Silverstone 2025

The Historic Sports Car Club traditionally run two consecutive race meetings on the popular Silverstone National circuit, the October meeting hosting the finals of their various championships and the place where many championships are decided.

The second meeting in early November is for the Walter Hayes Trophy, an International Festival of Formula Ford Racing with supporting and invitation races. For this transition year of the championship from 750 MC to the HSCC, we are participating in both meetings, the first visit to contest rounds 9 and 10 on the popular 1.64 mile circuit.

There was another excellent entry comprising 25 cars across all 4 classes including a welcome return to the Modified class ranks of Gareth Hayward in his exciting GTV and Keith Waite in his perennial and distinctive Alfa 75. Jamie Thwaites was contesting the TCR Giulietta and would surely be circulating with times that challenged his own overall lap record. Jack Berry was once again in the impressive Alfa Workshop 4C and Mike Hilton was also back in his similar car after managing to get the rebuild completed just in time following his unfortunate involvement in the start line incident at Brands Hatch in August. Scott Austin had also managed to repair his 156 after being involved in the same incident and seaon regular Andy Page completed a strong and diverse Modified class with his 116 Giulietta.

In the Power Trophy, the regular cars of Toby Broome, Stacey Dennis, Chris McFie, and Steve Godfrey, were joined once again by Daniel Wood in the 164 and Dave Messenger in his 156 GTA, with George Osborne making a welcome first appearance of the season in the stunning Afa 75. Graham Seager was also making his first appearance of the season in the Revs Italia supported 147 GTA, whilst Mark Skeggs returned in the Bianco Motorsports Giulietta to complete a very healthy nine car field.

A five car field in the Turismo class was headed by class leader Nathan Bignell in his Alfa 33. Rob Hollyman in his 33, James Powell in the 147 and Ben Robinson in the 156 were once again lining up alongside, with Dave Pickup completing the class in his 147, having made a move from the Twin Spark class.

The Twin Spark class had regulars George Warren and Ian Fenwick in their 147s and Richard Ford and Andy Winterton completing the line up in their 156s.

QUALIFYING

Once again, Toby Broome set the early pace on the opening lap in his 147 GTA but Jack Berry was quickest on laps 2 and 3 before Jamie Thwaites topped the leaderboard from lap 4 onwards, his fastest time of 1:00.698 on lap 10 being fractionally inside his own circuit lap record time. Jack Berry also put the Alfa Workshop’s 4C on the front row with a 1:03.289 with Mike Hilton 3^rd, a second adrift in his 4C. Toby Broome’s Power Trophy 147 GTA was in amongst the Modified cars taking 4^th place, just ahead of Gareth Hayward’s GTV and Scott Austin’s 156. Andy Page’s 116 Giulietta was 7^th and the 75 of Keith Waite completed the Modified entry in 15^th.

Toby Broome led the Power Trophy class from the outset, setting his pole time of 1:05.109 on lap 9. George Osborne’s 75 was a couple of seconds adrift with his time of 1:07.164 on lap 6 enough to secure second in class with Stacey Dennis taking third in class and 9^th overall just ahead of Graham Seager’s 147 and Dave Messenger’s 156. Sixth in class and 13^th overall was Chris McFie in the Fiat Punto, just ahead of Daniel Wood’s 164. Mark Skeggs would start 17^th in the Giulietta with Steve Godfrey 25^th in his 3.2 litre GT.

Sandwiched between Dave Messenger and Chris McFie was the leading Turismo class 33 of Nathan Bignell, his time of 1:09.491 placing him 6 grid slots ahead of second placed runner Rob Hollyman, also in a 33. James Powell’s 147 was 3^rd and 19^th overall, Dave Pickup’s 147 was 4^th in 22^nd spot although the bonnet had come open near the end of the session causing some damage to the screen and roof, and Ben Robinson’s 156 was 5^th in 23^rd.

In the Twin Spark class, the early pace was set by Ian Fenwick then George Warren in their 147s. Richard Ford had made a pit stop at the end of lap 3, but by lap 6 his 156 was lapping in a provisional pole time of 1:11.6 eventually taking pole with a 1:11.143 on lap 9. Ian Fenwick was second with a 1:11.642, George Warren 3^rd just over a tenth behind, with Andy Winterton’s 156 completing the grid just over a second adrift. Unfortunately, the suspension broke on Dan Wood’s 164 after completing seven laps and he had to retire the car and would be unable to take the start in race 1.

