Jaguar Race Cars

1. Jaguar C-Type

The C-Type took legendary victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1951 and 1953, cementing Jaguar's reputation as a force in endurance racing.

When Jaguar unveiled the C-Type, with the "C" representing "Competition," it was a fitting moniker given its triumphant debut, clinching victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1951.

The C-Type was engineered using the XK120's mechanical components, including its lightweight tubular chassis and the robust 3.4-liter twin-cam straight-six engine, which was enhanced to produce 205 horsepower. It was encased in a stunningly streamlined aluminum body that was both aesthetically pleasing and aerodynamically efficient.

From 1951 to 1953, Jaguar crafted fifty-three C-Types, selling 43 to private competitors and reserving the rest for factory-backed international racing efforts.

At Le Mans in 1951, Jaguar fielded three C-Types, driven by the teams of Stirling Moss with Jack Fairman, Leslie Johnson with Clemente Biondetti, and Peter Walker paired with Peter Whitehead. Despite oil pressure issues forcing the first two teams to retire, Walker and Whitehead's C-Type clinched a commanding win.

The subsequent year saw the factory cars struggle with overheating, but by 1953, Jaguar had made significant enhancements, including a lighter aluminum body, a novel rubber bag fuel tank, reduced chassis tube thickness, and upgraded triple-Weber carburetors that raised the output to 220 horsepower. These modifications led to a dominating performance, with C-Types securing the first, second, and fourth positions.

Duncan Hamilton and Tony Rolt, driving the victorious C-Type, recorded an average speed of 105.85 mph, setting a historic precedent as the first Le Mans winners to achieve an average speed exceeding 100 mph.

Did You Know?

It was one of the first cars designed specifically with aerodynamics in mind. Its smooth, flowing body was sculpted for speed, a major innovation in the 1950s. It was also was among the first race cars to utilize the superior stopping power of disc brakes.

2. Jaguar D-Type

With three consecutive Le Mans 24 hour wins between 1955 and 1957 it is truly one of the most significant racing cars ever built.

Following the C-Type, Jaguar introduced the D-Type, a car meticulously engineered with the Le Mans race as its primary focus. This remarkable vehicle retained the proven XK straight-six engine and introduced groundbreaking monocoque construction alongside aviation-inspired aerodynamics, epitomized by its iconic tail fin.

Manufactured from 1954 to 1957, the D-Type was produced in limited numbers, consisting of 18 factory units and 53 customer vehicles. It was equipped with engines that varied in size from 3.0 to 3.8 liters, tailored to comply with the racing regulations of the era. This agile racer clinched the prestigious Le Mans title in 1955, 1956, and 1957. The 1955 victory was particularly poignant, as Jaguar racers Mike Hawthorn and Ivor Bueb triumphed in the shadow of the tragic accident involving Mercedes, which resulted in over 80 fatalities.

Jaguar's factory team withdrew from competitive racing and the Le Mans event in 1956, but the D-Type shone brilliantly in 1957. That year, D-Types equipped with 3.8-liter engines dominated Le Mans, securing five of the top six positions, with the Scottish racing team, Ecurie Ecosse, achieving a memorable first and second place.

Post-retirement of its racing team, Jaguar repurposed a number (16) of the remaining D-Types, converting them into road-legal XKSS models intended for production sports car racing in the United States.

Did You Know?

Its slippery, wind-cheating body was inspired by aircraft design, giving it an edge in top speed. It was one of the first race cars with a monocoque chassis, offering increased rigidity and weight savings.

3. Jaguar XJR-9LM

The Jaguar XJR-9LM finally brought Jag back to the winner’s circle at Le Mans after a drought that lasted more than three decades.

The Jaguar XJR-9LM finally brought Jag back to the winner’s circle at Le Mans after a drought that lasted more than three decades. The Tom Walkinshaw Racing-built machine, powered by the thunderous 7-liter V12, ended seven years of dominance by Porsche when Johnny Dumfries, Jan Lammers and Andy Wallace took the win on June 12, 1988.

