The Jaguar Heritage Challenge Series will be contested across five weekends at some of the best drivers’ circuits in the UK and Europe
The new race series, run in partnership with the Historic Sports Car Club, is open to pre-‘66 Jaguar models, ranging from MkI and MkII saloons to C-type, D-type and early E-type cars
The Jaguar Heritage Challenge marks the first time such a varied group of historic Jaguar competition cars will be assembled in one race series
Entrants and drivers can visit a dedicated web page for the new series at http://www.hscc.org.uk/jaguar-heritage-challenge for full details and information on how to enter
Jaguar and the Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC) have today announced further details of the Jaguar Heritage Challenge race series, including event dates, classes and eligible cars.
Entrants and drivers can visit http://www.hscc.org.uk/jaguar-heritage-challenge – a new web page dedicated to the series for further information and to apply for an entry.
This exciting new racing championship is open to pre-‘66 Jaguar models and will be split in to five classes: Jaguar XK-series cars; pre-‘66 saloon models, C-type, D-type and XKSS, and two separate E-type classes. The Heritage Challenge marks the first time such a diverse group of historic competition Jaguars will be assembled as part of a race series.
Contested across five race weekends in 2015, beginning on the 2nd May and ending on the 31st August, the Heritage Challenge will be taking in some of the best drivers’ circuits in Europe at blue riband historic racing meetings. The full race calendar is as follows:
2nd– 4thMay: Donington Historic Festival
16th– 17thMay: Silverstone International (GP Circuit)
11th– 12thJuly: Brands Hatch Super Prix (GP Circuit)
7th– 9thAugust: Nürburgring Oldtimer Grand Prix
29th– 31stAugust: Oulton Park Gold Cup
The Heritage Challenge Series builds on the success of the E-type Challenge that ran for a number of seasons. It also comes at a time when Jaguar Heritage is busier than ever, with the launch of the recreation Lightweight E-type, the Heritage Driving Experience and the growing Heritage parts and restoration business. Jaguar Heritage is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Operations Division.
Derek Weale, Jaguar Land Rover Heritage Business Director, said: “We are delighted that our new Heritage Race series will take place at some of the best drivers’ circuits in Europe and at world-famous historic race meetings. The spectacle of seeing a race dedicated to these classic Jaguars, on these circuits and at these events is going to be a sight to savour and behold.”
Graham White, CEO of the HSCC, said: “A single-marque racing series like the Jaguar Heritage Challenge is a great addition to our racing calendar and I can’t wait to see some of the finest racing Jaguars of the past lining up on the grid at Donington in May.”
Cars International showcased their new appointment as ‘official agents’ for Williams Heritage over the weekend at the first London Classic Car Show.
The show based at London’s Excel attracted over 25,000 visitors in it’s inaugural year, running alongside the London Boat Show. Visitors to the Williams Heritage stand included celebrities, famous drivers and collectors, all showing interest in the Williams FW cars on display and available for purchase.
As official agents for Williams Heritage, Cars International will work in conjunction with Jonathan Williams who heads up the Williams Heritage department at Grove and alongside Dickie Stanford the general manager of this new division of Williams who oversees the maintenance and public demonstration of the team's historic Formula One cars.
Cars International are offering for sale a small selection of historically important Cars from the Williams Grand Prix Collection in Oxfordshire, the largest private collection of Formula One cars in the world.
On display at The London Classic Car show and among the first Williams Formula One cars released for sale include - 2003 FW25, 1981 FW07C and iconic 1993 Williams FW15C.
The 2003 FW25 on show at Excel is powered by a BMW V10 and driven by Juan Pablo Montoya in 12 of 16 races in 2003, it scored a total of 4 wins, 4 pole positions and 4 fastest laps.
The 1981 Cosworth DFV powered FW07C chassis no 12, this car was driven by Carlos Reutemann to 2 wins, 2 seconds and a pole position in the 1981 FIA Formula One World Championship helping Williams to secure the 1981 Constructors’ championship.
Finally the stunning Williams FW15C chassis no 2 is powered by the Renault V10 and was driven by Damon Hill in 14 races of 16 in the 1993 Formula One World Championship to 3 wins, (including his first in F1) four podium positions and 2 pole positions. The FW15C totally dominated both the 1993 constructors and drivers championships with a total of 10 wins, 15 pole positions and 10 fastest laps and was voted racing car of the 1993 by Autosport.
Jonathan Williams leading the Williams Heritage division commented:
“Williams Heritage is a business we would like to see proactively developed and operated and I am delighted to build it in partnership with Cars International. We have been working closely with Paul for over sixteen years, and by utilising their skills and experience to work on our Formula One Heritage collection enables Williams to concentrate on our core business of campaigning for a World Championship.”
“Williams has a rich Heritage, and whilst the Williams Collection will remain largely intact, we do have a number of opportunities for customers to purchase some complete historically important Formula One cars directly from the factory. Chassis no 17, FW07C could be prepared ready to race for a classic competitor offering them a highly original car with some remarkable history.”
“Whatever your Formula One passion, be it for investment, a particular era 70’s, 80’s or 90’s or a famous driver you followed, there will be numerous opportunities to own and run an early or late model Formula One car.”
Tim Preston Director of Cars International commented
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to be reacquainted with some of the cars that my team and I helped engineer and build in period. It will be fun to relive our moments of glory from previous Formula One successes and perhaps recreate new ones, if the new owners want to take to the driving seat.”
