- Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge to provide a curtain raiser for the Invictus Games on Tuesday 9th September, with the first medals of the Games awarded.
- Teams from 11 Invictus Games nations to compete in all‑terrain and tarmac driving stages, held at the Jaguar Land Rover Design and Engineering Centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire.
- The Invictus Games, championed by Prince Harry and presented by Jaguar Land Rover, is an international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women taking place in London from 10th‑14th September 2014.
- Jaguar LandRover is Presenting Partner of the 2014 Invictus Games and is committed to exploring ways to enhance the valuable role of veterans as skilled employees, to create a lasting legacy for the Games.
Whitley, UK, Friday 22nd August ‑ Jaguar Land Rover has announced plans for an Invictus Games driving challenge, with 11 nations competing to win the first medals of the Games.
Taking place at the Jaguar Land Rover Design and Engineering Centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire, on Tuesday 9th September, two competition stages will challenge the competitors' driving and navigation skills. Teams, made up of a driver and navigator, will compete over a Land Rover all‑terrain stage and a Jaguar tarmac track stage.
Times from both the stages will be amalgamated to give each team a total time. The four quickest pairs will then qualify for the finals, where they will compete for the first gold, silver and bronze medals of the Invictus Games.
In addition to their backing for the Invictus Games, Jaguar Land Rover supports wounded, injured and sick Service personnel through their involvement in the Race2Recovery motorsport team.
Daniel Whittingham was a corporal serving in 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment of the Royal Logistics Corp when he was blown up by a Taliban IED in January 2009. He eventually had his left leg amputated below the knee. He will compete in cycling and wheelchair rugby at the Invictus Game and said: "After finishing the Dakar rally last year with Race2Recovery, which was an extraordinary feat of endurance against all odds, I was keen to explore further ways to focus my recovery. Having the chance to compete with other Servicemen and women who have been through similar hardships and who have come out on top despite all odds, is a massive personal honour.
"For me and indeed all the competitors, there has been so much effort behind the scenes, not just training for the Games but also in adjusting to daily life with our disabilities. I am proud to represent the British team and look forward to the Invictus Games in September."
Dr Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover said: "Jaguar Land Rover is immensely proud to be enabling the Invictus Games and hosting this exciting driving challenge. We have been inspired by the passion with which Prince Harry has championed this visionary idea, to celebrate the commitment and achievements of wounded, injured and sick Service personnel. In addition, we're exploring with the Royal Foundation and the Ministry of Defence innovative ways of enhancing their employment prospects and those of other Service personnel when moving into civilian life, to create a lasting legacy from the Games."
The Invictus Games is being organised with the support and backing of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry and the Ministry of Defence. It will see more than 400 wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women, from 14 nations, competing at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, thanks to the Mayor of London, the London Legacy Development Corporation and the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.
Tickets for the Invictus Games cost £12.85 per person, per session and are on sale at www.invictusgames.org
ENDS.
To watch Jaguar Land Rover's video to promote the Invictus Games
visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1uRgDtD3QA
For further information log onto www.media.jaguarlandrover.com or contact:
Sarah Jenkins, Jaguar Land Rover Invictus Games
Communications:
sarah.jenkins@fasttrackagency.com,
+44 (0)7766 366351
Paul Garbett, Jaguar Land Rover Invictus Games
Communications:
paul.garbett@fasttrackagency.com,
+44 (0)7718 340555
Kim Palmer, Land Rover UK PR:
kpalmer@jaguarlandrover.com,
+44 (0)7795 666169
Anna Jackson, Jaguar UK PR:
ajackso1@jaguarlandrover.com,
+44 (0)7880 401103
Editor's Note:
About Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover is the UK's largest premium automotive
manufacturing business, built around two iconic British car brands.
All its vehicles are engineered and designed in Britain.
While it has ambitious plans for global growth, the heart of the
business remains in the UK, with billions of pounds invested in
state‑of‑the‑art production, research and development
facilities. In 2013, Jaguar Land Rover sold 425,006
vehicles ‑ up 19% from the previous year ‑ in more than 170
countries. The company employs 30,000 people
globally.
About the Jaguar Land Rover Driving
Challenge
The curtain raiser for the Invictus Games, the Jaguar Land Rover
Driving Challenge will see the first medals of the Games won, with
teams from 11 nations competing in two stages designed to challenge
the competitors' driving and navigation skills. Teams, made up of a
driver and navigator, will compete across two different stages,
with a series of gates required to be correctly negotiated in the
prescribed order.
The Jaguar F‑TYPE will be the chosen vehicle for the speed agility course, where the teams will have to speed their way around Jaguar Land Rover's test track to find the correct gate. Driving precision is essential, as the vehicle will have to be accurately positioned within each gate to avoid incurring a time penalty. The navigator, whilst guiding the driver, will also have to decide on the route to the next gate. The stage will be rapid and loud, with the best drivers and most spatially aware navigators likely to come out on top.
A second off road stage will see competitors face a similar challenge, driving a Land Rover Discovery. Over rough terrain, steep gradients and deep water, the teams must complete the course's obstacles in the correct order to maximise their performance. As the driver and Land Rover tackle the course, the navigator will need to remain focused on guiding the driver to the next gate in the shortest distance possible.
Times from each stage will be amalgamated to give each team a total time. With these times used to rank the teams, the four quickest pairs will qualify for the finals with everything to fight for. They will drive each course again, this time with a new sequence of gates. After the final round has been completed, the four teams will be ranked according to their total time, with the first Gold, Silver and Bronze medals of the Invictus Games awarded to the three quickest teams.
About the Invictus Games
The Invictus Games are being organised with the support and
backing of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge and Prince Harry and the Ministry of Defence. Launched by
Prince Harry earlier this year, the Invictus Games will use the
power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and
generate a wider understanding and respect of those who serve their
country. The nine adaptive sports to feature at the Invictus Games
are: Archery, Athletics, Wheelchair Basketball, Road Cycling,
Powerlifting, Indoor Rowing, Wheelchair Rugby, Swimming and Sitting
Volleyball. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will host events in
the iconic London Aquatics Centre, Copper Box Arena, Lee Valley
VeloPark and Here East, with athletics running at Lee Valley
Athletics Centre. Teams have been invited from Afghanistan,
Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Georgia,
Iraq, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, the UK and USA.
Jaguar Land Rover is the Presenting Partner of the Invictus Games. BT, Fisher House, Ottobock, PwC and YESSS Electrical are Official Supporters.