This Spa-winning Capri will race in the Gordon Spice Trophy

Rediscovered in New Zealand, the Capri is almost 100 per cent original. "I think they call it patina in a classic car," says Jordan, and it keeps all its features from the race in '78, including the filler vent used during refuelling. 

"There's some quite clever little bits on it, and it's easy to think ‘oh, it's 1978, what would they have been doing?’ But they were top touring car teams, so it's no real difference to now, they were trying to find gains here and there.

"The car won Spa in '78, then it did the British Touring Car Championship the following year, and then it was shipped to Macau and it was found in a container. Someone purchased it from New Zealand and rebuilt it, but didn't make it brand new – kept its history, so you actually look around some areas and it's a little bit tired and not in pristine condition."

Any perceived lack of polish is made up for by its originality, including the car's Neil Brown motor. "He verified that that was the original engine in that car in period," said Jordan. Even the radiator has a stamp confirming it was built in Coventry in 1978.

"I just like the character of it, and I'm not normally one that gets kind of gooey-eyed because of the history and stuff, but there's just something about it that I really like. The owner's actually got a couple of other Spa 24 Hour-winning cars, and Spa 24 is one of my favourite races, so the fact it [the car] won that – I've just got a soft spot for it." 

The car had a rebuilt engine and modern brakes, with easily sourced parts, but the fundamentals are already there, and the Capri's simple design lends itself well to durability. It even runs on the sustainable fuel all cars will be running with this year without any necessary modifications.

It also helps that Jordan knows the car inside out. Softer suspension makes it far more comfortable to race than say, a Lotus Cortina or a Mini, and the Capri's long wheelbase makes it a pussycat in bends. 

"They're quite a friendly car from a driver's point of view," Jordan explains. "This circuit is obviously very fast and flowing and bumpy, so you do want a slightly softer car that is working with you to give you confidence, so this is one of these places where it's very tricky to drive and to be fast so you've got to have a car that gives you confidence."

Jordan contrasts the experience of driving the Capri at the Goodwood Motor Circuit to 1275 Mini GT, a cornering specialist capable of embarrassing a host of more expensive machines in corners. That said, the Capri's easy-going nature is a better match for the track’s fast corners and punishing banks. 

"In terms of Group 1, I've only ever driven a 1275 Mini Clubman," says Jordan, "Which is like the complete opposite end of the scale. It's not very friendly to drive in the sense it's very stiff and quite nervous, so around this sort of track you have to be concentrating absolutely all of the time because it's very twitchy, whereas this [Capri] is very compliant and forgiving."

Forgiving enough to win the Gordon Spice Trophy? "Obviously, it would always be nice to be the top Capri", enthuses Jordan, but he admits his car will likely be outgunned on straights by the V8 Mustangs and Camaros.

"I always like to win, so I'd love to have a big V8 or a Camaro or something that can challenge for the race. But I've got is a little bit older and has done a lot of racing. It's a lot about winning, but it isn't all about winning. It's more fun when you win, but frankly, I'll just enjoy racing that car here.”

The 82nd Members' Meeting will take place on 12^th and 13^th April 2025 and tickets are now available for Members and Fellows of the GRRC.

If you're not already a Member or Fellow and you'd like to enjoy all the racing, demos, and other exciting content at the Members' Meeting, you'll need to join the GRRC. Click here for more information or to join the club.

Photography by Joe Harding.