Swallows supporting JEC TRACKSPORT, also ran the sister Jaguar XJR6 car for Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust head honcho, Matthew Davis in his novice season last year. Matthew is out again with Swallows supporting JEC TRACKSPORT, but Silverstone wasn’t to be as unfortunately he spun and found the gravel towards the end of race one. He therefore started at the back of the grid in race two but made steady progress to move up and gain several places.
Tom’s younger brother Jack has joined the grid this season in a Class A modified road Jaguar XJ40. Having worked on the car over the winter the car’s handling has been greatly improved with a new set of AVO shocks, gaining a massive three seconds a lap in testing at Castle Combe during Winter. Jack showed huge potential over the weekend, finding himself mid-pack and mixing it with cars with considerably more power. He achieved an excellent fourth place class finish in both races and lapping within a second of the class winning car.
Over the winter Swallows purchased several ex-championship Jaguars with a view to refreshing and updating them. One of them was an XJ40 in a striking Jaguar F1 metallic green livery. The car having been recommissioned by Swallows, was purchased by ex-VW Cup racer Damian Gray. Having not competed for many seasons Damian is getting back up to speed and managed to qualify 30th in a 38-car field and ahead of some more powerful cars. Finishing fourth in Class B and 28th overall in race one he made further progress again holding fourth in class and 25th overall.
Three other Swallows supporting JEC TRACKSPORT prepared cars included Steve Dowell from PVE (Tuning Shed) and his XKR race car, immaculately turned out despite only being finished the night before the race, but engine trouble took it out during qualifying.
Andrew Maynard made his racing debut at the age of 60 in an XJ40 as an interim measure while he builds an XJS. Andrew made huge progress over the weekend gaining three seconds per lap between races as he takes to a steep learning experience.
Tom Butterfield had taken a three-year break from Saloon & GT racing due to work and family commitments but returned with excellent form in his Class C XJS. Tom qualified a superb third overall in the Jaguars and finished second in class in both races. Swallows supporting JEC TRACKSPORT helped Tom to develop the car over the season and believe it is destined for winning ways.
Swallows supporting JEC TRACKSPORT have added a rather large race truck to their fleet with the capacity to carry four large Jaguars plus all the ancillary equipment, spares, awnings and even their own catering – and it’s plastered with the JEC TRACKSPORT branding!
The next round is at Brands Hatch on 16th & 17th April.
