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Nurburgring

 

FIA Lurani Trophy-round four-Oldtimers GP Nurburgring 2003

Team Hibberd arrived in the Eiffel mountains on Wednesday 6th August with three Lotus FJ cars in the transporter, the Lotus 27 for Mike, Andrew 's Lotus 20 and Mike's Lotus 22 as back up. On arrival we discovered a serious oil leak had occurred at the rear of the Lotus 20's engine, the record temperatures which discouraged major rebuilds, and later, discovery of another minor problem with the 20 led to it's substitution with Mikes ex Denmark Lotus 22 as Andrew's race car. The presence of this particular 22 created a lot of interest amongst the Danish competitors who were our immediate neighbours in the paddock, they all seemed very aware of the history of this car and at least one of them had considered purchase of the car a couple of years ago.

Thursday was intended to be a day for final preparation of the cars, scrutineering etc, well it was, but in such heat it was a major effort to move at all never mind work on cars ! Most of the British contingent arrived during the day, and everyone was jammed into the paddock with only inches to spare, this crowding seemed too much to bear in all the heat, but eventually everyone was settled in ready for the start of the serious business of the weekend.

Friday at about 9.50am saw the Qualifying/Timed practice get under way in scorching conditions, 42 cars started the session, Urs Eberhardt's Lotus 27 set the pace with a lap of 2.05.361, closely challenged by Michael Schryver's Lotus 22 which recorded a 2.05.585, Alan Lloyd Lotus 27 was third with a time of 2.06.907, H-J Dursttewitz Lotus 22 was fourth with 2.07.941, Mike Hibberd's Lotus 27 next with a 2.08.089, sixth was Martin Walford,s Lotus 22 with 2.09.929, Mark Woodhouse recorded a 2.10.1551 for seventh in spite of an overheating engine in his 20/22, Allessandro Ripamonti in his Wainer was in eighth 2.13.151, Frans Munsterhuis and Yazaburo Baba in 20/22s both recorded 2.15s and were ninth and tenth respectively.

The front engined cars were headed by the Heinz Stege Elva 100 with a time of 2.17.589, second fastest was Tony Steele Lola Mk2 on 2.18.879 and third was Erik Justesen Mallock U2 Mk2 with 2.21.149.

In the rear engined drum braked class Peter Knofel was quickest in the Emeryson with 2.18.761, Martin Borch-Christenson Lotus 18 was second in class with 2.21.356, close in third spot was Karlheinz Wagner Envoy Mk1 2.21.730.

After the session the cars were held for some time in parc ferme, two cars were judged to be underweight, the Mark Woodhouse Lotus 20/22 and Grant Wilson's BMC Mk1, the debate on this went on for much of the afternoon between the drivers and the officials, the outcome that the cars would be moved to the rear of the grid for both races, Mark accepted the situation and elected to start, while Grant sadly decided to withdraw his car and began preparing to leave for home.

The remainder of Friday was generally devoted to car preparation, Mark Woodhouse fitting a larger radiator in the 20/22 to overcome his cooling problem, Duncan's Alexis was undergoing a rapid gearbox change, Mike Hibberd was trying to locate a mysterious misfire in his 27, and everyone was hard at work in the still sweltering paddock conditions.

Saturday all the cars were on the grid in good order for Race one, the green flag lap saw a major engine problem sideline Michael Schryvers Lotus 22 in a very dangerous position on the start line, he was pushed to the side of the grid near the pit lane and the field was flagged away right alongside his stricken car, not a comfortable spot to be !

After the grid reformed the start flag was down with no real delay, very fortunate in view of the temperature, when the cars re-appeared at the end of the first lap the battle for the lead was well and truly joined between the Lotus 27s of Urs Eberhardt and Alan Lloyd third was Martin Walford in his Lotus 22, fourth Mike Hibberd Lotus 27, the Lotus 22 of Durstewitz having lost ground with an early spin, from which he recovered and continued, Mark Woodhouse really had the 20/22 flying and was making up places every lap following his start from the rear of the grid, the race at the front was being fiercely contested throughout between Eberhardt and Lloyd in their 27's, Walford 22 had them in sight for most of the race but was unable to make any impression on the leading pair, who's battle continued without let up, similarly Mike Hibberd's 27 could hold station with Martin Walford but was unable to close significantly, all the time Woodhouse in the 20/22 was tearing through the field and passed the 22 of Durstewitz into fifth spot as the race progressed, so as the leading six cars entered the final phase of the race, only the lead was still being disputed by Eberhardt and Lloyd, the four cars behind had settled into what was to be their finishing order, at the flag it was Lloyd who kept his 27 ahead at the line.

