This, despite the fact that the Bryntam Tyddyn is heavier than its opposition. “The original car was 1950 so they were using pretty heavy steel. As Cooper and Kieft developed, they used much lighter tubing. And because it’s so long, they’ve added a lot of weight into the car. This is probably 20 or 30kg heavier than an original Cooper, and that’s a lot. When you put a big guy like me in there it makes it even heavier. It does fit me though, and I’m 6ft 2in. That’s one of the advantages of it being so long.”
It’s a challenge keeping any 500cc Formula 3 car in top condition, says Martin, “They’re difficult to keep going. There’s very heavy vibration. If you don’t wire lock it, or if you don’t glue it, it will fall off it’s as simple as that. It’s a direct mounted engine, single-cylinder, 500cc. It puts out 46PS (34kW). It’s an amazing power unit, one of the greatest engines ever built. It’s interesting, it’s a one-off and that’s why I like it. I like the curiosity one-offs and getting them going. It’s all about reliability. They’re great fun to drive. It has a fixed diff across the back so it drives like a go-kart. The skill is really not to brake, don’t scrub any speed off and when you hit the corners try to get the car into a four-wheel drift. If you have the courage to get them drifting, it’s just fantastic.”
It’s cars like this that make the Members’ Meeting presented Audrain Motorsport such a unique and unmissable event, and you can be sure there will be plenty more small-capacity single-seaters four-wheel drifting around Goodwood at 79MM.
Photography by Pete Summers and Christopher Ison.