Equipe Libre race sees Healey win again

13 June 2022

Equipe Libre race sees Healey win again

It was the top step of the podium again for Mark Holme’s Team Carsafe Austin Healey 3000 at Silverstone’s MG Live event.

Having qualified 11th in the Equipe Libre race he had climbed to eighth place when the safety car was called out after six laps.

Heading straight for the pits and the compulsory stop, he initially rejoined third, but neither of the cars ahead had stopped. “It was a master stroke of luck with the timing just right,” he said.

When they eventually made their stops, it promoted Holme to lead overall taking victory by over 19 seconds.

There was another podium finish in the Equipe GTS race, where Holme had qualified his MGB eighth. Having lost a place at the start, he ousted Dominic Mooney’s MGB on lap two, and once again pitted under the safety car. “I couldn’t believe it had happened again,” he added.

He emerged with the lead but couldn’t hold off the Morgan +4 of Martin and Oliver Pratt but retained a comfortable second and class win.

He was back in the MGB for the 60th Anniversary race, qualifying in fourth on the 60-car grid. There had only been one racing lap due to safety car interventions, when he pitted from fifth place.

With stops spread over a number of laps he finally settled in fifth on the road but was promoted to fourth as one of his rivals was penalised for missing the pitstop window.

After 40 minutes in the MG, it was straight to assembly to jump in the Healey for another 90 minutes in the GT & Sports Car Cup, with Jeremy Welch sharing. Holme started and ran a solitary sixth for much of his stint, making his first stop just before the hour mark, then handed to Welch for the final 30 minutes from fourth, finally taking the flag in sixth with another class win.

“One of my best racing weekends, with thanks to Tom Ebbs for the preparation and Denis Welch Motorsport,” Mark concluded.