Gallery Results 2024 07 July Oulton Park 01 Pit Walk
Gallery Results 2024 07 July Oulton Park 02 Qualifying
Gallery Results 2024 07 July Oulton Park 03 Race 1
Gallery Results 2024 07 July Oulton Park 04 Race 2
26th-28th July 2024 - Oulton
26th-28th July 2024
Oulton Park
Historic Formula 3 Gold Cup Races.
On the 60th Anniversary of Historic Formula 3 each race meeting seems to produce a significant Trophy for the winning driver to add his name too. Following on from the Justin Haler, Chris Moore, King Hussein and Nations Cup, the next big trophy to be presented was the prestigious Gold Cup celebrating its 70th Anniversary. This would be only the second time in the history of the cup that it would be presented to a Formula 3 race. The first being in 1988 when Gary Brabham was the winner.
As part of the celebrations the predecessors to the Historic Formula 3 - 500cc F3 and Formula Junior - would both have grids at the event. The Historic Grand Prix Cars Association had a grid to celebrate the 70th Anniversary ,fielding two Maserati 250Fs which as a model won the first Gold Cup in 1954 in the hands of Stirling Moss.
24 cars were entered for the event, 5 being from Continental Europe. The Widmer family of Austin and Christoph took the opportunity to holiday in the Hebrides between Brands Hatch and Oulton Park. Francois De Rossi, came to Oulton to renew his battle with Christoph Widmer, joining Werner Pircher, and Enrico Spaggiari both in Lotus 41.
Andrew Hibberd was entered looking to add his name to another trophy for the season in his Brabham whilst Michael O’Brien in the Nick Fennell’s HASU racing Tecno was hoping that he could match the pace of the car at Brands Hatch with reliability. Jonathan Sharp and Peter De La Roche were welcome returnees to the grid with a new name entering the grid sheets that of Jake Shortland in a Chevron B9. The car in the hands of Hall and Hall is described as being the ex Barrie Maskell car from 1969 but presented in Sport Motors colours. Sadly absent from the entry was Championship leader Ross Drybrough with his Merlyn.
When it came to qualifying there were only 23 cars to take part Glenn Loxton being absent leaving Andrew Tart as the sole representative of the Merlyn Marque. At the start of the session Peter De La Roche was immediately onto the pace of Brands Hatch front runners Andrew Hibberd and Michael O’Brien. On lap 4 Michael and Andrew produced matching lap times. On the following lap Peter having set 3rd fastest time came into the pit lane ready for the Saturday race. Michael O’ Brien setting the fastest lap on lap 6. Although Andrew did attempt to claim pole on his final run but despite setting a good time could not better that of the Tecno in front.
Enrico Spaggiari in the Lotus 41X was 4th in qualifying just half a second behind Peter De La Roche in the Alexis MK17. The leading quartet having a margin of over 5 seconds back to the following group. Which was headed by the battling duo of Francois De Rossi, heading Christoph Widmer.
After a lot of set up work in the testing period Jake Shortland brought the Chevron B9 home in 7th place the team were still looking for more straight line speed which they hoped to have found in time for the race.
Mark Carter reported a misfire following qualifying, while Jonathan Sharp 9th and Austin Widmer 10th both stopped on circuit with problems. Mark Pangborn failed to complete a lap retiring to the pits at the beginning of the session. Peter Hamilton having a good run to come home in 8th place.
Several cars had times deleted for exceeding the track limits just proving how hard they were pushing to get the best time for the weekend.
Race 1
On the Saturday morning Steve Seaman was able to do three qualifying laps to be able to start on the back of the grid.
With all the cars lined up on the grid the first race did not make it to the first corner of Old Hall. Steve Nichols inverting on the straight. In the ensuing confusion Nick Pearce, and Martin Whitlock made contact with Simon Haughton, the Red Flag drawing that race to a halt. For Jake Shortland it came as a relief as he had started from the back unable to take up his grid position.
With the circuit cleared and Steve Nichols released following a check up at the medical centre. 17 cars assembled for the restart. Keith Messer not being able to take part in race one when the extinguisher went off whilst the car was in the garage. Team Falloon springing into action to clear the extinguishant in readiness for Race 2 on the Sunday.
