JEC XJS Championship - Lydden Hill 31^st May 2003:

The sun was scorching on this idyllic short but twisty and testing 1-mile circuit. The XJS's were the first Jaguars to race for a change. Qualifying went without a hitch and Derek Pearce annexed pole, Jim Shea a fine second and Kevin Doyle third.

When the lights turned green Derek shot away and Colin Thatcher 4th on the grid, shot up to 2nd and tried to stay with Pearce, but he proved too strong getting faster with every lap. Derek Pearce went on to win and take Class E and then reveal after the race, "I was stuck in 2nd gear throughout the whole race!" That Millennium cat is a phenomenal car.

Slightly down the field there was a real "Ding-dong" of a battle between Jim Shea and Adam Ashmore till Adam finally passed and then edged further away with each lap. 3rd and 4th placed Brian Stevens and Martin Sutherland showed some very close and entertaining racing.

Dave Ball did well to finish 11th after blowing his bottom hose during practice and fixing it during lunch with the help of his brother Loz who finished 10th.

Great sympathy went to Colin Thatcher, running in the top 5. His race prepared 4 litre engine blew a con-rod coming into the Devils Elbow & a massive sheet of flame shot from under the car which was quickly extinguished by marshals. Other Class winners were Kevin Doyle (G), Sean Collin (D) and Steve Davis (F).

Report by Steve Gorey. (JEC)