RACE 1

As the lights went out to signal the start of race 1, Jack Berry got his 4C away well to take the lead into Copse corner from Mike Hilton’s 4C, Jamie Thwaites’s TCR Giulietta and Toby Broome’s 147. As the rest of the field headed into Copse, an incident unfolded that would affect half a dozen cars and bring out an early safety car. Gareth Hayward, Stacey Dennis and George Osborne were able to avoid being caught up in the mix of cars that spun or made contact whilst trying to take avoiding action. Chris McFie’s Fiat went off the circuit to retire,  Graham Seager managed to get underway again but pulled into the pits at the end of lap 1 to retire, whilst Rob Hollyman’s 33 suffered accident damage that would cause him to retire halfway around lap 1. Scott Austin had emerged relatively unscathed but had dropped from 6^th place to 11^th. Andy Page and Keith Waite both had damage and slipped to 20^th and 21^st positions but would continue.

The Safety Car pulled in at the end of lap 2 and Jack Berry led the field from Mike Hilton and Jamie Thwaites as racing resumed. Toby Broome was the leading Power Trophy car in 4^th with Gareth Hayward’s GTV 5^th and George Osborne 6^th. Stacey Dennis was 7^th and Dave Messenger 8^th, with the leading Turismo car of Nathan Bignell followed by the leading Twin Spark of Richard Ford. Scott Austin’s 11^th placed 156 was followed by James Powell’s Turismo 147, George Warren’s 147 TS and the Giulietta of Mark Skeggs. Andy Winterton’s 156 was up to 15^th followed by Ben Robinson, Dave Pickup, Steve Godfrey and Ian Fenwick. The damaged cars of Andy Page and Keith Waite brought up the rear of the field. Jamie Thwaites was starting to apply pressure to the two 4Cs, passing Mike Hilton on lap 4 and Jack Berry on lap 5 to take the lead. By this time, Gareth Hayward had moved past Toby Broome into 4^th with Scott Austin up to 8^th then up to 6^th on lap 7, passing the Power Trophy cars of George Osborne, Stacey Dennis and Dave Messenger. Ben Robinson had been racing in 3^rd spot in the Turismo class in his 156 but had to retire the car on lap 11 with clutch and gearbox problems.

The leading two cars had lapped about half the field by this point with Jamie setting a new lap record time in the process and opening up a 6 second gap to Mike Hilton’s third placed 4C. Their lap times had eased off by a second or two resulting in Jack’s 4C taking the lead along the Wellington Straight on lap 12. The times improved again with Jamie staying within half a second of the 4C as the race neared the closing stages. Both drivers were having to contend with lapping slower cars and as they entered Brooklands on the penultimate lap, the Giulietta was able to claim the inside line and take the lead. The 4C stayed with it through Luffield and as they went through Woodcote they had a coming together sending both cars into a spin.

Jack recovered the 4C first and set out on the final lap but Jamie had also rejoined the circuit 3 seconds adrift albeit with Mike Hilton’s 4C separating the pair. On the final lap, the lead 4C once again caught up with slower traffic approaching Brooklands and Luffield and Jamie Thwaites was able to take advantage and go through to take the chequered flag by a second with Mike Hilton’s 4c taking the third podium position.

Gareth Hayward finished a creditable 4^th on his return to the circuits. Scott Austin finished 5^th having overtaken Toby’s Power Trophy 147 on lap 12, with Toby taking another class win from George Osborne, Stacey Dennis and Dave Messenger and setting a new Power Trophy lap record. Nathan Bignell took the Turismo class win in 10^th spot ahead of Richard Ford who took the Twin Spark class win and in the process, eclipsing his own lap record.

12^th placed Mark Skeggs in the Giulietta finished 5^th in the Power Trophy with Steve Godfrey 6^th and 18^th overall in the GT.

13^th placed James Powell’s 147 took 2^nd in the Turismo class with Dave Pickup’s similar car 3^rd and 17^th overall.

14^th placed George Warren took 2^nd in the Twin Spark class but the 147 had developed problems that meant it couldn’t take part in race 2. 16^th placed Ian Fenwick made up the 3^rd podium spot with Andy Winterton’s 156 4^th and 19^th overall. 15^th placed Keith Waite in his damaged 75 was 6^th in the Modified class with Andy Page completing the field albeit 3 laps down to the leaders.

