PREVIEW : SNETTERTON
Road Sports
The season starts here !
Welcome to the start of the 2024 racing season from the Historic Sports Car Club . This weekend of action on the Snetterton 200 circuit marks the start of another year for the club that has historic racing at its heart . Paul Lawrence previews the racing .
The HSCC story goes right back to 1966 when the first historic sports car race was run in the UK and the club is proud to still be at the forefront of UK historic racing . Across a very full weekend of 20 races , there is much to see and enjoy . Don ’ t forget that most HSCC competitors are very happy to chat about their cars and their racing . As long as you pick your time sensibly , they ’ ll stop and tell you about the sheer pleasure and enjoyment that can be gained from racing a historic car with likeminded individuals .
As the sport comes out of winter hibernation grids are good , notably in the combined race for the Historic Road Sports and 70s Road Sports Championships , with a 20-minute race each day of the weekend .
The historic category caters for cars produced up to 1969 and includes the very quick Morgan Plus 8 of Richard Plant which will exploit the long Bentley Straight as well as its handling through this fast corners . Simon King has another Morgan Plus 8 while rapid Lotus Elans are handled by Robert Rowe , Fraser Gibney , Barry Ashdown and Adrian Gilbert .
Over in the 70s division , a couple of rapid local drivers will be to the fore . Anthony Ross has his very effective TVR 3000M , while Howard Payne ’ s Lotus Europa will surely be on the pace following a catalogue of problems last year . Current champion Mark Leverett fields his Lotus Elan S4 and John Williams is always quick with his Porsche 911SC .
Topping the single seater action will be the opening race in the Historic Formula Junior Championship with around two dozen of these wonderful late ‘ 50s and early 1960s single seaters going into battle .
Former GT ace Chris Goodwin is a standout in his Lotus 22 as a likely pacesetter , although Andrew Hibberd will give strong chase in his Lotus 20 along with his father Michael in their Lotus 22 . reigning champion Nic Carlton-Smith opens another title bid at his local track having traded his rare but effective Kieft for a later Lotus 20 .
Another fine single seater grid is for the Historic Formula Ford 2000 Championship which opens with a double-header and it is young Samuel Harrison who could be the absolute man to beat in the
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Historic FF2000