Details of Cars

Jaguar XJR-10: the GTP racer that brought the twin-turbo V6

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Jaguar XJR-10 at a historic meeting
A Jaguar XJR-10 in historic racing. Photo by United Autosports, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The Jaguar XJR-10 is an IMSA GTP sports prototype race car designed, developed and built by Tom Walkinshaw Racing for Jaguar to compete in the IMSA GT Championship from 1989. The XJR-10s raced until 1991, when Jaguar replaced them with the XJR-16.

Jaguar XJR-10 at a glance

Jaguar XJR-10 key facts
Builder Tom Walkinshaw Racing, for Jaguar
Purpose IMSA GT Championship, GTP class
Raced 1989–1991
Replaced by Jaguar XJR-16
Engine 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6
Engine origin replaced the previous V12
Later use the same engine went into the XJ220
Wins six between 1989 and 1991
Drivers Boesel, Brundle, Cobb, Ferté and others

History of the Jaguar XJR-10

A new engine

The XJR-10 debuted a new 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 in place of the Jaguar V12 that had powered earlier TWR prototypes. The change came because the V12’s poor fuel consumption clashed with new rules restricting refuelling during races. The compact, turbocharged unit was later fitted to the Jaguar XJ220 road supercar, making the XJR-10 an important link between Jaguar’s Group C racing and its production flagship.

Jaguar XJR-10 on track
The XJR-10 on track. Photo by United Autosports, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Racing record

The XJR-10 raced in the IMSA GT Championship from 1989 to 1991 and won six times: the 300 km at Portland and the 2 Hours at Del Mar in 1989, the Lime Rock 150 and the Portland 300 km in 1990, and the 2 Hours of West Palm Beach and 2 Hours of Miami in 1991. Chassis 389 accounted for four of those wins and chassis 589 for two. Among its drivers were Raul Boesel, Martin Brundle, Price Cobb, Alain Ferté, David Jones, Jan Lammers, David Leslie and John Nielsen. Jaguar retired the model after 1991 in favour of the XJR-16.

Design and features

  • Twin-turbo V6: a 3.0-litre engine replacing the thirsty V12.
  • XJ220 link: the same engine family appeared in the road-going supercar.
  • IMSA winner: six GTP victories in three seasons.
  • TWR-built: designed and run by Tom Walkinshaw Racing.

Jaguar XJR-10 versions

  • Chassis 389: winner at Portland and Del Mar in 1989, Lime Rock in 1990 and Miami in 1991.
  • Chassis 589: winner at Portland 1990 and West Palm Beach 1991.

The XJR-10 succeeded the Jaguar XJR-9 and its engine went into the Jaguar XJ220. More cars are in the Jaguar collection.

Sources

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