In brief
Bev Bond plans to return to racing in 2010 after 36 years out of the sport. Bond, 71, has acquired a new race licence and hopes to tackle 1-litre F3 events in a borrowed car. Bond, one of Britain’s lead drivers in the 1-litre F3 era who raced against the likes of Emerson Fittipaldi and James Hunt, said: “I’ve got the bug again and I’d love the chance to race.”
French veteran René Ligonnet hopes to contest the 1-litre F3 race at Monaco in 2010 in the same Chevron B15 he raced there in 1970. Ligonnet, 72, has had the Chevron rebuilt by Kevin Hodgkinson, who built it in 1969 at the Chevron factory in Bolton. “It’s a nice story to go back with the same car,” said Ligonnet. “It’s not for making glory, it’s just for closing the circle.”
Up to 32 entrants are expected for the Ladies at See Red race at Donington Park, an event for women competing in pre-41 sports cars. The September 5/6 race will be the first time in VSCC history a ladies-only race has been run; it is part of the club’s
75th anniversary celebrations.
The MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series will include rounds at the two major Bruce McLaren Festival meetings in January 2010, with races at the new Hampton Downs track as well as Pukekohe. The series will conclude with a support race at the Australian GP in March.
As many as five Matra F1 cars, along with some famous former drivers, will be the star attraction at Angoulême for the Circuit des Remparts race meeting on September 19/20. Alain Prost, Sir Jackie Stewart, Jacques Laffite and Jean-Pierre Beltoise are due to attend, while one race will be dedicated to the Alpine A110.
The 1933 Napier-Railton will be demonstrated during the Bentley Drivers’ Club annual race meeting at Silverstone on August 8/9. John Cobb’s 24-litre car holds the all-time lap record at Brooklands and will run on both days.
The US Formula 5000 Drivers’ Association has presented a ‘lifetime achievement in motor sport’ award to David Hobbs. Hobbs had a long and successful career in F5000 on both sides of the Atlantic, winning the US F5000 Championship in 1971.
