As part of Idris Elba’s ‘Road Trip’ from London to Berlin in the new Jaguar XE, he stops at Spa-Francorchamps to play out with F1 driver Martin Brundle.

Jaguar XE on track at Spa with Martin Brundle and Idris Elba

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As we reported last month, Jaguar has recruited actor Idris Elba to play with the new XE on a winter’s journey from London to Berlin, Tweeting on the way and doing what he can do imbue some cool in to the XE.

Not surprisingly he’s been given the car that’s expected to be the stellar seller to company fleets – the Jaguar XE with the 163PS Ingenium engine and headline figures of 75mpg and 99g/km – to blat to Berlin as Jaguar aim to show even the budget XE is sporty and appealing.

The drive from London to Berlin isn’t the most fun you can have in a car in winter, but Jaguar and Idris haven’t taken the most direct route they could have, but have taken the southern route via Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium to go and have a play on the F1 track.

As you’d expect at this time of year, the track was miserable and wet with plenty of snow around – so not ideal track driving conditions.

But Jaguar made sure the play at Spa was at least more interesting than just Idris Elba tiptoeing round in an eco XE by roping in F1 commentator and former F1 driver Martin Brundle to take the wheel, and swapping the 2.0 litre entry-level XE for a more appealing 3.0 litre XE S.

Not ideal conditions, but the XE does look capable – which it’s going to have to be if it’s taking on the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C Class.