Auto Futura's CAV-GT Hits the Pavement as the 2007 Motor Racing Legends Pace Car

For the second year in a row, the Auto Futura CAV GT took center stage as the official pace car for the Motor Racing Legends race. This annual race holds an especially prestigious allure as it immediately precedes the legendary Le Mans 24 hour endurance race.

Driving the CAV pace car was Ray Matlock, founder and CEO of Ray Matlock Limited. Considering the fact that he has two British Formula Atlantic championships under his belt, Ray definitely knows his way around a racetrack. He has also won an impressive nine Group C2 world championships.

With this kind of world-class experience behind the wheel, I’m sure the team at Auto Futura was anxious to hear what Ray thought of their CAV GT. They were, no doubt, thrilled to hear this glowing report from Ray, “As a regular competitor at Le Mans in many different cars, I was delighted to have the opportunity of driving the CAV GTR as the pace car at the 2007 Motor Racing Legends supporting the 24 hour event. The original GT40 was developed specifically for Le Mans so it was a perfect opportunity for the car to ‘stretch its legs’ on the circuit it was designed for, and it didn’t disappoint. The guys at CAV have done a superb job.”

Now, what about the rest of the Motor Racing Legends race after the CAV GT (www.cav.co.za) opened it in style? Fittingly, a Ford GT40 took first place, snatching victory from a Ferrari 250LM. Sounds a bit like history repeating itself, don’t you think?

In a bit of high-octane drama, the winning GT40 tried a gutsy maneuver on the next to the last lap but ended up plowing through the gravel trap and becoming airborne off a small sandbank. This racing red GT40 hit the ground hard enough to throw the doors open but roared back into the race, ultimately capturing the number one spot.

Adding to the mystique and excitement of the Legends race was the presence of the two Aston Martin DBR1s that took first and second place in the 1959 Le Mans race. This was actually the first time these two vintage racecars have been on the same track since that unforgettable 1-2 win in 1959.