Lurani Trophy Round 6;
It is fifteen years since we last raced at Misano, so it was a welcome return to the only circuit that has both a splendid poolside restaurant, and a useable pool to go with it, although, as it was nearly November, the latter remained firmly covered, though Sarah still managed a dip in the sea, and Mair and others in the hotel pools, nearby or at Riccione. Those with long memories will remember the course going anticlockwise, but now you definitely turn LEFT out of the pits!
With 12 cars already loaded for the World Tour start in NZ, it was a terrific 31 car entry, particularly with four glorious red Italian Front-engined cars, Taraschi, Volpini, and two OSCAs, the latter both from USA with Joe Colassaco keeping the Laurence Auriana car in Europe post Goodwood and Graham Adelman in his wife Sharonâs Hall and Hall maintained car, which Joe had previously restored. Indeed, it might have been three OSCAs as Nick Grewal was scheduled to join, his car having been shipped to Robin Lackford to run and transport arranged, but inadequacy of his US licence intervened; but good OSCA news did emerge, in that Stephan Rettenmaier has bought the Sid Hoole ex-Peter Mullen OSCA 14 J to race next year.
Serge Kriknoff tried hard to complete the race ready rebuild of Lotus 22/47, but just fell short of time, after full Peter Denty chassis restoration following the 2024 Hockenheim first corner damage and Gianluigi Candiani could not ready his Branca. Yet again there were new drivers who graced the grid, and we welcomed Carlo Ferrari, substituting for father Bruno in his Branca after Bruno had damaged his ankle in a CF3 crash at Dijon, while BWA HF3 driver Stefano Carminati had achieved the almost impossible; he had bought Andy Raynorâs ex-Southern Africa Lotus 18 J-743 at the recent Goodwood auction, had it delivered to him at Spa where he was racing the BWA, stored there till he could return with empty trailer from Italy, completed two short track test runs (for a car that has not raced on track for at least 40 years!!) and proceeded to complete two practices and two races over the weekend with no more problem than a gear linkage readjustment; some credit to Andyâs meticulous rebuild and Stefanoâs faith !!!!!
Additional end of season excitement was the nail-biting conclusion to the 2025 Lurani Trophy, complicated by the need for all drivers to drop one score. In contention were Floris-Jan Hekker (Rayberg), who would be dropping this one, already wintering in Western Australia, Richard Bishop-Miller in the Autosport, having already loaded his regular Lurani Caravelle into the NZ container, needing a Class win or 2nd to improve his score and Manfredo Rossi di Montelera in his 22 who needed an overall 1-2 or 3 if he were to emerge the overall winner.
A welcome rainbow greeted those waiting for the paddock to open on Thursday afternoon, after many had driven through some pretty torrid rain heading south. Plenty of space in the paddock, and a friendly circuit staff. The first âfreeâ practice session, jointly with HGPCA at 8.30 the following morning followed by scrutineering under the ever-watchful eye of Grant Wilson, before a second lunchtime session filled to capacity. Overall, it was Paul Thomas in his Dan Setford run BT6 (ex-Peter Strauss) who ran fastest, but despite breaking a wishbone, the team had a replacement to fit for the second session. His fastest time stood overall, but in the second session, with much traffic, Manfredo was fastest FJ, with Danny Baker in his CTL run Lotus 27, under the personal supervision of Chris Dinnage, in 3rd FJ spot and indeed only 1.5s slower than HGPCA to be winner, Tom Waterfield in Tim Rossâs T53 Cooper, although Tim Child in his Tasman Brabham BT4 was fastest in both sessions. Manfredo was however not short of extra practice as he was also running both his CF3 and F2 cars in their separate races in the HVM series. Carlo Ferrari âs engine sounded rough at the end, but this was diagnosed to one faulty plug lead.
Authentic Italian restaurants were enjoyed by many on Friday evening, before FJ were out for the dayâs second qualifying session at 9.30 on Saturday. Manfredo, having already run his CF3 in the first, truncated, session where one car ran a complete lap pouring out oil, ahead of our session, resulting in a powder coated oil slick to circumvent for the FJ field.
Despite the oil and cement dust, that Formula Junior as a racing spectacle was in good heart was self-evident from the fastest laps, with eleven changes at the top of the times, involving five different cars. Manfredo pulled out a stupendous last leader lap to head Danny by a whole second. Ex-Life W12 Formula One Test driver, Franco Scapini, having a brilliant weekend maximising laps in every session, and with a newly rebuilt Colotti gearbox, was demoted back to third. But it was also good to see both Brabhams, Mark Shaw and Paul Thomas [twice] having headed the leader board. The other BT6, ex-Pietro Vergnano [who was present at Misano and wishing that he still had the car], now with Patrick d’Aubreby lost all oil pressure mid-session and, sadly, with no Lotus 22 as spare this time, would take no further part. Another star performance, in 6th spot, was Stuart Roach in the Mk 4 Alexis. Further back, there was a welcome return for Hans Ciers’ Lotus 20, now Setford run and no longer a tail ender in the pack. Sadly, debutante Carlo Ferrariâs Branca engine was also found not well at all. After a full session and notwithstanding a couple of track infringements, the team unfortunately concluded just before the first race that they were to be a non-starter, but Carlo was still smiling from his first FJ appearance and looking forward to joining us again in future.
