Snetterton – March 17th

The 1963 race season at Snetterton opened on March 17th on a dull, chilly day, which slowly degenerated into rain.

The opening event was a Formula Junior race, which proved a benefit on home territory for the Jim Russell Drivers’ School, five of the first six places going to drivers under the flag of the J.R.D.S. The winner was J. Mastin (Lotus 22) who led from lap four to the finish, practically unchallenged. Second man was D. E. Fletcher (Lotus 20) the only non J.R.D.S. driver in the first six.

The G.T. event was split into two races owing to the large entry (49). The first race was won by C. M. McLaren in an early Marcos followed by Bloomfield’s Diva. Ken Baker easily won the second part of the race in his potent E-type Jaguar, heading a procession of Elites which were unable to make any impression either on him or each other. Alexander somersaulted his A.C. at Riches Corner, doing it a lot of damage but sustaining only shock himself.

“Doc” Merfield’s familiar yellow Anglia, even more potent this season, led Chris Craft’s similar car by a matter of feet throughout the Touring car race. He entered a Lotus Cortina, but it was not ready in time to race, so he had to be content with winning the race in his Anglia.

Ex-Formula One driver Keith Greene won the last two races in his Lotus 23 sports. The difference in his times for the 10 laps in each case were a fair measure of the onset of drizzling rain. He won the Sports Racing Car event in 17 min. 46.4 sec. at 91.49 m.p.h. and the Formule Libre race in 19 min. 46.2 sec. at 82.25 m.p.h. Beckwith in his Lotus 23B was second in each case by a similar margin.—L. A. M.