Michael Satterfield
JD Classics picked up a commanding pair of wins at the Donington Historic Festival this weekend, taking victories in the Historic Touring Car Challenge and the Stirling Moss Trophy.
JD Classics’ Chris Ward was the star driver of the weekend, having put in a pair of impressive performances to be involved in both victories.
Chris paired up with legendary saloon-car driver Steve Soper in the Historic Car Challenge on Saturday, with the two driving JD Classics’ 1973 Ford Cologne Capri.
The two faced a clutch problem in qualifying but managed to complete enough laps to qualify 10th on the grid. With the problem solved in the pits, the car was ready for the race and Steve took the early stint behind the wheel, battling his way up to second in no time.
The team took the decision to keep him out as long as possible before the weather turned. When the rain finally started Chris took over, heading back out on full wet tyres. This proved to be a tactically astute call: the rain continued to fall and Chris went on to take victory by some margin.
Chris’s second win of the weekend came on Monday, when he took to the wheel of JD Classics’ Costin Lister for the Stirling Moss Trophy. A handling problem prevented Chris from qualifying any higher than third but this proved to be no major handicap come the start of the race, with Chris passing both cars ahead of him on the grid to take an early lead at Redgate on the first lap.
He held onto this lead, and drove a sensational race, making the most of any available grip on the track in what were once again torrential conditions. His margin of victory was a comfortable one in the end, as he finished nearly a minute ahead of the second-placed car.
Other JD Classics-supported cars performed admirably over the weekend, too. The Austin Healey 100S driven by JD Classics Managing Director Derek Hood and John Young was one such notable performer, taking third in its class in the Woodcote Trophy. Steve and Josh Ward also completed their first competitive outing in the weekend’s Woodcote Trophy. Despite stiff competition, they drove their 1952 Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar XK120 to an impressive 3rd in class.
Andrew Smith was another entrant to the Stirling Moss Trophy, taking part in a Jaguar D-type, while JD Classics’ Datsun 240Z Super Samurai, known as ‘Big Sam’, took part in the Historic Touring Car Challenge.
JD Classics’ Managing Director Derek Hood said: “The Donington Historic once again provided a fantastic weekend of racing with some mixed weather conditions providing a real challenge. As ever, the JD Classics team put in a world-class performance, preparing six cars to their usual exceptional high standards. Chris Ward drove superbly in very difficult track conditions to pull off two victories.
“With these wins taking JD Classics to nine overall victories this season, we’re delighted with how the weekend went and are now really looking forward to two of the blue riband events of the racing calendar – the Monaco Historique and the Mille Miglia later this month.”
The JD Classics team will be taking part in the Grand Prix Historique de Monaco weekend from 13 to 15 May, and the Mille Miglia from 19 to 22 May.
