Essex-based professional racing driver Michael Lyons enjoyed a successful weekend of the racing in the Masters Historic Festival at Brands Hatch, taking two victories in four races over the course of the weekend.The 20-year-old was taking part in both the GP Masters and World Sportscar Masters, and qualified on the second row of the grid for the opening GP Masters race at the wheel of his Hesketh 308E, resplendent in the same Penthouse Rizla livery used when the car competed in 1977.A fine start to race one allowed him to move up to second place at Paddock Hill Bend on lap one and Michael then secured the lead when Rob Austin ran wide at Stirlings on the second lap. From then on, Michael was forced to work hard to keep the British Touring Car Championship driver behind before securing victory by just half a second.Starting on pole for race two as a result, Michael held his lead into Paddock Hill Bend for the first time and then saw off the challenge of Austin throughout the race to take a lights-to-flag victory and a weekend double.“The first race was really difficult,” he said. “I got into second at the start and then when Rob made a mistake on lap two I was able to get by. I tried hard to pull away but his Arrows A4 is a newer car so I had to really push to stay ahead. I tried not to worry too much about watching him behind and just focused on my own job and it was great to get the win.“The second race was a lot easier as I got a good start and was able to build a small gap early on. Rob got close again a few times but then I think he made a small mistake and I managed to open my advantage up again.”
As well as taking the double win, Michael also secured the fastest lap in both races.
Michael’s Lola T70 started the opening World Sportscar Masters race from the third row of the grid but he worked his way up the order to take the chequered flag in third place, securing himself another trip to the Brands Hatch podium.Starting from the same position on the grid for race two as a result, Michael worked his way into the lead by Graham Hill Bend on the opening lap and then set about trying to extend his lead before backing off to ensure he had enough fuel to make it the finish; the tank in the Lola being such a size that it was touch and go as to whether the car would make it the finish.Unfortunately, the car ran dry on the final lap of the race with Michael then going off into the gravel at the Sheene corner as he attempted to coast to the finish. As it was, the race was red-flagged due to another car being off track elsewhere with Michael excluded from the results due to the fact he wasn’t running when the red flag was put out. Michael did however add to his collection of fastest laps with another in the second World Sports Masters race.
Michael ended the weekend with three podium finishes from four starts and will be back at Brands Hatch in mid-June for the latest round of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship, where he already has a win to his name this season at the wheel of a Scuderia Vittoria-run Ferrari 458 Italia.
“I’d qualified the Lola before but never raced it,” he said. “After the podium in race one, I was just trying to limp to the finish in race two but then the car ran out of fuel and I carried a bit too much speed into Sheene Curve as I tried to roll it to the finish.“Overall, it was a great weekend and I really enjoyed being in the Historic cars. It helps to keep me sharp for my British GT campaign; plus its also a lot of fun! I’m back in the Ferrari for the next British GT round in a few weeks, but I’m looking forward to more Historic racing at the Silverstone Classic in July when I should be driving both the Hesketh and the Lola again.”
