Tag Archives: Brabham

Where Do We Go Now ? – Silverstone Classic

Last Saturday it was back to Silverstone for the third time in a month, but this time for the Silverstone Classic a three day event.

Silverstone Classic

Silverstone Classic is billed as the largest participant motorsports event in the United Kingdom.

Silverstone Classic

Sponsors of the event BMW brought a long a big wheel, unfortunately I get vertigo on a step ladder so I was not able to sample the, by all accounts, spectacular view from the top.

BMW 3.0 CSL, Silverstone Classic

I’m not too sure when the fad for lurid paint scheme’s started on road cars in Germany, but I do remember it quite vividly when I visited the country in 1974, above this particularly cool post July 1973 ‘Batmobile’ BMW 3.0 CSL was on display outside the BMW hospitality unit.

Wilson, Lotus 20/22, Hibberd, Lotus 22, Silverstone Classic

Racing got underway promptly at 9 am with the Formula Juniors who were racing for the Peter Arundell Trophy. The race was hotly contested between the #53 Lotus 20/22 of Sam Wilson and #79 of Andrew Hibberd, after trading places many times, Andy won the 9 lap race by just over half a second.

Formula Ford, Silverstone Classic

Callum Macleod won the Balvenie Trophy for Historic Formula Fords by nearly five seconds, above a gaggle of Formula Fords exits Maggotts Corner and heads for Beckett’s corner in a scrap more typical of the class.

Smith, Ward, Costin, Lister, Silverstone Classic

Gary Pearson led the opening laps of the Stirling Moss Trophy for Pre ’61 sports cars in his knobbly Lister Jaguar, but Oliver Bryant in a Lotus 15 soon chased him down for the lead and an eventual victory shared with Grahame Bryant. Meanwhile Chris Ward and Andrew Smith came through the field from 11th to finish second 2 seconds adrift in the lush Costin bodied Jaguar powered Lister seen above.

Ford Ranchero, Silverstone Classic

Out on the old Hanger Straight UK Street Machines were holding a shootout in which this ’64 Ford Ranchero was taking part.

Priaulx, Solomons, BMW1800Ti, Silverstone Classic

Former British Hillclimb Champion and three time World Touring Champion Andy Priaulx led the opening stages of the Sir John Whitmore Trophy for Under 2 Litre Touring Cars in this BMW 1800Ti, but it was Leo Voyazides aided by former Merzario engineer Simon Hadfield that came through to win in a Lotus Cortina. Priaulx sharing with Richard Solomons came home fifth.

Lyons, Surtees, TS9, Silverstone Classic

Judy Lyons in her Surtees TS9 gives us a wave as she prepares to take part in the FIA Masters Historic Formula One race for which she qualified 3rd from last and finished last three laps down. Judy’s husband Frank finished 16th driving a Hesketh 308E while her son Michael won the race driving a former Longhorn Indycar chassis now in Williams FW07 spec as raced by Rupert Keegan in 1980.

Wills, Panayiotou, Mercury, Comet, Cyclone, Silverstone Classic

Leo Voyazides and Simon Hadfield won the Trans-Atlantic Touring Car Trophy, by over 16 seconds, sharing a Ford Falcon. The Mercury Comet Cyclone above was shared by Roger Wills and Chris Panayiotou who finished 6th.

Wood, Tec Mec, Bronson, Scarab, Silverstone Classic

Tony Wood qualified the #27 Tec Mec Maserati on pole for the Froilan Gonzalez Trophy for HGPCA Pre’61 Grand Prix Cars, but Julian Bronson sitting alongside Wood on the grid in the #30 Offy powered Scarab made a great race of it and came through to score the open wheel Scarabs second ever victory, having won a similar race at Pau in France a couple of weeks ago.

Voyazides, Hadfield, Lola T70, Mk IIIb, Silverstone Classic

The #6 Lola T70 Mk IIIb chassis #SL76/153 won the FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars race giving Leo Voyazides and Simon Hadfield their third victory of the day. The car appears in the colours used by Carlos Avallone in South America.

Lola T400, Silverstone Classic

Michael Lyons second victory of the day came when he drove this ex Vels Parnelli Lola T400 chassis #HU7 a to dominant victory in the Peter Gethin Trophy for Formula 5000 and Formula 2 cars.

Wood, Cologne, Ford, Capri, Silverstone Classic

Neil Smith driving an ALFA Romeo 156 won the Super Touring Car Trophy by just over 2/10ths of a second from Frank Wrathall driving a Vauxhall Cavalier, above is the circa 1974 Ford RS3100 of Ric Wood which came in 13th overall winning class G and setting fastest lap in class.

