International Race Homepage

HealeySport embraces all aspects of Healey competition both in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.

Healey Driver International (HDI) was established in 1991 to provide an opportunity for drivers with Big Healeys prepared to FIA standards to race at major circuits in Europe and at the important Historic meetings that are held at those venues throughout the year.  The circuits include Spa, Dijon, Zolder, Zandvoort, Nurburgring and Assen and the races are normally one-hour, single/dual driver, stand-alone, trophy events.

Silverstone International - John Gott Memorial Trophy Race - 10th, 11th & 12th July

MG Live! - In liaison with the MG Car Club, Healey Driver International (HDI) have organised a commemorative 1 hour race at Silverstone on the International circuit as part of the MG Car Club's International weekend.  Qualifying will be on Friday 10th July with the race on Saturday 11th July.  The race is open to any Austin Healey 100, 100S, 3000 or Silverstone prepared to FIA specification.  We are expecting a field of circa 30 cars with the top UK drivers competing against teams from France, Sweden and Holland. To any Big Healey enthusiast - driver or spectator - this will be a treat to behold to have so many famous cars taking part in this celebratory race.

Healey Drivers - click on the link to the MG Car Club website (Entry form and Regs) for a set of the Standing Regulations and to complete the entry form on-line and pay by credit card. You should also get in touch immediately with Joe Cox on joe.cox2@btinternet.com if he has not already been in contact with you.

Spectators should put this date in your diary and remember to check this website nearer the time or go onto the MG Live! website to book your tickets for the event.  Click on the following link to go direct to MG Live!  The Austin Healey Club will also have a prestigious stand on the in-field to welcome all AH Club members or those thinking about joining.

The Le Mans 24 Hour Classic - 2008

The Le Mans Classic is held every two years with the last event held on 11-12-13 July 2008 at the world famous 24-hours circuit of Le Mans, where 5,000 classics and 50,000 people came together. There were numerous stands with automobile memorabilia, a classic car auction and a large number of famous cars that had previously participated in the gruelling 24-hours race.  It was a must for anyone who appreciates endurance cars and racing.

Eleven Austin Healeys took part in the 2008 Le Mans Classic, with five cars classified by age in Grid 2 (1949-1956) and six in Grid 3 (1957-1961).  Each grid had three races over the 24 hour period with one being overnight.  The results shown below list the Healey entrants, their overall position after the three races and their adjusted or compensated position once a handicapping coefficient has been applied to the expected performance of the car.  As you will see, in some cases the driver benefits by the compensation and others do not.

The top Healey in Grid 2 was the 100S (RWD132) of the British trio Peter Thornton, Jeremy Welch and David Garrett who finished an excellent 8th overall which unfortunately became 30th once adjusted.  They just beat the 100M driven by Mike Thorne and John Todd by 40 seconds after racing for nearly two and a half hours.  However, once the times had been adjusted the Thorne/Todd car moved up to an excellent sixth place overall, out of a total grid of 69 cars.

In Grid 3, the Dutch trio of Rinus Sinke, Jaap Sinke and Hans Van de Kerkhof yet again brought their yellow 3000 home first amongst the Healeys in a very creditable 7th place on scratch (up from 13th place in 2006) and 21st once compensated.  The Perou/Duval/de Stoppani 3000 was 9th overall which was a great improvement on their 2006 placing.

The following table highlights the Healeys that ran in the event, the drivers and their final scratch and compensated positions:

To find out more - click here to go to the Healey Meets Le Mans 2008 website.  Also, check out the report and results of the 2006 event by looking further down this page.

Syd Segal Memorial Trophy Race - Thruxton 24^th March 2008    Report and pics by : Phil (scoop) Broster  (email at phil_scoop@hotmail.co.uk or tel: 07912 537640)                         

To celebrate forty years of motor car racing at the Thruxton Aerodrome and Race Circuit, Healey Driver International was invited by the BARC to produce a grid of racing Healeys (100/4, 100S, 100/6, 3000 and Silverstones) for this most important and spectacular two day meeting.  Our race was The Syd Segal Memorial Trophy Race and comprised a 45 minute scratch race on Monday 24 March (Easter Monday) in the headline slot during the mid-afternoon session, with qualifying practice on Sunday 23 March.  Drivers came from overseas and around the UK to take part in this spectacular event. 

To read the report and see the pictures from the event click here

Horneland Rally  7- 8 March 2008

In March 2008, 10 UK crews picked up the gauntlet to take part in the Horneland Rally, a superb route, mostly intended, all around the countryside and rally tolerant villages of the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. 

To read Mike Spindle's second excellent report and see Jan-Peter Ambaum's pictures click here.

"Putting the hammer down in Thor's own country"

A fascinating tale of  a Healey 3000 and its crew in the 2007 Classic Rally Association’s ‘Viking Marathon’,  Norway.

