May 18

May 18 VIN: the Derek Warwick Jaguar XJR-15 chassis 020

Ben Tyer

Jaguar Index

Jaguar - Jaguar XJR-15 - Jaguar VINs - XJR-15 VINs

History of chassis 020

Chassis 020 was the XJR-15 driven in the 1991 Intercontinental Challenge by Derek Warwick.

The three race series kicked off in Monte Carlo as a support event for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Warwick took pole from Armin Hahne who was followed by Jim Richards in third.

When the chequered flag dropped for the 16 lap contest, Hahne briefly muscled ahead. However, after the two lead cars touched several times, it was Warwick that emerged from Ste Devote corner in front.

At the end of lap one, Warwick led from Hahne, David Brabham and Davey Jones. The four cars were in close contention until Hahne lost control on the entry to Swimming Pool and dropped to sixth. This enabled Warwick to temporarily break free at the head of the field until he too got it wrong heading into Swimming Pool on lap six. Brabham and Jones closed the gap, but Warwick managed to hold on for a famous win.

Two months later, a 20 lap contest was held for the XJR-15s at Silverstone in support of the British Grand Prix.

Warwick started from the head of the field for the second race in succession. He pipped Brabham to pole while Cor Euser qualified third.

The race got off to a frantic start when the first couple of rows decided to go passed the pace car early. Brabham initially headed the field, but slid wide at Copse which allowed Euser and Warwick through.

On lap two, Warwick and Euser had a coming together at Becketts; Euser dropped to third while Warwick continued in the lead, but he had picked up a puncture. Brabham then tried to pass Warwick at Club. The cars made contact and both headed for the pits with damage. Chassis 020 was retired.

The Intercontinental Challenge race at Spa in support of the Belgian Grand Prix was one of the richest events in motor racing with $1m on the line for the winner.

As there had been speculation about race fixing agreements between the drivers, Jaguar decided the finale would run for an undisclosed number of laps. All the drivers knew was that the chequered flag would fall after at least six laps.

Euser took pole followed by Brabham and Warwick.

The first lap finished with Euser, Hahne and Warwick having broken clear of the chasing pack.

Hahne’s chance of victory came on lap eight when Euser nearly went off at Eau Rouge and Hahne slipstreamed into the lead. Warwick also tried to go through and battled with Euser for the rest of lap until the Englishman lost it in the sequence of fast corners before the Bus Stop. Chassis 020 pin-balled off the barriers in what was the biggest crash of the series.