Former Shropshire test driver takes up Jaguar rally challenge – at the age of 95

Norman Dewis, from Church Stretton, was chief test driver and development engineer for Jaguar Cars from 1952 to 1985, and is taking part in the MPG Marathon today and tomorrow – once again at the wheel of one of his beloved Jaguars.

Dewis, who was born in 1920, has entered this year's event across Oxfordshire and Wiltshire alongside Jaguar Heritage communications officer Tony O'Keeffe in a rear wheel drive, 2.0 litre 163hp Jaguar XE.

Over the years, Dewis has played a major role in the development of some of Jaguar's most iconic models, including the E-Type, XJ6 and XJ-S, and was behind the wheel of a Jaguar XK120 in October 1953 when it reached 172.412mph at Jabbeke, Belgium, a record for production cars.

He was awarded the OBE for services to the motor industry in the New Year's Honours List at the start of the year and still attends Jaguar events and gives talks about his work for the company.

Jerry Ramsdale, event organiser, said: "We are delighted Norman Dewis has entered this year's MPG Marathon as our oldest ever entrant.

"It will be great to see how such a driving legend, famed for his high-speed driving exploits, copes with the demands of driving as frugally and as economically as possible in one of today's most modern cars.

"It promises to be a fascinating challenge this year."

Dewis is not the only Church Stretton petrol-head taking part.

John Kerswill, a motoring journalist and former editor of Diesel Car magazine, moved to Church Stretton from Somerset last year.

Speaking before setting out on the rally, the 65-year-old said: "I'm really looking forward to meeting Norman Dewis on the event as he's quite a legend in the motoring world.

"I've previously won the event a couple of times and this year I'm entered by Mazda and will be in a Mazda 2 1.5 Diesel.

"The MPG Marathon is a tough test of the real world fuel consumption of completely standard new cars."

The rally is now in its 15th year.