Easter Hatch Brings Brand New Wins
A packed-out sunny Brands Hatch on Easter weekend saw the Swallows Racing team again out in force with the BARC run CTCRC Berkshire Jags Challenge. Tom & Jack were driving their Class D XJR6 and Class A XJ40 and we were again running another XJ40 for Damian Gray a XJS for Tom Butterfield as well as supporting the XKR of Steve Dowell from PVE.
Arriving early in the morning on Good Friday it gave us an opportunity to set up camp around the race truck and do some car preparation. With on-board catering, spares, and workshop facilities the team is increasingly becoming self-sufficient.
Qualifying early afternoon on Saturday, Tom managed second on the large Jag grid despite slippery conditions on the Indy circuit due to truck racing. Jack on his first outing at Brands Hatch qualified second in class, narrowly ahead of Damian’s Class B car. In front of them Tom Butterfield grabbed sixth overall and second in Class C. Meanwhile after his disappointment at Silverstone Steve was delighted to complete a qualifying session in the awesome sounding XKR.
A dreadful start in race one saw Tom’s XJR6 plummet down the order, however he was quickly able to regain momentum. By mid-race he was battling for the lead and after a couple skirmishes he seized his opportunity with a move up the inside at Druids. Moving clear of the field he was able to see out his third successive win.
By contrast Jack got off to a ‘flyer’ which propelled him into the lead of Class A, which he held for most of the race. Driving with real calmness despite having to defend his position Jack was holding off faster more powerful cars. Two laps short of what looked a certain class win Jack found himself in the tyre wall at Druids courtesy of some strong driving by an opponent. A hugely disappointing moment for Jack in only his third race. He did however have consolation of a Class A fastest lap.
Damian also sadly suffered a DNA on lap seven whilst Tom Butterfield had a strong race to finish fourth overall and second in Class C. Steve in his maiden race made huge steps forward learning both a new car and circuit, he gained five seconds on his qualifying time.
Working late into the evening our race engineers Dan & Ben did a wonderful job in sorting out the damage to both Jack and Tom’s cars. New parts were delivered the next day from our Somerset base by Master Tech John Odam and by mid-morning Sunday both Jags were fit to race again.
Starting from pole mid-afternoon on Sunday Tom launched the XJR6 off the line and was never headed in a flag-to-flag victory despite his tyres going off towards the end of the race. Tom now leads the Championship on maximum points with four wins from four starts and fastest laps in each. Jack also had a less eventful race moving through from the back of the grid to finish third in class and narrowly behind Damian Gray in the other XJ40, Damian now getting to grips with his newly acquired race car. Unfortunately, Tom Butterfield’s XJS had a fuelling issue moments after he had moved into the podium places sadly resulting in a DNF. Steve continued find improvement eclipsing his time from race one as well as winning many admirers with his stunning XKR.
A weekend of ups and downs then, such is racing. We would again like to thank our partners, sponsors, family, and friends who contributed to such a successful weekend at Brands Hatch, not least; Vision Techniques, AVO, PVE, Tarox, Jaguar Enthusiasts Club (JEC TrackSport), Meguiar’s, Naked Signs and Pipercross.
We look forward to the next rounds at Oulton Park on May 28th & 29th, in the meantime Jack and Matthew will be racing at Anglesey with CSCC on 14th & 15th May.
