FJHRA SILVERLINE CHAMPIONSHIP Rounds 12 & 13
SILVERSTONE FINALS; 10th – 11th October 2026
ENTRY
A fine entry for the Silverline Championship season finale, adopting the same format as the previous year; one combined qualifying, separate races on Saturday for Classes A-C, and D-E, and a combined grid on Sunday. This added to the excitement, as the main Championship contenders, Adrian Russell (Condor S II) and Nathan Metcalfe (Lotus 20), were in separate races on Saturday, giving them the opportunity to watch their (friendly) rival. Keith Pickering still also had a slim outside chance in his Britannia. In fact, interestingly, leading into the meeting, four different classes were represented in the first five Championship positions – exactly the spirit of Formula Junior.
However, the races were to run somewhat shorter than contracted, as the organisers had overcommitted on the timetable, and decreed a curious start procedure whereby the clock started as the last car passed the line on the green flag lap, and therefore the race included the gridding up procedure.
Back to the positives, it was so encouraging too for the future of FJ, to once again welcome three new drivers to the grid; Toby Stevens in the family Hillwood, Andrew Leslie in the highly original Johansson-IFA – a car built in period in Sweden using Wartburg engine and suspension parts – hats off to both the creator, and current custodian, for persisting in the face of every imaginable difficulty. Thirdly Richard Eyre, making his FJ debut, in his (very) newly acquired ex-Tonetti Brabham BT6. Richard has, of course, had a distinguished career in Group C, Historic Formula 2 and Historic F1.
The rather parsimonious allocation of three garage spaces seemed less than generous but with Sarah’s customary persuasive zeal and organisation, combined with the cheerful cooperation by teams, resulted in 37 quarts fitting into 3 garage sized pint pots!
Qualifying
Thirty-Seven cars on track promised a busy, crowded session. It was heartening that despite car and driver speed differentials, everyone drove in the customary Formula Junior manner – with respect and not a single instance of “bodily contact”. The first seven cars being covered by just over a second! On pole was Sam Wilson – back in his Dave Charlton ex-South Africa Lotus 20/22.
Andrew Hibberd optimised his time in the session, running both his Lotus 20 and Lotus 22 so that he could race one each day from a qualifying grid position. The intriguing Wartburg engined IFA couldn’t quite be persuaded to perform but Tim Bishop worked his 2 stroke magic to ready it for the race.
Race 1; FJ 1958 – 1960 [Classes A, B1, B2, C2]
This race epitomising the period racing in 1960, with the early rear-engined cars (Class C) racing against the front-engined cars (A-B). B2 prevailed with leading Championship contender Adrian Russell ahead throughout. The field gradually spaced with Russell finishing well ahead of Crispian Besley (Cooper T56) and Keith Pickering’s well driven Britannia, Crispian of course winning C2. The expected challenge from Ray Mallock did not materialise and he ran in fifth until retiring at half-distance with gearbox maladies, leading his team much to do before Sunday’s race.
Robin Longdon had been expected as a front runner but had a disappointing qualifying and early overheating saw him retiring on lap 3.
The IFA unfortunately expired on lap 2 – more toil for Tim Bishop, and sadly Antony Olissoff retired his Emeryson-Elfin on it’s only outing this season – he returns to New Zealand now but we really hope he will return next year – a great and welcome friend, I’m sure he will.
Race 2; 1961 – 1963 [Classes E1, E2, D2]
This was an eagerly anticipated race at the front. Sam Wilson showed he was king of Silverstone, running comfortably ahead of Andrew Hibberd in second, who exchanged places several times with Rufus Flann. The close qualifying hadn’t disappointed, as Hibberd, Flann, Monument and Roach were covered by barely a second at the end, with Richard Wilson a mere 1.2” further back. Stuart Roach, in his Goodwood winning Alexis Mk 3, might have hoped for a damp track – in view of his Goodwood worn tyres, perhaps not, a great drive against the disc-braked cars nevertheless to win D2. Nathan Metcalfe finished seventh and second in D2.
Richard Eyre (lacking power) (I think?) and John Chisholm (coolant problems) both retired while Duncan Ross’s Australian Lynx broke a driveshaft off the line. Callum Grant stepped in with a spare for the combined race.
Race 3 Combined Grid
It was down to the wire and this was to be the decider for the Silverline Championship!
Disappointingly, Andrew Leslie was inspected by the scrutineers in the assembly area, but not told why, only for them to return some time later, just as the cars were going out, to tell him he couldn’t race as the seat belts he had fitted required him to wear his Hans device, despite during scrutineering having been told that he doesn’t wear it. Had they told him initially, he could have got his Hans from the garage in that time. As it was, his IFA, having been worked on since the previous day to make it ready, was sadly sidelined.
So it was 30 cars that set off, with Sam Wilson was once more untroubled in the lead. Andrew Hibberd and Rufus Flann duelled again for 2nd place. This time Rufus took the honour, finishing 2nd by 0.2 seconds. The racing was close again behind, Stuart Roach retiring from the pack on the penultimate lap with engine trouble, later diagnosed as a broken rocker, leaving Stuart Monument, Richard Wilson and Nathan Metcalfe to continue running closely to the flag, finishing under 2 seconds apart. Unfortunately for Nathan, Andrew was in the D2 Lotus so this was only good enough for second in class. The class winners were D2 Hibberd, E2 Richard Ferris, C2 Gary Thomas (at last finding some reliability in his Kieft), B2 Russell, A Toby Stevens.
The real nail biter concerned the destination of the Championship. In effect, Adrian Russell had to win the B2 Class – a tall order with Ray Mallock leading – and Nathan not win D2. On the very last lap, Adrian made it – Class winner and Champion – by 0.33 seconds!
In summary, a great weekend’s racing, enjoyed by all – can’t wait for 2027!
By Bob Birrell