Race 1 followed just after 2pm: Graham Adelman, unfamiliar with the OSCA gear change, made a hasty selection of 2nd instead of 4th and broke a gear tooth, so pitted terminally after the green flag lap, while Johnny Lange (22) managed only one lap, the oil pressure gone.
At the front it was FJ at its best, with Manfredo and Danny Baker battling from flag to flag: in fact on what appeared to be the last lap, the leaders came up to the official holding the flag as battling front-engined cars passed ahead, with Danny in the lead, but as no flag was shown, the race continued, and by the next lap, the order had changed, and it was a victory for Manfredo …. by 0.2″. There was an equally exciting battle for third between Paul Thomas and Stuart Roach, Paul winning his first FJ Podium spot by 0.6″. Mark Shaw stopped at half-distance with a misfire that crept in, leaving Scapini to beat the Team owner, former Lurani champion, Pierre Tonetti (BT6). Paul Boulton (Elfin), with a few trackside excursions, still put up a very creditable finish to win Class D, followed at some distance by a smiling James Hicks in the Lackford run and recently restored Caravelle III, James having enjoyed the ‘Discovery’ trip from England, out and back, with Robin and Nigel.
Clinton McCarthy pulled up in front of the pits with a broken gearbox, but the Team were to have a spare duly fitted for Race 2 the next day. Carlo Del Conte stopped his Wainer on circuit with a flat battery, causing a yellow flag just at the point where Richard Bishop-Miller was overtaking Duncan, who magnanimously gave up the place gain, never to recover, with the Autosport stuck in 3rd for the remainder of the race, while the Volpini, Taraschi and Alexis had a good dice together, Duncan just ahead of Charly, after a small spin by the latter, but Richard, despite his handicap, still close behind, and the Championship still open.
When Manfredo had finished his F2 race we were all invited to the FJ Paddock party, very kindly hosted by Manfredo and Caroline with a scrumptious spread of nibbles, breads, meats and cheeses, and with not a little Martini labelled bottles to wash it down: great chance to meet, greet, and eat.
Race two, early on Sunday, at first saw another battle between Danny and Manfredo, but Danny drew away… perhaps Manfredo really had the Championship in mind but behind, both the De Tomaso and Alexis Mk4 were on his tail, and it was to be another close finish. Franco was visibly delighted [as were Pierre and Ermano] to be on the Podium, by less than a second, leaving Stuart the consolation of finishing 3rd overall on Aggregate. Mark Shaw again retired, at half distance, with the misfire reappearing at the same distance, and next up Paul Thomas and Pierre Tonetti had lonely races. Luca Hoefer stopped out at Turn 5 with three laps to go with a clutch problem, so Paul Boulton was also without company. Behind the Caravelle, father and son Team with Sema Racing, Martin and eldest racing son Andreas Halusa again having a nice time in, albeit distant, convoy, Martin being delighted that Andreas is enjoying FJ, now that Lukas has settled in Mexico, and Nikolas is in USA. At the back, there had been good activity, Duncan making a terrific start to outpace Charly, Arnold, and Carlo Del Conte, with Richard’s Autosport, still with only 3rd gear, starting from the back slot. By half distance, however, Arnold, Charly and Duncan, plus some of the leaders lapping them, were all coming into Turn 7, side by side… it must have been quite a sight!! This time it was Arnold who had a minor spin, but not enough to change the positions, with Charly now well ahead. Richard gainfully finished, but 3rd in class behind a well peddled [all weekend] Elva 100 of Robin Lackford was not enough against Manfredo’s 2nd place, with no points to drop.
After the Podium for the overall R2 winners, Sarah and Duncan held a jolly class award presentation, firstly to congratulate Manfredo for his first time as Lurani Champion, and to thank Richard for his true perseverance, and congratulate, apart from those well named above, Joe Colasacco, in the beautiful and purposefully driven OSCA, to match the fabulous Ferrari V12 F1 car in the HGPCA race, Sharon Adelman, all the way from Virginia, with her UK based BT6, the Italian 1-2 in Class D with Valerio Leone’s Elva 200, ahead of the remarkable Stefano Carminati’s 18; and Marco Coppini, also running his F3, with a Trophy for his red Lotus 20 in Class D. Last but not least, a superb performance all weekend by Paul Thomas and his BT6, here accompanied by Dad, Bob who has bought M Ian Robinson’s Lola Mk 2 BRJ 13 for a full 2026 season, running, like Paul, with Dan Setford.
Duncan Rabagliati