Silverstone’s 1.64-mile National Circuit is an absolute beast to master. Between the high-speed bravery demanded at Copse and Woodcote, and the chaotic pack compression at Becketts, Brooklands, and Luffield, it is a proper driver's circuit. Last weekend, as Autosport reports, the Historic Sports Car Club Championship Finals event brought together 315 entries across 23 races to crown remaining title winners amidst some truly insane, razor-thin margins.
The standout moment of the weekend had to be the Historic One-Litre F3 finale. Outgoing champion Peter de la Roche, piloting the ex-Ken Sedgley Alexis Mk17, went toe-to-toe with fellow Cheshire man Ollie Musgrave in the ex-Rene Ligonnet Chevron B15. Musgrave took pole as rookie of the year, but de la Roche fought through the drizzle to take Saturday's win. Sunday's finale was an absolute thriller where experience won out, with de la Roche edging Musgrave by just 0.042 seconds at the flag, ahead of Jason Timms and Ross Drybrough. Further back, Leif Bosson held off Paul Durban by a mere 0.033 seconds for sixth.
Formula Ford battles were equally ruthless. Benn Simms and Tom Gadd had already sewn up their respective championships, but the racing on track was merciless. Sunday's Historic FF1600 race ended in absolute chaos when Jacques Jensen, Ollie Chapman, and Callum Grant crossed TSL’s timing stripe three abreast. Jensen grabbed the win by a tiny 0.032 seconds ahead of Grant, with Chapman just 0.012 seconds further back. In Classic FF1600, 79-year-old Rick Morris was flying in his Royale RP29 before a broken driveshaft coupling broke his heart while leading. Later, Tom Gadd edged Grant by 0.176 seconds for his family campaign's eighth win.
The United Formula Ford Championship deciders delivered drama too, notably when Ben Powney suffered a suspension failure that sent his Jamun rolling into Copse during race two. Meanwhile, in the Formula Junior Historic Racing Association UK championship, 67-year-old Adrian Russell pulled off a stunning move on the penultimate lap into Brooklands to snatch glory, calling it "the race of my life."
Over in the Alfa Romeo & Italian Intermarque Championship, George Warren secured the overall title with a class win in the opener. Toby Broome threw his Revs Italia 4C around with style alongside Mike Hilton's Maserati, while Andy Page and Stacey Dennis secured their respective Modified and Power Trophy crowns despite mechanical gremlins. Up in the Derek Bell Trophy, James Hadfield dominated in the ex-John Watson Hexagon Trojan T101 before a fourth-gear failure in the sequel handed the win to Neil Glover ahead of Gary Lapidus and Chris Porritt.
The sheer variety on the Silverstone tarmac was astonishing, right down to the Classic and Modern Motorsport Club races where 91-year-old Tony Skelton planted his Renault Clio through the speed trap fastest of all.
