The Magazine

The European Formula 2 Championship took its final curtain call at Brands Hatch in 1984 before being replaced by F3000, thus merits the HSCC’s retrospective, run for two-litre cars to 1978 and 1600cc predecessors from ‘67-’71.  The spectacular cars always deliver on the Grand Prix circuit, indeed the annual Legends Superprix’s double-header could not have been more hotly fought.  Invitee Martin Stretton – the 2007 and ’09 champion, running his March 712 with a two-litre Ford BDG engine narrowly prevailed each day, shading 782 drivers Matthew Watts (BMW M Power) and Matt Wrigley (Hart power).  

Who doesn’t love visiting le Castellet in Provence in early summer?  The nearby beaches at Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer and Bandol are just the spot for a seafront lunch with a cool glass of rosé, followed by a short brisk but twisty drive up to the baking hot circuit. The 2022 French Historic Grand Prix at Paul Ricard on 18-19 June revisited the history of F1 and various other single-seater categories.  Once again, its impressive paddock boasted many stars including Rene Arnoux, Jean Alesi and others, chatting and signing autographs.  Éric Hélary was one of these and he was going to drive a Formula Ford for the first time in over 30 years. 

The normally popular HSCC Donington weekend on 18-19 June offered 22 races over two days and if the grids were not as full as some previous years, then they were still holding up well.  With a largely wet Saturday and dry Sunday, those with a race on each day could test their driving in both conditions. For four laps one time Euro Series champion Adrian Reynard led the Historic FF2000 race driving one of his very own cars and looking very impressive, but it was regulars Ben Simms and Graham Fennymore who eventually took victory in both races in that order.  

Four years since the last time, including a nearly-moment in 2020, Peter Auto’s Classic Le Mans, now legendary in its own right, exploded into action with over 600 cars entered in a plethora of races to compete on the hallowed, mostly public roads, of La Sarthe. Back in the sixteenth century Christopher Marlowe must have been prescient, when in Dr Faustus he writes, ‘Why, this is hell, nor am I out of it….the stars move still, time runs, the clock will strike, the devil come….’  There is much to Le Mans that is unique, but time is almost bent during this event. 

Entries may have been small across promoter Motor Racing Legends core grids for the first Snetterton Historic 200 event on 16-17 July, but quality action embroiling wonderful cars, with strong HRDC supports, entertained an unusually large spectator turnout.  With focus, Duncan Wiltshire’s organisation and MotorSport Vision, owner of the venue which hosted non-championship F1 races in the early 1960s, could be grown into something really special.  Marcus Pye Reports..

The annual Spa Summer Classic own the weekend of 24-26 June was a major event for fans of historic motorsport, perfectly organised by the Roadbook team led by Vincent Collard.  It wouldn’t be Spa-Francorchamps if the drivers weren’t treated to rain over the weekend and as expected, it was prominent on Friday and Sunday with heavy showers, while Saturday stayed dry.  Once again, it managed to attract a wide variety of historic racing cars. Big starting grids provided the necessary spectacle, culminating in the main three-hour race on Saturday evening.

In 2020, the Historic Grand Prix at Zandvoort proved to be the only international historic event that went on like nothing had happened, but a year later Covid forced it to run the event behind closed doors.  This year, Masters and the Historic Grand Prix Car Association were back and found themselves pleasantly surprised by a 25,000-strong attendance delivering a cool paddock vibe. Three days of bright sunshine helped as well.

In 2020, the Historic Grand Prix at Zandvoort proved to be the only international historic event that went on like nothing had happened, but a year later Covid forced it to run the event behind closed doors.  This year, Masters and the Historic Grand Prix Car Association were back and found themselves pleasantly surprised by a 25,000-strong attendance delivering a cool paddock vibe. Three days of bright sunshine helped as well.

In 2020, the Historic Grand Prix at Zandvoort proved to be the only international historic event that went on like nothing had happened, but a year later Covid forced it to run the event behind closed doors. This year, Masters and the Historic Grand Prix Car Association were back and found themselves pleasantly surprised by a 25,000-strong attendance delivering a cool paddock vibe. Three days of bright sunshine helped as well.