Course record slashed at Chateau Impney

Competing against the clock on the twisty, gradually inclined 1000-yard Chateau Impney hill climb course – double the length of the original 1950s track – were more than 200 cars and drivers, split into 18 classes, and divided by vehicle type, age and engine capacity.

The competing cars included a number of Goodwood favourites, including Duncan Pittaway’s thunderous Fiat S76 ‘Beast of Turin’ of Festival of Speed fame, and Ernest Nagamatsu’s popular Old Yeller II Revival racer. Pre-war tourers, post-war single-seaters, GTs, hillclimb specials, and a number of 1950s and 1960s sports cars, also featured, including the intriguing one-off Owen Jaguar 3.4-litre coupe special of Peter Newman, which resembled an E-type, but was actually built two years before the iconic sports car from Browns Lane was launched!

The Chateau Impney course record was pulverised as a hard-fought three-way battle ensued for the fastest time of the day. It was Brabham BT21-B driver Martin Jones who reigned victorious as he took almost two seconds off the existing course record, set last year at the inaugural revived hillclimb event, following a 50-year absence. 

The timed Sunday morning session saw a trio of drivers emerge as clear contenders for the Chateau Impney crown, with Callum Grant’s first run of the day in a Merlyn Mk 5/7 Formula Junior providing the catalyst for a day of drama. Taking to the testing course for his first ever hillclimb, the 21-year old from Bolton knocked almost one second off the existing course record of 42.42 seconds, with a time of 41.69.

Martin Jones then upstaged the youngster with a blistering drive, completing course in just 40.50 seconds – almost two seconds quicker than the time set by last year’s winner Jack Woodhouse.

“I was very surprised to win. I have been hill climbing for over 30 years but this is the first fastest time of the day I have secured,” said Jones, who is also currently leading the Bugatti Owners’ Club Championship. “I decided to be cautious in Saturday practice as it was a course I have never driven. But when the sun came out this morning, I thought this might be the best weather we will get today and I went for it,” Jones added. 

Sandwiched between the runs of Grant and Jones was Mark Woodhouse in his Lotus 20/22. He also beat the inaugural track record with a time of 42.07, which on any other day would have put him at the top of the standings.

In all, five different drivers beat the existing Chateau Impney record across the competition day. As well as Jones, Grant and Woodhouse, David Gidden in a Lotus 23B and Malcolm Wishart in a Lotus 41C also enjoyed the honour of being record-breakers, recording times of 42.14 seconds and 42.20 seconds respectively.

Other notable Chateau Impney performances were recorded by Bob Dyke and David West, but for different reasons. Dyke took the honour of being the first driver in 100 years to pit a steam car against petrol cars at a competitive motorsport event. His entry comes following his campaign to have a ban on steam cars at historic motorsport events overturned. 

Meantime, David West eventually ended “fifty years of injustice” by finally securing his name in the Chateau Impney record books, following a mix-up in 1967 when his class win wasn’t recorded properly. He also picked up the award for the Fastest Production Saloon Car in his Mini Cooper S with a time of 46.87 seconds.