107 race starts and counting: Nigel Greensall hits three figures for 2025

ESTORIL, SEPTEMBER 18-20
The last round of the Peter Auto series. We had a chance to win the Gentleman Challenge title in John Spiers’ Lister Costin, only for mechanical problems to leave us second, two points down. I was also leading the Classic Endurance Racing 1 series with John Emberson’s Chevron B19, but John wasn’t able to race that weekend, so I had to watch. Serge Kriknoff needed to win the race to take the championship in his Lola, which he then went and did! He’s a deserving champion.

SILVERSTONE, OCTOBER 18-19
The Motor Racing Legends finale. John Spiers and I didn’t match our tally of four consecutive wins from last year, but we did take two, with John’s Capri and Cobra. Plenty of fun and laughter.

PORTIMÃO, OCTOBER 24-26
All a quiet little warm-up for what came next. I was racing with Richard McAlpine in his McLaren M1B and Ford Falcon, and also Joel Hopwood in his Chevron B8 and Lotus Elan 26R. We did two one-hour races for the Iberian Historic Endurance series. In the first I started in the Elan and finished in the Falcon, then vice-versa in the second race. We also had the 300Kms sports car race and for that I was doing alternate stints: started in the McLaren, then jumped in the Chevron, back in the McLaren and then finished in the Chevron. All straightforward! Except the second of the Iberian races was immediately before the 300Kms… I jumped out of the Elan in parc fermé, kept my helmet on and ran the length of the pitlane and got into the McLaren just in time to take the start. About three hours of continuous driving, and I ended up first and second in the pre-1969 class in the 300Kms!

DAYTONA, NOVEMBER 5-9
That all seemed busy until I got to the Daytona Classic 24 Hours where I drove… nine cars! Among the highlights were two owned by Wally and Kevin Owens. This was my first time in their Visit Florida-sponsored Corvette DPi, a second generation of the Daytona prototypes – a monster. And a unique V6 turbo Corvette C4, inset, which raced originally in 1987 in IMSA GTO. It used to get poles and lap records, but never finished. Restored by Alex Job Racing with a motor from Dan Binks, it was flying. By the end of the weekend I’d notched up my 107th race start of 2025.

Our top events this month

Winter lights spectacular
Brands Hatch, Kent, until December 31
New for Brands Hatch, this festive experience offers a family friendly illuminated trail replete with slightly spooky-looking talking tree, light show at the Brabham Stewart building and ‘pitstops’ for seasonally appropriate food. No car racing, though. Adults £18, children 3-15 £12, under 3s free.

Hero-era Lejog 2025
Land’s End-John O’Groats, December 6-9
Billed as “the hardest endurance rally in Europe”, this 1500-mile tussle with Britain’s winter conditions takes a field of pre-1991 cars the full length of the UK. Somerset, Monmouthshire, Shropshire, Peak District, North Yorks Moors, Gretna Green, Fort William – let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…

Formula e – São Paulo Eprix
São Paulo Street Circuit, Brazil, December 6
The final season of the Gen3 Evo car gets underway. Last season Motor Sport followed the exploits of Jaguar TCS Racing, which now has been joined by 2019/20 champ António Félix da Costa. And there’s a new name on the grid: Citroën.

Asian Le Mans – Sepang 4 hours
Sepang, Malaysia, December 12-14
Looking at long-term weather forecasts for Sepang, it’ll be 32˚C and thundery, not that this should spoil your enjoyment of LMP2, LMP3 and GT racing. Give a shout for Brit drivers Ben Hanley and Paul di Resta alongside their Canadian team-mate Phil Fayer in the United Autosports ORECA 07.

750 Motor Club – Plum Pudding races
Mallory Park, Leicestershire, December 26
Pack your turkey sandwiches and put on two pairs of Motor Sport-branded socks to keep out the cold for a day of races involving sports cars, saloons, hatchbacks and bikes. Entry £16.26.

More events

Dec 7 F1 – Abu Dhabi GP, Yas Marina
Dec 7 Jack Frost Rally – Croft, N Yorks
Dec 28 Rixy Stages – STANTA, Norfolk