Gallery Results 2022 05 May Silverstone GP
14th-15th May 2022 - Silverstone GP
Historic Formula 3 Championship
Ian Bankhurst was the star of the HSCC Historic Formula 3 Championship when he took a commanding double victory on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit during the International Trophy meeting on 14/15 May.
The one-litre F3 cars took to the wide open spaces of Silverstone for races three and four of the 2022 season and shared a grid with the Classic Formula Fords, with the F3 pack starting 20 seconds behind the FF1600 field.
Bankhurst signalled his intentions for the weekend by putting his Alexis Mk8 on pole by the handy margin of nearly two seconds from Simon Armer (March 703) and Steve Seaman (Brabham BT21). Welcome additions to the Historic F3 pack were Steve Nichols in a Chevron B17 and Martin Whitlock in a Brabham BT21.
For former McLaren F1 designer Nichols this was a new challenge after racing a Formula Ford 2000 for many years. He has recently acquired the ex-Peter Hanson Chevron from Bert Smeets for his first foray into Historic F3. “It's quite different and we've got a few teething problems. But they're nice little cars,” he said.
Saturday's opening race went with qualifying form in warm sunshine, as Bankhurst stretched clear of his rivals for a resounding victory. Armer led the pursuit and took second, while Seaman and Whitlock were both early retirements. Up into the final podium position came Leif Bosson in his Brabham BT28. “It was a great race and I had a great time,” said Bankhurst after his first win of 2022. “It was hotter in the race and not as fast as qualifying, but I got quite lucky when we caught the Formula Fords and was able to get a gap.”
Conditions were rather different for Sunday's second race when a smattering of rain left track conditions challenging and caused many spins and minor moments. But Bankhurst, once again, was the man in control and was able to edge clear of Armer for his second win of the weekend. Bosson once again claimed the final podium place while Whitlock and Nichols battled for fourth place with the position finally going to Whitlock.
The Historic F3 season now has a month break before the action resumes at Donington Park in mid-June where a strong contingent of European drivers will join the British drivers to make what should be an excellent grid.
Paul Lawrence
