Around the tracks

HSCC/VSCC: Silverstone

Sytner seizes the four ground as Hadfield doubles up

Four wins for Frank Sytner stole the show at the Silverstone Historic Tribute. Jumping straight from his Lola T70 to his Penske PC3, Sytner swept to doubles in the headlining Grand Prix Masters and Group 4 races. Simon Hadfield, meanwhile, added a couple more wins to his team’s tally in the Derek Bell Trophy and Formula Junior events.

Sytner had to work for his four wins, though, notably thanks to the efforts of Peter Williams (March 761) and Rob Hall (BRM P201). In the opening F1 race, Williams led Sytner initially and continued to harry the Penske after losing the lead until he rotated wildly across the kerbs down at Maggots.

In the second race, Hall started the BRM from the back after a fuel pump drive failed in the opening race. With Williams out on the opening lap with driveshaft failure, Sytner had eased off when the BRM suddenly appeared large in his mirrors.

“I thought I could have a breather and then! saw the BRM coming,” said Frank, who duly upped his pace to stretch clear once more. Gearbox gremlins for Jonathan Baker’s Ford F3L took one rival out of the picture for Sytner in the Group 4 races, but Nigel Hulme’s Lola T70 proved a major problem for Sytner’s similar car. On the final lap of the second race Hulme tried a speculafive lunge at Abbey, but spun after slight contact. “I knew it was the last lap and it was worth a try,” said Huline after making his apologies to Sytner.

A stunning Historic Formula Ford race went to Jason Minshaw after he withstood fierce pressure from Neil Fowler. “I’ll always have a go,” said Minshaw of his pre-race prospects and his task seemed easier when Fowler’s Lola T200 snapped into a first-lap spin at Becketts. “I did a 360 and kept my foot in,” admitted Fowler, who resumed third behind John Pearson. Quickly back into second place, Fowler couldn’t find a way around Minshaw’s impeccable defences as Pearson chased them hard.

Michael Steele (Connaught) won the Hawthorn Memorial Trophy after a tremendous tussle with the earlier Connaught of Barrie Williams and Barrie Baxter, who spun the Tec-Mec on the final lap.

Hadfield blitzed a huge Derek Bell Trophy field in his just-rebuilt Chevron B37 and then jumped straight into Bob Birrell’s Brabham BT6 to top the Formula Juniors.

John Harper (Cooper Monaco) and Mark Gillies (Maserati 300S) took sportscar victories, while Richard Trott marked his Formula Three comeback with a commanding Classic win in his Ralt RT1.

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Coppa Inter Europa: Monza

Never mind the quality, check the width

A gritty performance from Arrows A4 driver Hubertus Bahlsen came to nothing in round four of the FIA TGP World Championship at Monza when victory was removed in the scrutineering bay.

The start was aborted when Duncan Dayton stalled on the front row. Mike Wrigley also hit trouble as his Tyrrell’s engine temperature rocketed; he also started from the pits.

Joaquin Folch (Williams) led briefly, but Bahlsen got by at the first chicane before Fredy Kumschick’s Williams swept past. Bahlsen later dived into the lead, but his joy was not to last, as his rear wing was found to be oversize, handing victory to Kumschick.

Denis Welch took a fine double in the Lurani Trophy Formula Junior races in his Merlyn, while Robert Simac won twice in the Jochen Rindt F2 Trophy in his March 712.