Silverstone GP – 8th June 2025 Race Report, Images and Results

Posted on: June 13th 2025 • Posted in: Race Results

Rounds 5 and 6 – Silverstone GP

The Grand Prix circuit at Silverstone played host to rounds 5 & 6 of the SRCC Sports 2000 Championship. The group were racing as part of the Equipe Classic Race Meeting, which prominently features production sports cars from the 1960s with some with other guest categories included.
Whilst the track itself has not changed, the surrounding areas of the circuit looked very much like a building site as competitors came in. The circuit has invested £8 million pound in a new Karting facililty on the edge of Luffield which is nearing completion, whilst on the outer approaches there are new units scheduled for construction.
With the British Grand Prix only weeks away, the contractor build up could also be seen in full swing. 33 cars were entered with a split of 22 Duratec cars and 11 Pinto engine Historic Cars. In the Duratec entry Adrian Ridge was grateful for the assistance of the fellow competitors. The team arrived Friday to take part in testing and give one of the lads a run out in the car. Doing the pre-session checks it was found their Gunn had a cracked chassis around the front suspension uprights. With a lot of impromptu assistance and a fantastic welding job by one of the University lads Adrian was able to take part in the Final Test session of the day.
Andrew Butler had to put a call out for assistance when he found his battery was not giving the anticipated charge. Whilst a spare did arrive he thinks he did find the problem regarding the charge on the original battery
New names on the entry included Lee Gorst making his debut in dad’s (David Gorst), MCR. Tony and James Barwell returned following their Brands Hatch adventures, as did Ben Cater. Ben racing thanks to the assistance of the Law family who loaned their spare MCR whilst his own was still being repaired following his big Brands off.
Ben was full of praise for the faith the Law family had put in him following his Brands shunt. He was amazed at Josh Law’s driving skills at Brands. Ben found the car difficult to drive in the Friday test with the back wanting to step out on him around the Silverstone circuit. Ben’s mechanic Andy worked his magic on the car on Saturday giving Ben a car he could attack the circuit with.
Paul Trayhurn was out again in the Gunn. Mackenzie Walker was back for his second race of the season. Hoping to build on his race progress at Brands Hatch,
In the Historics Peter Needham had planned to be sharing with his daughter Harriet Johnson. A late night for Harriet attending a friend at the birth of her child meant Peter raced alone, whilst Harriet slept off her long night in the paddock. Charlie Richardson was having another run in his dad’s March 84S, and David Muse was having his first run of the year in his Shrike. Chris Snowdon made a welcome return to Silverstone after being taken ill at the circuit in the opening rounds. Paul Streat after a long layoff rebuilding his engine was back. Paul running as an invitation car. He would be using a second hand set of Hoosiers for Qualifying but reverting to a new set of Yokohamas for the race as he knew the set up for those. David Axisa would be another joining as an invitiation car. David had gained some new interests in his retirement but was looking forward to being behind the wheel of his race car.
Despite this being a one day meeting, the University team had been working hard overnight again on their team cars. Following the Friday test the team had spent time working on the rear suspension. Whilst Tim Tudor had a splitter refabricated with a team member looking a little bleary eyed after only a few hours of sleep.

Qualifying

As the cars made their way up to the assembly area for Qualifying, Colin Peach had his car apart with a late gearbox issue. Quickly traced to being a missing spacer.

All 33 cars took part in the qualifying many using the opportunity to learn the circuit. Being a wide track great for overtaking, there are often alternate lines to be tried. In other spots it is easy to forget where you are and the blind crests can catch the unwary. Some drivers had raced on the circuit before, others had raced on the Grand Prix circuit with the Vale Chicane in place that did alter the entry into Club quite dramatically. Simon Aldworth being grateful for the warning from Mike Fry prior to qualifying about the Apex being not in the line of sight

Paul Trayhurn would the first to set a fast time in qualifying, on the second pass that had changed but it would be Mackenzie Walker who headed the timing sheets from Michael Gibbins, Richard Johnson, Peter Brouwer, Ben Cater and David Houghton.

In the Historic Classes the order ran very much to the anticipated form with Nik Johnson heading Jon Harmer, with Peter Needham occupying the third place slot. Simon Aldworth’s plan to learn the circuit and get in quick time faltered when the cars he planned to follow were bedding in tyres. He spent a lot of the session on his own settling into the circuit.

John Owen had a difficult session when he lost a bolt securing the gear linkage which left him stuck in fourth gear. He eventually pitted with Jack and Scooby quickly fixing his problem. Rollo Tomasi was another competitor disappointed with his qualifying session. Set up issues from previous races persisted. He was finding it not so easy to dial into as his earlier cars. Brake vibration at the front were a new problem. This was resolved post qualifying when he swapped the discs around.

