Gurston Down is a picturesque hill located in Wiltshire and whilst the structurally questionable barns may raise eyebrows, it is not without it’s charm. It is a popular destination for motorsport enthusiasts and offers a unique and challenging track for drivers – and as I found walking to the various viewing spots, spectators too.

The course at Gurston Down stretches just over 1,000 yards and features a variety of challenging bends and gradients, it’s signature pieces being the downhill startline and the carousel complex, a series of tightening corners on a severe gradient.

The venue has a rich history in motorsport, with the first recorded event taking place in 1967. Since then, it has become a regular fixture on the British Hillclimb Championship calendar, and that of the Club’s own Hillclimb Championship.

Round 11 of the CSA Service Group Ferrari Hillclimb Championship was a pleasantly surprising day for your scribe, as completely unrelated to the championship in anyway I was fortunate enough to bump into my Aunt & Uncle whom I hadn’t seen in nearly three years! Good Ol’ Uncle Jimbo was competing in his modified BMW E30 and this was the first time we’d crossed paths whilst “on business”. For anyone interested, he managed a very consistent 41 seconds across the day to come second in his class, only bested by the outrageously quick – and possibly not right for the class -Jedi Mk4 which completed the course in 32.31 seconds.

Enough idle waffling, onto the bit you’ve come here for…

PRACTICE 1

Gurston Down is a well oiled machine and it shows in how quickly the day flows, with each batch running in good order. It isn’t long before the first Ferrari takes its position on the start line.

Leading the charge is Dave Snelson. Whilst the Championship is provisionally won Dave still has another goal in mind, the course record. Whilst he currently holds the record with 34.30 seconds, it is still possible to improve, especially with the warm weather. Dave has made no secret he wishes to hold the record at every venue possible and whilst a handful have slipped through his grasp this year it won’t be long before he can make dream reality, providing he doesn’t have further challenges from his fellow competitors. Dave sets an impressive time of 34.58, just shy of the record, however it is expected that it may be beaten today.

Martin Jones takes to the hill next with the sound of his 360 echoing through the hills. I know Ferrari dropped the fifth valve per cylinder as it saw minimal performance gains, but the sound it creates cannot be denied. Howling like a banshee, Martin pilots the vocal-360 up the hill and across the finish line in 47.12 seconds.

Pauline Goodwin kicked things off for our competitors in classic tipos (F355 and earlier) and would set a time of 41.85 seconds, showing you don’t need the newest car to be competitive (or beat a modified BMW).

Following Pauline was the beautifully presented 308 GTS QV of Simon Jefferies. Previously competing in a Roma, the 308 was diminutive by comparison and much better suited to the twisty and sometimes tight nature of hillclimbing. With a very smooth launch off the line, Simon drives the little 308 across the finish line in 48.29 seconds.

Next up is Steve Nunney in the ex-Preece F430. Smooth lines and a careful application of the right foot (from my vantage point) see Steve  complete his first practice run in  just 40.53 seconds, a clear signal that he is continuing to gel with the car. Clearly the pressure-line gremlins that were causing a headache with the gearbox had all be rectified and the car was performing as commanded.

Stuart McCabe then took the ex-Mogridge 328 to task and would set the fastest speed in practive at Hollow in a classic tipo – 77.9mph – whisking his way up the hill in 43.46 seconds.

John Kennedy was up next with the black California T. The only non-mid engined Ferrari competing currently (technically front-mid) it would be easy to suggest that it wouldn’t be a suitable car for the hills… how wrong you would be. Whether it is the Speciale Handling Pack that is fitted or the talent behind the wheel, it is hard to not be impressed, thrilled and entertained watching the Cali turn into a ballistic missile up the hill. Fighting for second place in the championship it is clear that John is not holding back and he crosses the line in 37.56 seconds.

Final Ferrari for practice 1, it’s the 458 Speciale of Rob Samuels. Often locked away in garages or private collections, it isn’t too often you see a 458 Speciale let alone one in active competition. No small miracle then when Rob “The Professor” Samuels drops the hammer and lets one of the last naturally aspirated V8’s to leave Maranello sing. Battling with Kennedy to secure second place in the championship it is all to play for and Rob crosses the line in 35.76 seconds.

Now for a break, but with how quickly the organisers are working through batches it won’t be long before Practice 2.

