As this is the last round of the 2014 Scottish motor racing season, this weekend’s event has attracted a bumper entry; with racers eager to enjoy some last-minute competition before the long winter break. As well as a Saloons and Sports Car debut for Phil Dryburgh in his British GT Aston Martin Vantage; this weekend will also see the debut of Stewart Whyte’s latest Super Touring purchase – an ex-Tom Kristensen Honda Accord.
In the main Scottish Saloons and Sports Car Championship, Stirling’s Andrew Morrison enters the weekend with an unassailable lead in the overall Championship. That said, there are still plenty of class wins up for grabs including the Mazda MX5 Cup; that sees Olly Ross, Ross Taylor and David Smail all in with a shout of the title win.
As mentioned above, this weekend sees a guest entry from Phil Dryburgh’s British GT Championship competition Aston Martin GT3 Vantage (A2 class), with Dryburgh keen to see if he can break the Saloons and Sports Car lap record – currently 49.979 secs. Dryburgh’s British GT Championship teammate and boss of Aston Martin Racing, John Gaw, will also participate this weekend; behind the wheel of a Lotus 340R (class B3).
Joining Dryburgh in the A2 class is Stuart Whyte in the Super Touring Accord. If you are familiar with the Scottish racing scene, you’ll perhaps be aware of Whyte’s other Honda Accord Touring Car – it was on display in our 40th Anniversary Marquee at BTCC this year, and has been raced in the Scottish Championship for several years. But, Whyte’s latest purchase – a Honda Accord Super Tourer – would be reason enough to head to Knockhill this weekend. The car, which should be approximately 3 seconds a lap quicker than his previous car; will no doubt give his Saloons and Sports Car rivals food for thought.
The car was built during the Super Touring era, when budgets to win Championships like the BTCC were between the 2 and 4 million mark – with Audi spending almost 10 million on their Super Touring program. Tom Kristensen (all-time Le Mans 24hr race winner with nine victories to his name, two of them beside SMRC President Allan McNish) raced the car in the 2000 British Touring Car Championship; where it claimed the last race win, at Silverstone, to be run under Super Touring regulations. It then moved onto the FIA European Super Touring Championship and the Serbian Touring Car Championship; before Whyte brought it to the UK to race in the 2014 Super Touring Championship alongside other iconic models like John Cleland’s Vauxhall Vectra.
Elsewhere on the Saloons and Sports Car gird, Adam and Fiona Kindness (Subaru), Graham Davidson (Noble M400), Ian Donaldson (Mitsubishi Evo 9) and Paul Brydon (BMW M3) make a welcome return; with these models alone, racking up an incredible 12,550cc between them; confirming the Saloons and Sports Car Championship as the fastest series you’ll see this weekend.
The weekend, will also see a fantastic gathering of supercars, with up to 50 models from Ferrari, Porsche, Audi, BMW and Lotus on display. The gathering will act as a prelude to a mass supercar gathering planned for 2015 where we will welcome up to 150 of the world’s most exotic cars – with the paddock value estimated at around 15 million pounds – it’s definitely something to look out for next season.
Whatever the outcome this weekend, make sure you join us for a fantastic conclusion to the SMRC season. And to top it all, make sure you enter our competition to enjoy a super-fast lap as a passenger in Phil Dryburgh’s Aston Martin by sharing our Facebook competition post.
Tickets can be pre-booked online via the Knockhill SMRC webpage with advanced booking discounts available for all pre-booked tickets. Alternatively, tickets will be available at the gate on the day and subject to the following admission prices.
Adult: £12, Concession: £8 and Family: £32. Please note booking a family ticket in advance will save you £12 – a great saving if you’d like to bring the whole family. Kids under 12 also go free to all Knockhill events this year.
See the event timetable: SMRC_October_Timetable
See the event entry list: SMRC_October_entry