Chairman’s Report Classic Formula 3
Classic Formula 3 has had another mixed year. We have had races at Thruxton, Snetterton, Cadwell Park, Brands Superprix, Silverstone Classic, Brands Indy and, the Silverstone Finals. Our entry levels for the first three UK rounds at Thruxton, Snetterton and Cadwell, were disappointing and whilst I would like to say that the Monaco Formula 3 race in May interfered with entries at Thruxton, I don’t believe that this was the case. At one stage, it looked as though we had 14 entries for Round 1, but by the time the race came this was down to 12. We had only 10 at the double header at Snetterton and then only 8 at Cadwell Park.
However, in the latter part of the season things picked up. At the Brands Superprix we had 22 and of the 43 entries at the Silverstone Classic, 30 were from UK based entrants. There were 18 at the recent Brands Indy meeting, though that could easily have been 20, as a couple of our regulars were on their hols. It is important for the HSCC that we try and get a minimum of 20 entries per meeting.
We are aware of at least 7 new cars and drivers that could be out in 2015 and providing we don’t lose too many existing runners, these should bolster our low 2014 grids. Our proposal is to cut down the number of meetings from 7 to 6 in order to attract more entries at fewer meetings. In 2015 it is unlikely that we will be back at the Silverstone Classic, but we are working on the possibility of making the Superprix the Anglo/French round. Though the French enjoyed the Brands Indy meeting and the amount of track time that we were able to have they were disappointed that they did not have the kind of entry support that they usually get for the continental races.
There will be no Monaco interfering with things next year, and there is a probability that some of the URS FF2000 cars, currently running with the BARC, may have a championship which will involve our races.
The Historic Formula Ford 2000s, now run by Alan Morgan as a separate HSCC category did run jointly with us up until 2011 and when they started their own series, it highlighted the lack of CF3 numbers. The addition of the URS cars may well help bolster our grids. As we saw at the Silverstone Classic, lots of brightly coloured cars are quite a spectacle in a race and if we are to continue to be an HSCC championship, we must be able to provide healthy grids for them.
I’m sorry that I will not be at the Silverstone Finals, but hopefully those with views will be able to air them. I would very much like to be more successful in raising race sponsorship of £300 per race, which we have tried, but not really succeeded with, and continue the work of getting us together in the paddocks to further boost the good camaraderie, which has developed well amongst our entrants this year. The race sponsorship will enable us to do this and provide better trackside hospitality as well.
Hugh Price |
