JONESSILVERSTONE CLASSIC RACE CENTRE1 AUGUST 2019 AUTOSPORT.COM 43fifth to ace Martin Stretton (Tyrrell 012)
and Mike Cantillon (Williams FW07C).
Ferrer-Aza was thrilled to receive the trophy
from Sir Jackie Stewart, who demonstrated
one of his 1969 World Championship-
winning Matra-Cosworth MS80s.
Sunday’s reversed top eight-gridded
sequel was all about patience for Matteo,
content to rack up points for fourth. Up
front, Steve Hartley (ex-John Watson
McLaren MP4/1B) staved off Michael Lyons
(M26) before Cantillon appeared in his
mirrors, trembling front wing akimbo.
Lancastrian Hartley, appreciating his car’s
capabilities with every outing, just kept the
Irish driver behind, with Stretton thirdintervening era visited, this was a complete
compendium of motorsport to savour.
While universal use of the Grand Prix
circuit’s tight Club chicane was not popular
with drivers of earlier cars (for which the
eased approach to the final corner was
conceived, but is no longer Motorsport
UK-licenced after last year’s age-related
mix-and-match), its new super-smooth
surface harboured better grip in the rain,
which affected both race days.
Under manager Peter Wright’s guidance,
young Italian Matteo Ferrer-Aza continued
his march towards the FIA Masters Historic
F1 title with a consummate Saturday win in
his glorious Ligier JS11/15, advancing fromstablished by the British
Racing Drivers’ Club in
1990, the 10th Goose Live
Events-run Silverstone
Classic had a different feel.
Historic Formula 2 took centre stage,
with the category’s largest grid in history
reminding us of the venue’s European
Championship rounds to 1979. Bentley’s
centenary was focussed on a charismatic
Pre-War Sportscar race, fittingly won by
Oliver and Tim Llewellyn’s 3/8, which just
repelled Rudi Friedrichs’ feisty Alvis Firefly.
With modern Le Mans prototypes –
including a sublime Bentley Speed 8 – at
the other end of the spectrum, and every
Formula 2 is second
to none at Silverstone
A record pack of 56 cars took centre stage on a Classic
bill that also helped celebrate Bentley’s centenary
MARCUS PYEE