“A Spin and a Win – OUMF Takes P1 at the Donington Historic Festival!” May 3rd / 4th 2025

In true OUMF last-minute fashion, the weekend kicked off with an email sent out at 10:39, requesting the team to gather for an 11:00 start at the barn. As cars rolled down the drive and students poured out, a warm blanket of sun saw the team don sunglasses, hats, and suncream – a welcome change from the dark, wet evenings we had all grown used to while working on the projects over winter. As the first race of the season – and the first ever race for some of the lucky freshers to make the team (myself included) – a buzz of excitement filled the barn and yard during the final preparations before departure. We secured the race cars onto the trailers, shut the van doors for the last time, and all piled into the convoy vehicles (smallest person goes in the middle seat!), stopping briefly before the circuit for a Sainsbury’s pit stop for some student essentials – beer, energy drinks and sweets.

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The team sprang to action as soon as we found our allocated area in the paddock, which would be our home for the weekend. Vehicles rolled into position, marquees were erected, and tools were laid out in record time, before we raced down to a local pub for some all-important food and drink. Back at the circuit, Eddie Scheer and Amy Foster - who took leadership of the Sebring Sprite and Riley 1.5 race teams respectively - set the scene for the weekend ahead by delivering the plan of attack and a motivational talk. Let’s go team! We ended the evening by admiring a beautiful full moon on the track walk, and finding our way into another team’s pit-lane party,  with two very expensive GT3 cars at centre stage. 

Despite the low-flying commercial planes that continuously terrorised our sleep, alarms sounded, and all members assembled at 07:00 sharp to kick off race day! The atmosphere in the paddock was electric, and having two OUMF teams working side-by-side on each vehicle meant that there was always something going on, and something to do. As one car rolled back in from Scrutineering, the other was being rolled out on its way to the Assembly Area, and this continuous activity and buzz carried on throughout the whole day.
The first true test came with the Riley 1.5’s qualifying laps, marking its first run on track since its last HRDC appearance at Silverstone in October last year. Ding made some great progress up the grid, but returned unsatisfied – a new suspension setup was having teething issues. The Riley team immediately got to work.

I was selected to be on the Sebring Sprite team, and given the responsibility to look after the rear left-hand quarter of the car. Tasks included spanner-checking, torque-marking and overall inspection between races to spot any changes or signs that something could be going wrong. When the time came to get Ding out on track, it was all systems go.
The Sprite’s qualifying session was quicker paced than the Riley’s. Ding was warmed up to the GP track, and the unfamiliar Melbourne Loop, and took an increasingly aggressive line. Standing on Redgate corner, we watched the ‘Little BeWT’ whizz round, each lap with more cars behind it. Our main competitor was a red Morgan Plus Four, who managed to keep ahead for the duration of the session.
As soon as Ding and the Sprite returned from the track, the usual process began. Everybody manned their corner and got to work as Eddie spoke to Ding for a debrief. During checks, we noticed that the differential fluid level was lower than it should be, and the diagnosis led to the rear right corner. Evan Dunbabin-Wray got straight to work with a half-shaft gasket change, completing it in time for the race. 
Our races were scheduled for later in the day, so as the afternoon went on and tasks were completed, we found time to take down our tents and explore the circuit. This included watching other spectacular racing and visiting the delightful HRDC stand for a hot drink and some delicious cake. 
First to race was the Riley 1.5, which, due to an unfortunate miscommunication in race control, was told to start at the very back of the grid in 43rd place. Despite the initial setback, Ding made great progress and demonstrated some spectacular techniques. The car ran much quicker, thanks to the Riley team’s fast and successful attempts to fix the issues Ding identified following qualifying. This helped to shave a mighty 3.256 seconds off our lap time. As the race continued, we watched the car climb 25 places, finishing P5 in Class and 18th Overall. While not a podium position, the team was still elated, considering the mass of cars on the starting grid that there were to overtake.
As quickly as the Riley rolled back into the paddock, the Sprite rolled out. The team walked to the Hollywood grandstand, between the first corner, Redgate, and the spectacular drop down through the famous Craner Curves to the Old Hairpin, to spectate with a buzz of excitement in the air.

Heat waves shimmered above the tarmac, blurring the edges of Redgate Corner off to our right in the distance. The grid stretched out in vibrant colour, bodywork from the 1960s racing era glinting in the sun. Engines rumbled at high idle, each one pulsing with restrained fury. The deep sound rolled up the hillside, overpowering the snapping of union flags and excited conversations of spectators. 
​A heartbeat of silence as the red gantry lights fade... 
A roar erupted.
Tyres screamed, engines howled, and the pack surged forward in a blur of colour and sound. Dust plumed from the start line as the cars thundered toward the first bend, jockeying for position.
The chaos at Redgate funnelled towards us and bellowed off down the hill.
The race was on!

In the middle of the pack, we spotted the Sprite – driving hell-for-leather and marking its territory on the track. As the race pushed on, we watched the car battle for position, slowly picking off its prey until it could see the blood-red Morgan Plus Four. 2.779 seconds faster per lap in qualifying, the car had become a talking point within our team as the one to beat. It now stood in our way to a P1 in Class, and we eagerly watched on as the battle unfolded. Ding made great progress, narrowing the gap each lap, until suddenly we see both vehicles fly down Wheatcroft Straight bumper to bumper. Ding gave no remorse, and the Morgan, pushing hard, finally went over the limit and lost traction, running wide through Redgate corner. Hitting the apex perfectly, the Sprite took the lead. The team burst into celebration!
The excitement continued for the rest of the race, as the Morgan tried everything to catch up and regain position. This was until, suddenly, we watched it pull off the track after the Old Hairpin and retire by the tyre wall. We guessed that something had gone wrong, but had no idea what, until we started to see cars lose control at the same corner. Fearing an oil spill, we watched as the yellow hazard flags were flown. This event came on the penultimate lap of the race, leaving tensions high as we feared for both Ding’s safety and his position in class.
As we watched “Little Bewt” fly through Redgate one last time, the team fell silent, anxious to see what happened when Ding reach the dreaded corner.
Hollywood…
down the Craner Curves…
through the Old Hairpin…
He made it!
​The Sprite straightens out.
Just as we thought we were through the danger, the Sprite suddenly lost traction, veered sideways and disappeared from view behind a tyre wall backwards, in a plume of tyre smoke.
The world stopped, and the team watched on in silence as the fate of Ding and our car hung in the unknown.
Just as suddenly, we watched in disbelief as the Sebring Sprite re-emerged from its concealment behind the tyres. Still moving fast across the grassy infield, it swiftly rejoined the track in a Sprite that looked good as ever – and still in front of the rest of the pursuing class. Hurrah!
As the chequered flag fell, the team sprinted back around Redgate and into the paddock to greet Ding with ecstatic cheers and handshakes all round. The first race of the season, and a P1!

As always, our sincere thanks go to Julius Thurgood and the HRDC for organising yet another unforgettable weekend of historic racing, and for giving OUMF the opportunity to take part in such a brilliant event. We are also incredibly grateful to our generous sponsors for providing us with what we need to keep racing. They are truly the backbone of the foundation, and allow countless amounts of students to bring their dreams and passion to life.
The 2025 season couldn’t have started with more drama or more heart. Here’s to the next one!

​Cameron Harris – 3rd Year Engineering