LE MANS CLASSIC 2012

2012 was probably my most memorable year in racing so far.  Not only did the boys and I succeed in bringing the Ecurie Ecosse name back to top flight international GT racing, but we came very close to winning the British GT Championship at first attempt in an old-spec car, and we proved in the Blancpain Endurance Series that we could compete at the very highest level in what is arguably now the hardest GT Championship in the World.

Shortly after it was restored following 40 years in an Australian museum, I became the second person ever to drive the Tyrrell March 701 F1 car driven to victory by Sir Jackie Stewart in the 1970 Spanish Grand Prix.  In my first ever competitive outing in the car I started the Monaco Historic Grand Prix from Pole Position (as the car did in 1970!), and after building up a 45 second lead I suffered an unfortunate puncture but still managed to finish on the podium after pitting for a wheel change during a 20 minute race.

Jackie Stewart leading the 1970 Monaco Grand Prix in his Tyrrell March 701-2

Andrew Smith in the ex-Jackie Stewart Tyrrell March 701-2 through Casino Square during
the 2012 Monaco Historic Grand Prix

At the Le Mans Classic this year, I was given an epic opportunity by a friend and prolific historic car collector and racer, Carlos Monteverde, to drive three very special cars sharing with him and Gary Pearson.  These are cars that I had only ever dreamed of driving, never mind racing them round the circuit at La Sarthe!

These cars were the ex-Jim Clark Border Reivers Jaguar D Type, the 1970 Le Mans winning Porsche 917, and the 1977 Le Mans winning Porsche 936.  This was quite simply one of the best experiences of my life.  The highlight had to be racing the 936 during one of the night stints in torrential rain, powering up the Mulsanne Straight at nearly 220mph - to be honest I can't quite describe it!

ex-Jim Clark Border Reivers D Type

1970 Le Mans winning Porsche 917

1977 Le Mans winning Porsche 936

 As much as I love driving the BMW Z4 GT3 and it presents an entirely different challenge, for me nothing really comes close to driving a highly powerful and historically important racing car around an evocative race track.

AS

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