Steve Hartley (Arrows A4) claimed honours in the opening FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship race of the season at the Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya on Saturday.

Simon Fish (Ensign N180) claimed pole position but was headed on the opening lap by young gun Michael Lyons (Hesketh 308E) who started to edge away from Fish who, in turn, was busy battling with local hero Joaquin Folch (Brabham BT49C). Lyons led impressively, given that his early Hesketh was also the pace-setter in the Pre-1978 division, and was helped in his task by a fierce fight behind in which Hartley and Folch traded places. However, Lyons was halted on lap nine when the Hesketh was hit by an electrical problem and the car retired.

Fish, therefore, inherited the lead, but in a race of attrition, he too was hit by a mechanical gremlin and he slowed two laps later, allowing the Hartley/Folch fight to assume the lead. The two continued to duel but Hartley hung on to win by just eight-tenths of a second. Third fell to Belgian touring car legend Jean-Michel Martin (Fittipaldi F8) ahead of the Williams’ of Christophe D’Ansembourg (FW07C) and Richard Eyre (FW08) and reigning champion Greg Thornton (Lotus 91/5).

After Lyons retired, Japanese driver Katsu Kubota (Lotus 72) inherited the Pre-78 win, chased home by Charles Nearburg (McLaren M23) and James Hagan (Ensign N177).

Behind the podium finishers, Manfredo Rossi di Montelera turned in a storming drive. Starting his Brabham BT42 from the pit lane after a clutch drama, the Italian hustled his Martini-liveried car to 14th in the 31-car field.

Race two for the FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship will run today as part of the Catalan Classic Festival.

-ends-