Race 1 Results

Race 2

Graham Seager had managed to repair the 147 sufficiently for him to take the start for race 2 from the back of the grid. Behind him, the Fiat Punto of Chris McFie had also been fixed and would also start and George Warren, whose 147 was unable to start in race 2, would line up alongside Chris in the Bianco Motorsports 156 rental car.

As the lights went out to signal the start of race 2, it was once again the Alfa Workshop 4C that led the field around Copse corner from Jamie Thwaites and Gareth Hayward but this time, thankfully, the events of race one were not repeated and 21 of the 22 starters completed the first lap unscathed. Andy Page, who had trailered the damaged Giulietta home overnight to repair and return with it the following morning, unfortunately had to retire the car on the opening lap after sustaining further damage on collision with the pit wall. Scott Austin started well but also had to retire his 156 after 2 laps with a loss of boost pressure to the turbo. Mike Hilton had dropped to 5^th on lap one but he managed to regain 4^th from Toby Broome on lap 2, then Jamie Thwaites had a moment on lap 3, dropping himself to 5^th and allowing Mike to move up to 3^rd place. Jamie successfully set about the task of recovering lost ground to the front runners and as the leading duo were lapping Graham Seager at the start of lap 10, he took the opportunity to claim the inside line into Copse to regain the lead from Jack’s 4C. Later that lap, Jack lost a little more time as he held a slide going through Brooklands, however Jamie’s lead would soon be shortlived. As he went through Beckets the car suffered a rear brake lockup which caused him to spin on to the run off area, allowing Jack to put the 4C back into the lead. What’s more, Jamie had some difficulty restarting the car, losing a full lap and returning to the fray as Jack went past for the second time. Gareth Hayward had also profited from Jamie’s problems to lie in 2^nd place, himself now closing in on the leading car.

In the meantime, Mike Hilton’s 4C had disappeared from the Leaderboard. The rear suspension had broken on lap 10 causing Mike to pull off the circuit at Luffield to retire the car. This resulted in the deployment of the safety car for a lap and a half, at which point the Clerk of the Course decided to Red Flag the race and with two minutes remaining on the clock, the results were declared as at the culmination of lap 13 behind the safety car.

By the time the safety car had been deployed, Gareth Hayward had made up ground at the front and was only a third of a second behind Jack’s 4C. Toby Broome was the leading Power Trophy car, with George Osborne 2^nd, Stacey Dennis 3^rd and Dave Messenger 4^th. Jamie Thwaites took the 3^rd podium spot in the Modified class finishing 7^th overall and maintaining his chances to take the class championship battle to the final race weekend in three weeks time. Keith Waite was the only other finisher in 4^th place and 17^th overall.

Chris McFie, who had got in front of Graham Seager on the first lap, had managed to work his way through the field and was in 9^th position, fifth in the Power Trophy class, with Graham next up in 10^th. In the Turismo class, Nathan Bignell was once again leading the way in his 33, with James Powell in 2^nd spot and Dave Pickup 3^rd. Richard Ford led the Twin Sparks from Ian Fenwick with George Warren 3^rd and Andy Winterton 4^th.

The Driver of the Weekend award was presented to Gareth Hayward for an excellent returning drive in the GTV.

Toby Broome leads the championship after ten rounds and his current points tally cannot be overhauled.

Jack Berry leads the Modified class from Jamie Thwaites with Andy Page third. Jamie has a seven point lead if dropped scores are taken into account. Barry McMahon has a mathematical chance of taking third spot.

Toby Broome leads the Power Trophy class from Chris McFie and Stacey Dennis who will contest second in class at the final weekend, Stacey holding a ten point advantage over Chris taking into account dropped scores.

Nathan Bignell leads the Turismo class by a significant margin. James Powell is in second place closely followed by Ben Robinson three points adrift. Dave Pickup also has a mathematical chance of taking third spot.

Richard Ford leads the Twin Spark class with George Warren second and Ian Fenwick third. James Ford is thirty points behind Ian but only ten points behind after dropped scores are taken into account. The final two rounds of the season are once again on the National Circuit at Silverstone on 1 and 2 November.

Race 2 Results