Just in time for the 80th anniversary of the Jaguar brand, the Jaguar Heritage Team has set out to celebrate arguably the most spectacular race of all time. Under the motto "18 drivers, 9 Jaguar Heritage sports cars, 1093 miles" we went to beautiful Italy for three D-Types, three C-Types, an XK120OTS, an XK140DHC and an MkVII. Many well-known stars from show business and racing were again among the drivers and navigators. Jodie Kidd, TV presenter and current host of The Classic Car Show on Channel 5, didn't let herself be there again this year. Her mobile base, a Jaguar XK120OTS, was affectionately named "Betsey" back in 2014.

What is striking this year is probably the large, bearish-looking MkVII, where many spectators wonder what a family limousine has to look for on the race track. Far from it, this vehicle, which was also the fastest sedan of its era, has a presentable racing history.
Introduced in 1950 as the successor to the Jaguar MkV, the MkVII was further developed by Jaguar in 1954 into a weight-optimized "M" version. Ronnie Adams/Frank Biggar/Derek Johnston won the Rallye Monte Carlo in 1956. Stirling Moss also took the honours as a driver of this type. There's probably only one thing left to say: "Happy Birthday Jaguar".

Also this year, from 15 to 18 May, Europe's famous car race took place through one of the most beautiful Italian landscapes and cities, the Mille Miglia. The Jaguar Heritage Racing Team competed with 10 spectacular vehicles. Many Jaguar XK120s from the early years were on display, including the ex Sir James Scott Douglas from 1951 from the Scottish racing stable Ecurie Ecosse, which was auctioned last year at auction house Bonhams. The XK120 was preceded by the always good-humoured American TV presenter and lover of classic automobiles - Jay Leno - and Jaguars Design Chef Ian Callum, there was good mood and fun. At the wheel of the C-Types were the likes of AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson and Le Mans winner Andy Wallace. With the start number 410 there was also a 'Long Nose' D-Type at the start, controlled by Bruno Senna and Martin Bundle. Supported and accompanied, the Jaguar Heritage Racing Team were driven by a larger number of television teams and VIP guests in Jaguar F-Type Coupés. Here is a small excerpt of snapshots.

Although the 1000 miles from Brescia to Rome and back for 30 years was dominated by Alfa Romeo and Ferrari, this legendary long-distance road race has also been a battleground for the Jaguar since 1950.
Since then, the famous cat has been an integral part of the events surrounding adventure, adrenaline, fascination and class, but also anger, despair and suffering. Due to the numerous fatal accidents, the race in this form was soon banned. Twenty years later, in 1977, the Mille Miglia was resurrected as a historic car race, the "Mille Miglia Storica". The Jaguar's historic presence during the Mille Miglia prompted Jaguar Cars Limited to re-enact the old magic of the time for the second time through its Heritage Racing Team, which was founded in 2012. In 2013, Jaguar brings events to a visual denominator in a beautiful short film. Take your time and just look at it, it's worth it ...