JEC XJS Championship - Silverstone 5^th April 2003:

A record 6 rookies started this race and they all acquitted themselves well, especially Sean Collin who snaffled 3rd in class. The second race of the day saw an impressive and stunning line up of 28 thoroughbred Cats raring to achieve their goals for the new season and run like the wind. This race had the hallmarks of a classic start, and these Cats weren't to disappoint.

From the start, all hell broke loose, as Kevin Doyle and Gary Davis attacked Brian Stevens, like a couple of bull terriers on a rat. This led to Doyle and Davis to take the lead at the first bend, but not happy with that they attacked each other. Davis was squeezed on to the grass and, lacking any means of control, hit the Doyle car. This mistake allowed Stevens to regain the lead that he wasn't to give up and poor Kevin Doyle had to retire from the race, lame. Davis meanwhile had the difficult task of keeping a predatory Derek Pearce, in his Millennium 6.0 litre XJS, off his back for the rest of the race.

Shortly into the race, the black and yellow flags were being waved vigorously as the unlucky Martin Sutherland had a coming together with the lush Nicola Duncan at Woodcote and leaving her up against the concrete wall. This bunched the field with no overtaking permitted for a number of laps. By the time Nicola's car had been dragged to safety there were only 2 laps remaining.

Other Class winners were Derek Pearce E, fine runs by Adam Ashmore D and Paul Joclecyn-Brown F. Lets hope for a longer race at Oulton Park next.


Report by STEVE GOREY (JEC)