Organisers of the London Classic Car show confirmed dates for next years show which will be fifty percent bigger as 18-21 February 2016.
World’s most iconic vehicle drawn on huge 1km scale on the same beach used to sketch the original design 68 years ago: http://youtu.be/vjZa9LCIgMo
Heritage, Adventure and Autobiography Limited Edition Defenders announced
Solihull production of current Defender due to end in December 2015
Land Rover has gone back to the place where it all began to start a year-long celebration of the iconic Defender. A unique 1km sand drawing at Red Wharf Bay in Anglesey, UK, marks the launch of three exclusive limited edition models and the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the Defender story.
As UK production of the current Defender enters its final phase, Land Rover will use 2015 to celebrate its global automotive icon.
Land Rover Vehicle Line Director Nick Rogers explains the significance of recreating one of the world’s most iconic vehicles: “Passion and enthusiasm surround everything we do with Defender, and that will never change. With a history stretching back 68 years, this is a Land Rover that has thrived for decades on its unquestionable capability and iconic shape. I now have the honour of being one of the many enthusiasts at Land Rover committed to creating a fitting successor to the legendary Defender.”
To mark the announcement Land Rover has created the largest sand drawing ever produced in the UK. A Defender outline measuring a staggering 1km across was drawn on the beach at Red Wharf Bay in Anglesey using a fleet of six Land Rovers. The unique image is a tribute to the moment in 1947 when the engineering director of Rover, Maurice Wilks, first sketched the shape for the original Land Rover in the sand of Red Wharf Bay and proposed the idea to his brother Spencer, Rover’s managing director.
“My father met his brother on the beach at Red Wharf Bay and made a drawing in the sand of how he thought the Land Rover could be made,” said Stephen Wilks, son of Maurice. “That was the start of it all, the conception of Land Rover.”
The Wilks family owned land on the Welsh island and Maurice wanted a versatile vehicle that could double as a light tractor and off-roader. His forward-thinking design was christened the ‘Land Rover’, the outline of which we now recognise as the Defender.
Creating the giant piece of temporary artwork at Red Wharf Bay required a fleet of six Land Rovers, each towing an agricultural 12-foot harrow to draw the unmistakable outline of the Defender in the sand. The vehicles chosen for the race against the Anglesey tides chart the evolution of the Defender from its introduction in 1948 to the present day.
A Land Rover Series I, II and III were joined on the beach by a Ninety from the Eighties, a Defender 90 Hard Top and a Defender 110 Station Wagon. The immaculate Series II once belonged to the Wilks family and in memory of the moment originally enacted by their fathers, cousins Stephen and Nick Wilks, the sons of Maurice and Spencer Wilks respectively, were on hand to take part. They helped to draw the continuous 4.52km line – the length of 1,118 Defender 90 Station Wagons – into the sand with just minutes to spare before it was erased by the incoming tide.
The event witnessed the debut of the Defender Celebration Series; three exciting new limited edition models which each celebrate a different element of Defender’s unique history. The Heritage, Adventure and Autobiography Editions are all powered by Land Rover’s proven 2.2-litre diesel engine and are available to order now.
Land Rover is also investigating the possibility of maintaining production of the current Defender at an overseas production facility, after the close of UK manufacturing. Any continuation would see low volume production maintained for sale outside the EU.
Limited Edition Defenders
The three hotly anticipated limited edition Defender models celebrate a different element of the vehicle’s versatile character.
“We wanted to mark the end of Defender production at Solihull with a special edition but coming up with a single identity was impossible, so we developed three very different interpretations of the Defender to reflect its strength and breadth of character,” said Nick Rogers. “Whether our customers want to celebrate Land Rover’s unrivalled off-road heritage, demand the ultimate in terms of design and performance or have a genuine thirst for adventure, there will be a limited edition Defender that will be fit for purpose.”
The exclusive Autobiography Edition promises more performance, luxury and comfort than ever before thanks to its comprehensive equipment list, unique duo-tone paintwork, full Windsor leather upholstery and a power upgrade from 122PS to 150PS. Exclusivity comes as standard as only 80 Defender Autobiography Editions will be available in the UK. It will be produced exclusively as a 90 Station Wagon and priced from £61,845.
The Heritage Edition is inspired by early Land Rover models and mixes nostalgic design cues with modern creature comforts. It will be identified by distinctive Grasmere Green paintwork and a contrasting white roof. A heritage grille and HUE 166 graphics, recalling the registration plate of the first ever pre-production Land Rover nicknamed ‘Huey’, also identify the Heritage model. It hits showrooms from August with production limited to 400 in the UK. Prices will start from £27,800.
The exciting new Adventure Edition is aimed at Land Rover customers who relish the great outdoors and embrace the Defender’s ‘go anywhere, do anything’ attitude. It comes fitted with additional underbody protection and Goodyear MT/R tyres to boost the Defender’s already class-leading all-terrain capability. Unique decals and a leather-trimmed cabin ensure the Adventure Edition stands out from the Defender crowd. A total of 600 Adventure Editions are available in the UK priced at £43,495 for all versions.
Click here to see the limited edition models revealed as Land Rover creates the biggest sand drawing ever made in the UK: http://youtu.be/vjZa9LCIgMo
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