When we visited the new Jaguar Heritage Driving Experience last year at Kenilworth, we heard of the interesting news of the Jaguar Heritage Challenge. Jaguar Special Operations were deliberately conservative with the inaugural calendar and this has proved to be quite a success.
The final round at Oulton Park’s Gold Cup meeting saw an exciting end to the series, with perhaps a fitting winner in the ex-Jackie Stewart Jaguar E Type driven by the pair of Mike Wilkinson and John Bussell. The victory for Wilkinson and Bussell meant they became the firth different winner in as many close and entertaining races of the inaugural season of the Jaguar Heritage Challenge.
“Old Favourite” as the race-winning E-type SSN 300 was affectionately known, was the first race car Sir Jackie owned and originally started life as a customer demonstrator for the Stewart family’s car dealership in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. On the weekends though, a young Sir Jackie would race this exact E-type under an anonymous name to keep his involvement secret from his mother.
Another famous Jaguar taking to the track – and as it turned out taking class honours – was C-type ‘PUG 676’ – owned and raced by Royal Automobile Club Motoring Committee Chairman, Ben Cussons.
Cussons took Class C honours at the Gold Cup this afternoon and also set the fastest lap in PUG 676, while finishing a very credible ninth overall. First registered in September 1952, PUG 676 has genuine racing pedigree. Dick Protheroe raced it extensively during the post-World-War II era before it was sold to its next owner, John Hallhan, who shipped it to Australia for restoration in 1966. Fans of the Mille Miglia will be familiar with this iconic car, which competed in the grueling 1000-mile rally in May of this year with Cussons at the wheel.
It’s pretty certain that Jaguar will be expanding upon this success with a larger calendar for next year. We’re hoping to see some overseas rounds, so how about Dijon or even Tour Des Remparts? Enjoy this extended image gallery of the final Jaguar round. Images via Jaguar Cars.
