Several FJ teams were setting up at the Spa paddock on Thursday afternoon, after the usual dramas with the Paddock stewards most teams soon settled into their positions for the weekend.

Friday was bright and sunny and perfect conditions for racing, very little wind, the unknown quantity as far as the circuit was concerned, was of course the new layout at the Bus-stop, it was much more of a loop now, no one really knew what difference it would make to the lap times.

Qualifying/Practice  soon settled any uncertainty about the lap times, compared with last year it seemed to be  a 2-3 second slower per lap, compared with 2003 times, the leading drivers in class 3 cars, Urs Eberhardt Lotus 27 and Michael Schryver Lotus 22 registered times of 2.51 while Mike Hibberd Lotus 27 and Denis Welch Merlyn Mk 5/7 managed 2.53s in third and fourth respectively, Mark Woodhouse and Bruno Sheffner both in Lotus 20/22s recorded 2.56s to make up the top six on the grid.
Robin Longdon Lola Mk11 headed the class 1 runners in fifteenth spot with a time of 3.04.914, Tony Goodwin in the Gemini was second in this class with a 3.07, David Stevenson in the U2 was third on 3.09.
Fastest man in class 2 was Kevin Musson Lotus 18 with a time of 3.14 with K Murakami second on 3.19, close behind were Spence and Martin both Elva 200 mounted so there was a wide variety of cars on the grid.
Only a couple of cars pitted during the practice session notably Denis Welch in his Merlyn after six laps, Pickering Lotus 22 after eight laps with gear selection problems, Fyda Lotus 22 only managed four laps, as did Ian Robinson in his Lola Mk 5.

Race one on Saturday saw thirty seven Juniors formed up on the grid, behind the pace car, for the customary rolling start.  After the formation/green flag lap the pace car peeled off and the pack approached the starting lights en masse, up the hill out of sight the first four cars were two by two all together in a bunch, first Urs Eberhardt Lotus had the lead then Welch Merlyn, next down the hill to Eau Rouge it was Schryver and M Hibberd both in Lotus wheel to wheel contesting the lead still up the hill and out of sight, Welch was still challenging Eberhardt was still there, the commentator Marcus Pye was almost losing his voice with the excitement of it all, Mark Woodhouse Lotus was joining in the melee at the front and was up to fourth, the pace, the noise through the pits of this five driver battle for the lead was almost unbearable on the pit wall, Hibberd led, then on the eight lap Michael Schryver still in hot pursuit, crashed damaging his cars steering and was unable to continue, the contest for the lead continued unabated, then on lap ten Denis Welch in the Merlyn cruised slowly through the pit road to retire with a puncture.
Hibberd and Eberhardt both in Lotus 27s continued to battle for the lead first one led then the other but at the end Hibberd held on to win by 2.9 secs after a blistering contest, Mark Woodhouse 20/22 had driven his normal rapid race and was a well deserved third 22 secs in arrears,  Bruno Scheffner was fourth a minute further back Fyda was fifth in his 22 comfortably ahead of the sixth place Farine in his Lotus 20.
Described above is the battle for the lead, still on the same lap as the leaders, and just as keen was the battle for class 1 honours involving Robin Longdon Lola Mk2 Tony Goodwin Gemini Mk2 and Clive Wilson Lola Mk2 who finished in that order.
A lap down in twentieth place Kevin Musson Lotus 18 headed the finishers in class 2, K Murakami also in a Lotus 18 was second in class with third spot going to Doug Martin in the Elva 200.
On the podium Mike Hibberd was overjoyed to be on the top step, after his long lay off this season.

Race Two overnight rain and a wet circuit, greeted the drivers on Sunday morning, the threatening sky looked as if we were in for a wet race. By race time  after earlier races a dry line had appeared around most of the circuit, the threat of rain receded as the race time approached so once again the rolling start got the Juniors off on the green flag lap, as the cars roared down the hill into Eau Rouge it was Hibberd in the 27 ahead of pole man Eberhardt in a similar car Welch in his Merlyn was in third with Woodhouse in fourth challenging for position.
On lap three the Merlyn was in hot pursuit up the hill from Eau Rouge, only to crash heavily at Malmedy on the still damp circuit damaging the car very badly but thankfully Denis escaped with bruises.
The race developed into a raging scrap for the lead the Hibberd Lotus ahead every lap over the line but not necessarily all around all the laps, the commentator described how Eberhardt was ahead of Hibberd after the new Bus stop corner only to be re passed at the La Source hairpin, Woodhouse was closing relentlessly on the two leaders as the race progressed he began to mount his challenge for second spot, the two leaders both in Lotus 27s lapped Duncan Rabagliati in the Alexis, he said they were by him without him being able to tell who was leading until he spotted Urs helmet colours in the second car as they raced away, on lap nine Mark Woodhouse got into second place and hard though he tried Urs Eberhardt couldn't find a way past again, so Mike Hibberd Lotus 27 won the race with Mark Woodhouse Lotus 20/22 finishing second after a fine drive, Urs Eberhardt Lotus 27 was third 1.8 secs covered the first three cars, that’s close !!
Bruno Sheffner drove consistently well into fourth place in his Lotus 20/22, R.Goodwin Lotus 22 was fifth and S Rey Lola Mk5A was sixth. 
The contest for front engined honours was also a lively affair Robin Longdon leading in the Lola was being pressed by Tony Goodwin's Gemini, mixed up in this battle was Andrew Hibberd Lotus 22 who had passed them only to spin and resume between the two jousting cars, which he then repassed, this all caused Tony Goodwin some anxiety but it all went his way with class 1 honours when the diff on Longdon's Lola let go five laps before the end, second finisher in class was Clive Wilson in the Lola Mk2 and third Hans Stege Elva 100.
In class 2, K Murakami Lotus 18 had turned the tables on Kevin Musson's similar car, third again was the much improved Elva 200 of Doug Martin.
Thirty four cars finished race two, David Stevenson U2 and Denis Welch were the two retirements.
The fastest lap of the race was posted by Urs Eberhardt on the final lap with 2.54.398.

After the race the drama all started again when Mark Woodhouse's Lotus 20/22 and Clive Wilson's Lola Mk2 failed the weight check and both drivers lost their respective second places as a result. 

Aggregate Results
Mike Hibberd Lotus 27 first in class 3 and overall on aggregate.
Tony Goodwin Gemini Mk2 first in class 1
Kevin Musson Lotus 18 first in class 2.

Twenty two laps of first class Formula Junior racing, I am pretty sure that the close battles for the lead in both races would have ranked with the best of Junior racing ever.  The Spa circuit as always provided a stern test of cars and drivers, the damp conditions on Sunday morning were a potential hazard for everyone.
It was very sobering to be overtaken on the M25 on Monday morning By home-ward bound Denis Welch and to see the damaged Merlyn, on the top deck of his trailer, a testament to how unforgiving a race track Spa Francorchamps can be..

Stan Hibberd 22nd September 2004.