HSCC/FJHRA Championship Rounds 11 & 2: Rear Engined Grid
Entry and Qualifying
For the Championship Finale there was a great entry of 25 Rear engine cars, combined with the Front engine entry this represented a total of 41 cars entered for the Final Rounds. A terrific tribute to the Championship that had been in Belgium at the Classic Spa-Francorchamps circuit two weeks previously.
The Entry list included Duncan Ross making his FJ debut in the ex-Adam Bruzas Lotus 18. Danish visitor Erik Justesen, long-time FJ competitor and past Lurani Champion, was in the unique and very attractive Koala, adding to the increasing trend for Australian themed cars. Richard Ferris (Donford) was just spectating, and David Kent’s beautiful Lynx Mk 3 is still waiting a buyer, now based with Adam Sykes, but Adrian Holey, having got the Rennmax into competitive trim, was racing his Ausper T3, built by Australian Tom Hawkes, but in Shepherds Bush!; joining him was John Timoney, a newcomer this season, in the second surviving Ausper T3, ex-Alex Morton [the third one, ex -Roy Pike, still being in FA V8 trim, in USA !!].
The serious matter of the overall Formula Junior Championship was to be decided over the course of the two Rear engine races. Three drivers were in contention, Andrew Hibberd, who despite his many notable drives within the Formula would for the first time be looking to repeat his father Michael’s FJ success by becoming a Champion. Nic Carlton-Smith, the redoubtable multiple champion, formerly with his Kieft, was now looking to repeat his Championship status, going head-to-head with Andrew, both competing in the same class with Lotus 20’s. The outsider was Stuart Monument in his class C2 Lotus 18 – could he snatch sufficient points to claim the title.
Whilst the Championship battle was close over the two days, it would be in the background to the fight for race honours: Callum Grant had again been loaned the John Sykes owned ‘magic’ Merlyn Mk5/7 formerly raced by Denis Welch, and making a welcome appearance was Sam Wilson proving that it was still possible to make a Cooper T59 fast and reliable.
The qualifying on Saturday morning took place on a wet track, questioning once again what type of seaweed the Met Office use for their predictions on what they had forecast would be a dry day; notwithstanding the weather, we were delighted to see our FJHRA President, Dr Tony Goodwin, watching proceedings with his usual passion and interest.
In the opening part of the session, Callum Grant was the complete master of the conditions, at one point being almost two seconds faster than his closest opposition. The session was halted by a red flag to recover Michael Hibberd in the Lotus 22, finding he did not have as much grip as anticipated, damaging the front suspension.
On his first flying lap after the session was restarted, Callum reasserted his position as the fastest car, with Sam Wilson putting in his best time on the very last lap to be second fastest.
Next was the first of the Championship contenders, with Andrew setting his best lap on the first of the flying laps following the red flag. Such was the pace of the front two that Andrew was almost four seconds slower to be in third place. Lining up alongside him was Nic Carlton-Smith who was hoping that the track would remain wet for the afternoon: he felt it was his best chance of overhauling Andrew.
Fifth quickest, despite his early demise, was Michael Hibberd, with James Denty heading Class C2 in his Cooper T56, leaving Stuart Monument in the Lotus 18 to settle for the row behind, alongside Geoff Underwood in his Brabham BT2, the first of the SpeedSport maintained entries in the race. Crispian Besley was 9th in the Cooper T56 alongside Gary Thomas in his Kieft. The stage was set for a Championship showdown for what on paper would look to be a runaway victory for the fast-starting Callum Grant.
Race 1
Saturday afternoon brought a brighter spell, and the cars lined up onto a track that was still damp, but with a drier line having been created by the preceding Derek Bell Trophy Race. The Koala of Erik Justesen was a disappointing non-starter, still with problems that had plagued it in the Friday testing session.
At the start it was Callum Grant that led with Sam Wilson in hot pursuit, but Sam took the lead at the end of the lead lap. In third place already 2.5 seconds behind was Andrew Hibberd in the Lotus 20, but in his wheel tracks came class and Championship rival Nic Carlton-Smith. Michael Hibberd had the repaired Lotus 22 in 5thplace with Crispian Besley a second back, and then Stuart Monument in his class leading Lotus 18, having got ahead of James Denty, with Geoff Underwood in the BT2, Martin Aubert in (20), and Tim Metcalfe [ex Peter Fenichel T 56] completing the top 10.
