Jaguar Enthusiasts' Club Saloon & GT Championship Round 5 & 6 Castle Combe 3rd & 4th July 2021

The Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club Saloon and GT Championship

The Saloon & GT Championship returned to historic Castle Combe for a double header race weekend.

Race Sponsors

Tom Lenthall Cg
Tom Robinson Cg
Colin Philpott Cg
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Qualifying

With Saturday qualifying and Sunday race day, we were able to enjoy a full weekend of racing action for the first time since Covid restrictions came in. With dry conditions it didn’t take long for the fully modified Class D cars to make their presence felt at the top of timing screens. Tom Robinson (XJR6) posting what proved to be a pole winning time on his first hot lap. Guy Connew (XJS V12) also recorded his fastest lap on his first pass to take third on the grid. James Ramm (XJS 4.0) making the front row alongside Robinson with quick time on lap three. Michael Holt (X300) headed Class C and fourth overall. Championship leader Michael Seabourne (XJ40) was quickest of the Class B cars, with Simon Lewis (XJ6) leading Class A.

Qualifying Gallery

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Race One

On a weekend of changeable weather, the racing Gods, dealt us a dry race one. Tom Robinson has found it difficult at times getting the XJR6 off the line this season, however he had no such problem on this occasion to lead current champion James Ramm into Quarry Corner for the first time. Another fast starter was Colin Philpott (XJS 4.0) who was out of position on the grid having qualified eighth, quickly making amends by moving up the order before the Avon Rise.

Class A front runner Simon Lewis was an early retirement in the XJ6 on lap one, gremlins haunting Lewis’s progress in the championship this season. Michael Seabourne’s race was also run when the Class B & championship leader was forced to retire on lap six with electrical issues. David Ringham completed a trio of DNF’s sadly dropping out on lap eight.

At the front Robinson was enjoying being on home turf the Wiltshire circuit being his regular ‘test’ track and local knowledge allowed him to build a small lead from Ramm in the XJS. Meanwhile Colin Philpott’s progress continued taking advantage of a spinning Michael Holt and passing Richard Coppock (Class C XJS) to close on and eventually pass Tom Lenthall (Class C XJS) to take the Class C win and third overall on the podium. Holt, Coppock (Richard) and Lenthall had at titanic race long battle, Holt eventually making a mistake and went off, recovering but dropping places, Lenthall coming out on top of the three-way contest.

Daniel Stewart secured a maiden Class B win with and Meguiar’s GT Drive of the Day with an excellent race and sixth place overall. Ian Drage’s (Class C XJS) first outing of the season proved successful moving up from thirteenth to ninth despite clearly having issues all weekend with rear shocks. Simon Dunford collected the Class A honours along with the class fastest lap.

When the chequered flag dropped on lap twelve Robinson was able to close out the win from Ramm in what is proving to be an exciting battle for Class D this season.

Race One Gallery

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Race Two

With the ball drop rearranging the grid for race two, Colin Philpott found himself on pole alongside James Ramm with Tom Robinson on row two with Tom Lenthall. Off the line Ramm was quick to show and was leading into Quarry corner for the first time from Philpott and Robinson. Robinson was able to get a run on Philpott down the back straight and passed on the approach to Tower. Ramm was across the line first with Robinson in pursuit, at Quarry Robinson managed to get the XJR6 around the outside and get the drive out of the corner to take the lead.

Another fast starter was Michael Seabourne, starting from the back of the grid in the XJ40 he quickly made up five places. Passing Class B rival Derek Pearce around the outside at Quarry before grabbing the class the lead, bravely out braking Daniel Stewart in the damp conditions approaching the Esses. Seabourne then set his sights on Richard Coppock passing the XJS down the inside at Quarry. Unfortunately, this was the last racing action Coppock (Jnr) saw retiring the car after only three laps.

In the meantime, Lawrence Coppock (Snr) (Class D V12 XJS) was having a better race and became the sole surviving V12 when Guy Connew’s race ended on lap five with engine problems.

In Class A Matthew Davis continued in the XJ40 while his XJR6 is being repaired following the fire at Silverstone. Davis again picked up useful championship points second in Class A to the consistent Simon Dunford.

Michael Seabourne made further progress passing Coppock (Snr) to finish sixth overall and win Class B increasing his championship lead over Tom Lenthall. Michael Holt finishing fourth overall and second in Class C from Lenthall in fifth.

At the front James Ramm’s chances of a win were scuppered when he made a mistake at Quarry while pursuing Robinson. After slipping down the order Ramm made an excellent recovery to eventually finish third on the podium and second in class. Philpott rounded off a good weekend with a second Class C win and second place overall. Top-step went again to Tom Robinson winning both class, outright and Meguiar’s GT drive of the day.

The Saloon & GT Championship returns to Brands Hatch on 31st July & 1st August, tickets are available for advance purchase via the Brands Hatch website.

Race Two Gallery

Results Round 5 & 6

Race One Results

First

Second

Third

Overall

Tom Robinson

James Ramm

Colin Philpott

Class A

Simon Dunford

Matthew Davis

-

Class B

Daniel Stewart

Derek Pearce

Rick Walker

Class C

Colin Philpott

Tom Lenthall

Richard Coppock

Class D

Tom Robinson

James Ramm

Lawrence Coppock

Race Two Results

First

Second

Third

Overall

Tom Robinson

Colin Philpott

James Ramm

Class A

Simon Dunford

Matthew Davis

-

Class B

Michael Seabourne

Daniel Stewart

Derek Pearce

Class C

Colin Philpott

Michael Holt

Tom Lenthall

Class D

Tom Robinson

James Ramm

Lawrence Coppock