One-Litre F3 Historic Racing Association

5th-7th June 2015 - Dijon

Gallo and Widmer Take the Wins France retains the National Cup

A total of twenty two cars arrived at Circuit Dijon-Prenois for the Grand Prix de L’Age d’Or for the annual Nations Cup, to be run once more for the Bev Bond Trophy. A total of seven teams took part representing holders France, Great Britain, Germany, Sweden, Monaco and Switzerland.

Qualifying took place on Friday under blazing sunshine, and saw Thierry Gallo take pole from Francois Derossi and Ian Bankhurst, all three lapping at over 150kph. Max Blees, Paul Waine were next up lapping in the 1.32s, ahead of Widmer, Slotine, Maulini and Traber who were closely grouped together. Messer, Blockley, Timms and Bosson were all min the 1.34s, Peter Hamilton was just ahead of Roland Fischer who was one of several drivers having engine dramas. Poponcini’s Cooper was running in Class B for the weekend and to add to the confusion the Belgian was running as part of the Swedish Team. Clas Muller, Andrea Delea, Holland and Pascall rounded out the grid. Mark Linstone was black flagged in error after a couple of laps, but in the end the timekeepers found a time which put him tenth fastest; Marcus Mussa had transponder problems which were eventually resolved.

Sadly qualifying had raised all sorts of issues, Ian Bankhurst was out for the weekend with terminal engine problems, Chris Holland had overheating issues and needed a head gasket change; Fischer had carburettor issues, Blockley was another head gasket change.

Chris Holland elected not to start race one, and Mark Linstone had his gear linkage fail on the parade lap. From the start Gallo and Derossi were out on their own from a nine car train of cars, none of whom was able to break away. Fischer had been in trouble from the start, and after a couple of stops he pulled off for good on lap 5, we also lost Delea and Traber to overheating whilst Maulini retired with terminal engine problems. Out front the Gallo and Derossi battle continued until Derossi shot into the pits with a loose tail pipe, Paul Hughes and Dean Forward’s lads pitched in and soon had him back out just in time to rejoin his battle with Gallo, albeit a lap down. The chasing group had already lost Traber and Maulini; and a brief safety car intervention had kept the cars close together, Blockley had a big moment which broke up the group, and allowed Blees to break clear, then a spin from Waine added to the excitement. By now, Messer had started to pick his way through and gradually emerged ahead of the Slotine, Widmer, Bosson, the recovering Waine, Mussa and Timms, but still behind Blees who appeared to be out of reach. Unfortunately Blees had a fuel line fail which allowed a disbelieving Messer into second. Gallo continued in splendid isolation to take a well deserved victory from Messer and Slotine; Widmer, Bosson, Waine, Mussa and Timms. Jim Blockley pulled off on the last lap with a loose ignition wire but was still classified, just ahead of the unlucky Max Blees. Maurice Slotine led the enthusiastic podium celebrations by getting his champagne open first, Gallo and Messer not faring too well in the ensuing battle.

There was much work to done before race two, Bosson had his transmission replaced, Fischer head gasket and chipped valve, Linstone re-built his gear linkage, while poor Louis Maulini packed up, his engine being beyond repair.

The grid for race two was based on the finishing order for race one, so plenty of quick drivers would be making their way through the field; it all looked very promising. We lost Messer with carburettor problems before the formation lap, unfortunately there were more problems ahead. Gallo made a tardy getaway (gearbox), Mussa made what was later judged to be an over enthusiastic start from row four, and towards the back of the grid contact was made. Yellow flags had been waved promptly, but by the time the dust had settled, four cars were seen to have been involved; Gallo was able to rejoin with slightly deranged rear anti roll bar. Traber, Pascall and Linstone were not so lucky, all three cars were badly damaged but fortunately all drivers were unhurt. The organisers had scrambled the safety car, and brought the field through the pit lane whilst the damaged cars were removed. Once racing resumed Widmer found himself leading and drove well to stay clear of his immediate rivals (Slotine, Bosson, Waine, Timms Blockley and Mussa), however closing were Fischer, Derossi and Blees who were working their way through rapidly. Frantic pit signals from Austin Widmer were keeping ‘dad’ Widmer informed, and Christoph held on to take a well deserved first victory from Fischer, Derossi and Blees. Bosson came fifth ahead of Clas Muller (his best result) and Marcus Mussa who had served his drive through penalty. Paul Waine had a thoroughly uncomfortable race, having managed to spill fuel into his seat before the start! His injuries remain a secret.

Jim Blockley pulled off with engine problems, whilst Jim Timms and Maurice Slotine managed to come together, Jim suffering a puncture, Maurice a broken drive shaft.

Patrick Peter of the organising Peter Auto Organisation very kindly came to present the awards for the Nations Cup, and once again the Bev Bond Trophy went to the French Team of Francois Derossi, Thierry Gallo and Maurice Slotine; second to Sweden, Leif Bosson, Clas Muller and Mauro Popncini and third to Monaco, Marcus Mussa, Mike Pascall and Paul Waine.

We would like to thank Louis Quiniou of the Peter Auto Organisation, for all his help over the weekend, for the superb facilities provided and for a fantastic weekend. To all those who came and enjoyed a superb weekend of racing, many thanks.

Mike Faloon.

View Results and Timings (as a PDF document) [PDF]



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