Three Counties motorsport news

By Bob Bull
BBC Radio Three Counties

Peter Horsman in action at Brands Hatch

The Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday saw Jenson Button claim his fifth win from six races to firmly establish himself as the man most likely to replace Stevenage's Lewis Hamilton as Formula One world champion.

Button showed a mastery of the circuit that left him unchallenged from the start to the chequered flag, not even his team-mate Rubens Barrichello could hold a candle to the Englishman.

However, while Button basked in the glory, what of the erstwhile champion Hamilton?

A crash in qualifying and the need to change a gearbox as a result left the local man starting from last place on the grid and managing only 12th place at the finish, passing only one car during the race. How things can change in Formula One!

Milton Keynes' Red Bull Team were disappointed to come away with only a fifth-place finish following a promising season so far this year. Australian Mark Webber brought his car home in the points, while young team-mate Sebastien Vettel crashed out of the race after hitting the barriers hard. Ominously for both the Brawn team and Red Bull, Ferrari showed much improved form to take third and fourth places, which promises much for the next round in Turkey. Whatever happens there, Button will come to Silverstone still leading the championship.

Back home several Three Counties competitors were in action at Brands Hatch taking part in The Masters Historic Festival on the Kentish circuit - Peter Horsman from Beaconsfield, co-driving with ex-Formula One driver Ian Ashley, in Peter's Lotus 11 finished in sixth spot in their event and second in class behind a more modern version of the Lotus.

Jim Woodley from Princes Risborough, also in one of Colin Chapman's cars came home 16th and first in his class.

In the Pre '66 Saloon Car event Harlington's Jackie Oliver took a fine third spot overall and first in class. Considering that his 2.0 litre BMW has less than half the engine capacity of the Mustangs he was battling with this was a very good result.

In the Centenary Race for Morgan Cars two local drivers were out in Plus 4 models but failed to trouble the leaders, John Clarke from Princes Risborough coming home in 11th place, while Harpenden's John Emberson finished 15th. To be fair to both men they do compete in less powerful cars than most of the field.

2009 is the hundredth anniversary of the Morgan marque and the race was held to celebrate the achievements of one of the most successful drivers of these cars, Jim Tucker, and Emberson's Morgan is the actual car he drove. Unfortunately time has moved on and most of the other entrants had power Tucker could only have dreamed of.

This Saturday the Aston Martin Owners Club hold their annual meeting at Silverstone, a slick programme of races for Astons and other well know makes run in a relaxed and friendly manner, with free car parking, grandstands and paddock entry all for £8 per head and children under 15 free.

With sunny weather promised it should be a great family day out.

Meanwhile the MG Car Club are at Brands Hatch and the British Formula Three and GT Championship contenders are at Rockingham, where Nick Tandy will be competing for the first time since his brother Joe was killed in a road accident, determined not to let his brother's memory down. We wish him Godspeed.

British Superbikes are at Thruxton in Hampshire, the UK's fastest circuit.