The 60 minute race featured what some have described as a "24 hour pit stop", i.e. 2 races of 30 minutes each. The results of the first 30 mins would determine the starting grid of the second with these results determining the overall prizes.
Jeremy Welch in his Austin Healey, KVS 484 took pole position by just 0.054 seconds from Anders Schilt. He would line up ahead of 22 other cars including the 3000's of Nils-Fredrik Nyblaeus in YOP 999 and Christiaen van Lanschot in DD 300. Tony Worthington and co-driver Simon Drinkell would also drive TSU 780 in the first outing for the car since sustaining damage at the Spa 6 Hours last year.
In the first half as one of the fastest cars on track, Welch was able to build a substantial lead over the rest of the field going on to take the chequered flag by 16 seconds and would therefore start the second half of the race from pole position again.
The next session would not be so easy and the other competitors had really upped their game from the previous day. Welch led from the start and towards the end enjoyed a great battle with youngster Jack Rawles, Welch going on to claim overall victory by just 0.788 seconds, one of the closest finishes in Healey racing history.
Many thanks to Rinus Sinke, Ben Verbeek, Paul Baker and Melanie Welch for the photos.
Position | Class | Number | Driver(s) | Car | Laps | Best Lap |
1 | 1 | 7 | Jeremy Welch | Austin Healey 3000 (KVS 484) | 30 | 2:06.103 |
7 | 7 | 96 | Nils-Fredrik Nyblaeus | Austin Healey 3000 (YOP 999) | 30 | 2:09.857 |
14 | 13 | 59 | Tony Worthington/Simon Drinkell | Austin Healey 3000 (TSU 680) | 30 | 2:12.198 |
19 | 15 | 21 | Christiaen van Lanschot | Austin Healey 3000 (DD 300) | 19 | 2:13.006 |