Castle Combe Circuit ended its season in style with the inaugural Autumn Classic Race Meeting supported by Carole Nash Insurance and Richard Edmunds Auctions of Chippenham on Saturday 6th October followed by the Castle Combe Championships Grand Finals Day on Sunday.
Visitors to the Autumn Classic were treated to some incredible racing with classes including the Historic Aston Martin's, the Jaguar Enthusiasts' Club (pre 1966 Jaguars), the Healey Driver International, Big Healey Challenge, the VSCC Pre War Sports Car (standard & modified) and more.
Add in some truly memorable cars featuring many of the most iconic marques of the era and you had an event to suit classic car enthusiasts everywhere.
A Jaguar XK120 which first raced at Castle Combe in 1952 made a return to the circuit some sixty years later when it took on the Jaguar Enthusiasts' Club pre 1966 race. Meanwhile the Healey Driver International Big Healey Challenge welcomed the famous ex John Chatham1961 Le Mans car, DD 300, which led the race from the start and went on to win.
Drivers came from all over the UK and Europe with local drivers from Bristol and Marlborough to several drivers from Sweden who took on the Healey Driver International Big Healey Challenge along with drivers from Vienna and Belgium who took on the Historic Aston Martin's and Bernie's V8s HVRA respectively.
Castle Combe Championships Grand Finals Day on the Sunday meanwhile saw a local driver complete a unique double as Gary Prebble from Southampton, in winning the Vadabar Sports & GT Championship, become the first man in Castle Combe's history to win both the Saloon and Sports & GT championship, his last in 2002.
Ben Norton meanwhile only had to finish 8th to be sure of winning the Startline Formula Ford 1600 Championship. Taking a close second in this race to the 2011 Championship winner, Rob Hall, Norton then went on to win the Formula Ford Carnival later in the afternoon.
Corsham's Will Di Claudio was already Castle Combe's National Mobile Windscreen Saloon Car champion so didn't need to enter the final round.He might have wished he hadn't however when he spun his class B Peugeot106 on the opening lap. Able to continue, but a long way behind, he fought back brilliantly to win his class and finish 3rd overall.
All in all, this was a classic weekend of some truly great racing at Castle Combe Circuit. The 2013 race meeting programme will be on the website soon or do check out details on driving experience and car track days if you fancy a go on the circuit for yourself!
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