Hungaroring Classic 2019

Launched in 2017, the Peter Auto Hungaroring Classic is one of the newer events in the motorsport calendar. Situated in Mogyorod, just outside the capital city of Budapest, the Hungaroring was built as the first F1 circuits behind the Iron Curtain. Over the 13th/14th of July, the 4.3km circuit played host to a number of different classes of classic motorcars from the 911 2.0L Cup to the likes of Group C endurance racers.

Both James and Harvey were in attendance over the weekend, donning their racewear to compete in different cars. James was first up in the Cobra, with its first competitive outing since Tour Auto. Despite a tricky, wet qualifying session, they were all set to be on pole. In the last lap, Patrick Blakeney-Edwards managed to find the dry line and just take pole.

For the race, once more, tricky conditions. Starting off dry and raining mid-way through, Andrew was consistently 2 seconds faster. With a clean pitstop and James in the hot seat, the car continued to dominate. James set a 2.09 lap and whilst pushing to go faster, managed to spin. A full 360 meant James was still able to take the chequered flag; certainly great things for the first race of the Cobra – no doubt a GPG-eater in the making!

Having had limited seat time in a 2.0L 911, James was shotgun beside John Bennett for this round. A wet free practice and only one clear lap in qualifying meant they would sit 11th on the grid. With Harvey sharing the drive with Richard Cook, they qualified 4th. Despite holding the lead for much of the race, the duo slipped back to 3rd overall, but still 1st in class! In the first lap, James pushed up to 5th place, taking 3rd by lap 3. After a great mid-race battle, Mark Sumpter moved up to 3rd for the chequered flag, and once handed over to John, the pair finished a very credible 9th OA. Great work all round!