NEWS
Paul Cope
Cope ’ s March in Thundersports
Former Sports 2000 racer Paul Cope debuted an ex-Walter Wolf Racing March 75s in the Thundersports races at Silverstone . Chassis 01 , complete with a 2-litre BDG engine , was raced in the European 2-Litre championship in period by Italian drivers for Wolf ’ s team , and then spent most of its life in Italy including 20 years in hillclimbs .
It was then brought back to the UK and Cope acquired it for a rebuild through his Protran Competition company . “ It ’ s the car ’ s first proper run and likely to be its first race for maybe 25 or 30 years ,” said Cope , who plans to do more Thundersports races with the March sports-racing car .
Richardson set for F2 debut
Three more Historic Formula 2 cars are set to join the grid this season , notably the ex-Patrick Depailler March 752 now owned by Mark Richardson . Richardson , who also races a Lola T290 in Thundersports , has had the 752 for three years after buying it from Jim Gathercole . It ’ s now been restored to original 1975 specification and put back into period livery . It was also raced by Brian Henton and later Ray Mallock in the 1970s , but it is not thought to have raced for many years . After a test at Donington Park recently Richardson plans to debut the car at the Silverstone Classic . “ This is its first time out and I ’ m very excited to give it a run ,” said the garden designer who first raced in Formula Vee in the 1980s .
Mark Richardson ’ s March 752
Teenager Samuel Harrison plans to join the F2 grid at the Silverstone Classic in a Lola T240 , which will start off running in Formula Atlantic trim . “ It is a work in progress but the classic at Silverstone is certainly our target ,” said Harrison , who has made his name so far in Classic and Historic Formula Ford . Meanwhile , Scottish racing newcomer Syd Fraser recently tested his latest acquisition , a 1600cc F2 March 712 which was the Mike Beuttler car in 1971 . Fraser , now 63 , has only been racing for three seasons . “ It ’ s a post mid-life crisis ,” said the Aberdeen driver , who started off doing track days . He has progressed through Formula Ford and Formula Junior . and says that the F2 car is the next step on the ladder , although it may not race this year . “ I just want to find out if I can do it ,” said Fraser who will be back in his Formula Junior Lotus 20 / 22 for the Silverstone Classic .
Briefs
n Karter Joseph Ahrens made his car debut at Donington Park , taking a fifth place in Classic FF1600 in the Van Diemen RF80 owned by Richard Tarling . The 20-year-old Londoner , who is not related to 1960s German F2 racer Kurt , hopes to do the rest of the Classic FF1600 season after an encouraging debut under the wing of Tarling and Linton Stutely at Enigma Motorsport .
Jonathan Palmer and Rick Morris
n Jonathan Palmer , boss of MotorSport Vision , flew in to Cadwell Park on the Saturday morning of the Wolds Trophy weekend and took the chance to meet up with his old mate Rick Morris , who was racing in classic Formula Ford . Back in the late 1970s they were Formula Ford rivals and they have been friends ever since . In 1979 , when Palmer left the works Royale team to join Van Diemen , Rick was able to take his place in the works Royale RP26 .
n After an 18-year sabbatical , Nick Bailey returned to racing at Donington Park in his Sports 2000 Royale S2000M in the Thundersports races . Bailey had not raced since doing Clubmans in 2003 . The car was originally a works owned chassis and was later owned and raced by Andrew Colley . “ It ’ s fantastic to be back . I spent most of the COVID year getting the car ready ,” said Bailey .
17