HSCC Takes a Taste of France to Brands
The Historic Sports Car Club will take a French flavour to Brands Hatch over the weekend of 27/28 September for the Anglo-French Motors Cup. As well as a full programme of HSCC races, the weekend will include seven races for historic competitors from across the channel.
The 19-race weekend on the Indy circuit includes three historic race categories from France: Classic Formula 3, Historic Formula Ford and the Maxi 1000 Trophee for a glorious array of up to 1-litre saloon and GT cars.
One of the headline events from the regular HSCC roster of championships is a double-header for the HSCC Historic Formula Ford Championship and the opening race will be for the Norman Greenway Trophy in memory of the revered race commentator. Although Benn Simms is now secure as champion, another quality-packed entry should deliver some great racing at the track where the category was born 47 years ago.
Oulton Park winner Michael Mallock (Mallock Mk9), former champion Callum Grant (Merlyn Mk20A), Simon Toyne (Lola T200), 2014 revelation Max Bartell (Merlyn Mk20A) and Will Nuthall (Jamun T2) are among the lead contenders.
Making a total of over 50 historic Formula Fords in action is a strong field for the French series, which is open to cars from up to 1981. Among the entry is Phillipe Siffert, son of Grand Prix racer Jo, who will race at Brands Hatch for the first time in 20 years with his Royale RP21. In his earlier career Phillipe raced at the Kent track in the Formula Ford Festival, but will now return to race the 1975 Royale at the circuit where his father died in 1971.
Over 30 Classic Formula 3 cars will be on hand, split between the British and French series. Each grid will have one race on Saturday before coming together for a pair of joint races on Sunday. Nick Padmore (March 783), winner at Brands in July, will be the benchmark but faces the challenge of David Shaw (March 803B) and Richard Trott (Chevron B43) as well as the ex-Gerhard Berger Martini MK37 of Ian Jacobs.
The Maxi 1000 Trophee features an eclectic grid, ranging from a gaggle of Minis to a Trabant P50 and a Honda N600 as well as the Ginetta G4 of UK interloper Nigel Winchester. More variety will come from a pair of races for classic Alfas from the Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club.
The fierce battle between Peter Shaw (TVR Tuscan) and defending champion Oliver Ford (Lotus Europa) will reach its penultimate round in the HSCC 70s Road Sports Championship, while John Shaw could clinch the Historic Road Sports title for the second year running in his Porsche 911. Meanwhile, in the concluding double-header for the HSCC Classic Clubmans Championship Mark Charteris will be working to make it 10 wins from 10 rounds in his Mallock Mk20/21.
Reigning champion Tim Davies is in the driving seat in the ByBox Historic Touring Car Championship in his Lotus Cortina and another win at Brands would take him very close to the title. However, former champion Simon Benoy will still be in contention if he can take his Hillman Imp to another class win.
Finally, rounds of the Classic Racing Car Championship and JMW Front-Engined Formula Junior Championship run on Sunday afternoon to wrap up what promises to be a fine weekend of racing.
Saturday starts with qualifying at 9am and the first of eight races will be at 13.20. On Sunday, qualifying is from 10am, with the first of 11 races at 10.30.
For more details about the HSCC, please visit www.hscc.org.uk
The 19-race weekend on the Indy circuit includes three historic race categories from France: Classic Formula 3, Historic Formula Ford and the Maxi 1000 Trophee for a glorious array of up to 1-litre saloon and GT cars.
One of the headline events from the regular HSCC roster of championships is a double-header for the HSCC Historic Formula Ford Championship and the opening race will be for the Norman Greenway Trophy in memory of the revered race commentator. Although Benn Simms is now secure as champion, another quality-packed entry should deliver some great racing at the track where the category was born 47 years ago.
Oulton Park winner Michael Mallock (Mallock Mk9), former champion Callum Grant (Merlyn Mk20A), Simon Toyne (Lola T200), 2014 revelation Max Bartell (Merlyn Mk20A) and Will Nuthall (Jamun T2) are among the lead contenders.
Making a total of over 50 historic Formula Fords in action is a strong field for the French series, which is open to cars from up to 1981. Among the entry is Phillipe Siffert, son of Grand Prix racer Jo, who will race at Brands Hatch for the first time in 20 years with his Royale RP21. In his earlier career Phillipe raced at the Kent track in the Formula Ford Festival, but will now return to race the 1975 Royale at the circuit where his father died in 1971.
Over 30 Classic Formula 3 cars will be on hand, split between the British and French series. Each grid will have one race on Saturday before coming together for a pair of joint races on Sunday. Nick Padmore (March 783), winner at Brands in July, will be the benchmark but faces the challenge of David Shaw (March 803B) and Richard Trott (Chevron B43) as well as the ex-Gerhard Berger Martini MK37 of Ian Jacobs.
The Maxi 1000 Trophee features an eclectic grid, ranging from a gaggle of Minis to a Trabant P50 and a Honda N600 as well as the Ginetta G4 of UK interloper Nigel Winchester. More variety will come from a pair of races for classic Alfas from the Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club.
The fierce battle between Peter Shaw (TVR Tuscan) and defending champion Oliver Ford (Lotus Europa) will reach its penultimate round in the HSCC 70s Road Sports Championship, while John Shaw could clinch the Historic Road Sports title for the second year running in his Porsche 911. Meanwhile, in the concluding double-header for the HSCC Classic Clubmans Championship Mark Charteris will be working to make it 10 wins from 10 rounds in his Mallock Mk20/21.
Reigning champion Tim Davies is in the driving seat in the ByBox Historic Touring Car Championship in his Lotus Cortina and another win at Brands would take him very close to the title. However, former champion Simon Benoy will still be in contention if he can take his Hillman Imp to another class win.
Finally, rounds of the Classic Racing Car Championship and JMW Front-Engined Formula Junior Championship run on Sunday afternoon to wrap up what promises to be a fine weekend of racing.
Saturday starts with qualifying at 9am and the first of eight races will be at 13.20. On Sunday, qualifying is from 10am, with the first of 11 races at 10.30.
For more details about the HSCC, please visit www.hscc.org.uk
