Jaguar XJR-17

Jaguar XJR-17
Category	IMSA Lights/Group C2
Constructor	Tom Walkinshaw Racing
Designer(s)	David Fullerton
Technical specifications [1]
Chassis	Carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb monocoque
Suspension (front)	double wishbones, coil springs actuated by pushrods, dampers and anti-roll bar
Suspension (rear)	double wishbones, coil springs actuated by pushrods, dampers and anti-roll bar
Engine	Jaguar JRV-6 3,498 cc (213.5 cu in) 24 valve, DOHC V6, naturally-aspirated Mid engined, longitudinally mounted
Transmission	5-speed TWR manual
Competition history

Last updated April 10, 2019

The Jaguar XJR-17 was an IMSA Lights racing car, built by Tom Walkinshaw Racing. Rebuilt from a Jaguar XJR-16 for the IMSA Camel Lights, the XJR-17 never competed in the event due to funding issues and has since only been used in a few minor British events and historic races. It used a modified version of the XJR-16's 3.5-litre V6 engine, stripped of the twin-turbochargers and producing a claimed output of 450 hp (336 kW; 456 PS), whilst its bodywork was cobbled together using various parts from older Jaguar XJR Sportscars.

IMSA GT was a sports car racing series organized by International Motor Sports Association. Races took place primarily in the United States, and occasionally in Canada.

Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) was a motor racing team and engineering firm founded in 1976, in Kidlington, near Oxford, England by touring car racer Tom Walkinshaw.

A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankshaft in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at a 60 or 90 degree angle to each other. The V6 is one of the most compact engine configurations, usually ranging from 2.0 L to 4.3 L displacement, and it is shorter than the inline 4. Because of its short length, the V6 fits well in the widely used transverse engine front-wheel drive layout.

Design and development

Andy Evans approached Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) about the possibility of running a full-works IMSA GTP Jaguar sports prototype for the 1991 IMSA GT Championship season, but such a deal proved unworkable.^[2] However, as TWR were winding down their project, a deal was struck to instead strip down a Jaguar XJR-16 for use in the IMSA Camel Lights championship.^[2] David Fullerton designed the car, dubbed the XJR-17, whilst TWR SVO and Andy Morrison were the constructors.^[2] The XJR-16 chassis was stripped down to reduce cost and parts from various Jaguar XJR Sportscars were installed: the front wing came from the XJR-14, the rear wing came from one of the XJR-9, the gearbox casing was a mixture of XJR-11 tunnels and the XJR-16's bellhousing, and the nose was remodelled in the style of the XJR-14, as was the engine inlet.^[2] The engine was essentially the XJR-16's 3.5-litre V6, but with the twin-turbochargers removed;^[2] in this configuration, it produced a claimed 450 hp (336 kW; 456 PS).^[1]

Andy Evans is an American auto racing driver and team owner. As a driver, he won the 1995 and 1997 12 Hours of Sebring. He owned Scandia, an IndyCar and IMSA team.

Jaguar is the luxury vehicle brand of Jaguar Land Rover, a British multinational car manufacturer with its headquarters in Whitley, Coventry, England. Jaguar Cars was the company that was responsible for the production of Jaguar cars until its operations were fully merged with those of Land Rover to form Jaguar Land Rover on 1 January 2013.

Sports prototype purpose-built racing car not intended for general production or use beyond motorsport

A sports prototype, sometimes referred to as simply a prototype, is a type of race car that is used in the highest level categories of sports car racing. These purpose-built racing cars, unlike street-legal and production-based racing cars, are not intended for consumer purchase or production beyond that required to compete and win races.

Win Percy gave the XJR-17 its first shakedown at Enstone Airfield before a test session was held at Snetterton.^[3] However, the deal collapsed, and Hugh Chamberlain instead was to use the car as a Group C2 entrant in the 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans.^[3] Chamberlain, however, was also unable to get enough funding to compete, and the car, already prepared for the Le Mans qualifying session, was not used in the event.^[3] The XJR-17 eventually ended up in the hands of Brian Chatfield, who ran the car in a few minor races held at Castle Combe in 1993 and 1994,^[4] whilst racing driver John Grant used it in some races from 2003 until 2004.^[5]

Winston "Win" Percy is a former motor racing driver from England. Percy was British Touring Car Champion three times, and at the time of his retirement was the most successful non-Antipodean driver ever to compete in Australia's premier national motorsport event, the Bathurst 1000km. Joe Saward of Autosport magazine said he was "often regarded as the World's Number One Touring Car Driver".

Enstone Aerodrome is a small unlicensed civilian airfield close to Enstone in Oxfordshire, which is currently used for microlights, light aircraft and motor gliders. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) designator is EGTN, and its contact radio frequency is 129.875.

The 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 60th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 20–21 June 1992. It was also the third round of the Sportscar World Championship. For this race, both C1 and FIA Cup class cars ran under the C1 category to comply with ACO rules.

Related Research Articles

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References

1 2 von Melissen, Wouter (14 October 2009). "1992 Jaguar XJR-17 Specifications". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
1 2 3 4 5 James A. Martin, Michael J. Fuller (15 April 2008). Inside IMSA's Legendary GTP Race Cars: The Prototype Experience. MotorBooks International. p. 200. ISBN 9781610590495 . Retrieved 21 February 2014.
1 2 3 James A. Martin, Michael J. Fuller (15 April 2008). Inside IMSA's Legendary GTP Race Cars: The Prototype Experience. MotorBooks International. p. 201. ISBN 9781610590495 . Retrieved 21 February 2014.
↑ "Castle Combe Special TWR Jaguar". The Motor Sport Fanatic. 24 February 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
↑ "Hall of Fame 2000–2011". SuperSports Festival. Retrieved 21 February 2014.

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[ucp-1] 1 2 von Melissen, Wouter (14 October 2009). "1992 Jaguar XJR-17 Specifications". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 21 February 2014.

[IMSA_legends_page_200-2] 1 2 3 4 5 James A. Martin, Michael J. Fuller (15 April 2008). Inside IMSA's Legendary GTP Race Cars: The Prototype Experience. MotorBooks International. p. 200. ISBN 9781610590495 . Retrieved 21 February 2014.

[IMSA_legends_page_201-3] 1 2 3 James A. Martin, Michael J. Fuller (15 April 2008). Inside IMSA's Legendary GTP Race Cars: The Prototype Experience. MotorBooks International. p. 201. ISBN 9781610590495 . Retrieved 21 February 2014.

[4] "Castle Combe Special TWR Jaguar". The Motor Sport Fanatic. 24 February 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2014.

[5] "Hall of Fame 2000–2011". SuperSports Festival. Retrieved 21 February 2014.