This is the 1991 JaguarSport XJR-15, chassis 009-RACE. 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, 52 XJR-15s were made, including race cars, LM versions, road cars, and 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. In it’s racing history as car number 09, driven by Australian motorsports racing driver David Brabham at the Jaguar Intercontinental Challenge, chassis 009-RACE finished 2nd at Jaguar Monaco, 6th at Jaguar Spa, and 8th place at Jaguar Silverstone.
How many made? 52 total cars built (including prototypes R9R-P-001 & R9R 001/90)
Engine: 6.0L Naturally aspirated dry sump V12
Debut: May 11th, 1991, Jaguar Challenge Monaco
Top Speed: ~185mph
0-60: around 3.3 seconds
Photo Credit: @carobsessed123, ghostie.photography
Research: @rarecarsonly