Jota Sport enjoyed their biggest involvement in the Silverstone Classic to date last weekend when the Kent-based outfit fielded several hugely significant historic racing cars at the British Grand Prix circuit.
Held annually since 1990, this year’s Classic would prove to be another record-breaking event as in excess of a thousand entries competed across 24 races, while a bumper crowd packed the Northamptonshire venue despite Saturday’s heavy summer showers.
And Jota’s line-up was among the most impressive on display as the team switched their attention from top-line international sports car competition to running a wide variety of iconic racing machinery.
Perhaps most eye-catching was the Lotus 72 in which its owner, Katsu Kubota, contested the FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship event on Saturday afternoon.
One of the most significant cars in the history of grand prix racing, Kubota’s chassis #6 secured race victories in the hands of legendary Swede Ronnie Peterson and also helped Lotus to claim the Constructors’ World Championship in 1973. Four decades on the JPS-liveried machine remains one of the best-recognised cars to have graced Formula 1.
Having travelled from his native Japan especially for the event, Kubota’s contribution was not only limited to the Lotus, with Jota also fielding his Nissan R90CK at Silverstone. The Group C machine was one of five built in 1990 for the manufacturer’s assault on the Le Mans 24 Hours, where it achieved the notable distinction of recording the highest qualifying speed by reaching 227mph.
Jota would oversee the efforts of another Group C legend in the shape of Roger Wills’ Lancia LC2. Bedecked in the iconic Martini Racing livery, the car was among the most admired by spectators both in the paddock and when it took to the track in anger on Sunday afternoon.
Wills was also behind the wheel of a Jota-run Lotus Elite, sharing driving duties with David Clark in the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy for Historic Cars on Sunday morning. Meanwhile the Jota entry was further bolstered by a BRM P57, which competed in the Jim Clark Trophy for Pre ’66 Grand Prix Cars. A World Championship winner with British racing legend Graham Hill in 1962, the Tony Rudd-designed space frame chassis today represents a uniquely original example of sixties Formula 1 equipment.
Sam Hignett, Jota Sport Team Principal said: “This year’s Classic has seen Jota’s biggest involvement to date and we couldn’t be happier with how the weekend turned out, especially after the adverse weather gave way to blue skies. We were thrilled to take part in such a fantastic event: the organisers do a superb job and the cars on show are simply breath-taking.
“From our own perspective, it was great for the team to be working on Formula 1 race-winners and Group C legends, so a big thank you to the owners who trusted Jota Sport with their cars. Hopefully we can have just as good a time at the Nürburgring next month.”
Following their successful Silverstone exploits Jota will travel to another of the world’s most iconic circuits in a fortnight’s time when they contest the Oldtimer GP at Germany’s Nürburgring (9-11 August). A busy event awaits once again, with the team set to field a Porsche 910 and the Elva MK8, while Kubota’s Lotus 72 will enjoy another outing at the German Grand Prix circuit.