12th March: Today marks the launch of Jaguar Heritage
Racing, a programme which will see Jaguar return to the competitive
arena through the vibrant world of historic motorsport. For the
first time since 1956, works-supported C- and D-types will race
again at venues including Goodwood and the Nürburgring, while
the season-long programme will also see Jaguar Heritage Racing
support numerous additional events on the historic motoring
calendar. These include the Mille Miglia, the Pebble Beach Concours
d'Elegance, and each round of the E-type challenge in the UK - a
series which in 2011 demonstrated the depth of global interest in
historic motorsport, and in Jaguar's participation
specifically.
As Jaguar embarks on the most extensive new product development
cycle in its history, it is the perfect time to invest in and
celebrate its heritage. Says Jaguar Global Brand Director, Adrian
Hallmark: "Jaguar is proud of its heritage, and it is a heritage
that is both alive and ever evolving.
"Advanced engineering is part of our heritage - 2012 sees the
60th anniversary of Jaguar's development of the disc brake for
automotive use, and ten years since the marque introduced
aerospace-inspired aluminium monocoque technology to its modern
range, technology today used on both the XJ and XK. Forward looking
design is part of our heritage - the poised intent of the C-X16
concept pushes the boundaries today just as much as the SS Jaguar
100 did in 1935. And racing is very much part of our heritage also
- which is why we have launched the Jaguar Heritage Racing
programme that this year will see Jaguar C- and D-types in
competitive action."
The first event at which Jaguar Heritage Racing will be present
is the 2012 Mille Miglia retrospective in May. This year's running
of the Mille Miglia has particular significance for Jaguar as it
marks 60 years since Sir Stirling Moss and Norman Dewis (then
Jaguar's chief development driver) took the start in the first
disc-brake equipped C-type. Later that same year Sir Stirling Moss
recorded the first win for a disc-braked car when he drove another
C-type to victory at Reims, paving the way for the wide-scale use
of the technology that we all take for granted today.
In August, the Jaguar Heritage Racing team will then be in
competitive action at the AVD Nürburgring Oldtimer Grand Prix.
Often referred to as the 'green hell', the Nürburgring
Nordschleife is regarded as one of the toughest tracks in the
world, which is why Jaguar has a dedicated test facility located
there running a rigorous durability and performance programme for
its modern range.
Says Jaguar Land Rover Global Head of Communications, Frank
Klaas: "The Nürburgring Nordschleife presents a unique
automotive challenge that Jaguar's development team continually
subject our current and future models to in order to perfect their
attributes of quality, durability and dynamic precision. To also
see historic works Jaguars in competitive action at the
Nürburgring this year will be fascinating."
From Germany, the team will then head back to British shores for
the Goodwood Revival in September. The undisputed jewel in the
crown of the historic motor racing calendar, the Revival provides a
dazzling backdrop of nostalgia for an equally dazzling array of
competitive action in which the Jaguar Heritage Racing C- and
D-type will play their part.
The Jaguar Heritage Racing programme is operated and managed by
JD Classics, based in Maldon, Essex. An established player in the
historic motorsport world, JD Classics will prepare both the C- and
D-type Jaguars which will take to the track, and have
responsibility for all race-day activities. Derek Hood, managing
director, JD Classics, said: "Jaguars have been at the heart of our
business for many years, and the opportunity to work with Jaguar
Heritage Racing and ensure that the company is as well represented
in historic motorsport today as it was when those same models
competed in period is one we were only too happy to accept."
The Jaguar Heritage Racing programme will supplement the
activities of Jaguar Heritage - a charitable trust and custodians
of an extensive collection of priceless models from Jaguar's past,
including the unique XJ13 prototype. Its cars are not campaigned
competitively on-track, but will continue to be exhibited - and
demonstrated - at a huge number of events during 2012.
Editor's notes
Throughout the season the activities of the Jaguar Heritage
Racing programme will be broadcast around the world via its global
media partner, CNN - see separate release to follow.
Jaguar Heritage Racing will be participating in the
following key events in 2012:
- Mille Miglia (Italy): 17-20 May
- Nürburgring AVD Oldtimer Grand prix: 10-12 August
- Goodwood Revival: 14-16 September
Key Jaguar motorsport victories:
- Jaguar secured the first win for a disc-braked car with the
C-type (XKC 005) in 1952. Sir Stirling Moss recorded the win at
Reims in a sports car race supporting the French Grand Prix.
- Jaguar has won Le Mans seven times:
Year |
Model |
Race no |
Drivers |
Result |
Notes (distance and average speeds
rounded off to nearest whole figure) |
1951 |
C-type |
20 |
Peter Walker, Peter Whitehead |
1st |
First Jaguar win; 2244 miles, 93
mph |
1953 |
C-type |
18 |
Tony Rolt, Duncan Hamilton |
1st |
Second Jaguar win; 2540 miles, 106
mph |
1955 |
D-type |
6 |
Mike Hawthorn, Ivor Bueb |
1st |
Third Jaguar win; 2570 miles, 107
mph |
1956 |
D-type |
4 |
Ron Flockhart, Ninian Sanderson |
1st |
Ecurie Ecosse entry; fourth
Jaguar win; 2507 miles, 104 mph |
1957 |
D-type |
3 |
Ron Flockhart, Ivor Bueb |
1st |
Ecurie Ecosse entry; fifth
Jaguar win; 2732 miles, 114 mph |
1988 |
XJR-9LM |
2 |
Jan Lammers, Johnny Dumfries, Andy
Wallace |
1st |
TWR Jaguar Sport entry; sixth Jaguar
win; 394 laps, 3313 miles, 138 mph |
1990 |
XJR-12 |
3 |
John Nielsen, Price Cobb, Martin
Brundle |
1st |
TWR Jaguar Sport entry; seventh Jaguar
win; 359 laps, 3034 miles, 127 mph |
- Jaguar won the European Touring Car drivers' championship with
Tom Walkinshaw in 1984 (TWR XJ-S)
- Jaguar were manufacturers' champion in the World Sports Car
Championship in: 1987, 1988, 1991
Other key victories include:
- 1950 Tourist Trophy, Dundrod - XK 120 - 1st - Stirling
Moss
- 1951 Tourist Trophy, Dundrod - C-type - 1st - Stirling
Moss
- 1953 Reims 12-hour sports car race - C-type - 1st - Stirling
Moss and Peter Whitehead
- 1954 Reims 12-hour sports car race - D-type - 1st
- Peter Whitehead and Ken Wharton
- 1955 Sebring 12-hour race, USA - D-type - 1st - Mike Hawthorn
and Peter Walters
- 1956 Reims 12-hour sports car race - D-type - 1st
- Duncan Hamilton and Ivor Bueb
- 1988 Daytona 24- hour race, USA - XJR-9D - 1st - Brundle,
Boesel, Nielsen and Lammers
- 1990 Daytona 24- hour race, USA - XJR-12D - 1st -
Jones, Lammers and Wallace
Jaguar today:
Jaguar's current range comprises the XF, XF Sportbrake, XJ and XK
models. Jaguar Land Rover is investing to deliver 40 product
initiatives for the two brands over the next five years. In recent
years, Jaguar has captured the public's imagination with two
spectacular design and technology concept vehicles, the C-X75
supercar and the C-X16 production concept sports car. Full details
of the Jaguar range can be found at: www.jaguar.com
For further information please contact: