Jaguar is once again a key sponsor of, and due to compete in,
the classic Mille Miglia revival event ‑ a stern test of drivers
and machinery taking in some of the most challenging and beautiful
roads in Italy. Fittingly, six officially‑entered examples of
Jaguar's most elegant models from the past will be competing, among
them a C‑ and D‑type as well as an XK120, supported by Jaguar Cars
and the Jaguar Heritage Trust.
Jaguar's participation in the 2011 Mille Miglia builds on a long
connection with the race. Back in 1950, the company fielded a
four‑strong team of XK120s, and a young Stirling Moss took the
wheel of a works car the following year.
"The Mille Miglia is one of the world's premier driving events,
and one where Jaguar has always felt very much at home," said
Adrian Hallmark, Global Brand Director, Jaguar Cars. 'I'm honoured
to be taking part this year and am looking forward to taking the
start in a C‑type with a mix of trepidation and excitement. I'm
sure it will be a very special moment,' he added.
In the 1950s heyday of the event, the XK120 and XK140s were a
regular sight and C‑types and even a D‑type also competed. In
fact, the very first disc brakes were fitted to the C‑Type raced by
Stirling Moss and Norman Dewis in the 1952 Mille Miglia. Italian
race officials were mystified by the new technology and demanded a
demonstration to prove it was a brake and not some illegal
addition.
The 2011 Mille Miglia takes place over a 1,000km course starting
from Brescia in northern Italy, mirroring the classic event which
became synonymous with legendary displays of driving skill and
bravery between 1927 and 1957.
The current retrospective format offers an ideal opportunity to
showcase some of Jaguar's most famous vehicles where they belong:
competing with other classic sports cars on the open road.
Supporting the cars from Jaguar's past are models firmly rooted in
the present with an example of the current XJ following each car,
providing comfortable and spacious transport for the engineers
charged with maintaining the Jaguar heritage vehicles.
This year's Mille Miglia starts on May 12 from Piazza della
Loggia, Brescia. The 375 cars (built between 1927 and 1957)
were selected from among 1,400 requests. They will cross the
picturesque historic centers of approximately 147 towns including
Modena, Bologna, Spoleto, Siena, Florence, and Rome, to then return
to Brescia on May 14.
Contacts:
Mille Miglia Press Office
Piazzale Flaminio, 19 00196 Rome, Italy +39 06 32296971
Email: press@1000miglia.eu
Image
