David and Olivier Hart performed exceptionally well at the Vallelunga Classic. The father-and-son duo competed in Italy in the Classic Endurance Racing 1 and Sixties’ Endurance classes, ultimately leaving the circuit with two pole positions, two fastest laps, a win, and the feeling that there was still more to come.
During free practice and qualifying, it was already clear that the DHG Racing Lola T70 MK3/B excelled at the circuit, built in 1959 just outside the Italian capital. Armed with the British sports car, Olivier Hart posted a blistering 1:41.879, almost four-tenths of a second faster than Martin O’Connell in a McLaren M8C.
David Hart started the race from pole position on Sunday afternoon and got off to such a good start that the dark green Lola was almost four seconds ahead after one lap. With a blistering pace, which would have earned him a front-row spot in qualifying, Hart pulled away lap after lap from the competition, which was half a lap down. After seventeen laps of racing, David was able to hand over the wheel without pressure to Olivier, who continued DHG Racing’s dominance throughout the 60-minute race, often being more than a second faster than the nearest rivals. The fastest lap of the race on the penultimate lap was the best proof of a convincing performance at Vallelunga.
After 34 laps of racing, David and Olivier finished first with a lead of over 53 seconds, ahead of Emmanuel Brigand in a Chevron B19 and Armand Mille in a Lola T212.
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In the Sixties Endurance race, held on Saturday afternoon, the DHG Racing Shelby Cobra 289 also took pole position thanks to a superb qualifying lap by Olivier. In the more than forty-car field, David took third place in the battle for the podium, just behind Christophe van Riet and Henri Moser, who were also armed with a powerful Cobra. David was easily able to follow the lead but decided not to take any risks in the Roman heat. His fast lap in the first phase of the race demonstrated his good pace, and the team seemed perfectly positioned to strike in the second half.
However, that opportunity didn’t come, because after Olivier took over the wheel, a rear tire slowly but surely gave up the ghost. When the entire tread disintegrated, Olivier had no choice but to pit again. Armed with fresh rubber and feeling the need to attack, Olivier did just that, setting the fastest lap of the race. Unfortunately, a driveshaft problem threw a wrench in the works, this time permanently, and the Cobra didn’t finish.
That the Cobra had been fast enough for the win was proven later, as not only was Olivier’s lap time the fastest in the field, but David’s was also only a few tenths slower, meaning the combination could have truly won the two-hour race.
The next race for DHG Racing is this weekend at the Goodwood Revival, where the team will once again compete for victory in various classes.
