8/06/2024 - Equipe Summer Classic - Silverstone GP

After our BUY1 adventure last October, we return to Silverstone on the GP layout this time in the 1961 Jaguar E-Type. A race car we have put our hopes and dreams during the past 6 months having undertaken a full strip and rebuild in record time considering the complexity of race engineering and time allocated. Our race debut at Donington back in May didn’t go exactly to plan as we suffered with a rear mains oil seal leaking so we duly returned to the engine bay to diagnose and correct the issue. Fast forward 5 weeks and several late nights and the E-Type is back on the race track with a leak free engine and tuned to perfection by Tom Barclay Racing.

As prior, behind the helm of E-Type will sit super fast peddler Grant Williams and our very own Cip Nistorica. Our ultimate goal for the 2024 season is to complete the gruelling challenge that is Spa Six Hours in September. So every test session and every race until then is meant to bring us steps forward in improving the reliability and speed of ourselves and the car.

On Saturday, Cip competed in the 30 minutes Pre 63 GT race combined with an all 50s grid. A hugely entertaining race against other E-Type and very fast Austin Healey 3000s at the front of the field while other XK120 and Austin Healey Sebring Sprite were completing the grid. The 50s cars started ahead with a 30 seconds gap while the Pre 63’s were playing chase relaying on their superior speed, a very entertaining format to everyone’s delight. After the 30 minutes race, Cip found himself 3rd in class 🥉 being awarded with a presence on the podium. All our hard work pays off!

On Sunday, having now proven we built a decent Pre 63 spec Jaguar E-Type, we were joined by the one and only - Goodwood Revival spectacular - Grant Williams. We have entered Grant in the Libre race against a hugely competitive grid of V8s in Cobra, TVR and Mustangs. Even with Grant’s natural speed, our E-Type struggled to keep up with the American muscle, but marked precious points for entertaining the BRDC crowd with only Grant going sideways and burning the rear tyres as only he knows best.

On a set of not so new anymore rear tyres, Cip returned in the afternoon at the wheel of the E-Type for the final race of the day, Pre 63 GT again a fairly matched competition and scored another 3rd in class which pleased the P&K Thornton Racing team. A dream racing weekend debut with the car and drivers performing admirably, excellent preparation getting to know the car better and getting a feel for it’s true potential.

Thanks go to our friends and sponsors that made all this happen :

Grant Williams Racing

BSM Car Transport

Zero West Watches

Motorsport photography by Rupert Phillips

For further information on our services or products, please contact us via 0115 9262266 or info@thorntonrestorations.com

Carolyn Frith