If it’s the beginning of July it must be Brands GP circuit. The iconic circuit attracts drivers from far and wide to race on the hallowed tarmac and this year, with much encouragement from the HSCC, our French colleagues decided to have a round of their championship in the UK and joined the grid for a combined race. Thus opening up the period covered to 1984 and giving Paul Smith the chance to race his RT3. As it turned out the team had not had time to flat bottom the car so Paul would race for fun. Interestingly no other cars from the UK entered from the 81 to 84 era which in view of recent discussions left some of us querying the lost opportunity. With 45 cars on the entry list, including 7 reserves all from the UK series, the track was going to be busy and some were expected not to get a race. After a few non shows and three Frenchmen ending their weekend in testing the unlucky ones were Ben Hudson in his F3 Argo and FF2k runner Peter Denham, who could at least run in the Sunday FF2k race.

Qualifying left championship leader Jamie Brashaw on pole in his March 793 just ahead of a returning Keith White (Ralt RT1), who was having his first race since Silverstone finals in 2010, just 0.6 seconds down. Dave Clark at last had the Argo running properly for third ahead of Geoff Hoodless whose March is going and looking much better these days. Hugh Price found the time to squeeze in the F3 race, he seemed to be entered in every other race with one of his cars, and annex fifth from Matt Sturmer who was showing great pace in the oldest class A car. Hudson should have been next, shame he didn’t make it, ahead of Jonathan Price, Paul Dibden hopefully with his engine woes fixed, Chris Remers, Iain Rowley again out in the Oliroy and keeping his fingers crossed that the fuel pressure would hold up after much burning of the midnight oil, Rudolf Ernst, Pete Hiscocks and languishing in an unfamiliar 36th overall after a misfire Richard Trott. The 1600 guys organised themselves in the order Albert Clements, a wingless Derek Buckton in the unusual Royale RP11 just 0.2 seconds down, Graham Kiddy, Gareth Walters and Tom Powell.

Friday night saw a grand gathering of both series for a champagne buffet under the CF3 awning to celebrate 25 years of Classic F3 in the UK, again. The last celebration was at Cadwell and maybe the next Oulton. The evening was a great success with lots of entente cordiale. So thanks to all who came.

With the mixed up grid stretching round Clearways the 38 F3 cars spanning 13 years of the formula made a fine sight as they headed for Paddock with Brashaw at its head who ran out the winner and wrapped up the championship. White had not made the best start and dropped into the clutches of two RT3s for the rest of the race but finished runner up and on the podium. Joining him was none other than Trott who had driven up from 36th on the road to 5th and third place in the UK race, easily taking fastest lap on the way and proving that the outside at Clearways and Paddock are great overtaking places. Remarkable. Hoodless held off Clark, just, after a race long battle for fourth and fifth. Hoodless sporting his usual bent nose fin. Hugh Price was sixth, Sturmer seventh ahead of a group comprising Jonathan Price, Ernst and Rowley, the Oliroy keeping fuel pressure at last, ahead of last 2 litre car Hiscocks. Clements held on to the 1600 class from Kiddy, going better than in qualifying, Buckton, Walters and Powell.