The sun was out in full force at Jérez, but a week later at Portimão the downpour was at times horrendous. It was not the season’s end that Masters Historic Racing, the Historic Grand Prix Car Association and the Formula Junior Association wished for but they plugged on and most drivers relished the challenge of the sweeping nature of the Autódromo do Algarve in the wet.

Following a forced reprieve, the international historic motor racing scene returned to what it had done so many times before – closing their season on the Iberian peninsula while enjoying the autumn sun. Masters Historic Racing, the Historic Grand Prix Car Association and the Formula Junior Association doubled up on a twin programme consisting of the Jerez Historic Festival and the Algarve Classic Festival, separated by less than a week. An ambient temperature of 26 degrees awaited the teams and competitors at Jerez, and after a day of testing they all enjoyed their two days of racing, borne out by the fact that most races delivered quite the thrill.

After a year’s absence, the Spa Six Hours made a jubilant return to the historic calendar, as competitors and spectators alike cherished the revival of the blue-riband endurance event. ‘Post-covid’ was too much of moniker, since it was impossible to pass through the gates without showing a clean bill of health, but once inside the atmosphere was just as in the old days – an overcrowded pitlane, hour-long queues for the ‘frites’, a touch of rain (but not much this time – on the day of the main event at least) and a anorak’s dream collection of beautiful and noisy cars from motorsport’s glorious past.

The drivers, team members, staff and those attending that looked more closely, though, could still see the difference – and we are not talking mandatory facemasks in the interior spaces here. The Six Hours entry was bigger than many expected, but a driver would still notice that some 25 of the usual 110 cars were missing on the track. Large parts of the paddock were empty, visible proof to the visitor that the support races had in some cases been able to drum up no more than half of its regular Spa standard.