HSCC International Trophy at Silverstone – Results and Photos

Report and photos by Simon Wright

The Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC) organised the International Trophy meeting on the classic Silverstone Grand Prix circuit over the weekend of the 15th and 16th May 2010. The original International Trophy was awarded to the winner of non-championship Formula 1 races in the early 70’s, and then Formula 5000 cars were added to the grid to make up numbers. When the non-championship Formula 1 races disappeared from the calendar, the International Trophy switched to Formula 2 for several years, before evolving in to Formula 3000. Now the whole meeting is celebrating the International Trophy, rather than an individual race.

With the opportunity to race on the classic Grand Prix circuit, the entry list exceeded 550 entries for the 13 race meeting and Formula 5000 & F2 headed the bill with most other historic categories having record entries. The meeting was split over two days with most categories practicing and racing the same day, so different classes ran on each day.

Derek Bell Trophy Race – Highlight of the day for many fans on Sunday was the Derek Bell Trophy race for Formula 5000 and Formula 2 cars. Simon Hadfield had a busy weekend driving in several races, but still managed to put his new ex-Bob Evans Trojan T101 on pole position on Saturday ready for the race on Sunday. Martin Stretton, another driver racing various cars over the weekend, managed to get one of the smaller engined F2 cars on to the front row of the grid. His March 742 was over 2 seconds slower than the Trojan.

After poor weather had been forecast for Sunday, which would have favoured Stretton, Sunday turned out bright and sunny. With the long straights and fast corners round the classic Silverstone Grand Prix circuit, Hadfield was able to use the power of the 5 litre Chevrolet engine to lead the race from start to finish. Stretton used the handling on his Formula 2 March to maintain a high speed pursuit of Hadfield, but by the end of the race was over 5 seconds adrift. Lower down the order, the F2 cars were evenly matched with the bigger F5000 cars, and there were several interesting cars in the formula 2 class including a Brabham BT38 of Chrispian Besley and one of the ex-works Matchbox Surtees, the type that was driven by the late Mike Hailwood, now driven by Jeremy Wheatley. This race is a non-championship event as many of the usual Formula 5000 cars which race in the UK are still returning from their winter racing in Australia and New Zealand.

1. Simon Hadfield – Trojan 101 F5000 (Class F Winner)
2. Martin Stretton – March 742 F2 (Class C Winner)
3. Sean Walker – March 782 F2
6. Andrew Smith – March 79B (Class G Winner)
14. John Moulds – Brabham BT23 (Class D Winner)
15. Nick Overall – Brabham BT35 Formula Atlantic (Class B Winner)

Historic Formula Ford 2000 – First race on Saturday was for Historic Formula Ford 2000 and a record entry of 44 cars was received, thought to be the largest grid of Historic FF2000 cars ever assembled. Neil Fowler in a Lola T580 took Pole position to head the 43 car grid, and he led from start to finish to win the race.

1. Neil Fowler – Lola T580
2. Simon Toyne – Reynard SF79
3. David Wild – Reynard SF79
9. Jonny Dimsdale – Van Diemen RF78 (Class B Winner)
26. John Bowles – Royale RP9 (Class C Winner)

Historic Formula Ford – Historic Formula Ford usually ensure some close racing. All cars must be built prior to 1972 and be powered by the Ford 1600cc engine. Current championship leader Darren Burke continued in fine form at Silverstone in his Macon MR8. He claimed pole position by over 2 seconds from the very experienced ex-Grand Prix driver Ian Ashley in a Lola T200. However Ashley had to start from the back of the grid as his car was found to be under weight, so Benn Simms Alexis Mk14 took the other front row spot on the grid. In the race Burke remained in the lead throughout the race with Simms doing his best to hang on to the leader.

1. Darren Burke – Macon MR8
2. Benn Simms – Alexis Mk14
3. Benjamin Mitchell – Merlyn Mk20

Formula Junior – The Formula Junior race is open to single-seater racing cars complying with Formula Junior regulations and built and raced between 1958 and 1963, with an additional class for 500cc Formula 3 cars raced between 1946 and 1962. There are also separate classes for front and rear engined cars. Callum McLeod put his 1961 Caravell Mk2 on Pole position from firm favourite Jon Milicevic in his Cooper T59. In the race it only took Milicevic until lap 4 to reach the front, and he stayed there until the chequered flag fell.

