One to Buy: ex-Tiff Needell 1991 Jaguar XJR-15
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Although the 1973-1974 International Race of Champions and 1979-1980 Procar Championships had pitched entire grids of identical high-end European machinery against one another (Porsche 911 Carrera RSRs and BMW M1s respectively), there had never been a one-make series like the 1991 JaguarSport Intercontinental Challenge.
At three European rounds of that year’s Formula World Championship (Monaco, Britain and Belgium) 16 examples of the spectacular XJR-15 did battle, the overwhelming majority of which were driven by top professionals eager to get their hands on a piece of the lucrative prize fund.
The winners of the opening two events were gifted a brand new Jaguar XJR-S while at the Spa Francorchamps finale a cheque for $1m would be gifted to the victor.
Of the 53 XJR-15s built, 18 were completed to racing trim with the other 35 configured as road cars.
Currently on sale at the Duncan Hamilton ROFGO showroom in Micheldever is one of the XJR-15s that contested all three rounds of the 1991 triple header.
Understood to have been ordered by the British director and general manager of Champion spark plugs, Robin Longdon, chassis 047 was driven by Tiff Needell to seventh at Monaco, sixth at Silverstone and 13th at Spa.
Reputedly one of just eight XJR-15s to remain in its original competition specification, 047 is presented in superb condition throughout. Offered complete with UK road registration, it surely represents one of the most hair-raising driving experiences imaginable.
