Ecurie Ecosse returns to action 01 | 03 | 2011
SCOTLAND'S MOST famous racing team, Ecurie Ecosse — which twice won the Le Mans 24-Hours — will return to action this summer 25 years after it won the C2 World Sports Car Championship.
The Edinburgh-based team has forged an alliance with Aston Martin Racing to race a DBRS9 GT3 in the 24 Hours of Spa in July. And team boss Hugh McCaig is using the Belgian race, on the famous Spa-Francorchamps F1 grand prix track, as preparation for a return to Le Mans next year.
“This is a very exciting development for Ecurie Ecosse," McCaig said today. "I have been looking for an opportunity to take the team back into sportscar racing for some time, but the overall package had to be right.
"Now, with a team of ambitious and talented young drivers, together with a competitive manufacturer-backed car run by experienced engineers, I am extremely pleased we can now take this major step forward.
"We have partnered with Aston Martin before and it is great to be doing it again 20 years later. Ultimately we want to be back at Le Mans and this is a fantastic starting point.”
The car — prepared by Barwell Motorport — will be piloted by young Edinburgh racers Alasdair McCaig and Andrew Smith, plus English duo Joe Twyman (St Albans) and Oliver Bryant (Marlow).
In 2010 Twyman won his class in the 24 Hours of Spa driving a Jota Sport Aston Martin, and in 2009 Smith claimed a front row slot on the grid and fastest lap of the race at Spa in his British GT Championship debut.
And the return to competitive action of Ecurie Ecosse, which has been dormant on the international scene since the 1990's when the team won the British Touring Car Championship running works Vauxhalls, was welcomed by Scot Allan McNish.
“I'm very pleased Ecurie Ecosse is returning to sportscars," McNish, a double Le Mans winner and current president of the Scottish Motor Racing Club, said.
"It has such fantastic heritage in this arena with its legendary Le Mans wins and it will be nice to see the dark blue flags flying once again.
"The team has supported so many famous Scottish drivers making their way in the sport, including Le Mans winners, Indy 500 winners and F1 World Champions. Ecurie Ecosse really has been an integral part of the very successful Scottish motorsport story, past and present."
The heritage of Ecurie Ecosse should never be undervalued. Under the ownership of Edinburgh accountant David Murray, Ecurie Ecosse rocked the establishment when its D-Type Jaguars won Le Mans back-to-back in 1956 and '57.
And three Formula One World Champions, and every Scottish Formula One winner, has raced for the historic team.
The list of those who have competed in Ecurie Ecosse colours is a venerable who's who of motorsport legends and stars, including Jim Clark, Sir Jackie Stewart, Ian Stewart, Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jack Brabham, Innes Ireland, David Coulthard, Allan McNish, Johnny Dumfries, David Leslie, and Tom Walkinshaw.
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Jim McGill