Mike Cantillon and Warren Briggs took a win apiece in the Masters Racing Legends series at Brands Hatch today (Sunday). Classic Williams and McLaren F1 machinery shared the glory as Cantillon piloted his Williams FW08 to victory in race one, while Briggs held on to win in race two behind the wheel of his McLaren M29 around the Grand Prix circuit.
Race one saw pole sitter Matthew Wrigley (Tyrrell 011) lead away from the start, but the Williams FW07C of Yutaka Toriba soon made a move to jump into the lead. However, the Japanese driver would receive a five-second time penalty for a late grid arrival infringement. Cantillon stayed within touching distance of his fellow Williams to finish just over three seconds behind Toriba on the road, claiming victory after the penalty was applied.
Warren Briggs completed the podium positions with his McLaren M29, followed by another McLaren, albeit the MP4/1, of Steve Hartley. Matthew Wrigley came home in fifth in his Tyrell 011.
The second race started with Hartley on pole position alongside Briggs, with the top four flipped from the earlier result. The British racer initially held onto the lead into Paddock Hill bend, followed closely by the chasing Briggs, who would make a move to take first place before the end of lap one. Wrigley took to the grass at the exit of Graham Hill, following contact with Toriba, earning the Williams another five-second penalty.
Canitillon and Toriba piled the pressure on to Briggs early on, while Wrigley fought his way back up to fourth to join the lead battle. Drama soon unfolded when Cantillon made contact with a back marker, damaging his front wring and dropping him down to fourth.
Up front, Briggs defended expertly throughout the race, holding off the chasing trio in a tense exchange, with the Williams behind often threatening to make a move. However, the race came to a premature end as Toriba found the gravel at Clearways, bringing out a red flag, allowing Briggs to claim a hard-earned win.
Wrigley completed a fine recovery drive to come home in second, followed by the damaged Williams of Cantillon. The Williams FW07C of Martin Bullock finished fourth, with Valerio Leone’s Arrows A6 rounding out the top-five.
In the day’s other races, Davide Leone and his March 783 won both F3 Classic Interseries races, while Craig Wilkins and Aaron Scott also doubled up their weekend win tally in the Masters GT Trophy. In the F2 Classic Interseries, Mark Charteris (March 782) won race one with Jame Lay claiming race two victory in his March 782. The second Masters Sports Cars Legends race was again won by the McLaren M1B of John Spiers and Nigel Greensall, with the weekend’s competition being completed with a victory by Tom Sharp and his Ford Falcon in the Masters Pre-66 Touring Cars race.
Masters Racing Legends, Race 1, Brands Hatch
- Mike Cantillon, Williams FW08, 17 laps
- Yutaka Toriba, Williams FW07C, +3.641s
- Warren Briggs, McLaren M29, +12.700s
- Steve Hartley, McLaren MP4/1, +16.391s
- Matthew Wrigley, Tyrrell 011, +16.557s
Masters Racing Legends, Race 2, Brands Hatch
- Warren Briggs, McLaren M29, 14 laps
- Matthew Wrigley, Tyrrell 011, +1.453s
- Mike Cantillon, Williams FW08, +9.707s
- Martin Bullock, Williams FW06 , +39.282s
- Valerio Leone, Arrows A6, +46.093s
Click here to view full times from this event.