European historic Grand Prix: Zolder

Williams’ spin out in Belgium… but wins out at Lausitzring

The fifth encounter of the FIA Thoroughbred Grand Prix topped the annual classic event at Zolder, with the win going to John Wilson’s Tyrrell.

Much of the interest was lost at the first chicane when Joaquin Folch and Fredy Kumschick went in side by side and disappeared in a cloud of dust. Both Williams were out on the spot and Hubertus Bahlsen (Arrows A4) took over the lead until Wilson’s 011 swept ahead of him on the fourth lap. Bahlsen was even denied a second place when his throttle cable broke on the final lap.

The opening Pre-1966 HGPCA race produced a great contest between John Harper (Brabham BT4) and Rod Jolley (Cooper T45). After trading the lead several times, Harper got to the flag by less than a fifth of a second. Brake problems on his Brabham led to overnight work, but they locked on the parade lap for the second race and John was out of contention. That left Jolley to win clearly from Ted Rollason.

A modest field of drum-braked sportscars delivered an entertaining race as Josh Sadler (Allard) and Adrian van der Kroft (Cooper Bobtail) had a true David-versus-Goliath battle that was only resolved right at the flag when the courageous van der Kroft got the little Cooper home a second ahead of the mighty Allard.

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Despite pressure from Hubertus Bahlsen, Fredy Kumschick claimed a win as the TGP cars made their debut at the Lausitzring.

Kumschick’s Williams FVVO7C got the jump off the grid on Bahlsen’s pole-sitting Arrows A4 and fended off its dogged chase in front of a 20,000-strong crowd.

Richard Eyre (Williams FW08) dropped into a secure third, while Rodrigo Gallego (March 761) claimed a class-winning fourth and the overall championship lead.

Last lap driveshaft failure put Nico Bindels (RAM 01) out of the Class D lead, giving Ian Barrowman a rare win for an Osella.