ECOSSE NAME BACK IN ACTION

ECOSS A BACK I ACTIO

DEPENDING ON YOUR AGE, ECURIE Ecosse will spark memories of Le Mans-winning D-types, World Championship-winning C2s or BTCC Vauxhalls. Since the 1990s the team has lain dormant, Hugh McCaig wanting any international return to have the ‘right’ elements.

In January Andrew Smith, Oliver Bryant and I decided it would be fantastic to do the Spa 24 Hours. We called Hugh and Alasdair McCaig to agree the basics and never looked back. The best package was Barwell Motorsport and the Aston Martin

DBRS9. Armed with the Ecosse name we became an Aston ‘partner team’ with works support. We then set about the huge task of getting Ecosse back on track.

As well as sourcing the £170,000 budget, we also looked after the media/PR, livery, team wear as well as our own health and fitness.

Sheer determination saw the project through. We had support from many historic racing friends and Motor Sport, but also brought in a number of sponsors.

By race week we felt confident. A positive test had shown we were capable of quick lap times.

We qualified 30th out of 62 cars and were happy to be ahead of all three ‘works’ McLarens.

We knew that for the future of Ecosse a race finish was essential. Despite various issues with the ECU (costing us over an hour in the pits) we brought the car home 20th overall and ninth in class. It was so satisfying, and our focus is now on 2012. We’re sourcing the budget for a full season, our longterm goal being to take Ecosse back to Le Mans. Joe Twyman