HGPCA Inaugurates Historic Racing at the Transformed Circuit de Navarra

Tim Child became the first winner of a historic motor race on the updated Circuito de Navarra layout after claiming a double victory in his Brabham BT3/4 in the Historic Grand Prix Cars Association races at the Navarra Historic Festival on 20 October.  Following him home in race 1 was Mark Shaw’s Lotus 21 and Max Smith-Hilliard at the wheel of his Lotus 16, the leading front engine car.  Child and Shaw did it again in race 2, despite a 5-second penalty for a jump start for Shaw.  Tom Dark joined them on the podium in his Cooper T51 having improved on his seventh-place finish in race 1.  Smith-Hilliard retired his Lotus on lap six, leaving front engine spoils to Guillermo Fierro Eleta in his 250F Maserati.

The Navarra circuit, under the ownership of MSV since 2022, has undergone a multi-million Euro transformation including an extension to 4.3kms and has an FIA Grade 2 listing.  HGPCA Competition Secretary Lindsey Warren said about the event, “The drivers all loved it when we went in 2022 but with the new improvements – they thought it was fantastic.  A very technically demanding circuit with multiple changes in elevation, the only reprieve is the long start-finish straight.  The MSV team there are very professional as you’d expect from Jonathan Palmer’s organisation.  He was there for the weekend, so we really did get wonderful treatment! 

After the two-day  event, which also featured races for the local Formula Vintage and MSV Turismos, the HGPCA headed south to the Algarve Classic Festival.

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