Even if you’re no huge fan of endurance racing, you’ll probably recognise the victor of the 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans, with its covered rear wheel, purple and white body and Silk Cut branding.
We’re of course talking about the Jaguar XJR-9, and on 26 January 2000 Autocar’s Colin Goodwin had the chance to find out whether it’s as good to drive as it is to look at, at a wet Bruntingthorpe aerodrome.
“Below 100mph, the Jaguar XJR-9 feels a bit skittish as we pound down the main straight. But at over 200mph it feels so pinned to the ground that King Kong could be sitting on the roof," he began.
“There is no speedometer in the cockpit, but 6800rpm in fifth gear equals 236mph. I know this because the car was doing the same speed along the Mulsanne straight when Jan Lammers, Johnny Dumfries and Andy Wallace took this very car to victory.
“There’s not enough room to reach that speed here, but by holding my breath I can just get the screaming V12 to 6000rpm, which gives us 208mph. It feels incredibly fast and it’s very difficult to know when to hit the brakes. At the end of the straight is a high earth bank. A fraction of a second too long gazing at the rev counter and the Jag and I will be launched high enough to knock down a satellite.
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And no hideous shark fins !
So, we see that tomorrow at Le Masn.
I've built the plastic model
A great era, with no driver aid, no chicanes, no tarmac outside the track...
Magic