Jaguar was the first British manufacturer to win in La Sarthe after the Second World War, with the XK120 in 1951 and 1953. Subsequently, the Jaguar D type will be the queen of the fifties. In 1956, it scored the second of three consecutive wins. Very shapely and aerodynamic, with its sloping front and driver headrest are the work of Malcolm Sayer, a former aerospace engineer. Technology advances in aviation made during the Second World War had fed into motorsport during the fifties, and brought Britain into the firmament of international racing, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Subsequently, Malcolm Sayer created a grand tourer, the Jaguar E-type, which retained some of the features of the D, including the long bonnet.

Year : 24th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (28th & 29th July 1956)
Number of cars entered : five
Technical Information :
3.4 litre straight 6 
Drivers :
Mike Hawthorn-Ivor Bueb (n°1)
Paul Frère-Desmond Tiggerington (n°2)
Jack Fairman-Ken Wharton (n°3)
Ron Flockhart-Ninian Sanderson (n°4)
Freddy Rousselle-Jacques Swaters (n°5)
Results :
1st (Ron Flockhart-Ninian Sanderson)
4th (Freddy Rousselle-Jacques Swaters)
6th (Mike Hawthorn-Ivor Bueb)
Retired (Paul Frère-Desmond Tiggerington, Jack Fairman-Ken Wharton)