Zandvoort 12-14 july May 2024 Race Report, Images and Results

Posted on: July 19th 2024 • Posted in: Race Results

SRCC European Cup Zandvoort

SRCC Zandvoort Summer Trophy. 12th – 14th July 2024

Report by Alan Jones

The Dutch Dunes, historic Zandvoort circuit welcomed back the SRCC Sports 2000 for a series of 3 non Championship Races. The Championship last visited the circuit in 2014. For all of those taking part in the qualifying it would be their first sight of the new configuration that includes banked corners and three with escape roads.

Entry and Qualifying

The 20 car entry featured the return after 2 years absence of French domiciled Glenn Dudley in his Lola T87/90 running in the Derek Bell Class. This event also featured the welcome return of Richard Johnson following the Johnson families disastrous appearance at Silverstone. Peter Brouwer, was looking forward to a rare appearance at his home circuit. The usual noise restrictions at the circuit limiting his opportunities to race at Zandvoort. Nick Bates was looking for a cautious start to his qualifying needing to complete the running in of the engine before setting a time.
After Scrutineering and Briefing at a warm and sunny circuit on the Thursday, the 2024 summer was yet again cancelled across Europe and it was rain that greeted the competitors when they went out to qualify on Friday at just after noon.
With the rain coming down the cars delayed as long as possible before going to the assembly area which luckily was next to their paddock. With the drivers installed in the cars it was a matter of seconds before they could be down to be released onto the track. Ensuring a clear sight of the track Michael Gibbins led the cars round to the start of qualifying. Richard Johnson taking it gently making sure all of his spanner work in the paddock was good was waving cars past him on his sighting lap. The session would last a few minutes before it would be Red flagged. Josh Law and Glenn Dudley had both stopped out on circuit with mechanical issues.
For Josh it was a problem that could be remedied in the pit lane. For Glenn the problem was more serious. He had stopped out on circuit with low oil pressure. All of his oil having drained into the catch tank.
When the session restarted it would be Michael Gibbins, Richard Johnson, Ben Cater and Peter Brouwer who would head the timing sheets with Peter Williams topping the times in Derek Bell class. When Josh Law did get the car on track he immediately went to second place on the timing sheets with Michael Gibbins still leading. As the Hoosier wet tyres came into their own the lap times starting reducing dramatically. Michael Gibbins and Josh Law extending a gap back to those following. Richard Johnson and Ben Cater would be the next pair through. Tom Stoten driving by Braille with a misted up visor would be in tight battle on times with Ash Law.
The Final positions at the end of qualifying would be: Michael Gibbins, Josh Law, Richard Johnson, Ben Cater, Ash Law, Tom Stoten, Peter Williams head of the Derek Bell class, Steve Ough, Peter Brouwer, and Roger Donnan 10th third in the Derek Bell Class. Peter Needham and Mike Fry, the only Pinto representatives qualifying 17th & 18th respectively.

