- JD Classics’ Rover 3500 SD1 comes from the back of the grid to take second in the Gerry Marshall Trophy
- Alex Buncombe piloted the JD Classics Lola T70 Spyder to third-place in the Bruce McLaren Trophy
Maldon, Essex, Tuesday 24 March: JD Classics capped off an extremely successful 73rd Goodwood Members’ Meeting with two podium finishes: second-place for its Rover 3500 SD1 and third for its Lola T70 Spyder.
The Rover – driven by JD Classics’ own Chris Ward and journalist Chris Harris – started from the back of the grid, after having to retire from Saturday’s qualifying race due to a slight vibration. Nevertheless, the team’s expert engineers worked through the night to fix it and in Sunday’s race, the Rover overtook thirteen cars on the first three laps to take it up to tenth.
Following a lightning quick driver change and a Safety Car, the ex-Patrick Motorsport Rover SD1, now with Chris Ward at the wheel, continued to hunt down first place. With just minutes left on the clock it was in second, held up by slower moving traffic ahead. On the final lap, Ward was gaining on the Bastos Camaro of Matt Neal but the chequered flag came before he had a chance to make his move.
Later in the day, Alex Buncombe took to the track in the JD Classics Lola T70 Spyder as part of the Bruce McLaren Trophy. This race for 1960-’66 Can-Am sports cars was perhaps the loudest of the day, and one of the most exhilarating to watch. Buncombe got off to a good start but the Chinook Mk2 of Jay Esterer and Lola T70 of Nicholas Padmore proved just out of reach.
The JD Classics-prepared Connaught A-Type, once raced by Sir Stirling Moss, ran consistently in the Hawthorn Trophy amongst a competitive field of 1950s front-engined Formula 1 cars, including Maserati 250Fs and an Aston Martin DBR4.
With two podium finishes under its belt, JD Classics will look to build on its success at vintage racing events throughout the year, including Le Mans Legends, Mille Miglia and Silverstone Classic.
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’ models picked up two ‘Best in Class’ awards, while at The Quail, the company’s sympathetic Jaguar XKSS restoration won Best Post War Sports Car.
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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.
