Philanthropist Yohan Poonawalla takes top honors for India as âHero of the Rallyâ at Mille Miglia UAE 2024
Yohan Poonawalla was recently honored with the prestigious 'Hero of the Rally' award at the Mille Miglia UAE rally. He was representing India and is celebrated for his passion for automotive excellence and his collection of premium, exotic, and classic vehicles.
This recognition highlights Poonawalla's love for classic cars along with his contributions to preserving automotive heritage. His collection includes a 1933 Phantom II owned by Sir Malcolm Campbell, a 1937 Phantom III of Maharaja Panchkote, a 1962 Phantom V of the Emir of Qatar, a 1979 Phantom VI used by HM Queen Elizabeth II, a 1951 Series 1 Defender from the Royal Family of the Princely State of Kutch, and a 2005 Goodwood Phantom VIIâ€"the first car delivered in India following Rolls-Royce's 50-year hiatus from the country to name a few.
Commenting on the event, Yohan Poonawalla said, "I am honored to receive the 'Hero of the Rally' award at one of the most prestigious events like Mille Miglia UAE rally. This recognition is a testament to my passion for preserving automotive heritage and celebrating the timeless beauty of these classic cars.
"Returning to the event for the third consecutive year to race my special 1974 Jaguar E-Type Roadster Series III, which is powered by a 5.3-litre V12, wearing a ravishing red with a black top, was something I was looking forward to. Following its recent nut & bolt restoration, this was the first major race for the "big cat" under my ownership, which was raring to do what it was exactly built to do. I was eager to put it through its paces on the stunning UAE roads, in particular, the climb and descent of the awe-inspiring Jebal Jais mountainscape, the country's highest peak," added Yohan Poonawalla.