Race 1

As the cars waited to assemble for the grid there was a lot of late decisions taking place regarding set up for the race. The rain of the day had abated and there was a drying line appearing during the preceding race. However a brief shower prior to the cars going to assembly further complicated the choice. The result being that the majority decided the safer choice would be Wets those having a set of Yokohama wets left choosing to run them in preference to the Hoosier whilst the brave opted for the riskier slick option.
At the start it was Josh Law who had taken the wets option who led from Ben Cater similiarily shod whilst Michael Gibbins would be the first of the Slick runners. Ash Law was 4th with Richard Johnson in 5th. Peter Brouwer dropped to the back of the field having had a first lap spin. Peter being just ahead of Glenn Dudley who after his troubles in qualifying was allowed to start from the Pit Lane. David Gorst retired at the end of the first lap having had an opening lap spin.
In the early laps many were able to use their Wet tyres to good advantage. Nick Bates being able to show at last the true turn of speed he has in his MCR. Bryn Tootell moved up from 12th on the grid to 6th and Josh Needham from the back of the grid had come through to 12th place. Whilst a narrow dry line was appearing in several parts of the track the surface remained wet requiring delicate handling particularly for those on slicks. For John Owen, the race was not going well. He could not get the Slick tyres to switch on and in his own words he was a mobile chicane. It was a disconsolate John who completed the race but the weekend would get better.
On lap 3 Michael Gibbins started to gain advantage from his slick choice moving up to second place, but by this time Josh Law appeared to have built a comfortable advantage in the lead. As Ben Cater slipped back Nick Johnson was closing in. The differing tyre choices were creating a number of close dices.
Peter Brouwer after his off on lap 1 by lap 2 was starting to pass cars on track, both Mike Fry and John Owen being passed by the recovering Lola T88/90.
Glenn Dudley after making two pit stops retired from the race with the fastenings on the front bodywork not securing properly.
Josh Law’s advantage disappeared very rapidly and on lap 6 Michael Gibbins swept into a lead that he would maintain to the end of the race. Josh Law was able to retain 2nd place with Richard Johnson taking the final podium position on lap 8. Bryn Tootell after his early progress gradually slipped down the order as did Nick Bates who had made great progress in the early laps.
Tom Stoten along with Peter Williams were the two drivers on the move as they settled into the changing conditions. On lap 7 Peter Williams had moved into 7th place from 11th position on lap 1.Passing both Roger Donnan and Nick Bates on the lap. His gain would only last lap as he was passed by Roger, Nick and Steve Ough who had also been making up for a slow start to his race. Tom Stoten passed Ash Law on lap 9 to go in pursuit of Ben Cater for 4th place.
Peter Williams remounted his attack on lap 9 passing Nick Bates going in pursuit of the battling duo of Roger Donnan being caught by Steve Ough. Roger and Steve finally tangling at turn 8 on lap 11. Afterwards Roger described the sinking feeling as he realised the back of Steve’s car was getting closer and closer it was like a magnet drawing the nose of his car into the back of Steve’s. Despite Roger’s best effort contact was made removing both from the race. Peter Williams passed Ash Law settling into 7th place. A lap later Peter would make that 6th passing Josh Needham whose wet tyres were starting to overheat.
Tom Stoten on the last lap would displace Ben Cater for 4th place by the narrow margin of .005 seconds. The final race order being Winner Michael Gibbins with Josh Law 2nd, Richard Johnson 3rd with Tom Stoten 4th Ben Cater 5th Peter Williams 6th and winner of the Derek Bell Trophy Class. 7th was Josh Needham with Peter Brouwer 8th after his off on the first lap. 9th Andy Chittenden and 10th Ash Law the Final car on the lead lap. Peter Needham in his Van Diemen was 14th and winner of Class HA with Mike Fry in 16th place being the winner of Class HC in his TIGA SC79.

Race 2

The second race for SRCC took place on the Saturday morning. The circuit being a little wetter than it had been on the Friday evening. There was also a strong wind blowing the showers through quickly. All drivers selecting the wet tyre option. For those who had raced on wets Friday were hoping the tyres that had overheated during the first race would provide sufficient grip for the second race of the weekend.
The grid for race 2 lined up in the finishing order of Race 1. There were a couple of changes in the driving seat. Bryn Tootell taking over Dave Gorst MCR seat whilst Bryn’s car was driven by Alistair Bell.
At the start the order looked very like the finishing order of race 1. Michael Gibbins again leading from Josh Law and Richard Johnson.Ben Cater was 4th with Peter Brouwer in 5th and Peter Williams 6th. Mike Fry retired from the race after tangling with Peter Needham in the tricky conditions. Tom Stoten had a spin on the warm up lap recovering into 12th place. Josh Law and Richard Johnson were running closely with Richard taking 2nd place on lap 3 before dropping back to 3rd the following lap. John Owen was having a better race running in 7th place whilst Bryn Tootell in Dave Gorst’s car was running 10th.
By lap 5 the track was noticeably drying and the drivers started to hunt for the wet to cool their tyres. This was particularly noticeable with the cars that had run wets on the previous day. Richard Johnson had been slipping away from Josh Law and falling into the sights of Ben Cater. Michael Gibbins was revelling in the conditions and continued to extend his lead to the end. Josh remained secure in second place. On lap 7 Ben Cater moved into the Final rostrum position the top 4 positions remaining the same to the end. Tom Stoten was regaining places in the order lying 9th behind the position swapping Peter Williams and more confident John Owen. Bryn Tootell having a solid run maintaining tenth place.
Ash Law in the drying track was catching Peter Brouwer. Getting close but never being in a position to consider challenging for 5th place. By lap 8 Josh Needham who had started so well pulled off the circuit with the car down on power and overheating. His being the Final retirement of the race.
The Final result would be the second win of the weekend for Michael Gibbins, Josh Law second and Ben Cater third. 4th place would go to Richard Johnson, Peter Brouwer 5th, Ash Law 6th, Tom Stoten 7th Peter Williams 8th and winner of the Derek Bell Trophy Bryn Tootell completing the Top 10. Steve Ough after his off in race 1 finished 11th ahead of Clive Hayes the last car to be on the lead lap.

