A Thousand Miles- Millie Miglia 2014
From 1927 to 1957, the Mille Miglia (the 1,000 mile) was an open road, endurance race which showcased Italian Automobile craft to the rest of the world. In its time, the event attracted world class drivers to participate in the grueling four day event. The course started and ended in Rome with the northern city of Bresica acting as the halfway point.
In 1977 the race was reborn as a race for classic and vintage cars produced no later than 1957. The race offers spectators a chance to see highly valued examples of automobile art as produced by Porsche, Ferrari, Lancia, Aston Martin, Bentley, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Bugatti, Alfa Romeo and Maserati.
The days of the rugged professional drivers have past – to be replaced celebrities of other professions. Actor Jeremy Irons piloted the ex-Jim Swift Racing XK120 Roadster. British musician Elliot Gleave and his wife, Australian TV presenter Erin, drove the 1951 XK120 roadster – the ex-Duncan Hamilton. Jaguar Vehicle Integrity Chief Engineer Mike Cross took the wheel of the well-known ex-Stirling Moss Monthlery record-breaking XK120 Coupé. Author David Blakeley and model-turned-TV-presenter Jodie Kidd drove a Jaguar XK120. Car aficionado and owner Jay Leno drove the famous ex-Sir James Scott-Douglas 1951 Jaguar XK120 roadster.
Jaguar Heritage Racing also entered three famous C-Type racing cars, driven by Belgian singer-songwriter Milow Jonathan Vandenbroeck, Jaguar Land Rover Regional Director for Europe Bernard Kuhnt, and legendary AC/DC lead singer and car aficionado Brian Johnson.
Ex-Jaguar Le Mans 24 Hours race winner Andy Wallace drove the Jaguar C-Type, which won the 1952 Reims Grand Prix (with Formula 1 legend Sir Stirling Moss at the wheel). Two motor racing greats – ex-Jaguar Le Mans and World Sports Prototype Championship winner, Formula 1 driver and SKY F1 TV pundit Martin Brundle, plus ex-Formula 1 racer Bruno Senna – shared the famous ‘Long Nose’ Jaguar D-Type registered 393 RW. This D-Type, the penultimate example built, celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2014.
A number of new Jaguar F-TYPE Coupés supported the Jaguar Heritage Racing team, following the full Mille Miglia route through Italy with broadcast crews and VIP guests.
Geo Tag
48°31’32.0″N 7°30’01.0″E
48.525556, 7.500278