Race Report: Silverstone 4 April 1971

Taking place the day after the Shell/Motor Sport round at Brands Hatch it was hardly surprising that only seven cars made the journey to Silverstone for this Forward Trust event. Dave Walker put the Gold Leaf Team Lotus 69, still suffering with clutch problems, on pole ahead of Roger Williamson’s March 713M, also on the front row were Andy Sutcliffe in a Lotus 69 chassis that had suffered some damage at Brands Hatch and the Brabham BT35 of Brendan McInerney. On the second and final(!) row were Tim Goss in his March 713M, Tom Walkinshaw with a standard engine in his March 713M following a blowup of his race unit and Chris O’Brien in his Brabham BT35.

Walker made a leisurely start to preserve his clutch allowing Sutcliife to take the lead, this only lasted as far as Becketts when Williamson went sailing past into first place. However by Woodcote Walker had surged past both cars into a lead he was not to loose. Williamson and Sutcliffe then proceeded to have a mighty tussle, Sutcliffe apparently not being slowed after knocking his nose cone askew after contact with Williamson. On the last lap Williamson braked as late as possible into Woodcote and aided by Sutcliffe missing a gear held on for second place. McInerney, Goss and Walkinshaw followed the first three home after each having a troublefree, if lonely, race.

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