OUMF HRDC Silverstone 2025 Race Report – Late Nights, and an Old Car’s Fresh Debut

Some race weekends begin with excitement,  this one began with urgency, exhaustion, and the quiet hope that all our late-night efforts would finally pay off. On the evening leading off a sunny October 18th Saturday, the last race of the HRDC season approached, we set off for Silverstone Circuit with two of our race cars  in tow. The drive toward the massive Silverstone complex carried routine for regular members and an insightful look into what OUMF does for the 2025 freshmen.

In the weeks leading up to Silverstone, long nights blurred into early mornings as OUMF members worked from the end of university classes until the early hours of the morning. The Elva’s debut with its new suspension system was at stake, and every hour seemed to matter more than the last as we were all eager to see the 1950s goodwood racer hit the track better than ever.
The Elva’s B series engine came out at least seven times and as the team tackled issues with the clutch and engine itself, with notable help from new master students John Parker and Thijman Bussem, among many others. Challenges rolled in one after another, but so did solutions, fixes turned into refinements, and refinements turned into progress. Time cut so close that the Sebring Sprite was checked and ready to sub in at a moments notice, but the Elva had finally reached a point where we could say, confidently, that it was ready with less than two days to spare.

On that sunny Saturday, the Barn felt unusually productive as final preparations took shape. With rain forecast for the weekend, projects like the T4 Race Van and Toyota Hilux were worked on and covered to protect them from the inevitable change in British weather. A sense of restless energy ran through the space as team members moved between tasks, checking tools, equipment, and vehicles, while others focused on smaller but essential preparations. As late afternoon edged toward dusk, the team gathered around the Elva and the Riley 1.5, completing final checks and readying both cars for trailering to Silverstone, only a short drive from Oxford.

As night fell, our convoy pulled into the busy and glowing garages of Silverstone. We somehow managed to get all 29 members of the team into a garage in the pits (with some entertaining and nerveracking methods) which was thankfully secured by a scouting party.
The air buzzed with eager excitement from everyone in the team as we unloaded our luggage, gear, tools, and the cars into the pit. Settling inside, I glanced left and noticed another team’s cars hidden beneath covers. I went over to inspect them, slightly confused by the silhouettes, only to be joined by senior members who immediately identified the makes from shape alone, while I stood there quietly in awe.

As everyone settled in, the team set up what looked like a camp ground sleeping bags laid out across the empty sections of floor, camping chairs organised between cars and tables which contained anything from snacks and a kitchen stove to tools kits and spare parts for the cars.  turning the empty, once cold space into a temporary home just a nights rest before racing would begin.
We sat around enjoying ourselves, as all was prepared for Sunday, where at some point Charlie Lemme our team leader pulled me aside asking me how I felt, I replied with an assortment of questions about which pits we were in and what we will see of the circuit on Sunday where Lemme asked me to follow him as we went outside the garage to the pit wall. I doubt I’ll ever forget the feeling of seeing an empty, absolutely massive and awe inspiring space, which I had only seen through games and TV, typically packed with people. The sight although routine to some was absolutely incredible to me.

The night carried on with a long track walk around the 3.66 mile circuit, the longest of the HRDC season, the track walk went on with talks about track conditions, the scale of Silverstone compared to other circuits, and certain OUMF traditions which I have learned not to question. Once back  in the garage, we burned spare energy off with games, involving a great sort of event such as RC cars, slippery floors and others filling the vacant time, until an enormous fish and chips arrived for dinner, so big that whatever food people couldn’t finish somehow ended up with Samuel Cox. Following this enjoyable mess of a time, Final preparations and organisations were made for roles the following day and once those were sorted we settled down for the night
The next morning we woke up at a not so planned 5:30 over the discussed time of 6:00 to get ready for scrutineering at 7:30. I personally worked on the right rear of the Riley with Evan Wray as my senior buddy. Unfortunately following some unforeseen circumstances, the left rear brake assembly had failed with a master cylinder needing to be replaced just a couple hours before qualifying. The Team worked in an organised scramble getting it done with plenty of time to spare.

As race prep continued and we waited for our sessions to begin, we heard the first cars fire up and head onto the track. The sound hits harder than expected. Roaring engines from so many different cars from all over the pits echoed throughout the old pit road as that noise marked the start of race day.
We carried on with the flyby of all sorts of race cars in the background till it was eventually time for the Elva to go on its qualifying session, the weather remained sunny as Ding seemed to be enjoying the car and drive. Qualifying fourth in class with no issues in the HRDC Allstars session. This was followed by raging BMWs and Nissans running around the track shattering the majority of our ear drums as we waited for the Riley's Jack Sears qualifying session to begin. When Ding went out, the Riley delivered exactly what we hoped for, a clean, composed run that showed real pace, with Ding once again qualifying fourth in class and setting the stage for a strong race to be had.
As the races went by time also flew by and it was time for the Elva to race. Fitted with a new rigged up phone as a streaming camera as OUMF makes its debut on Twitch thanks to the help of James Dunn. The race was an exciting watch with the rain starting to pour where I was quickly pulled aside to act as a replacement Ding for practice of the mandatory pitstop for the Riley 1.5 race. By the end of the race Ding was the only open top car to remain in the race as the weather worsened. The HRDC All Stars ended with a P4 for the Elva , a great debut to its new suspensions and future HRDC career.
Later it was time for the Riley 1.5 to race again from P4 in class, with a massive grid boasting over 40 cars! It was a successful race with multiple dive bombs from Ding battling for places nearly the whole race where the only fault was the sudden malfunction of the wind shield wipers which perfectly blocked Ding’s vision from inside the car. However even with this minor setback and following a front row seat to our pitstop, P4 was claimed again.

Overall Silverstone was a successful end to the racing season with both cars finishing their respective racing coming home undamaged. With a lot to improve and work on over the next couple months till May next year for the racing season to start up again. Personally it was an incredible experience as it was my first time both as part of a race team and at a race track in general let alone seeing a race for the first time in person from the pit wall nonetheless, something I’ll never forget for as long as I live. And not to mention the wonderful help from all our sponsors and supporters  in giving us the resources and opportunity to be doing this, allowing students like us to have some of the most unique and valuable experiences in motor racing. A massive thanks to Julius Thurgood and the HRDC in their generosity and flexibility for us as well. 
Winter is coming and so will development on the cars as we hope to be performing better than ever come next year!
Written by Elliot Nash Motorsport Technology First Year