Assen (Netherlands), Achel (Belgium), 12 September 2023 – With clear skies and lots of sunshine, the conditions were perfect when the FFR-FOR came to the TT race track at Assen to give the many visitors of the TABAC Classic GP a taste of the excitement of classic formula racing in the weekend from 8 to 10 September.
It was Ralf Goral, in his yellow Formula Opel (9), who had the best lap time in both qualifying sessions and thus started from pole position. His dominance continued when he outpaced the competition and lead both races from start to finish in both races. Jochen Thissen (28) was able to keep up initially, but never posed a real challenge to the race leader. The third Formula Opel, driven by Alan Williamson, unfortunately suffered from a malfunctioning oil pump halfway race 1 and had to give up.
In the FF 2000 class Henk van der Spoel in his Reynard SF86 (59) ruled supreme in Race 1. Coming from the region, he knows Assen like the back of his hand. Phillip Menzner (6) however, in his first race at Assen, was able to cross the line less than a second behind the class winner. Brian Steen crossed the line as third in the FF 2000 class, securing his a place on the podium.
In Race 2 Van der Spoel initially lead the FF 2000 class again, but with his tyres worn out, lost too much grip in the fast corners at Assen. It was then Phlllip Menzner, who had a new set fitted, to gain the lead in round 6 and cross the line first to win the FF 2000 class. Van der Spoel still managed to finish second, with his team mate Onno Zuidema (69) crossing the line as third.
In the FF1600 class Roel Mulder was doing his rounds all by himself, after two competitors had to pull out due to an engine failure in the qualifying. The Assen Classsic GP also saw the debut in the FFR-FOR series of Randall Lawson, who joined the FFR-FOR for the first time in the Open class with his classic Crac MT14.
“The Assen Classsic GP organizer LDP has to be congratulated for setting up a great event for both participants and the many visitors that flocked to the TT Circuit,” says Wilco Ibes, series coordinator of the FFR-FOR. “Although the track was originally set up for motorbike racing, Assen has plenty to offer for race cars as well, with its mixture of superfast flat-out and slow corners, and great accommodation. And we were very happy with the warm reception our series received.”
Next up for the FFR-FOR and HRA is the season’s finale at Spa-Francorchamps, where they will join the SUPERSPA event in the weekend from 6 to 8 October.