The Edinburgh Reporter June 2022

23
Chloe to race at
the Classic
Phil Wilkinson
By OLIVIA THOMAS
THE BIGGEST motoring event in
Scotland will take place on 18-19
June at Thirlestane Castle when
there will be live motorsport,
memorabilia on display and a
classic car show.
Chloe Grant, who began racing
at the age of seven, tested the sprint
track in her Graham Brunton
prepared F4 car which will race on
the castle's refurbished driveway.
There will be more than 50
contemporary classic and vintage
cars including Formula 1 cars
using the track over the weekend.
Sir Jackie Stewart will also do a
parade on the driveway in the car
which led him to his first Formula
1 world championship in 1969,
giving visitors the chance to watch
him live and snap a picture of the
Flying Scot, one of Scotland’s top
sporting icons.
The event is being held in aid of
Race Against Dementia, a global
charity set up by Sir Jackie Stewart
to raise funds for research into a
cure for dementia, a disease which
globally impacts 50 million people
including his beloved wife, Helen.
Chloe Grant said: “The Sir Jackie
Stewart Classic is a great
opportunity to showcase Scottish
motorsports and get up close and
personal with some of the greatest
cars ever made. I am really proud
to be joining the sprint in such an
amazing location and all for such
a great cause.”
The front lawn of the Castle will
host memorabilia from Sir Jackie
Stewart OBE’s prestigious career
including a stunning display of
cars driven throughout his career
including his Formula 1 cars.
Elsewhere, the Borders Vintage
Automobile Club will celebrate its
50th anniversary by bringing more
than 1,200 vintage and classic cars.
The event will showcase the best
of Scotland’s culture, from local
produce in the food and retail
village, to arts and crafts, as well as
activities for children of all ages
including kart simulators, rides,
games, a bouncy castle, bungee
trampolines and more.
Tickets start at £20 for adults
and £15 for concessions, with kids
under 12 able to attend for free.
Find out more or book tickets at:
www.sirjackiestewartclassic.com
Hearts must learn from their super-sub hoodoo
By JAMIE MCINTOSH
TWO RANGERS substitutes
scored goals leading to Hearts
missing out on Scottish Cup
glory at Hampden. It was
ironic, as in spite of a successful
season, it hammered home
just how far the team has to go
to close the gap with
Scotland’s two top teams.
Hearts huffed and puffed for
the first 45 minutes and
succeeded in nullifying the
Europa League finalists and
had Ellis Simms buried the
golden opportunity that
fell his way after just ten
minutes, then the outcome
might have been a completely
different one.
Ryan Jack and Scott Wright
came off the bench to see
Rangers end an emotional
week on a high. The Scottish
pair, along with fellow outfield
substitutes Glen Kamara and
Fashion Sakala highlight the
quality that the Old Firm sides
have at their disposal.
It was the same story when
Hearts visited Celtic Park last
month. The men in maroon
were playing well until Celtic
brought on Georgios
Giakoumakis, Liel Abada, Reo
Hatate, Tom Rogic and James
Forrest, who took the game
away from the visitors.
With Hearts’ third-place
finish guaranteeing groupstage
European football of
some form until December,
Hearts must begin next season
with a bigger squad to help
cope with the hectic Thursday-
Sunday fixture schedule.
For that third-place finish
they will receive a substantial
financial reward. With any
luck, former Hearts man,
Aaron Hickey will finalise a
move from Bologna for
£15-20 million, of which,
Hearts are entitled to a sell
on clause which is reported
to be at least 10%.
The excellent recruitment
Hearts have made in the last
two years means they will be
recruiting from a position of
strength. With the money
earned from their efforts this
season, sporting director Joe
Savage and manager Robbie
Neilson will hope to find the
right additions.
John Souttar pulled on the
maroon jersey for the last time
at Hampden and was arguably
Hearts’ best player on the day.
Ball-playing centre backs are
very difficult to find in the
modern-day era, which is why
Souttar will be difficult for
Hearts to replace. Peter Haring
is yet to agree a new contract
at Tynecastle.
Hearts have had a great
season. They failed to cap it off
with silverware, but the
transformation at the club in
the last 12 months shows they
are on the right track.