Jaguar's strong representation at the 2010 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 Mike
O'Driscoll, Managing Director of Jaguar Cars, who will be piloting
one of the famous C‑type racers in this year's competition.
"Our association stretches back to the 1950s, when XK120 and
XK140s were a regular sight and C‑types and even a D‑type also
competed. This year I am proud to see another very strong
contingent of classic Jaguars." he added.
The 2010 Mille Miglia takes place over a 1000‑mile 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 really
belong: competing with other classic sports cars on the open road.
This year's full representation also provides a fitting way to
celebrate an important milestone for the marque. Furthermore,
Jaguar is proud to be a joint sponsor of the Mille Miglia 2010 with
heritage vehicle displays along the route.
"2010 marks the 75th anniversary of the Jaguar name, and 75 years
of looking forward, designing and building cars that represent the
very best of technical innovation, design leadership and sporting
success," explained O'Driscoll.
"Since our earliest days, we have been inspired to design and
develop beautiful fast cars; cars that stand out and stand apart. I
can think of nowhere better to continue our 75 year celebrations
than at the legendary Mille Miglia, and I look forward to
experiencing the unrivalled glamour, passion and motoring heritage
that the event is certain to offer all competitors and spectators
again this year."
Famous Jaguars Competing in the 2010 Event
Among the six vehicles entered as the Jaguar Cars 'works team' are
three particularly noteworthy historic cars from the Jaguar
Heritage collection:
1950 JAGUAR XK120 OPEN TWO‑SEATER (Registration NUB 120)
NUB 120 was by far the most successful of the competition XK120s
which, more than any other model, was the car that established
Jaguar's motor sport credentials. The vehicle was privately owned
and campaigned by Ian Appleyard, with his wife Patricia (Sir
William Lyons' daughter) acting as navigator. After narrowly coming
second in the first event he entered, the 1950 Tulip Rally in
Holland, Appleyard then strung together an impressive run of
victories including the Alpine Rally in 1950 and 1951, the 1951 RAC
Rally, and the 1951 Tulip Rally. Despite failing to win the Alpine
Rally outright in 1952, the third consecutive run without incurring
a single penalty point earned the first ever Gold Cup for the
car!
1953 JAGUAR C‑TYPE (Registration NDU 289)
With its handsome wind‑cheating aluminium body, the C‑type brought
Jaguar its first victory in the Le Mans 24‑hour race in 1951. Two
years later, the three factory cars finished first, second and
fourth, with the winning vehicle driven by Rolt and Hamilton being
the first ever to average over 100mph. One of 43 C‑types sold to
private owners, NDU 289 was a production car built in 1953. It
competed in the 1953 Mille Miglia driven by its owner, the Italian
driver Tadini, but retired during the race.
1956 JAGUAR D‑TYPE 'LONG NOSE' (Registration 393 RW)
This vehicle was the penultimate D‑type produced by Jaguar, built
in March 1956 for the works racing team. That year, it won the
Reims 12‑hour race, driven by Duncan Hamilton and Ivor Bueb, before
encountering technical problems during the 24‑hour race at Le Mans,
where it ultimately finished sixth (behind the winners Flockhart
and Sanderson in another D‑type entered by Ecurie Ecosse). Although
Jaguar withdrew from racing later that year, the vehicle lived on
in America with the Cunningham/Momo team, and finished third in the
12‑hour race at Sebring in 1957. This vehicle remains one of the
most original D‑types in preservation, and still has the 1956 Le
Mans windscreen, passenger seat and door, and even sports the
original trade plate registration 393 RW.
Notes to editors:
Jaguar is supporting Sixt, the official sponsor of Mille Miglia
2010. Through this association, Jaguar is providing Mille Miglia
organisers with a fleet of 25 XF cars as support vehicles
throughout the event.
Mille Miglia ‑ The 2010 Mille Miglia is a recreation of the famous
1000‑mile Italian road race that ran between 1927 and 1957. The
revived event is run as a regularity trial where the emphasis is on
precise timing rather than speed. It is open to cars of the type
that ran in the original event. The 2010 event runs from on
Thursday 6th to Saturday 8th May, starting in Brescia, and
travelling through Bologna and Rome before returning to Brescia.
For more information about the Mille Miglia, including a full list
of the 375 participating vehicles, go to www.1000miglia.eu.