RACE PREVIEW
1600cc THC class – and not just because of its colossal entry size . The fast but nimble Ford Lotus Cortina is the main staple of the class , with well over a dozen cars on the grid , but its speed on flowing circuits where balance is all that matters is such that the best-driven examples will be a threat to any number of Mustangs and Falcons . At Donington and Brands Hatch , Cortinas have won overall against the American V8s , and they will certainly run rings around the muscle cars on the more twisty sections of Silverstone , such as the Arena and the Brooklands / Luffield section . The proven race winner shared by Marcus Jewell and Ben Clucas leads the Cortina entry , but neither discount David Dickenson , Justin Law , Shaun Balfe nor reigning champions Richard Dutton and Neil Brown , the Fortec Motorsport boss teaming up with the engine wizard in the number one Cortina . Another contender in class is shared by Bentley Le Mans winner Guy Smith and his father Peter . Meanwhile , the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA will provide a mediterranean touch to the class .
The 1300cc THD class is the small-car class and has been dominated for years – as in period – by the Mini Cooper S of both the Morris and the Austin variety . Many of the car ’ s specialists are expected to feature in doorhandle-to-doorhandle fights among countless examples of what is arguably the tail-happiest front-wheel-drive car you will ever witness . At the time of writing ,
Friday 17:50 - 18:17 RACE 20 Sunday 18:15 - 19:00
the editor ’ s pick is a straight fight between former BTCC racers Ian Curley and Jeff Smith , who have been stars in the all-Mini races that have featured at The Classic in the past three years , and both are expected to be right up there with several of the Cortinas . Also look out for lady racer Jo Polley in her bright magenta Mini .
MATTIJS DIEPRAAM
106