1958 Austin A35 HRDC Academy Competition Saloon
Registration no. to be advised
Chassis no. 001

The growing popularity of events such as the Goodwood Revival and Silverstone Classic meetings prompted the Historic Racing Drivers Club's Race Director Julius Thurgood to launch an affordable entry-level single-make race series for historic saloons: the Academy. The make and model chosen was the Austin A30/A35. A comprehensive set of Control Formula rules and regulations was drawn up to ensure that cars would be very closely matched, and the result has been some very exciting wheel-to-wheel racing.

All Academy cars have to be road registered and MoT'd, and only one type of engine is permitted: a sealed unit built by Classic & Modern Engine Services of Bracknell. To convert cars to racing specification, the HRDC developed a kit of parts for the purpose; each marked with an HRDC reference number. The Dunlop R65 L-section tyre is the only type permitted.

The Academy idea has been so successful that the entire grid for the St Mary's Trophy race at the 2016 Goodwood Revival was made up of these cars, with celebrity drivers including Jason Plato, Jean Alesi, David Coulthard, Rowan Atkinson, Chris Hoy, Darren Turner, and many others.

Developed by ex-Formula 1 driver Rupert Keegan, the Austin A35 offered here is the prototype Academy car (chassis number '001') and was originally raced by Charles Setterington. This car was raced at the Goodwood Revival in 2015 by rock star Chris Rea and Octane magazine's then editor, David Lillywhite. Since then it has been raced again at the Goodwood Revival (in 2016, with Amanda Stretton) and also at the 2017 Silverstone Classic Celebrity event by the current owner, international best-selling crime novelist, Peter James. Described by Peter as in very good condition throughout, '001' represents a wonderful opportunity to acquire the very competitive car that kick-started this now immensely popular Historic racing formula.