Ecurie Ecosse - Formula One, GT cars and world's most famous car transporter
The racing team Ecurie Ecosse, what in French means Scotland Stable or Team of Scotland, has a long history in auto races. The team was founded in Edinburgh in 1951 by local businessman, racing driver and true Francophile David Murray and mechanic Mike Wilkinson.
Debut in Formula 1
First racing experience for the new Scottish team was in the Formula 1 in which Ecurie Ecosse had just four Grand Prix entries over three seasons (1952-1954). Only once team’s car managed to finish the race, taking the 14th place. Nothing better results were made in Formula 2 from 1969 to 1971, so the team left open wheel racing.
Ecurie Ecosse Cooper Bristol raced by Jackie Stewart’s brother Jimmy
Two overall wins at 24 Hours of Le Mans
Team’s most notable achievement was winning 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1956 and 1957. Ron Flockhart and Ninian Sanderson won the race in 1956 driving Jaguar D-Type.
Next year in the same type of car Flockhart won second title, this time partnered with Ivor Bueb. The team’s second car was runner-up same year driven up by Sanderson and John Lawrence.
The victorious Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar D Type of Ron Flockhart and Ivor Bueb at 1957 Le Mans 24 Hours
Hard days and revivals in WSC and BTCC
Ecurie Ecosse ceased operating in 1971 after financial troubles, but was revived in the ’80s by enthusiast Hugh McCaig. In 1986 team has won the C2 class of the World Sportclass championship after being runner-up in the previous year.
In 1992 and 1993 team has won the British Touring Car Championship for Vauxhall and have helped support some of Scotland’s most successful modern racing drivers including Allan McNish, David Coulthard, David Leslie, John Cleland and 2007 Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti.
Vauxhall Sport Cavalier of Ecurie Ecosse in the British Touring Car Championship
New revival in GT racing in 2011
New revival of the team has occured in 2011. McCaig gathered four young drivers for sports car races – Andrew Smith, Alasdair McCaig, Joe Twyman and Oliver Bryant. The team made a debut with an AstonMartin DBRS9 at Spa 24 Hours, the round of the Blancpain Endurance Series.
Next year, the team switched to BMW Z4 GT3 in the British GT Championship and Blancpain Endurance Series, scoring one victory in the national championship. In 2013, Oliver Bryant and Marco Attard fought for the British GT title but finished third in the championship.
Ecurie Ecosse team at Spa 2011
British GT Championship title in 2014
In 2014, Marco Attard was the only full-time drive of the #79 Ecurie Ecosse BMW Z4 GT3. He won two races, both sharing a car with Alexander Sims, taking the Drivers’ championship title. The team finished in the third place. In 2015, Marco Attard was defending the title in the #1 BMW, sharing a car with Alexander Sims, and they finished second in the points.
In the same period, the team also competed in the Blancpain Endurance Series but without notable results.
Ecurie Ecosse driver Marco Attard was the 2014 British GT champion
Switching to McLaren machinery in 2016
In 2016, the team switched to McLaren cars in the British GT Championship, using a 650S in GT3 class and 570S in GT4 class. Sandy Mitchell and Ciaran Haggarty finished third in GT4 class. The team left the competition at the end of 2016.
The famous car transporter was sold for 8.8 million punds
One unique vehicle made Ecurie Ecosse one of the most recognizable and popular racing teams. That is their car transporter built in 1960. It later passed through many hands and was discovered in th ’80s in a terrible condition. In December 2013, transporter with collection of eight team’s cars was sold at auction for 8.8 million pounds.
The famous Ecurie Ecosse car transporter
Photo: flickr.com velocetoday.com primotipo.com insidebtcc.com reubenlikes.wordpress.com britishgt.com
