hour GT & Sports Car Cup season-opener that characterised the Historic Sports Car Club-run International Trophy retrospective on the Grand Prix circuits.
Chris Chiles fought the Jags of Richard Kent (ex-Dick Protheroe CUT 7) and John Pearson from the start, making the Cobra’s first stop from the lead. After 81-year-old father Chris Sr’s gallant mid-stint in the Ford V8-powered monster, Junior growled back towards them – now with Chris Ward and Gary Pearson up – and was staggered when both Coventry cats fell, to engine and brake issues respectively.
Jaguars did, however, finish from second to fifth, Alistair Dyson and British Touring Car driver James Dorlin and Mark Burton/Jason Minshaw also covering the full distance. In GT3, Crispin Harris/James Wilmoth (Austin-Healey 3000) beat three more ‘Squealeys’ by a lap. Malcolm Paul/Rick Bourne (TVR Grantura) won GT2 from Michael O’Sullivan/Olly Bryant (Lotus Elite), while the Broadspeed GTS coupe of Alice Locke/Matt Green triumphed in TC1.
The Griffiths Haig Trophy races attracted an eclectic mix of cars, the most significant at opposite ends of the field. Saddling the works Lister-Jaguar Knobbly in which Stirling Moss won the 1958 British GP support race at Silverstone, namesake Graham topped both, while Andy Storer gave a Willment-Climax its first outings since Graham Hill raced it here in 1957. Moss was chased initially by Ben Eastick (Jaguar D-type), who diced merrily with Charles Angrave’s zippy Lotus 6. Richard Hodson drove the 1100cc Climax-engined Lotus in the sequel, and beat the Jag home!
Works Lister has been victorious with two different Mosses at the wheel
Photo by: Mick Walker
Jordan Harrison (Lola T540E) was peerless in Classic Formula Ford, the only combo to lap inside 2m20s. Rick Morris (Royale RP29) led the chase, with Historic division winner Scott Rawlinson a fine third in the opener in his Merlyn Mk11A. Rawlinson only just held off late entrant Simon Hadfield (Hawke DL2B), young Cal Bennett (Van Diemen RF80) and Oliver Chapman (Lola T200) who all bustled through from the back, trading places repeatedly.
Bennett snatched second from Morris in race two. Hadfield was fourth while Chapman rotated at Becketts then retired. Three young female drivers, including two sisters, were also in the mix. The most experienced, Grace Parkington (ex-Tiff Needell Crossle 25F), finished eighth and sixth, while Grace Bates (RF80) and Murron Parkington (ex-Eddie Irvine Crossle 32F) made progress in only their second events.
A collision at Copse – triggered when John Murphy (F5000 Crossle 15F) hit the right-front wheel of Ben Stiles (F2 Lola T360B) and was launched into Calvin Bainbridge (Brabham BT35) – eliminated all three at the start of Saturday’s Derek Bell Trophy opener. With a slipping clutch sidelining polesitter Marc Mercer’s Ralt-BDG RT1, double victor Christian Pittard (VDS/Teddy Pilette Chevron B28) failed by 0.212s in his quest to break two minutes, as Mercer did in qualifying. Chris Porritt (Chevron B40) howled to seconds ahead of veteran Dave Sheppard’s B27.
Reigning Guards Trophy champions Robert and Ben Tusting (Lenham P69 Spider) repeated their Snetterton victory, over stronger opposition. The Chevron-BMWs of Dans Pickett and Eagling (B16) and Ted Pearson/Callum Grant (B8) were second and third, ahead of Adam Sykes in Andrew Wareing’s thunderous McLaren-Chevrolet M1A. Andrew Hibberd (Lotus 23B) won the early class.
Two well-supported 750 Motor Club pitstop races – using the tightened Club complex – brought intriguing variety. Saturday’s Roadsports counter featured VAG products snaring the top five places, the SEATs of winner Simon Mauger, Claire Norman/Alan Blencowe and Giles Kirk split by the Audis of Scott Parkin (TT diesel) and the impressive Wayne Lawson (A3). Best of the rest was Martin Gadsby/Ian Jones’ hulking BMW Compact.
Former rally driver Mauger netted a double in Sunday’s two-hour Club Enduro, but could not relax for chaser Simon Mason in the SEAT Cupra TCR started by Chris Bialan was only 2.167s behind at the chequer. Dylan Brychta/Parkin in the Darkside Developments TT and Lawson and mentor James Pickford also finished on the lead lap.
Mauger narrowly defeated fellow SEAT of Bialan/Mason to complete his double
Photo by: Mick Walker
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