Formula Ford racing stole the show at the recent HSCC Finals meeting as Callum Grant and Benn Simms shared Historic wins, Rick Morris claimed double Classic victory and Graham Fennymore and Michael Moyers would share the FF2000 spoils as the Silverstone National Circuit proved conducive to some very close racing.
The HSCC Championship Finals meeting on the Silverstone National Circuit would bring down the curtain on the 2025 Historic Sports Car Club season with a jam packed schedule filled to the brim with single seater action but complimented nicely by races for the Roadsports, Alfas and Guards Trophy.
Commencing day 2, Graham Fennymore celebrated his third championship crown in style by claiming victory in the second Formula Ford 2000 race of the weekend. Having lost out to Michael Moyers in race 1, Fennymore would initially snatch the lead of race 2 with an awesome move around the outside of the hairpin only for Moyers to sling-shot back into the lead on the Wellington Straight.
There was no coming back from Fennymore’s decisive overtake at Luffield one lap later however as the 2025 champion made light work of the traffic in the second part of the race to claim a 3.5 second victory. Meanwhile Adrian Reynard would end the day on the final step of the podium after catching and passing the Delta of Murray Shepherd in the closing stages.
The 2 Historic Formula Ford races proved highly entertaining as the Silverstone National Circuit aided some incredibly close racing. In race 1 Ben Simms (Jomo JMR 7), Callum Grant (Merlin Mk20A) and Gislain Genecand (Crossle 16F) put on one hell of a show as the three pilots broke away from the field and swapped positions at seemingly every opportunity. Simms would however put in some rapid lap times in the closing stages and lead heading into the final lap. Grant though was in prime position to take advantage of the very powerful tow and strategically opted to re-take the lead in the final sector meaning there was no way back for the Leicestershire man on this occasion.
Race 2 would see the same 3 protagonists break away again but with the lead pack soon reduced to two after Genecand was forced into retirement. Simms and Grant would again take it turns to lead but this time Simms appeared to have learned his lesson as, despite again leading entering the final lap, was able to keep Grant at bay! Grant would however land the Paul Simms Memorial Trophy thanks to his larger race 1 winning margin.
Starting from the back of the grid courtesy of failing to finish race 1, Sam Mitchell had it all to do in race 2 to claim the 2025 Historic Formula Ford title. The huge favourite heading into Silverstone proved his credentials however, flying through the field to join an almighty battle for 3rd by half distance. And whilst Oliver Chapman would claim the final step of the race 2 podium, the 14 points gained for fourth was enough to ensure Simms could not snatch the crown at the final opportunity.
Rick Morris rolled back the years in the two Classic Formula Ford races as the 78 year old followed up race 1 victory by standing on the top step again at the conclusion of the second encounter. Competing in a replica of the Royale RP29 used in period, Morris traded positions with 2025 champion Jordan Harrison on multiple occasions during race 2 but after a late safety car looked to be on the back foot. However as the track returned to green Morris managed to wrestle the lead back and hold on for the remaining 2 laps to round off an excellent weekend.
The Guards Trophy for largely pre 66 sports racing cars would close the meeting but much like Donington earlier in the year did not attract the greatest number of entries. Also like Donington however the racing more than made up for it as the Elliot Paterson piloted Ginetta G16 lead much of the early running with the Lotus 23B of Andrew Hibberd and Chevron B8’s of Neil Fowler and Dan Balfour battling it out for second.
Rob Tusting had been lying fifth before his customary early stop to allow the rapid Tusting jnr to get behind the wheel. And true to form Ben Tusting would bring the Lenham P69 Spider right back into contention with a series of stellar laps; so much so that Tusting the younger would find himself only a handful of seconds behind the leading trio of Paterson, Hibberd and Balfour as the pitstop window came to a close before managing to slide past all three within a handful of laps.
The race was far from over though as the 50 minute blast proved highly attritional. Indeed, the Daniel Pickett / Dan Eagling Chevron B16 had already returned to the pit garages before Balfour was forced into retirement and later race leader Tusting would also be sidelined.
This would leave the Lotus 23B of Andrew Hibberd in pole position to take victory having earlier made his way past Russell Paterson’s Ginetta. And, with Paterson not able to match the pace of son Elliot, Hibberd was able to cruise to a 38 second victory; in turn taking a rather unexpected, but well received, share of the overall championship title.
Day 2 of the meeting would turn out to be a good one for Hibberd who earlier had taken runner up spot in the combined Formula Junior race aboard his Lotus 22. Sam Wilson proved the class of the field though as the Cooper T59 man wrapped up a second Formula Junior victory of the weekend whilst Jon Milicevic claimed a second podium of the weekend with 3rd.
By far the quickest, and most aurally pleasing cars on display were the largely Formula 5000, Formula 2 and Formula Atlantic machines found in the Derek Bell Trophy where Peter Williams claimed race 2 victory aboard his invitation class LEC CRP1 after just managing to hold off a late charge from the F2 Lola T460 of Mark Williams. Dan Eagling had lead the early running and looked to be on course for a second Derek Bell Trophy victory of the weekend only for his March 742 to suffer a timing belt failure. Mark Mercer meanwhile would claim the final step of the race 2 podium having snook past the Chevron B40 of Chris Porritt in the closing stages.
In the Roadsport categories, Mark Godfrey claimed day 2 Historic victory aboard his Lotus 7. In what proved an entertaining encounter where Paul Tooms and Frazer Gibney also lead, Godfrey found his rhythm in the second half of the race and having eased the lead back away from Tooms would go on to claim a 4 second victory.
TVRs would meanwhile dominate the 70s race with Anthony Ross taking an early lead and never looking back in his 3000M. Julian Barter in a similar machine would cross the line some 7 seconds in arrears whilst Russell Paterson would follow up son Elliot’s combined race 1 victory with 3rd on day 2 aboard the family Morgan Plus 8.
Elsewhere Jack Berry (Alfa Romeo 4c) and Jamie Thwaites (Alfa Romeo Giuilietta) would share Alfa Romeo and Italian Intermarque championship victories. Thwaites had looked set for double victory but for a mistake at Becketts which would cause the pole man to drop out of contention.
This had been a thoroughly enjoyable first experience of the Silverstone National Circuit, which although proved more difficult than normal for the non-signed on photographer, did produce some fantastic racing. Not a bad way to bring to a close my 2025 circuit racing season! Now to start drafting plans for 2026 …
GALLERY
Paul Commons Motorsport 