This is the 1991 JaguarSport XJR-15, chassis 020, 1 of just 16 total cars that were used in a one-make racing series known as a the Jaguar Intercontinental Challenge. The JaguarSport XJR-15 was the first road-car ever developed entirely out of carbon fiber. In chassis 020’s racing history as car number 11, driven by Derek Warwick at the Jaguar Intercontinental Challenge, chassis 020 finished 1st place at Jaguar Monaco, 14th at Jaguar Spa, and the car did not finish the race at Jaguar Silverstone. Interestingly, this car is believed to be equipped with a 7.0L engine, however, the question of whether the engine was modified during the race series, or after, is an interesting one. 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.
How many made? 52 total including prototypes.
Engine: 6.0L Naturally aspirated dry sump V12 450 horsepower
Debut: 1991 at the Silverstone circuit in the United Kingdom, for a testing day
Top Speed: ~185mph
0-60mph: around 3.3 seconds
Photo Credit: @hunt3rmh_
Research: @rarecarsonly