A ‘CENTURY’ OF FORMULA JUNIORS ON TRACK; BRANDS HATCH

Over 100 Formula Juniors are expected to take to the track at Brands Hatch for the 2008 Autoglym HSCC Historic Festival (June 28th and 29th), celebrating the 50th anniversary of Formula Junior. This unrivalled gathering promises to be one of the most memorable elements of what is shaping up to be a spectacular weekend of historic racing. The Formula Juniors’ visit to Brands Hatch is part of the Formula’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, and the 1950s and ’60s single-seaters will come to the Kent circuit from across the world. This living international motorsport museum will be further enhanced by the presence of a number of the original drivers from 50 years ago, some of whom will be behind the wheel, racing against drivers decades younger than themselves. They include 79-year-old David Stevenson, who beat John Surtees on motorcycles in 1953; and Dr Tony Goodwin, who achieved the almost impossible task of qualifying a 1960 front-engined Lola Junior for the 1964 Monaco Prix Junior F3 race. Jeremy Bouckley and Len Selby will campaign cars very similar to those they drove as 17-year-olds in 1962, while Chris Featherstone will appear in the unique front-engined Bond that he originally raced. There will be three FJ grids at Brands Hatch, with the front-engined, drum-braked and disc-braked rear-engined cars running in separate races. Something for everyone From classic saloons and sportscars to mighty CanAm machines and thunderous historic F1 racers, the stunning racing at the Autoglym HSCC Historic Festival will have something to appeal to all lovers of historic motorsport and bring back memories of the sport’s golden age. In addition to the Formula Junior Golden Jubilee celebrations, the event will include rounds of the FIA Historic Formula One Championship, Orwell Supersports Cup, Guards Trophy Sports Cars, 70s Road Sports, Historic Road Sports, Historic Racing Saloon Championship, Historic Formula Ford Championship, Classic Racing Car Championship, Classic Formula 3 and the Derek Bell Trophy. The Autoglym HSCC Historic Festival will also see a great presence from the UK’s classic car clubs, lunchtime track demonstrations and ‘drifting’ displays, plus the Kids’ Super Inflatable Fun City, featuring the largest fun inflatable in Europe. As well as appealing to long-time motorsport fans, the event makes a perfect introduction to historic racing for all the family. Tickets are available in advance for just £16 (£20 on the day) – and children under 16 go free. For an upgrade of £8, spectators can enjoy stunning views of the circuit from the MSV Centre building on Clearways; or grandstand seats are just £5. For advance tickets for the Saturday or Sunday, visit www.motorsportvision.co.uk/autoglym. Formula Junior HistoryFormula Junior was the brainchild of Count Johnny Lurani, who identified the need for a starter formula to encourage Italian drivers back into Grand Prix cars. The first race was at Monza in 1958, and three years later it was evident that the idea had worked: Giancarlo Baghetti had sprung from nowhere to win in his first F1 race (Syracuse), whilst Lorenzo Bandini was not far adrift. And it worked even better in the UK, with Jim Clark, John Surtees, Mike Spence, Peter Arundell and Trevor Taylor all propelled from FJ into Grand Prix cars. Formula Junior enjoyed six glorious years until it ended in December 1963, with technical innovation and a singular advance in racing car design every year. Races were held across the globe from Cuba to Latvia, Leningrad to Australia, and Mexico to Macao. The USA adapted the Formula with massive enthusiasm in 1959 and in Australia FJ was still going strong at the end of 1963. Formula Junior was the first Historic Formula to be revived, by the Monoposto Club, in the UK in 1975 and the FIA Lurani Trophy was the first FIA Championship permitted to be run by its own group, in 1995. The Golden Jubilee celebrations include a series of races across the globe, with New Zealand and Australia already completed, and Italy, UK, Germany, USA West Coast, USA East Coast, and South Africa yet to come.Tags:HSCC