Both drivers and spectators enjoy the historic race meeting at Most

27.06.2018 07:59

The second edition of the Most Historic Grand Prix race, hosted by Autodrom Most last weekend, already belongs to the past. Given positive response shown by the drivers and their support teams as well as the spectators, one can assume that the organisers will succeed in attracting the ageless sheet metal beauties to North Bohemia for the third time. The weather served well, too. In spite of a dramatic drop in temperature compared to the tropical heat of the previous days, the Autodrom complex was lucky to escape any rain with the exception of a short shower at the very end of the week.

“It has been proved again that the beautiful historic cars, naturally dominated by the Formula One single-seaters of a golden age from the 1970s and 1980s during the race weekend, have drawn a numerous and ever-growing fan and admirer base. Although our event coincided with equally focussed activities organised by the Brno Circuit as well as the nearby Sachsenring circuit, Germany, many enthusiasts opted to visit our race track. The promoters and teams were full of praise as well. We are happy to hear that and look forward to the next year’s meeting,” said AUTODROM MOST Business and Marketing Directress Jana Svobodová judging the successful race weekend.

As she already pointed out, the highlight of the weekend and simultaneously the magnet for the fans was the FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship, a race involving Formula One cars that used to take part in the World Championship from between 1966 and 1985. It was British racing driver Nick Padmore driving a green-and-white Williams that dominated the two twenty-five-minute races entered by renowned specially designed cars. Padmore won leading from start to finish on Saturday while on Sunday, the top eight finishers from the previous day started in reverse order. This is why Padmore had to work his way from eighth position. Anyway, he was in front after a number of overtaking manoeuvres by lap three easily retaining the lead until the chequered flag.

Similarly, Matteo Ferreraza of Italy in a Ligier did very well finishing second in both races. Saturday saw Steve Hartley of Great Britain in an Arrows reach the third step on the podium whereas he had to settle for sixth the following day. By contrast, his compatriot and last season’s champion, Max Smith-Hilliard, improved markedly driving his specially designed Fittipaldi machine this year. He celebrated a third-place finish on Sunday after having come home in eighth spot on Saturday.

Participants in different historic car race series, too, delivered spectator-friendly performances. On Saturday, a ninety-minute race was held within the Gentlemen Drivers Pre-66 GT series. On Sunday, the Masters Pre-66 Touring Cars and the FIA Masters Historic Sports Car series followed. The field included British racing driver Steve Soper, a winner of twenty-four-hour races at Nürburgring, Germany and Spa, Belgium back in the 1980s and 1990s. He had been a BMW works driver for many years. He shared a drive in a Lotus Elan from 1964 and a year younger Ford Lotus Cortina with Mark Martin.

On both Saturday and Sunday, there was a race counting towards the HAIGO series (Historische Automobilrennsport InteressenGemeinschaft Ostdeutschland), which includes single-seaters as well as touring cars that used to participate in the former “Peace and Friendship of Socialist Countries Cup”, held during the 1970s and 1980s. As to the touring cars, home hero Jakub Kovář driving a legendary Škoda 130 RS broke German drivers’ dominance.

The last free AFR Remus Formel Pokal support series for Formula 2, 3 and 4 cars meant a trip to the present time. The Czech Republic was represented by Antonín Sus, Tomáš Chabr and Václav Šafář. The last-named young driver from North Bohemia was successful in the Saturday race completing the top ten at the finish. Moreover, it was Formula Renault 2.0, which is approximately 40 bhp less powerful than Formula 3. Sandro Zeller of Switzerland savoured a double success leaving all his rivals behind him on both Saturday and Sunday.

Motoring fans also enjoyed a historic car parade lap around the race track. The highlight of the Most Historic Grand Prix side event programme was a reunion of more than 150 owners of historic cars and motorcycles taking place on the spectator bank as well. The event took place under the slogan “Joint Motoring Centenary” with emphasis on development of motoring and motor sports and was part of celebrations of a centenary since the establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic.

 

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