2014 Historic Grand Prix Zandvoort
Circuit Park Zandvoort’s third Historic Grand Prix event, on August 29-31, attracted a record 50,000 spectators and featured not only the cream of Europe’s racing championships but also competitors from as far afield as Australia, the USA and Dubai.
Michael Lyons topped the scoring with three wins, a repeat of 2013’s FIA Masters Formula 1 result in the family Hesketh 308E and, splendidly, the Group C/GTP feature in the unique Cosworth DFR-powered Momo Gebhardt C91 IMSA racer.
Like Lyons’ Hesketh, playboy Lance Reventlow’s Scarabs were F1 makeweights, but Julian Bronson bellowed his to an HGPCA Pre ’61 double. Shirley van der Lof – granddaughter of Dries, an HWM-Alta driver in the first championship Dutch GP of ’52 – raced a similar car to a superb fifth in the wet opener.
Two stop-and-go penalties for pit infringements cost factory Audi racer Frank Stippler (Bizzarrini 5300GT) a Gentlemen Drivers Pre ’66 GT enduro victory. The German’s hasty exits gifted it to Dutchman David Hart/Tom Coronel (AC Cobra).
Former Caterham Grand Prix driver Giedo van de Garde – in Hans Hugenholtz’s sister DHG Cobra – was chasing Simon Hadfield (in Leo Voyazides’) for third when he slid into the gravel. Jammed in second gear thereafter, he retired.
Voyazides/Hadfield overcame Hart/Martin Stretton in a rousing Lola T70 Mk3B duel for FIA Masters Sportscar honours. They also blitzed the Pre ’66 Touring Car race in the Greek’s Ford Falcon on his favourite circuit.
Brabham duo David Methley and Jonathan Hughes headed both FIA Lurani Trophy Formula Junior fields, while Brian Jolliffe (Cooper-JAP Mk9) slayed the Norton brigade to win Sunday’s 500cc F3 thriller from the back of the grid.
Circuit celebrations included a homage to Mario Andretti and Ronnie Peterson’s ’78 Dutch GP one-two – with Chris Locke and Arie Luyendyk driving – while David Brabham led the cavalcade into town in Masters boss Ron Maydon’s BT24. Marcus Pye