Tarling and Blijleven seal Historic and Pre-’93 Formula Ford honours at Silverstone
Richard Tarling won a thrilling Historic final in his Jamun T2, edging out Michael Mallock in his Mallock U2 and Ben Mitchell in Marcus Pye’s smart Merlyn Mk20.
It was a supremely close, enthralling race that any of the top four could have won deservedly. Less than one second separated them.
Tarling displaced polesitter Mitchell at the first corner, before Mitchell fought back at Brooklands. So began a race-long battle between a leading group of Mitchell, Tarling, Mallock and Callum Grant in his distinctive orange Merlyn. All took turns at the front of the four-man pack; the lead changed at least once a lap for much of the race. Tarling, who had finished third in his heat against modern machinery, prevailed right at the end, having timed his final passes perfectly. “Being in the lead on the last lap” was his simple explanation of his tactics.
Grant lost touch slightly with the leaders after a small lap 10 excursion onto the Brooklands grass. He was uncomfortable with a move made by Crossle driver Mike Gardner, who was fifth, but no action was taken.
The ‘Non Historic’ consolation race for Pre-’93 cars was almost as thrilling with a three-way tussle between Northern Pre’90 champion Jaap Blijleven, David Cobbold and Ben Tinkler. UCLAN Reynard driver Blijleven charged up the order from sixth on the grid to join Cobbold and Tinkler’s lead dice, then hit the front when Cobbold’s attempt to regain first place from Tinkler cost both momentum. Tinkler chased Blijleven to the flag but fell 0.273s short.
Richard Neary was victorious in the Britcar Sprint race that finished in the night at Silverstone, ahead of the FF Corse Ferrari of Calum Lockie and David Mason.
Neary overtook Lockie at Brooklands on the opening lap for second overall, which allowed him to build up a gap in his Mercedes GT3 before being the first of the Sprint race runners to pit.
Despite his pitstop handicap of 105 seconds Neary emerged in seventh, but worked his way past the Class 3 cars to fourth halfway through the Sprint race. By this stage Lockie pitted to hand over to Mason, but staying out for the extra laps put them down in seventh behind the Ginetta of Tom Knight, who was battling with Tom Barley in the Endurance race.
Mason’s pace was compromised as he had to find a way past the two Class 3 cars, but in the end Neary was able to take the Sprint race victory ahead of the pair.
Ross Wylie and Witt Gamski won the Endurance race after Stefano Leaney and Rob Wheldon had to make two pitstops due to their Radical GT3 being short on fuel during the second stint.
Myles Castaldini was denied a great comeback victory in Allcomers Pre-’70 race, allowing Bruce Chambers a lightsto-flag win. Castaldini put his Davrian Mk8 on pole, but started from the back after a clutch change, and retired within sight of Chambers due to overheating.
Ian Bankhurst took advantage of a spin by polesitter Robert Beebee to win in Allcomers Post-’69. Chevron B8 driver Beebee was then excluded from third for causing Tony Bianchi’s retirement.
Martin Short dominated Silverstone Allcomers with his Dallara SP1 by over half a minute, heading a Le Mans Prototype trio of two Dallaras and a Creation CA07. Sarah Moore was similarly unstoppable in the Ladies race.