An impressive selection of Jaguar E-Types gathered in the Cotswolds to celebrate the official launch of this year’s Round Britain Coastal Drive.
Organised by the E-Type Club and now in its third year, the event aims to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK and was started by well-known E-Type aficionado Philip Porter – himself a survivor of the disease.
The launch saw a fine selection of E-Types of all eras lined up on the lawns of a hotel near Cheltenham, set off perfectly by the sight of both the oldest and youngest E-Types parked side by side. The youngest was the Series 3 coupe happily driven down from Gaydon by smiling volunteers from Jaguar Heritage, while the oldest is Philip’s famous 9600HP – the car which recorded the original 150mph top speed in Belgium and was then driven flat-out overnight from Coventry to Geneva for the car’s launch.
The event itself is an 18-day marathon, taking in 3400 miles around the coast of Britain and attracts competitors ranging from those just doing a single day and drivers tackling one ‘leg’ of the route to six hardy crews planning to drive the entire distance – not to mention the participants flying in from the USA. On hand will be mobile mechanics provided by sponsor Jaguar parts specialist SNG Barratt to help care for the field which can number up to 200 cars in total.
As Philip pointed out, the aim is both to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK but also to increase awareness of the disease which kills 10,000 men every year – and as he says, a convoy of E-Types is certain to attract attention.
First run in 2016 for E-Types and then again last year for XKs, the Round Britain Coastal Drive has so far raised some £130,000 for Prostate Cancer UK and it looks set to bolster that amount significantly this year. The run begins at Pendine Sands on September 17 and concludes the other side of the same bay in Tenby on October 5.
For more details see Round Britain Coastal Drive
