P&K Thornton 2026 Race Calendar and Preparations

Following a major development in August 2025, with the installation of a new engine in our 1961 Jaguar Race E-Type, the latter half of the season marked a turning point for our team at P&K Thornton Racing. The new package quickly proved its potential, contributing to strong results and class championship success! As we head into 2026, we will build on that momentum with our most ambitious calendar to date. We will take part in nine race events throughout the 2026 season, with a strong focus on endurance races. Our two main drivers for these events are Ciprian Nistorica, our Managing Director at P&K Thornton Restorations, and the legendary classic race driver, Grant Williams, who is well-known for his spirited racing at the Goodwood Revival.

After we completed some mechanical upgrades and installed our new engine in August last year, we had roaring success at the Spa Six Hours race, finishing in 35th position overall and 1st in our class for the second year in a row. Additionally, we went on to become class 2B champions at the MRL Silverstone Pall Mall Cup. We attended an awards ceremony at the RAC Pall Mall in London at the start of January. Following on from our success in 2025, we aim to set new record times and redefine what’s possible on the track with our 1961 Jaguar E-Type. We are currently preparing for our first race of the 2026 race season at the 83rd Goodwood Members’ Meeting on the 18th/19th of April.

The Goodwood Members’ Meeting is an exclusive, invite-only event at the historic Goodwood Motor Circuit in England. The meetings were revived in 2014 after they originally ended in 1966, after 71 meetings. Ciprian Nistorica will be racing our 1961 Jaguar E-Type Coupe in the Protheroe Cup, a 45 minute two-driver race, alongside other prestigious Pre 63 E-Types. We are looking forward to returning to the Goodwood Members’ Meeting after competing in the 82nd race last year.

Our next racing adventure will be at the Spa Summer Classic, taking place at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps between the 24th and the 26th of April. We will be taking part in Spa’s 3-hour endurance race. This year will mark the 17th edition of the race and the first year our team at P&K Thornton will be taking part. This meeting is dedicated to historic vehicles pre-76 touring and GT cars.

After the Spa Summer Classic, we will be returning to the Donington Historic Festival, taking place between the 2nd and 3rd of May, where we will compete in the Royal Automobile Club 2-Hour Pall Mall Cup. This endurance race is open to pre-66 GT and touring cars, as well as pre 1961 sports racers, and celebrates the spirit of 1960s long-distance competition. Named after the Club’s London headquarters, the series brings together a diverse grid of historic machinery and a vibrant paddock atmosphere.

Our 2026 racing season will continue at the GT&SCC Silverstone International Trophy, taking place on the 30th of May. We will be participating in the 2-hour endurance race at Silverstone in the PRE 63 GT class. Additionally, during the summer, we will be participating in the Anglesey 2-Hour GT&SCC race. Taking place at the Anglesey Circuit on the Welsh coast, the event, founded in 2007, offers a technically challenging course for our drivers. This will be the first time the P&K Thornton team will be competing at this historic event, and with our new engine, we hope for great results during the GT&SCC race.

We have a wide variety of race events lined up for the Autumn months, as we will be taking part in the Castle Combe on the 12th of September, competing in the 2-Hour GT&SCC race. Featuring pre-66 GT and pre-63 sports racing car, the race combines endurance strategy with close, competitive racing on one of the UK’s fastest circuits. On the 19th of September, we return to the iconic Goodwood Revival. This event is renowned for its authentic celebration of 1940s-1960s motorsport, with period-correct cars, dress, and atmosphere.

Towards the end of the year, we will be returning to two of the main highlights of the race season. We are returning to the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps to compete in the Spa Six Hours Race between the 25th and 27th of September. This long-distance endurance race has a spectacular atmosphere, and we are looking forward to returning in the 2026 race season. We're committed to pushing performance even further, and our standards have never been higher after winning 1st in our class 2 years in a row.

Our season concludes at the Silverstone Circuit on the 17th-18th of October, where we will compete in both the Royal Automobile Club Pall Mall Cup and the pre-63 race. The Pall Mall Cup’s endurance format brings together a diverse grid of pre-66 GT and touring cars alongside earlier sports racers, placing emphasis on consistency, pit strategy and teamwork. In contrast, the pre-63 race provides a more traditional sprint contest, offering close, competitive racing to round off the season.

We will keep you informed throughout the racing season with regular updates on our progress, achievements, and successes. Stay tuned for exciting highlights, behind-the-scenes insights, and key moments as we continue our racing journey! You can stay connected by signing up to our monthly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel and reading the updates page on our website.

Our team have a vast wealth of experience in preparing and supporting race-prepared classic Jaguars, from the sleek E-Type to the legendary XK. With a wide range of services to support your racing endeavours, including classic car race preparation, track support, race engineering and of course classic car transportation and logistics. If you are interested in booking our racing services, please get in contact. Call us on 0115 9262266 or email us at info@thorntonrestorations.com.

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