One-Litre F3 Historic Racing Association

21st-22nd September 2024 - Castle Combe

Hibberd unstoppable after great R1 scrap with Peter de la Roche

Historic Formula 3 Castle Combe Autumn Classic 21st - 22nd September 2024

Entry & Qualifying

The traditional Autumn Classic at Castle Combe takes you back in time to the roots of this historic airfield circuit. Created in the same era as Silverstone, this period gem retains many of its period features due to the planning restrictions placed on the area.

Big band music, dancing girls, and the ladies of Castle Combe Racing Club dressed in Hippie Clothes all with flowers in their hair - step back in time to Castle Combe and enjoy a great historic event.

For the Historic Formula 3 Championship it was a great way to conclude the UK leg of their 60th Anniversary year before the Grand Finale in October at Dijon when the Championship would conclude by joining with competitors and cars from across Europe.

There would be an entry of 20 cars for the Castle Combe event, unfortunately Mark Pangbourn would be a late withdrawal, making it 19 cars that would assemble for qualifying. Among them would be Paul Booth having his first outing in the rebuilt Richard Wise Tecno, and Francis Falconer in a Chevron B15C.

Francis is a driver familiar with fast modern sports cars, he is of Head of Sales for Pagani Automobiles but his competition aspirations lay within Historic single seaters. He and his father have owned the Chevron for two years, which they rescued from a museum and he was very much looking forward to being able to race it. Castle Combe became the ideal opportunity for him to at last realise that particular dream.

Among the more familiar names within the entry, headed by Andrew Hibberd who seems to be bagging all the big trophies this year, would be Ross Drybrough in his Merlyn, Richard Trott (Brabham BT28), Jason Timms (Brabham BT2)1, Simon Armer in the March 703 (not seen since an appearance at Thruxton in June), Peter De La Roche in Ian Philips’ Alexis MK17 and Mark Carter (Chevron B15) who for this event had Francis Falconer as a stablemate at SpeedSport.

Mike O’Brien himself being at the event to head up the SpeedSport as the Castle Combe Race Meeting he had designated as the race where the Julia O’Brien Trophy would be awarded. The inaugural winner in 2023 being his son Michael O’Brien who was presented with the Trophy at Silverstone in the BRDC Clubhouse for being the aggregate winner of the two Historic Formula 3 races at last year’s HSCC Championship Finals.

Qualifying

Unfortunately, the weather had not received the brief that the Autumn Classic is a celebration weekend. The Indian summer in the week, had downgraded to thunderstorms and periods of heavy rain that began on the Friday evening. Conditions for qualifying were wet with some rain.

Not really the news that Peter De La Roche had wanted to hear. The car was on a set of worn Hoosiers with no option for a change of tyres he would just have to keep it on the island. Unsurprisingly given his recent form in Historic Formula 3 Andrew Hibberd was the pace setter. Following Peter De La Roche out onto the circuit he had as his target in front one of the potential rivals to chase. Mark Carter had placed himself near the front of the order and produced a time that made him 4th fastest alongside Peter who was 3rd quickest. Second fastest was one of the most experienced competitors in the field, Richard Trott. Richard who made his name in Formula Ford and later Formula Ford 2000, did not get to race these cars in period but he looks very much at home behind the wheel of his Brabham BT28 bringing it home 2nd quickest.

Ross Drybrough recorded 5th quickest time, Simon Armer in the March 6th, Jason Timms a little further back than anticipated in 7th, Andy Jarvis in his March would be 8th but was having clutch problems which he hoped he could resolve before the first race. A great run by Martin Whitlock in his Brabham BT21 placed him 9th whilst completing the top 10 would be Leif Bosson. Keith Messer who was not comfortable in the conditions ended his qualifying early after a big spin. He was hoping for better weather come the racing. The earliest pit caller would be Mark Linstone who would not take part in race one following engine problems.

Race 1

The Historic Formula 3 cars would be the feature race for the Saturday afternoon, assembling on the grid during the lunch break for friends and spectators to come down to meet the drivers and see the cars prior to the start. The track was dry and there was the promise of a dry and exciting first race. Andy Jarvis took part in the green flag lap retiring to the pits his weekend finished. It was time for a replacement clutch so he decided that his season was over.

When the lights went out, it was Richard Trott who made a terrific start leading briefly before being overtaken by Andrew Hibberd and Peter De La Roche who was close in his wheel tracks. Richard Trott had dropped back to third place with Ross Drybrough 4th and Simon Armer 5th, Leif Bosson 6th. Tony Wallen after stalling on the start was 15th ahead of Keith Messer and Paul Booth.

At the head of the race there was an enthralling battle between Andrew Hibberd and Peter De La Roche. It was a masterclass in close racing, the way it should always be. Close, fair, exciting space given but no quarter allowed.

