In addition to the Jaguar-supported works vehicles, there are sixteen other Jaguars from around the world competing with the 355 other cars in the historic event. “We wanted to create a proper ‘works team.’ We are sending our long nose D-type, our C-type which actually took part in the Mille Miglia in 1953, and we are supporting three other C-types and a Mark VII Saloon,” said Tony O’Keeffe, the works manager at Jaguar Heritage. “We will also have a Jaguar legend with us- Norman Dewis.”
Norman Dewis is a former Jaguar test development driver who navigated for Stirling Moss in the 1952 Mille Miglia. That particular event ended with Dewis and Moss’ C-type crashing on the Raticosa Pass only 123 miles from the finish line while the team was in third place.
Dewis, now 88, commented on his return to the event: “It will be history repeating itself. In 1952, 57 years ago, we drove the C-type I competed in that year, and a Mark VII support car, all the way from Coventry to Brescia, and this year will create the atmosphere I remember so well.”
Jaguar has a long history with the Mille Miglia. In 1950, four works-prepared XK120s ran in the Mille Miglia. A year later in 1951, Stirling Moss competed in a similar car. Jaguar is using the 2009 Mille Miglia to help showcase its history with the event and its newest products with a fleet of XFR and XKR support vehicles.
The 2009 Mille Miglia takes place from May 13-17 and is a great opportunity to see some incredible historic cars (if you happen to be in Europe at the time).