NEWS
24.06.10
Victorious weekend for Hancock & The Drivers Club at GP de l’Age d’Or
Drivers Club member and historic racer Stefan Ziegler and club founder Sam Hancock enjoyed a successful weekend at the prestigious Grand Prix de l’Age d’Or in Dijon at the weekend as the pair fought through from the back of the field in Ziegler’s stunning D-Type Jaguar to take a class podium in the RAC Woodcote Trophy.
The historic meeting was especially sweet for Hancock, who also received a surprise invitation to drive a similar Valentine Lindsay-owned Jaguar in the same race and helped regular driver Ben Shuckburgh to overall victory.
“The Drivers Club has been working with Stefan for a while now, but this was the first time I’ve had the opportunity to co-drive with him in one of his own cars,” Hancock explained.
“CKL Developments were running both Stefan’s and Valentine’s cars and Valentine very kindly invited me to join Ben in the race.”
With Shuckburgh having qualified third on the grid, Hancock started the wet race in the Lindsay-owned D-Type and went around the outside of historic specialist Gavin Pickering to take the lead in the first corner, with Gregor Fisken in hot pursuit.
He pulled out a big advantage by the pit stops before handing back to Shuckburgh, who drove brilliantly in difficult conditions to sealhis first ever victory by a comfortable margin.
Meanwhile, Ziegler had started his car from the back of the grid having been unavailable to take part in qualifying the previous day.
After a superb stint, which saw the Swiss driver climb his way through the field, he handed to Hancock who jumped in and finished third in the C4a class, setting the race’s overall fastest lap.
“I’d like to thank both Stefan and Valentine for allowing me to drive these beautiful cars and CKL for preparing them so well. I’m delighted for all of us that we enjoyed such success,” said Sam. “A win, a podium and a fastest lap is really pleasing.
“From a coaching point of view it was a very useful exercise for me to race one of Stefan’s cars as it gives me a more accurate understanding of the exact techniques required to go fast in the machinery he usually races.
“He drove really well from the back of the field and he is making excellent progress as a racing driver.”