The most meritorious performances from the Motor Racing Legends 2019 season were acknowledged at the Annual Awards dinner last night at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, London.
Hosted by Motor Racing Legends’ Chairman, Duncan Wiltshire, around two hundred competitors, sponsors and guests joined together for the evening to celebrate the 2019 season’s racing successes in front of many significant personalities from the world of motor sport such as David Richards and Hugh Chambers – respectively Chairman and Chief Executive of Motor Sport UK; Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club; Nick Wigley, promoter of Silverstone Classic and, Guest of Honour, the legendary Touring Car and Le Mans racer, Tony Dron. Awards were presented for all seven Motor Racing Legends’ grids during the evening.
Fred Wakeman, Patrick Blakeney-Edwards and Michael Grant Peterkin were awarded the Historic Touring Car Challenge Trophy in Fred’s Rover SD1 in which they had enjoyed a great season of results. George Pochiol and James Hanson were rewarded for a consistent season of class placings in the Pochciol family Group 1 Esso Ford Capri, receiving the Tony Dron Trophy which was presented to them by the great man himself. Completing the Touring Car bill, Andy Wolfe won the U2TC award driving his Mk 1 Lotus Cortina with Ben Tinkler and Andrew Haddon.
The pre-War ranks were well represented in a year where celebrations to mark the Centenary of the Bentley marque included a special race at Silverstone Classic. Fittingly, Bentley racers Richard Hudson and Stuart Morley took the overall accolade for their efforts through the year in Richard’s 3/4½ Litre Bentley.
Lister Jaguar driver Richard Kent was thrilled to collect the prestigious Stirling Moss Trophy, the actual British Grand Prix trophy won by Moss at Aintree in 1955 – rewarding a dominant season’s performances with co-drivers Chris Ward and Joe Osborne. Benjamin Eastick, Jaguar D-type racer and a stalwart of the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy grid was jubilant to finally get his hands on the overall series trophy. Austin-Healey 100 driver, David Stanley received the inaugural Austin-Healey Award. Marc Gordon collected the Pre ’63 GT accolade for his performances with Nick Finburgh in the former’s Lotus Elite.
The Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy grid including overall winner, Benjamin Eastick (centre).
Lister Jaguar driver Richard Kent was thrilled to collect the prestigious Stirling Moss Trophy, the actual British Grand Prix trophy won by Moss at Aintree in 1955 – rewarding a dominant season’s performances with Chris Ward and Joe Osborne. Ben Eastick, Jaguar D-type racer and a stalwart of the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy grid was jubilant to finally get his hands on the overall series trophy. Austin-Healey 100 driver, David Stanley received the inaugural Austin-Healey Award. Marc Gordon collected the Pre ’63 GT accolade for his performances with Nick Finburgh in the former’s Lotus Elite.
Ken and Tim Clarke won the Traditional Oak Family Spirit Trophy having supported every 2019 MRL Historic Touring Car Trophy race competing in their TWR Hepolite Rover SD1 and for so willingly giving up their time and technical skills to help fellow racers resolve their own car problems. The evening was concluded with the presentation of the Motor Racing Legends Trophy to Tony Dron for his dedication to the sport and, in particular, to his generous support of Motor Racing Legends for so many years.
Tony Dron received the Motor Racing Legends Trophy.
Full List of 2019 Season Winners
Woodcote Trophy Class Winners:
C1 |
Robi Bernberg/Paul Ugo |
C2 |
Steve Ward/Josh Ward/Thomas Ward |
C3 |
David Reed/Peter Snowdon |
C3a |
Malcolm Paul/Rick Bourne |
A-H |
David Stanley/Jason Minshaw |
C4 |
Rudi Friedrichs/Patrick Blakeney-Edwards |
C4a |
Ben Eastick/Karl Jones |
Stirling Moss Trophy Class Winners:
C1 |
Keith Ahlers/Billy Bellinger |
C4 |
Sandy Watson/Martin O’Connell |
C5 |
Oliver Bryant |
C6 |
Richard Kent/Joe Osborne/Chris Ward |
Historic Touring Car Challenge, Class Winners:
1A |
Jon Miles/Adrian Miles/Tony Absolom |
2B |
Jonathan Gomm |
2C |
Fred Wakeman/Patrick Blakeney-Edwards/Mike Grant-Peterkin |
3B |
Ian Guest/Frank Guest |
3C |
Tim Clarke/Ken Clarke |
4B |
Mark Smith/Arran Moulton-Smith |
4C |
Julian Thomas/Calum Lockie |
Tony Dron Trophy Class Winners:
1B |
Darren Roberts/Glynn Allen |
2B |
Paul Clayson |
2C |
George Pochciol/James Hanson |
2D |
Oliver Bryant/Grahame Bryant |
U2TC Class Winners:
Overall |
Ben Tinkler/Andy Wolfe/Andrew Haddon |
B |
Steve Jones |
C |
Graham Pattle/Mark Burton |
Pre ’63 GT Class Winners:
A |
Marc Gordon/Nick Finburgh |
B |
Simon Gurney/Mark Shears/Graham Coles/Nicholas Lyford |
C |
Alex Bell/Julian Thomas |
D |
Harvey Stanley/Scott Redding/James Cottingham |
Pre-War Sports Car Class Winners:
1 |
Fred Wakeman/Patrick Blakeney-Edwards |
2 |
Jock Mackinnon |
3 |
Richard Hudson/Stuart Morley |
4 |
Edward Bradley/Richard Bradley |
5 |
Heinz Stamm |
6 |
Martin Halusa/Niklas Halusa |
7 |
Trevor Swete |
Specials |
Tim Llewellyn/Oliver Llewellyn |
Motor Racing Legends Trophy – Tony Dron
Traditional Oak Family Spirit Trophy – Ken & Tim Clarke
The Brian Lister Cup
Winner – Peter Ratcliff / Luke Stevens
Runner up – Tony Wood / Will Nuthall
All photographs by Oliver Flower fullthrottlephotos.co.uk