Click here to read the witty report and see some super pictures supplied by Mike Spindle

Goodwood Revival Meeting  -  September 2007

By Phil (Scoop) Broster   (phil_scoop@hotmail.co.uk)

Another year gone and my second visit to Goodwood, not the plethora of assorted Sprites to greet me this year but the splendid atmosphere of this unique event certainly continues to grab the imagination on arrival.  This year ‘Haurel and Lardy’ were around creating havoc, ‘Glam Cabs’ were back, there was music everywhere once again, plus the regular NAAFI huts with tin mugs, ‘mess’ tents and the period dress for the participating crowd, which incidentally, seemed to be well up on previous attendance.

There was a new ‘Art Deco’ garage built for this year with a superb display of 50’s classics, and countless refreshment areas from Champagne and Oyster bars to fish and chip wagons, something for everyone. 

Then there was the racing of course. The Paddock with its array of historically important machinery was superb, with celebrities mingling with the public and getting as close to the cars as they wanted.  There were countless Ferraris, E Types and eight Cobras, including Daytona Coupes, one of which was the replica made by the John Willment team in the 60’s.  These were all going to be driven by star names as well!, and there, tucked in the corner, Healey 100S RWD 323, the sole Healey representative for the weekend.  You may remember the performance I described last year in the hands of Johnny Herbert, and this year she was to be piloted in the ‘Freddie March Memorial Trophy’ by none other than Stuart Graham, winner of the T.T. on both two and four wheels. 

Before that race we witnessed a splendid ‘St. Mary’s Trophy’ for 60’s saloons which saw a host of ‘star’ names driving production saloons of the day, very reminiscent of the support races for a Grand Prix when stars like Clark and Hill would mix it with regular saloon contenders.  The likes of diminutive Arturo Merzario, Rupert Keegan, Marc Surer, Derek Bell and of course Stirling Moss, to mention a few, racing door handle to door handle in superb style.

Then the ‘Whitsun Trophy’, a race for ‘big bangers’ of the period.  Lola T70’s, Ferraris and Mclaren M1B’s, Ford GT 40’s et al!  This saw a superb battle between Ray Bellm in his Shelby GT 40 and Frank Sytner’s Lola T70 Spyder, which only came to an end when the unfortunate Sytner under steered across the circuit into the tyres towards the end of the race.  This wasn’t as bad an accident as Julian Bronson had when he lost control of his immaculate McLaren M1B and cart wheeled into the tyre wall, bits flying everywhere.  He walked away from a frightening accident which left a sad looking, very bent racing car.  This incident had brought out the red flag for a re-start which had seen Bellm and Sytner fight for position in both parts.

Then came the ‘Freddie March Memorial’ and from the start Stuart Graham was not hanging about in the Healey, he was fourth in the opening stages, making short work of an Allard to climb to third after the first lap.  His driving of the car was superb and within a short while he was catching an Aston and lining up second place.  The commentator was ecstatic and the crowd were on their toes as Graham dived through to secure second place.  Then he set off to pull in the lead car, he was getting the hang of this Healey and it showed in his style through the chicane.  Down came the gap, 4 seconds, 3 and a half, then within 2, could we witness a Healey win here.  Then the backmarkers came into play, suddenly the gap was back to 4 seconds but within a lap Graham had it back to under 3.  This was another superb race.  The laps reeled in but with slower cars on the track now it looked clear that he wouldn’t pull off the win, barring a mishap to the leader.  As the flag came out Graham took a superb second place, he had taken the Healey fight to the front and proved that this car can motor, once again beating much stronger competition, as had Herbert last year.

This was the last race on Saturday, all that was left to do now was wander the market stalls in search of bargains, or sit and have a splendid pint whilst watching the world go by.  There was no rush, no need, this is an event to savour and…it is 1950 after all!! 

To see a selection of some of the excellent pictures taken at Goodwood click here.

To see the reports and pictures from previous Goodwood Revival events click here.

Le Mans Classic - 7th, 8th and 9th July 2006

Fifteen Austin Healeys took part in the 2006 Le Mans Classic, with eight cars classified by age in Grid 2 and seven in Grid 3.  Each grid had three races over the 24 hour period with one being overnight.  The results shown below list the Healey entrants, their overall position after the three races and their adjusted or compensated position once a handicapping coefficient has been applied to the expected performance of the car.  As you will see, in some cases the driver benefits by the compensation and others do not.

The top Healey in Grid 2 was the 100 of Swiss trio Dominique Vananty, Olivier De Siebenthal and Alain Vuarnet who finished an excellent eight overall which became seventh once adjusted, beating the 100S driven by Mark Knopfler and Max Wakfield by just under 2 minutes after racing for nearly two and a half hours.

In Grid 3, the Dutch trio of Rinus Sinke, Jaap Sinke and Hans Van de Kerkhof brought their yellow 3000 home first amongst the Healeys in a very creditable 13th place on scratch and 21st once compensated.

The following table highlights the Healeys that ran in the event, the drivers and their final scratch and compensated positions:

For further information on the UK and International race series, contact Joe Cox at joe.cox2@btinternet.com, Information about club membership or the UK Sprint and Hill Climb Challenge, contact  Allan Cameron at allanclancam@hotmail.com and for questions regarding this website contact the site Webmaster