Minshaw, Brabham, BT4, Hughes, Cooper, T53, Silverstone Classic

The skies turned dark as the pre 1966 1.5 litre / 91 cui Grand Prix cars came out to play for the Jim Clark Trophy. Jason Minshaw is seen above driving his Branham BT4 being chased by Jonathon Hughes in his Cooper T53. Jason crossed the line first on lap 4 after which the race had to be abandoned as a summer storm dropped huge quantities of water on the track.

Heidsieck, Trophy, Silverstone, Classic

After nearly an hour the storm had passed and the marshalls had swept most of the excess water away. However as the Piper Heidsieck International Trophy for pre’66 GT Cars came out rain started again, but we got a start after the grid had followed the pace car around for a couple of laps. The TVR’s of Mike Whittaker and Owen O’Neil lead the field through Farm, above as the race gets underway. Conditions got progressively worse and the race was called after 45 mins of the scheduled 60 mins had run. John and Gary Pearson were declared the winners in their E-type Jaguar from Leo Voyazides and Simon Hadfield who missed a fourth victory of the day by 13 seconds in their AC Cobra.

Unfortunately, but completely understandably, the one race for Group C Sportscars I had got up for at 5 am specifically to see scheduled to run at sundown, had to be scratched as the rain in Spain continued to teem down mainly on Northamptonshire, England.

Exhausted by a day full of close racing, as I headed back to the car, I heard the familiar Guns ‘n’ Roses lyric “Where do we go now” wafting across from the stage where The Guns and Roses Experience were playing, to which my answer was unequivocal, “A warm and safe place”.

Thanks for joining me on this “Where Do We Go Now ?” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

It Is Not A Green Audi – Bentley Speed 8 #004/1

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Just over a week ago I visited Cholmondeley Pageant Of Power where I manged to catch up with today’s featured Bentley Speed 8 of the type which ten years ago were entered in the 2003 Le Mans 24 Hours.

Bentley Speed 8, Cholmondeley Pageant Of Power

The origins of the Speed 8 lay in two Audi projects that raced at Le Mans in 1999 one of which was designed by Peter Elleray who would go on to design the Bentley’s which competed at Le Mans from 2001 and 2003.

Audi R8R, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

Audi entered four cars in the 1999 endurance classic two open cockpit LMP class Audi R8R’s like the one above that was built by Dallara and entered by Audi Sport Team Joest which Frank Biela, Didier Theys and Emanuele Pirro drove third place one spot ahead of the sister R8R driven by Michele Alboreto, Rinaldo Capello and Laurant Laurent Aïello.

Audi R8C, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

The two remaining Audi’s were closed cockpit LMGTP Audi R8C’s designed by Peter Elleray and built by Racing Technology Norfolk (RTN) using the same twin turbo V8 motors and gearboxes as the R8R. Veteran Porsche Group C entrant Richard Lloyd ran the R8C’s in the ’99 Le Mans Race under the Audi Sport UK banner with James Weaver, Andy Wallace and Perry McCarthy in the #10, seen above which retired after 198 laps. The #9 R9C was driven by Stefan Johansson, Stéphane Ortelli and Christian Abt retired after 55 laps both cars experiencing gearbox issues that were shared with the R8R’s but which the Joest mechanics were better able to cope with.

Audi R8, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

The R8R’s were quicker than the R8C’s which suffered from being the second project to get the go ahead and Audi decided to go with the open cockpit concept and developed the R8 of the type seen above which won five Le Mans 24 hour races in ’00, ’01, ’02, ’04 and ’05.

Bentley EXP Speed 8, Cholmondeley Pageant Of Power

In 1998 the Volkswagen Group, which includes Audi, acquired Bentley and Rolls Royce, for reasons that are not clear they did not acquire the rights to use the Rolls Royce name which went to BMW and an agreement was reached that saw Rolls Royce production separate from Bentley at Crewe, where the two marques had been manufactured alongside each other since 1946, with Rolls Royce becoming a BMW owned company located in a new production facility at Goodwood.

Following the acquisition of Bentley in 1999 a 220 mph concept car was announced. The Bentley Hunaudieres powered by a normally aspirated W16, a version of the motor that would be used to power another super car from the Volkswagen Group namely the Bugatti Veyron.

In 2000 Bentley announced that it was to return to Le Mans, for the first time in 71 years, in 2001 with two closed cockpit LMPGTP entires and that a prototype was being worked on by Peter Elleray at Racing Technology Norfolk.