The car was designed by Tony Southgate and was ahead of its time using a full carbon fiber monocoque and undercarriage venturi system to aid downforce. At the time, only one other car in the race using similar technology was the Sauber-Mercedes. The XJR-9 LM, was very different to other XJR-9 chassis used for 1000km “sprint” races. The LM version of the car was much more robust. It was very stiff and rigid but, as history shows, just the car for winning Le Mans. 

Powering the XJR-9 was a mighty 7.0-liter V12 engine, a significant upgrade from the 6.5-liter engine used in the XJR-8. This naturally aspirated powerplant was capable of producing around 750 horsepower, delivering incredible performance and the iconic roar that became synonymous with Jaguar's Group C racers.

The Jaguar XJR-9 LM's most notable achievement came in 1988 when it clinched victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, ending a 31-year drought for Jaguar at the iconic race. The winning car, driven by Jan Lammers, Johnny Dumfries, and Andy Wallace, completed 394 laps, leading to a historic and celebrated victory against fierce competition, particularly from Porsche.

The XJR-9 continued to compete successfully in other endurance races around the world, contributing significantly to Jaguar's win in the 1988 World Sportscar Championship. Its success at Le Mans and in the World Sportscar Championship heralded a new era for Jaguar, reestablishing the brand as a dominant force in international sports car racing.

Did You Know?

The XJR-9LM was specifically designed as an evolution of the XJR-9 to conquer the high-speed challenge of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with its low-drag aerodynamics. Also, the XJR-9LM's iconic purple and white "Silk Cut" livery is one of the most recognizable in racing history.

4. TWR Jaguar XJ-S

TWR and Jaguar scored four wins from ten outings in 1982, five from twelve in 1983 and seven from twelve in 1984 .

The acclaim of this particular model is credited not to its manufacturer but to the engineering prowess of Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR). This firm significantly re-engineered and competed with Jaguar’s XJ-S in prestigious events such as the European Touring Car Championship and the James Hardie 1,000 series.

Having already achieved triumphs in the British and European Touring Car Championships, as well as the Dakar rally, the team took Jaguar’s V12 GT car under its wing from 1982 to 1985. In the 1983 season, they secured a commendable second place in the ETCC, leading up to Walkinshaw clinching the championship in 1984. That very year, the trio of Walkinshaw, Win Percy, and Hans Heyer also claimed victory at the Spa 24 Hours race.

During the 1985 James Hardie 1,000, TWR fielded three vehicles, achieving notable success with John Goss and Armin Hahne taking the win, while Walkinshaw and Percy secured a third-place finish, though the third car did not reach the finish line.

Post-1985, the TWR team shifted its focus to the World Sports Prototype Championship, campaigning with the subsequent Jaguar XJR models.

Did You Know

The greatest Group A car of its era, the XJS can also lay claim to being the catalyst car for TWR's Le Mans winning Group C effort that followed its Touring Car triumphs.

5. Jaguar XJR-14

Delivered Jaguar the drivers and manufacturers’ titles in the 1992 Sportscar World Championship. The car itself was a game changer.

The XJR-14, a further advancement in the XJR series, played a pivotal role in securing both the drivers' and teams' championships for Jaguar and the TWR team in the 1991 Sportscar World Championship.

With the introduction of the new 3.5-litre formula in 1991, which replaced the Group C category, Jaguar and TWR were tasked with developing a new car that could replicate their previous successes. The outcome was the XJR-14, a continuation of the XJR series, masterfully designed by Ross Brawn and John Piper, and constructed by TWR.

Regarding the powertrain, Jaguar utilized its association with Ford, opting for the 3.5-litre Ford HB V8 engine, originally used in Formula 1. This engine was modified and detuned for the XJR-14, delivering approximately 650bhp.

The team fielded three XJR-14 cars in the 1991 World Sportscar Championship. The car demonstrated dominant performance, maintaining its edge until facing stiff competition from Peugeot's 905B. Nevertheless, the Silk Cut Jaguar team triumphed, clinching the Teams’ World Championship with three victories and securing the top two spots in the Drivers’ World Championship, with Italian driver Teo Fabi and British racer Derek Warwick achieving first and second places, respectively.

Did You Know

Unlike its predecessors, the XJR-14 didn't have doors! Drivers hopped in through small windows that popped out. The XJR-14 was designed to rival the seemingly unbeatable Porsche Group C cars of the era, and it succeeded!