The 2022 Taupo Historic Grand Prix will commemorate the Jaguar and Daimler marques as the event continues its tradition of celebrating a different car manufacturer each year.
Jaguar has tasted a variety of racing disciplines over its history, each to a degree of success. These include sportscars, Formula 1 and rallying.
Seven Le Mans victories over five decades of sportscar and endurance racing are a testament to the brand’s success on the global racing scene.
Here in New Zealand, Jaguar started popping up at race meetings around the country in the late 1940s, mainly in the form of the XK120, and later the Mk 2.
When the Mk2 did work its way onto New Zealand race tracks, it would claim three successive New Zealand Saloon Car Championships in the hands of Ross Jensen (1961) and Ray Archibald (’62 and ’63).
“The celebration of a different marque of car each year has proven itself to be the right formula to increase the public interest in the Historic GP and in historic motor racing generally,” Historic Muscle & Saloon Car secretary Bruce Dyer said.
“Celebrating Alfa Romeo in 2020 was a real hit with the enthusiastic members of the Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club.
“Choosing Ford as the celebrated marque this year attracted the support of Ford Motor Company and their dealers, as well as delivering us a huge grid of historic Ford saloon and muscle racing cars.
“The 10 Jaguar drivers’ clubs around the country, some of which also cater for Daimler and Lanchester enthusiasts, are very well organised and connected.
“I’m confident that with 12 months to prepare, they will make sure there is a good turn-out of Jaguars and Daimlers at the sixth annual Taupō Historic GP in 2022.”
Like this year, the Historic Grand Prix will be headlined by displays and demonstration runs of some of New Zealand’s most iconic Jaguar and Daimler vehicles.
The on-track action will include the Historic Muscle & Saloon Cars, Formula 5000, Formula Junior, Tranzams, Historic Sports Sedans and Formula Ford.
“With some of my fellow committee members, I attended this year’s event and saw how historic motor racing could truly celebrate a marque of car, especially one like Jaguar with a long history of participation in New Zealand motor racing” added Robin O’Connor from the Auckland Jaguar Drivers’ Club.
The 2022 Historic Grand Prix will be run over January 21-23 with qualifying on Friday and racing to be staged across Saturday and Sunday.
