2025 Lurani Trophy Round 1
If it was a late start to the year, it was worth waiting for the beautiful South of France weather!! However, even then, several were not yet ready to launch their season. JP Campos Costa’s Lola, now with Andrew Hibberd, changed schedule to concentrate on the UK races, Daniele Salodini’s Taraschi and a putative entry for Pietro Tenconi’s longtime family owned Stanguellini, and Gianluigi Candiani (Branca) all delayed till Hockenheim. The Crois-en-Ternois team reduced to one while the 22 needs more work, so Belgian Pierre Dessy took his FJ debut in the Brabham BT6 seat, with Patrick d’Aubreby lined up for Hockenheim. Mauro Scotti Lotus 22), son of former BT6 FJ racer, Ivan Scotti, not ready, Duncan giving priority to a medical appointment, and saving Nigel Lackford a long trip with the Alexis, Emmanuele Guglieminetti’s Wainer having a hole in the block on the last race lap at Goodwood, and Richard Bishop-Miller bringing the Caravelle II, this one, successfully ex Goodwood, rather than the front engined Autosport, all in all leaving only three front engine cars this time, so reduced points there to the winner.
An early ‘free’ practice on Friday brought out almost all the participants, except Floris-Jan Hekker (Rayberg) and the Caravelle, although several front runners were without transponders – perhaps hiding their light[s] ender a bushel! It was good to welcome ‘Brit’ Paul Thomas with the ex-Peter Strauss Brabham BT6 FJ-4-63, run by Team Setford, as was Hans Ciers (Lotus 20); to welcome back Mark Shaw in the familiar Tom Smith run BT6, and to see Horatio Fitz-Simon (BT6) with us again, now also with Tom. The highlight however was without doubt the sight of TWO De Tomaso ’63 monocoques out together, for Pierre Tonetti and Simon Jackson (ex-Westie Mitchell, who now has Cameron’s ex-De Sanctis to rebuild …) Of the timed runners, Manfredo Rossi was streaks ahead of the (published) field in his white 22; both Drum brake class leaders , Pierre Guichard (Lynx Mk 3) and Clinton McCarthy (Lotus 18) were going well.
Qualifying followed just after lunch, with Horatio stamping his name on the proceedings, but Manfredo, and Wimbledon’s Lee Mowle (Lotus 20/22) were close behind, and a sterling effort from Simon Jackson’s de Tomaso was to be watched; Danny Baker (Lotus 27) had most of his times deleted for exceeding track limits (clarified over dinner that evening what the definition of the track limit actually was….), and Luca Hoefer (ex-Mags Diffey 22) was another unintendedly serial offender. Pierre was best in D2, well ahead of Clinton in C2 this time.
Some hasty alternative routes were needed Saturday morning to get all the competitors to the track in time, through the thousands of spectators on the same route desperate for a glimpse of Charles Leclerc, Alain Prost, Jean Alesi et al. Some visitors literally sat in traffic for up to 4 hours crawling up the scenic road to the extremely slow parking procedures.
However, all were present and correct in the assembly area, including Luca who’d had to abandon his car and get rescued by Team Sema’s scooter! Race One start was immediately before lunch, run in glorious sunshine, from our usual standing start, however it was not Horatio immediately into the lead, but good order soon prevailed, and he led Manfredo, in his slipstream, at the end of lap 1. Manfredo tried his absolute best to keep him honest, and did so for the first few laps, and at one point executed the most perfect ‘Formula One Verstappen’ pass round the double curves, to take the lead, but a lap or so later, Horatio again nosed ahead, and that is how it stayed, with Manfredo visibly dropping back around half distance after an optimistic dive into the chicane on the back straight to overtake Sharon Adelman (Brabham BT6 run by Hall & Hall), led to him dropping back, and Sharon retiring with a broken wheel and suspension damage, for which he was apologetic. Next up were the CTL Lotus twins of Lee Mowle and Danny Baker; nothing to split them, but for a late spin by Danny, handing Lee a deserved 3rd podium spot. Battles continued behind them down the field, with Simon Jackson even heading Mark Shaw for 5th spot for a couple of laps. Paul Thomas (BT6) dropped several places at what was his first ever FJ start, but recovered well ahead of the Lynx at the end; eldest of the Halusa brothers, Andreas, made a welcome appearance, just leading home ‘Chip’ Fudge in the ex-Morton Lightning Envoyette, and Pierre Tonetti, the pair battling throughout, while Christian Lange had to serve a drive through for a jump start, but still took C2. Clinton dropped out with gearbox issues, and the only other retirement, apart from Sharon, although Hans Ciers stopped on the home straight with the flag in sight: it looked as if he had run out of petrol, but apparently, he had taken avoiding action from a spinner, stalled, and could not restart. Adrian Russell led the front engine brigade in the ex-Keith Roach Condor SII.
The Podium anthem started with the ‘Stars and Stripes’, but Horatio soon made clear that although he lives largely in USA, he is a ‘Brit’ and races on a UK licence, so this was stopped in train, and a rousing ’God Save the King’ ensued; luckily there were no flags, so no ‘Star Spangled Banner’ to haul down!!
Race two, and how conditions can change; Lurani were the first competitive race of the day, and already there was dampness in the air (later in the day, the CF3s had heavy rain…). A full complement again, both Sharon with minor repairs, and Clinton after gearbox ‘surgery’: this time
Horatio made the best of the start, and although Manfredo harried him for the first few laps, the gap began to lengthen; behind these two was a most excellent performance by Simon Jackson, in the De Tomaso ’63, although for the last few laps the battling trio of Lee Mowle, Danny Baker, and Mark Shaw got ever closer; a nearly off course escapade having dropped Lee behind both Mark, and his teammate, and a determined last lap by Danny, saw him take Mark and hold on to the flag. Luca Hoefer led the rest, a lonely race, after the demise of Paul Thomas with engine failure, but Pierre Guichard only just held off Pierre Dessy, and Andreas Halusa; Clinton won class C, Richard Bishop-Miller was very happy to finish intact, despite a spin, and Floris got lots of YouTube time with his iconic Rayberg, and won the front engine classes, as a determined Adrian Russell, passing two cars on lap 1, tested the power onto the drive shaft/stub axle ab extremis, and failed even to complete one lap, thereby foregoing any Championship points this time. Tom de Gres stopped with the Stanguellini popping out of 3rd gear, and no fun to drive, despite the personal attention of Dan Setford in the pit lane. ‘Chip’ Fudge also failed to complete a lap with a crack in his distributor cap.
Another good win for Horatio; Simon Jackson just made the Podium (not used to it !!) and by now the umbrella girls were shielding rain not sun.
The usual jolly FJ prizegiving followed, conducted by Sarah, before a quick pack up before the heavens really opened.
DCPR