Wounded war heroes to race 200mph Jaguar F-Type for Invictus Games Racing in British GT season
Jaguar to return to motorsport with two 200mph F-Types that have been in secret development for a year. Team of armed forces vets will compete in 2018 British GT Championship
JAGUAR has revealed its incredible F-Type racing car that'll be driven by wounded war heroes.
The 200mph sports car has been in secret development for over year with trials held to find the best drivers.
And with the motorsport makeover complete, the car is ready to compete in this season's British GT championship.
The F-Type SVR has been specced to GT4 race standard - plus adapted so it can be driven by the injured vets.
That includes tuning the 5.0-litre V8, adding racing brakes, tyres and suspension - and making the car rear-wheel drive.
It's the first Jaguar made by it's special vehicle operations team to be used in top level motorsport.
The team will be badged with Invictus Games Racing livery and four ex-soldiers will team up with two pro drivers to compete in the British GT season.
Experienced racer Jason Wolfe will mentor Ben Norfolk and Basil Rawlinson in Car 22.
Matthew George will help Steve McCulley and Paul Vice in Car 44 ahead of the season opener at Oulton Park on March 31.
The project has funded by Superdry co-founder James Holder.
The Invictus Games Racing Team heroes
Basil Rawlinson
South African-born Basil Rawlinson joined the 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment in 2009, before serving on an operational tour of Afghanistan between 2010-2011.
A Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and several degenerative discs in his back saw him placed on medical leave before being fully discharged in August 2014.
He now lives in Leamington Spa having secured an engineering role at Jaguar Land Rover.
He said: "I am most looking forward to the thrill of competition and the opportunity to be part of a tight team – both things that were integral during my time in the Parachute Regiment.
Ben Norfolk
Ben Norfolk, who lives in Hampshire, served on several operational tours to Iraq and Afghanistan as a Royal Airforce Sergeant. In 2008, he assisted with a multiple casualty recovery at Camp Bastion.
The desperate scenes that Ben witnessed that day reshaped his life. The events culminated in complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), anxiety and depression.
He was medically discharged from the RAF in November 2017. Ben said: "Racing has been a passion of mine for over 20 years and British GT is a real step-up from the grassroots motorsport I am used to."
Paul Vice
By 2011 Royal Marines Commando Paul Vice MC was on his fourth tour of Afghanistan. On foot patrol in Helmand Province, he stepped on a Improvised Explosive Device (IED) which detonated.
He suffered a traumatic brain injury resulting in paralysis of his right arm. More than 400 pieces of shrapnel were removed from his body by surgeons before a below-knee amputation followed.
Undeterred, Paul, who now lives in Exeter, went on to become the most successful male athlete at the 2016 Invictus Games winning seven medals, including two golds.
He said: "I can’t wait to see what the next year will bring. Joy, smiles, laughter, pain or tears – I am ready."
Steve McCulley
In 2011, fourteen years after first joining the Royal Marines, Major Steve McCulley was nearly killed by an IED while leading 175 Royal Marines in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Miraculously, he survived. However, the resultant injuries were so serious that he lay in a coma for three weeks.
A gruelling two-year physical rehabilitation programme followed but his military career was over.
Steve, who lives in Portsmouth, was helped through his rehabilitation by his long-held love of motorsport.
He said: "Motor racing is often seen as elitist and our vision is to open the sport up to all wounded, injured and sick service personnel.
"As well as representing their incredible profession, the drivers will be an inspiration and a sign of empowerment to those who have been wounded, injured or become sick during or as a direct result of their service.
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"Our shared desire and goal is to ultimately win races. We are not under any illusions.
"I know personally how difficult this level of racing is and we’re a brand-new team starting out.
"This dream won’t happen overnight but during the journey I can promise fans that we will have inspirational drivers, great stories, innovative technology and the coolest looking and sounding cars on the circuit."
