The limited-edition road-going XJ220 supercar introduced in the early 1990s set new performance standards for Jaguar, but the fact that it was powered by a turbo-charged V6 and not Jaguar’s own V12 disappointed some.

For this reason many Jaguar enthusiasts consider the even more exclusive V12-powered XJR-15 produced by Tom Walkinshaw’s JaguarSport organisation to be the charismatic Coventry marque’s ultimate expression.

Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) built its endurance racing reputation through the 1980s with a succession of Jaguar XJR Coupés, before the foundation of the JaguarSport supercar-building organisation and the development of the XJ-220 and XJR-15 Coupés.

TWR’s prototype Group C endurance racer was the Tony Southgate-designed, carbon-composite chassis XJR-6 of 1985-86, which the team campaigned with 6.2 and later 6.5-litre V12 engines.

The Silverstone 1,000kms on 5th May 1986 provided the XJR-6’s maiden victory and marked the start of a new era of Jaguar endurance racing s...