We were all set for a close battle in the Derek Bell Cup at the 81st Members Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport, and we weren’t disappointed. The race for 1.0-litre Formula 3 cars is always hard fought given that the cars are very evenly matched and reward driver skill. The maintenance of momentum is key to success, with smooth inputs imperative to a quick laptime. Add in the complication of defending or attacking for track position and things get very competitive.
And so it proved as soon as the flag dropped at the start of the race, with position changes at the front of the field even before they’d reached the first corner. Wheel-to-wheel action continued until oil dropped by the Brabham of Simon Etherington caused Jeremy Tibbs to have an off aboard his Chevron.
The ensuing red flag meant that any hard-earned gaps that had been opened up evaporated when things ground to a halt for the grid to reform. That worked out badly for race leader Michael O’Brien and his Titan Mk3. He suffered a poor start and dropped down to fifth at the first corner. Did he regain position? No spoilers here – you’ll need to watch the video to see what transpired. All we will say here is that the battle that unfolded was one of the hardest fought of the whole 81st Members' Meeting weekend.
A race for 1,000cc Formula 3 cars built between 1964 and 1970, the Derek Bell Cup is a peppy change of tune to the rumble of V8s. The sound of the tiny engines as they speed from the line akin to a swarm of hornets, energetic hornets with a temper.
What's more, with such equally matched machinery that rewards smooth driving, the racing is very close and the results reward skill behind the wheel. And the results from qualifying reflect that, with less than a second separating the top three places. We also have three different marques at the sharp end, Michael O'Brien (Titan Mk3) leading Peter De La Roche (Alexis Mk17) and Andrew Hibberd (Brabham BT18). That order could so easily shuffle come the race. These may not be the fastest cars of the weekend, but they’re no less enjoyable to watch.
The Derek Bell Cup has been a regular occurrence on the schedule since first appearing at the 73rd Members’ Meeting, with four different winners over five years. At the 81st Members’ Meeting, the cars and drivers will take part in a 20-minute sprint for glory.
For what they might lack in power, these ‘60s Formula 3 cars more than make up for in beauty. They’re very pretty little cars that evoke memories of that wonderful era of single-seaters.
One of the most interesting aspects of the Derek Bell Cup is the sheer variety of cars in action. While nearly the entirely grid is powered by naturally aspirated 1.0-litre Ford engines, the list of manufacturers is vast.
Lotus, Brabham, Tecno, March, Chevron, Merlyn, Titan, De Sanctis are just some of the names you can expect to see out on track over the course of the weekend. The Brabhams have seen plenty of success in previous years, we'll be watching with interest to see if another name can force its way into the roll of honour this weekend.
Expect a grid of up to 30 Formula 3 cars to line up for the Derek Bell Cup, each driven by experienced and talented drivers known the world over for their exploits in historic motorsport.
Former winners Andrew Hibberd and John Milicevic will once again be fighting for honours, and they'll be joined Nick Padmore, who knows the Goodwood Motor Circuit like the back of his hand.
The Formula 3 cars of the Derek Bell Cup will be in action for the first time on Saturday at 11:25 for their Official Practice. They'll be set for racing action on Sunday morning as the second race of the day at 09:40.
Year |
Event |
Driver(s) |
Car |
2022 |
79MM Derek Bell Cup |
Andrew Hibberd |
Brabham-Ford BT18 |
2019 |
77MM Derek Bell Cup |
Ben Mitchell |
Brabham-Ford BT28 |
2018 |
76MM Derek Bell Cup |
John Milicevic |
Brabham-Ford BT21 |
2017 |
75MM Derek Bell Cup |
Andrew Hibberd |
Brabham-Ford BT18 |
2015 |
73MM Derek Bell Cup |
James King |
Chevron-Ford B17 |
Photography by Jochen van Cauwenberge
81MM
Members' Meeting
Derek Bell Cup
Race Coverage
Event Coverage
Video