TWO of the most iconic models ever built by legendary British luxury marque, Jaguar, will be celebrated at a 'Big Cat' jamboree at Brands Hatch this weekend.

The inaugural Jaguar Festival, organised by the Jaguar Enthusiast's Club, will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the XJS and the landmark 50th birthday of the MkI.

Around 500 examples of the XJS are expected to gather at the famous Brands Hatch amphitheatre over the course of the two-day celebration.

Thanks to the efforts of the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, a clutch of rare and exotic models, including a one-off Daimler XJS prototype, the last XJ-S V12 cabriolet ever built and the last four-litre XJS Celebration convertible, will be on display.

Joining the beautiful selection of classic machinery will be the new RD6 Coupe and R Coupe concept cars.

For racing fans, there will be a treat too, as the Trust brings the TWR Group A XJS campaigned by ex-Jaguar F1 team boss Tom Walkinshaw in the 1984 European Touring Car Championship.

The championship-winning car will return to the track for several demonstration laps during the lunch-hour on Sunday.

Jaguar machinery features heavily in the racing content of the festival too, with races for the Vredestein/JEC XK Championship, Soilmec/JEC Jaguar Saloon Championship, Jaguar World Monthly/Classic Spares Jaguar XJS Championship, and the Miller Oils/JEC Sportscar Championship for 1950s sportscars.

A host of races for other sports and saloons is also on the bill.

* Tickets cost £12 per adult and entry is free for children aged 12 and under. There is also free paddock access and parking.