Round Two - FIA Lurani Trophy for Formula Junior Cars BRSCC Donington Park 1/2 May 2005
By Stan Hibberd

As seems to be the norm at Donington Park first race morning was misty, the track was damp from overnight thunder storms, and it was proving very slow to brighten up as promised by the weather forecasters. As the FIA feature event at the meeting FJ cars enjoyed the use of the Pit garages, this allowed exit direct to the circuit and grid assembly in the pit lane, but the usual close FJ atmosphere seemed to suffer with everyone in their separate compartments.

Qualifying  This session which determined grid positions, for both Race three (Sunday) and Race seven (Monday) got under way in still damp conditions, Denis Welch in the Merlyn 1.23.905 and Mark Woodhouse in his Lotus 20/22 1.24.891 both seemed untroubled by the greasy surface, they were clearly the fastest runners in the session, third was Michael Schryver Lotus 22 1.25.393, fourth Gavin Pickering Lotus 20/22 on 1.26.060, the Lotus's of Van Gelder and Beale completed the top six qualifiers, all Class E cars.

Quickest Class B runner was Martin Walford in the Woodhouse Elva 100 with a time of 1.30.193, second also with a 1.30 was Robin Longdon in his Lola Mk2, third Tony Goodwin Gemini 1.32.

Lurani Champion Kevin Musson in his Lotus 18 headed Class C with a time of 1.33, one second ahead of Andrew Spence Elva 200, Doug Martin Elva 200 was a further second away third.

Chris Chilcott was the sole car in Class D, his Lotus 20 oddly appeared to be fitted with disc brakes.

Sole runner in Class A was the Volpini of Michael Ashley Brown.

Race Three (heat one)   Sunday's race got off to storming start with Denis Welch's Merlyn Mk 5 straight into the lead, challengers were initially Woodhouse and Schryver in their Lotus's but by lap two the Mike Hibberd Lotus 27 was into second from seventh on the grid, half way through lap three Tony Goodwin's Gemini shed a wheel and David Stevenson in the U2 Mk2 got caught up in the resulting accident and  demolished what turned out to be a polystyrene hoarding, luckily David was unhurt.
This accident brought out the Safety car, which picked out second place runner Mike Hibberd, this leaving Denis Welch in the Merlyn cruising round in solitary splendour, under the yellow flags, this went on for several laps Denis no doubt wondering where every one else had got to, eventually Denis was slowed to let the Safety car by and order was restored.
After the Safety car pulled in racing resumed in earnest, Denis Welch Merlyn still led, Mike Hibberd 27 was under a lot of pressure in second place for the rest of the race, first from Robert Goodwin's 22, until he retired the 22 with gearbox problems, then from Gavin Pickering's 20/22 who during their battle forced the Hibberd 27 to take to the grass, for what seemed to be most of the length of the pit straight.
Just behind these two a contest for fourth place between the Woodhouse and Schryver Lotus's had an unfortunate outcome on the 12th lap when they tangled in the Chicane, the Woodhouse Lotus 20/22 suffering very serious damage, fortunately no one was hurt.
While all this was going on Andrew Hibberd Lotus 22 had retired at Craner Curves when his engine suddenly cut out. Marcus Mussa Lotus 22 was making good progress through the field only to pull into the pits and retire after 16 laps.

Welch's Merlyn took the chequered flag 4 secs clear of the Hibberd Lotus, Pickering's Lotus was close behind in third, Schryver Lotus recovered to take fourth, Steve Smith Cooper T59 a fine fifth, Rollo Beale Lotus 22 was sixth.
Robin Longdon had the Lola Mk2 up in eighth place overall leading Class B, after an almost race long tussle with Martin Walford's Elva ended when Walford stopped on the last lap.  Clive Wilson also in a Lola Mk2 was a distant second in the class, Bill Grimshaw's Moorland in third one lap adrift.
Class C honours went to Andrew Spence in the Elva 200, who completed 19 laps, ahead of Kevin Musson Lotus 18 one lap behind.
Chris Chilcott took Class D, and Michael Ashley Brown Volpini Class A, both cars completed 18 laps.

Race Seven (heat two)  Monday's race got under way right on time, again Denis Welch's Merlyn was straight into the lead, in the early laps the main challenge came from Mike Hibberd's Lotus 27, which led very briefly after what Marcus Pye's commentary described as a move from way back (whatever that means) which Mike was unable to make stick, Denis had the Merlyn back in the lead again, Mike's 27 was in increasing difficulty with tyre grip, and slowed and eventually came into the pits to retire, the main challenge was then mounted by a rapidly improving Michael Schryver as his newly fitted set of tyres began to bed in.
As the handling improved a tense battle for the lead began, with swapping and changing of the lead lap after lap until with a couple of laps to go, Denis seemed to relax a little, perhaps he sensed he only needed to stay in touch for the aggregate result, at the flag Robert Goodwin 22 had moved into a secure third place albeit some 35 secs back from the fierce struggle for the lead,   Steve Smith in his T59 in another fine fourth position this time, Erwin Van Gelder 20/22 fifth, Marcus Mussa 22 sixth one lap in arrears.
Seventh overall was the Class B, front engined Class winner Robin Longdon in his Lola Mk2, second in this Class was the Elva 100 of Martin Walford, third in Class B was David Stevenson in the U2 proving it had suffered no ill effects from the first race incident.
Andrew Spence Elva 200 took Class C honours two laps down. Doug Martin in his similar car  was a further lap away second in class.
Combined Race Classification.

1st  Overall and in Class E           Denis Welch         Merlyn Mk5
2nd Overall and in Class E           Michael Schryver  Lotus 22
3rd  Overall and in Class E           Stephen Smith      Cooper T 59

Fastest lap Class E  Michael Schryver Lotus 22 1.21.669, 86.27 mph.

1st  in Class B   Robin Longdon  Lola Mk2
2nd in Class B   Martin Walford   Elva 100
3rd in  Class B   Clive Wilson      Lola Mk 2

Fastest lap Class B   Robin Longdon  Lola Mk2 1.26.478, 81.48 mph.

1st in Class C   Andrew Spence Elva 200
2nd in Class C  Doug Martin       Elva 200
3rd in  Class c  Kevin Musson     Lotus 18

Fastest lap Class C Kevin Musson Lotus 18 1.30.074, 78.22 mph

1st in Class D   Chris Chilcott Lotus 20

Fastest lap Class D  Chris Chilcott Lotus 20 1.31.329, 77.15 mph.

1st in Class A  Michael Ashley Brown Volpini

Fastest lap Class A Michael Ashley Brown Volpini 1.39.356, 70.92 mph.

Stan Hibberd 3rd May 2005.