Circuit News
Castle Combe Celebrates 60th Birthday!
Some of the biggest icons in the history of West Country motorsport will be gathering at Castle Combe over the weekend of July 31 and August 1 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the circuit at its Diamond Anniversary race meeting.
A packed weekend centres around historic race cars, the highlight for many being the 10 lap Historic Anniversary Trophy race for cars from the 50’s and 60’s.
There are a number of prestigious entries, none more so than three times Monaco Historic Grand Prix winner, Julian Bronson, from
Veteran Castle Combe driver, Ted Williams from Nailsea, is in a Healey 100, whilst completing the triumvirate of long standing local circuit supporters is Frampton Cotterell’s George Douglas in his well known Ginetta G16.
Another great talent is New Zealand driver Neil Cunningham, his versatility extending to a Jaguar this time, with fellow countryman, Ross Maxwell, in a Chevron B8 and other international competition from Patrice Wattinne from France in a Turner.
Other local entries include the Lotus Elan 26R from Dursley’s John Watson, plus the Frogeye Sprite of Charles Marriot and the Healey Silverstone of Chris Berens, both from Cirencester.
Invitation entries in the spirit of the race include the legendary Cologne Capri of Vince Woodman from Chipping Sodbury, which is worth attending for on its own.
Williams, Watson and Douglas also feature in the prestigious 40 minute Guards Trophy race, joined by Nigel Williams from Bristol in a 1965 Alfa TZ.
Ted Williams continues a busy weekend of three races with an outing alongside Gavin Henderson in the 1962 ex Sebring 12 hours AC Cobra in the Masters Historic racing 1960’s Invitation race. A similar race for 1950’s cars has none other than Jackie Oliver, the legendary former Grand Prix driver and Arrows Formula 1 team founder, who also has a
Slightly more modern are the mainly road going HSCC 70’s Road Sports with Gloucester sending Paul Anderson in his
Porsche 928 and John Hall in a Datsun 260Z.
Alfa GT Junior.
Recreating some of the atmosphere of 80’s saloon car racing are races for production BMWs and Toyo Tires Racing
Saloons.
Complimenting the historic side of the weekend are the three races for the circuit’s own popular championships.
After the last eventful race two weeks previously, the Formula Ford 1600 championship is moving in the direction of class B driver Marcus Allen. This was after the demise of race leaders Ben Norton from Bratton in the Wiltshire College Spectrum 011 and Bridgwater’s Felix Fisher in the Van Diemen RF00 after a coming together at Tower corner. The pair will be desperate for a strong points haul this time but have the added pressure from Felix’s brother Josh, who is back in his Van Diemen RF05.
Castle Combe’s Andrew Jones capitalised with a second place last time in his Ray and is on a roll, whilst Chippenham’s Adam Higgins has become a master of defence after holding everyone off to take third place in his B class Van Diemen RF90.
Saltford’s Steven Jensen in the Spectrum and Bradford On Avon’s David Vivian were two of Higgins’s attackers and their lives will be no less difficult this time with the return of Nelson Rowe from Wotton Under Edge, the former Historic Formula Ford champion. His former championship is another feature of Sunday’s programme.
Chippenham’s Kyle Tilley looks to retain his 100% record of poles, wins and fastest laps in the Pre ’90 class.
Having won the last three Sports and GT races, Trowbridge’s Andrew Shanley is now at the top of the class A points in his Radical SR3. He still faces stiff opposition from the likes of 2009 champion, Simon Tilling, as well as Josh Fisher in the Mantis. George Douglas also features here, his busy weekend continuing in his 2 litre BDG engined Martin MB9/10.
Two local ‘Guys’ are Messrs Woodward and Parr from
Similarly, Trowbridge’s Mark Funnell lost another sure fire class B win after an incident with a back marker two weeks ago, his Lotus Exige thankfully repaired in time to drive home.
In the Castle Combe Saloon Car championship Ditcheat’s Kevin Bird will be after a repeat of his outright win at the last meeting with his SEAT
Bristol’s Mark Wyatt in the B class Astra will be hoping for a less frantic race than last time which saw him hand his third place to the stunningly fast C class Fiesta of Jason Cooper, the reigning champion. Yate’s Nick Charles and William Di Claudio from Bromham in their Peugeot 106s will be as threatening as ever.
Incredibly, races for Euro Saloon and Sports cars, the Ford Fiesta championship and two rounds of the MSA Superkart championship are also squeezed into the two days!
The weekend gets under way on Saturday with qualifying from 08-40, racing from 1-45 pm. Sunday starts with qualifying at 8-40 and racing from 10-40, with an anniversary parade featuring some of the most famous cars from the last 60 years at mid-day.
Admission prices on Saturday are £8 for adults, with OAPs £4 and children and Paddock transfer free. Sunday’s charges are £15 for adults, OAPs £7-50 with children ‘FOC’. Paddock transfer is only £2-50. An advance two-day pass with free paddock access is available for £20, OAPs paying only £10.
