Reports in brief, September 2004

Steven Smith and John Nichols were the stars of the Manx Historic Rally, taking their Escort RS2000 to a famous win by just 3.3sec over the more powerful BDA Escort of Richard Gower/Carl Williamson. Smith built up his lead in thick fog on the first leg, but had to charge the last stage to grab the lead back from Gower. Adrian Kermode (Porsche 911) topped the historic cars from Dessie Nutt’s similar car.

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Prince Joachim of Denmark took a popular Royal All Stars class win in the Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix. His Alfa Romeo GTA beat Thorkild Thyrring’s Ford Mustang around the city’s street circuit (above). The event boasted 150 entries and a crowd of 10,000.

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Carlos Barbot and Jonathan Baker continued their winning streak in the former’s Lola T70 in the Dijon round of the European Sports Prototype Trophy. An unwell Frank Sytner pushed them hard in his T70 and was barely a second adrift after an hour of racing. Philip Walker (Lotus 16), Stefan Schollwoeck (Maserati 6CM) and Sid Hoole (Cooper T66) claimed HGPCA victories.

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Robert Juggins (Lola T240) and Martin O’Connell (Lotus 59/69) shared the wins as the Jochen Rindt Historic F2 Trophy had a double-header at Donington Park. With each of the taking a win and posting a retirement, it was left to Andy Middlehurst to take a brace of seconds in his Lotus 69. An encouraging 18-car field qualified for the first race but a string of retirements left only seven running at the end of the second race,