SVRA: Catching up with Paul Edwards in a Jaguar

As Jaguar completes its first season with the Sportcar Vintage Racing Association at the Circuit of The Americas this weekend, the series sponsor has earned a reputation among fans for one of the classiest activations available anywhere. Not only does its footprint include a first-rate hospitality center but also coned-off autocross courses and a fleet of Jaguars featuring the F-Type sports car model. The autocross is free to anyone over 21 and holding a driver's license.

One of the hallmarks of the Jaguar setup is a "drive team" of outstanding professionals pulled together by former Le Mans 24 Hour overall champion Davy Jones. The team conducts the autocross and they coach participants in basic driving concepts such as turn in points and apex as well as the impressive driver interface of the F-Type. The pros also dazzle customers with hot laps on the official race circuit.

One of Jones' driving aces is Paul Edwards, who not so long ago was one of four finalists in a Red Bull sponsored competition to develop young American drivers for Formula 1. Edwards later found a home at GM for nine years, competing at the top level of American sports cars through 2012.

Like many young drivers Paul kicked off his career in karting at 10 years old. The idea was to have fun and see how good he was. After winning some 60 races in 100 outings it was apparent he was pretty good.

His success in karts earned him the attention of European talent scouts. In 1995 Paul found himself competing in France at Circuit Paul Riccard in the Elf La Filiere Runoffs in a Formula Renault car where he won overall. He then went on to the British Formula Ford Zetec series with assistance from the factory Swift team. That series helped launch the careers of numerous F1 drivers including Ayrton Senna.

Among his highlights during those two seasons were several victories and pole positions. He won pole for the prestigious Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch in 1997. Edwards battled such notables as Mark Webber, Dan Wheldon, Anthony Davidson and Marcos Ambrose during this time.

In 1998 Edwards won the British Formula Opel championship and finished third in the season points for the European version of the same series. Another championship followed the next year as he dominated the Formula Palmer Audi Winter Series for the Team USA Scholarship squad. Leading up to winning the opportunity with Red Bull, Edwards gained more valuable experience through racing in F3 and then the 2002 World Challenge.

LEFT: Edwards leads a British F3 race at Silverstone in 2004. ABOVE: Edwards on the podium at Monaco. (photos courtesy of Paul Edwards)

The SCCA series entry was an Audi factory-backed effort and was significant for at least three reasons. It meant a return to America after eight years racing in Europe. Secondly, it was his first move into sports cars where Edwards later established himself as a top-tier driver. Finally, it was an opportunity to drive with the legendary five-time Le Mans 24 Hour overall champion Derek Bell.

"Derek is as much a great guy as he is a great champion," Edwards says. "It's always a valuable opportunity to work with someone with such tremendous experience and knowledge, especially when they are so approachable."

Through the Red Bull program he was back in Europe in 2003 competing in the Telefonica Nissan World Series but the year ended with mixed results and Edwards felt the clock was ticking on his F1 ambitions.

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In 1999 he had tested GT1 Corvettes alongside the Earnhardts, Dale Senior and Junior, for General Motors. Edwards had impressed but the lure of F1 tugged at his heart and he stepped away from an offer. By 2004, though, he believed his career was at a crossroads and he did not want to turn his back on opportunity with GM again.

Wise choice. For the next nine seasons Edwards raced in Daytona Prototypes and GT in a variety Pratt & Miller programs. During this time Edwards scored 15 victories, 17 additional podiums and won the 2008 Rolex GT championship with teammate Kelly Collins in the factory-backed Banner Racing Pontiac GXP.R (ABOVE, LAT photo).

After his last season in sports car racing driving a Camaro with Jordan Taylor in 2012, Edwards got the call from Jones about working with him for Jaguar. Jones had been his teammate in one of his previous Daytona 24-hour races. Edwards agreed and in doing so joined not just the Jaguar drive team but also a rich cast of personalities in the SVRA paddock.

Fans new to vintage racing are frequently surprised to find a mix of former champions from a variety of auto racing disciplines who show up to race or support friends and clients they coach. Last year at the SVRA national championships at COTA, Indianapolis 500 veterans James Hinchcliff, Wade Cunningham and Scott Harrington all raced, as did former Le Mans 24 Hour GTO class winner Doc Bundy. Juan Montoya competed at Sebring in a Corvette owned by Penske Racing sponsor Dave Roberts, another regular in SVRA events. Boris Said celebrated his birthday this year at the Coronado Speed Festival driving a 1968 BMW. Lyn St. James, Pete Halsmer and Elliott Forbes Robinson have frequently competed in SVRA.

"I'm honored to be a part of this Jaguar family and their SVRA program," says Edwards. "I enjoy the vintage scene and it's a great brand fit for Jaguar because the heritage is apparent. You see great examples of Jaguar's history, such as beautiful D-Types."

Edwards has had a very special taste of vintage racing on a grand scale when he raced and won at the Monaco Historics driving an ex-John Watson Penske F1 car (left, photo courtesy of Paul Edwards). He says he would enjoy an opportunity to race with SVRA if his schedule with Jaguar would allow it.

"Racing the Penske F1 car was maybe the most fun I have ever had racing," he says. "I have raced vintage at some other places like Watkins Glen, Sebring and the Goodwood Revival, which is very cool. All are memorable race events that I enjoyed very much both on and off track."

Edwards sees continuing growth of interest in vintage racing. He believes the relaxed atmosphere accounts for much of that expansion.

"It's amazing how big it is getting," he observes. "It's a relaxed atmosphere, like a trip back in time to a paddock 30 years ago. People can just walk up and talk. Fans aren't nervous or blocked out. They can get face-to-face and enjoy a real conversation. It's a chance to catch up."

Thanks to Jaguar, catching up with Paul Edwards is now part of the SVRA's vintage racing scene.