Imola Classic

6th-7th April 2013

The impossible country

At Retromobile’s Patrick Peter had assured us the Classic Imola 2013 would have been better in respect of the past season, and in effect, on Sunday evening when back home, we agreed that the result was wildly obtained both for organization and presence of cars. However, what left a bad taste in our mouths was to realise that in Italy the attraction for this type of event is reduced or almost not existing. Few, very few drivers and with stands decidedly left empty by those fans who, many times or too many ones, were showing off a competence and interest not translating into a real participation.

However, even if the standards of Spa Classic or Dix Milles Tours were not reached, the factors needed to crowd the stands were all present, included the first heat of Challenge of Historic Formulas, organized by Tommaso Gelmini, who took to the truck some of the most interesting Formula Junior and Formula 3 1000 cc, which marked the motor racing between the 60’s and 70’s. Beside them there were three categories as Peter Auto par excellence: CER, Sixties’ Endurance and Trofeo Nastro Rosso.

The motor racing circuit, despite its precarious conditions, has once more conquered competitors, who, among other things, were allowed to see the structure, at least from the outside, in the near future destined to host the museum of the circuit: a very pleasant structure from the architectural point of view. Pity that the elevator wasn’t included in the project so as to carry the cars into the exhibition area!

It was attracting the attention the exhibition of historic bicycles, organized in one of the stand of the circuit and the presence of a slot track, where children and, not only them, challenged one another; on the other end it was missing the area “ automobilia”, which usually distinguished Peter Auto’s events. Besides, it is worthwhile remarking the absence of a partnership with Alain Figaret, the famous Parisian stylist, thus preventing the promotion of a special clothing fashion style for the event.

Trofeo Nastro Rosso

The class reserved for Italian cars, which saw only six cars on the track in 2012, this year has collected a good 21 entered cars, a real parade of Italian design. Among the most admired there was the Ferrari 250 SWB “Competizione” whose body was remade in 1964 by Piero Drogo, starting from a chassis built in 1961 and used by Francorchamps racing team. As it was considered as the last Gt racing car of the Piedmont driver and body builder, the car shouldn’t be taken for the more famous Breadvan, also derived from a SWB. Other car attracting the attention was the Ferrari 250 Boano, even if with a disputable streamline, represents the first car of the “prancing horse” designed for on-road version. Then, to increase the number of cars, the organization has allowed the entry of cars, even partly Italian ones, thus allowing as well the entry of two cars Porsche-Abarth Carrera and one Cooper Monaco-Maserati. After pole taken by De Siebenthal at the wheel of ISO Grifo A3/C with 2:06:834, the two 45’races saw a double win of Hugenholtz-Hart , in the Ferrari Drogo. In fact, on race 1 De Siebenthal didn’t manage to catch Hungenholtz because of trouble to brakes, after being protagonist of a bad start, whilst on race 2 Hart has driven in safety up to the crossing line because his rival wasn’t able to start.

Nastro Rosso Race

Sixties' Endurance

As usual the class for the cars making history in the endurance races, between the end of the 50’s and first half of the 60’s, made a great performance on the truck, above all for competitiveness shown by numerous crews. Among the most admired vehicles, in spite of any foolish ambition to obtain a good result ahead of the cavalry of rivals, there was an Alfa Romeo Giulia SS, 1600 cc engine. The car was born at dawn of 1960 to challenge the Porsche 356, and featured by a coefficient of penetration standards overall for those days. As customary the weekend saw the dominium of the AC Cobras, driven by the crew Hart-Hugenholtz that took pole position before Guernat-Mahe and Firmenich-Moser. Later on the race was characterised by a challenge with continuous overtaking made by the Cobras driven by Hart and Alex Van Der Lof.

In the first part of the race there was also the attempt to get into the fight by DeSiebenthal-Vananity but their ISO Grifo A3/C was obliged to retire after holding the third position. Particularly remarkable at pit-stop the handling of the two dominating Cobras, where technicians were engaged in rapid change of tyres on the right side of the car to avoid the tyre wear caused by frenetic pace of first laps. The Challenge was over when a beautiful and clever Shirley Van Der Lof, who had taken her father’s place, was obliged to retire for trouble to the engine, leaving the victory to Hart-Hugenholtz. At the end of two-hour race the second place was gained by Guenat-Mahe at the wheel of AC Cobra, even if one lap down, while the third step of podium was of Bentz-Trichet in Jaguar Type E, thanks to trouble met on track by the other Cobras.

Sixties' Endurance Race

Challenge Formule Storiche

The 25 single-seaters, which entered the first practice of the 2013 championship, have favoured the success of this event: it’s useless to deny the charm of the tubular chassis, able to get remarkable speed, real propaedeutic formulae between the end of the 50’s and 60’s. There was a large entry of Formula 3, while among the Formulae Junior we saw some front engine vehicles, so much beloved by Conte Lurani, the creator of this class. There was also a curious Fiat-Wainer FJ, designed by Giancarlo Mantovani in 1963, inspired by the Ferrari 156 Formula 1.

This class was also foreseen by two 25’ races, both dominated by the Merlyn Mk10 driven by the Swiss Maulini, former author of Pole Position (2:03:320). The red single-seater, whose sports palmarès could not be considered so smart in a particular manner, in race 1 was ahead of the more title-winning Lotus 22 driven by Manfredo Rossi di Montelera and the Brabham BT28 with Rivet, after the retirement of the Tecno 70 driven by Fischer. In race 2, Maulini was instead successful before the cars Techno 70 with Fischer and Branca Fj with Bruno Ferrari.

Challenge Formule Storiche Race

Report made by Marco Zanello and Stefano Costantino
Photos taken by Marco & Giacomo Zanello

Classic Endurance Racing: for the report about this category, click here.

Gallery

Trofeo Nastro Rosso

Sixties' Endurance

Challenge Formule Storiche