This month’s letters

I was fascinated by John Oreovicz’s analysis in the October issue of the dire situation IndyCar racing is finding itself in [Make IndyCar great again]. I also beg to disagree with it. I am convinced that, within certain limits, the age of the car or its absolute level of performance is irrelevant to the public at large. As a matter of fact, I wonder how many of the existing teams will successfully make the (expensive) transition to the new car, potentially worsening an already problematic situation. Although there is obviously some truth to Oreovicz’s claim that Indianapolis is too dominant, the same could be said of Le Mans and the WEC, but that hasn’t stopped the latter series from thriving.

What IndyCar has consistently delivered, for decade after decade, is superb racing on awe-inspiring tracks, be they ovals, road courses or street circuits. It was so good, perhaps, that for a while it became too dangerous and this has scared away a number of drivers who might otherwise have enhanced the profile of the series.
I would argue that the lack of high-profile drivers is actually one of the main sticking points. Sure, there are some former F1 drivers on the IndyCar grid, but none of them have exactly left a lasting impression. Colton Herta’s transfer to Europe could help to alleviate some of that and it would have been great (maybe it can still happen) if Álex Palou would have made the jump into F1. Possibly this could encourage some above average F1 drivers to move in the opposite direction.
I also think lack of promotion is a major shortcoming of the series. The current situation reminds one of the final years of Ecclestone’s F1 tenure, when the old warrior was consistently unable to engage with younger audiences.

The good news is that this is not unsolvable and not overly expensive either. Liberty has shown how this can be done, with a social media-savvy marketing department and a few well-chosen figureheads.

It doesn’t help that cars change liveries from race to race, making it harder to recognise who is driving what. This has to be a brake on fans’ loyalty and involvement.

Jurriaan Tas, Utrecht, The Netherlands

As a loyal Motor Sport magazine reader since 2005, when I saw the October 2025 issue with Williams: The Revival on the cover, I smiled. I would love that, but this is what, the fourth cover claiming a revival for Williams? Before I could scoff, however, Carlos Sainz managed a podium at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. So let me congratulate you on your prescience!

Jorge Alvear, via email

Shouldn’t the always impressive Gillian Fortescue-Thomas (in works Ford Escort and other cars) have been included somewhere in your list [50 greatest drives by women, November]?

James Thacker, Tanworth in Arden

This letter is a bit delayed, but I’m writing to congratulate Silverstone on yet another great Festival weekend. This is fast becoming my favourite historic event of the year. We know the Goodwood Festival of Speed is the benchmark, with so many amazing cars and drivers, but unfortunately it is so busy these days that the crowds don’t make for a relaxing day. The Silverstone Festival, on the other hand, is so much more accessible. It had a great selection of car clubs, an excellent racing line-up, good food options and, importantly, the fans had the chance to get close to the cars. The F1-75 line-up in the paddock was incredible and as usual there were bursting grids in the Masters races.

Gareth Holt, Coulsdon, Surrey

It was indeed a fitting end to the Festival which will be replaced in 2026 by CarFest on the Silverstone calendar. We are told the Silverstone Classic will return next year at the circuit to ensure racing fans get their fix, with dates currently to be decided. Watch this space for more information – Ed

You are indeed correct to say that an Alpine powered by a Mercedes engine is possibly sacrilegious [The Editor, October], however, it is not without precedent. Let’s not forget that during the mid-70s, the all-conquering Matra sports car team used Porsche gearboxes. Plus ça change…

Bryan Caldwell, Vancouver, Canada

Full marks for featuring Santa Pod in Opening Shot in the current edition [November]. Drag racing is little exposed outside a loyal group of supporters. Plus, Santa Pod has a huge amount of history as a World War II US airbase.

Adam Hermitage, Oxshott, Surrey

I was leafing through the November issue of Motor Sport to see what I had to look forward to when my name leapt out at me from the Letters pages. On reading the note from Norman E Gaines Jr, I was even more surprised to see myself described as “an irate reader”. This must be a variation on ‘two nations divided by a common language’ or in this case, culture. It also explains what appeared to be a rather angry response from Norman to my original letter, all those years ago. I’d headed that letter with Oi hippies no!. British readers may get the reference to an irate character from one of Harry Enfield’s sketch shows. Gordon Cruickshank got the joke and reproduced the heading with my letter. My original point remains that at the Revival in 1998, we were invited to attend in period dress, that is what would have been worn when the circuit was open from 1948-66, or in clothing reflecting the circuit’s previous life as RAF Westhampnett.

We were increasingly seeing people dressed as hippies and other ‘fancy dress’. Norman advised he was a hippy in 1966, over the pond, but I maintain there were no hippies in the UK before ‘The Summer of Love’ in 1967. I challenge anybody to come up with a photo of a hippy at Goodwood in period. I’m pleased Norman had a good time at the Revival this year (peace and love, Norman) and I thought the display at the main entrance was great fun, even if not period correct. I look forward to the punk and new romantic themes in future years.

Steve Campbell, Gravesend

In your November issue Doug Nye’s Rumblings refers to the tribute to Jim Clark at this year’s Goodwood Revival and mentions Dario Franchitti’s (understandable) surprise at suddenly being surrounded by sheep while sat on the grid in the Lotus 38.

However, in all the written or audio-visual coverage of this humorous and very enjoyable distraction, I haven’t found anyone who has recognised that surely this was an enactment of the wonderful cartoon from 1963 by the great Russell Brockbank. Even Doug, whose research is meticulous, didn’t mention it, and he a fellow cartoonist whose style reminds me of Brockbank. Nevertheless, it was part of a marvellous homage to the driver that many of us consider to be the greatest of all time. My hat goes off to the Duke of Richmond not only for adding this little extra detail but for remembering the cartoon in the first place.

Bob Allen, Woking

I thoroughly enjoyed the Why we love 1985 feature in the October 2025 issue. It brought back memories of the first grand prix that I attended, namely the European Grand Prix at Brands Hatch of that year.

While the race is famous for Prost’s first drivers’ championship and Mansell’s maiden GP win, I recall magnificent drives from Laffite and Surer (Pirelli tyres enjoying the conditions) and often wonder what Piquet could have done had he been able to avoid the Senna/Rosberg incident.

Being sixth formers on a budget and facing a long trek from the North, my friend and I decided to purchase under-16 tickets for the event. Our justification at the time was that we’d only just turned 16 when we ordered the tickets! Admission cost was the princely sum of £3 each…

Andrew Dolan, South Shields

I was pleased to see a little more sports cars in your November edition. Of late there has been scant reference. Indeed the recent ELMS race at Silverstone was subsumed in your Drive of the Month. After a six-year absence in the UK, I was hoping for a more expanded reference to this.

Howard Clark, via email