News in brief, April 2005

Stuart Rolt has been appointed as the new chairman of the BRDC. He takes over the role vacated by former Group C2 star Ray Bellm following public disagreements with club president Sir Jackie Stewart over the British Grand Prix contract. Rolt, a former touring car racer, joined the board in May 2004 and, like Bellm, is a regular competitor in historic rallying.

Following a mix-up over dates, the VSCC has switched its July 9 hillclimb from Harewood to Oliver’s Mount. It will be the first VSCC event at the Scarborough venue and forms part of the club’s Yorkshire speed weekend with a sprint at Elvington the following day.

Derek Bell was reunited with the Wheatcroft Racing Brabham BT26 at Stoneleigh. Bell raced the car in the 1969 Tasman Series and the 1970 Belgian GP. It was the first time that the car has been seen outside the Donington GP Collection in decades.

The 50th anniversary of the BMC Competitions Department will be marked during the MG Car Club’s annual international race meeting at Silverstone on July 23-24. The celebration will be enjoyed by three BMC competitions managers, Marcus Chambers, Peter Browning and Stuart Turner.

Over the weekend of June 25-26, the Nordschleife circuit at the Nürburgring will host a non-competitive celebration of pre-war cars. On Saturday the cars will be able to lap the full 14-mile track, while on Sunday a six-mile circuit comprising the remaining elements of the old Süldschleife will be used. More details on [email protected]

Paddy Hopkirk earned a ‘hall of fame” award at the recent Belfast Telegraph sports stars of the year award. The 71-year-old rally legend joins George Best as a recipient of the award.

Ferrari racer Peter Sowerby will switch to the TGP Championship this year with an ex-Patrese Arrows A3. The car originally ran in Warsteiner livery but is currently in Beta/Ragno Ceramiche colours. It will be Sowerby’s first experience of racing an open-wheeler.