Return to Legends for John Higgins
02 March 2005
Multiple Legends Champion John ‘Jon’ Higgins
has announced that he is to make a full time return to the Legends
Cars Championship for 2005.
Higgins retired from Legends cars at the end of 2003 having won back
to back British Championships, as well as adding the World Championship
and World Points Championship.
Higgins said “We had been having discussions for some time with
regards to possibly doing one or two rounds this year, but in light
of recent events with the loss of Big John Edwards it will be a tribute
to the big man to do a full season”
Big John made the move with John Jon to SCSA (nee Days of Thunder)
last year acting as his crew chief, as well as being very much involved
with the BurnettMotorsport.com Legends team.
Higgins added; “As much as Big John enjoyed Days of Thunder,
his heart was always with Legends cars, and I could tell by the endless
conversations we had, he longed to see me back on the Legends grid.
For sure it will be an emotional return and a difficult year, because
his departure has left a big hole in all of our lives, but I know that
as a team we can pull together and make this happen”.
Burnett Team Manager Stevie McCall said that he was grateful to
Phil Cooper, Legends Series coordinator, for joining with him in dedicating
this year’s rookie championship as the ‘Big John Edwards
Rookie Challenge’. “Big John put down the spanners and
made his Legends racing debut at the Knockhill Winter Raceday in October
last year” said Stevie, “and we had planned that he would
contest a few rookie rounds this season. So this seemed the best way
we could remember him. John would have appreciated that.”
Stevie also announced that John ‘Jon’ will be joined in
the team by 18 year old Alastair Topley. This will be Ali’s second
year with Burnett after finishing runner up in the rookie championship
last year. Ali said, “The loss of Big John affected so many people.
I don’t think it will totally hit us until we get to Oulton and
he’s not in the paddock. He was a great mentor for me. I needed
someone to talk to as I had so much to learn about car racing in my
first year, and Big John was always there, willing to listen and give
me his advice.”
Ali added, “I couldn’t ask for a better team mate than John ‘Jon’.
I can learn so much from him and I think we can make an awesome team. Hopefully
we can have lots of success this season in memory of Big John”.
Higgins will return in a BurnettMotorsport.com prepared car and will return to
his famed 'stars and stripes' liveried 34 Ford coupe carrying the #3 as raced
by Big John during his Legends debut. Topley will change this year from
his #27 Chevy Sedan to a 34 Ford Coupe running #2.
Futher information from Steve McCall, BurnettMotorsport.com, 01236 872440 , steve@mollrose.co.uk
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