FIA Lurani Trophy Round 5
It was our first time at Assen since 2004, but what a change; now a fully serviced major (motorcycle GP) circuit with sweeping bends and a couple of esses, but one very sharp hairpin that tightens up, and did catch a few unawares, especially early in the test session, as the previous saloons had left an oil patch, just where it mattered!! – BUT, one thing stayed the same…the Merlyn Mk 5/7, but a much tougher victory for Callum Grant, than Denis Welch had back in ’04.
Last minute problems sidelined both Hans Hillebrink (engine failed in test session pre Anderstorp); and Erik Justesen’s ex Jonathan Hughes Lola Mk2 the LONG Lola) has proved a bunch of trouble, and still not race ready.
As none of the FJs had raced on the current track, and an amazing and satisfying four drivers were also new to Formula Junior, we included a full 25 min test session on Friday morning. Sadly though it was soon interrupted when Martin Aubert’s Lotus 20 found the aforementioned oil and the barrier and then a couple of laps later, Paul Boulton in the ex-David Watkins Elfin, and Lars-Goran Goran in the Lola Mk 3 also performed separate waltzes, unfortunately the Lola ending up mid track locked in, second and third, gear, necessitating another ( speedy) recovery. The Race director generously added session time, however local, Floris-Jan Hekker ( Rayberg) gave the session a miss entirely, oil found to be leaking from the head-gasket. However our other local, welcome newcomer, Charly Bastiaanssen, [supported by brother Adriaan] in the ex-Dr Nick Daunt Taraschi BT-050 ( he also owns the ex-Ugo Piccagli BT-048) benefitted from a little prior knowledge from a track day, but some others including Maxime Castelein in the ex-Andrew Beaumont CTL run Lotus 22 were finding the track more challenging, and in Max’s case, the car too, John Slack’s T200 Lola HU2 and Nigel Adams’s pristine Lotus 61/FF/124 joined the session for some acclimatisation laps; Manfredo was 2.5 secs faster than Danny Baker [27] , with Callum just behind, struggling a bit with the ‘esses’.
Qualifying was without Aubert: Adam worked hard to straighten it but there was too much damage around the pick-up point; and also Jonny Lange, whose Belgian rebuilt engine had expired after 5 laps with a suspected broken valve; but Lars -Goran, aware of the fragility of his cars, had brought the Swebe Cooper as spare, so was able to take part.
Times were improving as drivers became more familiar; except Manfredo, who was displaced by Danny and Callum, but only 0.5 separated all three; Simon Jackson led the de Tomaso battle, while Max was comfortable at last, and 16s quicker to boot. Ex -short track racer Paul Boulton, was ahead of Tonetti – in his first outing! Duncan and Gunther Leidig (Elva 100) were having a close encounter, but on the last lap, Gunther chipped a cog, and despite having gearbox out, it proved impossible to repair; more luck for Richard Bishop-Miller in the Caravelle, who had lost all drive, but fortunately not the gearbox and Richard with Iain Rowley’s help, and Callum for lifting duties, had the whole back end stripped, welded and reassembled just in the nick of time to get to the assembly area for the session.
Race one was on Saturday morning; Lars-Goran decided that even with the Swebe, there was too much chance of dropping oil, so sensibly packed that in the truck too.
With Danny Baker in the CTL run Lotus 27 on pole the field did one and a half formation and green flag laps and away on the lights, GP style, only Paul Boulton bogged down in the Elfin, having softened up the suspension to excess and found the car undriveable, calling a day after three laps, and one spin.
Then followed another truly great FJ race from start to flag, with Danny, Manfredo Rossi (22) and Callum Grant (Merlyn Mk5/7)swapping places throughout, and so close at times, without incident, Manfredo finally taking the win by 7 1/100ths of a second from Callum, with Danny 0.2s behind: what a finish, and what smiles on the podium!!
Another battle followed behind between the blue and red De Tomaso’s, ex F3000 and Indianapolis 500 driver, Franco Scapini, coming out of retirement after 17 years in Pierre Tonetti’s car, with Dad Simon in the Jackson family car, catching, but he too, still 7/100ths of a s. behind. Simon shares with son Cameron, although if Cameron fulfils his ambition to emigrate to Bali, Simon may have the better of the deal!!
Not far behind came Pierre, reverting to his familiar light blue BT6, while Petter Huse (Focus) faltered on the last lap, another head gasket gone, while a smiling Richard in the Caravelle was delighted to have a good finish; Duncan had a good first half, but eventually struggled home with some fuel feed issues, and Charly catching, thoroughly enjoying his Taraschi.
Change of scenery, then, as Chris Dinnage was deputising for a temporarily incapacitated Bruno Senna on the Lotus 72 Ayrton Senna celebration, demo runs, Chris having been Ayrton’s F1 mechanic in TL days; it sounded good, and certainly had the crowd excited, but as the crowd get younger, equally thrilled by a later Jaguar F1 turbo demo.
Race 2 followed late on Sunday morning; this time Callum had more of an edge, from Manfredo, who had joined the start line up with only seconds to spare, and Danny in train; After 6 laps proceedings were unfortunately interrupted when Franco pitted the blue de Tomaso with a gearbox problem, then rejoined, only to expire on the first corner – actually well out of harms way: so be it, a safety car was deployed, which failed to pick up the leader, and then purported to wait for the tail enders .. so a couple of unnecessary laps were lost, although it did give the chance for a mega sprint race, this time Callum having the edge from Manfredo, with Danny 1.5 s adrift after an unsuccessful late lunge had him, momentarily, off course. This left Simon’s red De Tomaso a lonely fourth, but with Max improving still, only 3s behind: a slowing Pierre Tonetti enabled Paul Boulton to come home a very gratified 6th, much to the pleasure of daughter / mechanic, Emily, with Petter’s new head gasket holding too. Richard Bishop-Miller and Floris-Jan were well pleased to collect Lurani points, leaving the Championship open to a three-way deciding climax with Manfredo at Misano in October. Duncan’s motor still had gremlins, but actually got better after three laps, sadly not chased by Charly, whose Taraschi broke it’s diff on the start line.
So overall, Callum just pipped Manfredo on aggregate, with Danny third, ahead of a happy Simon Jackson. The Class awards were made on the podium, after the winners, so a chance for some photographic glory down the field!!
Floris-Jan and Anneke hosted the paddock party on Friday evening, at which every driver attended to sample lashings of cold and hot food and liquid sustenance to wit, and Duncan presented Floris-Jan a card to celebrate his last Lurani race, with only Goodwood ahead before retirement, 41 years after buying the Rayberg.
Fitting tribute to both the racing and friendship of Formula Junior came from each of our four new divers on Sunday night: Paul (‘Thank you everyone for a superb weekend’) : Max (‘Thank you for organising this epic weekend. Really enjoyed my first Formula Junior race ‘); Franco (‘Thanks Sarah. It was my first experience, but I had fun’); Charly (‘What an experience it was…The warmth of the new family… Just great. My brother and I love it.)
To Misano !!…
DCPR