Veteran team boss, engineer, and driver Ed Abbott is gearing up to take on this year’s Roger Albert Clark Rally in an unconventional choice: a Jaguar XJS. Despite its 5.3-liter V12 engine, Abbott tested the XJS on smaller forest rallies in 2024, mastering its handling on gravel roads. Battling deep snow during Rally Anglo Caledonian, Abbott is now rebuilding the 50-year-old sportscar for the grueling five-day forest rally in November. Starting as a rally driver in the 1970s, Abbott founded Abbott Racing and achieved success with Saab UK in the 1980s. His connection to the XJS dates back to his time as a Jaguar apprentice, and now he runs Abbott Jaguar, specializing in the model and its V12 engine. At 70, Abbott remains passionate about the XJS, aiming to showcase its capabilities at events like the Roger Albert Clark Rally in November, the UK’s longest and toughest special stage rally.