Thursday, November 2 2017: Jaguar Land Rover has unveiled a 35‑foot high Jaguar F‑TYPE emblazoned with a bespoke poppy design to mark Remembrance Sunday in partnership with forces’ motorsport charity Mission Motorsport and the Royal British Legion.

The F‑TYPE, clearly visible to motorists on the M6 motorway, fittingly faces the Sentinel sculpture which depicts the Spitfires Castle Bromwich was famous for building during World War Two between 1938 and 1945.

The tribute is the latest in a string of commitments from the company as it aims to become the automotive employer of choice for former armed services personnel.

The business is also the headline partner of the annual Invictus Games, an international sporting event to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for wounded, injured and sick servicemen, servicewomen and veterans.

Mission Motorsport, the Ministry Of Defence’s charitable authority on motorsport for recovery, created a unique poppy‑themed livery for the F‑TYPE which sits affixed to the outer wall of Jaguar Land Rover’s Castle Bromwich site where the sports car is built.

The design, emblazoned with the words of John McCrae's poem In Flanders Fields written in 1915 in the midst of World War One, was fitted in situ by the charity’s team of ex‑servicemen who were discharged from active service with physical and mental injuries.

Ex‑servicemen Lance Corporal Chris Read, Guardsman Chris Walker, Private Dan Elliot and Lance Corporal Francis Stokes, who all benefitted from the work of Mission Motorsport, spent more than three weeks designing the unique livery before fitting it directly to the wall‑mounted F‑TYPE.

A second F‑TYPE SVR was adorned with the poppy design at Mission Motorsport’s workshop in Wantage, Oxfordshire. It will go on a ten‑day UK tour in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday, starting at the Royal British Legion’s Birmingham Poppy Day in Victoria Square on Wednesday 1 November.

From there it makes its way around Jaguar Land Rover sites and military landmarks such as the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire before arriving in Anglesey to play the role of safety car for Mission Motorsport’s fourth annual 12‑hour endurance event Race of Remembrance.

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QUOTES

Gregg Niblett, former Royal Engineer and F‑TYPE Senior Manufacturing Manager at Jaguar Land Rover’s Castle Bromwich facility:

“The Castle Bromwich site has developed a proud reputation of paying tribute to its heritage, the role it played in one of history’s largest conflicts but most importantly those who sacrificed their lives along the way.

“We already have a fantastic working relationship with Mission Motorsport and a track record for recruiting former members of the armed forces, so we felt there was an opportunity to do something truly special as we move into the site’s 80th year next year.

“The project team, made up of colleagues from Jaguar Land Rover, Mission Motorsport and the Royal British Legion, have worked tremendously hard to create a statement of commitment in remembering the fallen and to have that tribute created and brought to life by ex‑servicemen who have had first‑hand experience of sacrifice is hugely symbolic.

“We’re extremely proud to have this tribute on our wall for the community to see and we hope they join us as we fall silent over on Remembrance weekend.”

James Cameron, CEO, Mission Motorsport:

“This year, the Mission Motorsport livery team of Chris Read, Chris Walker, Dan Elliott and Francis Stokes have accepted an amazing challenge.  The F‑TYPE mounted on the wall of the Castle Bromwich plant – 35 feet up and visible from the M6 – heralds the work of the plant which was built to make Spitfires in World War Two. 

“That engineering heritage is continued to this day by a British workforce who produce British sports cars.  The guys have done amazing work with this commission – they have all been profoundly affected by their military service and that depth of feeling is echoed in their work, a very personal statement of remembrance.  The Mission Motorsport livery team guys have led on every part of this project.

“The words of the poem In Flanders Fields repeat across the car in grey, with poppies blossoming in red thanks to the pioneering use of polar reflective material and the team’s Roland Digital Graphics printer. The stunning design changes in the light. This car is the centrepiece of the Race of Remembrance 2017, and as safety car it will lead the field out and collect the field to pause the race for the service of remembrance in the pit lane at 10:45 on Sunday.

“It is a world‑class piece of livery design, but it is not just an exercise in press relations; Race of Remembrance has currency, it brings the words of the poem up to date ‑ celebrating the 26 wounded, injured and sick who have entered second careers with Jaguar Land Rover through Mission Motorsport’s placement scheme for wounded, injured and sick ex‑services personnel. It also reflects the 750‑plus veterans who have found employment with Jaguar Land Rover since 2015. For those who have laboured and pushed themselves to the limit, it has resonance, depth, meaning.”

Jane Britton, Area Manager West Midlands, Royal British Legion

“The Poppy Appeal 2017 is encouraging the public to rethink Remembrance and recognise that the poppy supports the Armed Forces community past and present – it is a symbol of both Remembrance and hope.

“This message is very relevant within the local community and resonates greatly with Jaguar Land Rover, who have employed veterans and worked directly with Mission Motorsport. We are amazed by their support in creating awareness for this year’s Appeal and cannot wait to unveil the Remembrance design at Birmingham Poppy Day on Wednesday 1 November.”