Gallery 2025 07 July Oulton Park
25th-27th July 2025 - Oulton
HSCC / MSV Gold Cup UK Championship R9 + R10
Historic Formula 3 Round 9 & 10 for the Sir Jackie Stewart Trophy.
The Historic Formula 3 Championship finale took place at Oulton Park as part of the Gold Cup Meeting. It would eventually be 19 cars that took part in the race with 17 cars taking part in the qualifying. The Gold Cup race meeting was hosting the 60th anniversary of the Chevron marque with a display at the circuit. In the entry, there were 4 Chevrons. The earliest being the recently restored SpeedSport Chevron B7. This unique car driven by Peter Gethin in period having its first outing in the hands of Samuel Harrison making a brief appearance back in Historic racing. Jake Shortland was having a Gold Cup run in the ex Barrie Maskell Chevron B9, with Josh Sharp and Steve Nichols running Chevron B17.
Enrico Spaggiari continued his run of UK races with the ex John Miles Lotus 41X, Richard Trott also having his second run of the season in his Brabham BT28, Charlie Martin was back with the De Sanctis. All off the Championship contenders were entered. Peter De la Roche the points leader along with Ross Drybrough and Jason Timms.
Qualifying
Andrew Tart did not take part in qualifying after a gearbox problem prevented him from taking part. It was Simon Armer that set the early pace. Peter De La Roche quickly established himself at the head of the timing sheets. Towards the end of the session Jason Timms and Enrico Spaggiari set their fastest laps. The Lotus taking second by 0.133s from Jason’s Brabham. Ross Drybrough 4th in his Merlyn Mk14a with Charlie Martin 5th in the De Sanctis. Josh Sharp at his home circuit was 6th and the first of the Chevron’s car. The top 10 being completed by Steve Seaman Brabham BT21 7th, Simon Armer March 703 8th,Jake Shortland Chevron B9 9th and Richard Trott in the Brabham BT28 10th.
Race 1
Off the line Enrico Spaggiari made the best start to lead into Old Hall with Peter De la Roche second, Jason Timms third, Ross Drybrough fourth, Charlie Martin fifth, Josh Sharp sixth with Richard Trott seventh from 10th on the grid. Jake Shortland retired out on circuit with coil failure and Samuel Harrison retired to the pits with the B7. The Chevron having an untraceable misfire that precluded Samuel from taking further part in the race meeting. At the back of the grid non qualifier Andrew Tart was joined by the late entry of Jon Milicevic in his Formula Junior Brabham BT6 who would be running in the Invitation class.
Both cars made rapid progress through the field, by lap 2 Jon was 11th with Andrew Tart 15th crossing the line on the tail of Martin Whitlock’s Brabham BT21. Lap 3 Andrew had passed Martin focussing on Leif Bosson ahead. Steve Seaman in 8th place had Simon Armer and Jon Milicevic in close pursuit
Enrico Spaggiari and Peter De La Roche had a 2.4secs gap back to Jason Timms in third. The lead two were locked together in what would be engrossing duel for the rest of the race. Enrico admitted that Peter had the faster car, but he drove tactically to ensure that Peter could never quite take advantage of the speed difference.
Ross Drybrough in the opening laps was equally close to his Championship rival Jason Timms both contesting 2nd place in the Championship. As they caught the slower cars, Jason was able to create an advantage, securing his third place behind the battle for the lead. On lap 4 Jon Milicevic passed Simon Armer into 8th place but Simon was not going to let the Brabham go. As he explained after the event. The Formula Junior has a straight line advantage but has to brake a lot earlier but Simon could not find the way past.
Andrew Tart’s race ended with his pursuit of Leif Bosson. Andrew was so eager in his efforts to pass Leif he used the heavy foot setting rather than the light foot setting on the throttle. After a race through the pack his engine cried enough at the end of lap 5.
On lap 8, Steve Seaman had a long lap which let Steve Nichols through into 10th place. Steve Nicholls obligingly making a similar mistake the following lap allowing the pair to race to the flag, with Steve Seaman crossing the line first.
After an engrossing race with fabulous clean racing Enrico Spaggiari claimed the win by 0.198sec from Peter De La Roche. The result ensuring that Peter could not be overtaken on points making him the provisional Historic Formula 3 Champion. Jason Timms finished third Ross Drybrough fourth who had Charlie Martin closing in fifth place just 0.379sec behind Drybrough. Sixth was Josh Sharp, Richard Trott seventh, Jon Milicevic eighth, Simon Armer ninth, Steve Seaman completing the top 10
Race 2
For race 2 the grid was formed from the lap times of race 1. Peter De La Roche confirming Enrico’s post race comments by taking pole position. Second on the grid was Ross Drybrough with Enrico third, Jason Timms 4th ,Charlie Martin 5th ,Richard Trott 6th, Josh Sharp 7th ,Jon Milicevic 8th ,Simon Armer 9th ,Steve Seaman 10th. Andrew Tart and Samuel Harrison being non starters.
Both Peter and Enrico made poor starts, Enrico commenting he had clutch slip off the line. Into Old Hall, it was Ross Drybrough, leading Jason Timms, with Peter in 3rd place. By the end of lap 1 Peter had moved into second place Jason Timms third with Enrico Spaggiari 4th. At the end of the lap Jake Shortland brought his Chevron into the pit. Bringing up the rear of the grid were Steve Seaman and Steve Nichols. Steve Nichols having had a spin at Cascades with Steve Seaman taking to the grass in avoidance.
On lap 2 Peter De La Roche came through in the lead, with Ross Drybrough in second Jason Timms in third. Enrico was in a lonely 4th place Richard Trott had moved up to 5th Charlie Martin 6th .
In 11th place Martin Whitlock was heading a train of 5 cars with Gil Duffy, Steve Nichols, Anthony Wallen, and Steve Seaman. On lap 5 Jason Timms passed Ross Drybrough at Old Hall to move into second place. On this lap Anthony Wallen and Martin Whitlock tangled. Martin able to return to pits after a delay. But Anthony’s car was stranded. A safety car was called and caught the leader unfortunately the field was so split the Race was brought to a halt with a Red Flag. By agreement with the drivers the result was declared at 5 laps. Jake Shortland did attempt to rejoin the race following his pit stop but he retired on circuit without completing a further lap.
The Trophy presentations were conducted on the podium by Mike Wilds. Peter De la Roche collecting a number of prizes. He was the winner of the Sir Jackie Stewart Trophy plus the Julia O’Brien Memorial Trophy, with Josh Sharp receiving the trophy for the highest placed Chevron. Jon Milicevic winning the Invitation class Trophy. The last race for the Historic Formula 3 drivers will take place as part of the Spa Historic 6 Hour Race Meeting in Belgium. This being part of the European Championship. Many competitors will be looking forward to racing on this fast challenging track hoping not to encounter the heavy rains the Formula 1 cars experienced in Belgium over the Gold Cup Weekend.
Report by Alan Jones
