Alex Brundle: Diary of a historic racer

I was 30 when reality hit me, sitting across from a disinterested LMP2 team owner in a workshop office: I’d toured Europe to find sponsors; convinced, coerced, trained and performed. How did he know the exact amount I raised to try to keep racing? He could size you up in an instant; I practically walked in with an amount on my forehead, so practised was his gaze. If you had any ounce of funding, he wanted it all. “This is a numbers game now, Alex.” OK, so be it.

I am evangelical about historic racing: the cars’ behaviour and sound, and the mechanical skill required to drive them. It also says something about the modern business of racing, that you can buy a fire-spitting historic car, run and film it, and use digital media to generate as much, if not more, interest for your group of backers than a modern LMP seat at a lower outlay.

How hard could it be to run things myself? Quite hard, actually. My company, Brundle Motorsport, has grown through more complexities than I cared to imagine. So much so that I have started to develop a dim ray of sympathy for the businessman who wouldn’t give me the deal I desired as a full-time jockey.

In this column, I’d like to try to take you on that journey with me, starting today as we prepare in the workshop for a busy year ahead. It’s engine rebuild season. The GT40 V8 goes to Steve Warrior Motorsport, the Mini’s A-Series to Swiftune – the gentlemen who hold victory or defeat in their hands. Engines dominate all in the world of historic race cars!

“We’ll do our best” is the undertaking, “a month or so” is the timeframe. You’d need a contract for that in GT3; it’s a handshake here. Word-of-mouth recommendation is everything, and there are few other options, so disagreeing would be like a person with a thatched roof falling out with the only thatcher. We are honey-tongued with engine builders!

New on the rebuild roster is a four-cylinder 18R, inset, from a 1978 Toyota Celica GT that my father (Martin) raced with my uncle (Robin) and grandfather (John) in the Willhire 24 Hours in 1980 and 1981, and rebuilt with the goal of Goodwood’s Win Percy Trophy (eventually). We’ve just dropped the unit off at DTW Engines, where David Wild will rebuild it.

I located him from some old receipts delivered with the car. I told him I had an invoice from his company dated 1989, and asked who might have undertaken the rebuild then: “That would’ve been me. I remember that one – I’ve got the power and torque figures from the dyno in my notes. Would you like to hear them?” This is definitely not the WEC.

Our top events this month

Formula E – Jeddah ePrix
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, February 13-14
Even 10 years ago, Valentine’s Day was frowned upon in Saudi Arabia but there’s been an about-turn of late. A double-header ePrix might seem an unorthodox romantic getaway but tickets for single days are less than £16. On track, Citroën has had a strong start, with a win in Mexico City.

VSCC – Pomeroy Trophy
Silverstone, Northants, February 14
A highlight of the VSCC calendar, this year the ‘Pom’ celebrates its 70th anniversary so expect a few star attractions including a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Breadvan, a 1989 Lancia Delta Integrale and a 1920 Vauxhall 30/98 (first Pom winner). There are various challenges testing speed, agility and braking – plus a parade. Tickets £TBC.

Nascar – Daytona 500
Daytona, Florida, February 15
The NASCAR Cup Series gets underway with the 68th Daytona 500. Hendrick’s William Byron was 2025’s victor, en route to a fourth-place finish following the Playoffs. You’ll note his Chevrolet ZL1 has a revised body style, replacing the model used since 2022.

Race retro
Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, February 20-22
Static car displays (a fair amount from rally’s Group B), a live outdoor rally stage, historic karts, on-stage interviews, an autojumble, plus an auction by Iconic make up this season-opening historic motor show. Entry from £33.50 on the door.

Motogp – Thailand GP
Chang Circuit, Buriram, Thailand, March 1
Round one of the two-wheeled series begins in warmer climes – the final season of 1000cc machines before a switch to 850cc. Watch out Marc Márquez – three-time World Superbike champ Toprak Razgatlioglu joins MotoGP this season, riding a Yamaha.

More events

Feb 12-15 WRC – Rally Sweden
Feb 20-21 Guernsey Rally
Mar 1 IndyCar – St Petersburg GP