THOMAS AND LOCKIE ADD TO THEIR 2021 SUCCESSES
Tin-tops provided some of the most exciting action at this weekend’s Brands Hatch Masters.
Julian Thomas’s Ford Falcon was the worthy winner of an exciting and surprising Pre ’66 Touring Cars race, driven by Thomas himself and Calum Lockie. They were helped by the retirements of early leader Henry Mann (Ford Mustang) and the Mustang of Rob Fenn and Jake Hill, which also led until problems with fuel lines and transmission intervened.
Still, Thomas had his fair share of trials and slid on some oil shortly after Mann’s disappearance, losing two places to Fenn and David Coyne’s Mustang. Coyne kept in touch with the leaders to finish second, ahead of the Lotus Cortina of Roy Alderslade and fourth further Cortinas behind it.
Former British Touring Car Championship racer Jeff
Smith was expected to triumph in the Pre ’66 Minis, but he had newcomer Nathan Heathcote to contend with. Ian Curley took advantage of the novelty factor to win twice, but Heathcote led for portions of both races and was second in the first one. He could have won race two but had to retire with a loose wheel. Smith was third in race one and crashed out of race two on the opening lap.
Sportscars were not to be outdone either. Alex Brundle triumphed in the Historic Sportscar race in Gary Pearson’s Lola T70, despite a penalty for making his pitstop too early. Brundle was one of eight drivers censured after a string of cars dived into the pitlane during a safety car period, a couple of minutes before the window opened. Among them was
Tom Bradshaw’s Chevron B19, which had been Brundle’s nearest rival until a throttle cable snapped. Martin Stretton was second in Nick Sleep’s T70, having put in a burst of speed after taking over the car.
Gentlemen Drivers was also a real highlight. James Cottingham won in his Shelby Cobra after waiting quietly for an opening, which came after erstwhile leader Oliver Bryant had to retire his Cobra with gearbox trouble 10 minutes from the end.
Alex Brundle and John Pearson were second in Pearson’s E-type, which led the field early. The Andrew Jordan/ Roy Alderslade Cobra Daytona Coupe also had its turn at the front, but dropped down the order with gear problems. Tiff Needell and John Spiers were third in a TVR Griffith, having played the waiting game too.