One to Buy: ex-Lee Kun-hee / Silverstone ICC-winning 1991 Jaguar XJR-15
The JaguarSport Intercontinental Challenge of 1991 remains arguably the most spectacular one-make racing series ever organised. It comprised three events, supporting the F1 races at Monaco, Silverstone and Spa, with the winner of rounds one and two each getting a TWR Jaguar XJR-S while the victor in the finale was gifted a cheque for $1m.
The Intercontinental Challenge was created to legitimise TWR’s creation of the XJR-15 which had been conceived as the supreme road-going supercar of its day. Based on the Le Mans-winning XJR-9, the XJR-15 (built by TWR-run JaguarSport) was something of a problem for the parent company which had invested heavily to bring their own million dollar supercar to market: the XJ220.
Ultimately, a run of 53 XJR-15 customer cars were built during 1991 with 18 completed to racing specification and the other 35 to road trim.
Currently on offer at The Octane Collection showroom in Horsham, West Sussex, is chassis 048, the car originally purchased by South Korean collector, Lee Kun-hee. Lee Kun-hee was the third son of Samsung founder, Lee Byung-Chul, and assumed Chairmanship the company in December 1987 following his father’s death.
For the first two rounds of the ‘91 Intercontinental Challenge, Juan-Manuel Fangio II drove chassis 048 on Lee Kun-hee’s behalf. The Argentine placed fourth in Monte Carlo and then won at Silverstone, after which John Watson drove the Spa event but failed to finish after a coming together with Tiff Needell.
Today, chassis 048 is offered in immaculate condition throughout together with the 600-miles from new XJR-S awarded for victory at Silverstone.
Reprinted below is The Octane Collection’s description:
Price: POA
Much like the IROC and M1 Procar series before it, the Jaguar Intercontinental Challenge featured some of the most versatile and respected drivers in the world going toe-to-toe in identical machinery.
The opening event at Monaco was appropriately won by F1 and Jaguar Group C legend Derek Warwick who largely enjoyed a lights to flag victory despite tripping up at St Devote on the first lap. This car – Chassis 48 driven by Juan Manuel Fangio II – would qualify 10th and finish a strong fourth in it’s first race providing a taste of things to come with the following round at Silverstone.
With the XJR – 15’s running on home soil for the first time, and immediately following Nigel Mansell’s memorable F1 win, Derek Warwick would again qualify on pole although what promised to be a repeat of Monaco couldn’t have been further from the truth. In a chaotic 20 laps, eleven of the 16 cars involved found trouble in what proved to be a frantic race from start to finish. After settling into the top six Fangio survived contact with Armin Hahne before displacing Cor Euser and then taking advantage of the leader, Ian Flux, missing a gear to go on to take the chequered flag and win by just over four seconds!
In the third and final round at Spa, ex McLaren F1 star John Watson would assume driving duties replacing Fangio. The Ulsterman would go on to qualify 10th but would have to retire the car back to pitlane after contact on the 2nd lap with Tiff Needell.
Originally purchased by Lee Kun-hee, former chairman of Samsung Electronics, this fantastic example was retired from competition after it’s final race and kept in Germany until export to the owner’s vast collection in the US in 2006. The car would remain with it’s original owner up until 2020 before finding a new home in the UK the following year. Having been overhauled with a fine tooth comb courtesy of marque specialists Riedling & Mouser, and a subsequent shakedown at Donington Park, No 15 would be emotionally reunited with it’s last competitive driver John Watson for an XJR-15 demonstration at the 78th Goodwood Members meeting.
Chassis 48 would be hidden from public view for many years, leaving many to speculate as to it’s whereabouts or existence, so the opportunity to present the car alongside the original Silverstone prize winning XJR-S is something very special indeed. The totally original 600 mile LHD XJR-S in Mica over Grey is included with the sale as part of this prize winning package.
