Race Report: Brands Hatch, 27 December 1971

This was the final round of the Lombank Championship and seven cars arrived to do battle at the traditional Brands Hatch Boxing Day meeting. In order to bolster the grid some F Fords were invited to take part.

Roger Williamson lead away in the new March 723 from pole position but behind him and also wanting to take first position were David Purley (Ensign LN1), Bob Evans (March 713M), Peter Hull

(Brabham BT28) and Tony Brise (Brabham BT35). Evans moved up to second on lap three and Williamson began to stretch out a small lead on lap 4 despite some gear selection problems. Bev Bond caught up the leaders in his March after qualifying badly whilst at the front Purley moved up to second and began to close up on Williamson while breaking away from Evans and Brise.
A further three laps had Purley sitting on the tail of Williamson and he was immediately looking for a way past, lap 10 saw Brise catch up with the two leaders while Evans dropped back with failing oil pressure and a faulty cut-out switch. Purley and Brise were putting the pressure on Williamson and when the March came up to lap some back markers Williamson suddenly found his Hewland in second instead of fourth at Clearways on the last lap, Purley instantly dived past and took the victory by 0.2 seconds from a disappointed Williamson. Brise was pleased with his third place finish and Hull made it home in fourth.

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