Race 3

Sunday morning and the sun returned to Zandvoort. For some who had enjoyed circuit BBQ and Randall’s magnificent hospitality the conditions were almost too bright. There was still a strong cool wind off of the sea but it certainly brought a smile to the competitors faces. Partly of relief as the previous two races had placed a lot of wear onto the Wet Tyres. For many it would have been marginal if they could complete a third race in conditions similar to those they had run in earlier on the weekend. David Gorst had returned to the seat of his MCR whilst Alistair Bell remained in the cockpit of Bryn Tootell’s car.
Unfortunately, after having put the new tyres on his Lola Glenn Dudley was unable to take the start. The oil system was over pressurising following a rebuild. Having spent the weekend chasing leaks, the revised system blew the tank top off in the assembly area. Glenn and the boys calling it a day. Glenns review of his weekend was Old Problems! Old Wets! Old Driver! Good Test Session.
19 cars lined up for their final grid of the weekend. Josh Needham had replaced the head gasket on his car overnight and hoped that would cure the overheating problem he had experienced on the previous day.
At the lights Ash Law made a terrific start to briefly give him 3rd place however a strong defence left the door open for Ben Cater to take the place as the lap ended. At the front Michael Gibbins and Josh Law were first and second clear of the dicing pack.
Ash after his good start now found himself in a close battle with Richard Johnson, Peter Brouwer and Tom Stoten. On lap 3 Richard Johnson would be the first to pass Ash, who put up a terrific defence throughout the race. Steve Ough overtook Nick Bates and John Owen to move into 8th place. John enjoying the race but regretting not having put in the longer top gear in as he did find himself vulnerable on the long straights. Throughout the field there were races developing all over.
On lap 5 Josh Needham brought his Van Diemen into the pits to retire the overheating problem recurring again. The order of the top 4 had become established with Michael Gibbins leading, Josh Law second, Ben Cater taking the final podium position with Richard Johnson 4th. Ash Law was still having a fight on his hand racing with Tom Stoten for a number of laps until lap 7 when Tom was able to get the run on Ash across the finish line which brought Peter Brouwer into a position to challenge. On the start of lap 9 Ash and Peter came together at turn 1 promoting Steve Ough into 6th place with Clive Hayes following in 7th place Ash following in 8th. Post race the incident was officially deemed that Peter had caused the incident and would be dropped 5 places in the result.
In 11th place there was a 5 car battle headed by John Owen with Andy Chittenden, Roger Donnan Nick Bates and Peter Williams all in contention. At the finish the Final order would be Michael Gibbins taking a hat trick of wins with a celebratory weave to take the flag. Second would be Josh Law who came close to matching Michael’s lap times but could not close the gap. Ben Cater had his second successive podium taking third place. Richard Johnson would be 4th Tom Stoten 5th. Steve Ough finished 6th taking the prize for winning the Derek Bell Trophy denying Peter Williams his hat trick at the event. Roger Donnan after his highs and lows finished 10th the position he had qualified in on the Friday. John Owen in 11th place would be the winner of the Duratec B class whilst Peter Needham like Michael Gibbins would be a triple winner in the Historic Classes.
Nick Bates presented the trophies happy to have raced at Zandvoort and continuing his progress back to the front of the field. Michael Gibbins was awarded Driver of the Day or should we say weekend. It would have been a difficult choice with so many notable drives. Josh Needham and Glenn Dudley both having individual battles with getting the machinery to run. Steve Ough, made a great recovery. Ending the first race with a damaged car to finish 6th and DB winner in the last race. Not forgetting Richard Johnson who after a bad start to the season, featured in all three races and gaining a podium in the first.
From the comments both spoken and written it was a great weekend. Everyone had a chance to relax, socialise and enjoy their racing. Randall & YTCC are great hosts and Roger is already thinking of working with them again for next year. Keep an eye on your messages when he has something in place.

Many thanks to Alan Jones for this report.