This 1991 JaguarSport XJR-15 is chassis 048, and it’s possibly one of the most special examples of the model ever produced. A total of 18 or cars with race specifications were built and 16 of which were entered into an event known as the JaguarSport Intercontinental Challenge, and this particular example was driven by former auto racing champion and nephew of auto racer, Juan Manuel Fangio, Juan Manuel Fangio II. 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. Chassis 048, driven by Fangio II was and is an important car for many reasons, one of them being the fact that the car was the 1st place winner of the Silverstone Intercontinental Challenge, in which Fangio II was awarded a Jaguar XJR-S as the prize. After 30 years in storage, the car was taken out at Goodwood in 2021, where it was driven by John Watson, who raced the car in the Intercontinental Challenge at spa.
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 this car took 1st place.
Top Speed: ~185mph
0-60mph: around 3.3 seconds
Photo Credit: @joshclassics, @nealgordonltd
Research: @rarecarsonly, big thank you to @nealgordonltd and @joshclassics for the extremely useful information regarding this chassis! @jaguarsportxjr15registry