Silverstone Historic Festival day two

By Wendy-Ann Francis - Motorsport.com

Sunday 26th August 2001 (550 competitors) - The Second day of the Silverstone Historic Festival dawned foggy and gray but the crowds heading for the track to see ex-Formula 1 champion Nigel Mansell open the day's activities didn't care. Nigel drew a large crowd in the morning when he talked to Andrew Marriott and signed autographs.

The action on the track started with two qualifying sessions. The first for the 41 Formula Junior cars entered in this afternoon's 8-lap race. The second for the drum brake cars that will take part in the second of the Italy versus the Rest of the World series.

At 1:00 pm, Nigel Mansell opened the track for racing and the Bentley LeMans car took to the track again for its second set of demonstrations laps. Our attention was then drawn to the skies where some planes from the Great War showed us what they could do.

The first racing action of the afternoon was the second race of the race weekend for the classic motorbikes. Phil Davenport, whose RPS Triumph had suffered mechanical problems on Saturday, took the lead at the start. However, David Pither, who had been unable to race the day before, passed him fairly quickly riding his Triumph Trident and hung on to the lead even after his bike drifted onto the grass coming down the pit straight. Pat Mooney, yesterday's winner inherited third place as Hasse Gustafson dropped out on the last lap.

Following that race were the Formula Junior cars; their drivers vying for the Colin Chapman Trophy. Michael Schryver started on the pole but was passed early by Denis Welch. On the last lap Schryver passed Welch as another competitor spun in front of them and hard as he tried he could not take the place back from Schryver.

As the sun showed its face for the first time today the British Racing Drivers Club Sports Cars lined up for the first of their two races. Frank Styner, driving a Cooper Monaco, started in the lead and stayed there although he was pushed hard throughout the race by John Harper, also driving a Cooper Monaco.

Frank Sytner rushed up to the podium to receive his garland and trophy still wearing his helmet. The reason became obvious as he then ran back to the assembly area to get into his Brabham BT4 that was in pole position for the Pre-1966 Grand Prix and Tasman Cars due to take the track next. Sytner took his Brabham BT4 into the lead from the pole and stayed there for the whole race. John Attwood rejoined Sytner on the podium having started and finished in second.

The next race was the second in the Italy versus the Rest of the World series. Burkhard Von Schenk took the lead at the start and David Morris took 3rd going down pit straight. On laps 3 & 4 Von Schenk and Stretton exchange places and as spots of rain are seen on the track Stretton passes again for the lead and drives away from Von Schenk. Morris spun and Montverde, in his Ferrari Testarossa, took the wrong line and collided with Morris tearing off some of his own bodywork. Monteverde managed to keep going and despite a spin at Luffield on the last lap came in 3rd. So now it's one all in this series and it comes down to the race on Sunday for 1960s World Endurance Cars.

Race 2 for the Pre-1965 Touring Cars got of to a much better start than on Saturday. All of the cars got through the fist corner without incident. However, Andy Shepherd in his Cortina did manage to lose his bonnet (hood) coming down the front straight. Two Mustangs took the lead at the beginning and even though the track was slippery because of the rain they managed to hold on to it to the end of the race. The Minis again moved up the field and ended up 4th and 5th with Cortinas in front and behind

Silverstone attracted a record number of competitors (550) for this year's Historic Festival and provided at lot of races and other activities for the spectators. It has been an exciting weekend with another day to come.