• Full 34-car entry to undertake two-lap parade at ‘home’ of Legends
• McCosh’s No.69 car to lead tribute parade on Sunday, 6th June
• Andrew Donald has honour of driving late racer’s immaculate car
Brands Hatch Indy Circuit, the spiritual home of the Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres, will host a poignant tribute to late racing driver Gerard McCosh on Sunday, 6th June, during the second event of the category’s 2021 season.
Organised and arranged by championship owner Phil Cooper, plans are in place for a special two-lap parade at the end of the lunchbreak, ahead of the first Legends Cars race of the afternoon on day two of the race meeting, by the full 34-car entry.
Most notably, and very emotionally for all involved, Gerard’s No.69 car – of course featuring his trusty mascot passenger, Napoleon the cuddly toy pig – will lead the train of Legends Cars around the 1.2-mile Indy Circuit.
As the drivers, teams, championship personnel and trackside marshals pay their respects to a great friend who was taken far too soon, Gerard’s loving partner Jane Harley and his two daughters Millie and Claudia will be in attendance.
“We wanted to be able to do something special to mark Gerard’s passing, to pay our respects to him and to honour and celebrate a wonderful life very well lived”, said championship owner Cooper, “It’s going to be unbelievably emotional, and I doubt there will be a dry eye in the house when everyone sees Gerard’s car lead the parade – with Napoleon onboard as he always was.
“It will be an incredible sight and I’m so, so pleased Gerard’s partner Jane and Millie and Claudia will be with us as we give Gerard the send-off he deserves. He was a wonderful competitor, a fantastic friend and an absolute gentleman. They broke the mould when they made Gerard McCosh, we’re all devastated he’s no longer with us but I know he’ll be there with us in spirit at Brands Hatch.”
Gerard’s fellow Scotsman and good friend Andrew Donald, who heads-up the Scottish Legends Cars at Knockhill, will have the great honour of being entrusted to get behind the wheel of the No.69 car and lead, what is undoubtedly going to be, a very poignant parade. Andrew took care of the car at race meetings for Gerard and also used to accompany him when travelling south to race in England.
Following Gerard’s passing in February, which came after a long battle with cancer, Legends Cars owner Phil Cooper moved to rename the round-by-round Masters Cup accolade in his honour – the Gerard McCosh Napoleon Award. He also retired No.69 from use in the championship as another mark of respect for a truly legendary character.
In addition to the parade at next month’s Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres race meeting at Brands Hatch, there will also be a big fundraising effort on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of Gerard.
