Even if the Mille Miglia officially lacks the excitement of high speed racing, it makes sense as the slow paced road rally too. As Jay Leno puts it, it really couldn’t be introduced anywhere else, because it wouldn’t make sense, so the fact that history and tradition are still a priority in Italy is something to be joyful about.
Leno says he’s been attracted to the Mille Miglia ever since he was a kid and Stirling Moss was averaging 100 mph (160 km/h) over the length of the rally. Participating in it, even in its current form, is a privilege, especially when you’re in a 1951 Jaguar XK120, with Jaguar design boss Ian Callum as your navigator.
It’s not as frantic and gonzo-ish as Chris Harris’ video from last year, but it’s still coverage. Granted, Leno couldn’t help himself to a few passes in the old XK120, but who could blame him for using the throttle with the Jag sounding as mechanically glorious as it does.
By Andrei Nedelea
VIDEO