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Race Classification TVR

Race Report

Brands Hatch England. 27/05/2023: Conditions Dry and Sunny.

The Best Laid Plans

After recent close attention given to the TVR by Nigel Reuben Racing, resulting in a significant power hike, Barton Racing arrived at the Masters Festival full of optimism. Could this be the teams first win? Okay so the Gent Drivers semi endurance race had attracted a full grid of thirty-five cars, including no less than thirteen Lotus Elans, four TVR Griffiths, and five Shelby Cobras/Mustangs, but one thing was certain, the big crowd were guaranteed ninety minutes of classic excitement.

During early morning qualifying Harry and Ollie quickly settled in and set some great lap times, resulting in fifth on the grid. Just a couple of seconds separated the front runners, so there was intense paddock chat concerned pit windows and strategy. The race started exactly on time at 16.45 and Harry joined in with the usual mad rush into Paddock Bend. On lap 2 Larry Tucker got stuck in the gravel beginning a train of double yellow flags and almost non-stop safety car interventions that seemed to last forever.

Harry had avoided trouble and was circulating nicely, until, just before halfway, he and the ‘Griff’ suddenly disappeared off the timing screen. Talk about luck. Exiting Clark Curve on the fast entry into the pit straight a stub axle let go. The TVR eventually coming to rest inches from the barrier, race over. No use denying, after so much hard work, this was a disappointing outcome. Anyway the good news: Harry was a bit shaken but otherwise ok.

Attention now turns to Holland and the important Masters Historic Meeting at Zandvoort in a couple of weeks time. Meanwhile Barton Racing has some secret testing to do on the Silverstone GP circuit, but more about that in due course.