The last time the Ferrari hillclimbers went to Doune was back in '91 when seven cars made the trip to this spectacular venue. Then the event was won by Peter Speakman in his 328, with John Swift (recognise the name?) second and the winning time was 56.57 seconds.

Thirteen years later it was disappointing that only four Ferraris had entered and with one being a "no show" we were down to just three. However, they represented the very classy end of this season's Ferrari Hill Climb Championship and were led by the 2002 champion Jon Goodwin in his 355. Also there was the winner of the MIRA round Chris Butler in another 355 and then Richard Prior (348ts), who claims to have done every round of the last three seasons [Cheryl - pls check this unlikely claim].

None of the southern lot made it

So why were we down to just three at what is easily the best hill in the country? Well, it's a long way north, being only a few miles from Stirling, which may have turned some of the Deep South fraternity off and it does have a somewhat fearsome reputation for its quick and blind corners, so unlike a comfortable day at Harewood.

At Doune there are always four practice runs: three on the Saturday and one on Sunday morning before the racing itself starts. Saturday's weather was pretty changeable, with showers constantly moving overhead. All the newcomers to the hill, which included the three Ferrari drivers, had been assigned an experienced Doune racer with whom they walked the hill and drove up in road cars to be shown the various lines and braking points. In many places there were blind brows and corners and it needed utter confidence that you knew which way the road was going in order to produce a good time.

Morning practice started on a damp track with everyone taking it a little easy first time up; Butler was on 62 seconds, Prior on 61 but Goodwin had a flat rear tyre and was turned back from the start line. A borrowed compressor soon sorted the problem and he took his run out of turn but only got as far as the near vertical climb at East Brae, where he promptly disappeared into the long grass. No damage but a valuable lesson learnt. The track was a little drier for the second practice runs and Butler improved significantly to a 57, with Prior on 60 and Goodwin this time getting all the way to the finish in 59. A short rain shower just before the last runs of the day prevented further progress and Butler stayed quickest on 58.27 from Goodwin on a 58.72 and Prior on a 60.80. It was all pretty close and all Prior had to do to gain maximum points was to keep within 1.6 seconds of the two 355s.

A very agreeable dinner was held that evening in a local hostelry attended by the Ferrari drivers and their various entourages before the drivers were sent to bed and the others carried on with the local hooch. Somewhere in the middle of that blur was qualifying for the US GP......and some red ones at the front.

At the ungodly hour of 9.00am on Sunday morning the fourth practice runs took place. The track was in good condition and times came tumbling down, with Butler still being quickest on 55, followed by Goodwin on 56 and Prior on 57. Everyone knew what they had to do: Prior had to stay within his PEP allowance over the 355s but Butler and Goodwin had no excuses and each simply had to beat the other.

In late morning the first competitive runs took place. The track temperature had risen significantly and sunshine and blue skies were getting the upper hand. Butler blasted away first with serious intent but as he went over the notorious adverse camber yump at Junction the back of the car shot out and he spun into the undergrowth. No damage but also no time. It was then Prior's turn and he stunned everyone with a 55.25 which was the quickest Ferrari time so far and over two seconds faster than he had gone in practice. At this rate he was heading not just for a PEP win but an overall win as well. Goodwin was next but was not as quick as Prior to the first split and then he fumbled a gear change across the Meadow and ended up with a time of 55.68 - only good enough for second place.

It would all be down to the second runs. Butler had posted no time so far so was torn between risking all for the win or taking it easier to make sure of getting a time. He had no choice really...... he had to go for glory! Prior was tasting victory and was determine not to let the 355s outdo him and Goodwin was prowling around like an irritated tiger, refusing to go home defeated.

And then, just as the Ferraris were coming out of the paddock for their final runs, there was a short but sharp shower of rain. On this Spa-esque hill, no one would know where the dry and damp patches were. This would take courage.

Butler screeched away from the line and, despite his split time not being as good as Prior's from the first run, he crossed the line in 55.00 to take the lead. Prior was next but his split was over a second slower than he had done before and his time of 56.61 left him disappointed. He felt that the run had gone well but Doune experts will tell you that the hill can be a deceptive place.

So for the final run of the day. It was all down to Goodwin who had the opportunity of both a PEP and an overall win. His 355 howling around Oak Tree he was clearly giving it everything - he took just 19.73 to get to the split, twitched the car across the damp Meadow and kept it all together at East Brae to cross the line in 54.50 to become the overall winner. Prior, however, with his first run time, kept to within the 1.6 seconds he needed to take the maximum points to defend his championship lead.

There were only three but it had been great racing at a super hill, with friendly people who all seemded very pleased to have the Ferraris there. Everyone wants to go back next season and let's hope that others can be persuaded that the long trip north is extremely worthwhile.

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The essential pre-event walk of the hill

Butler starts off practice on the damp course

Goodwin was sent back to the paddock with a flat tyre

....but was soon off up the daunting track

Prior's 348 on the startline

Saturday night after the racers had been sent to bed was good

Sunday raceday brought brighter weather to the paddock

Butler through the first corner

...but then he goes off at the Junction

A fumbled gearchange on R1 kept Goodwin back

Prior was quickest on R1, here at Oak Tree

....before heading up the dark Tunnel

Only on the final run did Goodwin pull off the win

The holding paddock was a sociable place to be

Gooder's 355 was honoured with 'Doune stripes' down both sides

Mineeff tries to convince them that, really, he'd won

....but the drivers would have none of it!

The meeting ended with yet more heavy rain

pics by Trevor Ford, Chris Palmer, Richard Prior, PG & CMdigicams