Thruxton 21st - 22nd September 2019 , Rounds 9 and 10 The Toyo Tires/Watchdogapp.com Jaguar Saloon & GT Championship

Qualifying

The UK’s fastest circuit, Thruxton was the venue for the penultimate weekend of the season and we were treated glorious Saturday sunshine for qualifying. Tom Robinson posted an extremely quick time on lap two for pole position in the Class D XJR, before pitting on lap four with alternator issues. Colin Philpott joined him on the front row in his Class D XJS 4.0 with Michael Holt making up the front three of grid in the Class C XJ X300. Championship newcomer Michael Seabourne in the ex-Gail Hill Class B XJ40 put down an early marker as one to watch for the future with an excellent fourth. Tim Morrant the leading Class A car in his stunning S1 Daimler XJ6. A notable absentee from the grid this weekend, current champion James Ramm due to the birth of baby Jack, congratulations to Mr & Mrs Ramm.

Race One

The last race of the day and evening sun low in the sky we got under way with Colin Philpott marginally quicker off the line and leading Tom Robinson in the first corner, Allards. Robinson was lining up an early move on Philpott at Church corner but span dropping the Swallows Racing man back to ninth. Michael Holt now second Richard Coppock third in the Class C XJS and father Lawrence Coppock fourth in the six litre Class D XJS. Championship leader Chris Boon in the Cov Cats XK8 was the leading Class B car at the end of lap one, Tim Morrant’s XJ6 heading Class A.

Philpott in the meantime was establishing a comfortable lead and by lap five was ten seconds clear of Holt who had the fast charging Robinson for company having worked his way back up the field. Seabourne’s XJ40 had passed Boon on lap four to lead Class B.

Lap seven sadly saw Morrant’s XJ6 retiring with oil on the windscreen from an overflowing catch tank, Simon Dunford taking over the lead in Class A in the XJS. Robinson was now up to second and had closed the gap to Philpott to just over four seconds. Tom Lenthall in the Class C XJS was working his way up and made a good move to pass Seabourne.

Entering the final stages Robinson caught Philpott and was challenging again for the lead, but the Powerbell man was able to hold him off in the XJS to take the chequered flag, Holt third overall and first in Class C, closely followed by Richard Coppock who collected GT Drive of the Day. Seabourne an excellent win in Class B on his debut and Saloon Drive of the Day. Last year’s Class A champion Simon Dunford completed the class wins, Dean Sewell’s S1 XJ6 closely behind and an excellent drive for Colin Peach in the S-Type for third in Class A.

Race Two

The heavy overnight thunderstorms having abated and early morning qualifying for the CSCC series races giving a drying line in some places, it was in very mixed and tricky conditions that the big cats lined up for the Sunday race. Tom Robinson’s XJR finding more grip on the outside led pole sitter Philpott’s XJS off the line. Michael Holt’s X300 passing Philpott going into Church corner to take second place, Lawrence Coppock leading Richard in the father and son battle in the Class D and C XJS’s. Michael Seabourne’s XJ40 again the first Class B car, sadly Chris Boon having to retire the XK8 from that class on lap two, his first DNF of the season. Simon Dunford’s Class A XJS holding a narrow advantage from Dean Sewell’s S1 XJ6.

Lap three saw a shake up in the second-place battle with Seabourne moving up to second, Philpott third and Holt slipping back to fourth. Nic Strong in the meantime campaigning ex-champion Tom Butterfield’s old XJS found his way passed Simon Lewis’s X300, Lewis running second in Class B, Derek Pearce in the XK8 and Lawrence Ball in the Gulf livered XJS fighting for third in Class.

Mid-race and Seabourne clearly enjoying the slippery conditions closed to within a second of Robinson with the fastest lap of the race. Philpott was in third and opening a gap, Holt making a mistake dropping to seventh the Coppock’s benefitting and being joined by Tom Lenthall’s XJS. A small error from Dunford allowed Sewell to pass and lead Class A.

In the closing stages Robinson continued to control the race despite being pressed hard by Seabourne, Robinson finally bringing home the XJR for his maiden victory, with Seabourne a stunning second place on his debut weekend and Saloon Drive of the Day and Class B win. Philpott third narrowly holding off a fast finishing Lenthall in the Class C XJS also collecting GT Drive of the Day. Dean Sewell taking Class A honours in the XJ6.

Race One Results

Race Two Results