Today, Prince Harry showed his support for the 11 competing nations taking part in the Invictus Games Orlando 2016 Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge. Prince Harry, founder of the Invictus Games and patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, awarded the first gold medal to France for their communication, team-work and strategic planning skills in the two time-trials using the Jaguar XE and Land Rover Discovery Sport.
Two team members from each of the 11 competing nations took part in the Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge, fulfilling the roles of driver and navigator. Rober Philippe and M. Rebujent Haller secured gold for France, with Estonia and Denmark securing silver and bronze medals respectively.
Before presenting the winners medals, Prince Harry took to the last round of the challenge by joining Estonia on the Land Rover course and Denmark on the Jaguar course to show his support to the teams in the first competitive medal event of the Games.
Jaguar Land Rover is Presenting Partner of the Invictus Games Orlando 2016, and proud sponsors of the US and UK Teams. Building on its sponsorship and support of the inaugural Invictus Games in London 2014, Jaguar Land Rover has increased their commitment to the Armed Forces and Veteran community as details of the new Jaguar Land Rover CALIBRE Partnership were announced last week. This collaboration will fund the training and hiring of 180 US Service Members this year across North American retailers, and follows the recruitment of over 200 Transitioning Service Members, Veterans, and currently serving members of the National Guard and Reserve in the UK since 2013.
Jaguar Land Rover CEO, Dr Ralf Speth, said: Today, the Invictus Games were opened by the Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge. We were delighted to host 11 nations in their first medal opportunity. The competition was very tough.
I was honoured to meet with the passionate competitors to hear more about their own individual journey to Invictus Games. There is a close alignment of the values and the mind-set of Jaguar Land Rover and the vision of the Games. So, we are extremely proud to be the presenting partner. We are all grateful to HRH Prince Harry for founding and championing this visionary idea of the Games. We congratulate him and the organising committee on establishing yet another inspiring Invictus Games.”
About Jaguar Land Rover and its support of Invictus Games Orlando 2016 and the North America Veteran Recruitment program
Jaguar Land Rover is proud to be the presenting partner of the 2016 Invictus Games, the international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women using sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect of those who serve the country.
Jaguar Land Rover’s commitment to the Armed Forces and Veteran community was further extended last week as details of the new Jaguar Land Rover CALIBRE Partnership were announced. This collaboration will fund the training and hiring of 180 U.S. Service Members this year across North American retailers
About Jaguar Land Rover’s support of military Veterans in the UK
An Armed Forces Covenant is a written and publicised voluntary pledge from businesses and charitable organisations who wish to demonstrate their concrete support for the Armed Forces community. Jaguar Land Rover signed its Covenant in July 2014.
Since 2013 Jaguar Land Rover has hired some 200 former servicemen and servicewomen, working closely with the Career Transition Partnership, the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) official provider of Armed Forces resettlement. 100 of the Veterans have been employed over the past year.
The company has a growing number of initiatives, including a work placement scheme, launched in October 2014 in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence’s Career Transition Partnership (Assist) and Mission Motorsport – The Armed Forces’ Motorsport Charity. The scheme helps wounded, injured and sick veterans find a fulfilling and long-term second career. To date, 17 placements have been run, leading to 13 full-time jobs at Jaguar Land Rover and its suppliers.
