Group 1 Touring Cars at the Autumn Classic

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Automobiles Historiques ran the inaugural race for Group 1 Touring Cars at Castle Combe in September.  Announced earlier in the year, and focused on the cars of the British Saloon Car Championship of the pre-1983 era, the Castle Combe race carried the Vince Woodman Trophy title in memory of the local hero who won 12 races in the era, driving Equipe Esso Ford Capris.  

Photo Michael Stoekes Courtesy Automobiles Historiques

After some withdrawals, only ten cars started at Castle Combe, but Flavien and Vanessa Marçais of Automobiles Historiques are optimistic for the new series,  “Castle Combe might have been lighter on numbers than we would have liked, but at the end of a long season with many external challenges, it was a promising start.  Competitors displayed great spirit and enjoyed the camaraderie and values for which the sister GT & Sports Car Cup is renowned,” the couple said afterwards. “We are committed to the series and are planning to run three races in 2023 at the same events as the GTSCC which enters its 17th year.”

The race was won by versatile historic racer Ludovic Lindsay, fittingly for the Woodman name, racing a Capri 3.0S, a model in which Woodman won seven British Saloon Car Championship rounds.  (see our Castle Combe report in the November issue).

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