After the closure of Red Rose Racing, Roger Hire struck a deal to run several B26 under the banner of Forge Mill Racing, which was the de facto works team. The B26-74-07 was entrusted to noted Chevron proponent John Lepp.
At its debut, at the 1974 Silverstone Interserie race with Domecq sponsoring, it was driven to seventh overall and third in class by Lepp. He continued to race this car throughout the 1974 season, finishing second overall at the Hockenheim and eventually placing fifth in the 2L European Championship despite missing the opening round.
Lepp then placed the car in dry storage and, still bearing its original Domecq Sherry livery. It was sold to South African Donald Mercer in 1980. Mercer sold the car back to Lepp in 1989 after a testing accident. Fully repaired, it was then sold to and raced by German Fred Laufer during the mid-1990s. Following a spell in the United States, it returned to British hands in the early 2010s. The car was seen during the 2014 season at several Peter Auto events. Through Belgian dealer RMD, it was sold during the second half of the 2010s to a Swiss historic racer.
Raced blue color
Photo below from Retromobil
CHEVRON B26 Chassis: B26-74-08
Rafael Barrios joined the Roger Hire team to run a second B26, now positively identified as chassis 74-08. The first race in 1974 was the Silverstone Interserie race.
This car only raced once in 1975 but was then bought by Robin Smith to be used in endurance and Interserie in 1976. (probablty replacing his B23)
Gary Gove (Tacoma, WA) acquired it for Can-Am in early 1977 and raced it for three seasons, winning the Pacific Coast title in 1978 and the last BSR title at the Run-Offs.
The car went to John Graham in Canada for the 1981 season and then to Luc Behar-Bannelier for 1982. The B26 was sold to Gil Baird for Thundersports in England in 1983 then to Richard Piper for another three seasons during which time it was converted to DFV power before moving to Ireland in the late 1980s where it stayed for nearly 15 years.
It was sold back to the US again around 2003 and has raced in US vintage racing.
Sold new to Peter Smith and raced by him and co-driver David Welpton through 1972 and 1973 primarily in distance events across Europe but also in some short British events.
The car was updated to B23 specification for 1974 and raced by Smith with various co-drivers including Rupert Keegan. The car was entered, beside in an interserie event, in the European 2l championship, but also in the 1000 km Nurburgring, Monza, Spa and Zeltweg.
The car featured a sticker with “Ecurie Ecosse”, but there was no link to this.
Co-drivers in 1975 included John Turner. The car was replaced by the ex-KVG/John Hine Chevron B31 for 1976 and was sold to Ray Petry (Boston, MA) for SCCA racing and then for the new Can-Am series that started in 1977. Ray used an ex-Rondel 1840cc BDE engine that he'd bought from Tony Cicale.
Raced in Can-Am 1978 to 1980. Ray later sold the car to dealer Mike Gue of Essex Racing, who sold it to Canada. Subsequent history unknown.
This Chevron B27S chassis n°21-8D is the only one ever produced. The idea of equipping the Cosworth DFV engine on a Chevron Car was strongly supported by the Italian importer of the Chevron brand and driver Eris Tondelli, in order to face the increasingly fierce competition with the BMW M12 engine. Derek Bennet Engineering accepted the idea of its importer and proposed to start a project to verify the necessary modifications to install the new 8-cylinder engine on a chassis of the Chevron B23 sport car in production in Bolton. 2 In October 1973, the Italian importer was finally able to order the sportcar to Bolton. A few months later, in December, the order was sent to Cosworth for the purchase of the DFV engine. In March 1974 the car was ready and was imported.
To handle the enormous power and torque of the DFV engine, a Hewland FG400 gearbox, new shocks and springs, ventilated disc brakes and Lockheed brake calipers were fitted, while the bodywork was enlarged to make room for the new 15-inch wheels. The engine hood was enlarged as well and an adjustable rear spoiler was mounted with a large air intake for the new engine. On the front hood, two small side wings were added.
The car raced in the Targa Florio and in a few European races and hillclimbs. It was owned and raced by Mauro Nesti from 1976 and 1977. He won two European titles with it.
Later in 1979, the new owner decided to replace the Ford Cosworth DFV engine with a new 6 cylinder V engine made and built entirely by Armaroli and Negrini of Bologna, with this engine he won the Italian Championship in 1980.
The car is restored and sold by Boutsen Classic Cars, I think in 2013.
