Knockhill Circuit Hosts Inaugural Night Races with Local Duo Dominating
In a groundbreaking event, Knockhill Circuit recently inaugurated its first night race competition, marking a significant milestone for the venue. This historical occasion, held last weekend, welcomed the Classic Sports Car Club back to Scotland for the first time since 2021. The highlight of the evening was the Modern night race, where local favorites Duncan Vincent and Adam Kindness clinched a remarkable victory, skillfully navigating the wet conditions and demonstrating their profound familiarity with the circuit.
The duo, well-known at the 1.3-mile Knockhill track, impressively adapted to night racing despite having no prior experience under the floodlights. Adam Kindness initially secured pole position but briefly conceded the lead to the Cantillon siblings' Caterham, who were later assessed a penalty for an early start. Vincent then took over during the mandatory pitstop, progressively closing the gap. A late safety car intervention led to a dramatic restart, culminating in Kindness and Vincent's decisive win. Their Mini Cooper, after a strategic maneuver at Duffus Dip with ten minutes remaining, crossed the finish line comfortably ahead, with Adam Brown's Honda Integra securing second place in the final moments.
The Classic night race also delivered thrilling action, with Tony and Aston Blake's TVR Tuscan emerging victorious. They skillfully overcame their rivals, Stewart Robb Sr and Jr in their Morgan +8, leveraging a well-timed safety car period for their pitstop. The race concluded under caution, sealing the Blakes' win despite their car operating without fourth gear.
Earlier in the day, the Jaguar Championship presented two engaging races. Brothers Tom and Jack Robinson split the wins. Tom, starting from pole in his XJ6, built a five-second lead. Jack, after starting from the back due to a yellow-flag infringement in qualifying, made an impressive charge to third in his XK8. In the second race, Jack quickly took the lead from polesitter Ieuan Spooner and then battled his brother, ultimately securing victory and family bragging rights with the superior agility of his XK8.
Jeremy Adams, driving a Caterham, dominated the 40-minute Interseries endurance race, maintaining a lead throughout and finishing over 30 seconds ahead of Russell Paterson's Morgan. Paterson, after an initial challenge, settled for second, while Mike and Tom Cantillon secured the final podium spot by a tenth of a second over Wayne Armsden's MK Cup. Stewart Robb achieved a double victory in the Morgan Challenge, besting Paterson in both encounters. John Kinmond also put on a commanding performance in the Scottish Classic Sports & Saloon races, winning both events in his iconic Rover SD1 V8. Mark Campbell triumphed in the combined Swinging Sixties and Classic K race in his Triumph TR5, and David Robb steered his Audi TT to victory in the Tin Tops and Turbo Tin Tops enduro.
The inaugural night racing event at Knockhill Circuit proved to be a resounding success, offering a blend of historic and modern motorsport action under both daylight and floodlit conditions. The event celebrated local talent and provided memorable performances across multiple racing categories, reaffirming Knockhill's status as a premier racing destination.