After a season of notable historic racing victories, including those at Silverstone Classic, Six Hours of Spa and Goodwood Revival, JD Classics headed to the Alps for the third modern-day running of the Bernina Gran Turismo. Competing with a total of six cars, the JD Classics team continued its 2017 winning streak, with an overall victory and three class wins.
The first practice runs on Saturday morning, allowed drivers to get to grips with the 50 turn, 5.7km climb, which climbs for almost 450m. Timed runs were set for the afternoon, with Chris Ward taking the wheel of the team’s Goodwood Revival-winning Ford GT40, JD Classics founder Derek Hood in the Austin Healey 100S and an AC Ace and 1950 Frazer Nash driven by JD Classics’ customers Steve and Thomas Ward.
With dry and sunny weather, Chris Ward set off for his first timed run in the GT40 and headed straight to the top of the timings sheet, with a 3:20.3 run. Ward’s second run of the day was quicker still, as he managed to shave another 1.5 seconds off, to set a time of 3:18.8 – the fastest of the day.
“This year’s overall victory and three class wins at the Bernina Gran Turismo is the perfect end to an incredible season of classic motorsport for JD Classics,” company founder, Derek Hood said. “Our team has won at Revival, Spa Six Hours, Silverstone Classic, Snetterton, Donington and more. It’s only down to the passion and dedication of the whole JD Classics team that we’ve had such a successful season, and I’m extremely proud of all that they’ve achieved over the past six months.”
