FASSI Classic Speed Championship Round 5

Round 5 of the Bugatti Owners Club FASSI Classic Speed Championship took place on Saturday 8th June at Llandow Sprint Circuit in South Wales, a venue that has been graced by such motorsport legends as Graham Hill and Roger Clark.

The event is organised by the Bristol Pegasus Motor Club and attracts an interesting mix of cars from road going saloons through to single seat racing cars. Drivers complete 1¾ laps through the long straights & sweeping bends of the 0.9-mile circuit.

The FASSI Classic Championship fielded 11 cars across the pre 1977 saloon & sports car classes & with dry weather we were blessed with perfect driving conditions.

The circuit is great fun but high speed so at first it is quite daunting before you settle into the groove. All competitors were gunning their cars knowing there is plenty of run off and low likelihood of hitting anything. Several drivers pushed the limit with Mark Maynard taking his Hillman Imp straight on at Control Tower bend after some late braking & our own Graham Hill spinning off in the Mini Cooper S at the Devils Elbow. No harm done.

Handicaps were set at fastest practice time ready for the afternoons timed runs. With no competitors having competed at Llandow in recent memory this was the only option. This worked well for the best drivers who all consistently zoned in on the 93 to 96 second mark but created an advantage to the less experienced who were still improving.

After the first timed run in the Saloon Car Class just half a second on handicap separated Leigh Carter in the Fiat Abarth 695 SS (follow the link to join Leigh in-car) from Matt Clarke in the Mini (follow the link to join Matt in-car & see how it should be done). Leigh got brave on the second run holding 4th gear flat out round Glue Pot bend to shave another two seconds off handicap to pip Matt to class honours. Third place went to Mark Maynard in the Imp.

Dominic Cheater pushed his Porsche 914 to the edge despite driving to & from the event & was rewarded with Sports Car Class honours with 3.71 seconds under handicap. Gary Cox was second in the Reliant Scimitar Coupe with the fastest time of the day of 90.57 seconds & despite coming off the track & failing to complete his second timed run. Third place went to Dave Fripp in the Fiat Abarth 124 Spyder.

After five rounds the Saloon Car Class Championship leader is Matt Clarke (Austin Mini) & the Sports Car Class is Dave Fripp (Fiat Abarth 124 Spyder).

All the FASSI drivers were buzzing off the experience of competing around a high speed sprint circuit & look forward to returning next season.

Many thanks to Tony Smith for the excellent photography & to all the staff & marshals at Llandow Sprint Circuit for a well-run event.

Click here to go to the championship photo gallery.