23 May 2006

Jaguar Director of Design Ian Callum has been honoured with the Jim Clark Memorial Award. Presented by the Association of Scottish Motroing Writers, the award is given in recognition to a Scot or Scots who have achieved excellence in the field of motoring.

This is the second time Ian has been bestowed with the award - a first in the award's 36-year history.

Commenting on the award which was jointly presented to Ian Callum and his brother Moray for their outstanding contribution to car design, Ian said: "To win this award the first time was indeed a great honour. To win it twice and share it with my brotehr is absolutely wonderful."

Presenting the award, Stephen Park, president of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, said: "The joint award for the Callum brothers was a clear favourite with our members. Not only is it a unique situation to have two Scotsmen hold such senior positions in automotive design, but the fact that they are brothers is all the more remarkable. As the man responsible for the stunning appearance of the new XK sports car, ASMW members felt that Ian Callum's contribution towards the new direction of Jaguar cars should be recognised."

Ian Callum joined jaguar in 1999 and helped in launching the new XJ saloon, S-TYPE refresh and headed the design team towards the R-Coupe, RD-6, the Advanced Lightweight Coupe and other advanced design concept cars.

His most recent design is the new XK sports car. Design features such as the distinctive oval grille opening, prominent bonnet power-bulge and practicality-enhancing rear Liftback all echo the classic E-Type, while details like the sweeping front and rear lights shapes and powerful stance catapult Jaguar sports car design firmly into the 21st century.

In Ian callum's words, it looks "just like a Jaguar should - powerful and exciting. That power comes from a sense of tension, muscle and form and is very much part of the design language we are creating."

The Jim Clark Memorial Award is given by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers (ASMW) to a Scot or Scots who have achieved excellence in the field of motoring. Previous winners have included Sir Jackie Stewart, Colin McRae, Alan McNish, road safety academic Professor Murray MacKay of Birmingham University and, last year, for the first time posthumously, to author, broadcaster and journalist Ross Finlay.