In a very tough, two-hour race on the ever-challenging Algarve circuit, the winning J.D. Classics Lister Jaguar of Gary Pearson and John Young very nearly lost first place in the final laps of the race. As dusk fell, Roger Wills – in the Lotus 15 he shared with Joe Twyman – was closing on the Lister at the rate of two or three seconds per lap and, had the race lasted just a little longer, he would surely have swept to victory.

It was an opportunity that arose when, some 25 minutes from the end of the race, the safety car came out and closed up the field – offering Roger Wills the tempting prospect of hounding down the Lister. Despite Wills’ best efforts, Gary Pearson held onto the lead and crossed the finish line just 6.6 seconds ahead of his nearest rival. One lap back in third place was the Lotus 17 of father and son pairing, Gabriel and Dion Kremer.

Through the rest of the 32-strong grid, the attrition rate was fairly high as the race progressed, though some made it through against all the odds: such as Ron and Malcolm Gammons, whose Lotus 11 smashed its differential to smithereens during Friday evening practice. The team spent the night rebuilding the car and finished 10th overall – despite a puncture during the race which necessitated an unscheduled pit stop and wheel-change.

Class winners not mentioned aboved include the Lola Mk1 of Malcolm Verey and Barry Cannell, the J.D. Classics C-type of Will Arif and Jarrah Venables, and the Lotus 17 of Jim Woodley and Peter Horsman.