PROJECT 8

Tom Robinson was delighted to be invited by Series Elite CEO Graeme Glew to drive the Jaguar SVO built Project 8 XE around Silverstone International circuit. He jumped at the chance to get behind the wheel of such a well-regarded wild Jaguar!

- LETITIA MACE

“THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT THE CAR IS ITS resemblance to a steroidal version of Jaguar’s entry-level saloon. Combined with the stylish Series Elite race livery the vehicle really does have a sense of purpose. I believe over eighty percent is a completely new car. “SVO’s mission was to create the ‘most capable track-focused Jaguar ever’, with the welcome by-product of galvanising the Company’s youngest and hungriest engineers. Project 8 can do 0-100 kph in 3.7 seconds, uses JLR’s 5.0 litre supercharged V8, makes an astonishing 441kW, 516 torque and re-deploys the F-TYPE SVR’s 4WD hardware. ‘Isn’t this all a bit … silly? A 5.0 litre supercharged V8, four-door track car at Silverstone in the wet?’ - said nobody!