Collector – Jaguar XJR-12 LM

In the months leading up to the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1991, Silk Cut Jaguar team boss Tom Walkinshaw's only obsession was to win again in Sarthe after the 1990 double and the 1988 victory.

Jaguar XJR-12 LM © RM Sotheby's

The 12 1991 kg more on the scale.

Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring

Three XJR-12s presented themselves for checks, including chassis 891 driven by a formidable crew including, in addition to Derek Warwick, two former winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, John Nielsen and Andy Wallace. The rest of the story is known with the historic triumph of the Mazda 787B with rotary engine ahead of the three Jaguars.

Jaguar XJR-12 LM © RM Sotheby's

We found this big cat a year later in the United States, sporting the livery of its new sponsor, Bud Light, at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Entrusted to Davy Jones, David Brabham, Scott Pruett and Scott Goodyear, it completed the Florida classic in second position behind a Nissan R91CP, with victory in the GTP category. A month later, she took the start, with Jones and Brabham, of the 12 Hours of Sebring to finish 4^e in the general classification.

Return to Le Mans

Once owned by Tom Walkinshaw Racing after its last race, this Jaguar was acquired in 2017 by an enthusiast who entered it in the finest historic competitions, notably at the 2018 Le Mans Classic where it set the absolute best time in the category. Group C.

Jaguar XJR-12 LM © RM Sotheby's

Benefiting from a complete engine renovation, it is one of the headliners of RM Sotheby's exceptional sale on the Le Mans circuit, next Friday June 9. Extremely rare, it is offered for sale accompanied by a guaranteed entry to the next edition of Le Mans Classic, at the end of June.

Technical – Jaguar XJR-12 LM

• Engine type: V12 at 60°
• Layout: Center rear
• Displacement: 7 cm³
• Power: 740 hp
• Gearbox: 5-speed manual
• L. x W. x H.: 4800 x 2000 x 1010 mm
• Wheelbase: 2780 mm
• Weight: 1000 kg
• Max speed: 368 km/h