Letters - July 2024

Your take on the stagnant and frequently predictable nature of Formula 1, and the excitement of Formula E in comparison [The Editor, May], which is definitely not predictable, was spot-on!

But it was in the final paragraphs which talked about the failed Andretti bid to enter F1 that left me annoyed at F1’s self-serving nature towards money. It is clear that the anti-Andretti brigade are quaking in their boots at the prospect of a team who, if given an entry, would rock the establishment to its core. Keep up the solid work.

Mike Hayden, Doncaster

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Well done to David Collins for stating what many would surely agree with [Letters, June].

It has always seemed to me that both Senna and Schumacher were lovely people who totally changed character, for the worse, when behind the wheel of an F1 car. Both had enormous talent but all too often it was misused. Not ‘greats’ by my rating, but then I grew up as a fan of Jim Clark.

Geoff Whyler, West Wittering

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David Collins’ letter in your June edition questioned whether Ayrton Senna deserved all of his world driver’s championships. Could this matter of truly deserved championships not be further investigated? For instance, how many other championships have been won with the help of cheating, either by the driver or the team? How many have been won by a team’s number one driver where the number two was blatantly quicker but chose to honour his position or contract? And then there’s the ever-thorny issue of team orders when number two has been instructed, subtly or otherwise, to give up his position to allow number one to win. And what about race organisers blatantly not following race control rules to seemingly ‘sex up the show’?

One cannot help but speculate as to how Stirling Moss would have reacted, bearing in mind the integrity he clearly demonstrated in the 1958 Portuguese Grand Prix.

Chris Mabon, Lechlade

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Thank you for the June issue. Well up to your usual standard. However, I think I spotted a minor mistake in the Lotus 12 chassis 353 story [The day we drove a racing car on public roads] when you referred to Cliff Allison as a Yorkshireman. He was born in what is now Cumbria, and was Westmorland, just across the county border from Yorkshire.

Geoff Shimmin, Taunton

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I suppose it was 1960 or thereabouts when I was roaming through the paddock at Snetterton admiring the cars that would be competing. I noticed a tatty Lotus 12 and thought I would see it at the back of the field when its race got underway.

I was amazed, therefore, when the race started to see the Lotus towards the front, with the speed on the entry to and navigation of the old hairpin being truly impressive. I checked the programme to see who was driving with such verve and skill — it was a pilot I’d never heard of at the time, Frank Gardner. He had just arrived from Australia.

As to the Lotus, of course it can no longer be described as tatty. I believe it is chassis 353 as featured in the June issue of Motor Sport.

John Hindle, Penshurst, Kent

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Gordon Cruickshank’s article about Lotus 12 chassis 353 is wonderful to read and worth the money of the whole magazine. To experience again first-hand how Jenks wound up the tiny F2 racer to about 120mph in fourth gear and then managing a broken driveshaft was a joy and pleasure to read, simply great!

Keep up the good work with Motor Sport. Here in Germany we do not have this level of written quality and enthusiasm, therefore you are much enjoyed. The same concerning motor sport events – right now I am looking forward to the next Goodwood Revival in September. Before that, I have to ride the Milano-Taranto 2024 in July on my beautiful little 1955 Moto Guzzi Airone Turismo 250, Jenks would have loved both events for sure!

Matthias Hillecke, Stuttgart, Germany

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Your interview with Stefan Johansson in the June issue [The Motor Sport Interview] brought back memories of Snetterton in the early ’80s for a British F3 meeting. Others in the big entry included Nigel Mansell and Eddie Jordan.

Also in the same issue, your Reynard article [Fox on the run] brought back other memories. I used to call in at Snetterton on Thursdays on my way home from business to check what was testing and remember seeing that yellow car. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera with me and mobile phones were science fiction, so no photos.

Keep up the good work. Each issue is a joy to read.

Iain Trice, Wymondham, Norfolk

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