James Denty had dropped down the order to 13th place from his 6th place grid slot and Gary Thomas made the first of his two trips off at Woodcote when the rear damper arm broke on the Kieft.
As Sam Wilson and Callum Grant battled for the top slot, they set a blinding place extending their lead to over 5 seconds on the second lap, while James Denty retired to the pits, with engine trouble, and Gary Thomas headed again into the gravel trap, this time on the outside of Woodcote, the car once again snapping, shooting him off the tarmac.
Throughout the field battling groups were developing, Andrew Hibberd and Nic Carlton-Smith, Stuart Monument and Geoff Underwood, the latter gaining confidence in the tricky conditions. Martin Aubert in 10th place lead a train that included Tim Metcalfe and Oliver Gemmill, making his FJ debut, just for this Saturday race in father, Andrew’s, ex Kim Shearn Lotus 20/22.
On lap 5, Adrian Holey retired out on circuit, while Syd Fraser who had started from the back of the grid had shot through the grid, up to 16th spot.
By lap 6 the two leaders entered their first phase of lappery, clearing five cars in the course of a lap. There was notable courtesy shown by the slower cars, not in any way interrupting the battle as the leaders chose often differing lines to slip by and perhaps gain an extra time advantage. This was no longer a question of raw pace, but tactical thinking was coming into play: where to pass and when, without giving an advantage to their adversary.
Geoff Underwood finally overhauled Stuart Monument to move into 6th on lap 6, while John Timoney had a spin at Brooklands in his Ausper briefly facing cars coming towards him, which included the lead pair. Everyone safely negotiated the car as it rolled back to the wide tarmac run off to continue losing time but not position. The battle for the lead continued hard but fair. They were charging through the field to eventually lap everyone down to 3rd place by the time of the flag.
Disappointment for Nic Carlton- Smith though, dropping back from Andrew on lap 12 before eventually retiring on lap 13, and all but waving goodbye to the Championship.
As the laps counted down for the end of the race, it looked like Sam Wilson could take the win, but a damp line on the outside of Woodcote lost him traction and Callum Grant took the advantage to lead. On the following lap Sam was back onto Callum’s wheel tracks, but then Sam again took the chance at the exit of Woodcote. He ran off onto the gravel but managed to keep it together, but the win went to Callum. 3rd place and edging closer to the Championship title was Andrew Hibberd winning class D2, while 4th and a lap down on the leaders was Michael Hibberd in the Lotus 22. 5th was Geoff Underwood who had mastered the tricky conditions well to set the 3rd fastest lap of the race. 6th and class C2 winner was Stuart Monument, keeping his outside chance alive, with 7th going to Crispian Besley, 2nd in class C2. 8th was Andrew Turvey in the ex-MRP Lola Mk5A, 9th Martin Aubert 2nd in class C2, and 10th place going to Oliver Gemmill in the Lotus 20/22, a successful and much enjoyed FJ debut.
Race 2
For the Final race of the UK Formula Junior season, on Sunday, it was to be a bright, cold but dry race. Starting from the back of the grid was Andrew Gemmill in his Lotus 20/22 taking over from son Oliver just behind Nic Carlton-Smith. Having retired his worn-out Lotus 20 the previous day, Nic and faithful mechanic John Whyatt and gone to collect his Class C Kieft overnight, to keep alive his last hopes for the Championship, whilst Andrew just needed to finish to win. Bob Juggins and Alex had got Eric Justesen’s Koala running again, and he was able to take up his qualifying position on the grid. James Denty was also back to try again, near the front of the grid for Race 2.
As the cars left the assembly area, Stuart Monument’s car stuttered to a halt in the Brooklands run off area. Despite Stuart’s best efforts, his season and title challenge were over, as he was pushed back to the paddock as the cars came round on their green flag lap.
