One-Litre F3 Historic Racing Association

16th-17th June 2018 - Silverstone HGP

Six on the Run for Milicevic

Jon Milicevic took his unbeaten run in the 2018 Historic Formula 3 Championship to six races during the International Trophy meeting on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit (16/17 June).

Although Milicevic extended his winning sequence, he could never relax as Andrew Hibberd challenged constantly and was right on the leader’s gearbox at the finish of both races as the Historic F3 pack delivered two excellent races.

Milicevic narrowly won Saturday’s race and Hibberd went into the second race ever more determined to topple his friend and rival and they traded the lead countless times. In a wheel-to-wheel dash for the line, Milicevic got the nod by 0.156s to make it six wins from six races this season.

On his home track, Milicevic (Brabham BT21B) put a marker down in qualifying by taking pole by eight-tenths of a second from Hibberd (Brabham BT18) before a closely-matched group comprising Christoph Widmer (Brabham BT18A), Steve Smith (Chevron B15), Paul Waine (De Sanctis) and Michael Scott (Brabham BT28).

Despite a brief rain shower in an earlier race, the track was dry in time for the opening 20-minute HF3 race and Milicevic seized the early lead as Hibberd chased. Once into his stride, Hibberd set about closing in on the leader and that was the start of a major battle for the lead. Several times Hibberd got up alongside, but Milicevic kept his cool and was a fifth of a second ahead at the flag.

“He kept me honest: he’s a brilliant driver,” said Milicevic of his rival. “I just tried to follow him early on,” said Hibberd. “A couple of times I had a run on him,” added the contender, who pledged to have another crack at the series leader the following day.

Another excellent battle raged over third place and after some fine racing it was Smith ahead in the Chevron to complete the podium. “I’m happy to be third against these guys,” said Smith on the podium. “They made me work very hard for this: it’s close but very fair,” he added. Scott and Widmer chased Smith to the flag as Waine rounded out the top six.

Next up was Steve Jones who guided his ex-David Purley Brabham BT28 to seventh, clear of the battling Tecnos of Peter Hamilton and Marcus Mussa before Gregan Thruston (Brabham BT21B) completed the top 10.

While Saturday’s race had been excellent, Sunday’s race was ever better as Hibberd really took the fight to Milicevic. This time the lead changed several times as they enacted a glorious battle but, once again, Milicevic was ahead by a whisker on the dash to the line. “I wanted to win one this weekend but it was good fun,” said Hibberd after another second place.

The early battle for third was very good as Widmer, Smith and Scott raced wheel-to-wheel. However, mid-race Smith had a quick spin at Becketts and that delayed Scott a little so Widmer edged ahead. But Scott was not done yet and upped his pace to close back in on Widmer and dive ahead for third. “I’m so pleased with a podium,” said the Exeter racer.

Jones took fifth but had the recovering Smith on his tail at the flag as Mussa, Thruston, Andrew Tart (Merlyn Mk9) and Barry Sewell (Lotus 41) completed the top 10.

Rounds seven and eight will take place on the fabulous Grand Prix circuit at Brands Hatch during the annual high-profile Legends of Brands Hatch Super Prix (30 June/1 July).

Paul Lawrence

View Results and Timings (as a PDF document) [PDF]