The 2009 FIA Historic Formula One Championship kicked off at Spa which delivered surprising fine weather for most of the weekend. With 25 cars entered, there was plenty of on track action and the obligatory first corner incident.
Friday morning dawned bright and sunny. It seems that the only place on the planet which will benefit from global warming is the lovely circuit of Spa Francorchamps.
A superb grid of 26 Historic Formula One Cars suffered its first retirement when the newly re-built Fittipaldi of Jean-Michel Martin was found to have problems with its steering rack. The replacement parts could not be finished in time and so, regretfully, Jean-Michel was forced to withdraw without turning a wheel. Jean-Michel stayed with us for the weekend and intends to compete for the rest of the season.
On track, we were joined by new-comer Giancarlo Casoli in a magnificent Ferrari T312, flat 12, sadly, despite successful winter tests, a gearbox problem sidelined Giancarlo – who also intends to compete in the rest of the Championship. Bill Coombs, in the ex-Max Samuel Camps Tyrrell 009-01, also joined us for the first of a number of events. Bill runs the racing schools at Thruxton, Pembrey and Croft for the BARC but had never seen Spa before so was delighted to be in the top ten.
To the surprise of many of our regular competitors, Friday’s timesheets were headed by Peter Meyrick’s son Andy followed by Steve Hartley, Joaquin Folch, an improving Dan Collins and Hubertus Bahlsen in Andrea’s Tyrrell 008.
Once again it was dry and sunny and normal service was resumed as Joaquin Folch, revelling in the predictability of the newly re-built Brabham BT49, headed the timesheet. Over 2 seconds behind Joaquin, Rowland Kinch, Andy Meyrick & Steve Hartley, with less than 3/10ths of asecond between them, took second, third & fourth places with Bobby Verdon-Roe & Dan Collins hot on their heels.
Abba Kogan, forsaking his beloved Matras and trying a ground effect Arrows, stayed just ahead of Hubertus in the Tyrrell. A failure in the “measuring department” caused Richard Eyre’s times to be excluded from the first practice session as his skirts were well under the 40mm limit. Unfortunately, Bill Coomb’s engine suffered a bearing failure and he was unable to qualify and with no spare, was forced to spectate for the rest of the weekend.
Second practice, unbelievably also dry, was generally slower as a result of a significant oil slick laid all the way through Radillion and Eau Rouge by a sick Formula Junior car in the previous session. Joaquin, retaining his first place, but allowing Andy Meyrick to grab second place from Rowland Kinch. Class D Leader Steve Hartley retained fourth place, Class B Leader Bobby Verdon-Roe retained fifth whilst Richard Eyre struggled to get on terms with Abba Kogan who retained eighth place.
Despite an overnight shower, the track was damp but drying for the warm up on Sunday morning. A combination of new slicks and a damp track proved difficult for many drivers and particularly for Dan Collins who spun the Lotus 91 going over the brow of Eau Rouge, bending a wheel but, fortunately, causing no major damage. Sadly, a broken rear wheel hub meant that Hubertus was forced to retire as no spares were available.
By start time, 1.35 p.m., the weather was perfect for racing. Stefano Rosina, unsure of his engine, opted to start from pit-lane and Michel Baudoin was unable to take the start due to a stone becoming wedged between the brake calliper and the wheel on the green flag lap!
At the front, Andy Meyrick made a text-book start and headed Rowland KInch into La Source, followed closely by Joaquin Folch. Behind these three, confusion reigned! Dan Collins had a vivid view, recorded on his in car video, of Peter Meyrick attempting a dive down the inside of Steve Hartley from some way back. It was a little ambitious and Steve would not have seen the March coming from his track position.
The inevitable collision resulted in Steve’ Arrows being launched high enough by Peter’s front wheel, for all of us on the pit-lane to see fresh air beneath. For a moment, Dan thought he might be able to dive underneath the Arrows! Steve retired on the spot but Peter carried on with little damage.
With most of the field having scattered to take avoiding action, up front, Joaquin soon disposed of Rowland. Andy resisted Joaquin’s attempts to pass him a little longer and even re-passed the Brabham but had to give best on lap 5. Twenty seconds behind these three, Bobby Verdon-Roe was delighted to inherit third place when Rowland’s throttle linkage broke.
Further down the field Peter Dunn, Peter Meyrick and Abba Kogan stayed “glued” together for the whole ten laps, whilst Richard Eyre was able to keep them in sight but unable to close in.
Stefano Rosina’s brave attempt came to nought and he switched off on lap 4 before the engine problem became terminal.
Dan Collins also retired the Lotus on lap 4 with an engine emitting clouds of blue smoke and Dan muttering something like “no wonder everyone was flying past me on the bloody straight”.
David Abbott’s shoulder, an old war wound (or so he claims!) was giving him so much pain that he was unable to turn the steering and he retired on lap 7.
Patrick D’Abreby made several trips to the pits to cure fuel pressure problems, eventually finishing fourteenth.
Joaquin took the chequered flag and it was delightful to see two new faces on the podium, Andy Meyrick in second and Bobby Verdon-Roe in third place.
A delighted Terry Sayles took first place in Class D.
With Bobby Verdon-Roe and Joaquin Folch sharing the lead in the FIA Historic Formula One Championship, we move on to Monza 6th/7th June – where we expect an even bigger grid and hopefully fewer early season teething troubles!