Gallery 2025 07 July Brands Hatch
12th-13th July 2025 - Brands Hatch
HSCC Super Prix UK Championship R7 + R8 + European F3 Trophy
The penultimate rounds of the Historic Formula 3 Championship were held at Brands Hatch on the Grand Prix circuit, as part of the HSCC Legends of Brands Hatch Super Prix Race Meeting.
Being in Kent there was a very good entry of 20 cars supplemented by some competitors from Europe. Being seen for the first time this year was the Lotus 41X of Enrico Spaggiari whilst Ludovic Ingwiller (Pygmee) and Clas Muller (Brabham BT28) made their welcome but ifrquent appearance in the UK. Christoph Widmer (Brabham BT18) and Francois De Rossi (Chevron B17) were at Brands to continue their friendly duel joined by Roland Fischer (Tecno), who partners Francois in Sportscar races. After his false start to the UK season at Cadwell Park, Charles Ischi was at Brands Hatch with his March 703 hoping to continue his progress from the last round at Zandvoort.
For the UK Richard Trott was making his first appearance of the year in his Brabham BT28, whilst the top 3 in the Championship were all entered. The on-form Peter De La Roche headed the entry with his Alexis Mk17, Ross Drybrough Merlyn Mk14a and Jason Timms Brabham BT21.
Qualifying
Welcome returnee former Champion Simon Armer had completed the rebuild of his March following his end of season shunt at Castle Combe. He led the field round for the opening laps of qualifying. Within two laps Richard Trott in the Brabham BT28 asserted himself at the head of field. Positioning himself well down the release order, Peter De La Roche in the Alexis was quickly setting fastest laps, briefly Ross Drybrough popped into the 3rd place slot, to be overtaken on the timing sheets by Jason Timms.
Charlie Martin did a sighting lap in Paul Waine’s De Sanctis, bringing it into the pits for adjustments before returning two laps later. Mark Pangborn was an early retirement from qualifying only completing three laps. The front of the grid was, based on time, forming into groups.
At the front Peter De La Roche and Richard Trott were separated by 0.319 second. A further second back would be Jason Timms, from Ross Drybrough and Enrico Spaggiara. Drybrough and Spaggiara being separated by 0.007 second. Christoph Widmer being just half a second back as sixth quickest. Simon Armer ws7th quickest, Roland Fischer 8th,Charlie Martin 9th whilst 10th was Ludovic Ingwiller in the Pygmee, Ludovic having navigated the gravel trap at Clearways to take the flag.
In 14th place was Chris Dunster having his first in his Lotus 31. It was really good to see one of the early cars taking part.
Race 1
The temperature for the first race on Saturday was very high. There had been delays throughout the day with minor incidents and oil being dropped so the track was not necessarily in prime condition but there was plenty of heat to warm the tyres.
It was almost a lights to flag victory for Peter De La Roche, but off the line it was Richard Trott in the Brabham that led into paddock Hill Bend. Another driver making a good start was Leif Bosson but he was overwhelmed around the first lap dropping back to 14th by the end of the first lap.
Simon Armer lost ground at the start following a brush with Ludovic Ingwiller. Simon Etherington also making a poor start finding himself in last position.
Peter De La Roche had passed Richard Trott to lead over the line with Jason Timms in 3rd place Ross Drybrough 4th and Enrico Spaggiari 5th. Charlie Martin completed the first lap in 11th place but retired the De Sanctis to the pits on the second lap with coil failure. At the head of the field Peter continued to extend his lead, from Richard who had Jason Timms shadowing him. Ross Drybrough had Enrico Spaggiari following closely. Their battle drawing them closer to Jason by the start of lap 5.
Simon Armer after his poor start both Roland Fischer and Christoph Widmer getting past him. Simon gradually slipped back eventually being caught by Ludovic Ingwiller which slowed him further when they briefly touched. On lap 2 Simon Etherington regrouped to dice for the remainder of the race with Alejo-Perez Monsalvo.
Anthony Wallen retired on lap 4 with engine issues which brought the safety car into play on lap 5 after the leading cars had crossed the control line. Ludovic Ingwiller had a rear suspension failure and became stuck in the gravel trap adding to the work to be done. The race ending with a win for Peter De La Roche, Richard Trott 2nd, Jason Timms 3rd. the top ten completing in the order of Ross Drybrough, Enrico Spaggiari, Roland Fischer, Christoph Widmer, Francois De Rossi, Simon Armer, Mark Pangborn.
