Jaguar announces North American E‑Type Challenge and Vintage Race Series
Legends of Motorsports to Sanction 3‑Race Series
MAHWAH, N.J., June 24, 2011‑ The North American arm of Jaguar
Cars, in conjunction with Legends of Motorsports, has announced a
three race series for Jaguar vintage race cars including a points
championship specifically for those racing E‑Types.
The Jaguar North American Challenge Series, part of the year‑long
global celebration of the 50th anniversary of the introduction of
the E‑Type, will be a "race within a race". While all Jaguar race
cars will be eligible to compete for wins, only the E‑Types will be
eligible to accumulate points towards the E‑Type championship. The
E‑Type championship trophy, along with The Spirit of Jaguar and
Drivers Choice Awards, will be presented at the season finale at
Lime Rock Park in Connecticut, at the track's Historic Festival 29
Presented by Jaguar, on Labor Day weekend.
The Jaguar North America E‑Type Challenge Series will launch its
championship at The Kohler International Challenge with Brian
Redman at Road America July 14‑17 and continue over the course of
two additional events: The Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Mazda
Raceway Laguna Seca August 19‑21 and culminating with the crowning
of a challenge series champion at Lime Rock September
2‑5.
"Vintage racers and car collectors are among the most passionate
automotive enthusiasts in the world and Jaguar cars have always
stirred that kind of intense passion," said David Pryor, Brand Vice
President, Jaguar North America.
"With the Jaguar North America E‑Type Challenge Series we will
celebrate Jaguar's heritage of performance and design leadership
with fans and drivers alike, at a series of vintage racing events
across the country. It will be tremendous fun for all those who are
lucky enough to be there.
"The E‑Type was launched in 1961 and caused an immediate sensation
for its' breathtakingly good looks and affordability. One of the
true supercars of its time, it remained a smash hit for its 14 year
production run," he added. "Now, some 50 years later, the E‑Type
continues to create a sensation at historic racing events
throughout the world."
The Jaguar E‑Type, known in North America as the XK‑E, was
introduced to the world at the 1961 Geneva auto show. The E‑Type's
affordability coupled with its top speed of 150 mph, made it an
immediate sensation. Its beauty, however, prompted no less an
expert than Enzo Ferrari to call it "the most beautiful sports car
ever made."
Introduced to the North American media and public on March 15,
1961 at the New York International Auto Show, the Jaguar XK‑E was
an instant success, the first year's production having been sold
out within days.
While the E‑Type was never designed to be a race car, its' racing
roots were readily apparent. So much so that Enzo Ferrari was
spurred on to order the development of what many consider his
seminal sports car racer, the 250 GTO.
Then, exactly one month after their introduction at Geneva, two
virtually showroom stock E‑Types ‑ right down to the cigar lighter
‑ took to the track for the first time at Oulton Park in the UK and
won. E‑Types have been racing successfully ever since.
Much of the E‑Type's initial success came in North America where
Merle Brennan won an astonishing 39 out of 43 races in one of the
Sports Car Club of America's (SCCA) production car racing
class.
Greater success followed in the 1970s when two Series III V‑12
E‑Types fought it out for the SCCA's National Championship.
Together, the Huffaker Engineering and Group 44 cars accumulated a
total of 8 wins in 1974 and in 1975 the Bob Tullius piloted Group
44 car scored 7 more wins on its way to become the SCCA's B
Production National Champion.
This was not E‑Type's competition swansong however. In 1980, Fred
Baker drove a 1965 4.2 liter
6‑cylinder E‑Type to the SCCA's C Production National
Championship, soundly defeating the Paul Newman driven and factory
supported Datsun 280ZX.
Additional information regarding participant registration for the
Jaguar North American Challenge Series is available at
www.jaguarchallenge.com.
# # #
About Jaguar
From its beginning as a manufacturer of motorcycle sidecars in
1922, Jaguar Cars has grown to become one of the world's premier
manufacturers of luxury sedans and sports cars and with that, one
of the most recognized commercial brands. The company's vision is
simple: To produce beautiful fast cars that are desired the world
over. The company operates two manufacturing plants in the United
Kingdom and is fully engaged in environmental programs, community
work and brand awareness exercises such as motorsports.
Contact:
Wayne York Kung
Manager, Product Communications
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC
201.760.8591
wkung@jaguarlandrover.com
Stuart Schorr
Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC
201.760.8561
sschorr@jaguarlandrover.com