"Tim" on film

Brooklands’ heyday was briefly recreated in July for a TV drama about Sir Henry Birkin, with a convincing pits scene, albeit built right in front of the Clubhouse because the Straight is now blocked. Cars simulating the race finish had only yards to stop out of shot, but despite some lurid moments, all stopped harmlessly. Majzub’s Sunbeam, one of the short-chassis 3-litre team Bentleys and Chris Gordon’s Silver Hawk were pitted against Hickey’s Dodge, standing in for the DFP Birkin should have been driving. Rowan Atkinson, playing ‘Tim’, handled it with spirit, but when the shoot moved to the banking for the 6hr race scenes, he stood aside to let Stanley Mann, equipped with small moustache, handle his own team 3-litre Bentley (the only actual Birkin car there) on the all-too-short banked section. Julian Majzub, in his 135 Bugatti (not quite a 6hr car), put on a show, passing the Bentley above and below in different takes. G C