FERRARI formula classic

RACE REPORT: ROUND 1 : DONINGTON PARK - 24/25 MAY 2003

Appropriately, a Daytona Win

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Whilst overall grid sizes in PMFC have continued to impress, the numbers interested in racing in "O" class have fallen dramatically in recent years. Even the creation of a sub-class for older cars within "O" class has failed to bring entries. Clearly the "turn key racing" Challenge cars from the factory have proved so attractive and are now so fast that the appeal of committing a road car to PMFC, when even a star performer will be on the back two rows of the grid and lapped by half distance, has all but gone. A real shame - but there you go.

However we still have lots of members with older road cars that would love to have the occasional gentleman’s race, and last weekend's inaugural formula classic race at Donington as part of the Ferrari Festival was our Club's response to that demand.

We had an excellent first-time entry of some 22 cars which were split into three classes. Class 1 was for the older V6 & V12 engined cars, Class 2 for the V8 and flat 12 cars in standard trim and Class 3 for cars in a slightly more modified form. All were on road tyres and were at least capable of an MOT pass. I am sure that there will be some refinement to this structure over the winter but, as a first go, this worked well.

There were some notable entries plus some old faces and some famous old cars, but, most encouragingly, lots of new faces. Pre-event favourite was Graham Bryant in his Competition Daytona recreation but also fancied was Graham Reeder driving "Rosie". This old warhorse 328 GTB was the "O" class championship-winning car in 1991, 1992 & 1993 with either Robin Mortimer or Martin Shaw, which, like many old racing 328s, had been in retirement for far too long. William Jenkins, too, was fancied in his mildly modified ex-Thornton Mustard 308 GTB that is currently racing with HSCC.

Faithful reproductions of factory racing models were also accepted, as well as the real thing of course, so we had Stuart Anderson's very pretty 250 GTE/TRC and also Bryn Williams in his 64 GTO re-creation. When one considers the number of good re-creation SWBs, GTOs and the like around this is clearly a very exciting opportunity for their owners, as long as they are clearly identified . Established hill climbers like Jon Goodwin, Christopher England and, of course, Richard Allen were also present - a fascinating prospect indeed.

The only real surprise in qualifying was quite how close it all was. Bryant on pole from Reeder, Allen and Jenkins was no surprise, but the first ten all within three seconds was closer than many thought it would be.

We may love 355/360 Challenge cars but they do all tend to sound the same, look the same and behave the same. In this respect, as in others, (like driver behaviour) the classic race was a real breath of fresh air. The big bruiser Daytona, all blood and guts, against the more nimble 328 and 308s. The tightrope-walking Stuart Anderson's gorgeous 250 TR against the Ray Hanson Testarossa flat 12, all fascinating contrasts.

The first few laps were a David & Goliath hoot, with Bryant storming away from Reeder down the straight only to find the little 328 back around him into Redgate. The mid pack was very close all race long with our Club Secretary Peter Everingham having a busy old time with Spicer, Haigh, Wild and Atkinson-Willes. In fact these five all crossed the line within 2 seconds of each other at race end.

At the front power was inevitably getting the upper hand, although it was always close, and Bryant took a deserved win from Reeder with Jenkins and Allen coming home next. Nick Taylor, usually to be seen on the hillclimb scene, brought his Mondial home fifth.

So each class had a representative on the podium. It could hardly have been scripted better. It had been an entertaining and very clean race. In the paddock at race end there was much back-slapping, handshakes and smiles, in fact lots of smiles.

We had the feeling of being in at the start of something new that would become of great value in the future, just as we had at Mallory Park some 18 years ago for the first ever Ferrari Challenge race. We may not be quite there yet, but this could be really good.

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Power vs agility: the Daytona and 328 fought entertainingly at the front

Round Redgate on the first lap

Haigh (left) and Furness dispute sixth place

Raucous Testarossa of Hanson gets leaned on

Goodwin's Mondial was one of three in the race

First race for Odhran McConnell

Best dice of the race: 2 secs covered five cars

Lovely 64 GTO recreation of Bryn Williams

Rare race appearance for Peter Everingham

pics bySimon Cooke