Jaguar placed at 130th out of 450 at 2014 Mille Miglia

• Swift and safe strategy works for British duo Jodie Kidd and David Blakeley on their debut drive in celebration of ‘The most beautiful race in the world’
• #JaguarMille Twitter campaign dominates Mille Miglia 2014 coverage with live updates from @Jaguar, @example, @BSenna, @MBrundleF1 and others in driver team
• A series of Mille Miglia highlightsfilms now launched online, including interviews with Jay Leno, AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson and Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum

British TV Presenter Jodie Kidd and war hero-turned-author David Blakeley produced a memorable driving performance in their Mille Miglia ‘race’ debut this year, earning the highest final placing of any Jaguar Heritage Racing entry. This remarkable result - in a team which included Formula 1 legends and several experienced racing professionals – was achieved following a challenging yet inspiring 1,000 mile drive over four days from Brescia, through Padova, Rome, Siena , Pisa and Bologna, before returning to cross the finish line in some style back in Brescia.

In a field of 450 of the world’s most coveted classic sports and luxury cars from marques including Bugatti, Ferrari and Porsche, Jodie and David drove their stunning Jaguar XK 120 – nicknamed ‘Betsey’ by the driver duo during the event, to a credible 130^th place in the final standings.

Jodie Kidd said: “David and I are absolutely exhausted but are taking away the most incredible memories from this special event. ‘Betsey’ was a joy to drive. She was fast, smooth and a brilliant way to experience the glorious Italian countryside. David and I feel privileged to have been at the wheel of one of the most beautiful cars in the entire event. We will be back next year!”

A series of short films have now launched online, which include the highlights of the Mille Miglia from the perspective of the Jaguar Heritage Racing team drivers. All these edits may viewed and downloaded for use via the Jaguar Broadcast Newsroom:http://www.broadcast.jaguarlandrover.com/stories/8378

Available edits include a ‘megastars of music’ video featuring AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson, British artist ‘example’ and Belgian singer and songwriter Milow. Additionally fans of Formula One are catered for with a special insight into Bruno Senna and Martin Brundle’s high speed driving in a stunning Jaguar D-type. Finally, Jay Leno and Ian Callum feature in a full review of the event (also available on YouTube:http://youtu.be/exXvGIujXlA).

Successful British musician and singer Elliot Gleave, known more famously as ‘example’, was left glowing by the Mille Miglia experience. Elliot said: “I am absolutely buzzing after the best four days of driving I have ever known. The response to live updates from Italy from followers on my Twitter, Instagram and Facebook profiles was overwhelming. My wife Erin and I are thankful to the Jaguar team for this opportunity, which is one we’ll never forget.”  

Fans of the Jaguar Heritage Racing drivers in this year’s event showed support for their personal favourites by engaging with their idols on the world’s most popular social media channels. Analysis by Jaguar digital media strategists We Are Social shows the #JaguarMille campaign created for the Mille Miglia this year was hugely popular with fans of the Jaguar brand, and also the diverse group of personalities in the 2014 team.

From 28 April through to 19 May, #JaguarMille achieved more than 4,000 mentions on Twitter, with an estimated reach of 39.9 million impressions. On Instagram, 164 unique contributors used the #JaguarMille hashtag, achieving a total of 181,400 ‘Likes’ and 1,749 comments from the followers of driver profiles.

Host of stars take part in 2014 Mille Miglia for Jaguar Heritage Racing.

• Jaguar Heritage Racing gets ready for the off with Martin Brundle and Bruno Senna leading the charge in a ‘Long Nose’ D-type 
• Famous 1956 car was the penultimate example built and is the only D-type taking part in the Italian event  
• Jaguar Heritage Racing is fielding ten 1950s models in the 2014 Mille Miglia, including XKs and C-types
• Top racers plus household names from stage and screen as well as fashion, motor sport and music celebrities driving with Jaguar Heritage Racing

With the flag about to drop on the 2014 Mille Miglia, Jaguar Heritage Racing is revving up for 1,000 miles of high-speed driving through Italy – led by Martin Brundle and Bruno Senna, who are piloting a genuine piece of Coventry history.

Ex-Jaguar Le Mans and World Sports Prototype Championship winner, Formula 1 driver and SKY F1 TV pundit Brundle along with ex-Formula 1 racer Bruno Senna are sharing the famous ‘Long Nose’ Jaguar D-type.  

Martin Brundle commented: “As some people know, I’m a fan and owner of the E-type – but this D-type is phenomenal car. I can only imagine how brave my racing driver predecessors were to pilot it at 190mph-plus down the Mulsanne Straight. 

“Bruno and I will make sure we do this legendary British racing car justice. We have discussed our strategy for the Mille Miglia and feel quietly confident. We haven’t raced together before but we share a huge amount of enthusiasm for this amazing rally.”

Bruno Senna added: “The D-type is one of the most beautiful racing cars ever made – and it’s a real privilege to drive it on the Mille Miglia in its 60^th anniversary year.

“This ‘Long Nose’ car has such an incredible history, you can feel that from every detail, from the competition-worn aero windscreen to the seats and of course that remarkable tail fin. Martin and I won’t be holding back. We’re heading the Jaguar Heritage Racing charge and will do so in style.”

The penultimate example built, the D-type carries the registration 393 RW and is a true racing thoroughbred. Produced in March 1956 for the works team, it won the Reims 12-hour race, driven by Duncan Hamilton and Ivor Bueb then went on to finish sixth in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Such is its originality, 393 RW carries the same wraparound aero windscreen, passenger seat, door and famous integrated tailfin as it did when it competed in 1956. After retiring from European competition, the car even had an extended career on American shores too, finishing third in the 1957 Sebring 12-hour race.

With D-type production beginning in 1954, the sight of this legendary Jaguar model in this year’s Mille Miglia is a fitting way to celebrate its 60^th anniversary in 2014.

Jaguar Heritage Racing will be tackling the legendary Mille Miglia classic car endurance event from 15-18 May with a line-up of top-name drivers, which will be traversed over 1,000 grueling miles from Brescia-Rome-Brescia in ten of the most revered and sought-after historic Jaguar cars ever produced. As with all of the Jaguar Heritage Racing cars competing in the Mille Miglia, support will come from classic car technical experts, JD Classics.

A number of new Jaguar F-TYPE Coupés will support the Jaguar Heritage Racing team, following the full Mille Miglia route through Italy with broadcast crews and VIP guests.

The drivers making up the Jaguar Heritage Racing team will be tweeting live throughout the event, which was famously once proclaimed as: ‘The most beautiful race in the world’.

Live updates will be available through Jaguar official social media channels, as well as Twitter profiles of drivers using hashtag: #JaguarMille

Twitter profiles to watch for the latest personal updates on the event include:

Jaguar Heritage Racing Driver	Twitter profile name
Jay Leno	@LenosGarage
Martin Brundle	@MBrundleF1
Bruno Senna	@BSenna
Jodie Kidd	@RealJodieKidd
David Blakeley	@daveblakeley
Milow	@milow
Elliot Gleave (Example)	@example
Erin Gleave	@Erin_McNaught
Brian Johnson	@BrianJohnson

In addition Jaguar will be publishing live updates from 14-18 May at: www.facebook.com/Jaguar andwww.twitter.com/jaguar