Gallery Results 2019 08 August Croft
3rd-4th August 2019 - Croft
Hughes takes wins both races
HSCC Historic Formula 3 Championship
Rounds 6 and 7, Croft, August 3/4
Jonathan Hughes was the latest winner in the Historic Formula 3 Championship as he took an impressive pair of wins in rounds six and seven of the season at the challenging Croft circuit in North Yorkshire during the annual Classic and Retro weekend (3/4 August).
Hughes was a late entry for the event in his ex-David Methley Merlyn MK14A and took pole by a handy two seconds from title contender Simon Armer (March 703) and Leif Bosson (Brabham BT28). Steve Seaman (Brabham BT21), Andrew Tart (Merlyn MK9) and Barry Sewell (Lotus 41) rounded out the top six on the grid. With reigning champion Jon Milicevic absent and Mike Scott not making the long trip north from Exeter, Armer knew this was his best chance to extend his points’ advantage.
In the opening race on Saturday afternoon, Hughes went away from the start and was only seriously challenged when a mystery loss of power dropped him briefly to second just after half-distance. Armer jumped ahead but ultimately had to settle for second once Hughes’ problem cleared and he resumed full pace.
Bosson was not too far away in third in his immaculate Brabham BT28 as Sewell and Tart came so close to a dead heat in the battle for fourth. The Lotus got the verdict by the smallest possible margin of 0.001s, probably the thickness of a coat of paint! Mark Linstone (Brabham BT21B) took sixth in the final results after Seaman dropped down the order to seventh with a last-corner spin.
Hughes continued his race-winning form in the second race but Armer was not so fortunate. He had passed Bosson for second after dicing for several laps, but had to retire a while later with mechanical problems, coasting into the pits with his arm aloft. However, the March driver still left Croft with an increased lead in the championship. Bosson re-took second place to finish five seconds in front of Seaman, who was relieved to hold on to his podium position this time.
Sewell was a late retirement as Tart just held off Linstone for fourth and HF3 newcomer Simon Etherington (Brabham BT15) rounded out the top six in one of his early races in his Dan Eagling-prepared car.
Paul Lawrence
View Results and Timings (as a PDF document) [PDF]
