Classic Sports Car Club Future Classics / Tin Tops

Silverstone 22nd September

The first time Stuart Scott drove the 'Gulf' liveried four-litre XJ-S was when he took over from Gail Hill for the latter part of qualifying. Its many years since he last raced a right hand drive car with an H pattern gearbox and the XJ-S is not everyone's idea of a racecar. Stuart was getting to grips with the lack of grip of the 1400kg big cat when cornering but enjoyed its straight-line speed. With such an eclectic mix of forty cars in the combined Future Classics and Tin Tops race finding a clear lap was not easy. That was not the only thing to worry about either. With brake judder from a warped disc and plumes of blue oil smoke from the rear end on the over run there was plenty to think about. The XJ-S does though have good pedigree and the pairing was quite happy with thirteenth on the grid and seventh in the Future Classics contingent.

After a top up of the black stuff and re fuel the car was ready to race. With no opportunity to fix the brake disc it would just be a problem to drive round.

Gail started and made up several places by the time the packed field reached Copse for the first time. She has raced XJ-S's for the past six years and knows the car backwards, and has even driven it backwards on occasion! She soon slotted in behind a Honda CRX and ahead of a BMW M3. The scrap went on for several laps before she finally got past the Honda and began to put pressure on another XJ-S, the V12 of Lyddall and Harrison. When she got past there was just time to get into a rhythm before handing over to Stuart.

Several cars had one driver only, which gave an advantage at the change over. They just have to get out and back in again. With two drivers, seat and harness have to be adjusted. The pair had consequently lost a few places when Stuart rejoined but he was soon up to speed. He soon had the car handling smoothly and was hitting the apexes time after time. Getting round the always slippery Luffield was certainly keeping him occupied but still with a smile on his face. The blue smoke was slowly getting worse and it was touch and go if there would be any oil left in the car at the finish it was also beginning to permeate into the cockpit. On the last lap a determined Scott refused to yeild up a place to yet another 4 litre XJ-S and crossed the line seventeenth overall but sixth in the Future Classic brigade.

They took a third in class pot home with them and smiles from ear to ear. The oil splattered bumper testimony to the smoke signals given out all race long. It was a hugely enjoyable day out however and gave Stuart a taste of racing at the opposite end of where he normally successfully competes. He will hopefully be out again soon in his slightly more upmarket Jaguar- The XKR-GT3 car