One-Litre F3 Historic Racing Association

24th-25th May 2025 - Cadwell Park

HSCC Wolds Trophy UK Championship R3 + R4 + European F3 Trophy - Two dominant wins by Peter de la Roche

Two races for the Justin Haler Memorial Trophy at the fantastic Cadwell Park. View the footage of the 1969 F3 race Club racing September 1969 at Rufforth and Cadwell Park in case you need any convincing!

Race Report by Alan Jones (Results at bottom of page).

Entry and Qualifying.

The Historic Formula 3 races at Cadwell Park always pay tribute to Justin Haler with two Trophy races dedicated to his memory. The Wolds Trophy Meeting itself when created was dedicated to all the generations of Formula 3, starting with the 500cc cars of the 1940s, to the Screamer period and the later cars building up to the 2 litre cars of the 1980s.

Sadly the 500cc cars and the 2 Litre cars, have waned in their enthusiasm for the event, but running alongside the one litre Formula 3 cars, with their own races were Historic Formula Junior which were the previous graduate Formula into International racing and Formula One.

17 cars were entered for the Cadwell Park races, with 3 representatives from the European Championship taking part in their first round of the season. Christoph Widmer and Francois Derossi in Brabham BT18a and Chevron B17 respectively headed the continental entry. The pair renewing their duel which has been contested over many seasons. Joining them for this his first season of racing would be Charles Ischi. Sadly, he did not get to race as he had a drive shaft fail on his March 703 in testing and had to spectate the rest of the weekend.

.  

London based Alejo Perez Monsalvo, author of De Tomaso: Racing Blue Blood, was entered in his Alexis Mk12, whilst Peter De La Roche would also be representing Alexis with his Mk17. Andrew Tart and Ross Drybrough were competing in their Merlyn’s Mk 9 and 17 respectively. Brabham would be well represented Simon Etherington having the earliest example the BT15. 2024 Champion Andrew Hibberd would be a late entry in his BT18. BT21 would be represented by Snetterton double winner Jason Timms, and Martin Whitlock. Completing the Brabham line up would be Mark Pangborn BT28.

A new name in a familiar car, would be Charlie Martin, in Paul Waine’s De Sanctis, campaigned occasionally by Austin Widmer, Christoph’s son. For Charlie, the De Sanctis would be a new experience being more familiar with Paul’s larger engined Grand Prix Cooper. Charlie had rewired the F3 car over the winter and was now getting used to the car, his father coming along to assist with the mechanicing.

Jonathan Sharp and Francis Falconer completed the major manufacturer entry with Chevron B17 and unque B15c respectively. Historic Formula 3 instigator Keith Messer in his one-off Vesey Ford completed the field.

The arrival of the end of May Bank Holiday heralded the end of the dry spell that had lasted through April and much of May. Overnight rain had left a slippery track around the barn area. Francis Falconer would be one of the drivers to spin up there. The field was divided with some runners benefiting from the quick Hoosier wets.

On track Peter De La Roche was in a class of his own being one of four to set a sub two-minute time. Andrew Hibberd setting the second fastest time with Charlie Martin getting to grips early on with the De Sanctis for an early third position with Ross Drybrough 4th. After 5 laps the session would come to halt after Francois Derossi found the barriers doing a lot of damage to the front of his car. Francois having set 7th fastest time of that part of the session on lap 3. At this point Francis Falconer would be 5th and Christoph Widmer 6th.

After the circuit had been cleared qualifying would recommence for 7 minutes. Leading the session on the track would be Andrew Hibberd who maintained his front row position alongside Peter De La Roche who with his final lap ensured he stayed in pole position by 7 tenths of a second. Peter and Andrew in a race of their own held a 5 second advantage over the following pack.

3rd place on the grid would go to Ross Drybrough with Charlie Martin alongside a further second and a half behind.

Jason Timms and Francis Falconer completed the top 6 being the last of the cars to put in a sub 2-minute lap. The gap in time from 1st to 6th would be 12.686 seconds. The gap between Christoph Widmer and Francois De Rossi would be a lot closer despite Francois’ curtailed qualifying session whilst keeping them in close company would be Jonathan Sharp.

Martin Whitlock completed the top 10. The remainder of the field would line up as follows: Andrew Tart, Alejo Perez-Monsalvo, Mark Pangborn, Simon Etherington and the luckless Keith Messer completing the entry. Keith failing to complete a lap.

