Years of TWR Celebrated at the Bicester Scramble: By Joy Richings

After the excess of the Christmas period, the January Bicester Scramble is the perfect kick-off to the new motoring year. Snow greeted Scramblers in January 2025 and this year it was damp with a brisk wind whipping across the airfield, but despite the risks of the weather the event had sold out months ago.

Two anniversaries were celebrated with Hanger 113 devoted to a display marking 50 years of Tom Walkinshaw Racing history, whilst outside on the Orchard Lawn a display of Group B World Rally Championship cars marked the 40th anniversary of the end of this era of rallying.

Nearly 50 race and road cars were brought together to celebrate TWRs history and what a collection of cars it was. Hanger 113 was the perfect setting, allowing for the cars to be positioned with plenty of space to enable visitors to enjoy each of the cars without the normal crowding experienced at a circuit-based event or an exhibition hall. The collection of Group C sports cars took centre stage with the purple Jaguar XJR-14 designed by Ross Brawn and John Piper greeting visitors as they entered the hanger. To the right was the recent Jaguar XJS-based Supercat restomod whilst to the left was a Ford Capri raced by Tom prior to TWR. From there you were met with the disqualified Group B Le Mans winning Jaguar XJ220 before moving onto the legendary Le Mans-winning race cars, the Volvo S40 and 850 touring cars, an original Jaguar XJS TWR, the 24 Hours of Spa-winning Mazda RX7, Vauxhall VXR8s, Renault Clio V6s, and a couple of Rover SD1s including one used by Tony Pond in rallying in 1985-86.

Several cars which had been at the Historic Rally Car Register Open Day at Gaydon the day before were also at the Scramble. The cars on display included a couple of MG Metro 6R4s, a Peugeot 205 T16, Ford RS2000, Audi Quattro S1 E2, Audi Sport Quattro and a Lada 2105 VFTS.

The beauty of attending a Scramble event is not knowing what might be around the next corner as you navigate around the buildings and small businesses. A highlight is always the workshop of the Kingsbury Racing Shop to see which vintage Bentleys are being worked upon but this year also saw the opening of their extended workshops which over the coming months will see the race preparation side of the business extended to cover other classic marques.

A visit to one of the three Scrambles per year is highly recommended, however, if you have not bought your tickets for the April event then you will have to wait until October as tickets for April sold out in 11 hours of going on sale.

Joy Richings 13/01/2026