21645 view(s)  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.
The Richard Piper's PC Automotive team bought two ex-works machines
and returned Jaguar to Le Mans in 1995. But the Cats was no match for
the McLarens and Ferrari's. Despite a good performance from Piper, Needell
and Weaver both XJ220 C retired from the race.
After Le Mans XJ220 C's were raced in the BPR and BRDC GT series, although
without much success. The BPR and BRDC rules did not suit the XJ220,
which in standard form was a very heavy car and wasn't allowed such
extensive lightening as permitted at Le Mans. Too heavy and technally
out-of-date its disappeared from the national GT Series by 97....the
end of an extraordinary Supercar.
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
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