Classics completed a dominant one-two finish in the Jaguar Heritage Challenge race held at the Brands Hatch Superprix this weekend. The team’s expertly prepared lightweight E-Types, piloted by Chris Ward and John Young, crossed the finish line nearly a minute ahead of the third place car. This was the third round of the Jaguar Heritage Challenge, open to all pre-‘66 Jaguars, the pinnacle of which is the class contested by racing E-Types. JD Classics entered two of its most successful racers: ‘1196 WK’ driven by the team’s in-house racing driver, Chris Ward, and ’61 E’ driven by historic racer John Young.
Saturday morning’s qualifying session provided the first glimpse of the JD Classics cars’ pace, with Chris Ward setting successive fastest laps to put ‘1196 WK’ comfortably on pole. The first three cars on the grid were separated by just half a second, with ’61 E’ and John Young just behind in fourth position.
As the 40-minute race kicked off on Saturday afternoon both of the JD Classics E-Types started brilliantly, with John Young moving up to third place by heading around the outside of the pack through Paddock Hill. By Druids – the second corner of the track – ’61 E’ was sitting in second, just behind Chris Ward in ‘1196 WK’.
The two cars of JD Classics remained in a nail-biting battle for the lead until ’61 E’ pulled in for its compulsory pit stop, merging back in to the race in fourth position. As the cars ahead pulled in to the pit John Young regained second place, and Chris Ward in ‘1196 WK’ completed a flawless pit stop to maintain the lead.
But the race was far from over, as the two lightweight E-Types jostled for position, pulling away from the chasing pack and eventually finishing just under half-a-second apart. A spectacular race from both drivers saw the JD Classics E-Types finish almost a minute ahead of the next fastest car.
