Hollywood joins Beechdean for GT
Beechdean Motorsport will field two British GT4 cars later this year, with reigning class champion Jamie Chadwick returning to partner celebrity baker Paul Hollywood.
Beechdean, which has won the GT4 drivers’ title for the past two seasons, will run a second Aston Martin Vantage GT4 for Chadwick and Great British Bake Off star Hollywood for the final three meetings of the year, from Spa-francorchamps onwards. It is only a limited campaign due to Hollywood’s work commitments and Chadwick’s school studies taking precedence.
Team head Andrew Howard said: “The deal has come together nicely as Paul has commitments and it’s a big year for Jamie too with exams.
“The plan was to do the full championship with Paul, but that’s not possible. We will be looking to race the car more outside of British GT though, as and when Paul can slot events in.”
Two serious accidents marred the 74th Members’ Meeting at Goodwood last Sunday.
In the day’s opening race, the Brooks Trophy for grand prix cars of the 1954-1960 era, Stephen Bond’s Lotus 18 was tipped into a series of cartwheels ( above) after contact with Richard Wilson’s sliding Cooper. The Lotus ended up dropping down into the pedestrian tunnel opposite the pits.
No one in the tunnel was harmed, but a spectator did assist Bond from the car.
Bond is believed to have suffered a broken collarbone, but otherwise escaped serious injury.
Later in the day, Dutch racer Michiel Smits was airlifted to hospital after his Lola T70 Spyder plunged off the track at the highspeed Woodcote Corner during the Bruce Mclaren Trophy for Can-am and Group 7 prototypes raced up to 1966.
It is thought debris either hit Smits or forced him to take avoiding action, resulting in the Lola going off. The front of the car was crushed and Smits was airlifted to hospital after marshals worked to extricate him from the T70.
A family statement said Smits had suffered a broken rib and two broken vertebrae.
A Goodwood statement said: “Michiel Smits was taken to the nearest trauma centre, where his condition was stabilised. He spent the night in hospital with family members.”
The accidents have brought the circuit’s safety into focus, with the fastest Can-am cars now capable of lapping at over 110mph, faster than the Formula 1 lap record prior to the circuit’s closure in 1966.
The two delays affected the timetable and the final three races were reduced to 10-minute sprints and the final race, the Parnell Cup, ended in rapidly failing light.
Another Goodwood statement, issued on Monday, said: “Goodwood reviews all procedures after every event including health and safety. In conjunction with the relevant motor sport bodies, we will be reviewing the issues raised at the 74th Member’s Meeting to ensure Goodwood continues to hold safe events.”