The Jaguar Classic Challenge returns in 2017 with two brand new events confirmed in the five-race series for pre-1966 Jaguars

• Silverstone Classic and Spa-Francorchamps added to the Jaguar Classic Challenge calendar for 2017
• Five-date race series runs from April to September
• First race commences at the Donington Historic Festival on 28 April – 30 April, and the series concludes with the Spa Six Hours from 15-17 September
• Drivers wishing to take part can register via the dedicated web page at http://www.hscc.org.uk/jaguar-classic-challenge

The Jaguar Classic Challenge returns in 2017 with two brand new events confirmed in the five-race series for pre-1966 Jaguars.

A new date for the Jaguar Classic Challenge calendar is the Silverstone Classic on 28-30 July. This special summer weekend will be the third round in the Challenge and is expected to draw a full grid of stunning classic Jaguar racing cars.

Another new addition to the series for 2017 is Spa-Francorchamps (Six Hours of Spa), taking place between 15 and 17 September at the world-famous circuit in Belgium, and set to feature over 600 cars racing in a variety of different races, one of which is the Jaguar Classic Challenge. 

The single-marque series returns to the circuit where it claimed victories in the showpiece six-hour endurance race in 1954 (Hans Davids in a C-type), 1956 (Ninian Sanderson in the Ecurie Ecosse D-type) and 1987 (Martin Brundle, Johnny Dumfries and Raul Boesel XJR-8).

Run in partnership with the Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC), the Jaguar Classic Challenge for 2017 will continue to compete according to the FIA’s Appendix K technical regulations for cars competing in international historic racing competitions. 

The regulations pay particular consideration to a car’s period specification and are in keeping with the true spirit of historic motor racing.

Drivers participating in this year’s Jaguar Classic Challenge will now also qualify to enter many other international historic races that run this set of rules.

The full list of races for 2017 is as follows:

28-30 April: Donington Historic Festival

1-2 July: Brands Hatch Super Prix (GP Circuit)

28-30 July: Silverstone Classic

26-28 August: Oulton Park Gold Cup

15-17 September: Spa Six Hours

Tim Hannig, Director, Jaguar Land Rover Classic, said: “Now in its third season, the Jaguar Classic Challenge continues to build, and pay homage to, the brand’s rich racing history. 

To see such a diverse array of iconic cars from Jaguar’s past racing on the world’s finest circuits is a sight to behold, and we are delighted to confirm Silverstone and Spa for the 2017 calendar.”

Places are limited, and drivers wishing to take part in 2017 are encouraged to visit the dedicated web page for the new season at http://www.hscc.org.uk/jaguar-classic-challenge for full details and information on how to enter.

Jaguar has announced it will return to the iconic Le Mans circuit by taking part in the Classic race series this year.

• Iconic Jaguar sportscars will return to the Le Mans circuit as the Jaguar Classic Challenge confirms Le Mans Classic in revised 2016 calendar
• Race series is part of Jaguar Land Rover Classic business specialising in cars, services, parts and experiences
• First race commences at the Donington Historic Festival on 30 April - 2 May
• Drivers wishing to take part in the true spirit of classic racing in 2016 can visit the dedicated web page at http://www.hscc.org.uk/jaguar-classic-challenge for full details

Excitement levels are building for the second season of the Jaguar Classic Challenge as the Le Mans Classic is confirmed for inclusion in the all-new race calendar for 2016. The Le Mans Classic will be one of the major highlights of the forthcoming season that will see a diverse field of pre-1966 Jaguars going wheel-to-wheel in the competitive single-marque series.

Jaguar has a long and successful history at Le Mans, with the marque first winning there back in 1951 with Peter Walker and Peter Whitehead driving the C-type – affectionately known as XKC 003.

A one-two finish followed this in 1953 with the duo of Tony Rolt and Duncan Hamilton taking overall honours. Jaguar dominated Le Mans for three consecutive years in 1955, 1956 and 1957 in the D-type.  A further two race victories were to follow years later in 1988 and 1990 in the XJR-9LM and XJR-12 respectively.

