Half of Hollywood is Racing Jaguars in Italy Right Now

The Mille Miglia is one of the most classic races on earth. Back in the day, the best drivers in the world drove the fastest cars through countless Italian villages in a 1,000 mile test of man and machine. These days it's a vintage race, with many of the exact cars that competed decades ago still racing. For this year's event, Jaguar's letting a bunch of celebrities take the helm of some of their most classic cars, from ex-Formula One drivers to AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson to car and chin-enthusiast Jay Leno. They took off this morning, and will be racing until the 18th.

Leno is behind the wheel of an XK 120 that was originally raced by the de-facto Scottish national team, Ecurie Ecosse. He's sharing the driving duties with Ian Callum, Jaguar's design director, so there's a better than average chance this ends up as an episode of Jay Leno's Garage.

For some reason, Jaguar entrusted Brian Johnson with a C-Type. The specific car he's driving is one of the actual race cars that completed the Mille Miglia in the 1950s, so apparently they're not concerned that he's going to turn the race into his personal Highway to Hell.

Supermodel-slash-racer-slash-star in a reasonably priced car Jodie Kidd is also taking part, in an XK 120 almost identical to Leno's. Also driving another XK 120: Jeremy Irons, officially making the Mille Miglia the ultimate celebrity vintage race.

Of course, they're all trying to keep up with the real drivers: This absolutely legendary 1965 "long nose" D-Type is being driven by both ex-F1 racer Martin Brundle and fellow racer Bruno Senna, nephew of racing god Ayrton.


Aaron Miller is the Rides editor for Supercompressor. He hopes to some day drive the Mille Miglia, but isn't keeping his fingers crossed.