Friday 16th June 2023

Historic F2 and Historic F3 set for high-profile this weekend 

Two flagship categories from the Historic Sports Car Club will be prominent at this weekend's high-profile Historic Grand Prix at the famous circuit of Zandvoort on 15-18 June, writes Paul Lawrence

Both Historic Formula 2 and Historic Formula 3 will have double-headers at the Dutch Grand Prix track as part of their 2023 championship schedules, and each grid has attracted a fine array of cars from the UK and across mainland Europe for this major event in the European historic racing calendar.


The Historic Formula 2 International Series for the 1600cc and two-litre cars up to 1978 will reach races five and six of a 12-event calendar after earlier races at Hockenheim and Silverstone. Last time out at Silverstone it was Andrew Smith who set a mighty pace in his March 782 and will bid to do the same again at Zandvoort.

However, Smith faces similar cars from Belgian racer Mark Devis and German ace Wolfgang Kaufmann, as well as British driver Brian Morris. Chasing the 782s will be the very quick Mark Charteris in his earlier 742 while a real dark horse could be Kyle Tilley, the former NASCAR racer and current international sports car driver, who is due to join the F2 grid for the first time in a Ralt RT1. Originally from Bath, Tilley is quite an all-rounder as he also competes in historic rallying with a Ford Escort Mk2.

Simon Fish makes a welcome F2 return in his Chevron B42 and both David Thorburn and Martin Wood are rapid contenders in their Marches.

In the class for the earlier 1600cc F2 cars, Paul Bason will go up against racing veteran James King in March 712s, while the earlier Formula Atlantic cars in Class B include Mark Goodyear (March 75B) and Martin Bullock (March 722).

A tremendous 30-car Historic Formula 3 field will make a great sight and sound on a circuit with plenty of period one-litre F3 history and it is young Samuel Harrison who heads the field after a dominant double win last time out at Cadwell Park in the Speedsport Brabham BT21B.

Leading European competitors will be among those taking the battle to Harrison, including Christoph Widmer in his Brabham BT18A, Roland Fischer in his Tecno and Francois Derossi in his Chevron B17. Other quick UK-based drivers include Steve Nichols in his Chevron B17, cousins Jeremy and Jason Timms in Chevron and Brabham respectively and Josh Sharp in his Chevron.


After dedicated test sessions on Thursday, qualifying is on Friday with each category then having two 25-minute races, one each on Saturday and one each on Sunday.

The Zandvoort races form rounds three and four of the HSCC Historic Formula 3 Championship, which then heads back to Brands Hatch on 15-16 July for rounds five and six on the Grand Prix circuit.