JD Classics celebrates successful Donington Historic Festival 2015.

• JD Classics takes two podium finishes and two pole positions at the 2015 Donington Historic Festival
• The team’s Costin Lister was driven from sixth on the grid to a second place finish
• In the new Jaguar Heritage Challenge, JD Classics’ E-type also raced to third in a strong field of pre-1966 Jaguars
• In a successful weekend of racing, the JD Classics team also posted two fastest laps in its Cooper T33 and Costin Lister
• JD Classics’ Bastos Rover SD1 and Cooper T33 both forced to retire from the lead following technical issues

JD Classics finished the Donington Historic Festival with two podiums, two pole positions and two fastest laps – despite technical difficulties forcing two of its entries to retire from leading positions.

Competing in the Stirling Moss Trophy for pre-1961 sports cars was JD Classics’ Costin Lister, which qualified well in sixth place at the hands of JD Classics’ own Chris Ward. 

A slight misfire prevented a higher qualifying position but with the car running smoothly for the race, the Costin Lister was in the lead by lap six, having posted the fastest lap of the race. 

With a time penalty for using just a single driver and a driver mistake while chasing the leader, the Costin eventually finished second.

In the newly created Jaguar Heritage Challenge event for pre-1966 Jaguars, JD Classics was competing in an E-type, again with Chris Ward at the wheel along with historic racing driver John Young. With a qualifying position of fifth, the team were in good shape for the race, and were dicing for the lead with two other E-types. 

At one point an oil spill forced all three cars off the track and the race was red-flagged. Following a driver change shortly after, the JD Classics’ E-type came home in third place.

JD Classics’ Bastos Rover SD1 was competing in the Historic Touring Car Challenge race, where former Touring Car driver, Steve Soper, drove it emphatically to pole position. 

As the race kicked off, the Bastos Rover began pulling away from the pack, looking set to dominate from the front. Unfortunately, though, it was forced to retire with technical issues before the chequered flag.

In the Woodcote Trophy, JD Classics’ entered its Cooper T33, which put in a brilliant qualifying time to take pole position more than six-tenths of a second ahead of the Aston Martin DB3S sitting in second. 

While sitting comfortably in the lead – and having posted a fastest lap of the race – the occasional puff of smoke in the corners hinted at a mechanical problem. With the car in the pits, the team were forced to retire the Cooper T33 with a head gasket failure.

Following its successes at Donington and at the 73^rd Goodwood Members’ Meeting earlier this year, JD Classics’ next challenge is to take on the gruelling Mille Miglia with a host of expertly prepared cars.

JD Classics looks to continue 2015 with a series of four entries at the Donington Historic Festival.

• JD Classics is entering four expertly prepared racing cars in the 2015 Donington Historic Festival: a Costin Lister, Cooper T33, Rover SD1 and Jaguar E-type
• The JD Classics race team has already kicked off the 2015 season with two podium finishes at the 73^rdGoodwood Members’ Meeting
• The team will be looking to build on last year’s success at Donington, where JD Classics cars took two victories

JD Classics will be entering four cars, expertly prepared by its Historic Racing team, in to the 2015 Donington Historic Festival from 2-4 May.

Following a successful 73^rd Goodwood Members’ Meeting earlier this year, in which JD Classics cars took two podium finishes, the team looks set for more successes at Donington. At last year’s event, JD Classics scored two victories: one in its Ford Cologne Capri and one in its Costin Lister.

The Costin Lister will be competing again this year in the Sir Stirling Moss Trophy for pre-1961 sports cars, driven by JD Classics’ own Chris Ward. JD Classics founder, Derek Hood, and historic racing driver, John Young, will drive the team’s Cooper T33 in the Woodcote Trophy for pre-1956 sports cars.

Taking part in the GT and Sports Car Cup will be JD Classics’ Bastos Rover SD1 with John Young and former Touring Car and Endurance racer, Steve Soper at the wheel.

New to this year’s event is the HSCC Jaguar Heritage Challenge, in which JD Classics will be competing with a Jaguar E-Type. Sharing the drive will be Derek Hood, Chris Ward and John Young. The Jaguar-only race is open to all Jaguar models produced before 1966.

JD Classics’ hugely successful race preparation team is just one part of the company’s wider business, which also includes world-beating Concours restorations. At last year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, JD Classics picked up two ‘Best in Class’ awards for its Jaguar XK120 Fixed Head Coupé and XK120 Jabbeke land speed record car restorations.

Most recently JD Classics became the first classic car specialist to open a showroom in Mayfair, London. 

Surrounded by boutiques from the world’s most sought-after luxury brands, JD Classics’ showroom on Mount Row showcases a selection of the company’s finest models.