In the dry conditions Richard Trott was not only having a battle on track but also within the cockpit. After his terrific start he was finally passed by Ross Drybrough on lap 3, with Mark Carter shadowing to demote Richard to 5th on lap 5. The high speeds across the undulations of Castle Combe unfortunately made Richard unwell retiring on lap 9 having maintained his 5th position.

Steve Nichols retired out on circuit on lap 8 after his engine had run out of water ending a lively four car scrap with Andrew Tart, Jonathan Sharp and latterly Keith Messer making an impressive run up the field.

Jason Timms retired earlier to the paddock on lap 4. With Richard Trott retiring to the pits the order was now Andrew Hibberd, with Peter De La Roche attached to his rear wheels, you could barely fit a blade of grass between them. Third place Ross Drybrough extending his margin back to Mark Carter in fourth place, Simon Armer fifth place and Lief Bosson in 6th place. Being pursued by a re-invigorated Keith Messer who was now up to 7th place. Tony Wallen had caught up with Gil Duffy to engage in a duel that was almost as frenetic as the duel for the lead, only not quite as the same pace as the leaders.

The race concluded with a win for Andrew Hibberd in the Chequered Flag Brabham by 0.127 seconds from Peter De La Roche Alexis Mk17,3rd place Ross Drybrough Merlyn Mk14A 4th Mark Carter Chevron B15 and 5th Simon Armer March 703 the last car on the same lap as the leaders. The pair being in a class of their own. 6th Leif Bosson Brabham BT28 7th Keith Messer Vesey , 8th Jonathan Sharp Chevron B17, 9th Andrew Tart Merlyn Mk 9 just ahead of Martin Whitlock Brabham BT21. Gill Duffy and Tony Wallen crossing the line 0.277 seconds apart.

Race 2

It was a slightly depleted field that assembled on the Sunday morning for the second of the two HF3 races. The sky was overcast with a drying but still slippery track. The grid were divided on tyres, some running Hoosier dries, others on Avon wets whilst a minority had what turned to be the favoured Hoosier “wet”. There would be 5 cars who did not take part in the second race - Andrew Tart, Steve Nichols, Gil Duffy, Andy Jarvis and Paul Booth.

The cars were to line up based on their fastest lap in race 1, the top 5 being joined by Richard Trott 6th fastest, a repaired Jason Timms 7th, Keith Messer alongside him in 8th place Leif Bosson and Martin Whitlock would complete the top 10 starters with Mark Linstone starting from the back.

With the damp track and unsuited tyres, Peter De La Roche could not match his pace from the Saturday but he had a good start lining up behind Andrew Hibberd in the lead. As Andrew extended his lead lap after lap Peter found himself having to fend off Mark Carter on the more favoured tyres, driver and car seeming at home in the damp conditions. Ross Drybrough in fourth place held a watching brief but by lap 4 he was having a lonely race. Richard Trott more at home in the conditions passed Simon Armer to take 5th place on lap 8.

Jonathan Sharp was enjoying the conditions, despite a persistent misfire, advancing 3 positions in the opening laps to be behind Jason Timms in 7th place whilst Mark Linstone was the biggest grid mover to be in 10th place.

Behind Mark a train of cars had developed headed by Leif Bosson, followed by Martin Whitlock, Tony Wallen and Francis Falconer.

The battle for second place heated up with Mark Carter slipping behind Andrew De La Roche for 2 laps. A big slide by Peter at Old Paddock put Mark back into second place. Lap 11 the rain was back the race now was on to bring it home.

On lap 10 Simon Armer went off the circuit at Tower, unfortunately spearing straight on into the barrier and the race was rightly halted. Two wins for Andrew Hibberd gave him yet another Grand Prize to add to his achievements in 2024. Second place would be Mark Carter after a battle with Peter De La Roche who had transmission seizure and spin at Tower but saved his 3rd place due to the red flag. A lonely 4th would be Ross Drybrough, 5th a much happier Richard Trott from Jason Timms, Jonathan Sharp in 7th, Keith Messer 8th, Martin Whitlock 9th and Francis Falconer 10th.

When there was a break in the rain Mike O’Brien was able to present the Julia O’Brien Trophy to Andrew with the assistance of Mike Wilds who had admitted earlier in the day that one of the regrets in his career is that Formula 3 changed regulations to the 1600cc Twin Cams when he got to race one. He did say he thought the one litre period was some of the best Formula 3 racing.

The Championship moves to Dijon en Prenois at the beginning of October for the Grand Finale for the Motors Cup Race meeting organised by Laurent Vallery Masson and the HVM Team. Bon Chance to all the competitors.

Report by Alan Jones