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21st-22nd May 2016 - Silverstone
Historic Formula 3 Championship debutant Jon Milicevic takes a commanding win
Jon Milicevic made a perfect Historic F3 debut with victory in the third round of the HSCC Historic Formula 3 Championship at Silverstone on Sunday (22 May).
The race on the full Grand Prix circuit at Silverstone drew a good grid, including former Formula Junior ace Milicevic at the wheel of the Brabham BT21B last raced by Dean Forward. Simon Armer (March 703) battled ahead of first round winner Peter Thompson (Brabham BT21) to take second place.
Milicevic was only just ready for his home race after a big rush to get an engine ready, but he still ran strongly in qualifying to take pole by a handy margin on a track that still had damp patches in some critical places. Armer was second fastest from Michael Hibberd, who was back in the ex-Chris Irwin Brabham BT18 raced by his son Andrew at Castle Combe.
Steve Seaman (Brabham BT21), Steve Smith (Chevron B15C) and Leif Bosson (Brabham BT28) were closely-matched in the next grid places, while Thompson was down in seventh as Ewen Sergison (Brabham BT21), Chris Holland (Brabham BT21) and Keith Messer (Vesey) completed the top 10. Destined not to start after qualifying problems were Jim Blockley (Chevron B15) and Andy Jarvis (March 703).
Milicevic converted pole into a handy early lead as Hibberd ran second but was soon under pressure from the charging Thompson. Armer was in the mix as well but it all changed mid-race when a rain shower swept across the southern end of the track. While the start/finish line area stayed relatively dry, conditions half a mile away were treacherous and drivers had to tip-toe through the normally fast sweeps of Maggotts and Becketts.
Hibberd was one of several to spin and after a second spin he retired to pits rather than risk damaging the car. However, Milicevic was master of the conditions and ran out winner by over seven seconds. Armer had been challenging Thompson before the rain came and was able to sneak ahead and pull clear on the slippery track. Thompson had a quick spin on the exit of Becketts which gave the closely-following Armer a bit of a scare.
Bosson had a good run to fourth while an entertaining battle raged for fifth as Smith held off Marcus Mussa (Tecno) before another bunch comprising the Brabhams of Mark Linstone and Holland and the Lotus 41 of Barry Sewell. Clas Muller (Brabham BT28) rounded out the top 10.
Milicevic dedicated the win to his friend Sam Wilson who got an engine together for the Brabham in just 48 hours in the run up to the race. “The grip with these cars is absolutely phenomenal; now I’ve got to learn to drive it,” said Milicevic. “It was very slippery when the rain came and any third gear corners became second gear.” “I got a bit mugged on the first couple of laps,” said Armer. “But the rain helped a bit,” he added.
Paul Lawrence
