Tag Archives: XJR14

The Jaguar Judd – Mazda MX-R01

With the mandating of 3.5 litre / 213.5 cui piston engines for the 1992 World Sports Car Championship Mazda were left with no choice but to abandon their rotary powered 787B which won the 1991 Le Mans 24 Hours.

Mazda MX-R01, Le Mans

With insufficient funds to develop a new motor and or chassis they bravely decided not to abandon sports car racing altogether and elected instead to buy a suitable V10 from Judd Engine Developments and modify chassis bought from Tom Walkinshaw Racing that had been designed by Ross Brawn and run the previous year as the 1991 Championship wining Jaguar XJR14 with a Jaguar badged Ford HB V8.

Mazda MX-R01, Le Mans

Five Mazda MV10 powered Mazda MX-R01’s were built; chassis #001 was used exclusively in the Japanese Sports Car Series, #002 was a spare test car taken to Le Mans, #003 was another spare test car taken to Le Mans, today’s featured #004 raced in the whole 1992 World Sports Car Championship and #005 was only raced at Le Mans.

Mazda MX-R01, Le Mans

The MX-R01 made it’s debut in the 1992 Japanese Sports Car series at Suzuka where Youjirou Terada and Takashi Yorino drove chassis #001 to finish 7th from 8th on the grid in the 500 km race. Volker Weidler and Brazilian Maurizio Sandro Sala then drove #004 on it’s European debut at Monza where they retired with engine failure after starting from 7th on the grid.

Mazda MX-R01, Volker Weidler (D)/Johnny Herbert (GB)/Bertrand Gachot (B)/Maurizio Sandro Sala, Le Mans

For the Fuji 1000 kms Youjirou Terada, Takashi Yorino and Maurizio Sandro Sala qualified #001 8th but also retired with engine failure, before #004 scored the teams best result of the season in the BRDC Empire Trophy at Silverstone where Maurizio Sandro Sala and Johnny Herbert finished second from 7th on the grid.

Mazda MX-R01, Volker Weidler (D)/Johnny Herbert (GB)/Bertrand Gachot (B)/Maurizio Sandro Sala, Le Mans

Chassis #005 driven by Maurizio Sandro Sala, Takashi Yorino and Yojiro Terada qualified 10th at Le Mans, but retired with accident damage after 124 laps which allowed Sala to join Volker Weidler, Johnny Herbert and Bertrand Gachot in chassis #004 that started 7th on the grid and finished 4th, 16 laps down on the winning Peugeot, having lead itself briefly led during the opening hours of the race.

Mazda MX-R01, Volker Weidler (D)/Johnny Herbert (GB)/Bertrand Gachot (B)/Maurizio Sandro Sala, Le Mans

Over the remaining World Sports Car Championship season #004 finished 5th at Donington and 6th at Magny Cours with Sala and Alex Caffi at the wheel, posting a retirement with gearbox failure at Suzuka when Takashi joined Maurizio and Alex in the cockpit.

In the Japanese series Takashi Yorino and Youjirou Terada finished a season high 7th in the Fuji 1000kms, Mazda finished 3rd in the final 1992 World Sportscar Championship standings and 2nd in the final 1992 All Japan Sports Prototype Championship standings.

Mazda withdrew from sportscar racing at the end of the 1992 season and the World Sportscar Championship was cancelled in 1993 with only Peugeot willing to compete in the series.

Thanks for joining me on this “The Jaguar Judd” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at this years Le Mans LMP2 winner. Don’t forget to come back now.

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Classic Jaguar Pride – Silverstone Classic

THere was a large pride of Jagaurs at this years Silverstone classic which included,

Jaguar XK120, Christopher Scholey, Stirling Moss Trophy , Silverstone Classic

Christopher Scholey’s 1954 XK120 which he shared with Rob Newall to record a 23rd place in the Stirling Moss Trophy.

Jaguar XK140 FHC, Silverstone Classic

Enjoying a lap of the track in the Jaguar Parade was this 1956 XK140.

Jaguar E-Type, Ian Simmonds, Chopard International Trophy, Silverstone Classic

Mark Hales and Ian Simmonds drove the #36 E-Type to a 28th place finish in the Chopard International Trophy.

Jaguar XJC, Chris Scragg, Jet Super Touring Car  Trophy, Silverstone Classic

Known in some circles as the fastest vinyl roof in the world the Jaguar XJC 12 made an unlikely competition car next to the manufacturers other V12 Coupé the XJS, but first time round British Leyland wanted to put the XJC 12 on the track and found it had severely underestimated the capabilities of BMW’s CSL batmobiles against which it was to be judged. Above Chris Scragg pedals his mighty 1976 example round to an 18th place finish in the Jet Super Touring Car Trophy.

Jaguar XJR14, Gareth Evans, Silverstone Classic

Built to the 1991 Formula One powered Group C regulations the Ford HB V8 powered Jaguar XJR14 was an instant success winning the 1991 World Sports Cars Manufacturers Championship with three outright wins and Teo Fabi the World Sports Cars Drivers Championship. Gareth Evans is seen lighting up the front brakes above on his way to 7th place in the Group C Endurance Race.

Jaguar XJ220, Justin Law, Silverstone Classic

Finally a lucky passenger is seen below accompanying Justin Law in his Martini striped 1993 Jaguar XJ220 during the ’90s GT Legends demonstration.

Thanks for joining me on this “Classic Jaguar Pride” edition of Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at another pride of Jaguars at the Jaguar Club of North Americas 50th Anniversary Meeting in San Diego. Don’t forget to come back now !

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