1. Jon Milicevic – Cooper T59 (Class E Winner)
2. James Murray – Lola Mk 5A
3. Michael Hibberd – Lotus 27
7. John Chisholm – Gemini Mk 3A (Class D Winner)
12. Jack Woodhouse – Elva 100 (Class B Winner)
14. Peter Mullen – Kieft (Class C Winner)
18. Anthony Binnington – Cooper T67 (Class H Winner)

Classic Formula Three – Classic Formula 3 allows F3 cars built between 1971 and 1980 powered by the 2 litre Toyota engine or the 1600cc Lotus Twin cam and running on control tyres. Simon Hadfield put his March 743 on pole position, from the newer March 803B of Benn Simms. Hadfield led until lap 8 when Bill Coombs took the lead in his Argo JM6 which he maintained till the end.

1. Bill Coombs – Argo JM6
2. Simon Hadfield – March 733
3. Benn Simms – March 803B
15. John Wilson – Royale RP27 (Class C Winner)
22. Albert Clements – Lotus 69 (Class B Winner)

Classic Racing Car Championship – Classic racing cars are considered to by single seater’s built prior to 1971 with an engine of up to 1600cc. Simon Hadfield was out again in yet another car, a 1967 Formula 2 Lotus 48, rarely raced in the UK. The car might be rare, but this did not stop Simon placing it firmly on Pole position, over 2 seconds a lap quicker than his nearest challenger Geoff Farmer in a Brabham BT18. Hadfield drove a stunning display race to lead from flag to flag, but the enthusiasts were happy to see such a rare car driven so brilliantly. Ian Gray and Geoff Farmer bought their Brabhams home in 2nd and 3rd places.

1. Simon Hadfield – Lotus 48 (Class C Winner)
2. Ian Gray – Brabham BT16 (Class G Winner)
3. Geoff Farmer – Brabham BT18
5. David Methley – Merlyn Mk14a (Class D winner)
15. Andrew MacGregor – Hawke DL2B (Class F Winner)
23. George Cooper- Cooper T59 (Class E Winner)
24. Brian Ashby – Emeryson Formula 1 (Class A Winner)

HSCC International Trophy at Silverstone – Open Wheel Photo Gallery

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GT & Sports Car Cup – The GT & Sports Car Cup is a race series for pre-66 GTs and pre-63 Sports racing cars that raced in the World Endurance series. The car must have a valid Historic Technical passport and be run in period specification as used in the World Championship and entry is by invitation only. The series this year started at Silverstone on the 16th May at the International Trophy meeting. There are three more races scheduled for 2010, at Monza in June, the Oulton Park Gold Cup meeting in August, and the Grand Prix Historique, Ledenon in October. With a massive entry list of over 50 vehicles, the field consisted of quality as well as quantity, with Jaguar, Lotus, Ferrari, Porsche, Chevrolet and Ford all represented along with many other smaller European manufacturers.

Qualifying took place on Saturday, and the Jaguar E-type proved to be the class of the field on the fast sweeps of the original Silverstone Grand Prix (Bridge) circuit. The Clark/Fisken E-Type took pole from Minshaw/Stretton in another Jaguar E-type, with the first of the Sports Racing cars coming third with Horsman/Tart Lotus 17, mixing it with the larger engined GT cars.

The race on Sunday started in bright sunshine, with the race scheduled to last for one hour. From the start the two leading E-Type Jaguars of John Clark and Jon Minshaw shot away and at Vale on the first lap they were separated by a whisker but by the start line Minshaw had grabbed the lead which it would maintain until lap 13 when he pitted to change driver. Nearest challenger in the first part of the race was another E-Type Jaguar of Gary Pearson who held a close second until it pitted on lap 12, a lap before the leader. Lap 7 saw an accident at Booklands where the Triumph TR4 of Hooper/Ross-Jones rolled, which caused the Safety car to be deployed. The Lotus 17 of Peter Horsman and Andrew Tart was the leading Sports racing car and during the pit stop period took the overall lead of the race behind the safety car. Their lead was short lived and Gregor Fisken restored the status quo for the Jaguar E-Type by moving to the front. With Martin Stretton now driving the No. 90 E-Type, he was closing the gap rapidly, having dropped back to 8.6 seconds behind the leader. By lap 21 the gap was under a second and on lap 24 Fisken tagged a Corvette while lapping the slower traffic coming out of Club corner which allowed Stretton back into the lead which he would then keep to the chequered flag. Fisken being an old rally driver, grabbed 2nd gear , drove across the grass and carried on as quickly as possible. He was probably hindered by the fact that at the finish, the exhaust was hanging off the Jaguar, which no doubt caused a drop in power. Newall/Warburton made it a Jaguar 1-2-3 with their Lightweight E-Type taking third place.