So for the race start, it was time to renew the contest between Callum Grant and Sam Wilson, and Callum had the initial advantage, if you can call it that, of 0.795 seconds at the end of lap 1; this was transformed at the end of lap 2 when Sam Wilson came through to lead. It was certainly close racing, each looking for the better line to outfox the other, Sam leading the majority of the early laps with Callum regaining the lead on Laps 5 and 10.
In the race behind the leaders, Andrew Hibberd led dad,Michael, the two Lotus occupying 3rd and 4th places, with Crispian Besley 5th leading class C2 from James Denty in 6th, however his Cooper was trailing smoke from the rear. There was quite a bit of excitement however to see three Coopers within the top 6. Gary Thomas rounded out the top three in Class C, lying in 7thplace. Geoff Underwood 8th in the Brabham, Tim Metcalfe in his Cooper 9th and Alan Schmidt [ex-Ned Spieker BT6] slipping into the top ten in the second of the SpeedSport entries.
There was however already Championship excitement, as from the back of the grid, Nic Carlton-Smith had already made his way up to 12th spot in the Kieft, and gained another Class place when on lap 2 James’s Cooper cried enough, with the smoke trail getting worse, and he pulled off on the Wellington Straight, taking the car down the grass to avoid any potential oil slick before pulling off onto the tarmac on the inside of Brooklands. Michael Hibberd decided it was time to put his son in the appropriate position of following him, moving the Lotus 22 up to 3rd with Andrew 4th, and Crispian Besley being elevated into Class C lead, into 5th place. Nic Carlton-Smith had now progressed to 10th place, and all the more drama on lap 4 as Andrew spun at Becketts, luckily not damaging the car, but dropping him down the order to 11th behind Nic, but still leading his class, as Martin Aubert also had a spin, at Brooklands on lap one, dropping down to last place, but by now back up to 18th overall.
Unfortunately for Erik Justesen, his weekend didn’t get much better, despite making the race start this time, as he retired the Koala to the pits on lap 3.
With a dry track, the pack had held together a little better, but the lappery started on lap 6, with Ralph Carter and Duncan Ross being the first to be encountered by the leaders, with the next falling on the following lap. The track was becoming congested at times as the faster and slower cars converged on each other. On lap 8 the Ausper of John Timoney began to cut out on him, the engine sounding ragged at times.
Callum Grant was back in the lead for a lap on lap 12, but John Hutchison Jr retired the Envoy to the pits as it was jumping out of gear. Gary Thomas had a quick spin at Brooklands on lap 14, but soon recovered his earlier pace, while Andrew Hibberd, after his earlier Becketts excursion, was now narrowing the gap down to Geoff Underwood in 4th. With his engine troubles not improving, John Timoney retired his Ausper to the pits on lap 16.
As the race concluded it was Sam Wilson who led the cars home to the finish harried all the way by Callum Grant, but Sam set the fastest lap on the last lap. Michael Hibberd finished 3rd for a deserved last podium spot, just ahead of Andrew, who took both the class win and the Championship spoils. Geoff Underwood finished in 5th place, flagged off through the pit lane, the last unlapped runner, from Andrew Turvey, an excellent 6thin the Lola : 7th and winner of Class C2 would be Nic Carlton-Smith’s Kieft, a superb drive from his rear of the grid start, getting ahead of both Class C placemen, Crispian Besley, (T56-BMC ) and Gary Thomas, in the other Kieft, after his earlier spin. Alan Schmidt rounded out the top 10 in the Brabham BT6. Martin Aubert (20) finished 11th and second in class D2, with Adrian Holey in the sole surviving Ausper in 13th place completing the D2 podium.
The season had drawn to a close with some great racing, both Sam and Callum giving two excellent performances over the weekend. For Andrew Hibberd it was a great end to the season becoming the Historic Formula Junior Champion one week after winning the Historic Formula 3 Championship, at Dijon. Proceedings concluded with a full prizegiving for both races, our Patron, Howden Ganley, presenting the Trophies, and Sarah co-ordinating the many prizes from our generous sponsor, Silverline Tools. The winter approaches and everyone can start to look forward to 2025.
By Alan Jones