Saleh Fareed

Saudi Gazette

 

AT the spectacular Yas Marina Formula One circuit in Abu Dhabi, Jaguar officials took some of the local and regional media representatives out for hot and wild ride to cover a range of exhilarating driving activities on and off track, arranged to showcase the breadth of capability the 2015 Jaguar range offers.



After checking licenses of participating guests and before hopping behind the wheel for 2 hours of pure driving action, the day began with a welcome brief by Bruce Robertson, Jaguar Land Rover’s new man in the Middle East and North Africa region before receiving information about safety tips and how to maneuver the new Jaguar stunning vehicles.



Speaking to participants, Robertson said “this driving experience offers the chance to get to grips with the Jaguar on the open road of the one of the most Formula One circuit in the world and get the most out of the cars on the track – accelerating hard on the straights, sliding through corners while getting the grips with the Jaguar cars.”



The cars used were F-TYPE coupe, XJ and Jaguar F-TYPE convertible. Robertson further said “we’re incredibly pleased to be able to share the performance and racing aptitude of our vehicles with you.” Activities included course laps to test driving skill and agility, convoy laps around the Yas Marina circuit to highlight the differences in handling between the different models, sliding through a wet track to demonstrate the effectiveness of traction control and at last – a hot speed lap with a racing instructor to feel the power of Jaguar cars.



Throughout the first session participating guests received advices and instructions from the experienced instructors enabling them to optimize their drive with the selected cars.



Next we headed off to a wet track where we got to experience driving the cars with their multiple modes (On, Off or Track). It was the part of the day when we saw funny faces and saying “Wow! Awesome; let’s do that again!” over and over again as they spin the car into oversteer.



Last stop of this thrill-seeking day was the high-speed track, where all had the thrill of driving the cars to their maximum speeds with the experienced instructors.



Speaking to Bruce Robertson, Jaguar Land Rover sales director in MENA on the side of the sessions, he said “we aim to grow the Jaguar Land Rover status in the next years with strategic actions planned in 2015 to further strengthen the regional dealer network.”



He continued “with the help of our partner in Saudi Arabia Mohammed Yousuf Naghi Motors, we will reaffirm our commitment to better serve the Jaguar brand in the Kingdom and exceed customers’ expectations.”



According to Jaguar officials, the new Jaguar F-TYPE represents a return to the company’s heartland: a two-seater, convertible sports car focused on performance, agility and driver involvement. The F-TYPE is a continuation of a sporting bloodline that stretches back more than 75 years and encompasses some of the most beautiful, thrilling and desirable cars ever built. The Jaguar XJ was another favorite car on the track, it is the latest in a long line of luxurious Jaguar sports saloons, incorporating enhanced rear cabin luxury features, comfort and in-car technology to create a truly elegant and contemporary luxury Jaguar.



After a long day, the motoring journalists who attended the Jaguar experience expressed their happiness in driving the Jaguar models.