Despite disability, despite preparing to go back to Afghanistan and despite crippling post-traumatic stress disorder, a team of soldiers from Mission Motorsport took the chequered flag at the end of the Britcar 24 Hours at Silverstone. Racing a Nissan 370Z, the soldiers finished in 17th place overall after 24 hours of racing in changing weather conditions, against professional race teams and drivers. Tpr James Jimmy Gillborn, was also awarded the Driver of the Weekend award by the organisers for the incredible job he did in the race but he was the first to say that he would share the award with his team mates Major James Jim Cameron, L/Cpl Martyn Copey Copleston and Sgt Gary Gaz Dunning.
The story of the race for Mission Motorsport was full of the usual endurance race battles, which were dealt with in the same way as a professional race team. It was hard to remember that the car was being driven and prepared by soldiers, not race mechanics and racing drivers.
It looked like it was game over during the night when the Nissan, travelling at full racing speed, came around the first turn at Silverstone to be confronted by a broadside Marcos. With nowhere to go Jim took avoiding action but sustained heavy front-end damage. The team at Mission Motorsport dont understand the meaning of giving up so, with the help of RJN Motorsportand a fender from RJN boss Bob Nevilles own Nissan 370Zthe team set about fixing the car and in under two hours it was back out on track.
The Mission Motorsport spirit attracted people from far and wide throughout the Silverstone event: the garage was always full of people, interested to see the drivers and pit crew in action, and it was hard to get near the car on the grid as everyone came to wish the team luck and shake hands with the drivers.
After the race Jim Cameron reflected on what the team had achieved in just a few short weeks: It was an ambitious and crazy idea that was potty enough to work. I didnt think for a moment that we wouldnt get here (to the finish) as I know what high quality the guys are. The car was so strong, a really fantastic racing car that is engaging to drive, once you have tamed it!
All of the guys had to deliver all the way through the programme and they havent let me down once. Weve done two 24 hour races now and weve never had a DNF or even been summoned to Race Control. This is a very emotional moment for everyone involved with Mission Motorsport. We could feel the emotion building through the event as word spread about what we were doing here. I brought a team of 24 people here and I couldnt find many of them on the grid as they were obscured by a crowd of people wearing Mission Motorsport t-shirts and caps.
The Mission Motorsport Nissan 370Z was running inside the top ten overall before the Marcos incident, an incredible feat when you consider that the soldiers didnt even have racing licences until very recently. Single-amputee Jimmy Gillborn came to the programme very late and only had a month to get his licence.
I never expected Jimmy to be on the programme, explained Jim Cameron. He came along to a drifting day we did at Silverstone and I noticed he was left foot braking so I asked him where he had learnt to do that. His reply of I havent got a right foot did it for me!
The trusted job of taking the car to the chequered flag was given to Jimmy, who made sure it came back in (almost) one piece.
I felt really proud that the lads let me do the last hour of the race, he explained. It was really slippery but it was also a lot of fun. The team had to tell me to slow down a couple of times but I wasnt trying to break any records, I just wanted to do a good job for the team. I wasnt expecting the driver of the weekend award but I feel very honoured to receive it, as there are some great drivers here. It goes without saying that I will share it with my team mates.
Darren Cox, General Manager of Nissan in Europe added: This journey started as a conversation 18 months ago and initially attracted its doubters. Yet again we have proved the doubters wrong and more importantly started an adventure that has deeply touched all of the Nissan people involved.
This is just the beginning as Major Jim and I have plans that extend beyond motorsport, he continued. I would like to personally thank RJN Motorsport, Dunlop and the technicians from our European Technical Centre who all supported this crazy idea, way beyond the call of duty.