Paul Streat was an early retirement he pulled off after two laps as he felt the engine tightening up. Another rebuild would be required.

On track the established order returned on lap 4 with Josh Law, topping the times from Michael Gibbins, Mackenzie Walker, Ben Cater, Paul Trayhurn, David Hougnton and Richard Johnson. On the following lap Josh and Ben Cater both joined John Owen in the pits to make adjustments before going out for one more flying lap.

Tony Barwell, who was sharing with his son James came into the pits after completing his three laps to hand the car over. James quickly getting into the groove to place the car in ninth position after two flying laps.

The remaining top runners stayed out. Michael surprisingly not able to improve, but others did including, Richard Johnson, Tim Tudor, David Houghton, Peter Brouwer and Colin Peach. Just as the remaining cars filtered out for their final flying session, qualifying was curtailed by a red flag.

Mackenzie Walker pushing for those extra tenths, clipped the kerb on the inside of Copse corner which flicked him into a spin and the gravel trap from which he could not be easily extracted.

The final qualifying order being, Josh Law in pole, lining up alongside him would be his regular adversary Michael Gibbins, row two would Mackenzie Walker, sharing with Richard Johnson, row three David Houghton and Ben Cater. Row 4, Paul Trayhurn and Peter Brouwer. Row 5 James Barwell and Tim Tudor. Despite the teams best efforts the University car of Tim Tudor only just getting into the Top 10.

On the Historic grid Nik Johnson would line up alongside Jon Harmer, row 2 would be Peter Needham and Mike Fry. Mike having got a late run in to out qualify Simon Aldworth who was sharing row 3 with Patrick Clifton. Patrick having his best run of the season so far.

Later in the paddock the MCR team were clearing the gravel from Mackenzie’s car much to Cindy’s delight. She wanted the gravel to place in her pond. A novel way to offset young Mr Walker’s race expenses could be in the offing.

Race 1

At the start the top 6 came round to complete lap 1 in almost grid order with Josh leading Michael with Mackenzie following in 3^rd place Richard Johnson 4th Ben Cater slipping past David Houghton for 5^th place.

There had been dramas further down the order. Tim Tudor had made a really good start, taking the inside line into Copse, Peter Brouwer made contact with Tim sending the car across the oncoming pack luckily everyone missing him. Tim completing the first lap in 19^th place.

John Owen starting 22^nd was one of the drivers to miss a spinning Tim Tudor elevating himself to 17^th at the end of the lap. John also passing the second University car of John Iley. Roger Donnan had made up two places to 10^th having passed Colin Peach with Tim’s spin slipping him down the order.

In the Historics Jon Harmer had made a good start to head Nik Johnson, whilst Chris Snowdon had launched himself from 8^th position on the Historic grid to 3^rd. Some of the drivers being caught napping by their being two union flags being shown to commence their delayed start portion of the race.

On lap 2 Tim Tudor had passed three cars to get up to 16^th whilst Lee Gorst had a quick spin at Luffield and continued. David Houghton now got himself caught up in a three car battle with himself Paul Trayhurn and Peter Brouwer. Paul claiming 6^th place on lap 3 to lose it to David two laps later. Simon Aldworth moved up to 6^th in the Historic race Jon Harmer after his brilliant start dropping down the order with a recurrence of fuel starvation. Lap 3 and Simon would move up to 4^th place in the Pinto race having taken the faster line through Becketts he had been able to pass Mike Fry on the Hanger straight.

At the head of the field Josh Law and Michael Gibbins had opened a gap back to Mackenzie Walker who equally had pulled away from Richard Johnson in 4^th. Richard now gaining the attention of a rapidly closing Ben Cater. Ben having the battling David Houghton and Paul Trayhurn following, the dice enabling him to fully concentrate on Richard Johnson ahead.

After a flying start Adrian Ridge found himself moving back down the order from the 12^th position he had held into Copse, falling back to 16^th where he began an enjoyable dice with Andrew Butler. This would last a number of laps until both suffered mechanical problems. Andrew with a tightening engine which he retired to the pits whilst Adrian soldiered on to the end of the race with gear change issues.

Steve Ough started to slow on lap 4 retiring at Maggotts on the following lap.

Ash Law came into the pits on lap 8 the same lap that Andrew Butler retired. There had been reports of his Ash’s rear wing looking loose following earlirr contact. The Scrutineers were asked to inspect from the pit wall and they decided they wanted a closer look to make sure it was safe. The call ended his race. Following a post race inspection the wing was deemed to be safe to run for race two, once repaired.

Lap 9 and Michael Gibbins came through at the head of the pack Josh Law had a quick spin at Village whilst negotiating the top placings in the Historics. Peter Needham avoiding Josh lost time to the following Simon Aldworth who manage to pass the Van Diemen before Aintree. Placing Simon 3^rd overall in the Historic race. Josh recovered to third place in the Duratec race behind Michael who now had Mackenzie Walker in his wheel tracks.

