Motoring sports events for June

Naples Grand Prix (May 14th)

After holding their Grand Prix for sports cars in previous years it was good to see a return to Formula One by the Naples Club, using the traditional, but now shortened, winding Posillippo circuit. It was unfortunate that it was run on the same day as the Monaco Grand Prix but nevertheless it gave a chance for private owners to get into a Continental race. Driving the FISA sponsored rear-engined Ferrari he raced at Siracusa Giancarlo Baghetti won this his second Formula One appearance, though he had been hotly challenged by Salvadori with a Yeoman Credit Cooper-Climax who ultimately suffered a puncture and finished seventh.

Prix de Paris (May 14th) Montlhery

The annual mixed races at Montlhery took place on the combined road and track circuit and events for touring, GT, Juniors and sports cars were held. Over 850-cc GT cars and 2-litre sports cars were run together, resulting in an overall win for the ex-Gordini driver Andre Simon in a 250 GT Berlinetta Ferrari.

Spa Grand Prix (May 14th)

The Touring and Grand Touring races run by the Automobile Club of Spa were held on the Francorchamps Grand Prix circuit and surprise of the meeting was Shepherd-Barron, who stirred up the Porsche Carreras driving Chris Lawrence’s highly-tuned Morgan. Parkes in an E-type Jaguar challenged the Continental supremacy of the GT Ferraris.

Wiscombe Park hill-climb

Majors Lambton and Chichester have made an excellent job of the Wiscombe Park hill-climb course. The last meeting was opened by Basil Davenport in his original 11/2-litre GN “Spyder” (59.64 sec) and the record for the extended course is 49.3 sec, by Addicott’s Lotus. In very pleasant surroundings and informally run, Wiscombe is close to good Devon seaside resorts, making a visit there an excellent holiday excursion. The National British Meeting is on June 18th, with entries from the W Hants & Dorset CC.-WB.