May has been a busy month for the Celtic Speed racing team, the racing started with a highlight for the season, the Monaco Historic.
May has been a busy month for the Celtic Speed racing team, the racing started with a highlight for the season, the Monaco Historic. This event runs every other year and is strictly by invitation only. The races are held on the famous GP track around the streets of Monaco and take place 2 weeks before the F1 race.
Tommy Dreelan raced the ex Arturio Merzario March 761 in this event for Grand Prix cars from 1974 - 1976. There was a packed grid with in excess of 40 cars and it was like traveling back in time with some great sights and sounds. For Tommy he suffered a rare fuel pressure problem in the first qualifying session, and, with the 2nd qualifying session being wet it meant he would be starting towards the back of the grid with plenty of overtaking to be done. Tommy drove superbly during the race and progressed to an eventual 19th place finish after a sterling drive through the field.
He said, “It was a great race, I really enjoyed and wished it could have gone on longer. The car was great to drive and it’s an amazing circuit. We will be back in 2018!”
After this race the team went onto another famous circuit, Brands Hatch for the Masters Historic F1 Championship. This time the team were racing the ex Keke Rosberg Williams FW08, the very car that Keke raced to the ’82 World Drivers Championship. Tommy used the race to build his experience with the car, this being a ground effect high downforce car in contrast to the earlier 1976 March. Tommy had a great weekend - lapping faster than ever in the car and enjoying a 12th place finish in the 25-minute race.
After Brands Hatch the team headed straight to Paul Ricard for a test with the Spice and Porsche Group C cars as well as the Williams as Tommy continued to get comfortable with this car. For this test they joined United Autosports at the circuit and shared the track with former F1 champ Mika Hakkinen as well as David Coulthard, Daniel Ricciardo and Nascar driver Brian Vickers. It was a hugely successful test for the team and all cars ran well and completed a number of laps.
From Paul Ricard the team headed to Dijon for the latest Group C race in the Porsche 962. The pre race test was used for Tommy to learn the historic circuit, scene of the famous French GP battle between Gilles Villeneuve and Rene Arnoux. Aaron also used the test to ensure the Spice is ready for next months Le Mans Classic. Despite the wet weather it was useful day.
For the races Tommy qualified 5th in C1 class after an impressive performance in the wet conditions. In race 1 he finished 5th after the circuit dried up and in race 2 he made further progress to finish 4th.
The next event is a special one, Le Mans for the Classic 24 hour; the Group C race will take part on Saturday morning and should be a great spectacle. Watch this space!
© Celtic Speed 2026