Along with the inclusion of the Le Mans Classic in the calendar, the Jaguar Classic Challenge, run in conjunction with the Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC), will also adopt new technical regulations based on the FIA’s Appendix K framework for cars competing in international historic racing competitions. These regulations pay particular consideration to a car’s period specification and are in keeping with the true spirit of historic motor racing.

Drivers participating in this year’s Classic Challenge will now also qualify to enter many other international historic races that run these standardised set of rules.

The dates for the 2016 Jaguar Classic Challenge are as follows:

Donington Historic Festival: 30^th April – 2^nd May

Silverstone International Trophy: 21^st – 22^nd May

Le Mans Classic: 8^th – 10^th July

AvD-Oldtimer-Grand-Prix, Nürburgring: 12^th – 14^th August

Oulton Park Gold Cup: 27^th – 29^th August

Tim Hannig, Director, Jaguar Land Rover Classic, said: “Jaguar’s wonderful history of racing at Le Mans will add to the spectacle of the Jaguar Classic Challenge. Watching a diverse array of pre-1966 Jaguars racing on the iconic circuit, some of which even raced there in period, will surely be a sight not to be missed.

“The racing and camaraderie between the drivers during the inaugural season was fantastic to witness and the new regulations will enhance the experience for both competitors and fans alike making it a fitting tribute to the brand’s rich racing pedigree.

“The Jaguar Land Rover Classic business specialises in cars, services, parts and experiences to maintain and nurture the passion for the Jaguar brand and its iconic models for decades to come.”

Drivers wishing to take part in 2016 can visit the dedicated web page for the new season at 

http://www.hscc.org.uk/jaguar-classic-challenge 

for full details and information on how to enter.

Sam Watkins to continue with 20TEN Racing Team in the 2016 Renault UK Clio Cup.

The 20Ten Racing team has announced Sam Watkins (Swansea) as the first of its driver signings for the 2016 Renault UK Clio Cup season.

The 17-year-old joined the UK Clio Cup grid with the Derby-based squad for the final two events of 2015 – at Silverstone and Brands Hatch – and quickly started showing flashes of speed.

20Ten has enjoyed a number of race wins and other podium results in the UK Clio Cup these past two years and Team Principal Simon Hunt clearly believes Watkins is an exciting prospect. He commented: “Silverstone and Brands Hatch were all about Sam getting a taste for what the UK Clio Cup is about and he adapted well.

“As his experience of both the car and the touring car-type racing in the UK Clio Cup builds I can see him emerging as a real front-runner as the 2016 season progresses. Certainly I’m very happy to have been able to hang on to him as we look to build on our positive results.”

Watkins, who has previously raced in Ford Fiesta Juniors, said: “I learnt a huge amount at Silverstone and Brands Hatch. This is all about racing on the big stage alongside the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) so now I know what to expect in 2016.

“The biggest thing is being confident in a racing situation – the UK Clio Cup is where drivers come to show what they are made of before the step up to international touring car, sportscar or GT competition so inevitably things get very competitive. But having now tested the water I feel ready for what lies ahead and am really looking forward to getting back on track with some pre-season testing.”

Renaultsport’s UK Motorsport Championship Manager Will Fewkes added: “It’s great to see Sam returning for a full season in the UK Clio Cup after showing some very promising form in his first two events. 20Ten also have a sound reputation for bringing on new talent and this is a driver-team combination that could just spring a surprise or two in 2016. It will be interesting to see how they progress together during the course of a full season…”

All of the Renault UK Clio Cup’s races will again take place at the BTCC’s high-profile events in 2016 meaning huge trackside crowds plus live free-to-air television coverage on the ITV4 channel for its teams, drivers and sponsors.

