The 2023 Masters season concluded with the Algarve Festival in Portimão, not without a few surprises. Frenchman Soheil Ayari celebrated his first Masters victory on a Ligier JS21.
On the track, still quite damp from the night's rain, the general tire choice was slicks, as the sun was about to dry the problematic surface. 23 cars were entered, 20 were allowed to start. Vive la France: Frenchman Soheil Ayari, who had not yet appeared in the „Masters Racing Legends for 1966-1985 F1 Cars,“ catapulted his Ligier JS21 to victory with a daring driving style. Ayari: „I was sideways everywhere because my tires lacked grip. My ice racing experience, which I gained in the winter, came in handy. Werner d’Ansembourg, the fastest in qualifying with a Brabham BT49, stated: „I've never driven on slicks in such terrible conditions before. Hopefully, this won't happen again anytime soon.“ Nick Padmore, the master of the Fittipaldi category, underlined his skill with an overall third place and another „Fitti“ win in the Lotus 77 from ChromeCars.
The ALGARVE FESTIVAL 2023 with Marco Werner and Jacky Ickx
The troop managed by Britec from Jena had Marco Werner a Lotus 76/1. This F1 car, built in two units in 1974, had two serious drawbacks according to Ronnie Peterson: it was too heavy at over 600 kilos and difficult to handle. This was also found by Jacky Ickx, who piloted the Type 76 in Zeltweg and Monza without success. The fact that Marco Werner was fifth fastest in qualifying speaks to his car control. In the fight for fourth place, Marco successively defeated Ken Tyrrell and Jamie Constable, both in Tyrrell 011s in the Head class – Tyrrell even on the outside. Marco: „With brand new slicks – used ones would have been more suitable in these track conditions – I initially lacked grip, but then I was pleasantly surprised at what could still be gotten out of the “76!" After all, Marco set the fastest race lap, 2.5 seconds faster than the eventual winner Ayari. Tyrrell and Constable then brawled for fifth place, which the American took. At some distance, New Zealander Warren Briggs, McLaren M29, David Shaw, Williams FW06, and Maximilian Werner in a Hesketh 308C followed.
Masterful performance by Ken Tyrrell
Tyrrell convincingly won the season's Head class in 2023, a feat he underscored with his victory in the second race at the ALGARVE FESTIVAL 2023. Constable had initially led this race and maintained his lead until the safety car period. When the green flag dropped, Constable was already off, even before the safety car had rejoined the pits. This premature start was penalized with disqualification. From seventh on the grid, Werner d'Ansembourg had quickly worked his way up to second place. Behind him was Marco Werner, who thus led and won the Fittipaldi category ahead of his teammate Nick Padmore and David Shaw. Padmore: „There was more in me, but on the straights I couldn't get past the slower Ayari, and in the corners, he braked incredibly late.“ Shaw, benefiting from the reversed starting grid for the front rows according to the regulations, couldn't capitalize on his pole position. He made a driving error in turn 13 and had to let both Tyrrell 011s pass him. Ayari, the surprise winner of the first race, retired with a technical defect on his Ligier. Geoffrey Rivet's Trojan T103-1 was out of contention—right on the opening lap. The „Trojan Horse“ had bent its nose on Yutaka Toriba's Williams FW05. After ignition problems, „Kiwi“ Briggs had to park his McLaren definitively on the sixth lap. The green flag after a yellow flag period came very late, forcing a sprint race. Constable lost this to Tyrrell, d'Ansembourg, and Werner.
Start and finish wins at the ALGARVE FESTIVAL 2023
Steve Brooks confidently dominated the first race of the Endurance Legends with his Peugeot 90X. Wonderful weather, dry track! „Just to my liking,“ said Brooks. „Even with my teeth clenched, I couldn't have done anything,“ admitted Canadian Keith Frieser. At least his Zytec 09S had some breathing room behind him. A Morgan-Pescarolo 01, shared by Andy Cummings and Alvaro Fontes, was there, but only after an MG-Lola EX264 retired with a turbo problem. The P3 class also went to a French car, the Ligier JSP3 driven by the English crew Craig Davies and Ron Maydon. In the GTs, Andrew Donaldson's Lister Storm GTL dominated.
A gearbox failure eliminated Brooks“ Peugeot in the opening lap of the second race. This cleared the way for an unchallenged Frieser victory. Frieser: “I'm incredibly sorry for my friend Steve. On the other hand, I was in great form and set my fastest lap of the entire weekend," said Frieser. The P2 class again went to Cummings/Fontes, and the same crew repeated their success in P3. Andrew Donaldson did the same, repeating his GT victory.
Solo for Gary Pearson
The “Gentlemen Drivers„ race was won by Gary Pearson in a Jaguar E-Type, after his closest rivals, John Spiers and Nigel Greensall, both driving TVR Griffiths, had to fall back. The “Masters Pre-66 Touring Car Section”, limited to 60 minutes, saw Harry Barton in a BMW 1800 tiSA take the lead, followed by the fastest Lotus Cortina, shared by Pedro and Rui Macedo Silva.
Get Curbs' #58 coverage of the ALGARVE FESTIVAL 2023 delivered right to your home—directly through our Online store
Photos: Senten Images