Clive Beecham (L) and Ian Callum in a Jaguar D-type. Photos courtesy of Jaguar Land Rover.
From 1927 to 1957 (excluding the war years of 1939 and 1941-'46), the Mille Miglia was one of the world's great endurance racing events. Tragic crashes claimed the lives of three participants and nine spectators (including five children) during the 1957 running, bringing an end to the storied race in its original form. Revived in 1977, the Mille Miglia is now a vintage event open only to cars that participated (or may have participated) prior to 1958. For the 2015 running, Jaguar Heritage is entering nine cars from its collection, all driven by celebrities from the world of music, entertainment, fashion and motorsport.
Jaguar Heritage's 2015 Mille Miglia entrants.
Today, the Mille Miglia is a time-speed-distance rally, held on public roads and at an average speed not to exceed 50 kilometers per hour (31.07 MPH). Participants are obligated to obey Italian traffic laws or risk facing steep point penalties, even for relatively minor infractions. Since points are deducted for arriving at checkpoints too early (as well as too late), there's a significant incentive not to speed, at least if one has any intention of placing well in the standings.
Jodie Kidd in an XK120 at the 2014 event.
The Mille Miglia still follows the original route, though today it's spread across four days of driving. The start takes place in Brescia, Italy, and day one's route ends in Rimini. Day two begins in Rimini and ends in Rome, day three begins in Rome and ends in Parma, and the final day begins in Parma and ends where the race began, in Brescia. Despite the large number of entries (464, counting eight "military vehicles"), today's low-speed event is largely about being seen, which is why Jaguar relies heavily on celebrity drivers to promote its brand image.
Mike Cross, Jaguar's Chief Vehicle Integrity Engineer, shakes down the C-type.
Aside from sports car endurance racing veteran Derek Bell and Jaguar Director of Design Ian Callum, those of us on this side of the pond aren't likely to recognize many names. Bell will be paired with actor and car collector Adam Lindemann in a Jaguar C-type, while Callum will share Jaguar D-type driving duties with candy magnate and car collector Clive Beecham.
Charlie Boorman (L) and Giles English with their Mk VII.
Other teams include model, TV star and host of The Classic Car Show Jodie Kidd, paired with male supermodel David Gandy in an XK120; musician Example (Elliott Gleave), paired with his father Michael Gleave in an XK140; chef and TV host James Martin, paired with Bremont Watch Company founder Nick English in a D-type; and Giles English (Bremont co-founder) with actor Charley Boorman in a Mk VII. Solo drivers include Jaguar Vehicle Integrity Chief Engineer Mike Cross and RAC Motoring Committee Chairman Ben Cussons, both in C-types; and classic car expert Simon Kidston, who will be behind the wheel of a D-type.
Ian Callum.
Jaguar's Ian Callum was recently named Designer of the Year by British marketing publication The Drum. The honor came after Callum reached the top of The Drum'sDesignerati list, which recognizes those in a variety of fields, including architecture, fashion and graphic design.
Callum was singled out for his work with multiple automakers, and The Drum editor Stephen Lepitak said of the award, "Ian Callum is a visionary of British design. From his roots at Ford in the 1970s to his craftsmanship on Aston Martin, his influence on car design is legendary. His beautifully simple designs… have ushered in a new era for Jaguar, breathing life into the classic brand."
This year's Mille Miglia begins on May 14 and ends on May 17. For additional details, visit1000Miglia.eu.
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