The annual Masters Historic Festival took place at Brands Hatch on the weekend of May 27 and 28, 2023, with legendary racing cars once again taking to the grid at this historic GP circuit, just as they have done for over 50 years. The peaceful Kent countryside was once again shaken and the sound of Cosworth DFVs echoed through the trees.
F1 almost like back then
One of the highlights of the weekend was the Masters Racing Legends, which took place over two races and featured almost a full complement of three-liter Formula 1 cars from 1966-85.
There was a mixture of cars still well known today such as Tyrrells, Williams, McLarens etc. but also some more unusual cars such as the Hesketh 308C, a Shadow DN9A - in the colors of Clay Regazzoni - and a stunning former Gunnar Nilsson Lotus 77 which, in the experienced hands of Nick Padmore, won one of the two races and finished second in the other.
The other victory went to Mark Hazell in the Williams FW07B by a wafer-thin margin.
The sight and above all the sound of these famous machines will remain in the photographer's memory for a long time to come!
Touring car racing as it was 50 years ago
A new race at this meeting was the eagerly awaited HRDC Gerry Marshall Trophy Series with an impressive field of more than 40 saloons from the seventies, with a great mix of Rovers, (many) Ford Capri, Dolomite Sprint, Alfa Romeo and some American cars like Camaro etc, But perhaps the most poignant was the Vauxhall Firenza of Gregor Marshall, the son of the race's namesake.
Gerry Marshall, who was a very successful saloon car driver and larger than life character in the 60s, 70s and 80s, usually driving Vauxhall racing cars - became particularly well known for his 'Baby Bertha' and 'Big Betha' in those days.
This race was won by Spiers/Grünsall in the Hermitite Ford Capri - another iconic sponsor livery.
Fast limousines of the sixties
Another "big starter field" and eagerly awaited limousine race that has already become a tradition was that of the "Pre 66 Touring cars", also with over 40 vehicles.
It was a great spectacle with groups of Minis driving side by side on 2/3 wheels through the bends (without braking - they just slid through!). Groups of Lotus Cortinas raced nose to nose around the track, with understeer and oversteer being the order of the day and lots of paint and chrome being lost or replaced!
Between these iconic British saloons was a colorful mix of American muscle cars, with Falcons and Mustangs being mobbed by the tiny Minis all over the track. Sam Tordoff led from start to finish in his mighty Ford Falcon Sprint, showing masterful car control, while the other two places were taken by Mustangs.
Sports cars from the late sixties and early seventies
The Masters Sports Car Legends races featured such pivotal and historically important cars as the mighty Lola T70 Mk3b and T70 mingling with flashy Chevron B8s and the lighter Lola T210s, T296s, T212s etc, with a fearsome Cooper Monaco King Cobra in between.
The race was held in two heats, with the Lola T70s coming out on top in both heats. The first race was won by Beighton, the second by Sleep/Montgomery.
Acoustic and formal diversity in the GTs
Another historic race of the time was the 90-minute "Gentlemen Driver" race. Again, there was a very large field with well-known and varied cars from TVR, Austin Healey, Lotus, Shelby, Ford and Ginetta etc..
This was a really close and hard-fought race - with the added complexity of many cars running with two drivers, resulting in a very crowded pit lane. In the end, the TVR Griffith 200 of Spiers/Greensall won.
Finally, calm returned to this quiet corner of the UK, but only until next time when we can experience such historic and emotional racing again. We are already looking forward to it!
The results of the races can also be viewed online.
