‘Purple livery, British engineering, and a V12 louder than an argument in a Wetherspoons.’
The Silk Cut Jaguar XJR-9 wasn’t just a race car but Britain’s high-octane two-finger salute to Porsche dominance.
In 1988, it blitzed Le Mans and limped over the line in 4th gear, like a butler with a bazooka.
Proper racing. Proper Jag.
The whole tale is even madder…”
Continue reading below.
• In the early 1980s, Jaguar was still shaking off the British Leyland hangover. Sir John Egan realised they had just enough money to launch a saloon—but not a future. The solution? Racing.
• 1986 – Back to Le Mans. They hadn’t raced there since the ‘50s. The effort was headline-grabbing, but the results were not so good.
• Still, Tom Walkinshaw painted everything purple and kept the dream alive.
• 1988 – It finally happened. The XJR-9, with its 7.0-litre, 750bhp V12, beat Porsche after 24 brutal hours. It crossed the line, stuck in 4th gear, but still 2 minutes ahead. Legend.
• Same Year – Jaguar took six wins from 10 races, won the World Sports Prototype Championship, and Martin Brundle claimed the Drivers’ title. Everyone went home hoarse from cheering.
• Post-race – The victorious car, chassis #488, was retired instantly. It sits preserved, untouched, still wearing battle scars—minus the Dunlop tyres, which no longer exist.
• Legacy – Ford promptly bought Jaguar. The plan worked. Jaguar became cool again—if only briefly and with a bit of an American accent.
‘It had more torque than tact, more horsepower than sense, and more charisma than most politicians.’