By the time the design for the EXP Speed 8 was finalised it had been decided to use the same twin turbo V8 as was being used in the Audi R8 programme but fitted with an X-trac transmission. During the 2001 Le Mans race chassis #002/4 seen above was driven by Martin Brundle, Guy Smith and Ortelli, qualifying 7th but retiring with transmission failure. Chassis #002/3 driven by Andy Wallace, Eric van de Poele and Butch Leitzinger qualified 9th and finished 3rd overall behind two Audi R8’s 15 laps adrift of the overall winner, but winning the GTP class.

Bentley EXP Speed 8, Cholmondeley Pageant Of Power

For 2002 only one Bentley entry was prepared for the Le Mans 24 Hours, it’s upgrades included a new 4 litre / 244 cui version of the Audi based twin turbo V8 up from 3.6 litres / 219 cui, the 4 litre motors were unique to Bentley.

Driving a new chassis, #002/6 seen above, Wallace, van de Poele and Leitzinger qualified over two seconds faster than they had in 2001 but wound up only 11th on the grid. In the race they covered 62 laps more than in 2001 but finished 4th behind three Audi R8’s now only 13 laps behind the overall winner and again winning the LMGTP class.

Bentley Speed 8, Cholmondeley Pageant Of Power

For the third and final planned onslaught at Le Mans Peter Elleray designed a completely new car based on a completely new safer carbon fiber tub.

Bentley Speed 8, Cholmondeley Pageant Of Power

After Johnny Herbert crashed one of the new #004 cars, chassis #004/2, at 100 mph into a concrete wall without injury during testing, Peter persuaded the management that two even stronger tubs should be built. However one of these #004/4 “blew up” while being cured in the autoclave and the other #004/5 was prepared for the 2003 Le Mans 24 hours.

Bentley Speed 8, Cholmondeley Pageant Of Power

Today’s featured chassis #004/1 along with #004/3 was sent to Sebring to compete in the Sebring 12 Hours as a warm up preparation for Le Mans. However two privately entered Audi’s did not read the script and ended up beating the Bentley’s by 4 laps. #004/1 driven by Capello, Tom Kristensen and Smith qualified and finished 4th 5 laps down on the overall winner and behind the Johnny Herbert, David Brabham and Mark Blundell entry.

Bentley Speed 8, Cholmondeley Pageant Of Power

Both of the Sebring cars were then sent to Le Mans in May 2003 for the Le Mans test weekend where Capello, Kristensen and Smith driving #004/1 set the fastest time ahead of the Audi Sport Japan Team Goh R8 driven by Seiji Ara, Marco Werner and Jan Magnussen. Third fastest time went to Herbert, Brabham and Blundell in chassis #004/3.

Bentley Speed 8, Cholmondeley Pageant Of Power

Like the 2002 EXP Speed 8 the 2003 Speed 8 retained exclusive use of the 4 litre twin turbo V8 which produces around 600 hp. When designing the prototype Bentley Le Mans challenger, 001 in 2000, Peter Elleray was expecting to use an unspecified normally aspirated motor apparently several options were discussed including the W16 and the prototype was tested with a Cosworth DFR Formula One motor before the twin turbo Audi V8 and later larger Bentley V8 derivative were selected.

Bentley Speed 8, Cholmondeley Pageant Of Power

The Speed 8 Bentley’s were perfectly prepared for the 2003 Le Mans 24 hours and in the absence of works Audi R8 entries they called on Joest Racing to support their efforts in the pit lane. Capello, Kristensen and Smith were entered in the new chassis #004/5 which qualified on pole 2 seconds faster than older sister car #004/3 driven by Herbert, Brabham and Blundell that completed a Bentley sweep of the front row.

Bentley Speed 8, Cholmondeley Pageant Of Power

The Bentley’s then ran a text book race finishing in the order they qualified with the lead car two laps ahead completing 377 laps in total seven more that the third placed Champion Racing Audi R8 driven by JJ Lehto, Emanuele Pirro and Johansson. The last time a Bentley had won the Le Mans 24 hour race was when Woolf Barnato and Glen Kidston led the similar Bentley Speed Six of Frank Clement and Richard Watney in 1930 having completed ‘just’ 179 laps.

Bentley Speed 8, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

Designer Peter Elleray believes that Bentley possibly choose to enter the LMGTP class because of the ‘visual presence’ of the closed cockpit cars and it must have been satisfying to him that his final Speed 8 design was the first non Formula One car in 14 years to win be awarded the 2003 Autosport Racing Car Of The Year Award.

