Motoring: Goodwood glorious for Jaguar and Aston Martin
There are pics of the Jaguar XJR, F-Type Project 7, Aston Martin GT12, Taraf and Mercedes W 196 in the system, along with a shot of the Mercedes F1 car.
Goodwood glorious for Jaguar and Aston Martin
IN the continuing absence of a recognised British Motor Show, the major manufacturers have become quite canny in finding alternatives to showcase their gleaming new products.
The really savvy ones are quick to cash in on the heritage potential, with one event standing out above all others as the perfect platform on which to showcase their wares – the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Where else – with the possible exception of the British Grand Prix – can you get a captive audience of thousands of motoring and motor racing fans all eager to indulge their favourite passion?
One manufacturer keen not to let the fans down is Jaguar. It is giving debuts to four new cars at this year’s event including the world premiere of the recently- announced, enhanced Jaguar XJ range (featured in last week’s Motoring), together with the UK debut of the all-new XF executive saloon.
The Jaguar Land Rover stand will be marked by the debut appearance of a very special version of marque’s flagship, the Jaguar XJR Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV) for Bloodhound SSC. The XJR has a spacious cabin and its 5.0-litre V8 550PS Supercharged petrol engine takes it from 0-60mph in just 4.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 174mph.
Jaguar is a technical partner of the Bloodhound Project and visitors to the famous British motorsport festival will see both XJR and F-Type R Coupé versions of Bloodhound SSC Rapid Response Vehicles take on the famous Goodwood Hill. On Saturday morning (June 27), the Jaguar XJR RRV will be piloted by Bloodhound SSC driver Andy Green.
Visitors to the JLR stand will be able to try out the new Bloodhound SSC driving experience and take part in a live track experience of the F-Type, accompanied by a pro driver.
The XJR RRV is the latest creation of JLR’s new Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division and follows hot-on-the-heels of the Bloodhound SSC F-Type R Coupé RRV, which was unveiled at the recent Coventry MotoFest. Jaguar has pedigree in Rapid Response Vehicle support to world land speed record drives, having supported Richard Noble’s Thrust 2 in 1983 and Andy Green’s Thrust SSC in 1997.
The RRVs will be used by the Bloodhound team throughout the high speed tests and World Land Speed Record attempts. The XJRs have been modified to carry customised equipment, supplied by British bespoke emergency equipment manufacturer Angloco. SVO engineers removed the rear seats of the XJR and fitted a roll-cage and specially-made housings to accommodate the support equipment.
John Edwards, managing director Special Operations at Jaguar Land Rover, said: “These are specially developed cars for a very special purpose, showcasing SVO’s ability to design and engineer bespoke vehicles to the highest possible standards. Equally importantly we’re proud to be playing a part in another great British land speed record attempt.”
The Jaguar RRVs will be joined on the Goodwood Hill by the first production version of the new F-Type Project 7 (announced at last year’s event), the exciting new 340PS, 3.0-litre Jaguar XE S, and a selection of Jaguar’s most iconic heritage cars including XJ13, Group 44 E-type, Long Nose D-type, TWR XJS and Broadspeed XJ12C.
Not to be outdone, JLR’s Gaydon neighbour Aston Martin is also promising its fans something special.
The luxury sports car maker will treat the Goodwood crowds to a feast of ‘firsts’, including the UK debut of the motorsport-inspired, and now sold-out, Vantage GT12 and the global dynamic debut of the strictly-limited luxurious new Lagonda Taraf super saloon.
Aside from the raw, track-derived appeal of the Vantage GT12, Aston Martin will also be running examples of its V12 Vantage S Roadster and luxurious Rapide S four-door, four-seat sports car. There will also be the rare opportunity to see the CC100 – Aston Martin’s centenary celebration concept car from 2013 – in action on the hill.
The display represents the manufacturer’s biggest ever Goodwood showing.
Aston Martin Racing will be represented by the 2015 Le Mans 24-hour Vantage GTE #97 Art Car, which will also be making regular trips up the famous Goodwood Hill over the course of the festival.
