Five amazing cars of the Kinrara Trophy

Featuring pre-1963 GT cars, the Kinrara Trophy is arguably the most beautiful race of the weekend, as the cars battle on track as the sun sets. With a grid of 26 cars, including eight Ferrari 250GT SWBs, eight Jaguar E-Types, three Aston Martin DB4 GTs and two Austin Healey 3000s, narrowing the it was never going to be easy, but we’ve given it our best shot…

1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB/C, reg. MO2581

Let’s start with the inaugural winner, the Ferrari 250 GT SWB driven by Joe Macari and Tom Kristensen. Built in 1961, chassis no. 2973GT won the 1962 Tour de France, and both Macari and Kristensen will be competing to retain their crown in 2019.

1961 Jaguar E-Type, reg. 405 UXO

Chassis 875511 was once owned by Hans Schenk, a celebrity chef in the Bahamas, who purchased the car for the sole reason of winning at the world-famous International Bahamas Speed Week. In his first ever race in the car, registered as NP975, Schenk placed second behind the Austin Healey-Corvette of Tony Adams. His second race brought him another second place, and another race the following year brought him yet another second place. Schenk’s second race of the 1962 event saw him grab his first win, and then another win in the ‘Bahamas Cup’ race. Essentially, Schenk kept winning until he sold the car in 1964. It found its way to the UK in 2005, and now wears the UK registration ‘405 UXO’.

1961 Jaguar E-Type, reg. FHC 2 BBC

Raced in period by Robin Sturgess, chassis no. 860133 won a lot of races. In 1962 alone it won ten races, including seven at Snetterton, two at Silverstone and one at Mallory Park. Elsewhere it bagged four second places, two thirds, one fifth and one seventh. A beautiful car with a very busy, successful race history.

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO

Originally delivered in metallic grey with red, white and blue stripes, chassis no. 3851GT was driven by Jo Schlesser to second place in the 1962 Tour de France, behind the aforementioned 250 GT SWB/C. From 1963-65, it went on to be driven in a number of hillclimbs with huge success. The only 250 GTO in this year’s Kinrara Trophy, it’ll be piloted by Carlos Monteverde and Gary Pearson.

1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT, reg. 429 AGF

Driven in period by Innes Ireland, Duncan Black and Bob Grossman, chassis DB4/GT/0133/L (a long one, we know) was built in 1960 with a Zagato-spec engine and drivetrain. Racing at tracks such as Sebring, Watkins Glen, Bridgehampton Grand Prix and Lime Rock, it raced throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s before returning to the UK in 2002.

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images and Jayson Fong.