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John Surtees and Ginetta cars teamed up yesterday to set a world first - the motorsport great became the first person to in the world to drive a sports car through the channel tunnel for the annual Burlington Beaujolais Run.
The 1964 Formula 1 winner, who is still the only person to have claimed world records on both 2 and 4 wheels, drove an electric powered Ginetta G50 EV through the 31-mile tunnel.
"You certainly wouldn't want to be subject to any claustrophobic feelings down there.The tunnel is very small in parts," added the 75-year-old after eventually resurfacing in Coquelles, France. Adding: "The drive was unique. It was the first time for me, and the first time it's actually been carried out. To come through in an electric car was another first.'
Lawrence Tomlinson, Chairman of the Leeds based car manufacturer said: "I am honoured that an icon of John's stature is setting this world first with Ginetta. Ginetta is very proud to have a fully working electric sports car prototype, and it seems fitting that the Ginetta G50EV has headed into the history books with a motorsport legend such as John at its wheel."
Eurotunnel chief executive, Jacques Gounon, highlighted the service as a more environmentally-conscious way to travel. He said: 'This occasion demonstrates that low carbon transport on both road and rail is available now. This friendly competition between the Eurotunnel trains and the Ginetta G50EV has once again shown how easy the Channel crossing now is.
'I am also pleased that, even though John is the first man to drive an electric sports car through the Channel Tunnel, the Shuttle Service's unbeatable strengths of speed, ease and reliability ensured that the cars that travelled by Shuttle got to France faster!
'But the really important point is that they all crossed the Channel using power from low carbon sources.'