The class for early drum braked rear engined cars was won by Peter Knofel in the Emeryson who completed 10 laps, Martin Borch-Christensen Lotus 18 was second 18 secs behind, third was Michael Waller in the Kieft.

The front engined class was headed by Erik Justesen in the Mallock U2 Mk11

Who completed 10 laps, second was Tony Steele in his Lola Mk11 some 8 secs behind, the Gemini Mk 11 of Dr Tony Goodwin was third.

Saturday afternoon was again preparation time for race two scheduled to take place early on Sunday morning, so the cars had to be ready for early action, Duncan was changing his gearbox for the second time in 24hours following a gearbox failure in Heinz Stege's Elva, Heinz needing his spare gearbox from the Alexis !

As the preparation work went on around the paddock news went round that Alan Lloyd the winner of race one had been disqualified for a yellow flag incident on the final lap, this was later confirmed so everyone from race one moved up one place.

Saturday evening was Dinner and Disco time, the marquee surprisingly proved to be fairly cool and the Formula Junior contingent were soon setting the pace in the Disco, Andrew Hibberd proved to be a class act at disco dancing, in which he was egged on by numerous of the ladies Rose, Nicole and Kim backed up by Jill Carter kept it going flat out until after midnight , by this time the drivers were beginning to slip away for an "early" night , by all accounts the pils kept flowing to the very early hours for the non-competitors.

Sunday, no surprise very hot even this early! Race two was to start at 8.30hours local time.

The grid was formed up and the green flag lap got under way just about spot on time, as the cars howled past after the first lap the Lotus 27s of Eberhardt and Lloyd were locked in battle for the lead in a repeat of the first race, as the race settled down, Martin Walford was in third in his 22 and Mike Hibberd had his 27 close behind in fourth spot, as the race continued it looked as if the dice at the front had been resolved in favour of Alan Lloyd's 27 over the similar car of Urs Eberhardt, as in race one Mark Woodhouse had his 20/22 slicing it's way through the field, his progress up to fifth place at the finish was something to enjoy, also significant for me was the progress up to 14th at the end by Andrew Hibberd in the Lotus 22, his first time in this car, at the front the race ran out more or less the same as in race one, Alan Lloyd Lotus 27 taking the flag firmly ahead of Urs Eberhardt's 27, Martin Walford again third in his 22 Mike Hibberd fourth 27 and Mark Woodhouse a creditable fifth from the back of the grid, sixth was Alessandro Ripamonti Lotus 22.

In the rear engined drum braked cars Martin Borch-Christensen was first over the line in his Lotus 18, second was Michael Waller in his Kieft , third was Sjoberg in the Svebe Cooper Mk11.

The front engined class was won by Erik Justesen in his MallockU2 Mk11, from Tony Steele in the Lola Mk11, third was Heinz Stege Elva 100.

Aggregate results.

1st Overall and FJ2 Urs Eberhardt Lotus 27

2nd " " " Martin Walford Lotus 22

3rd " " " Mike Hibberd Lotus 27

1st Class FJ1H Martin Borch-Christensen Lotus 18

2nd " " Michael Waller Kieft

3rd " " Sjoberg Lars-Goran Svebe Cooper

1st Class FJ1V Erik Justesen Malice U2

2nd " " Tony Stele Lola Mk11

3rd " " DR Tony Goodwill Gemini Mk11

The three day event was dramatic from start to finish, the organization was as expected very good, the paddock facilities excellent (compared with UK circuits) if a little cramped, an excellent Formula Junior event, a credit to FIA/FJHRA

Stan Hibberd 15-8-2003