WATCH: Black Country-powered Jaguar completes huge loop-the-loop
A new Jaguar F-Pace – powered by an engine built on the border of Wolverhampton and Staffordshire – has roared its way around a 63ft loop, defying gravity and scooping a Guinness World Record in the process.
It lit up the night sky - a blue rocket defying gravity to perform a stunning loop-the-loop.
And it was all thanks to an engine built right here at the i54 business park on the border of Wolverhampton and Staffordshire.
Stunt driver Terry Grant had to to endure G-forces even greater than those experienced by space shuttle pilots as he pushed the new Jaguar F-Pace to the limit, hurtling around the specially constructed 63ft (19.08 metre) loop to break a world record.
But, with a four-cylinder Ingenium diesel under the bonnet, the new F-Pace – dubbed Jaguar's 'first family sports car' – scooped the Guinness World Record's title for the largest ever loop.
The success is a major feather in the cap for the 1,000 people now working at the Jaguar Land Rover engine factory on the i54 site, which makes the aluminium Ingenium diesels.
The stunt took place at the Niederrad Racecourse in Germany, the day before the new car's official unveiling at the Frankfurt motor show. It also marked Jaguar's 80th birthday.
Mr Grant had to undergo two months of two months of intense physical and dietary training to ensure his body was prepared for the stresses and strains involved in breaking the record – at points on the loop he was subjected to more than six times the normal force of gravity.
While he was training, a team of experts including structural engineers, mathematicians and safety specialists had to work out the precise physics, angles, speeds and dimensions that would be involved in the record attempt.
Although the F-Pace range includes more powerful six cylinder diesel and petrol versions, Jaguar chose the rear wheel drive 180PS diesel model for the stunt, as it is the lightest.
Mr Grant said: "Driving the world's largest loop tonight was a very proud moment in my career. The F-Pace's supreme performance credentials and rigid lightweight structure gave me complete confidence that I had the strength and driving agility needed.
"I am delighted to bring the Guinness World Records title back to the UK and help Jaguar run rings around their competitors ahead of the motor show tomorrow."
The stunt also marked the opening of order books for the car, which goes on sale next spring with prices starting at £34,170.
