Arriving from Hogarths Hotel in Solihull in the Jaguar F-pace type R, we approached a
breathtaking scene; a line up of three showroom slick Project 8s sat patiently on top of a hill, the morning mist
beginning to clear around them. The consisted of the Touring model, a two-seat 'Track Pack' and a four-seat version.
There's not a whole lot of visible difference between them, other than the Touring being wingless. Inside, only the
Track Pack stands out with the cage and just two seats. Well, it is for track days, as you guessed. Even
knowing that it’s the exact same car as the two others, the Track Pack, somehow, inspires some real excitement. The
car recently beat its own time on the Nürburgring Nordschleife with 7m18.3s and currently is the fastest four-door
production car on the planet.
The cars showcased the sublime 5.0L supercharged V8, 592bhp along with adjustable
suspension and aerodynamics. In a world where most manufacturers tend to get smaller engines, this 5.0L is just what
we need: manna from petrolhead heaven. It speaks to the heritage of Jaguar racing, with a sophisticated growl at the
merest touch of the accelerator. Clocking in at 3.3s for the 0-60mph and a top speed of 200mph and 700Nm, they make
great stats for pub conversations, but what matters most is how you handle this much of everything on proper roads.
The all wheels’ drive is your best friend and provides you comfort from one corner to the next without any fear of
giving too much sudden power to the throttle. The gearshift is crisp, dampers and springs are stiff and it feels
connected. The car is agile, capable, powerful but not light despite the carbon feel all around the vehicle.
Three hundred and fifty miles later, and with a little help prising my bloodless fingers
from the death grip on the wheel, we arrived at the Ynyshir Hotel run by Chef Gareth Ward, a Michelin-starred
restaurant with rooms located on the coast of mid-Wales near the Snowdonia National Park. And because a road trip is
as much about the stops as it is the roads, we were a bunch of happy drivers when Gareth boldly proclaimed that he
was about to serve the best BBQ of our lives. He was not wrong. This trip was a mixture of some of the most stunning
roads, thrilling driving and some of the best meat I have ever had. If you're hellbent on adrenaline-fuelled
driving, the kind that makes your face intermittently flick between wide smile and open-mouthed terror, then The
Project 8 is indeed a fantastic trio of beasts just waiting for you to tame them.
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