Back to Harewood Aug 2025

Back to Harewood

A year after our first JEC hillclimb at Harewood, we were heading back. This time, though, things were going to be a little different.

Andy and Hayley joined us again and we made another weekend of it, swapping York for Harrogate. We stayed for two nights, found some great restaurants and made some great memories together.

I already knew what to expect at Harewood and had gained more experience with Enzo since our last visit. The big difference was that Tracy and Hayley would be driving too.

Sharing the driving

Each couple had ten runs in their car, so Tracy and I had five each in Enzo, while Andy and Hayley did the same in their XFR.

Rather amusingly, Tracy's first run up Harewood was also going to be the first time she'd ever driven Enzo.

As we waited at the start, the marshal asked if she'd done a hillclimb before. When Tracy replied that she hadn't and added that she'd never driven the car either, his response was simply, "You're joking!"

Andy and Hayley were next in line. The marshal promptly told them that the lady in front had never driven the car or done a hillclimb before.

They laughed and replied: "We know. We're with them!"

There are probably easier ways to drive an F-Type for the first time, but Tracy was about to head straight up Harewood in one.

Finding her feet

I sat alongside Tracy for all five of her runs. Understandably, she took things carefully at first, getting used to both Enzo and the course.

It didn't take long for that to change. She became noticeably more comfortable with Enzo and was soon handling both the car and Harewood really well.

At one point, Andy and Hayley were watching as Enzo launched away from the start and headed quickly into the first corner. They were convinced I must be driving - it was Tracy.

For a first drive in Enzo, Tracy certainly hadn't chosen the easiest setting. Five runs at Harewood gave her the chance to get to know the car in a way neither of us had expected.

Hayley was already comfortable with the XFR, having driven it several times before, and she looked right at home taking it up Harewood. She did brilliantly on her five runs and thoroughly enjoyed her time on the hill.

When they weren't driving, Tracy and Hayley took on photo duties, capturing plenty of shots of Andy and me out on the course.

A different experience second time around

My own five runs felt different from the previous year. I knew the layout, knew what Enzo could do and had since experienced our first track day at Trac Môn Anglesey Circuit, so I was much more comfortable from the outset.

It was still great fun, although for me it couldn't quite match the adrenaline of Anglesey.

Andy and I also swapped passenger seats for a run, taking each other up the hill in our respective cars. It was a chance to experience Harewood from the other seat and see what both the car and driver were capable of.

I have to say, the old dinosaur was really impressive up the hillclimb. The XFR did pretty well too!

JEC once again put on a great day. Safety was paramount, with a full briefing before anyone headed out onto the climb and clear guidance throughout the event. Once things got underway, the dry conditions and relaxed atmosphere made for another really enjoyable day.

More fun shared

Afterwards, we headed back to Harrogate to enjoy the rest of our weekend.

Returning to Harewood had been every bit as enjoyable as we'd hoped, but for different reasons. I already knew how much fun Enzo could be there, while this year we both got our turn on the hill.