The second season of the Jaguar Heritage Challenge, the Jaguar classic model championship open to pre-1966 models, has the green light for 2016.
After a successful first season, which featured around 100 drivers, Jaguar decided to repeat the challenge. The first race of season two is scheduled for the Donington Historic Festival on April 30, 2016, and the peculiar “fifth race” will be confirmed over the next few weeks. It is also known that the Nürburgring Oldtimer Grand Prix will be included in the calendar for the second year running.The 2016 Jaguar Heritage Challenge Race Series will be held over four weekends between April and August, where riders will have the opportunity to compete on renowned circuits in the UK and Germany, and a very special fifth race whose date will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Confirmed dates for the 2016 Jaguar Heritage Challenge Race Series:
- Donington Historic Festival: April 30 – May 2
- Brands Hatch Super Prix: July 2nd and 3rd
- Nürburgring Oldtimer Grand Prix: 12th – 14th August
- Oulton Park: August 27th – 29th
A wide range of models from Jaguar's history were represented in 2015, including an E-Type (SSN 300), which had belonged to Sir Jackie Stewart and which was driven by Mike Wilkinson and John Bussell – won the overall final round at Oulton Park. Together with a range of impressive D-type Mkl and Mkll, E-Type, XK120 and XK150 represented the brand's most iconic classics. The announcement of this new race calendar coincides with the announcement of the winners of the Jaguar Heritage Challenge 2015 awards, in recognition of an exciting season of memorable historic racing.
The overall winner, who had a totally solid and remarkable season, was Andy Wallace and his MkI saloon. With two second places in the first race at Donington Park and Brands Hatch, Andy recorded three B-Class victories, earning him the maximum amount of points in the final standings.
"It is an honor to receive the maximum award in the Jaguar Heritage Challenge , as it was tremendous fun to compete with so many talented drivers, as well as on such a varied grid of Jaguar Heritage models. I can't wait to get back to the challenge of competition at the 2016 Challenge.” | Andy Wallace
Returning to the results, Bob Binfield finished second overall. Binfield, with his impressive E-Type, took first place, two second places and third place in all five races, failing to qualify at Brands Hatch. John Burton completed the podium at the awards ceremony after taking two spectacular victories at Brands Hatch and Oulton Park and a second place finish at the Nürburgring.
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Winners received a Bremont watch from the Jaguar collection and a Globetrotter luggage set. A special Spirit of the Series award was also given to Martin O'Connell, who participated in four of the five races and got off to a perfect start by winning his category and overall in the first round. However, luck was not on his side and three mechanical problems forced him to abandon the three remaining races. He always showed excellent driving skills and even having to enter the pits he was in the lead of all races.
“Together with the Heritage Parts range of parts and vehicle restoration, the Jaguar Heritage Challenge aims to support and foster a passion for the Jaguar brand and its iconic models. The competitions and the camaraderie between the riders were something fantastic to witness and provided a deserved tribute to the brand's rich competition pedigree”. | Tim Hanning, Head of Jaguar Land Rover Heritage
Riders wishing to participate in the 2016 championship can visit the new season specific website at http://www.hscc.org.uk/jaguar-heritage-challenge for more detailed information on how to enter.
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