FIA Lurani Trophy Magione, Italy 13-14 October 2007

The final round of the Lurani Trophy was held at Magione.  This Umbrian circuit much loved, and a must do, for many classic car clubs visiting Italy was designated the battle ground to determine the outcome of the championship.  The Lurani Trophy had been closely contested throughout the season and going into the meeting Robin Longdon driving the front engine Lola Mk 2 and John Delane with the Lotus 18 were level on maximum points.  However, prior to round four it had dawned on John that there was a strong possibility he could not amass enough points in Class D if other competitors failed to enter, so with a careful look at the regulations he changed the head on his engine to qualify for Class C.  This had paid off at Dijon but would it work at Magione? Duncan had been in contact with the FIA HMSC and it had been decided that if both Robin and John collected maximum points they would be crowned joint champions! (Duncan’s “Solomon’s Judgement”).  But it was not a done deal as both John Chisholm and Kevin Musson were in a position to pounce were Longdon and Delane to fail to score.   In Class A Jan Biekens needed to bring his Stanguellini home at least in fourth place, if Bruno Ferraris Stanguellin won, to take the class win. Class E was also up for grabs with Emanuele Benedini in the Brabham BT6 needing to finish in the points if he was to beat Christoph Burkhardt for the Championship class win. 

The weather gods smiled benignly on Magione and FJ were blessed with wall to wall sunshine.  The organisers made everyone feel welcome from their arrival to departure and the prize-giving was accompanied by a hog-roast with local wine once the Chief of Police had presented the trophies.  The teams then faced the 1,300 mile drive home, so well done to everyone who made the trip.

The Racing
In qualifying practice Emanuele Benedini put his Brabham BT6 on pole with only eight thousandths of a second separating him from Paolo Marzatico in the Branca,   the Lotus 22 of Christoph Burkardt and Francesco Barbato’s Branca  were just over one second behind.  John Delane was leading the Class C challenge in fifth just a tad faster than Robin Logdon and the Lola MK 2.

Race One
There was excitement right from the start as Paulo Marzatico, Emanuele Benedini and Cristoph Burkhartd began to establish a lead over the field  with barely a second covering all three cars.  Benedini snatched the lead on the second lap but was unable to shake the other two from his tail pipe and the trio circulated as one until Marzatico had to retire on Lap seven with a failed engine.  Burkhardt played a waiting game and took Benedini on lap 10 whilst negotiating traffic but was unable to shake him off and the pair crossed the line almost as one.  Barbato had lost contact after the early laps to claim the final podium place almost a minute and a quarter behind.  Meanwhile, thoughts were turned to the epic battle for glory between Robin Longdon and John Delane for class honours and the Lurani Trophy!  Though not racing each other, they found themselves together on the circuit and rather like Siamese Twins they circulated as one, but for a blow by blow account go to the section after the Lurani Trophy results. The lead changed back and forth but on the last lap Longdon held out to the line to win by five hundredths of a second.  Musson and Chisholm were also keeping close order ready to carry the baton if either of the Championship leaders fell away. Jan Biekens (Stanguellini) had a loose gear linkage, and just failed to beat Piantelli home, so it was all down to Race 2 for the FIA Lurani Class A Championship.

Race Two
The stage was set for the final curtain of the Lurani Trophy 2007, the cars lined up as for qualifying order and were off.  Emanuele Benedini took the lead and held off Christoph Burhkhardt until lap eight when the Swiss driver once more took advantage of traffic to nose ahead.  They circulated within one second of each other until Burkhardt spun out on the last lap but managed to recover to take a well earned second place.  Francesco Barbato once more completed the podium with Peter Anstiss (Lotus 20/22) taking a very creditable fourth in his first race on mainland Europe.   John Delane and Robin Longdon were having a thrilling, close battle for position overall with about a cigarette paper between them at the line.  John Chisholm and Kevin Musson also enjoyed a tussle with Chisholm half a second down at the flag. Drivers were racing anybody alongside on the track regardless of class, the only lonely drivers being Tommaso Gelmino (Volpini) and Maurizio Piantelli (Stanguellini).  Emanuele Benedini was pleased that there younger drivers coming through to carry on the FJ traditions.

RESULTS (AGGREGATE)

LURANI TROPHY 2007

Robin Longdon and John Delane - Joint Lurani Trophy Champions

 John Delane’s weekend!
Thanks, it was simply amazing! It was doubly fun because with a new track, great sunny clear weather and a dry cool track we were pumped for a couple of fun races.  And, while we were both aware that we were only racing in class for the points, we both knew that it was the head to head competition that we both relished.

In practice Robin found himself with no oil pressure after a pit stop and fortunately caught it before any running time and Kevin Musson came to the rescue with a new oil pump and got the car back to full health for the qualifying session. Robin posted a lap at 1.29 early on and I came through to just nip him near the end with a lap just a tenth quicker. All this a real preview of the races to come.  At the same time our nearest class competitors in John Chisholm in his Gemini and Kevin Musson in the Lotus 18 were close behind and ready to nip either of us if we made a mistake.

Sunday morning I get a great start but Robin powers by at the end of the straight and I tuck up behind though the twisty bits coming to the short straight and re-pass him into turn one. First inside then on the outside passing each other every lap never more than a few feet apart.  As we lap traffic we hold station and then pick up the close passing and re-passing until on the last lap I pull up side by side at the flag for a nearly dead heat and we cross the line with Robin winning by .056 of a second!  We have improved our lap times from qualifying by nearly a second and a half and Robin has the fastest lap by a tenth and we have had a ball!!!

Sunday afternoon we find oil dry at the last turn and a very slippery surface coming onto the front straight. My good start is soon eclipsed by Robin powering by at the end of the long straight. I set chase but with the oil dry cannot get the grip for the launch off the final turn and thus can't make my moves into the first turn and chase Robin until three laps from the end when fate intervenes. We are boiling into the first turn when a car spins in front of Robin and we both realize that we are right on the edge. The next lap Peter Anstiss passes me down the back straight and dives inside Robin at turn one with me on his gearbox. Robin points us both by...and I nearly faint! Down the back straight Robin powers back past me and I dive inside in the twisty bits before the last turn. Up the last straight Robin powers up next to me and I just beat him to the line by .095 of a second!  I have done fastest lap by a tenth and just nip Robin on the aggregate by .04 of a second!

We have two of the closest finishes in Junior history and managed to both win our respective classes to secure the joint championship! What an amazing result!

Oh, and the point by. Robin had been watching for the two leaders Burkhardt and Benedini in their green Lotus and blue Brabham to lap us.  When Peter came up behind, Robin saw him and a blue car behind and decided we were the leaders and thus the point. He definitely needs better mirrors for next season!

A perfect end to a tough, challenging season with great races, great competition and some terrific driving by everyone involved. Robin won class B, Kevin class C and me class D so that my class change didn't cause any grief for anyone involved. My class change was proven absolutely required with only two class D starters in Dijon and none in Magione.

I can't wait for next season!!!

Snippets:

Finally, thank you to all the drivers that took the trouble to email/phone me with their comments of the racing weekend.

Jill Carter