Words & Photos: Sarah Bennett-Baggs
Zandvoort circuit in Holland hosted the British Race Festival last weekend where a plethora of British models gathered with owners clubs and racers coming together in a festival of Great Britishness.
Jeremy Welch raised the Donal Healey Memorial Trophy after a commanding performance saw him take two wins in the double header Healey race. There were plenty of challengers though, as the European Healey community turned up in force to support two 30 minute races.
In Saturday’s qualifying both Jeremy Welch and renown Swedish preparer Anders Schildt were neck and neck both qualifying on a 2.05.8. Oliver Chatham lined up in third place after posting lap time of 2.06.9 on lap 3 – a stunning time given limited running, as a first time Zandvoort visitor.
In race one, Jeremy was hot out the block as the pack of Austin Healey 3000s thundered into the first corner. Anders stuck with Jeremy in the early laps, closing the gap to .05 of a second, before gearbox troubles saw him drop back to finish second some 16 seconds behind at the final flag. Oliver Chatham was first of the Chatham brothers to take the wheel, and kept the leaders honest to finish in third place, with Jaap Sinke in fourth and Mark Pangborn rounding out the top five.
Prior to race two, Anders spent the evening sorting his gearbox to continue Sunday’s challenge, but Jeremy had a new challenger to watch out for in the form of Jack Rawles having taken over the driving from ‘owner’ David Grace. Jack started from 6th position with some tough opposition to pass in the form of Mark Pangborn, Jack Chatham and Anders Schildt but pass them he did, finding himself hot on Jeremy Welch’s heels six laps from the end of the race. Squeezing everything out of both car and driver Rawles wasn’t able to find a way past Welch and had to settle for 2nd, finishing just .07 seconds behind. A remarkable achievement, given the duo missed Friday’s test day due to the trailer issues and as a Zandvoort first timer Jack had completed just 6 laps of the circuit in Saturday’s 20 min qualifying. Anders Schildt had to settle for third place, leaving Oliver Chatham in fourth and Mark Pangborne in 5th place.
You can see Jack’s in car action here:
In the battle of the Healey 100s Nick Matthews absence from the grid, left Mike Thorne unchallenged to pick up two class wins and the Dave Hardy Memorial Trophy. Robert Rawe should have won the prize for Britishness, having driven his Healey 100 from London out to the circuit through Thurday’s torrential rain and thunderstorms. After a coming together with a Ginetta in testing, the Chatham family rallied round to straighten the stricken 100 and get Robert back out on track. Robert duly finished 2nd in both races and drove home with no further issues!
Newcomer Marc Mezey completed the Healey 100 line-up to finish third in both races, running John Chatham’s original 1992 La Carrera Panamericana winning car, despite finishing Sunday’s race prematurely with engine issues.
Class 3 entries were dominated by the Speedwell of Drew Cameron, with his brother Neil second in the Arkley Sprite and John Tewson in third in the only Frogeye Sprite on the grid.
The Healey racing community enjoys a terrific camaraderie with plenty of racers scattered across Europe – but rarely do they all come together, this weekend the international Healey mafia met on-mass and result was extreme fun! – In amongst the banter and quick wits are strong friendships, some highly respected driving talent and a very close knit family style atmosphere. Long may it continue!
Full results can be found here
Videos:
