Brands Hatch, Kent, 4 August, 2002
An English Summer!
On The Track And In The Sky
When The Red Lights Go Out
Moderns
An English Summer!
The weather for the Ferrari Maserati Festival at Brands Hatch was decidedly changeable,
ranging from brilliant hot sunshine through to heavy showers, in fact typical English
summer weather! Friday practise enjoyed the best of the weather, with hot sun and only
light cloud to provide some respite from the rays, whilst Saturday saw a period of rain
around lunchtime which prevented the F1 car demonstration taking place. Despite heavy
overnight rain Sunday morning remained predominantly dry, although the rain swept in
again just after the F1 car demonstration and Red Arrows aerobatic display had taken
place at lunchtime. When it did arrive it was heavier and more persistent than on
Saturday, but it eventually cleared to leave pleasant conditions later in the afternoon.
On The Track And In The Sky
The on track action was mainly Ferrari and Maserati orientated, although there were
races for Historic Formula Fords, Formula 5000 and FIA Thoroughbred Grand Prix Cars,
all of which featured full grids and provided some close exciting racing. The Ferrari races
comprised of rounds of the British based Pirelli Maranello Ferrari Challenge, the
international 360 Challenge and Shell Ferrari Maserati Challenge series. Further
entertainment was provided by the Red Devils parachute display team on both Saturday
and Sunday, which was followed on Sunday by the ever spectacular Red Arrows
aerobatic display which delighted the large crowds in attendance. On the track there
were demonstration runs featuring the three 360 GT cars of Sam Li’s Veloqx racing
team, with Ivan Capelli driving one example, and Ferrari Gestione Sportiva Technical
Director, Ross Brawn, who was a special guest on Sunday, also participated in the
demonstration. The F1 run featured the F399 F1 car of Paddy Shovlin, chassis # 194,
and the F1 2000 example, chassis # 198, recently acquired from the factory by Paul
Osborn, a rare treat for the spectators that was greatly appreciated.
When The Red Lights Go Out
Despite relatively small grids in the Historic Challenge rounds there was some close
battles, both at the heads of the respective fields and in the lower orders. An unfortunate
non-participant was Frederico Della Noce, who was involved in a scooter accident in the
paddock early on Friday morning, sustaining a broken shoulder, thus being unable to
drive his 275 LM. Another to have to sit it out was Christian Traber, who had a driveshaft
break on his Ferrari 250 MM PF berlinetta in Friday practise, and was unable to find a
replacement.
The drum brake category race on Saturday afternoon saw a tremendous three way battle
for the lead between the pair of Maserati 300 S models of Peter Weunsch and William
Binnie, together with the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa of Carlos Monteverde. Initially
Weunsch led from pole chased by the sister car and the Testa Rossa, then the latter
managed to pass the second place 300 S and try and pressure the leader. This resulted
in a quick moment for Monteverde in an overtaking manoeuvre that dropped him back to
third, but he was not to be deterred and was soon back into second, re-applying the
pressure on the leader, this time he managed to overtake without incident and the Binnie
300 S also found a way past the sister car but couldn’t get to terms with the Testa Rossa
in the final stages, finishing 1.785secs adrift at the flag.
In the disc brake group it was the 712 CanAm of David Franklin that took pole position a
fraction under 3/10ths of a second ahead of the 512 M of John Bosch, leaving the rest
trailing in their wake. This pair duelled for the lead throughout the race the 712 always
maintaining an advantage despite safety car periods for incidents. The most serious of
these being when Carlos Monteverde got his foot stuck between the accelerator and
brake pedals in his Dino 206 SP entering the Druids Hill hairpin, carrying on at unabated
speed into the tyre wall, inflicting substantial damage to the car, but fortunately with
nothing more than bruising to himself. Duncan Dayton in David Piper’s 275 LM took the
final podium position after a duel with David in his 330 P2, which ended when the latter
retired out on the circuit with engine problems.
The Sunday drum brake race saw a re-engagement of the battle between the pair of
Maserati 300 S models and the Testa Rossa, on a track still damp from the overnight
rain. From the start the order was as it had been in the first race, then Weunsch spun,
getting back on the track in ninth place. Despite feeling sore from the previous day’s
accident Monteverde pushed Binnie hard and eventually found a way through on lap six,
holding on to the end to win by 1.387secs, with the Maserati 250 F of Peter Heuberger
finishing third.
The disc brake race was run on a wet track although the rain had almost ceased by the
time they formed up on the grid. It was the same two protagonists at the front, this time
the 512 M taking the initial lead from the 712 CanAm. They went on to treat the spectators
to a wonderful display of raw power control on the slippery track with plumes of spray
roostering off the tyres. David Franklin in the 712 managed to find a way through after
three laps and kept just enough distance between himself and John Bosch in the difficult
conditions to take victory. The final podium position went to Peter Hardman in the Dino
246 S, his superb driving skills enabling him to haul the Dino past many of its more
powerful rivals on the wet track.
Moderns
The two Pirelli Maranello Challenge races were both closely contested at the front of the
field between the 360 Challenge cars of Marco Attard and Gary Culver, each of them
taking a victory apiece on the respective days. In the 360 Challenge Group A races,
victory on Saturday went to Javier Diaz of Spain, although he retired from Sunday’s race
when Michael Cullen of Ireland took the win. In the B series races it was John Greasley
of Great Britain who took a hard fought victory on Saturday, but had to give best to Rene
de Luigi from Switzerland on Sunday, who amazingly lapped the entire field on his way to
victory, Greasley finishing second well clear of Martin Lanting from The Netherlands.
|