There have been many uniformed opinions that the Bentley Le Mans project that ran from 2001 to 2003 was simply a badge engineered Audi R8 with a roof, however this was most certainly not the case.

The Bentley Speed 8 had more British content than the successful Italian Dallara Audi R8’s had German content even though the British car was powered by a unique to Bentley version of the Audi V8.

Peter patiently answered some of the misinformed opinion about the cars he designed at The Nostalgia Forum recently.

I’ll leave the final word on this project to Peter “i(t) will be on my tombstone – “it wasn’t a green audi…”

My thanks to Peter Elleray for an engaging discussion on his involvement with today’s featured car at The Nostalgia Forum.

Thanks for joining me on this “It Is Not A Green Audi” edition of “Gettin a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a look at a car that was developed with a very different approach to winning the Le Mans 24 hours. Don’t forget to come back now !

Testing The Beat – McLaren F1 GTR #10R

Nelson Rowes to Double – HSCC Thruxton Revival Easter Sunday

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Sunday finally brought months of waiting to an end for this race fan as I headed to Thruxton after teaching my Mum how to use her cruise control very early on Sunday morning.

Thruxton Circuit, Hampshire, UK

Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire like many British race tracks began life as a military air base during the 1939 – 45 war, it opened in 1940 and served as a base for the RAF and USAF troop carrying aircraft and gliders notably used for the D-Day landings on June 6th 1944 and many subsequent operations requiring large numbers of air borne troops. The first race meetings were held on a circuit using the perimeter roads in the 1950’s but the track was considered too bumpy and it was not until the British Automobile Racing Club, BARC, needed a new home following the closure of the Goodwood circuit in 1966 the Thruxton was reactivated more or less in the form we know it today.

Daimler V8-250, Thruxton Easter Revival

Last time I was at Thruxton well known Grand Prix pundit and 13 time Grand Prix winner David Coultard was still driving in Formula Ford in 1989, my first visit to Thruxton a couple of years earlier was notable for a win by my school pal Sven driving his Alfa Romeo Alfasud for whom I was acting as gofer. Consequently I got to drive his car round the track at snails pace following Sven as he stood in the back of the victory parade lap car. The entrance to the circuit on Sunday was flanked by a variety of Mini’s, Triumphs and Jaguars, in amongst the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club vehicles was this 1969 Daimler V8 250.

HSCC Classic Racing Cars, Thruxton Easter Revival

I got to the track just as the last practice was about to begin above the HSCC Classic Racing Cars, comprising Formula 2,3,B and Ford open wheelers dating from 1963 to 1970 line up in the holding area prior to the start of their practice session.

Austin A105, Thruxton Easter Revival

The paddock was full of delights like this 1958 six cylinder Austin A105 of the type that Jack Sears used to win the very first British Saloon Car Championship in 1958. Thruxton has a great mix of corners from tight 90 degrees to long sweepers meaning this A105 driven by Andrew Davenall found it’s self in a race long scrap with the much better handling Mini Cooper of David Dunnell which went in favour of the former towards the back of the HSCC Historic Touring Car field.

Kvanti Mk I, Thruxton Easter Revival

Making a welcome appearance from Finland in the Historic Formula Ford race was this 1971 Kvanti Mk I driven by Pertti Kilveri.

Ford Boss 302 Mustang, Thruxton Easter Revival

Another car that was to find it’s self in the midst of a mid field scrap was this 1969 Boss Mustang driven by Martin Edridge which managed to edge out the 1969 Camaro driven by Nick Savage both of whom were miles behind the better handling Lotus Elan’s that took the top three spots in the HSCC Historic Road Sports Championship.

Osella BMW PA4, Thruxton Easter Revival

There were two races for racing cars powered by 2 litre 92 cui motors at Thruxton on Sunday the Martini Trophy Race featured 2 litre Group 6 cars like the BMW powered 1976 Osella PA4 driven by Italian Cosimo Turizio unfortunately Cosimo retired shortly before the end of the race handing Ray Mallock driving a 1976 Mallock Mk18 in the invitational class a second place finish.

Nissan Primera GT, Thruxton Easter Revival

The Super Touring Car Race featured Derek Palmer’s 1999 Nissan Primera GT, which was originally built and prepared by Ray Mallock Limited (RML) for Laurent Aiello who became the first Frenchman to win the British Touring Car Championship.

