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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Welcome

Welcome to the Ecurie Ecosse blog! As a team, all the drivers will have access and the ability to post news, views on updates on our activities across Europe during the coming season. As an introduction to who we are and where we have come from the first two posts will summarise Ecosse across the years:

Despite fielding entries in the Formula One World Championship, it was in the realms of sportscar racing where Ecurie Ecosse originally forged its reputation as one of the most respected names in motor sport.

Established by Edinburgh accountant David Murray in 1952, the Scottish team rose to prominence at the world-famous Le Mans 24 Hours where, in 1956 and ‘57, the plucky privateer outfit’s iconic metallic blue and white striped Jaguars triumphed over the similar factory-supported D-Types, as well as works Ferrari, Aston Martin and Porsche entries. 

In the early 1980s, and following an extended period away from the sport, it was left to lifelong fan Hugh McCaig to resurrect Ecurie Ecosse. Sticking to its true privateer routes the team entered the World Sportscar Championship, winning the C2 class title and finishing runner-up twice in the space of three seasons.

With the demise of the WSCC, Ecurie Ecosse re-focused its efforts on the burgeoning British Touring Car Championship which culminated in securing the 1995 Teams’ and Drivers’ crowns. It was the first independent outfit in BTCC history to beat the manufacturer-backed teams.

While the team’s list of major honours is impressive enough, it only accounts for part of its rich heritage. Equally important are the star names to have cut their teeth behind the wheel of Ecurie Ecosse machinery down the years, with no less than three future Formula One World Champions – Jim Clark, Sir Jackie Stewart and Sir Jack Brabham – as well as motor racing legend Sir Stirling Moss, Grand Prix winner David Coulthard and two-times Le Mans 24 Hours victor Allan McNish amongst the celebrated roll call.  

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS AND TITLES

1956: 1st – Le Mans 24 Hours

1957: 1st & 2nd – Le Mans 24 Hours

1985: Runner-up – C2 World Sportscar Championship

1986: Champions – C2 World Sportscar Championship

1987: 1st – Le Mans 24 Hours, Index Of Performance class

2nd in class and 8th overall – Le Mans 24 Hours

Runner-up – C2 World Sportscar Championship

1988: Champions – British Thunder Saloons Championship

1995: Champions – British Touring Car Championship

After nearly 2 decades away from the sport, in 2011 Andrew Smith, Joe Twyman, Alasdair McCaig and Oliver Bryant came together to revive the team. Seeds of this great revival were sewn during the 2011 season’s 24 Hours of Spa in Belgium where, having proven the brand’s enduring appeal by attaining no less than 34 sponsors, Ecurie Ecosse lined up in a major international endurance race for the first time since 1993.

And with original Team Principal Hugh McCaig presiding over matters from the pitwall, the team exceeded all expectations by recording the fastest time in one of the free practice sessions and out-qualifying a number of their factory-supported rivals.

The imaginations of their loyal fans were captured further in the race where, on a fraction of the budget of their rivals, Ecurie Ecosse’s ageing dark blue and white Aston Martin DBRS9 GT3 came home a fine ninth in class despite racing against much more seasoned opposition and losing two hours in the garage to an ECU problem.

Those 24 hours, added to the thousands enjoyed in successful competition throughout the last six decades, acted as the catalyst for Ecurie Ecosse to pursue its full-time return to top flight action in 2012.   

JT

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