Voyazides/Hadfield star
Steve Hartley (Arrows A4) secured victory in the second leg of the FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship at the Barcelona circuit, while Leo Voyazides/Simon Hadfield took three wins, sharing a car in the FIA Masters Historic Sports Car Championship, Gentlemen Drivers Pre-66 GT Cars and Masters Pre-66 Touring Cars.
Steve Hartley’s second win in the FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship came from pole position but he was pressed hard throughout by Belgian ace Jean-Michel Martin (Fittipaldi F8). The two distanced themselves from the opposition, leaving Spanish favourite Joaquin Folch (Brabham BT49C) trailing in their wake. The hero of the race, though, was Michael Lyons who has started at the rear of the grid in his Hesketh 308E after dramas in race one. Lyons stormed through the field and secured fourth overall as well as winning the Pre-1978 division of the race from Katsu Kubota (Lotus 72) and Manfredo Rossi di Montelera (Brabham BT42).
Established Masters racers Leo Voyazides and Simon Hadfield left Barcelona laden with trophies. Their win in the opening round of the FIA Masters Historic Sports Car Championship came from pole position and their Lola T70 Mk3B dominated the race. The ex-Sid Taylor Lola T70 Mk3B of Carlos Monteverde/Gary Pearson qualified second but couldn’t stave off the attack of the similar T70 of Jason Wright/Andy Wolfe which assumed second place, while American Charles Nearburg slayed many against in his Lola T212 on his way to third. The best of the Pre-66 cars was the Lola T70 Spyder of Pedro Macedo Silva.
Wright/Wolfe paired up for the Gentlemen Drivers Pre-66 GT opener and bagged pole position their AC Cobra outpacing the similar car of Voyazides/Hadfield. However, a problem with Wright’s Cobra sent it pit-bound. That allowed Voyazides/Hadfield to dominate the race and claim honours from Carlos Monteverde/Gary Pearson (Jaguar E-type) and Jamie Boot/Martin O’Connell (TVR Griffith).
Minis made up the bulk of the Masters Pre-66 Touring Car Championship field but there was no substitute for power as the Ford Falcons of Mike Gardiner and Leo Voyazides argued over the lead. Gardiner led early on until Voyazides powered past him, Leo relaying Simon Hadfield for the second stint who managed to fend off Phil Keen in Gardiner’s Falcon and the Lotus Cortina of Graham Wilson/Andy Wolfe.
The next stop for Masters Historic Racing will be the Donington Historic Festival on May 3/4/5.
