Two Jaguar XJ220s, One Unforgettable Day at Gaydon
We recently planned a visit, and dinner, with friends of ours who own an XJ220. We all lead very busy lives and we hadn’t seen them for a while so we felt that it was time to catch up; a date was settled on and a venue chosen for dinner.
Meanwhile, during a meeting with Matthew Davis, Managing Director of Jaguar Heritage, mention was made of the need for another XJ220 for the passenger rides being offered on the test track at the “Jaguars at Gaydon” event to be held on 27th September 2026, as the pre-production car from the Jaguar Heritage collection (K994YUD, XJ220 No.008) was already fully booked!
Rob mentioned to Matthew that by complete coincidence we were having dinner with an XJ220 owner on the Monday following our meeting and would he like us to ask if the car would be available for this purpose, to which Matthew agreed heartily that this would be greatly appreciated.
JHW Classics, owners of the XJ220 were thrilled at the chance of having their car on the Jaguar test track at Gaydon – it has only been opened to the public once before and on that occasion I was very fortunate to drive Brucie (my Jaguar X330) on the track for several laps. They then suggested that we took their XJ220 because they had already planned to take their XJ13 replica and an XJ12.
Imagine our astonishment and excitement at the prospect of not only being allowed to take an XJ220 on the Jaguar test track, but including an 80 mile round trip to Gaydon and back to their home again!
Matthew Davis’ reaction to Rob’s confirmation that the XJ220 was available for the event, and at no cost, was “Are you a magician?”
We travelled in convoy with Jane in her XJ12 and Spike in their XJ13 replica. Driving the XJ220 on the public road proved to be challenging; not only is the car a handful at low speed, but you are constantly being photographed by other drivers who are not paying attention to the road!
Arriving at Gaydon, Jane and Spike parked up in the main carpark, telling us to go and enjoy their XJ220 for the day as they are at liberty to drive it any time. So we, in the XJ220, were escorted to the test track along with a selection of Jaguar Heritage cars, all being refuelled along the way at a private fuelling depot on the Jaguar premises.
We were now in a new convoy that made up a truly breathtaking line of historical Jaguars, from C-type to Project 7!
I drove the XJ220 after the drivers briefing and before the passenger rides began and Rob drove the XJ220 on each of the 5 passenger rides, which were at 2 hour intervals. I also accompanied Rob as a passenger in the XJ220 on one of the runs around the track. Each run consisted of 5 laps. In its natural habitat, on the track and at speed, the XJ220 comes alive and gives great feedback – a magnificent car to drive and one hell of an experience to remember with great joy!
XJ13 was used on 3 of the runs, and on each of these did a full speed pass of the others cars, coming in to rest behind the pace car, which was the XJ40 Silverstone Fire Car driven by former Jaguar test driver, Ray Ingman. The sound of the unsilenced V12 of the one and only XJ13 blasting past at full chat was truly amazing – another memory from the day that we will treasure forever!
At the opposite end of the scale, Type 01 did two full speed passes on each run, slicing through the air, whisper quiet at insane speeds before returning to the paddock to be recharged, ready for the next run!
In addition to K994YUD (XJ220 No.008, the pre-production car from the Jaguar Heritage collection) other cars being offered for passenger rides on the test track included the Union Jack XK8 which I went out in as a passenger on the first run and then drove myself on a later run. I was also very fortunate to drive the black pre-production Project 7 on one of the runs, which means that I have now driven both of the Jaguar Heritage pre-production Project 7’s.
On each of the runs the two XJ220’s, both Spa Silver, followed the pace car one behind the other, while the other cars followed up in random order, and JHW Classic’s XJ220 was the only car at this event that was not part of the Jaguar Heritage collection, which in itself was quite a privilege!
Former F1 racing driver, Mike Wilds was just as excited as us at the prospect of his first ever drive in two iconic cars - an XJ220 (he drove K994YUD) on one of the runs and XJ13 on two runs –admitting that for the second run he needed ear plugs!
During our lunchbreak we enjoyed a complimentary buffet, and entertainment was provided by another run, this time being the “Distinguished Gentleman’s Drive”, a fund-raising event for cars over 40 years old, of which there were over 100 on the test track at Gaydon!
A moment in time ..... never to be repeated ….. but to be cherished forever!
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