2020 Thruxton Historic Review
Spectators were able to return trackside at Thruxton Circuit this past weekend (15/16 August 2020) for the first time since motorsport resumed in July and they weren’t to be disappointed as they enjoyed two days of high-speed nostalgic racing at the Thruxton Historic.
Welcoming enthusiastic race-goers, the fastest circuit in the UK played host to a stunning display of classic cars as well as eye-catching racing machines – making it a weekend to remember.
The GT & Sports Car Cup provided plenty of entertainment but it was the Austin Healy 3000 pairing of Mark Holme and Jeremy Welch that proved too hot to handle, triumphing by more than 40 seconds at the chequered flag.
Richard Merrell reigned supreme in the HRDC ‘Classic Alfa Challenge’ for 750-116 Alfa Romeos whilst the Ford Mustang duo of David Coyne and Adrian Miles scored a victory in the HRDC ‘Jack Sears Trophy’ for Touring Cars 1958 – 1966 in a breathtaking encounter.
There was unrelenting wheel-to-wheel action in the HRDC ‘Thermex Allstars’ for pre-66 Sports, GT and Touring Cars race too which saw David Smithies triumph at the wheel of his Cobra Daytona.
Current British Touring Car Championship star Rory Butcher was another to taste stand on the top step of the podium as he teamed up with Jon Minshaw to drive a Jaguar E-Type to first place in the Motor Racing Legends Pre 63 GT.
Arguably one of the standout races came from the Motor Racing Legends Pre-War Sports Cars. Harking back to the early days of four-wheeled racing, the 23-lap encounter had those in attendance on the edge of their seats and they would see Patrick Blakeney-Edwards and Mike Grant Peterkin claim the win.
Meanwhile, the Motor Racing Legends Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy & Stirling Moss Trophy saw Ben Adams in unstoppable form as he clinched a dominant victory from behind the wheel of his Lola Mk1.
Rounding out the weekend’s retro-themed action were two races from the Motor Racing Legends Historic Touring Car Challenge with Tony Dron Trophy and Sixties Touring Car Challenge with U2TC.
Combining the results from both races, Blakeney-Edwards and Gregor Fiskin produced a sensational performance to walk away as the victors in their Rover SD1.
Thruxton will now welcome the British Racing & Sports Cars Club on August 22/23 before the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship heads to Hampshire on September 19/20.