THE race is on for fundraisers to collect the remaining £50,000 to ensure the legacy of a Borders motorsport driver lives on.

Formula One legend Sir Jackie Stewart launched eight-week fundraising campaign for a new Jim Clark Museum on Friday, February 24, with has since raised over £250,000 of the £300,000 target.

So far, £84,000 has been collected from public pledges via Crowdfunder.co.uk, with £100,000 in private donations direct to the trust and a further £75,000 in grants from charitable trusts and foundations.

As the deadline looms on Friday, April 21, Jim Clark Trust organisers have urged motorsport fans to donate as soon as possible to help ensure the legacy of the racing driver is secured for years to come.

In the past week alone, support has poured in from around the world as Jim Clark supporters commemorated the anniversary of his tragic accident at Hockenheim on April 7. 

This included a huge boost in the form of a £10,000 donation from another motorsport treasure trove, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, Alabama, USA.

Doug Niven, cousin of Jim Clark and a Family Trustee, said: “It's been wonderful to see the campaign attract the support of generous individuals, companies and the general public.

"Our aim is a new museum of national and international interest based around heritage and education to celebrate perhaps the most naturally gifted racing driver of all time with a fitting museum showcasing the cars in which he raced to inspire future generations.

"However, we still need the support of motorsport fans everywhere to help us over the finishing line. Don’t delay, donate today, is the message as we enter the home straight.

"Every penny and pound counts, if we are successful in raising £300,000 we can finally get started on the new building and potentially expand the current plans."

The project is supported by Scottish Borders Council, Heritage Lottery Fund as well as the Trust’s Honorary President Sir Jackie Stewart OBE and Patrons including Dario Franchitti MBE, David Coulthard MBE, Allan McNish, Lord March and Clive Chapman.

The campaign has already received significant donations from Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, Classic Team Lotus, John Clark OBE, Morris Leslie and Boyd Tunnock CBE.

Wider support has come from the community of Duns in Scotland, corporate donations, car clubs, motorsport teams and champion drivers such as John Cleland and Louise Aitken-Walker MBE.

Donations can be made at: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/jim-clark-museum.