Coppa Intereuropa Monza
| 
|
The Formula Juniors celebrated on the famous Monza banking Photo Linzi Smart
|
56th Coppa Intereuropa Storica
Abridged Report by Peter Collins
After a slow decline, and an interruption, the Coppa Intereuropa was back on the calendar on 6-8 June in all its former glory as the premier Italian historic event.
With the sporting side organised by the Autodromo, as it always has been and crucially, this year promoted by the Scuderia del Portello, who found the sponsorship and oversaw the detailed planning, the event was voted by all as a great success.
With Goodwood-style tents for the cars, and no modern trucks in the paddock, the event looked stunning. Marco Cajani and Jason Wright of the Scuderia are both competitors themselves, so thought a lot about the problems this could pose to drivers and mechanics and addressed the problems admirably. Each grid had a huge guarded pit garage, lined with lockers in which they could store their gear, so the trucks and vans were not missed.
Each grid was also given a luxury hospitality suite with bird’s eye view of the action and television screens above the pits as part of their entry fee. As one competitor said, “I had the feeling of being looked after”. Nobody was in any doubt about the hallowed ground on which they were performing.
Arrival on Thursday was under sullen skies and the weather throughout the weekend was to vary from the sunshine we all associate with racing in Italy to some of the most torrential rain experienced anywhere. Luckily this took place at night and held off for the races until the final afternoon on Sunday.
The Intereuropa meeting is also Italy’s big Festival event in that it encourages participation of classic-car clubs and allows parades around the circuit during lunch-breaks as well as the very popular added attraction this year of sessions around the full banked circuit. Hallowed ground indeed.
Free practice took up all of Friday morning with four qualifying sessions in the afternoon. In total it was possible to clock up nearly three hours of track time over the weekend in most classes should you so desire.
Racing kicked off on Saturday morning with an all-Alfa Romeo event. This was the Trofeo Scuderia del Portello and a huge entry was backed up with a strong presence by the organisation in the infield. Simon Tate had the immense disappointment of having his engine let go at Ascari on the warm-up lap, but the race was dominated by the potent GTAm cars. The entry ranged from these, through GTAs and GTVs to 1950’s Giuliettas and a 1900. Jason Wright and David Fitzsimons ran their TZ1s as well. The sea of sometimes lurching Alfas provided great viewing for the spectators. Marco Cajani’s sliding of the big 1900 berlina out of the Ascari chicane down towards the Parabolica was excellent value.
Along with the Alfas, the Formula Juniors were given top billing in their anniversary year with two grids, each of which enjoyed two races.
The U2TC round had a fine grid that ended up with a number of Alfas at the front end after qualifying. (See separate article)
A huge and varied entry presented themselves for Flavien and Vanessa Marcais’ GT&SCC race from Cooper Bobtail through Abarth-Simca 2000, to a phalanx of E-types and Cobras. Bernard Peruch/Steve Hitchins took pole in one of the latter with John Clark/Gregor Fisken in the formers E-type close behind. It was deemed that the Cobra had pushed the boundaries a little too far so it was allowed to run but for not reward.
Duncan Wiltshire’s Woodcote Trophy was blessed with sunshine during qualifying but the weather had closed in by Sunday afternoon leaving tricky wet conditions.
In the dry, Chris Keen and Richard McAlpine had placed their bellowing Kurtis 500 S on pole by over a second from Gavin Pickering and Spencer Marsh in a Jaguar D-type. Nigel Webb’s C-type was fourth followed by two Allards.
As the lights went green for the FIA Historic Formula One, Joachim Folch shot down to the first chicane and proceeded to disappear. Peter Sowerby battled with Pane for second and after taking the place challenged Folch for the lead. This sadly ended in contact between the two at Lesmo, handing the win to Pane. Sowerby recovered but retired with injection problems and a fire, while Dunn drove a great race in worsening conditions to climb up from his eighth on the grid to second overall at the finish.
For a full report and results see our July issue
| 
|
Formula Juniors gathered on the starting line on Saturday night to celebrate their 50th Anniversary Photo Linzi Smart
|
|