Although Horsman/Tart finished 3rd on the road, they had a 1 minute penalty applied which dropped them to 4th place overall, but they still won the Sports racing car class SP2. A 1958 Lotus17 driven by Wood/Woodley was the next Sports racing car to finish in 7th overall, taking the SP1 class win. There were three unusual Morgan Plus 4 SLR cars in the race, and Billy and Jack Bellinger in their British racing green model took the GT3 class win. The GT2 class win went to the German pairing of Wolfgang Molitor/Horst Pichler in a 1965 Simca Abarth 2000. Last of the class winners was Nick Atkins/Oliver Stirling in their 1961 Lotus Elite who won class GT1 in 21st position overall.

The next race of the series takes place at Monza, Italy on the weekend of the 5th and 6th of June at the Coppa Intereuropa meeting.

1. Minshaw/Streeton – Jaguar E-Type (GT4 Class Winner)
2. Clark/Fisken – Jaguar E-Type
3. Newall/Warburton – Jaguar E-Type Lightweight
4. Horsman/Tart – Lotus 17 (SP2 Class Winner)
7. Wood/Woodley – Lotus 17 (SP1 Class winner)
12. Bellinger/Bellinger – Morgan Plus 4 SLR (GT3 Class Winner)
15. Molitor/Pichler – Simca Abarth 2000 (GT2 Class Winner)
21. Atkins/Stirling – Lotus Elite (GT1 Class Winner)

HSCC International Trophy at Silverstone – GT & Sports Car Photo Gallery

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Historic Road Sports Championship – The Historic Road Sports Championship always provides great variety in the cars taking part. The championship is open to genuine production sports and GT cars built and road registered between 1947 and the end of 1969 and as a model have a competition history during that period. Some slight modifications are permitted, but the car has to remain road legal, and extra points are awarded for competitors who drive their car to and from the circuit.

Pole position was taken by James Paterson in his multi-coloured 3.5 litre Morgan Plus 8. James lead the first lap but was in a tough fight with Andrew Marler in his 4.7 litre TVR Griffith and Dave Randall in his nimble 1.5 litre Ginetta G4. Marler grabbed the lead on lap 2 and Randall got up to second on lap 3 but by the fifth lap Paterson had regained the lead and remained in front till the finish. Marler and Randall swapped places several times but by the end, the nippy Ginetta of Randall finished second by over 10 seconds on the final lap.

1. James Paterson – Morgan Plus 8 (Class A Winner)
2. Dave Randall – Ginetta G4 (Class C Winner)
3. Andrew Marler – TVR Griffith (Class G Winner)
8. Mike Eagles – Milano GT Mk 1 (Class B Winner)
13. Dick Coffey – Tyrner Mk1 (Class E Winner)
16. Dean Forward – Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT (Class D Winner)
19. Peter M Shaw – Alfa Romeo Guilietta Sprint (Class F Winner)

70s Road Sports Championship – The 70’s Roadsports is open to genuine production sports and GT cars built between 1st January 1970 and 31st December 1979 with only minor modifications allowed. An all TVR front row was lead by Peter Shaw in his TVR Tuscan from Julian Barter in his TVR 3000M only 4 thousandths of a second slower. The race turned in to a three way battle between the two TVRs and the Porsche 928 of Paul Anderson with Anderson getting the victory from Shaw by just over one second. Both drivers won their respective classes.

1. Paul Anderson – Porsche 928 (Class A Winner)
2. Peter Shaw – TVR Tuscan (Class B Winner)
3. Charles Barter – Datsun 240Z
4. Steve Cooke – Lotus Seven S4 (Class C Winner)
10. Robert Barter – Jensen Healey (Class D2 Winner)
17. Ralph Harwood-Penn – MG Midget (Class E Winner)
24. Alex Childs – Lancia Fulvia Sports (Class D1 Winner)

Guards Trophy – The Guards Trophy race for Sports racing and GT cars built before 1965 proved to be the most popular event for entrants with the HSCC having to return some entries! Ross Warburton and Andy Newall lead a quartet of Chevrons in qualifying, with their newer B8 just pipping Michael and Will Schryver Chevron B6.

