A drag race between a Spitfire and a Ranger Rover Sport – sounds like some kind of crazy dream, right? Wrong, because way back in 2013, before GRR as we know it today was a twinkle in a web developer's eye, that’s exactly what happened at the Goodwood Motor Circuit.
Mike Cross, JLR’s Chief Engineer Vehicle Integrity, took on Matt Jones from the Goodwood-based Boultbee Flight Academy. Mike’s vehicle of choice was the then-new Range Rover Sport, with a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 putting out 510 horsepower. Matt’s mode of transport was supercharged, too, albeit a tad beefier: a Supermarine Spitfire with 1,720 horsepower, possibly the most iconic fighter plane of all time.
The challenge? To get from one end of the runway to the other and back again as quickly as possible. What a race.
Range Rover
Range Rover Sport
Land Rover
Spitfire
Goodwood Motor Circuit