Jaguar World Magazine No.145 F-Type Coupe Zurück Ausgabe

I feel the same way about track driving as I do DIY — I might understand the basics but that doesn't mean I do it well. I've read lots books on the subject and watched plenty of others in action who were clearly better than me but a healthy respect for my own safety means I'm not as good as I'd like to be. Just as I'm not keen on losing fingers in a power tool accident, neither do I want to lose control on a fast corner, barrel roll into a barrier and burst into flames. Filling out the insurance form would be a nightmare for one thing. Yet on the Spanish Motorland track near Aragon for the recent F-TYPE Coupé launch, thanks to some expert tuition, I was able to chase around the circuit's fast corners and long straights like a white van man late for a delivery. And I wasn't driving the approachable V6 version either but the fearsome 550PS, 186mph R model. Originally apprehensive, I soon got to grips with this awesome piece of British-built machinery on the track. Fast and grippy, it made me resemble
something close to being a driving god. But the mark of a truly great car
isn't its speed, engine capacity or even its looks — it's how it makes you feel when you drive it. Ask any driver of the humble Mini for confirmation. It's one of the many reasons why the E-type continues to fascinate us. Not only is the car gorgeous but driving one is good for the soul. The roar of the glorious XK engine, the mechanical feel of its brakes and steering and, as a novice, when you make the perfect gear change are all moments of undiluted joy. There's no denying that technically modern sports cars have the E-type licked, but on an emotional and physical level the older car wins every time. And yet I still felt a connection to the F-TYPE similar to the last time I drove a classic car. It might have plenty of driver aids to ensure the driving experience is as close to being perfect as possible, but there remains a rough edge to the car, a slight coarseness I found appealing.