The Chevron B8 lead the first part of the race until it stopped for its driver change when the Schryver Chevron took over for a couple of laps before they also headed for the pits for their driver change. At this point Graeme and James Dodd took their Ginetta G16 into a lead they were not to loose until the flag. Unfortunately due to a pit lane penalty, they were docked 30 seconds which pushed them back to 3rd place, handing victory to Nick Fleming who had driven single handed in his Chevron B8. The Schryver’s finished 2nd.

1. Fleming – Chevron B8 (Class SRD Winner)
2. Schryver/Schryver – Chevron B8
3. Dodd/Dodd – Ginetta G16
8. Tizzard/Tizzard – Lenham Spyder (Class SRE Winner)
12. Minshaw/Stretton – Jaguar E-Type (Class C2 Winner)
15. Wilson – Elva Mk7 (Class SRB Winner)
19. Smith – Marcos 1800GT (Class B1 Winner)
20. Smeeth/Tilley – Elva Mk7s (Class SRC Winner)
22. Taylor – Lotus Elan (Class C Winner)
28. Ross-Jones/Ross-Jones – Triumph TR4 (Class B3 Winner)
29. Avlett/Farrall – Diva GT (Class A1 Winner)
34. Green/Green – MG B (Class B2 Winner)
38. Betts/Williams – Ford Shelby Mustang GT 350 (Class D Winner)

Sir Stirling Moss Trophy Race – The Sir Stirling Moss Trophy race was the first of a new series for pre-1961 sports cars and sports racers. Jamie McIntyre started the race from Pole position in his Lister Chevrolet from Graeme Dodd in his Cooper Monaco. The first part of the race was led by Peter Horsman/Andrew Tart in their Lotus 17 until they pitted for the driver change. After the pit stops the father and son team of Alan and Jon Minshaw ended up leading the race in their fabulous Maserati T61, which they maintained to take a great victory. Horsman/Tart finished 3rd behind the Lister Jaguar of Tony Wood and Alasdair McCaig.

1. Minshaw/Minshaw – Maserati T61 (C6 Class Winner)
2. Wood/McCaig – Lister Jaguar
3. Horsman/Tart – Lotus 17 (C4 Class Winner)
8. Phillips/Phillips – Lola Mk1 (C1 Class Winner)
9. Bailey/Griffiths – Rejo Mk 4 (C3 Class Winner)
19. Bond/Fell – Lister Bristol (C2 Class Winner)
20. Rutt/Sugden – Lotus Elite (C7 Class Winner)
29. Bell/Stanton – AC Ace (C5 Class Winner)

Historic Touring Car Championship – The Historic Touring Car Championship is for pre-66 Touring cars. In this series power does not guarantee success, with many a big engined car passed by a Mini Cooper round the outside of a corner. Leo Voyazides claimed the front spot during practice, by less than ½ a second from Roger Cope driving a BMW 1800. The race proved an easy victory for Voyazides who managed to stay ahead of Cope for the entire race, both drivers winning their respective classes.

1. Leo Voyazides – Ford Falcon (Class K1 Winner)
2. Roger Cope – BMW 1800 (Class B Winner)
3. Harry Wyndham – Ford Falcon
4. Mark Jones – Ford Lotus Cortina (Class C Winner)
7. Jon Minshaw – Alfa Romeo Giuilia Sprint (Class K5 Winner)
8. Roger Godfrey – Austin Mini Cooper S (Class D Winner)
12. Colin Gunton – Hillman Imp (Class E winner)
19. Colin McKay – Jaguar S Type (Class A Winner)
25. David Brand – Austin Mini Cooper S (Class K6 Winner)
35. Paul Hocking – Fiat Abarth 1000TC (Class K7 Winner)

Motorsports Legends Pre-War – The final race of the weekend was the Motorsport Legends Pre war sports cars. Barry Wood placed his 1952 RGS Atalanta Jaguar on pole position and won the race with another start to finish victory. Gareth Burnett in a 1936 Alta Sports chased hard all the way but was unable to do anything about challenging Wood.

1. Barry Wood – RGS Atalanta Jaguar (Class PW7 Winner)
2. Gareth Burnett – Alta Sports (Class PW6 Winner)
3. Malcolm Verey – Allard J2
6. Alex Ames – Talbot 105 (Class PW5 Winner)
8. Sue Darbyshire – Morgan Super Aero (Class PW2 Winner)
9. Jane Varley – Aston Martin Speed (Class PW3 Winner)
12. John Polson – Talbot AV105 (Class PW4 Winner)

HSCC International Trophy at Silverstone – Photo Gallery

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[Source: Simon Wright]