On the same lap, Ben Cater managed to take advantage of the traffic to pass Richard Johnson for 4^th place. Behind Richard David Houghton had managed to close in on him to within half a second having finally bettered Paul Trayhurn in their race long duel.

The final result would be a win for Michael Gibbins, with Mackenzie Walker second, Josh Law third, Ben Cater fourth, Richard Johnson fifth and David Hougton sixth. 7^th was Paul Trayhurn winner of the DB class, 8^th Peter Brouwer winner of Class B, 9thJames Barwell, and 10^th Colin Peach.

Nik Johnson headed the historic field winning Class A with Chris Snowdon second winning Class C , Simon Aldworth third, Peter Needham fourth, Jon Harmer fifth and 6^th Mike Fry. David Muse 9^th and winner of Class B.

Race 2

As the cars went to the assembly area, there was last minute work on Josh Law’s car and in the assembly area, Steve Ough had further dramas when he had a fuse blow on the fuel pump. Rushing back to the paddock on a borrowed bicycles the fuse was replaced and he was ready to go.

After the green flag sighting lap, the grid assembled and Tony Barwell now sitting in the cockpit of the family MCR found himself with a stalled car. There was a delay as the car was pushed clear, with Tony returning to the paddock.

At the second attempt the race started again with Josh Law making the best start. Tim Tudor made a good start this time cleanly through Copse to complete the first lap in 8^th place. Ben Cater lost a place to Richard Johnson with the top 6 coming through in the order Josh Law leading, Michael Gibbins second. Mackenzie Walker third, Richard Johnson fourth, Ben Cater fifth and Peter Brouwer sixth. Paul Trayhurn was seventh with David Houghton who had been following Ben, had to lift off at Stowe, dropping back to ninth place behind eighth placed Tim Tudor. Peter Williams had beaten Roger Donnan off the line to claim 10^th place. Roger recovering the position in the following lap. Colin Peach was 12^th with John Owen attempting to hold onto his gearbox.

Ash Law after his problems in Race 1 was following John and would move past him on lap 2.

In the Historics Simon Aldworth decided to go with the pack on this start and finished going in three abreast into Copse. Being on the outside line with Chris Snowdown on the inside Simon briefly led until first Chris followed by Jon Harmer passed him approaching Maggotts. Nik Johnson who had made a slow start was now on his tail. As Chris and Jon held each other up and Simon slid around trying to avoid them. Nik passed him at Aintree. Simon now had Peter Needham on his tail as he tried to recover ground.

On the second lap Jon Harmer’s fuel starvation problems returned again while Nik Johnson retired to the side of the track after his rear suspension failed at Vale.

Lap 3 Paul Trayhurn passed Peter Brouwer and David Houghton overtook Tim Tudor. Lap 4 and Ash Law gained another place passing Colin Peach.

Lap 5 and the Safety car took control of the race. Both John Iley and Ash Law independently finding the gravel trap at Becketts. John had a brush with Josh Needham while Ash had a front upright break. Making this a day that Ash will be pleased to put behind him.

With the race neutralised Ben Cater tried to keep the heat in the tyres hoping for a quick clear up. Working the car hard the circlip on the Sadef gearbox popped off leaving him with a box of neutrals. He pulled off safely behind the bridge on the Wellington straight. The race being Red Flagged on the next lap when they were unable to retrieve both cars from Becketts.

The final result for the second race being. A win for Josh Law, second Michael Gibbons, third Mackenzie Walker, fourth Richard Johnson, fifth and winner of Class DB Paul Trayhurn, sixth and winner of Class B Peter Brouwer, seventh David Houghton, eighth Tim Tudor, ninth Roger Donnan, tenth Peter Williams.

Chris Snowdon was the very popular winner of the Historic Race winning Class C, second was Simon Aldworth, third Peter Needham and winner of Class A, 4^th Mike Fry fifth Jon Harmer, 6^th Patrick Clifton with David Muse 8^th and winner of Class B.

Both of the Novices having a good outing at Silverstone. Lee Gorst improving over the day finishing 26^th in Race 1 and 16^th in Race 2. Patrick being 7^th and 6^th in the Historic Race.

Silverstone was also a record day for two drivers Josh Law having established a new lap record in the Duratec Class and Nik Johnson doing the same in the Historics

The race awards were presented by Nick Bates, with the Driver of the Day going to Chris Snowdown for his very successful day on his return to Silverstone.

Many thanks to Alan Jones for this report.

Full results are available via the Results Page. Here

Race Images

Many thanks to Kevin Gibson of KJG Photograpy for these Images from the event. To view the full set or purchase copies visit https://www.kjgphotography.co.uk