Former British Touring Car champion to return to race circuit this weekend

Former British Touring Car champion John Cleland will return to the race circuit this month in the Sir Jackie Stewart Classic.

Cleland, who hails from Wishaw, will be driving his iconic Vauxhall Vectra at the Thirlestane Castle event on June 18 and 19, after his son discovered it online via Facebook Marketplace seven years ago.

Using the car, which Cleland originally drove in the 1997 season, he won the David Leslie Super Touring Trophy meeting at Knockhill and the historic Super Touring event at Silverstone recently.

Cleland was a professional race driver from the 1970s to the late 90s, winning the British Touring Car Championship and British Thundersaloon Championships twice, and the Scottish Hil Climb Championship once.

He now owns a Volvo dealership in Galashiels.

The Sir Jackie Stewart Classic is the biggest motoring event of its kind in Scotland this year, and is in aid of his Racing Against Dementia charity.

As well as appearances from the three-time FIA Formula 1 Drivers’ world champion Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, and a showcase of his incredible collection of memorabilia, exhilarating live action will be provided by the Scottish Motor Racing Club.

Cleland said: “The Sir Jackie Stewart Classic is guaranteed to be a huge spectacle.

“Where else could you see a Red Bull F1 hurtle up the speed track, an array of classic cars, as well as displays of supercars and battery cars of the future.

“There really is something for everyone, the like of which Scotland has never seen – and what’s more, it’s for a tremendous cause.

“In Scotland we have this tenacious attitude of ‘I will not be beaten’, it’s the reason why we have produced such prolific drivers from Jim Clark to Sir Jackie.

“I know Sir Jackie will pull out all the