The 1968 Formula 2 season can be summed up in one name: Jochen Rindt. But as Rindt was a graduate and an established F1 driver, his victories were nothing more than statistics. So, the honour of leading the championship table belonged to Jean-Pierre Beltoise, who had accumulated three victories in the season. But with the season coming to its end, a new shadow began to appear in the Matra duo's mirrors, and his name was Ernesto 'Tino' Brambilla. The Italian triggered a surprising reaction in the final stretch of the season, collecting some great results. This was a shock to his rivals who did not count on Ferrari to offer strong opposition in the category, as the Scuderia was plunged into complete chaos at the end of 1968. And just like that, the scene was set for the last round of the 1968 European F2 season, a clash between the surprising but chaotic Ferrari, and the stagnant but linear Matra.

Conditions were perfect for the traditional end-of-May Masters Historic Festival at Brands Hatch, which was blessed by three sunny spring days that made the on-track and off-track experience of the old-school circuit snaking its way through the Kentish hills all the more enjoyable for drivers and spectators alike. In the third round of the Masters Racing Legends for historic F1 cars from the 3-litre era, the victories were shared between Yutaka Toriba and Warren Briggs. For Toriba, it was his debut victory, while Briggs added a win to the victory he achieved at Hockenheim. That win in Germany was also Briggs’ first victory, which meant that the championship welcomed two new winners in three weeks.

If your automotive industry is on the back foot, you will be more eager than ever to celebrate its glorious past. We saw it in France, where tens and tens of thousands turned up for the their historic Grand Prix at Paul Ricard – and the same happened in Germany, which is equally lacking a modern Grand Prix. Again, people swamped the paddock and the grandstands during a sunny and bright spring weekend. This time, it wasn't about Renault, Citroën and Peugeot. Here, BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Opel and their motorsport prowess of the past took centre stage. So was the ADAC Hockenheim Historic, otherwise known as ‘Das Jim Clark Revival', an Ersatz experience to compensate for an actual German Prix? Or did the legions of spectators turn up to revel in the purity of history?