Gallery 2025 06 June Zandvoort
Gallery 2025 06 June Zandvoort Qualifying
Gallery 2025 06 June Zandvoort Race 1
Gallery 2025 06 June Zandvoort Race 2
20th-22nd June 2025 - Zandvoort
Historic Grand Prix UK Championship R5 + R6 + European F3 Trophy
Zandvoort - The Dutch Historic Grand Prix - two more emphatic wins for de la Roche
The Dutch seaside town of Zandvoort welcomed 23 screaming Formula 3 racers from across the world to compete over three days at the Dutch Historic Grand Prix in front of a record crowd and mainly blazing hot sunshine.
The mainly known-to-each-other F3 racers rolled into town on Thursday setting up camp in the tented part of the paddock. Thanks to Swiss Christoph Widmer, this was specially set up by the organisers in honour of the F3 brigade who on this occasion were also racing for the historic and prestigious Nations’ Cup. Much friendship renewing was interspersed with car and clothing scrutineering on the Thursday before the action commenced on Friday.
QUALIFYING
Quick straight out of the blocks in the 20 minutes of qualifying on Friday afternoon, Peter de la Roche in the de la Roche family’s recently acquired Alexis Mk17 went straight to top of the timing sheets with a 1:52.3 a full 1.5 seconds ahead of the always quick Christoph Widmer in his faithful and battle hardened Brabham BT18A. Mark Carter’s strong ex Ian Walker Racing BT21B now running under the Speedsport banner was third ahead of Francois Derossi (Chevron B17), Jason Timms (BT21B), Ludovic Ingwiller in his rare Pygmee. Rounding out the top ten were Roland Fischer (another quick series stalwart in his Tecno 169), Max Blees (BT28), Jonathan Sharp (B17), and Charlie Martin in Paul Waine’s De Sanctis F3/69.
Sadly, Andrew Tart’s Merlyn Mk9 boiled out it’s water presaging a difficult weekend, whilst Ross Dryborough had no 4th gear and a worryingly loose steering column, sensibly confining him to the pits after only a couple of laps.
Qualifying was then wrapped up after a red flag interruption leaving only a short time for a few quick flyers.
RACE 1
Saturday dawned hot and sunny. Race 1 was late in the afternoon. Air temperatures rose to over 30C with track temperatures at over 50C resulting in drivers adopting various means to keep cool before getting in their cars (one driver even electing not start so hot were conditions) whilst some teams made set up changes to deal with the tyres likely to get overheated, making the cars more like driving on bubblegum.
Predictably, Peter de la Roche got a flyer when the Grand Prix style lighting sequence went out – astonishingly he was 7 seconds clear before the end of lap 1 enroute to an emphatic and well-deserved win, easing off towards the end but still being over 32 seconds clear of Jason Timms. Always quick, Jason really pulled the plug and propelled his BT21B to a well-deserved 2nd place. Much of this was down to the usual friendly but hard Euro scrap featuring Christoph Widmer and Francois Derossi joined this time by Ludovic Ingwiller, who now has his Pygmee really going. Ludovic finished a popular 3rd behind Jason and ahead of a charging Ross Drybrough, making amends for his unrepresentative starting spot.
Ross made rapid progress before catching a fast-starting Jonathan Sharp with whom he swopped places a couple of times before breaking free and setting some very quick times that would put him 2nd on the grid for Race 2 (grid positions determined by Race 1 fastest laps). Behind Ross were a couple of B17s – Francois Derossi ahead of Jonathan Sharp. Sadly, by this time Christoph Widmer had crashed his BT18A exiting Turn 12 rendering the car a non-starter for Race 2.
Max Blees finished 7th, having initially had a tussle with Jonathan Sharp. Charlie Martin(another fast starter) was 8th ahead of Francis Falconer in 9th (B15C – on his first visit to Zandvoort). Rounding out the top ten was a slowing Andrew Tart, his Merlyn deciding once again to boil its water.
Clas Muller (BT28), not having raced for a long time, was slowly getting his mojo back, finishing ahead of Stefano Caminati and his technically interesting and well prepared BWA332. Leiff Bosson (BT28) was a welcome returnee after surgery. Calvin Widmer’s invitation class Lotus 61M made it two Lotus together ahead of Tony Wallen’s pristine ex Carlos Pace 59A. Series newcomer Carles Ischi (March 703) made up for hist first race disappointment at Cadwell Park just pipping Simon Etherington’s beautiful blue BT15 who in turn was ahead of Mark Carter (hampered by a plug lead coming off) and Alejo Perez-monsalvo and his Alexis Mk12.
Roland Fischer didn’t finish, stopping out on circuit, whilst Martin “How Hard Can It Be” Whitlock retired when he sensed something was amiss suspension-wise.
Saturday evening was rounded off with wine and nibbles generously provided by Team Germany’s Roland Fischer and Max Blees, no doubt much supported by European colleagues. Racing on track might be hard and fair but the F3 screamers know how to be sociable and friendly too.
RACE 2
Sunday dawned much cooler, much to everyone’s relief.
Once again, Peter de al Roche made an impeccable getaway and race, despite having to cope with two safety car events resulting in him having to deal with potential attacks on the restart, particularly with the long straight.
Ross Drybrough’s fast Race 1 laps put him best placed to challenge Peter but to no avail, having to settle for a nonetheless well deserved second place.
Roland Fischer made rapid progress through the field from the back. The two safety cars played to his advantage but his 3rd position at the end was well deserved.
Close behind was Jason Timms (4th), who was only just ahead of Jonathan Sharp (5th), who didn't attempt an overtake being conscious they were both on the same Nations’ Cup team. Ludovice Ingwiller was unable to repeat his Race 1 podium, finishing 6th ahead of Derossi (7th), Blees (8th) and Falconer getting quicker in 9th.
Rounding out the top 10 was Clas Muller ahead of fellow Swede Leiff Bosson.
Sadly, Tony Wallen’s immaculate Lotus 59A lost a wheel, “fortunately” at the exit of the slower Turn 1. Anywhere else and the outcome might have been different.
Mark Carter spun out at Turn 4, whilst other retirees included Simon Etherington and Charlie Martin. Andrew Tart joined Christoph Widmer as a non-starter, deciding to uncover why his car was boiling rather than risking his engine.
As the event drew to a close, the Nations’ Cup was awarded on the podium to Great Britain’s Team B of Jason Timms, Jonathan Sharp and Keith Messer.
Zandvoort-2025-Qualifying.pdf [PDF]
