Reunion to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Jaguar E‑Type and
60th Anniversary of Jaguar's First Le Mans Win
MONTEREY, Calif. (January 18, 2011) ‑The storied racing heritage of
one of Britain's legendary motor car companies will be celebrated,
as Jaguar will be the featured marque of the 2011 Rolex Monterey
Motorsports Reunion. Few companies are as synonymous with sports
car racing as Jaguar, and the reunion will highlight the 50th
anniversary of the iconic Jaguar E‑Type and 60th anniversary of the
remarkable Jaguar C‑Type's win in the 1951 24 Hours of Le
Mans.
"The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is hallowed ground
for automotive racing aficionados, and thus a very meaningful place
to celebrate the Jaguar E‑Type's 50th Anniversary," said Richard
Beattie, Executive Vice President Marketing and Sales Jaguar North
America. "Today, as much as 50 years ago, hi‑performance, racing
and stunning design are integral to the Jaguar brand. At the
Reunion we will give enthusiasts a chance to take a look back and
forward at all three of these elements in Jaguar's sensational
cars."
The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, August 19‑21 at Mazda
Raceway Laguna Seca, will host approximately 550 authentic and
historic race cars from nearly every decade of motorsports history.
The cars are divided into 17 groups according to age, engine size
and must be period‑correct in their
presentation.
"Jaguar and their many famous drivers represent a time in
motorsports where camaraderie among drivers and works teams was
second only to winning," explained Gill Campbell, CEO/general
manager for Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. "We look to share Jaguar's
heritage with fans worldwide. And for the E‑Type, it's hard to
argue with what Enzo Ferrari said 50 years ago upon seeing the
sleek E‑Type at its introduction, saying it is, 'The most beautiful
car ever made.'"
For Sir William Lyons, founder of Swallow Sidecar and Coach
Building Company which evolved into Jaguar, winning Le Mans was a
crucial goal to demonstrate to the world the robustness and
performance of the XK120‑C. Malcolm Sayer's aerodynamic,
lightweight design was based on his aviation background with wind
tunnel testing. The C designation stood for
"competition."
Three factory C‑Types were entered in the 1951 24 Hours of Le
Mans with stunning results. A 22‑year‑old Stirling Moss recorded
the fastest lap, and Peter Walker and Peter Whitehead won the race.
It was the first of seven Le Mans victories for
Jaguar.
Jaguar's American racing roots are firmly planted on the
Monterey Peninsula. It was in 1950 at the inaugural Pebble Beach
Road Races that Jaguar achieved its first win on American soil. A
23‑year‑old American named Phil Hill, who months earlier
accompanied the same Jaguar XK120 aboard the Queen Mary, took the
checkered flag, thereby capturing international accolades for both
himself and Jaguar.
This is the third time Jaguar has been the featured marque,
having been honored in 1976 and 1992 at the previously named
Monterey Historic Automobile Races®.
For additional information and tickets for the Rolex Monterey
Motorsports Reunion, please call 800‑327‑7322 or visit
www.MazdaRaceway.com.
# # #
Rolex and Motor Sports
Rolex has been Official Timekeeper for 24 Hours of Le Mans
since 2001 and title sponsor of the Rolex 24 At Daytona in North
America since 1992. In 1965, Rolex added the name Daytona to the
dial of its Cosmograph line in tribute to this great race at the
International Speedway. Ever since then, the presence of the Rolex
brand in automobile racing has grown steadily.
Rolex supports the tradition of auto racing through events
that celebrate design, speed and passion including the Goodwood
Revival (UK), the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion (USA), the
Pebble Beach Tour D'Elegance presented by Rolex (USA) and the
Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance and The Quail: A Motorsports
Gathering (USA). Rolex affiliation also extends to two key figures
in the sport: Sir Jackie Stewart from Scotland, one of the greatest
drivers of his generation, and Danish driver Tom Kristensen, record
eight‑time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
About Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a 2.238‑mile road course that
was established in 1957 and has been operated since its inception
by the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula
(SCRAMP), a not‑for‑profit 501(c)4 corporation. Each race season,
SCRAMP donates its net proceeds to the volunteer groups that help
put on the races.
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca's world‑class 2011 racing schedule
includes the Ferrari Challenge May 21‑22, the Grand‑Am Rolex Sports
Car Series July 9‑10, the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix featuring MotoGP
World Championship July 22‑24, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports
Reunion August 19‑21 and the American Le Mans Series Monterey
presented by Patrón September 16‑18.
Media Contact:
Barry Toepke
Barry@MazdaRaceway.com
831‑242‑8291
For editorial‑free photographs from last year's event, visit
www.caracingnews.com and click the Rolex Monterey Motorsports
Reunion logo. (Contact: Barby MacGowan,
barby.macgowan@mediapronewport.com)
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