Works Jaguar XJR-9 to go under the hammer

A Works Jaguar XJR-9 that won the 1990 Daytona 24 hour race is going under the hammer next year. The car, chassis 388, will be offered at the RM Auctions sale at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance on March 14, 2015.

The car is the third of just three cars made for the 1988 International Motorsport Association (IMSA) GT Championship, run by Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR). It’s also the only remaining example of just two XJR-9 chassis ever made as purpose-built IMSA-spec cars.

Prior to its most famous victory in 1990, chassis number 388 enjoyed two highly successful seasons in 1988 and 1989. In 1988, predominantly in the hands of Davey Jones and Jan Lammers, the car achieved four podium finishes and never finished a race outside of the top seven.

This helped the Jaguar team secure third place in the IMSA constructors’ championship, stamping its authority in both IMSA and Group C racing.

During the 1989 season, #388 was an equally strong contender, achieving three front-row starts, including a pole position, four second-row starts and eight overall podium finishes. The ’89 season saw Price Cobb and John Nielsen join the car’s driver roster, leading it to a remarkable record that saw it finish on the podium for two-thirds of all the races it competed in.

By the start of 1990 season, #388 was fully developed into XJR-12 specification and went on to famously win the season’s headline event, the 24 hours of Daytona, in the hands of Davey Jones, Jan Lammers and Andy Wallace.

The victory was an unquestionable high point in Jaguar’s illustrious endurance racing history, especially after having finished second overall with this car at Daytona in 1989. #388 also secured a podium finish at Sebring in 1990.

Max Girardo, managing director, RM Auctions Europe, said, ‘It is a true work of art that effortlessly blends great design and engineering with incredible performance. The lines are fantastic – it appears fast even when standing still - and then there’s the massive V-12 engine that can help propel it to a blistering 240 mph.

‘Despite all this, it is not an intimidating car. Having driven it recently, I can attest that it is a delight to drive and easy to handle.’

The historic Works XJR-9 Jaguar will lead an exceptional roster of more than 80 classics at RM’s Amelia Island auction.