Reports in brief, November 2003

Despite ending the Spa race with a hand injury after a tangle with the Lotus 69 of Sandy Watson, Peter Shaw clinched the Formula Atlantic class of the International Historic F2 Trophy. His Brabham outscored the Merlyn of John Dunham in the class for pre-72 cars.

* * *

Bobby Rahal’s Porsche 917 is up for sale via Gregor Fisken’s company. Chassis 021 was raced at Le Mans by Gijs van Lennep and David Piper, before being raced in Interserie. Rahal had it returned to race trim to contest the Le Mans Classic event.

* * *

The sale of the four tracks owned by Brands Hatch Circuits Ltd should be completed in November. A short-list of bidders expressing interest in the Brands Hatch/Oulton Park/Snetterton/Cadwell Park package has been drawn up. It is thought that it comprises parties that intend to keep racing as their prime function.

* * *

Sir Stirling Moss has accepted the role of Patron of the Shelsley Trust, formed to guarantee the future of the famous venue in Worcestershire. “I am pleased to accept the position. Shelsley Walsh must be preserved for future generations,” he said. The ‘Save Shelsley’ fund has now gone through the £250,000 mark.

* * *

David and Andrew Stokes claimed victory in the penultimate round of the Armajaro MSA British Historic Rally Championship. Their Ford Escort Mkl overcame a loss of gears late in the day to win the Trackrod Historic Cup in the Yorkshire forests. However, Richard Gower and Mark Crisp would have won in their similar car had they not collected road penalties for booking in early at a time control. Steve Perez and Jonty Bolsover (Porsche 911) moved closer to the overall title by dominating the historic category.

* * *

Justin Law and Andy Wallace romped to victory in the Don Law-entered Jaguar XJR10 in the 80-minute GpC race at Monza. They finished more than a lap clear of the Kremer Porsche 962 of Ralf Kelleners and Jim Mullen. A rash of non-starters and then non-finishers in the opening race reduced the second race to just nine cars, and the Law Jaguar was an early retirement. That left the way clear for Paul Whight and David Leslie to win in an Aston Martin AMR1 in the half-hour race.

* * *

Stuart Hall (Chevrolet Camaro) and Ronnie Farmer/Jay Shepherd (Aston Martin DB7) shared the race wins as the Heritage GT season finished at Oulton Park. On a dry track, Hall romped clear as his main challenger Boysie Thurtle suffered back axle failure in his Aston Martin V8. When Hall missed the later race in worsening conditions, the DB7 won from the DB4 of Lawrence Coppock/Phil Bennett