Full House for Castle Combe: Autumn Classic, Castle Combe, Saturday 20th September 2025
Supported by HPT / GoodYear / Dunlop
The status of Castle Combe’s Autumn Classic, at which the GT & Sports Car Cup debuted triumphantly in 2017, has grown year on year. Over seven races to date - we missed 2019 - the uniquely relaxed event’s fame has spread, thus it has become a firm favourite with our loyal family of competitors. We are proud to announce a capacity entry for our eighth contest, which promises to be a sensational 90-minute centrepiece to the circuit’s 75th anniversary edition on Saturday, September 20.
A renaissance of interest in the Pre-1963 sports racing side of the equation sees five cars turning out across the two classes. Last year’s race winner John Spiers defends his title in the same Lister-Jaguar Costin, but with a different team-mate. Instead of Chris Ward, Spiers has rekindled his partnership with globetrotting BRDC member Nigel Greensall, the mentor credited with developing his driving skills and Castle Combe’s outright pre-chicane lap record holder in a Formula 1 Tyrrell 022. His 50.59s charge round the 1.85-mile airfield track in 1997 - an average speed of 130.97mph - defies comprehension.
Melding two famous historic motorsport engineering dynasties, Nick Finburgh (Classic Autos) and Ollie Crosthwaite (Crosthwaite & Gardiner) were in the mix last September in Nick’s 1216cc Lola-Climax FWE Mk1, which barely slowed for the deviations at the Esses and Bobbies. This time the old pals step up to SP2, saddling his Cooper Monaco, with a two-litre Climax FPF sting in its tail. The smaller-capacity SP1 division sees rising star Tom Waterfield and his mum Jo Blakeney-Edwards - an accomplished Vintage Frazer Nash racer - in Tim Ross’ Cooper-Climax T39 ‘Bobtail’ take on the similarly motivated Lotus 11s of Doug Muirhead/Jeremy Welch and former Jaguar XK150 pedaller Paul de Havilland.
The Pre-1966 Gran Turismo side of the field shows unprecedented depth, particularly in the 15-strong GT2 split. All seven MGB crews are family entries, a cherished hallmark of the GTSCC. Married couples Beverley and Chris Phillips, bolstered by son Ollie, and Brian and Barbara Lambert love their chosen sport. The Phillips equipe has uniquely contested every one of our Castle Combe races. The Lamberts’ racing history goes back to the 1960s when Brian followed in the wheeltracks of renowned Jaguar E-type racer parents Jack and Renee.
Four father and son pairings are also in Bs, Scots Laurence & Tim Jacobsen are joined by Nick & Chris Thompson, Dennis & Dan Pickett and newcomers Michael & Paul Cruse, all the way from Australia. Sisters Emily & Arabella Welch [granddaughters of much-missed Healey king Denis, daughters of Jeremy and Mel] are back in their example. The MG presence is increased with John Clark’s Midget, to be shared with Welshman Karl Jones, 1983 Brands Hatch Formula Ford champion and renowned Sierra Cosworth tamer, and Ben Mitchell, Combe’s Historic FF1600 lap record holder.
Ranged against the MGs are the Lotus Elites of Michael O’Sullivan and coach Olly Bryant, Marc Gordon/Nick Finburgh and Benjamin Tarlow/Richard Baxter; Triumph-engined Morgan Plus 4 Super Sports in the hands of Simon King/Will Plant and Sharlie Goddard/Graeme Smith and the Austin-Healey 100 of husband and wife Mike Thorne/Sarah Bennett-Baggs. But the doughty combo they must all depose is the TVR Grantura MkIII of Malcolm Paul/Rick Bourne, last year’s victors.
Moving up to GT3, a quartet of Austin-Healey 3000s takes centre stage. The most famous of them is the hallowed ‘DD300,’ three times a Le Mans starter, of Dutchman Christiaen van Lanschot and preparer Jeremy Welch. Dad and lad Paul & George Ingram, Mark ‘Pangio’ Pangborn/Harvey Woods and Bruce Montgomery are proven opponents. Allan and Daniel Ross-Jones, another father and son crew, bring their Triumph TR4, but a brace of Jaguars will also be in contention. Rob Newall/Oliver Marçais always hustle Sir David Scholey’s XK120 along with aplomb, and equally you won’t miss the stunningly beautiful E-type roadster of Will Garrett/Tim Crighton, which raced here last month.
GT4 features a quartet of AC Cobras and three semi-lightweight E-types in contrasting configurations. The rorty 4.7-litre Ford V8-engined snake of the super-competitive Chris Chiles “fils-et-père”, winners in 2022 and 2023 and second last year, is always a podium prospect. Tony Wood/TBC and Charlie Allison/Jon Payne are in similar hard-topped roadsters, while local heroes David Smithies/Chris Clarkson share the former’s seasoned Ford France-liveried Daytona Coupe clone.
Jaguar authority Gary Pearson, whose 2018 E-type win marked only his second race at Combe in a long career, is partnered by Christian Albrecht. The Clark/Mitchell/Jones trio double-up in the Scot’s iridescent blue example, while Canadian Read Gomm brings his low-drag coupe.
Squaring up to the big bangers are the 26R spec Lotus Elans of Steve Jones/Ben Tinkler - third last year - husband and wife Tony & Niamh Wood, with former Harrier and Ginetta GT racer Ian Stinton, and Historic F2 man Graham Ridgway with car preparer Tom Smith.
Finally, another entertaining 1300cc BMC Touring Car duel is anticipated between Alice Locke/Matt Green in the ex-works/John Fitzpatrick Mini-based Broadspeed GTS coupe and the Austin Cooper S of second-generation Dorset Racing torch bearer Ellie Birchenhough and ERA racer Nick Topliss.
