August 2016

Thrilling nose-to-tail racing by Peter Horsman and Rod Jolley saw these two drivers taking first and second places in the Historic Grand Prix Cars Gold Cup, on a gloriously sunny day at Cheshire’s Oulton Park Circuit this Bank Holiday Monday.

At an event filled with varied and exciting racing, including a dramatic somersault by Ben Tilley in the Formula Ford championship, the Gold Cup was perhaps the highlight.

Ben Tilley takes off in the Historic Formula Ford championship race, Oulton Park Gold Cup weekend

This race, involving historic grand prix cars dating from the years 1956 to 1964, provided a thrilling mix of driving skill, elegant car design and illustrious motorsport heritage.

In pole position after dominating qualifying, Horsman’s 1961 Lotus 18/21 P1 dropped out of first gear at the start, and he quickly fell back to 6^th place.

Taking advantage, Jolley in a 1958 Cooper T45 led the field for the first few laps of this 20 minute race.

Pre-race checks for a 1958 Cooper T45 at the Oulton Park Gold Cup weekend

The elegant lines of a 1964 BRM P261/5 at the Oulton Park Gold Cup weekend

But Horsman clawed his way back, and was soon closing in on Jolley. The next few laps saw these two fighting for the lead.

In characteristic style, Jolley lifted the nearside front wheel as he pushed the Cooper through the tight bends at Knickerbrook, and he held off Horsman for a few laps.

Behind the lead pair, Dan Collins was moving into third place, but his 1500 cc 1961 Lotus 21 933 was unable to challenge the 2.5 litre cars up ahead.

Up front, the leaders traded places once more but, despite close racing, Horsman’s Lotus managed to hold on and take the chequered flag.