The third round of the FIA World Championship for Thoroughbred Grand Prix Cars was held at England’s undulating Donington Park Circuit on May 3rd. The series received a huge shot in the arm with the success of the first round support race for the Bahrain Grand Prix. To ensure close racing, the entry is split into four classes to reflect the car’s age and the level of aero assistance. With the obligation to run original liveries, TGP evokes memories of a time when the winner was perhaps less easy to predict. The 25-car entry at Donington included Christian Glasel driving the only Brabham BT49D in private hands, but unfortunately the engine failed spectacularly after only four laps. Commitments elsewhere prevented Jarama victor Joaquin Folch from participating at Donington where the race produced the third winner of the year—John Wilson, driving his Tyrrell 011/6 faultlessly from pole position. Wilson was closely pursued throughout by Hubertus Bahlsen in his Arrows A4/5, Richard Eyre’s Williams FW08/3, and Bahrain winner Fredy Kumschick with his Williams FW07/2-14. Bahlsen had to slow because of a problem in the last few yards, letting through Eyre and Kumschick who finished only 3.37 seconds behind the winner and less than two tenths of a second apart. Bahlsen was awarded fourth spot. The class winners were Steve Hartley in his Arrows A6, Rodrigo Gallego’s March 761 and Californian John Delane in the Tyrrell 001.
Submitted by Keith Booker
