This 1991 JaguarSport XJR-15 is chassis number 031 and dressed in the livery of car number #08, which would have been driven by Japanese racing driver Masauki Sanada, British racing driver, Kenny Acheson, and Belgian auto racing driver and motoring journalist, Pierre Dieudonné, who is now featured as the theme of the livery on this car. Interestingly, however, car #08 was raced in period as 016-RACE, which leaves room for some suspicion regarding its validity as being the #08 car. This example is one of the 18 (16+2 backup cars) original XJR-15s that were constructed specifically to compete in the a three-race competition in 1991 known as the ‘Jaguar Sport Intercontinental Challenge’. A limited number of cars with race specifications were built and entered into each of the events, and in this series, chassis 031 finished 9th at Jaguar Monaco, 9th at Jaguar Silverstone, and 9th at Jaguar Spa. The chassis of the XJR-15 is mechanically based on the Le-Mans winning Jaguar XJR-9 race car, which was designed by Tony Southgate. A team known as Tom Walkinshaw racing (TWR), with support from Jaguar, put together a crew led by Andy Morrison, consisting of names such as respected designer Peter Stevens, and engineers Eddy Hinley, Dave Fullerton and Jim Router. In 1988, Jaguar & Tom Walkinshaw Racing, came out victorious from the 24-Hours of Le-Mans with an updated version of the XJR-9 & also added five other Championship victories during that season. After witnessing this impressive performance, and becoming intrigued by the XJ220 concept shown at the 1988 British Motor Show, founder of (TWR), Tom Walkinshaw, would then create an XJR-9/XJR-12 inspired road-car under a new subsidiary called ‘JaguarSport’. Chassis 031 is a road car, however, has been seen in both the #9 David Brabham livery, as well as the #08 down here. It recently participated in the 2021 Goodwood Member’s Meeting JaguarSport XJR-15 demonstration.
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, where the true #08 car took 1st place.
Top Speed: ~185mph
0-60mph: around 3.3 seconds
Photo Credit: @5uper.car_5pots, @mrrobhunt, @jamesadcwheeler, @thecarcierge
Research: @rarecarsonly, @jaguarsportxjr15registry