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23rd September 2017 - Snetterton 200
Two Wins for Hibberd
Andrew Hibberd was in a class of his own in the Historic Formula 3 Championship during the HSCC race meeting at Snetterton on Saturday (23 September) and won both races by a handy margin.
With qualifying and two races all packed in to one day, it was a busy day for the teams and drivers and a good 16-car field lined up for qualifying on a still damp track. While Hibberd (Brabham BT18) mastered tricky conditions to go fastest by a fair margin, two cars were quickly sidelined with engine problems. Keith Messer (Vesey) and Jon Milicevic (Brabham BT21B) were out for the day and Milicevic will now go to the Silverstone final to try and secure the 2017 title.
It was fully dry for the opening race and Hibberd was quick to assert his authority as his rivals battled for second place. Hibberd was able to edge away at up to two seconds a lap. “I lost track a bit in the middle of the race: I thought they were all going to stay with me,” said Hibberd.
Behind the race winner was an entertaining battle for second between Peter Needham (March 703) and Michael Scott (Brabham BT28). Only in the closing stages was Needham able to ease a few seconds clear to make sure of his best result so far in the March. Scott was pleased to finish on the podium after a seven-hour journey from Exeter on Friday. “I had a great battle with Peter but he’s younger than me!”
Another fine tussle ran for fourth place as Jim Blockley (Chevron B17) just kept ahead of Gregan Thruston (Brabham BT21B), Mark Linstone (Brabham BT21) and John Waggitt (Chevron B15). Paul Waine (De Sanctis) and Marcus Mussa (Tecno) rounded out the top 10 finishers but out of luck was Leif Bosson who pulled off and retired his Brabham BT28.
Later in the day, the second race followed a similar pattern as Hibberd pulled clear to complete a resounding double in the ex-Chris Irwin Brabham. Despite a clear victory, Hibberd was still chasing a persistent top-end misfire. Once again Needham and Scott battled for second and Needham was able to edge clear in the later stages. “I was a lot better at the start this time but I couldn’t live with him,” said Needham. Scott was pleased to scoop his second podium of the day. “That was hard work: his car handles beautifully,” he said of Needham’s March.
After a non-finish in the first race, Steve Seaman started his Brabham BT21 at the tail of the grid for race two but then moved strongly through the field to pip Waggitt for fifth as the Chevron racer struggled for gears. Linstone was sixth as Peter Hamilton just beat Mussa for seventh in a neat Tecno contest.
Paul Lawrence
View Results and Timings (as a PDF document) [PDF]
