Gallery Results 2010 09 September SPAR Francorchamps
25th-26th September 2010 - SPAR Francorchamps
Honours even at wet Spa
The legendary circuit of Spa Francorchamps played host to the final two rounds of the HSCC’s Peter Hanson Trophy, the first round s to be held in Europe; thanks are due to Duncan Rabagliati of the Formula Junior Historic Racing Association for inviting us to run in conjunction with the final rounds of the Formula Junior Championship. An impressive entry of twenty five F3 cars was received from all over Europe, the only non arrivals being the Tecnos of Philippe Bonny and Michel Renavand who simply ran out of time. Nigel Miller was a welcome returnee after spending the summer under the doctor, Derossi had only received his re-built engine the Tuesday before Spa so had a frantic week, Christophe Widmer had been learning the circuit on his sons Nintendo, but everyone was hoping that Thursday nights rain would stop; it didn’t.
Qualifying was extremely wet, all the drivers spoke of standing water all round the circuit, the pit straight was very bad and Peter Froude parked his Tecno in the Pit Wall on his first flying lap, Hellstroem damaged a rear wheel after two laps, Derossi found the tyre wall on his out lap, Gustafson spun at Les Combes, Geoff O’Nion revolved at La Source as did Widmer. Andrew Thorpe and Nigel Miller only had the standard Avons so splashed round cautiously. Roland Fischer found an incredible lap in the 3:18s some five seconds ahead of David Methley, Gustafson, McMorran and Bankhurst headed a close pairing of Holland and Slotine while Spa debutant Retzlaff found himself ahead of messrs Chapman and Tizzard, Bosson continued his rivalry with Wilkinson who had almost collected the Junior of Brian Mitcham on his last, and driest lap. Sadly Peter Froude’s Tecno was beyond immediate repair so he left for home, Helstrom found some one to weld up his damaged rim, Derossi had his damaged body work repaired by a trio of hefty Swedes and everyone else breathed a sigh of relief that they were in one piece.
For both races the intention was that the Juniors would form up first on the grid, start under a pace car and that a minute later the F3s would do likewise, unfortunately the grid which the start line marshals had been given for race one took no account of this plan, despite their protestations Fischer and Methley were waved to the front of the grid along with several more of the quicker F3 cars. Meanwhile up in race control Sarah Rabagliati (deputising for father Duncan) was trying to get matters sorted with the organisers, however time soon ran out and rather than lose the race altogether it was decided to start the grid as it was behind one pace car. The first half dozen or so cars arrived at the start well ahead of the bulk of the field who were still in the Bus Stop and in the absence of contradictory instructions set of racing, at least fifteen seconds elapsed before the rest of the field arrived, one again no instructions were received but by a majority decision racing commenced. Fischer and Methley both held the lead and in the course of the race had several side by side sideways moments before Roland ran out the winner by just over a second, setting a fastest lap of 3:14.077; behind them Paul McMorran and Gustafson were evenly matched, Gustafson had gambled on dry tyres hoping that the track would start to dry by the end of the race he was almost right catching McMorran on the last lap but unfortunately losing out when they came together exiting the Bus Stop for the last time. Bankhurst therefore came home fourth ahead of a hard charging Jim Chapman, a lonely Chris Holland and Tizzard who was complaining of a lack of grip. Wilkinson, Retzlaff and Slotine headed Gustafson who had stalled with an inoperative clutch. Derossi had started from the very back of the grid, pitted twice and generally had a miserable race, Bergs lost the Brabham at Raidillon and was lucky to escape with deranged rear suspension and a broken wheel, Thorpe had been having a good run in the March which ended in a spin and minor rear end damage.
Between races, Ian Bankhurst made jetting changes, Gustafson repaired his clutch, Bosson who’d overheated in race one crossed his fingers! Everyone else prayed for a dry race.
Sarah Rabagliati for the Juniors and Keith Messer for the F3s spent much of Saturday afternoon in Race Control trying to make sure that Sundays race start went to plan, pre-gridding the cars in the paddock (by competitors and friends rather than organisors) helped and only Jens Hauge was out of place when the race started. Fischer and Methley led the F3 field round (the Juniors having started a minute ahead) and were faced by no lights, then a brief red light, then green, once again Roland led only for Methley to take the lead on the run up to Les Combes holding on to finish some ten seconds to the good. McMorran and Gustafson continued their battle from race one, McMorran taking third by a second, Bankhurst again had a good run into fifth ahead of Chapman and Tizzard who both found a way past Chris Holland on the last lap. Conditions were much worse than in race one and all concerned did well to bring their cars back in one piece; Steve Wilkinson again got the better of Leif Bosson in their personal battle, Leif in turn had found a way past Retzlaff who kept ahead of Maurice Slotine. O’Nion and Widmer came home next ahead of Francois Derossi’s misfiring Chevron, Hauge, Hellstroem and Miller rounded off the finishers.
Once again thanks to Sarah Rabagliati of the Formula Junior Historic Racing Association for all her help.
Final race with the HSCC is Silverstone on October 9th; final European Championship round takes place at Le Castellet October 29th -30th.
View Results and Timings (as a PDF document) [PDF]
