S221 Racing

S221 races at Spa - 2006

Over the weekend of 30th Sept/Oct 1st 2006, Chris Clegg and Brian Archer took S221 to the Spa-Francochamps Circuit in the Ardennes of Belgium for the hour-long British Saloon & Sportscar Challenge, one of the support races for the 6 Hour Endurance event. Chris shared the driving with his friend Martin McGlone, the pair also running Martin's Aston DB3S in the Woodcote Trophy in which they finished 3rd in class (below right). The Sebring had some pretty hot competition with a race entry of 73 cars including a Jaguar D-type, an Aston DBS V8, several Corvettes, Cobras, GT40s, etc. In their class were a TR4, Healey 100M, 4 MGBs, a Rallye Imp, an NSU TT, and an Alfa Guilietta. After qualifying, Chris found the pit entrance had been changed which delayed him so that Martin had only time for about 1 lap. When the Sprite came in afterwards it was found to have a broken alternator bracket, which had to be changed. Their best practice time around the dramatic 7 kilometre track was 3m 41secs - 12th out of 14 in the class. The TR4 was fastest with 3:08.6. Unfortunately the Sprite had another delay in the race itself, losing a lap when the Panhard rod came adrift forcing the car into the pits for its removal. Two cars in the class failed to finish, leaving S221 tenth out of the remaining 11 finishers. Their best lap of 3m 32.5 suggests they might have come as high as 7th had they not had to pit. I found these photos and the following clip on the Grandstand Motor Sports' (the sponsor's) website:

"In the one hour British Sports & Saloon Car Challenge race in the Sprite, Martin and Chris felt a little out-classed being the smallest car in the field of 73, including a large number of big V8 engined cars! Nevertheless they finished 53rd in front of (amongst others) a Sunbeam Tiger and a Ford Mustang".

Also at Spa, and taking part in the Spa Six Hours Endurance with his standard-shape 995cc FIA homologated Frogeye Sprite, was Nigel Adams who shared the drive with Linden Griffin. They achieved a best practice of 3m 42secs, (112kph),  and started the race on row 41. After the first hour they were lying 71st, the 2nd hour 68th, the 3rd 66th, the 4th 62nd, the 5th 54th and at the finish, 50th overall. They lead home the only other Sprite finisher, Bertini and Norman in a Speedwell, one lap behind them. The Adams/Griffin Sprite was suffering from a burnt valve towards the end but managed to keep going to the finish. Photo, by Brian Archer, shows a late evening pit stop in the pouring rain.