RACE DATES: 2016 RENAULT UK CLIO CUP

Sat 2/Sun 3 April	Rounds 1 & 2	Brands Hatch Indy, Kent
Sat 16/Sun 17 April	Rounds 3 & 4	Donington Park, Leics
Sat 7/Sun 8 May	Rounds 5 & 6	Thruxton, Hants
Sat 4/Sun 5 June	Rounds 7 & 8	Oulton Park Island, Cheshire
Sat 18/Sun 19 June	Rounds 9 & 10	Croft, North Yorkshire
Sat 30/Sun 31 July	Rounds 11 & 12	Snetterton, Norfolk
Sat 27/Sun 28 August	Rounds 13 & 14	Rockingham, Northants
Sat 17/Sun 18 September	Rounds 15 & 16	Silverstone National, Northants
Sat 1/Sun 2 October	Rounds 17 & 18	Brands Hatch Grand Prix, Kent

Jaguar Heritage Race Series gets under way on may Bank Holiday Weekend.

• Jaguar Heritage division growing further with the launch of the Jaguar Heritage Challenge with the Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC)
• First race of inaugural Jaguar Heritage Challenge begins at Donington Historic festival on 4 May, 2015
• Exciting five-race series compliments growing portfolio of Jaguar Heritage activities, which already includes Jaguar Heritage Drives and factory-sourced Heritage Parts and restorations
• Top three consistent performers over the season in-line to win a stunning Bremont watches and Globetrotter luggage after final race in August
• Entrants and drivers can visit a dedicated web page for the new series at http://www.hscc.org.uk/jaguar-heritage-challenge for full details and information on how to enter

The inaugural race of the Jaguar Heritage Challenge 2015 is set to begin at the Donington Historic Festival over the May bank holiday weekend. The first race of the Jaguar Heritage Challenge – run with the Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC) – will feature a full field of 34 Jaguars including a 1957 MK I saloon driven by 1988 Le Mans winner, Andy Wallace.

The series is open to all Jaguars manufactured before 1966 including the XK-series, C- and D-types, MK I and MK II saloons and E-type. It complements the growing portfolio of Jaguar Heritage activities, which also incudes the recently launched Jaguar Heritage Driving Experiences and factory sourced Heritage Parts and restoration – all under the expert direction of Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Operations division.

John Edwards, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations said: “We are extremely excited to welcome the drivers and fans of classic Jaguars to the very first race of the Heritage Challenge.

“Jaguar already has a long established tradition in appearing at the world’s foremost classic car celebrations including the Mille Miglia and Goodwood Revival and the Heritage Challenge is another exciting way in which the brand is celebrating its rich racing legacy.”

Graham White, CEO of the HSCC, said: “There is a tremendous affinity amongst the British public for classic Jaguars and the Jaguar Heritage Challenge is a fantastic addition to our 2015 racing calendar.”

The single-marque series will feature at five of the most high-profile historic festivals both in the UK and at the Nurburgring in Germany over the summer and the competitive series will see drivers competing in five different classes.

The top three most consistent drivers over the course of the season will be presented with a Bremont watch and Globetrotter luggage.

The dates for the Jaguar Heritage Race Series are as follows:

2^nd– 4^th May: Donington Historic Festival

16^th– 17^th May: Silverstone International (GP Circuit)

11^th– 12^thJuly: Brands Hatch Super Prix (GP Circuit)

7^th– 9^th August: Nürburgring Oldtimer Grand Prix

29^th– 31^st August: Oulton Park Gold Cup 

James Kellett has mixed fortune at Donington.

SATURDAY
Saturday saw the Ginetta Juniors, on track and racing for the points, after a so so first weekend James had high hopes of a podium or even a win, and as the race concluded Jack Mitchell, the #19 Airwaves car took the first place with James coming in a credible fourth, earning a good haul of 22 points in race one, down on Brands race one, but still a good haul.

SUNDAY
On a damp and dodgy day at Donington, the grid was formed and James was placed in 3rd place, the track was damp, but not as bad as had been earlier in the morning, everyone was waiting for the lights to change and James started to creep before the lights changed, and as they got to the first corner James remained in third position, with cars very close behind, and further back there as a major off involving Jamie Chadwick, again.

