Jaguar’s 1984 comeback to prototype racing was initially a US initiative. This was the year that Group 44 and owner/driver Bob Tullius, big players on the IMSA American endurance scene, entered a pair of Jaguar XJR-5s in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Although both cars were eventually forced to retire, they had put in a promising performance, regularly featuring in the top ten of the overall classification. Group 44 returned in 1985 and, this time, one of the XJR-5s did make it to the chequered flag as Tullius, partnered by Claude Ballot-Léna and Chip Robinson, finished in thirteenth place.

The following year, Jaguar’s commitment to the 24 Hours of Le Mans changed in dimension with the arrival of Tom Walkinshaw. The British driver (twice winner of the 24 Hours of Spa in 1981 and 1984) and owner of TWR had already led a Jaguar programme in the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) with the XJS coupe, clinching the title in 1984. With full support from company chairman John Egan, Walkinshaw set himself the target of beating Porsche in their favourite playground, where the German manufacturer remained unbeaten since 1981.

To achieve this aim, recruits were brought in from all horizons to back up TWR’s ETCC trio of Win Percy, Hans Heyer and Armin Hahne, including Formula One drivers Jan Lammers, Eddie Cheever, Raul Boesel, Martin Brundle and Johnny Dumfries, American racers Kevin Cogan, Danny Sullivan and Price Cobb, young hopes such as Andy Wallace, experienced Le Mans campaigners Brian Redman, Jean-Louis Schlesser and John Nielsen, and former winners Hurley Haywood and Henri Pescarolo. “We were a bit like a gang of mercenaries who had come from all over the world,” admits Pescarolo who signed up for the 1988 race.

The TWR Jaguar offensive therefore began in 1986 with three XJR-6s on the starting grid, but all were forced to retire. The following year, one of three XJR-8LMs, driven by Lammers, Cheever and Raul Boesel, made the finish line in fifth place after being in third for long periods. In the early stages of the race, the car shared by Nielsen and Brundle figured even more prominently in the top two positions before its challenge was ended after 231 laps. Porsche were warned and the stage was set for the epic 1988 tussle.

Jaguar made their intentions known by fielding no fewer than five cars. During the race, the gap between the Jaguar XJR-8LM of eventual winners Lammers, Dumfries and Wallace and the pole-winning Porsche 962 C in the hands of Klaus Ludwig, Hans Joachim Stück and Derek Bell (who boasted a total of ten Le Mans wins between them) never exceeded two laps. The excited hordes of British fans in the crowd cheered loudly as Jaguar managed to hold off its German rival and clinch victory, 31 years after its last Le Mans triumph. “The atmosphere in the Pit Straight grandstand opposite the Jaguar garage was like Twickenham during a Five Nations rugby match!” recalls Jean-Marc Teissèdre, author of the 24 Hours of Le Mans official annual.

A further victory followed two years later, but yet another protagonist created waves among the race leaders – Sauber-Mercedes. A story that will be covered in the next episode!

Photo: Thirty-one years after their last victory, Jaguar notched up their sixth win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1988. 

First episode in the series: Famous Group C rivalries (1) – Porsche v. Lancia, 1983-85