From the start it would Michael O’Brien who led from Andrew Hibberd and Enrico Spaggiari. The first lap being brought under the control of the safety car when Peter De La Roche’s car retired to the inside of Old Hall. The Marshals quickly had the car wheeled to a place of safety and on lap 2 the race resumed for what would be 17 minutes. Andy Jarvis came into the pits on lap 2 with a burnt out clutch. Whilst Austin Widmer continued to have problems with Paul Waine’s De Sanctis retiring at the end of lap 3.
Michael O’Brien and Andrew Hibberd quickly pulled clear of the following pack trading fastest laps on lap 4. Jake Shortland in the Chevron B9 was having a much better run, catching up with the battling duo of Christoph Widmer and Francois De Rossi. Werner Picher who had been a pit lane starter had benefitted from the Safety Car intervention to be with the rear of the field.
Steve Seaman like Jake Shortland was another driver on the move starting from the back he had moved up to 10th place. On lap 7 Jake Shortland promoted the Chevron into 4th place. Whilst Michael O’Brien came past the pits struggling to select a gear. The clutch pedal had stuck in the down position it was quick footwork from Michael as he flipped the pedal up settling on nursing the came home in 3rd gear.
He had enough in hand to come home second with Andrew Hibberd taking the lead giving him a 12 second advantage to carry forward into race 2 for the aggregate result. Jake Shortland after his fine drive through the field retired on lap 7.
The final result being a win for Andrew Hibberd, Michael O’Brien 2nd Enrico Spaggiari 3rd with Francois De Rossi claiming 4th place on the run to the flag from Christoph Widmer in 5th. 6th place would be Mark Carter by half a car length from Jonathan Sharp 7th, Steve Seaman from the back finishing 8th place Andrew Tart 9th place and Leif Bosson rounding out the top ten.
Saturday night was enjoyed in the sunshine by everyone courtesey of Dan and Claire Eagling of Lifetime Racing providing a sumptuous array of food including meat barbequed by Lifetime's ruddy cheeked Alex, all lubricated by Steve Seaman's generous supply of alcohol.
Race 2
20 Cars would take the start for Race 2. A lot of interest surrounded the back of the grid with both Jarvis & Peter De la Roche starting on the penultimate row. At the front Michael O’Brien and Andrew Hibberd headed the field. Michael now running on the Hoosier tyre rather than the Avon he had used in Race 1. Brian Jarvis still having problems started from the pit lane. Peter De La Roche having got up to 7th place at the end of the opening lap.
Michael O’ Brien was a man on a mission. He had a target to pull away from Andrew Hibberd by over 13 seconds. Enrico Spaggiari had settled into third place Christophe Widmer 4th and Jake Shortland 5th and Francois De Rossi 6th. By lap 2 Michael O’ Brien had extended his gap to Andrew with Enrico Spaggiari now falling back into the reach of Peter De La Roche. Francois De Rossi was again closing in on Christoph Widmer slowly easing away from Mark Carter in the Chevron B15. Further down the order Jonathan Sharp was in a three car fight including Peter Hamilton and Steve Seaman. Keith Messer after his dramas with an extinguisher yesterday had moved through from last place to 15th place. Austin Widmer had another short race retiring on lap 1.
As the race progressed Michael O’ Brien continued to extend his leading advantage to10 seconds with 5 Minutes left on the clock. Unfortunately the race would end there when Michael came into contact with Simon Etherington whilst lapping him. The net result being a Red flag and a second race win for Andrew Hibberd, promoting Enrico Spaggiari to second place with Peter De La Roche taking the final place on the podium in third. Christoph Widmer finished 4th, Francois De Rossi 5th Mark Carter coming home in a lonely 6th place. Jonathan Sharp in the closing laps eased away from Peter Hamilton and Steve Seaman who battled all the way to the end. 10th place falling into the hands of Leif Bosson.
The Historic Gold Cup was awarded to Andrew Hibberd with Enrico Spaggiari 2nd and Francois De Rossi featuring as 3rd in the aggregate result.
Report by Alan Jones
Oulton-Park-Gold-Cup-Qualifying.pdf [PDF]
