Le Mans Legend organizers this year broadened the event’s eligibility criteria, allowing Ford GT40s and Cobras to compete. Nevertheless, JD Classics’ entries each put in impressive qualifying performances, with the Costin-Lister, driven by Chris Ward sitting 8th in a field of 62.
Not far behind was the team’s Lightweight E-Type driven by Steve Soper, which qualified in 12th place, followed by the ex-Fangio C-Type with John Young at the wheel and the Cooper T33 driven by JD Classics’ Managing Director Derek Hood. Wil Arif in the team’s XK120 rounded out a strong qualifying performance.
Three GT40s led the pack as the race got underway with a rolling start, and Chris Ward drove the Lister-Costin brilliantly up to fifth place, despite being down on power compared with the cars ahead. An issue with the car saw the Lister-Costin fall back down the field while the other JD Classics’ entries battled hard in the top half of a competitive pack. After four laps, JD Classics had performed the mandatory minute-long pit stop on all their entries, leaving them to race to the finish line.
It was the Lightweight E-Type that came home first, rounding out a top 10 that included seven of the much more powerful GT40s and Cobras. The ex-Fangio C-Type topped its class with the Cooper T33 coming in just behind, giving JD Classics an incredible one-two finish in the 1949-1954 class. It’s the latest in a series of impressive finishes for JD Classics this year, including a win for its ‘74 Ford Cologne Capri at the Spa Classic.
For more information about JD Classics, please visit http://www.jdclassics.co.uk/