Race 2
The second race for the Historic Formula 3 cars took place on the Sunday afternoon, again at the point where the temperature was hitting its peak. For Race 2 as per the series regulations the grid would be formed from the competitors fastest lap in race one.
After his runaway win on the Saturday it would be Peter De La Roche on pole in his yellow Alexis but alongside him was Enrico Spaggiari in the Lotus 41X resplendent in its Gold Leaf livery, Ross Drybrough in his orange Merlyn third with Richard Trott in his white and red Brabham BT28 completing the second row. The remaining lining up in the order Jason Timms, Roland Fischer, Christoph Widmer, Simon Armer Mark Pangborn. Absent from race 2 was Steve Nichols.
In their summer best liveries the grid raced into Paddock Hill bend to start their second race. Richard Trott made a slow getaway, Peter led into Paddock Hill but he was being challenged by Enrico, who looked threatening on the approach to Druids and again on the descent into Graham Hill Bend.
At the end of lap 1 Enrico led from Peter, with Ross third Jason Timms fourth with the recovering Richard Trott in 5th. Mark Pangborn had gained a place overtaking Simon Armer for ninth place, with behind Simon was Charlie Martin. Charlie having started from the back of the grid ater replacing a failed coil was starting to discover what the Iittle Italian car was capable of.
Clas Muller had a terrible first lap dropping back to 17th place 16 seconds behind the leader and almost 2 seconds behind Anthony Wallen in the Lotus 59 ahead.
Lap 2 Peter de La Roche was back in the lead with an advantage of 1.2 seconds which on the following lap he extended further to 1.8 seconds. It looked like another perfect score for Peter was in the offing. Enrico was second, but with the slowest lap time of the top 6. Richard Trott was continuing to move forward. Catching Jason Timms, quickly he would pass him in two laps to home in on Ross Drybrough by lap 4.
Alejo-Perez Monsalvo retired from the race after a spectacular blow up on lap 3 leaving Simon Etherington with a very lonely race.
On lap 5 Peter De La Roche was no longer alone at the head of the race as the heat started to take its toll of his tyres. He had his mirrors full of Enrico’s Lotus 41X, Richard Trott had moved up to third place and chasing after the lead pair. Mark Pangborn retired with overheating. On the previous lap Clas Muller passed Tony Wallen to head off in pursuit of Charles Uschi.
The Novice on his first visit to the circuit was settling in very well. The little March looking immaculate. As driver and car get more familiar we would expect to see him moving further up the order in Historic Formula 3.
Lap 6 saw a real turnaround in the race. Enrico in the Lotus leading from Richard Trott in the Brabham with Peter now back in third place. Peter was coming attack from behind as Ross Drybrough had recorded a time a full second quicker than Peter in front.
Lappery started on lap 7, which started to break up the battle for the podium places. Not that any of the slower car in anyway looked to impede those passing but where a fast car comes across a slower one can often be wrong place at wrong time.
Enrico and Richard managed to get through together keeping the race at the front alive. Ross Drybrough lost a place to Jason Timms on lap 8. Ross recording a slow lap time ensuring Peter only needed to look forward rather than back. Charlie Martin had brought the De Sanctis up to 8th place his next target being Roland Fischer.
Lap 9 Peter De La Roche again got close to Richard Trott but that proved to be his last opportunity. Richard did manage to reduce the gap to Enrico to just over one second but the Italian had the race under control to take the win. In the timekeepers were two members of the F1 timing team. Who upon seeing Enrico take the chequered flag started humming the Italian National Anthem. God Save the King Richard Trott was second with Peter De La Roche third, Jason Timms 4th, Ross Drybrough 5th Christoph Widmer 6th Charlie Martin 7th Francois De Rossi 8th Andrew Tart 9th with Leif Bosson completing the top 10 one lap down.
Roland Fischer who had been having a good dice with Christoph Widmer retired on lap 11, while Simon Armer who had closed in on Francois De Rossi retired on lap 12. Clas Muller recovered to finish 11th and Chris Dunster brought the Lotus 31 home in 13th .
In two weeks time the Championship Finale takes place at Oulton Park for the Gold Cup where the Formula 3 cars will be racing in the Sir Jackie Stewart Trophy Race.
Report by Alan Jones
Brands-Hatch-qualifying.pdf [PDF]
Brands-Hatch-R1-Results.pdf [PDF]
