In what has been a frenetic start to the 2019 season for the British Automobile Racing Club, one category is yet to break cover and turn a wheel, however preparations are beginning to ramp up for the SmarTrack Series Elite to do just that next month.

Set to descend on Brands Hatch on May 11/12 for its first-ever race meeting, the one-make series is aiming to break new ground as it roars into life at the Kent venue before then moving on to Silverstone, Donington Park, Snetterton and the Algarve.

Designed to appeal to both amateurs and more experienced racers aged 40 and above, the 200mph all-wheel drive Jaguar XE SV Project 8 has been the machine chosen to take on a starring role in the series.

Receiving rave reviews on Amazon Prime’s hit show The Grand Tour, the monstrous 600bhp machine is set to ensure pulses are racing from the get-go when the category finally launches in a couple of weeks.

Multiple Olympic cycling champion turned racer Sir Chris Hoy is aiming to join the field for the series finale in Portugal and has also been impressed by the Project 8.

Hoy stated: “Having driven the car on track in the wet I was particularly impressed with the traction out of corners. It gets the power down so well and in a very un-intimidating way.

“I’ve not driven a race car with 600bhp that’s been able to do it better – Bravo Jaguar!”

With extensive taster testing and overall refinements taking place in recent months on the production line, the opening rounds of the season will be ‘Exhibition Races’ with four cars set to take to the start.

From there, grids are set to grow as each event passes with six confirmed for Silverstone and eight for its second visit to Brands Hatch. In total. Jaguar Land Rover SVO have produced 20 Project 8 cars for the series to allow numbers to increase over the course of the year.

In addition, cars are available to rent on an arrive-and-drive basis providing the drivers that are interested possess the minimum of a National A Licence.

Practice on the Friday, followed by qualifying and two races across Saturday and Sunday make up the opening meeting for the SmarTrack Series Elite, with VIP hospitality also available as well.

Graeme Glew: “Since approaching the British Automobile Racing Club over two years ago with the concept of Series Elite we have been testing with over 60 drivers, and that is within the last six months.

“It will be marvellous to see the cars raced in anger by like minded gentleman drivers at Brands Hatch next month.”

Any interested drivers wanting to test a Project 8 car can do so at an exclusive track day on Tuesday 30th April at Jaguar’s own test track near Coventry.

For more information on the SmarTrack Series Elite, head to www.serieselite.com or contact Graeme via graeme@f1.co.uk.