Thrilling Start to the 2025 FASSI Classic Speed Championship at Loton Park

The 2025 Bugatti Owners Club FASSI Classic Speed Championship roared into life on Sunday, April 6th, at the ever-demanding Loton Park Hill Climb.

The 1475-yard (1349-metre) course offered up its usual mix of technical corners and changing gradients, all under perfect spring weather—dry, fine, and just right for a fast start to the season.

Sports Cars Set the Pace

Dave Fripp led the charge for Scuderia FASSI in his Fiat Abarth 124 Spyder, stepping up after the late withdrawal of Leigh Carter’s Fiat Abarth 695SS due to technical issues. After a tough debut season, Dave returned with a fully sorted machine, storming to victory in the sports car class with a time of -3.36s under handicap. Hot on his heels was Stephen Akers in the Lotus Elan GTS S1, also under handicap and securing second, while Ben Cross brought his MG Midget home in third.

Saloon Cars See Suspension Payoff

In the Pre-1976 Saloon Car class, Alistair Clark impressed with a finely tuned suspension setup, with his Triumph Vitesse shaving nearly half a second off handicap to take the win. Matt Clarke pushed hard in his flying Mini, matching his handicap for second place, ahead of Garry Cox in the Reliant Scimitar GTE.

Racing Car Class Showdown

A close contest unfolded in the Racing Car class, with Richard Morris piloting his Lotus 51 to within a second of handicap for first place. Fellow Lotus 51 driver Colin Richards secured second, while Martin Jones, in the Brabham BT21C, took third on handicap and clocked the fastest time of the day at 58.95 seconds.

New Class, Singular Star

The newly introduced Pre-1991 class had just one competitor, but Simon Braithwaite’s 1988 BMW M3 made a serious impression. In his first competitive outing on the hill, he laid down a solid 68-second run that turned heads.

Gratitude to the Team

A big thank you to Stuart Wing for capturing the action through his lens, and to all the staff and marshals at Loton Park for ensuring a safe, smooth, and superbly run event.

This article was written by FASSI UK