Action Car: Jaguar XJ220C LM

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Jaguar XJ220C LM

In the early 90's the ACO, faced with diminishing Prototype grids decided it was time for an GT Renaissance and (re)created its (GT) Class 4 for the 1993 Le Mans 24 hrs.

TWR, who's XJ12 had been seriously handicapped under the new Class 1 regulations, made a last moment decision to switch to the new GT's.
As constructor of the XJ220, they needed only 2 months to develop 3 street Cats into pure race Jaguars.

Cool tacticians as ever TWR entered its GT's in the IMSA class after discovering a loophole in the regs that would allow the Jags to use 14 inch tyres where its rivals (Porsche) had to use 12'.

In the race the British Coupes were clad in a ultra light mixed kevlar / carbonfibre bodywork.
Besides the standard rear diffuser the xJ220 sported ad-on rear spoilers and were powered by a modified XJ10 turbocharged V6....in fact a bit too modified according to the ACO.
TWR's coupe dominated and beat all other GT's, but were disqualified after the race for not running the standard Catalistic converters. This to the extreme disappointed of Mr Walkinshaw, who vowed never to return to Le Mans.

Jaguar XJ 220 C (LM 93) data:
Lenght : 5000mm, Width: 2020 mm, Wheelbase:2640 mm, Height: n/a, Tyres: Dunlop, Wheels : Speedline 9J x 19 & 13J x 19