Historic Endurance falls under Jerez’s spell

Following a memorable appearance at the Algarve Classic Festival, where it welcomed the largest grid in its 14-year history, Iberian Historic Endurance heads to Spain this weekend to make a highly anticipated return to one of the most cherished circuits among drivers in the series: the Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto.

The region’s famously favourable weather, a circuit that offers the perfect setting for touring cars, GTs and prototypes built up to 1976, and the fantastic atmosphere of the city make Jerez de la Frontera one of the favourite destinations for gentleman drivers from across Europe.

Several of last weekend’s competitors will return to the track for the two races scheduled as part of the Jerez Iberian Racing Festival, joined by numerous other drivers eager to compete at one of the Iberian Peninsula’s historic circuits. In total, 43 teams, featuring more than 60 drivers, have accepted the Andalusian challenge.

The winners of both H-1965 races at Portimão, Brice Pineau and Olivier Muytjens, will be giving their Shelby Cobra Daytona a well-deserved rest as they share the wheel of two genuine gems: a Porsche 911 3.0 RS (H-1976) and a Ford GT40 (GTP&SC).

Paulo Lima, runner-up in GTP&SC at Portimão and a winner at this circuit in 2024, returns behind the wheel of his Ford GT40, joined by Jordi Puig. Robin Ellis, winner of the Index of Performance with his Lotus Elite and of the H-1976 category in the Algarve with his Porsche, is back with two Porsche 911 2.8 RSRs. Paul Daniels will be driving JWA Racing's second car. Also on the grid will be Laurens Jaspers, whose Jaguar E-Type fought for victory in H-1965, and Miguel Domingues, winner among the H-1971 entries.

However, the grid also features plenty of new additions. The Huber family arrives with its three "American monsters". Max Huber swaps the AC Cobra with which he won both Jarama races for an equally impressive Chevrolet Corvette 427. His brother Guillaume returns with the Ford Mustang, while their father, Ralf, will be at the wheel of the family's Chevrolet Corvette C3.

Pedro Bastos Rezende returns with his De Tomaso Pantera, a car that, when free from mechanical issues, demonstrates tremendous competitiveness and is always a firm favourite with the crowds. Also making a comeback is the Merlyn Mk4, runner-up in the Algarve, with Carlos Barbot and Filipe Campos sharing driving duties.

The progress of Chas Mallard and Nigel Winchester's Ginetta G4R will also be worth following, as will the entry of Northern Irish team Gary Dunlop Motorsport with its Crossle 7S. Following their debut at Portimão, they will be looking to improve their results in their first appearance at Jerez de la Frontera.

Spectators will almost certainly have the chance to discover two Iso models, possibly for the first time: Richardo Rubbio Boel and Pieter Boel's elegant Iso Grifo A3/C, and the smaller, but equally rare, Iso Rivolta IR 300, which we previously saw at Estoril Classics with Rob Bergmans.

Competing on home soil, the Spanish contingent will be both sizeable and highly competitive, while also bringing several new additions. Pablo and José Rueda, regular competitors with their Ford Capri, will switch to a Porsche 911 3.0 RS for this occasion. Antonio Escalante returns with his Mini Cooper, while the trio of Javier Basagoiti, Manuel Capelo and Alfonso Masoliver will compete in a Porsche 911 2.5 ST. Guillermo Velasco, a familiar face in the Historic Endurance paddock, will share Francisco Moreno's Ford Capri 2000 with its owner.

The pairings of Gerardo García and Juan Antonio Zorrilla, and Rafael Sánchez Alcalá and Eduardo Sánchez, also return, both behind the wheel of Porsche 911 3.0 RS models that will be serious contenders.

Among the newcomers are Lithuanian driver Aurelijus Rusteika, with a Porsche 911 2.8 RSR, and François Guérin and Alexandre Almeida, who will share a BMW 1600 Ti for the first time.

Among the Portuguese entries, particular attention will be drawn to the return of Luís Sousa Ribeiro, whose Ford Cortina Lotus is a regular contender for victory in GDS. RP Motorsport also fields the father-and-son pairing of Luís and Valdemar Nóvoa, who made their debut at the Algarve Classic Festival and demonstrated that the Alfa Romeo Berlina 2000 can be highly competitive in its category.

The Index of Performance winner will once again receive an exclusive Cuervo y Sobrinos watch. Based on a mathematical formula in which engine capacity and the age of the cars play a key role, Vincent Tourneur's Porsche 356 Speedster, the various Lotus Elans and the Mini Cooper S shared by Ellie Birchenbough and Nick Topliss start as clear favourites.

However, it is worth remembering that at this very circuit, in 2020, current competitor Nuno Nunes claimed victory in this classification at the wheel of his regular Porsche 911 SWB.

With just one qualifying session scheduled for Saturday, Historic Endurance will stage its two 50-minute races on Sunday, bringing all the excitement together in an action-packed day of racing. Both races will be broadcast live on the Race Ready YouTube channel.