If you were worried former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was now having to make regular trips to the local job centre, fear not. It seems he has been busy driving Jaguar’s latest model.
The ‘Special One’, who helped Chelsea football club win the 2014/2015 Premier League before scraping dangerously close to the relegation zone a year later, was invited to drive the Jaguar’s off-roader, the F-Pace.
Mourinho can be seen mastering the art of high speed drifting on a frozen lake at Jaguar Land Rover’s testing facility in Arjeplog, Sweden ─ a place that sits just 40 miles from the Arctic circle and gets as cold as -30°C.
Finnish professional driver Tommi Karrinaho gave Mourinho the driving lesson in the F-Pace sports uility vehicle (SUV), which will go on sale in 2016. It is based on the CX-17 concept and has all-wheel drive and raised ground clearance so it can go where its XE and XF cousins would struggle.
Jaguar Land Rover made the video for two main reasons that we can think of. One is, of course, to show what the all-terrain conquering beast can do in extreme weather conditions. Secondly, there’s also the fact Jaguar Land Rover will offer its ‘Ice Drive Experience’ to customers from 2017.
“The experience was magnificent. For people in my world, I think a few days in a place like this is magnificent,” Mourinho said. “The flying lap with Tommi sent my adrenaline soaring. It’s something I’ve only ever experienced before when I have walked out in front of 80,000 football fans.”
Given the negative press on Mourinho as of late, It may seem like a strange move for Jaguar Land Rover (especially for anyone who supports London rival Arsenal). But let’s remember Mourinho gets people talking – and the F-Pace is in the sort of segment where it needs to be heard.
Widespread rumours suggest Mourinho will soon be ditching his newfound driving gloves, with current reports suggesting he will replace Louis Van Gall at Manchester United.
Such a move would see him go up against his old rival and nemesis, Pep Guardiola, who recently took the reins at Manchester City, resulting in what would be particularly vicious derby games.
“I have worked for as long as I can remember as a manager and this is now the second time I have stopped in 16 years. So it’s not a drama, but for sure I will be back soon,” Mourinho added in his first interview since leaving Chelsea FC.
The Jaguar F-Pace starts from £34,170 and is available to configure now on the British manufacturer’s website before deliveries begin in the spring of 2016. That money gets you the entry-level 2.0-litre 180PS diesel said to be capable of 57.7mpg.
We’ll let you come up with your own ‘park the bus’ jokes.
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