Race 1

It was a busy time in the paddock as Francois De Rossi’s Chevron was repaired and rebuilt with the damaged bodywork being rapidly replaced. Fortuitously, Jonathan Sharp had a spare body section with him. At the start there was chaos as Francois making a good start found himself aiming for a closing gap between Christoph Widmer and Charlie Martin, the resulting tag unfortunately sending Charlie spinning across track into the barrier. Everyone avoided him, although Mark Pangborn had to brake hard and Keith Messer sadly rode over the back of his car, breaking the front upright on landing and ending Keith’s racing for the weekend.

At the front Peter De La Roche had made a clean start but his duel wit Andew Hibberd was truncated with Andrew spinning at Mansfield. Peter then had a 5 second gap back to Jason Timms in second place, with Ross Drybrough a further second back in 3rd place. Francois De Rossi in his repaired Chevron was following his friend Christoph Widmer closely in their battle for 4th place that would last all race long.

Jonathan Sharp was 6th with his teammate Andrew Tart 7th, Francis Falconer was 8th, Martin Whitlock 9th and Mark Pangborn completed the top 10. Following his early spin Andrew Hibberd came through 11th. As Peter De La Roche continued to extend his lead, Ross Drybrough closed the gap to Jason Timms, whilst Andrew Hibberd continued to work his way through the pack.

On lap 3 Ross slipped by Jason to take second place. Mark Pangborn was starting to make his recovery passing both Martin Whitlock and Francis Falconer as Andrew Tart started to close on Jonathan Sharp who was suffering from motion sickness.

On lap 6 Jason Timms reclaimed second place from Ross Drybrough a position he was to retain to the flag. Andrew Hibberd continued to pick off the cars in front of him finishing 6th behind the battling duo of Christoph Widmer and Francois De Rossi. Christoph often having daylight under his wheels as he cleared the mountain.

Behind Andrew there had been a three-car battle involving Mark Pangborn, Jonathan Sharp and Andrew Tart. The recovering Pangborn overtaking Jonathan to claim 7th position on the final lap of the race.

Race 2.

It would be 12 cars that lined up for the second of the Historic Formula 3 races. With the grid formed from the competitors fastest lap in Race 1. Peter De La Roche would be on pole position from Jason Timms second, Andrew Hibberd 3rd Ross Dryrbrough 4th with the European duellists Christoph Widmer and Francois De Rossi 5th and 6th.

Nonstarters from Race 1 would be Charlie Martin, who found the repair of the De Sanctis too complicated to complete in the Cadwell Paddock. Keith Messer had packed the Vesey into the trailer for a home repair following its brief flight in race 1.

Off the start Jason Timms and Peter De La Roche were side by side but that was the last Jason would see of Peter as the Alexis disappeared into an unchallenged lead. Finishing 37 seconds ahead of his nearest rival. By the end of lap 1 Jason had his mirrors full with the Brabham of Andrew Hibberd. 4th would be Christoph Widmer with Francois De Rossi following. Although this time. Francois could not stay close to Christoph’s Brabham. 

Missing from the front of the field was Ross Drybrough, who came through in 9th place at the end of the first lap. On lap 3 Ross caught and passed Jonathan Sharp and Mark Pangborn into 6th place.

As the race progressed the field began to spread out with the focus being on the progress of Ross Drybrough. Ross overtaking Francois on lap 6.

On lap 9 Jason Timms began to slow slipping down the field to retire with a broken rear doughnut promoting Christoph Widmer into the final podium position. Ross was continuing to close Christoph denying him his UK podium on lap 11.

Jonathan Sharp would finish 6th behind Francois De Rossi in 5th, with Mark Pangborn finishing 7th after enjoying an earlier dice with Francis Falconer. Andrew Tart finished 9th his engine having sounded fluffy for the later part of the race. Simon Etherington rounded out the top 10, with Alejo Perez-Monsalvo completing the finishers with only three gears.

After a dominant performance Peter De La Roche was awarded the Justin Haler Trophy for his aggregate and very popular win.

Alan Jones

Full race results and analysis can be found by clicking on the following link to TSL Live Timing

https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=HSCC/2025/252156hf3.pdf">" target="_blank">https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=HSCC/2025/252156hf3.pdf [PDF]