The Launch

March 5^th saw a ‘Cars & Coffee’ event with a unique twist with racing and track focused cars only on display and all Jaguars. The occasion, ‘The Launch’ of the collaboration and partnership between the newly formed initiative by the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club and Swallows Racing was attended by over one hundred guests and enthusiasts.

Held at Swallows Racing HQ at Rooksbridge in Somerset the event also showcased the fabulous Jaguar X-Type SCV8 now owned by Swallows and the last touring car to be built by Rouse-Hall Motorsport. The vision of Andy Rouse the former Jaguar Broadspeed driver and engineer and arguably the greatest touring car driver of all-time. The X-Type is now undergoing re-commissioning by Swallows Racing before it will be taking to the circuit when it will be driven by Swallows MD Tom Robinson.

JEC TrackSport was announced in November when the JEC recognised the increasing need and demand for more accessible and inclusive forms of motorsport derived activities within its calendar of club events, in which a broader audience of members could participate more easily.
During the previous year, the popularity of the moving motor show at the Summer Jaguar Festival, the ‘open-to-all’ Hill climb at Harewood and track days at Blyton Park and Castle Combe had shown that the appetite for driving experiences for Jaguar owners within the club was growing rapidly.

‘The Launch’ celebrated the collaboration between JEC TrackSport and Swallows Racing with a fabulous display of racing and track focused Jaguars. In addition to the X-Type SCV8 Swallows own team cars headed the line-up with Tom’s well know XJR6, newly acquired XJS 4.0 which is available on an ‘arrive and drive’ package and Jack Robinson’s Class A XJ40 which Jack will be racing for the first time this season. Complimenting these three, other racing Jaguars managed and prepared by Swallows Racing, the sister car to Tom’s XJR6, Howard Kirkham’s former XJ40 and an S Type 3.0 V6.

With the increase in track days and track focused events Swallow Racing fast fleet of former PalmerSport cars will be very much in evidence over the coming season. Leading the way, the ultra-lightweight Jaguar-Cosworth JP1 giving passenger ‘hot laps’ supported by their Palmer Jaguar XKR’s. An impressive sight grouped together this unique collection of track cars made an remarkable spectacle at ‘The Launch’.

Completing and complimenting the display was the Megauir’s Jaguar S-Type R with its track focused retro styling. Built by Dale Masterman from Megauir’s and project managed by Swallows Racing for the YouTube build off series Tom v Dale the car won the ‘Live Stage’ vote at the NEC Classic Car Show in November. It continues to wow the audiences at shows all around the country supporting the Meguiar’s car care brand. By contrast and brining a flavour of the Nordschleife to the day the Jaguar XJR (X351) ‘Ring Taxi’ on loan for the event from Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust.

Swallows Racing track cars will be supporting JEC TrackSport events throughout the season, beginning with the first track day at Mallory Park on 6^th April. This will be followed by Harewood Hillclimb for all on 26^th June, Anglesey track day with Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust on 6^th September and the Autumn track day at Castle Combe on 4^th October. Further details of these events can be found at https://jec.org.uk/events