The track was damp, but you could clearly see that a dry line was appearing, due in part to the BTCC race earlier on,  James carried on in third, with the top four very close together on lap two, while Jamie Chadwick returned from the race, the fifth placed car was creeping forward to join the group, and and the third lap carried on James pushed himself up to 2nd place, and was right up the chuff of first position.

A small gap was starting to appear between 2nd, James and third place, James was getting full use of the drag as they started the fourth lap and was pushing to get the first place and by half way around lap 4 there was a significant gap between 2 and 3, and between 3 and 4, the number 19 airwaves car is not allowing James to get past, but James is pushing, and as he came across to start the 5th lap, a drive through penalty was handed to James for creeping on the start line.

James will be angry with himself, but will not allow it to affect the race,  Matt Chapman dropped off the track on lap 6, with James still out on the track and still pushing to take the first position, James still has not come in at the start of lap 7, and after a few corners a small gap was appearing between the number 19 car of Jack Mitchell,  and James, there is now a distinct dry line on the track and James as of lap 8 of 9 has yet to come in, and half way round James has been black flagged, meaning instant disqualification, which is very harsh.

James comes in before the final lap has started, and the race continues with the number 19 car, firmly in front, with no other car close enough to cause any problems, the Ginetta Juniors has once again proved that it is a real race series and there are many faces that will go forward to other race series, and James is one of those, even though this 2nd race of the weekend has not been one that he or his family and team will want to remember, however they will have learnt plenty from this, as James was at the fore of the racing for all of the laps he was in, so it is proven he can race and race well, lets hope the next race weekend will generate a win or two, with no issues.

Congrats to Jack Mitchell, and better luck next time James, Next race is Thruxton on the weekend 2nd/3rd May.

Ginetta Juniors - James Kellett at Brands Hatch

James Kellett is used to making history, he became the 2013 Ginetta Winter Series Champion, and did this by winning all of the races, and this huge achievement,  has made him a face that's becoming very well known around the paddocks of all the race tracks in the UK...

Not only did James win the Winter Series Championship he also took the 2013 Ginetta Junior Rookie Cup, but that's not all, James, was also the 2010 British Super Cadet Champion, 2011 World Manufactures Cup, (Daytona, USA) Champion, 2012 British KF3 Open Champion he even went on to win the coveted Kartmasters GP trophy the same year.

But it was 2013 that took James into car racing with Ginetta  and the Juniors Championship, where he gained top Rookie status with 7 podiums that included his first Ginetta win at Rockingham and a credible 6th place finish at the end of the season.

The entire Ginetta series from the Juniors and GT4 Supercup,  follows the British Touring Car Championships around the UK, along with the Clio cup, and other great wheel to wheel race series.

Now, It brings us to 2014, and another season with the Ginetta, and the first race at Brands hatch on the small Indi circuit, with one race on the Saturday and live showings of all races on Sunday, James was back to good form with a great 2nd place in Race 1 (Saturday).

Race 2, well, not as good, with a great 5th grid position James was was up there with a perfect chance of getting to the front, but with a nudge on the rear just after the drop of the flag, James, and two other drivers were forced into the barriers and it did not look too good for James in the 2nd race of the weekend.

After a few more corners the Safety Car was launched which gave James the ideal chance to get back into the Frey and after a few laps under the SC James was right on the tail end of the pack. A dogged determination saw James slowly work his way through the field and into the top ten.

Just as thoughts of a decent points finish after the dire start, a spin dropped James further down the pack and a final place finish at 15th. So, after the first weekend James managed to gain a 2nd and 15th and a total points haul of 36 with currently puts him 6th position in the Ginetta Juniors league table, a deficit of 38 points on the leader, Jack Mitchell, however, James will not allow this to remain this way, and will fight back in the next race meeting, Donington Park on the 19th April.

We Wish James well in this season of Juniors, and with any luck, and a decent points haul this year, a move to another championship next year, and hopefully to BTCC. James has amazing support from his parents, and hopefully I will be able to report his racing triumphs for the rest of this season.