This is where it all began, the original 1990 Jaguar Sport R9-R prototype (VIN R9-R-P-001), a starting point for what can later be described as the world’s most interesting car ever made. The JaguarSport XJR-15 was developed by Scottish racing driver Tom Walkinshaw, founder of Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR). His relationship with Jaguar rose after success racing a Jaguar XJ-S in the 1982 European Touring Car Championship. By 1988, the TWR-designed Jaguar XJR-9 won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With demand growing for a racing road car, TWR and Jaguar Cars Limited formed JaguarSport in the late 1980s to develop the XJR-15 and XJ220. Initially dubbed ‘XJR-14’, ‘R9-R’, or ‘S3’ internally, the Peter Stevens-designed XJR-15 was based on the Tony Southgate-engineered XJR-9LM. Stevens began with the ex-Win Percy XJR-8 tub, building a Le Mans-style road car per Walkinshaw’s request. Stevens later revised the carbon monocoque for road use, while Jim Router and David Fullerton tuned the chassis. Carbon fiber work was done by Astec Composites and Dove. Andy Morrison served as project manager, with Charlie Bamber and Martin Smith developing the engine under Allan Scott. It was also built to race in the 1991 Jaguar Sport Intercontinental Challenge—held at Monaco, Silverstone, and Spa—with 16 cars entered and two spares prepared. In total, 50 XJR-15s were made, including race cars, LM versions, road cars, and 2 R9R prototypes, each with unique differences. The one-make 1991 JaguarSport Intercontinental Challenge featured drivers such as Matt Aitken, Davy Jones, Andy Evans, Bob Wollek, Tiff Needell, Jim Richards, Cor Euser, Masauki Sunada, David Brabham, Armin Hahne, Derek Warwick, David Leslie, Nigel Spiro, John Nielsen, Yojiro Terada, Juan-Manuel Fangio II, Ian Flux, Win Percy, Kenny Acheson, Will Hoy, Pierre Dieudonné, Thierry Tassin, John Watson, and Jeff Allam.
How many made? Chassis R9-R-P-001 is 1 of 2 R9R prototypes, and 1 of around 52 total cars that were produced, consisting 50 total XJR-15s (race, road, and LM) and 2 R9-R prototypes.
Engine: 6.0L 450hp naturally aspirated 24-valve Jaguar V12 engine
Debut: 1991 at the Silverstone circuit
Top Speed: around 191mph
0-60: around 3.9 seconds
Photo Credit: @jlh_cars
Research: @rarecarsonly