- Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge to kick start the Invictus Games, with the first medals of the Games awarded.
- Teams from 11 Invictus Games nations to compete in all‑terrain and tarmac driving stages, held at the Jaguar Land Rover Design and Engineering Centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire.
- Jaguar Land Rover is Presenting Partner of the 2014 Invictus Games and is committed to exploring ways to enhance the valuable role of veterans as skilled employees, to create a lasting legacy for the Games.
Gaydon, UK, Tuesday 9th September ‑ The first medals of the Invictus Games, the new international sporting event for wounded warriors, will be awarded today at the Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge.
Ahead of tomorrow's Opening Ceremony, Prince Harry will be in Warwickshire to watch teams from 11 nations compete in the special driving challenge. He will also meet ex‑service personnel now working at Jaguar Land Rover, and take part in an exhibition lap with one of the Invictus Games competitors.
Taking place at the Jaguar Land Rover Design and Engineering Centre in Gaydon, two competition stages will challenge the competitors' driving and navigation skills. Teams, made up of a driver and navigator, will compete over a Land Rover all‑terrain stage and a Jaguar tarmac track stage.
The teams will drive Land Rover Discovery and Jaguar F‑TYPE vehicles, with times from both stages amalgamated to give each team a total time. The four quickest pairs will then qualify for the finals, which will see the first gold, silver and bronze medals of the Invictus Games awarded.
Dr Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover said: "Jaguar Land Rover is immensely proud to be enabling the Invictus Games and hosting this exciting driving challenge. We have been inspired by the passion with which Prince Harry has championed this visionary idea, to celebrate the commitment and achievements of wounded, injured and sick Service personnel. In addition, we're exploring with the Royal Foundation and the Ministry of Defence innovative ways of enhancing their employment prospects and those of other Service personnel when moving into civilian life, to create a lasting legacy from the Games."
Mark Cameron, Global Brand Experience Director of Jaguar Land Rover said: "We are honoured to be hosting this event as part of the Invictus Games and welcoming His Royal Highness to Gaydon. Everyone at Jaguar Land Rover shares the mounting excitement about the Games, which will celebrate the achievements of wounded, injured and sick Service personnel.
"The Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge expands our involvement with disability motorsport, having supported the Race2Recovery team, who made history in 2012, when becoming the first disabled team to complete the Dakar Rally."
The Invictus Games is being organised with the support and backing of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry and the Ministry of Defence. It will see more than 400 wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women, from 13 nations, competing at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, thanks to the Mayor of London, the London Legacy Development Corporation and the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.
Tickets for the Invictus Games cost £12.85 per person, per session and are on sale at www.invictusgames.org
ENDS.
To watch Jaguar Land Rover's video to promote the Invictus Games
visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1uRgDtD3QA
For further information log onto www.media.jaguarlandrover.com or contact:
Sarah Jenkins, Jaguar Land Rover Invictus Games Communications: sarah.jenkins@fasttrackagency.com,+44 (0)7766 366351
Paul Garbett, Jaguar Land Rover Invictus Games
Communications:
paul.garbett@fasttrackagency.com,+44
(0)7718 340555
Kim Palmer, Land Rover UK PR:
kpalmer@jaguarlandrover.com,
+44 (0)7795 66169
Anna Jackson, Jaguar UK PR:
ajackso1@jaguarlandrover.com, +44 (0)7880
401103
Editor's Note:
About Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover is the UK's largest premium automotive manufacturing business, built around two iconic British car brands. All its vehicles are engineered and designed in Britain. While it has ambitious plans for global growth, the heart of the business remains in the UK, with billions of pounds invested in state‑of‑the‑art production, research and development facilities. In 2013, Jaguar Land Rover sold 425,006 vehicles ‑ up 19% from the previous year ‑ in more than 170 countries. The company employs 30,000 people globally. Land Rover is the Official Vehicle of Rugby World Cup 2015 and Premiership Rugby
About the Invictus Games
Launched by Prince Harry earlier this year, the Invictus Games will use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect of those who serve their country. The nine adaptive sports to feature at the Invictus Games are: Archery, Athletics, Wheelchair Basketball, Road Cycling, Powerlifting, Indoor Rowing, Wheelchair Rugby, Swimming, Sitting Volleyball and a Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will host events in the iconic London Aquatics Centre, Copper Box Arena, Lee Valley VeloPark and Here East, with athletics running at Lee Valley Athletics Centre. Teams have been invited from Afghanistan, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Georgia, Iraq, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, the UK and USA.
The Invictus Games are being organised with the support and backing of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry and the Ministry of Defence.
Jaguar Land Rover is the Presenting Partner of the Invictus Games. BT, Fisher House, Ottobock, PwC and YESSS Electrical are Official Supporters.
