Report: Silverstone Classic 2018

Back to the track, and after Friday’s qualifying, first in the 21-race programme was the Jim Clark Trophy for Historic Formula Junior (1958-1960). This was the first Formula Junior contest at a meeting which welcomed a record number of such cars for the category’s diamond jubilee.

The weekend’s first race winner was Will Mitcham (U2 Mk2), who crossed the line 1.627 secs ahead of Christopher Drake (Terrier Mk 4 Series 1), with Miles Griffiths (Lotus 18) third.

In the 50-minute Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy for Historic Cars, the Martin Hunt/Patrick Blakeney-Edwards-driven AC Cobra took the chequered flag after 20 laps, a convincing 42.492 secs from the James Cottingham/Harvey Stanley E-type, with Sam Hancock/Gregor Fisken a similar distance back in third in their E-type.

It was another strong win in the Stirling Moss Trophy for Pre ’61 Sports Cars, where Chris Ward (Lister Knobbly) finished almost 11 secs clear of Tony Wood/Will Nuthall’s Lister Knobbly, Roger Wills (Lotus 15) 2.4 secs further back.

Two wins for Padmore (left), while Wilson took first place in the Denny Hulme Trophy

However, the day’s second Formula Junior race, the Denny Hulme Trophy, was more of a nail-biter. After 20 minutes and eight laps, just over a second covered the top three, Sam Wilson (Lotus 20/22) winning, a mere 0.795 secs ahead of Timothy De Silva (Brabham BT2), Jon Milicevic (Merlyn Mk5/7) third.

There were rather more comfortable victory margins in both the evocative FIA Masters Historic Formula One and HSCC Road Sports (’47-’79) contests. In the first, Nick Padmore (Williams FW07C) came home more than 16 secs ahead of Michael Lyons (Hesketh 308E), John Davison (Lotus Elan S1) victorious in the latter from pole by over 22 secs from Richard Plant (Morgan Plus 8). 

Next, it was the Adrian Flux Trophy for Pre ’66 Grand Prix Cars, Nuthall back and this time taking the win, his Cooper T53 crossing the line 1.328 secs from Peter Horsman (Lotus 18/21) and third-placed Timothy de Silva (Lotus 24).

Rydell was one of several BTCC champions present as the series celebrated its 60th with races and a parade (right)

In the BTCC’s 60th anniversary year, James Dodd (Honda Accord) prevailed in the JET Super Touring Car Trophy. Pole-sitter Rickard Rydell was just over seven seconds further back in his Volvo S40, well clear of Jason Hughes (Vauxhall Vectra) in third.

The first day’s action then concluded with a trio of ‘Daytona at dusk’ races. First place in the pre-’66 GT cars race was Jake Hill (Lotus Elan), Michael Gans/Andy Wolfe (AC Cobra) just 0.664 secs behind, John Spiers (TVR Griffith) completing the podium.

It was an easier win for Oliver Bryant in his Lola T70 in the Masters Historic Sports Cars, finishing seven and a half seconds in front of Gans (Lola T290), meaning back-to-back second-place finishes for the Swiss who was well clear of Diogo Ferrão/Martin Stretton (Lola T292) in third.

Closing Saturday’s track action was the Masters Endurance Legends, Steve Tandy (Lola B12/60) on top from Christophe D’Ansembourg (Lola Aston DBR1-2) and Martin Short (Dallara SP1).

Master Endurance Legends racing in the fading light (left) before 'Tin-Top Sunday'

Sunday was another scorcher and was dubbed ‘Tin-Top Sunday’ to mark the fact that four of the day’s 10 races were for touring cars.

The first of these was the Gallet Trophy for Under 2 Litre Touring Cars, where Rob Huff and Wolfe (Ford Lotus Cortina) were victorious from Andrew Banks/Maxim Banks (Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA) and Neil Brown/Richard Dutton (Ford Lotus Cortina).

Harry and Nick Whale took their E30 M3 to first place in the Historic Touring Car Challenge, Mark Smith/Arran Moulton-Smith in a similar BMW and the Ford Capri of Ric Wood completing the podium.

The third touring car race was the second JET Super Touring Car Trophy contest – with the same result! Dodd again beat Rydell to the chequered flag, double BTCC champion John Cleland (Vauxhall Vectra) this time in third.

The meeting’s final grid was the Transatlantic Trophy for Pre ’66 Touring Cars, and it was a Ford 1-2-3. Wolfe scored his second touring-car victory of the day in a Falcon alongside Mike Gardiner, Mustangs second and third, with Craig Davies and James Thorpe/Sean McInerney respectively.

Huff/Wolfe took the Gallet Trophy (left), while Harry Whale and father Nick won the Historic Touring Car Challenge in their M3

In Sunday’s other races, Wilson (Lotus 20/22) took another win, this time in the Jochen Rindt Trophy for Historic Formula Juniors, from Cameron Jackson (Brabham BT2) and Peter Morton (Lightning Envoyette).

Gary Pearson won the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy for Pre ’56 Sports Cars from pole in his D-type, just over 5 secs clear of Frederic Wakeman/Blakeney-Edwards (Cooper T38), Richard Wilson/Stretton (Maserati 250S) third.

The John Surtees Trophy – the meeting’s last Historic Formula Junior race – saw Andrew Hibberd (Lola Mk2) take victory from podium returnees Mitcham (U2 Mk2) and Drake (Terrier Mk4 Series 1), while it was a repeat of race one in the Historic Formula One race, Padmore’s Williams from Lyons’ Hesketh.

It was also two from two for Tandy when he won the second Masters Endurance Legends contest, this time just half a second in front of Hervé Regout (Lola Aston Martin DBR1-2), David Porter (Peugeot 908) third.

Last but not least, Horsman (Lotus 18/21) took a dominant win in the Adrian Flux Trophy for Pre ’66 Grand Prix Cars, finishing 26.369 secs ahead of Mark Daniell (Cooper T45), Tony Wood (Tec-Mec Maserati 415) third.

Once the meeting’s racing was done, Lyons picked up the Henry Hope-Frost #FEVER Award in honour of the much-loved late broadcaster, freelance journalist and C&SC colleague who passed away earlier this year. This was for the driver who produced the most memorable high-octane moment from the weekend, Lyons picking it up following his around-the-outside pass on Stretton’s Tyrrell at Stowe on Saturday.

And having taken third place in the second Masters Endurance Legends race, Porter’s Peugeot 908 LMP1 received the Stuart Graham ‘Scarf & Goggles’ Award for the most admired competition car at the Silverstone Classic 2018.

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Lizzie Pope

Lizzie Pope is Classic & Sports Car’s Associate Editor

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