Race Classification BMW 1800 TiSa Race

Race Classification BMW 2002 Ti

Race Classification TVR Griffith 200

Race Report

Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit. 25-27 August 2023

Another busy and successful weekend for Harry Barton and all those associated with Barton Racing. Three cars entered, one class win, one top ten finish, and sadly, one retirement.

First up the Motor Racing Legends Historic Touring Car Challenge and our lovely BMW 2002.  Dominated by a whole host of more powerful cars Harry performed well in the changeable conditions, qualifying 37th on the grid with a time of 2.30.770, his best yet. Off the line our twenty one year old was squeezed between a Ford Lotus Cortina, and V8 Chevy Camaro but soon found himself space, settling into his regular race rhythm. Unfortunately gear linkage problems with just four laps to go meant a prolonged pit stop and a non-finish. One down, two to go.

Next up, the Masters International Trophy for Classic Pre-66 GT Cars. Usually ninety minutes the organisers had reduced the race to a mere fifty minute sprint involving sixty of the best drivers and cars in the business. Harry qualified 8th. The race itself was full of drama, and high attrition, coming to a red flag premature end after just thirty-eight minutes. A real shame as Harry was on a charge, looking to improve on his eight place, a top five finish being well within his grasp. Again Harry improved on his best ever lap time.

This just left the headlining forty-five minute Adrian Flux Trophy For TransAtlantic Pre-66 Touring Cars, a passing reference to the fact that nearly every one of the sixty cars was a Ford. Harry qualifying 33rd on a damp track, splitting a pair of V8 ‘yank tanks’ and then drove a perfect race to finish 31st, avoiding the many incidents, and once again hitting a new racing lap time for the BMW 1800 TiSA of 2.35.205 on his way to the chequered flag and and another well deserved class win.

So. A good weekend for Barton Racing and preparers Retro Engineering (BMW) and Reuben Racing (TVR). All now bodes well for Spa and the climax to our race season, in just four weeks time. Updates to follow. PB