Aston Martin chief executive Dr Andy Palmer, who will be taking on some of the driving duties alongside recently-appointed Chief Engineer Matt Becker, said: “I’m very much looking forward to seeing the reaction to our 2015 Festival of Speed presence from the knowledgeable and enthusiastic Goodwood crowds.
“I believe we’ve put together a hugely compelling line-up including some surprises that should keep fans of our brand, and of luxury sports cars in general, entertained and engaged throughout the event.”
He added: “Driving the Vantage GT12 up the famous hill climb at Goodwood will be a personal highlight for me.”
The Vantage GT12 was launched to worldwide acclaim in March this year at the Geneva Motorshow, with all 100 examples sold prior to the reveal.
Taking its inspiration directly from Aston Martin Racing’s V12 Vantage GT3, the Vantage GT12 is equipped with a new iteration of the brand’s 6.0-litre V12 engine which is capable of generating up to 600 PS. This makes the GT12 not only more powerful but also even lighter than a standard V12 Vantage S. Weighing in at a full 120 kg less, which results in an appreciable boost in the car’s already formidable power-to-weight ratio.
The new Lagonda Taraf marks the long-overdue return of the famous Lagonda name.
Based on the brand’s flexible VH architecture, the new saloon draws inspiration from the highly sought-after William Towns-designed Lagonda of 1976 and features many of the same cutting edge engineering techniques seen in modern Aston Martin sports cars such as the use of carbon fibre body panels.
It is hand-built at Aston Martin’s manufacturing facilities in a dedicated building previously the home of the One-77 hypercar.
The super saloon is being offered for sale by invitation only with precise pricing details remaining confidential. As a consequence, it will remain a rare and distinguished sight on UK roads – making its presence at Goodwood all the more special.
Three of BMW’s iconic racing classics will be speeding up the course’s famous hill during the festival. They include the BMW McLaren F1 GTR Longtail, the F2 March 782 and the E92 M3 GT2 American Le Mans Series car.
BMW will also be showing off its new BMW M6 and BMW 3 Series, while the award-winning i8 could be the fastest electric vehicle to feature in the Supercar Hillclimb. At the wheel will be television presenter and ex-racing driver, Tiff Needell.
In the driving seat of the BMW McLaren F1 GTR 1997 Longtail will be one of the UK’s best ever international racing drivers, Steve Soper. The BMW F2 March 782 will be steered by Johnny Cecotto, Touring car legend and the BMW E92 M3 GT2 ALMS / 24 Heures Du Mans will be driven by racing driver Cindy Alleman.
Capturing the theme ‘Flat-out and Fearless: Racing on the Edge’, Mercedes-Benz is set to mark the festival in spectacular style with global debuts and on-track action featuring the mightiest Mercedes-AMG cars from both the track and the road as well as special celebrations marking 60 years since the W 196 Silver Arrows last raced.
Getting its worldwide debut will be hottest production hatch in the range, the new Mercedes-AMG A 45.
Joining it on the Hill will be the most dynamic Mercedes-AMG currently on-sale – the GT S. The GT S will be joined by the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S in aiming to make a crowd-pleasing ‘spirited’ start off the line. The quickest Mercedes-Benz of all at Goodwood will be the Mercedes AMG Petronas W04 V8 Formula One car – set to be driven by World Endurance Champion Anthony Davidson on Friday and Saturday, and then on Sunday by last year’s F1 runner-up, Nico Rosberg.
The exploits of their racing predecessors are also being remembered, in particular the exploits of those involved in the 1955 season when the fearsome Silver Arrows dominated the circuits of the world – with the most incredible drive of them all coming almost exactly 60 years ago when Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson took their W 196 S to victory in the Mille Miglia in 10 hours, 7 minutes and 48 seconds – a record that still stands.
Nine of the surviving W 196 series racers will be at Goodwood, six of them taking to the Hill.
Meanwhile, visitors to the Mercedes-Benz Pavilion, will be able to get close to some of the maker’s brand new cars, including the all-new A 250 Sport.
The festival starts tomorrow (Thursday) and runs until Sunday (June 27). If you’re heading there good luck and drive safely.