PRACTICE 2

Practice 2 comes quickly and the conditions are continuing to improve with the heat building.

Dave Snelson makes clear his intentions and crosses the line in just 34.17 seconds, a new record if it were an official timed run and not practice. If he can continue to improve he may yet go sub-34, a first for the championship!

Martin Jones improves to 47.00, with Pauline also going quicker with 41.22. Simon improves almost by three seconds with a 45.44, followed by Steve Nunney who fails to replicate the performance from P1. Stuart shaves a second off with a 42.14 followed by the thundering John Kennedy with a 36.92, a time that takes the paddock by surprise as with PEP that would see John snatch 17 points. Samuels answers back with a 35.42 but it isn’t quite enough… more time must be found to secure second place in the championship.

With that play time is over, following the mandatory lunch stop it is time to take the training wheels off and battle for points in the penultimate round of the 2025 season.

RUN 1

It’s go time and first to set an official time is Dave Snelson with his 488 GTB. Chasing a new record Dave pushes hard but it slips away this time, however with an impressive 34.46 it will be hard for anyone else to can claim the 20-points today.

Martin Jones sets a slightly slower time of 49.17 seconds but remains confident he can improve in his next run, however remains as happy as usual to simply be competing and enjoying his Ferrari in the manner it was intended to be used – something we can all learn to replicate.

Pauline sets off the line like a scalded cat and flies up the hill in an impressive 40.5 seconds, followed by the consistently improving Simon who pilots the little 308 across the line ins just 45.10 – if Simon continues to find time at this rate he could well be one to keep an eye on in the 2026 season!

Steve Nunney next and his F430 sings up the hill in 40.09 seconds, an improvement on his best time from practice and back on form. Stuart McCabe follows but cannot replicate the improvement of Steve, and runs slightly slower than his best practice time to finish his first timed run in 42.53.

Now the battle on the championship podium continues. John Kennedy proves that his best practice time is no fluke and replicates the performance exactly with another 36.92, a great display of consistency.

Can Rob Samuels answer back? He can, with a clinical run up the hill in 35.10 he is improving and secures his place on the number two spot of the event podium, for now.

RUN 2

The final chance to improve this round and the air temperature is beginning to drop.

Dave has unfinished business – having set a potential new record in practice he is eager to replicate the drive and secure it – and drives off the line quickly. Dave finds an improvement from his previous run however it isn’t quite enough for the record, delivering a still blisteringly fast 34.35 across the line.

Martin is next and has apparently summoned spirits from the other side of the veil to guide him as he not only goes quicker than his previous run but does so with an improvement of 4.5 seconds, crossing the line at 44.67. Martin has to be happy with that!

Pauline continues the improvements and delivers a 40.0, securing her position as “Queen of the classics” this round and securing P4 on scratch.

Steve Nunney sets off however cannot improve this time around and finishes in 40.44 seconds, followed by Stuart with a time of 41.86. This round of the “Negroni Championship” (a friendly battle between Nunney & McCabe that sees the winner on scratch awarded a drink by the defeated competitor) goes to Nunney with Stuart set to fetch the next round of championship approved beverages.

John Kennedy is next to take to the start line, and channels his inner Lauda to improve further still and crosses the line in a spectacular 35.99 seconds. Rob Samuels follows and can’t quite answer the call to improve further with a 35.76.

After PEP adjustments the fastest times for the day are:

John Kennedy – California T – 36.17

Dave Snelson – 488 GTB – 36.58

Rob Samuels – 458 Speciale – 36.68

Pauline Goodwin – 328 GTB – 37.80

Stuart McCabe – 328 GTB – 39.56

Steve Nunney – F430 – 40.09

Simon Jefferies – 308 GTS QV – 41.74

Martin Jones – 360 – 44.00

With that outrageous performance Kennedy secures the 20-points to keep the battle for second place in the championship running to the wire, with both Kennedy and Samuels in a position where either could best the other at the final round of the championship at Curborough on 28th September.

The Best Improver Award goes to Martin Jones (2.45 seconds improvement between best Practice and Timed runs) and the Stewar’s Choice for the Best Prepared Car was awarded to the well turned out 308 GTS QV of Simon Jefferies.

Thoughts are already turning to 2026 and what that season may hold, but for now there is one more battle to take place at Curborough in a few weeks time – see you there!