Brabham BT30, Thruxton Easter Revival

Ted Walker was in the pits time keeping for Lincoln Small who was driving the Brabham BT30 in the featured Jochen Rindt Trophy race. Lincoln’s Brabham is the same one that Derek Bell drove for Tom Wheatcroft to a second place finish in the 1970 European Formula 2 Championship.

Jochen Rindt Trophy Race, Thruxton Easter Revival

The Jochen Rindt Trophy race on Sunday was won by Martin O’Connell driving a 1977 Chevron B40 that looks as though it might be the same won as Alain Prost drove for Fred Opert prior to becoming a four time World Champion. Martin is seen above leading Andrew Smith’s March 742 car at Campbell Corner on the opening lap. Andrew finished second but only after loosing a couple of places in the opening laps and regaining them.

Super Touring Car Race, Thruxton Easter Revival

There was not a huge entry for the Super Touring Car Race on Sunday, partly because some of the entries were lost after the race for these cars held the day before. However Derek Palmer in the Nissan was always ready to take any advantage of Stewart Whyte’s 1996 Honda Accord although he did not have the speed to challenge Stewart for the top spot on the podium.

Chevron B36, Thruxton Easter Revival

Martin O’Connel came close to scoring a second comfortable win on Sunday with his Chevron B36 above in the Martini Trophy Race however he suffered a puncture which handed the lead to the similar car of Nick Flemimg.

HSCC Historic Road Sports Race, Thruxton Easter Revival

The HSCC Historic Road Sports Race was as mentioned earlier a Lotus Elan benefit, but not before Andrew Sheppard, driving a nimble 1962 Lotus Seven S2, had found a way past the #9 1963 Elan of eventual winner Roger Waite. Andrew unfortunately was soon to retire out on the circuit.

HSCC Historic Formula Ford Race, Thruxton Easter Revival

The full grid of Formula Ford cars was thinned out after a contretemps on the opening lap after the first attempted start. Bristol Veterinarian Nelson Rowe, driving the #87 1971 Crosslé 20F, made a great start from the first attempt but was beaten by Benn Simms driving the #2 1968 Jmr 7 Jomo on the second start as seen above. Nelson quickly found away past Benn and drove to his first victory of the day having only to worry if he had enough petrol to make it to the finish after the additional start and pace lap. Former Grand Prix driver Tiff Needell seen above in 7th place second from right was thrilled to find away to a third place finish in his 1971 Lotus 69 and was heard talking about appearance money before committing to making any further appearances in the series.

HSCC Historic Touring Car Race, Thruxton Easter Revival

The HSCC Historic Touring Car Race also had to be stopped after Neil Brown went bouncing into what looked like at least 3 barrel rolls at nobel. Amazingly Neil released himself and appeared completely unharmed from the incident. Richard Dutton made a second clean start and headed for a comfortable win in his read and gold 1965 Mustang which can be seen leading some back markers above but it was Mike Gardiner driving a 1964 Ford Falcon who took the restart from the back of the grid who provided most of the entertainment. Mike is seen above relieving the ’65 Mustang driven by Warren Biggs of second place going into Campbell.

Historic Formula Ford 2000 Race, Thruxton Easter Revival

Nelson Rowe driving the #1 1979 Reynard SF79 was in command of the Pinto powered Historic Formula Ford 2000 race through out all though teenager Callum Grant did his best to earn a beer driving a 1978 Delta T78 to a commendable second place finish.

Lotus 59, Thruxton Easter Revival

The final race of the day for HSCC Classic Racing Cars was a Ian Jones benefit, he was never headed from poll driving the #1 1969 Lotus 59 seen above in Formula B spec. Again despite the absence of a memorable duel for the lead there were some great scraps going on behind Ian. All in all I got my 12 quids worth on a day where the temperatures were marginally above freezing and a good supply of affordable track side snacks and hot drinks kept my sense of humour from running for the cover of the nearest duvet or three.

Thanks for joining me on this “Nelson Rowes to Double” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Murray’s Triangular Monocoque – Brabham Cosworth BT42 #BT42/6

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After winning three World Drivers Championships two with Cooper in 1959 and 1960 and one with his own Brabham Team in 1966 Jack Brabham decided he was going to sell up and retire at the end of 1969. He got as far as selling the team to his partner the Australian designer/engineer Ron Tauranac in 1969 but after Jochen Rindt elected to stay with the Lotus team for 1970 Jack Brabham drove for the team in 1970 before hanging up his helmet with his team placed 4th in the constructors championship.