This is the 1991 JaguarSport XJR-15 (chassis 018). First, it’s important to note that the XJR-15 was produced by JaguarSport, which was a subsidiary of Jaguar and Tom Walkinshaw Racing, and only 50 total examples were built for the entire world including race cars, road cars, LM-spec cars, and 2 R9R prototypes. The design is credited to one of the UK’s best-known vehicle designers, Peter Stevens but the idea for the project stemmed from Tom Walkinshaw. One particular chassis was 018 (1991), which went to a Japanese private university called Tokai University in 2005, where a project was started in order to build an LMP car and complete 24 Hours of Le Mans. Former Nismo engineer and team leader of Tokai University’s Racecar Engineering program, Yoshimasa Hayashi, was the man behind the creation of the white car shown here. The 1991/2005 Tokai-UNIV Jaguar XJR-15 YGK Power Study Car. Hayashi and his team first began designing an engine in 2001. After four years, the team had completed their engine and would now need a test mule. So, in 2005, Tokai acquired chassis 018 XJR-15 and immediately began restyling, and reconstructing the entire vehicle. Things such as extra air intakes, a large roof scoop, a giant wing, and a pop-up headlight delete were just some of the major changes that occurred during this process. Once completed, the new study car was immediately taken to Sportsland SUGO, which began is a Yamaha-owned motorsport complex, and Hayashi and his team of 150 students began testing the engine in preparation for Le Mans. The team purchased a Courage-Oreca LC70 LMP chassis to use their new engine in for the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the car unfortunately failed to complete the race. After years went by, in 2014, Australian car enthusiast and XJR-15 restorer/seller, bespokemotorcars purchased chassis 018, and restored it back to it’s original condition, with the entire job being completed in just 4 months.
How many made? 52 Made, only 1 Tokai Car
Engine: YR40T 4.0L twin turbo Group C V8 - around 950hp...later a 6.0 L Jaguar V12
Debut: 2005 Sportsland SUGO
Top Speed: N/A
0-60mph: N/A
Photo Credit: @bespokemotorcars
Research: @rarecarsonly